Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey is calling for a discussion about corporal punishment as part of a wider national conversation on violence in society.He contended that this is necessary to address violence not only at the national level but in communities, institutions, and homes across the island.Humphrey made the appeal at the Barbados Museum on Sunday, during a ceremony to mark the ten-year anniversary of Jabez House, a non-governmental organisation that helps sex workers find alternative work.Noting that research has shown that people who are violent towards others often had a history of violent upbringing, the Minister said: “I feel that the time has come really where we need to have a conversation around violence, period; around corporal punishment in schools and in other institutions; a conversation about corporal punishment even in our households, and to talk about it… and what it does and how violence begets further violence.”“I just feel it’s time for that particular conversation.”
