The Editor, Sir:

As a 22-year-old young woman, I have been questioning my whole stance on the abortion issue. It is truly a sensitive matter and requires careful consideration. I have always taken the view that abortion is wrong, but I had never really thought it through. To me, abortion should never be used as a means of birth control. Nor should it be a method to eliminate babies with deformities. The unborn child has a right to live!

When concerns such as rape and the life of the mother arise, they cannot be ignored. In cases of the horrendous crime of rape, the mother does not consent to the presence of the unborn child within her. The mother has rights to her body, but does this include the right to end another's life?

The right to life is highest in our hierarchy of rights enshrined in the Constitution, but no right is absolute. So, for example, if person X makes a choice to kill person Y, person X by his action forfeits his own right to life by either life imprisonment or being sentenced to death. Similarly, the mother's rights to her own body are not absolute and her decision to abort infringes on the right of the unborn child to life. Therefore, the law needs to step in and restrict the mother and all others involved from committing murder.

With great concern for the mother's life, I consulted a medical practitioner. She informed me that rarely will a mother's life be at risk. In such a case though, it would be recommended that the baby be delivered prematurely and put in an incubator as they try to keep the baby alive. In Jamaica, babies as premature as 22 weeks have survived. Before the unborn child has reached 22 weeks, the pregnancy is unlikely to cause such stress on the mother so as to put her life at risk.

In my contemplation, I have reached a point where I cannot in good conscience keep my thoughts to myself or just among my small circle of friends, especially when we are dealing with life and death.

The Government will soon be making a decision on whether or not to legalise abortion. I dare to speak out on behalf of the yet unborn, so that one day they may live to be heard. Truth must be spoken and I must "open my mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die", (Proverbs 31:8).

In Jamaica, we have enough murders to deal with. We cannot wilfully and knowingly pass a law that will facilitate murder - abortions on demand. If we do, I believe we would bring a curse on ourselves. Please, Jamaica, stand up in defence of the voiceless so that Jamaica under God may be blessed.

I am, etc.,

CARISSA DELISSER

carissadelisser@yahoo.com