Don’t condemn students in sex tapes for life – Gonsalves

The female student who was videotaped having sex with two boys should not be condemned, but instead should be provided with all the necessary support.{{more}}

“A 14-year-old girl or a 15-year-old girl who may involve in an activity of this kind, we really have to be careful not to condemn her for life. And therefore, provide all the support resources,” Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves told the audience during a Town Hall meeting in Brooklyn, New York, last Saturday night.

Gonsalves was responding to a question raised by a woman in the audience, who said the students involved should be expelled and arrested for their actions.

The sex video in question made the rounds of social media just over two weeks ago and shows at least six young people (three females and three males) filming and engaging in sexual intercourse in what appears to be a bedroom. Two of the girls were clad in the uniforms of two local secondary schools.

The Prime Minister said he has already spoken with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social Development to help the students going forward.

“I will urge that all the young persons involved be counselled. Also the parents and the teachers be asked as to whether they had detected any of this happening and if they did, what did they do or not do,” Gonsalves said.

Gonsalves also stated that we have to be sensitive without condoning the actions of the young persons involved in the video.

He also said that things are being putting put in place to help the students involved with their education.

“I have spoken with people in the Ministry of Education about the education of those involved who are not at school, to see if arrangements can be made while counselling is taking place, for some education to continue at home by teachers going and teaching them and so forth.

“It is possible to work out all of these things practical and they are being worked on and that is the approach that is being taken,” he said.

The Prime Minister said a lot of young persons do not know to handle the use of technology, adding that there are some adults who also do not know how to handle the technology.

“I think this is a wider issue which has to be discussed and sensible conclusions arrived at for policy action,” Gonsalves said.

The Ministry of Education told SEARCHLIGHT last week that the students have been placed in counselling and the girl who was shown engaged in sexual intercourse with two boys is now under the supervision of a trained counsellor. (KW)