INMATES at Glendairy Prisons are saying “no” to condom-vending machines.
Speaking on behalf of a group of “concerned inmates”, a just released prisoner told the DAILY NATION the majority of men “do not feel good about condoms being distributed in prison”.
Reading from a letter signed by the inmates, the man who asked to remain anonymous said: “We would like to make it very clear to the Government of Barbados and to all concerned citizens that we, the vast majority of inmates, are diametrically opposed to the idea of condoms in Her Majesty’s Prisons.”
And the inmates believe they should be given an opportunity to air their views on the matter.
“It must be made clear to the Owen Arthur administration that God’s word, the Bible, states in Leviticus 18:22: ‘Thou shall not lie with mankind, as with womankind: It is an abomination’.
“It also states in Leviticus, Chapter 20 verse 13: ‘If a man also lieth with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: They shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them’.”
And they pose this question to the Prime Minister. “Mr Arthur, don’t you think your Government is compromising God’s word and principle?
You cannot save lives by instituting condoms in prison. Remember there are three men in a prison cell; AIDS will still spread.”
The former inmate said the prisoners were concerned the condom machines would be a way of condoning homosexuality in prison. And while he confessed that it takes place, he said it was not on a large scale.
He said young men whose parents and friends turned their backs on them were easily led astray by older men into this type of activity.
