CARICOM governments have deferred full consideration of a report by the Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS, (PANCAP) which critics say is designed to encourage a re-order of the Caribbean society in a negative way.
St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Dr. Denzil Douglas said during deliberations on the document it was said that leaders were not yet in a position to support the declaration going forward in the form it was presented.
Douglas was speaking to the Caribbean Media Corporation during the just concluded 35th Heads of Government meeting in Antigua and Barbuda.
He said as a result, the report continues to be work in progress and at a later stage heads of governments will revisit it.
Two weeks ago, 140 Caribbean organisations including some from Jamaica issued a joint statement expressing concern about regional leaders preparing to endorse several actionable recommendations on eliminating HIV-related stigma and discrimination.
The recommendations included repealing laws criminalising consensual sexual acts between adults and making sexual orientation a protected category for non-discrimination.
In a subsequent protest in Jamaica, some of the groups called for transparency and accountability in the discussions leading up to the formulation of the recommendations.
But Douglas, who has lead responsibility for health matters within the quasi-CARICOM Cabinet, said he does not think that PANCAP was making any recommendation on issues such as same sex marriages.
He added that the declaration was taken out of context and issues such as same sex marriage have never come up.
He said the aim of the PANCAP report is to reduce stigma and discrimination against persons who are associated with HIV/AIDS.
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PANCAP report - still a work in progress says PM Denzil Douglas
