Parliament votes against criminalizing wilful HIV transmission

Parliament in session yesterday with empty opposition benches (right).

The National Assembly has voted against a controversial motion which sought to institute legislation to hold persons criminally responsible for wilfully infecting others with HIV.

The motion, which was moved by GAP/ROAR MP Everall Franklin, emerged from select committee yesterday, after spending more than a year there.  Chairman of the Select Committee, Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, presented the committee’s report to the House. The report was adopted by the House, in the absence of the Opposition, which again boycotted the sitting.

The motion sought to have the relevant laws of Guyana amended to make the wilful transmission of HIV from one person to