Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

OPPOSITION LEADER Portia Simpson Miller wants Parliament to debate the report of a joint select committee which had recommended that the Offences against the Person Act and the Incest (Punishment) (Amendment) Bill be merged to become the Sexual Offences Bill.

On Tuesday, Simpson Miller moved the motion in the House of Representatives, that arrangements be speedily put in place for debate on the recommendations from that report.

The opposition leader said the issues covered by the proposed bill "touch and concern deviant behaviour of the kind that challenges the very soul of the nation".

A fortnight ago, opposition Senator A.J. Nicholson withdrew a motion made in the Upper House for the same bill to be debated.

Recommendations

The joint select committee, which had 16 meetings between December 2006 and June 2007, made several recommendations relating to the definition of rape, grievous sexual assault, the admissibility of evidence and treatment of offenders.

Nicholson then protested when Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne announced that another joint select committee had been set up to examine the bill.

His withdrawal of the motion and subsequent protest were strategic, as Simpson Miller used the floor of the Lower House to urge action, arguing that sexual assaults, including deadly attacks, and the stain of incestuous relationships were rife.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com