Photo by: Roderick Boulin/UJS News
Generation Technology, the University of Technology’s Generation 2000 chapter convened on Thursday February 7, 2019 for their weekly meeting. The club updates and announcements were undertaken by Rushane Ferron which included their upcoming Valentine’s Bake Sale as well as their Policy Forum about the Ban on Sugary Drinks at the end of the month.
Ferron then led the cohort into a discussion surrounding the recent viral video of the Spaulding police man who shot the Mandeville bus driver on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. The overwhelming majority conceded that the police was well within his rights to defend himself. Nonetheless, there were a few members who disputed the claim, with one stating “Persons of the law should keep people in mind. There was no need for a gunshot.”
The intense discussion came to an end when Tamika Peart of Generation 2000 (G2K) initiated conversation surrounding the abortion debate with the members. Peart, by means of question and answer, sought quantitative data on the awareness of the current happenings and the members’ opinions on potential legislative progressions. Some of the questions which sparked passion from the members were “Do you support the decriminalization of abortion?”, “What are your views on the formal institutions who conduct abortions?” and “Do you think that men should have a say in the abortion debate?”.
As the Offences Against the Person Act (1864) currently stands, it is illegal for a woman to have an abortion and it is illegal for someone to aid in the procurement of one. Most members supported the decriminalisation of abortions. However, one member believed that “the decriminalisation should be to the limitations of the law (rape, incest and harm to the mother by the foetus)”. On the matter of formal institutions conducting abortions one member declared “they are either for profit or are sympathisers” while another expressed “ethics go out the door” to which Miss Peart said that the matter has always been looked at from a moral standpoint.
Miss Peart requested recommendations which could aid the Joint Select Committee in their review of the Offences Against the Person Act. It was recommended that the man should be held equally responsible for the criminal act and in that way men should have a say. One participant stated that “Wearing a condom is pre-meditated murder!” to which the G2K’s Deputy General Secretary, Mr. Coneil Anderson added “There are thoughts about the decision to carry out an act.” Anderson also believes that “the decision should rest between the two individuals who decided to carry out that act.” Anderson also shared the idea that “after two to six weeks you are actually getting rid of a life, before that, it is okay to carry out an abortion.”
Generation Technology meets every Thursday at 3 to 5 pm in 8C-11. They can be found on twitter @GenTech_G2K and Instagram @g2k_utech, where there are updates about their upcoming events.
Written by: Dannielle Mullings/UJS News