Two abortions an hour in TT

The Editor: I am really sick and fed up of the nonsense I am reading and hearing in the media re the abortion issue. Of course I am happy that this issue is out in the public and ASPIRE must be commended for that. Everyone in the past who tried was verbally abused and badgered into shutting up. I have been following the debate religiously and I am trying to be objective, rational and open-minded. I firmly believe that people must be independent thinkers and must try to “pick sense from nonsense.” Let’s face facts. The foetus is of great value and is the only hope for the continuation of the human race. No one is disputing this. I keep hearing people say that ASPIRE is promoting abortion. Now really, how can this be the case when abortions have been taking place from time immemorial? There has been talk about 20,000 abortions taking every year — with a restrictive law! That’s 55 abortions a day or 2 abortions an hour! Let’s stop being hypocritical and dishonest and face up to reality — abortions are happening.

Many people who are condemning ASPIRE are having abortions, are taking their children, nieces, friends, students, sisters, or neighbours to have abortions. I am not advocating that this is right or good but it is happening. I agree with Ms Seebaran Suite and ASPIRE when they say that there needs to be a differentiation between “right and wrong” and “legal or illegal”. Smoking is wrong but it is legal! Childhood marriage is wrong for some people but right for others but it is legal. I read Suzanne Sheppard’s article in Sunday Newsday, which speaks about being “Pro-Life and Proud.’ Ms Sheppard still hasn’t gotten it. Great that’s your story, you made that choice! Someone else may make a different choice. Let’s respect that and let’s allow people to make that choice with dignity. I am Pro Choice and proud. Being pro choice does not mean that I have had an abortion or that I will. It means that I respect a person’s choice and right to continue or not continue a pregnancy given their personal experience.

Dr Noreen Johnson, Texan gynaecologist, at last weekend’s conference reported that doctors encouraged women to have late term abortions because it is more money. What utter crap! Let’s be rational here. Do you really think that a doctor will say, “no, don’t have the termination now; come back later when you are ... weeks.” This is an insult to the intelligence of our people! I also saw where Dr Johnson reported that when a woman has an abortion, her existing children suffer from “performance management syndrome” because they are fearful of what their mother would do to them.  Let’s ask ourselves, does a mother routinely tell her children or babies that she had an abortion? In fact I know of some cases where women forced to continue pregnancies, say to their children that they were unwanted and they should have been aborted. What about the trauma women suffer when they are forced to have their children beg on the streets or when they use their children as prostitutes to earn a living for the family. How do these women and children feel? 

Let’s face it. This issue is complex; it is not black or white. There are shades of grey, which we must address and acknowledge. I also read Matthew Martinez who accused ASPIRE of using euphemisms for abortion such as “pro-choice” and “reproductive rights.” It is my view that Mr Martinez and associates can also be accused of using euphemisms, when they say “pro life” they really mean “anti women,” or “foetus only”. How could you purport that if the woman’s life is in danger, the choice has to be to save the foetus and kill the woman? If a woman is raped, she must bear the child. An option for a 14-year-old who perhaps is in an incestuous relationship or who was raped must continue the pregnancy?  Come on people don’t be duped. Let’s be analytical in our thinking. Let’s stop being “sycophants.” Let’s examine the issue of abortion and critically assess the problem that faces us. Let’s come up with solutions that make sense.

Let’s stop trying to scare people with pictures of foetuses and talk about breast cancer. These tactics are not working; they only serve to drive people further into secrecy.  They would succeed in scaring some people but the majority will continue to exercise their choice or rights.  Any law that seeks to control or restrict women’s reproductive health has not and will not work! Let’s get a law that really, truly respects and values the woman and the foetus. Let’s get a law that can work - a law that will assist in eradicating unsafe abortions and reduce abortions altogether. Let’s get a law that makes sense and can meaningfully sit alongside education, contraceptive use and economic equity and can improve the sexual and reproductive health of women, men and youth in our beloved Trinidad and Tobago.

G. Harvey
Via email