Leader of the Alliance Party for Progress (APP) Bishop Joseph Atherley will not support any move to decriminalise sex work in Barbados.In fact, the religious leader said that instead of seeking to go that route, Barbados should, as a responsible and mature country, be finding ways to avoid people falling into despair and turning to prostitution in the first place.“I believe in decent work. I have never considered prostitution to be decent work and if the best that this country can say to its young women or young men – because they are in prostitution as well – that we will legitimise this activity for you because we can do no better, then I think we have failed,” he said.“Certainly, the church to which I belong will not support legitimising that and I am certain that other [organisations] in the evangelical community will not support it, but I can’t vouch for everybody,” added Bishop Atherley who contended that anyone who stands against slavery cannot honestly give their approval to legitimising prostitution.
