Give child brides divorce power

Contributing to debate on the Miscellaneous Provisions (Marriage) Bill on Friday in the House of Representatives, Cudjoe noted that child brides often do not have the education, resources or courage to seek a divorce and as such, must be covered in the legislation.

Further, she said many of them were abused repeatedly with nowhere to turn for comfort or assistance.

“A young woman, or a child bride, a young wife, 13, 14, 15, 16, who didn’t have the opportunity to attain a full education to get a proper job, to be financially stable and economically empowered, how does that young woman who is not being treated properly, who is being abused by her husband, find the courage and the confidence or even the support systems to get up and go out there to ask for as divorce?” she asked.

“These are some of the scenarios that we have to take into consideration,” Cudjoe continued. “As a divorced person, myself, I like to say marriage is easy to get into and difficult to get out of. Imagine that for a 14-year-old or a 15-year-old who needs the necessary finances and support and resources to get out of a marriage in which she is not comfortable.We need to hear the cries of these young people.” Saying that the issue had not been raised by members in the Senate or in the Lower House, The Tobago West MP said such scenarios should never exist in Trinidad and Tobago in 2017.

“In 2017, this cannot be our truth. As a leading light in the Caribbean, as one of the most advanced societies in the English-speaking Caribbean, this cannot be our truth. Children in our society cannot be suffering like that,” Cudjoe said. “Many other countries look at Trinidad and Tobago as an example as it relates to development.

This cannot be our truth in 2017.” Saying that the Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica have already ended child marriages, Cudjoe said countries outside of the region such as Egypt, India, Sweden, Vietnam and countries of the African Union also have done away with it.

“And the world looks on as Trinidad and Tobago grapples with a decision as to whether or not to protect our children,” she said.

Addressing those who expressed scepticism about the Government’s timing in debating the legislation during the week of the Arrival Day observance, Cudjoe said: “Let me place on the record that this is not an attack on the Muslim faith.

This is not an attack on the Hindu faith. This is not an attack on Indian people, this is not an attack on African people.

This is in fact an attempt to protect the rights of our children, our people.

As a matter of fact, this debate transcends race, religion, colour, creed, gender, class, political affiliation, geographical location.

“This is about their rights, the freedom, the welfare of our nation’s children. This is an attempt to put the right legislation in place.”