THE EDITOR, Sir:I WONDER if the men in both Houses of Parliament have any idea what they have done by even entertaining the idea of a woman being required to maintain her spouse, much more to attempt to amend the law to permit this, without consulting the general public. It is interesting to note the views of some Jamaicans on this issue.
First of all, it takes a particular kind of man to propose and or support such an idea. It is hardly likely that this kind of man is a family man who enjoys providing for his family. Any man who would want to be maintained by a woman has a different set of values and should not be protected by the law. This is a good- for-nothing man.
The time has come for women to be in the seat of power. What will the men think of next? They far outnumber women in the Houses of Parliament. They can use their majority to pass any law they wish. The only way for women to get justice in Jamaica is to change our political system so that we have an equal number of men and women in Gordon House. Even if we have a female Prime Minister, females will not get justice. The men will use their majority to sway things in their favour.
Many women are upset because they do not want to be maintained by any man and they sure do not want any man to have the legal right to seek maintenance from them. Some may say that this is what equality is about. But men and women were not made to compete with each other. They were made to complement each other.
We know that men are in charge in this country. They have a majority where it counts in the seat of power. Most women were not disturbed by this fact, but now that the men have decided that women can be legally bound to maintain their spouses, it is time to get more women involved in Parliament. A male dominated Parliament is no longer acceptable.
I am, etc.,
WINNIE
ANDERSON-BROWN
winab@cwjamaica.com
Bagatelle district
Ashley P.A., Clarendon
