Barry slams Chalkdust

In his contribution to debate on the Marriage Bill 2016 in the House of Representatives, Padarath said the Opposition would support the bill because it agrees that 18 years should be the age of legal consent for marriage.

As he recalled that Dr Slinger Francisco (The Mighty Sparrow) once sang that “age is just a number,” Padarath took offence with aspects of Liverpool’s calypso which focused on the issue of child marriage. “While that same 75-year-old calypsonian attempts to skew communities here in TT by misrepresentation and skewing of information...but does not say that while the Hindu, Muslim and Orishas have ages...below the minimum age of 18...he does not inform us that there are other groups such as the Christians and the civil marriages...that have no minimum age requirement...

None!” As Opposition MPs thumped their desks, Padarath referred to Canon Law, which governs the Catholic community. Prompted occasionally by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who also placed documents on his desk for him to read, Padarath said existing Canon law states men who are 16 years old and 14-year-old women, “cannot enter into illicit marriage or a valid marriage.” He added there are one billion Catholics worldwide. Saying “information comes with responsibility” in the 21st Century, Padarath said, “Instead of dividing communities and painting public figures into a particular light to suit your own political persuasion...

if it is Hindus that the calypsonian is asking that 75 can go into 14...can we also ask the same of the Catholic community...in the interest of fairness?” Padarath reiterated the Opposition’s concern about Attorney General Faris Al Rawi removing the requirement of the need for the bill to be passed with a three-fifths majority.

He questioned who gave the legal advice that the bill needed a special majority and who gave the advice that it did not. “This government is hiding something” Padarath alleged. Padarath was cautioned during his contribution by Speaker Bridgid Annisette- George for his language, displaying a document without permission and about relevance when he boasted that Persad-Bissessar did more for children in TT than any other leader.

Mayaro MP Rushton Paray said as the father of three teenage daughters, he understands the need for parents to be vigilant on the issue of child marriages.

While he agreed with the Government’s position on child marriages, Paray said there was equal merit in the views of religious bodies and civil society groups on the legislation.

He said the Opposition would propose amendments when the bill reached to committee stage.