Government has no position on Buggery Law

ACCORDING to Prime Minister, Allen Chastanet, the Government of Saint Lucia has no official position on the Buggery Law in Saint Lucia. The pronouncement was made on Tuesday October 29th at the House of Parliament in reference to a statement on Saint Lucia’s Buggery Law, which was made by Karolin Troubetzkoy, President of the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Toruism Association.

As stated by Troubetzkoy, “As a hospitality professional, it saddens me that there are so many travellers from the LGBT community overseas that would not come to Saint Lucia because of our rather ancient law that criminalises same sex sexual activity between two consenting adults in the privacy of their bedroom.” She further stated, “While I am not in a position to personally change the law, I think the time has come to have this discussion… I think that if we take little steps forward and at least agree that that law is simply outdated in this day and age and it sends the wrong signal to the world.” Her statement was made at Bel Jou Hotel on September 25th, 2019.

When Prime Minister, Allen Chastanet, was asked to state his Government’s position on the Buggery Law, he replied, “I don’t think that we’ve come to any definitive decision as yet on that issue and that’s obviously something that’s going to require a lot of dialogue and discussions.” No indication was given as to whom will be drafted for the discussions although Bishop Thomas Eristhee, of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies, and others, have adamantly spoken out against the nullification of the Buggery Law.

Chastanet further stated, “This is something that we’re going to continue to review, but my government does not have an official position on it as yet.” In answer to the question of whether he thinks the buggery law will impede tourists from coming to Saint Lucia, the Prime Minister said, “It hasn’t in the past. Obviously we’ve had some cases where people have made an issue of it, but as you know, nobody has really been arrested under that law in Saint Lucia.” The Prime Minister went on to note, “We are a Catholic society and I think every country is entitled to have its own positions.” The Prime Minister’s statement was made on Tuesday October 29th at the House of Parliament.