An 11-year-old girl has been raped by her father, is pregnant with his child, and if that is not horrible enough it seems she is being made to carry on with the pregnancy. This is reported in the story headlined "Daddy's Little Girl Pregnant'' published in the Express on July 19.

The revelation of the situation comes from a seminar on child abuse held at the Flaming Word Ministry in Chaguanas in a speech given by Margaret Sampson-Browne who admits to the threat that the child faces due to her underdeveloped sexual organs and says that the child is now a ward of the State and is to receive counselling. Very good, but is this not a clear-cut case for an abortion?

How anyone can allow a child to continue with a pregnancy that was forced on her is beyond me. It goes against any grain of decency, mercy and above all morality.

Clearly the life and well being of the girl that exists here and now and is in dire need of a solution to restore normalcy to her life is of much less importance to some people than an idea that is flawed in logic and devoid of justice — the idea that the foetus is sacrosanct. I am not saying that a foetus has no rights, but clearly the health and well-being of the mother should take precedence.

To force any victim of rape, regardless of age, to carry to term a child conceived in that most terrible act, is barbaric. Indeed it is a second violation.

Those that hinder and block debate on this important issue are guilty of gross inhumanity towards women and girls. Is it not the role of the State to provide for its citizens the best and fairest protection via legislation and law? Is our State truly independent of church, temple and mosque?

I hope no further harm comes to that girl.

Mark Abdulla

Talparo