by GEORGE GRIFFITH

IN RECENT MONTHS the public has been treated to a number of newspaper columns, letters to the Editor, sermons, radio broadcasts and talk-show opinions about the very sensitive and aat times emotive subject of abortion in Barbados today.

The main arguments deployed by these groups and individuals include:

* attempts to stigmatise the value and usefulness of condoms.

* misrepresentation of abortion

* promotion of abstinence only as the only way to prevent teenage pregnancies and STIs

* resistance to sexuality education for school-age children and

* refusal to recognise the value of contraceptive use as a realistic option for those who will not abstain or cannot abstain from sexual activity.

I make bold to say that abortion is not the problem in Barbados today.

The real problem is unwanted pregnancy.

The prevention of unwanted pregnancy ought to be the main focus for those who want to make a meaningful contribution to the quality of life of those most affected by premature sexual activity and, by extension, unwanted pregnancy.

I know of no one who rejoices in abortion, not even those who stand to benefit financially from the existing demand.

I know of no woman or girl who deliberately sets out to become pregnant because abortion is provided for in the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act.

I do know, however, that unwanted pregnancy will remain alive and well in any society where hypocrisy and religious fanaticism take precedence over reality.

I say show me a country where parents, teachers and other authority figures continue to deny or ignore the inevitability of sexual maturing/development and it will show you a country which will be plagued by unwanted pregnancy, run-away sexually transmitted infections, including HIV transmissions, and all the related adverse consequences.

Simplistic moralising and demonisation cannot change what is a normal God-given right. This issue needs greater understanding and higher levels of humanitarianism than is presently the case especially as it relates to unwanted pregnancy among school age girls and boys.

How can they learn to protect themselves if we continue to deny them access to the tools necessary for their protection?

Let us not forget that one of the most challenging stages of development in a child's life is accompanied by very rapid change in the child's level of sexual awareness and development.

Barbados is in need of a massive dose of sexuality straight talk.

Failure to educate our young boys and girls responsibly and truthfully does not prevent them from getting information, it simply drives them to questionable sources which could very well cause them their sanity or their lives.

My appeal is for the utilisation of a realistic, well-balanced approach to the preparation of our young people for the proper management of their sexuality and adult life generally, instead of the misinformation and outdated scare tactics which now passes for enlightening comment on so serious a subject.

I close as I began by restating the fact that abortion is not the problem and for those who are so full of condemnation for those who provide safe termination of pregnancy services, I say "prevent unwanted pregnancy and there will be no demand for abortion".