(Stock Photo)

Minister of Creative Economy, Culture and Sports, John King, believes it is time that we change the culture about how we speak to children about sex.

Speaking at the launch of the Ministry’s HIV/AIDS programme in the VIP Lounge at Sky Mall, this morning, Minister King said it is important to have ‘the talk’ with children at an early age.

“Oftentimes, when we talk about sex, people believe that we can only have these as adult conversations, but the truth is, if you look at social media, if you look at the movies, if you look at the cartoons…they are filled with subliminal messages about sex and other things….  So, I think the time has come where we must be mature to the point where we are comfortable discussing these sort of topics with our young children,” the Culture Minster stressed.

Noting that young people stood to benefit the most from having the information, he emphasized the importance of being honest about matters that relate to HIV and AIDS.

He also pointed out that stigma and discrimination was still an issue of grave concern to the Ministry and the country as a whole.

“There is a culture within our culture where promiscuity is still ripe and it has been a part and parcel of the Barbadian culture for eons.  It is important that persons not only just take in the message of not putting themselves in the position to contract this particular disease, but we must again start or restart the conversation on discrimination against persons who would have already contracted the disease.  And for me that is where I think a lot of the problems lie,” Mr. King stated.

The first event of the Ministry’s HIV/AIDS Committee will be the hosting of a Q in the Community, which will take place on Thursday, December 5, at Kensington Oval.

paula.harper-grant@barbados.gov.bb

Pin It on Pinterest