THE DESIRE for “bling” and showy possessions are the two main factors driving the precocious sexual activity among secondary and tertiary school students. Behaviour change consultant to the National HIV/AIDS Commission, Marilyn Sealy, disclosed this and other findings at the commission’s research symposium yesterday at Hilton Barbados. From a three-year study that examined the theme, “Risk Perception And Sexual Practices Among Teenagers In Barbados,” she stated that 85% of the participants interviewed who were between the ages of 15 and 18 were sexually active. The National HIV/AIDS Commission of Barbados, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, facilitated the whole-day seminar which examined many of the issues dealing with HIV/AIDS in Barbados, and by extension the wider Caribbean community.
“15% cited clothes, money and peer pressure as factors leading to sexual activity . . . . It’s interesting to see how they get their clothes and bus fare for school; sex is a big factor. That’s how they make their money and how their parents pay their bills.” The 2004 study took place during the Crop-Over Festival period where the researchers were present at official events and theme parties. Several risqué photographs taken on site were displayed yesterday highlighting sexually explicit positions and revealing attire. This prompted Sealy to make links between rape and scantily clad women, as well as, the music culture and promiscuity. Sealy also stated that results from the study showed that the level of HIV/AIDS awareness was elevated, but most believed they were exempt from the disease; the notion was it primarily befalls prostitutes or homosexuals.
The investigation also highlighted that, despite the high awareness of the dangers involved, “Barbadian youths continue to practice early sexual initiation, multiple sexual partners and non-use of condoms”. She also spoke to high levels of ignorance surrounding sexual relations. “Their sexual practices were mostly unprotected and included anal, oral, and vaginal sex,” she noted. A lot of young people indicated that if they practiced anal sex then they would remain virgins. They felt their hymen would still be intact, Sealy added.
Source: Nation Newspaper
On the 25th September 2007, BU highlighted the cry by a leading Sexually Transmittal Infection (STI) Specialist in Barbados, Dr.Vijaya Thani. In that article her concerns about the lifestyle behaviour of our teenagers was evident. We continue to be very concern about the inability of the relevant agencies in Barbados to make an impression on our youths. They need to initiate lifestyle changes in order to arrest the spread of HIV and AIDS. We highlighted that the responsibility for HIV/AIDS falls under the portfolio of no less a person than Prime Minister Owen Arthur who took charge in 2001. He has appointed the very eminently qualified Dr. Carol Jacobs who has had access to a World Bank loan of USD15.5 million dollars to disseminate her message. It has now been over 6 years; based on feedback from Dr. Thani and scientific research by Marilyn Sealy – Change Consultant at the National HIV/AIDS Commission our young people continue to engage in sexual behaviour which demonstrates a high order of ignorance. As Barbadians when we reconcile the sexual behavior of our youth to what our authorities would have the world believe that we are an educated people, the great paradox is evident for all Barbadians to ruminate.
Where do we go from here?
If we are to evaluate the performance of the Prime Minister and Dr. Carol Jacobs given the abysmal results of the HIV/AIDS awareness campaign to date, the logical reaction by concerned Barbadians should be to ask both individuals to resign from their respective positions and give others a chance to perform such tasks. We do not think that it is an unreasonable request to make. Performance and only performance should be the main factor to determine whether individuals remain in jobs. Barbados, with its recent reports in the media, occupy a high global position as far as the number of Barbadians suffering with communicable and non-communicable diseases. When will Barbados, as a small country, which aspires to First World status by 2025, realizing that the date keeps shifting, get up and start to grab our society back from the precipice of destruction. If readers believe that we are alarmists then they should have a look at the current state of many African countries. We all know that for any country to achieve First World status the issue of productivity of our people must be a priority. We know that any nation which is infected with high levels of HIV/AIDS will see a compromise in its ability to produce at a high level.
It is no Secret
It is no secret that the lifestyle behaviour which Marilyn Sealy – Consultant HIV/AIDS Commission highlighted at the recent seminar also exist within our adult population. Barbados is a small rock and the business of our friends and neighbours is well known. The promiscuity which occurs in Barbados on a daily basis would make for a successful soap opera production to rival the “Bold & Beautiful” and the “Young and the Restless.” Regrettably, although reputed to be an educated nation, we continue to bury our heads in the sand and pray that our HIV/AIDS problems would fade away.
We are too intelligent a people to remain focus on politics only. The social well being of our little island must begin to take centre stage. We know that people nowadays hate it when old farts like us moralize, but that is ok. How do we solve the great paradox that confronts us? People are aware of the dangers of unprotected sex but they don’t care anyway. Who will lead us?
Previous Article
David,
Firing Dr. Jacobs and the PM is going to solve the problem of black people having unprotected sex or non-parents having kids? It is not the government’s responsibility nor does it have the capacity to raise children, that’s why we have parents. No amount of “social programs” can substitute for good parents. If kids are growing up in homes with no love, nurturing, morals, or self-respect, there is nothing the PM, Rev Hall, the headmistress or god can do to prevent their destructive behavior because that’s all they know. These non-parents shouldn’t be allowed to have kids in the first place, but Bim isn’t ready for that kind of “radicalism” yet.
Don’t get all worked up degap, and no name, it is all a matter of perspective.
everyone agrees that this is a VERY SERIOUS, deadly and dangerous problem with the potential to destroy the whole place…. all agreed?
I am not picking on Dr Jacobs, or the PM personally – I am picking on EVERYONE who takes up the responsibility to LEAD, knowing that they have NO CLUE where to go.
Let us look at de gaps comment.
he outlines the dire situation with aids, morals and hopeless parents – and then he says “..but Bim isn’t ready for that kind of ‘radicalism’ yet…’
Get me?
We have a RADICAL problem– but we cannot consider RADICAL solutions …
This is the path to FAILURE.
like the doctor saying – This patient has cancer and only surgery can save him -but surgery is to RADICAL a measure to consider…
This is the time for doctors with the knowledge and confidence to do what it takes to save the patient…not for bush tea remedies.
The fact is even if Ghandi and mother Teresa were in-charge of this, the outcome would be the same. I’m no fan of Owen but i think he has enough nails in his coffin as it is, with out this failed aids fight thing. Some of you have said it and I guess I’ll say it again, to “win” a war you have to know your enemy. The problem is the people you are trying to a save are partly causing the situation.
We know all about AIDS, we hear about it every day, its on radio and the TV even the internet. So we tout the “victims” and the sexually active teenagers. What about the ones who are not active and have no intention of being active (sexually), the ones who make sensible decisions and the ones who are at least careful in their “dealings”. Where does the responsibility fall? I’m not talking about those molested or raped, I’m talking about those who make an active decision to pursue an activity that is an obvious danger to their health. We like to paint the picture of “victims” but no one touches responsibility.
We brag about “old” morality but girls (and boys) were being raped and abused then (its in our folk-songs for crying out loud), and the society did the exact thing its doing now.. applying labels and blame to those it choses to condemn or favor. You see our society is one of saving face and keeping things quiet (not just in government), every one of us has skeletons that we would prefer buried and forgotten.
There is a quote I will always love:
“We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that we used when we created them.”
We did not create AIDS or HIV but we are the ones responsible for where it is today. We blame the doctor and Owen because they are easy to spot, but its harder to point at the one in the mirror. Enough of this victim talk, if a boy is surrounded by thieves his whole life and becomes a thief himself what do we do? we lock him away, we lock him away because his actions broke the law irregardless of his circumstances. We lock him away because he made a conscious decision (klepto just means you get locked away with therapy). Why should we assume that sex erases all rules, sex is too powerful, nothing short of ministerial action can save us!!… ridiculous.
“Peer pressure”, another mantra. There is peer pressure to violence, pressure to steal, pressure for sex, unless these people are at gun point(metaphorical as well as physical), I think they made a decision to commit their actions. Owen steals, do we blame his father still? Mascoll does junk do we blame his mother? these are people who made their decisions in-spite of the consequences, why is it when STDs are involved the lines are no longer clear.
If we really wanted to change things we have ways of doing it, you want to stop smoking? ban the sale of cigarettes, it goes illegal lock up the ones you can catch (weed anybody?). If alcohol is a vice ban it, and do the same as above. Already the hairs on the back of your neck stand up at the thought of not having your smokes and booze, we’re adults dammit, we can control ourselves!!
Unless we change, introduce some radical thought as another writer said, we are doomed.
So we are hearing many of the same old arguments. Don’t blame the PM or Dr. Jacobs, blame the parents. Well here is the deal, there are no damn parents to blame so we elected to blame the two people responsible for setting and executing HIV/AIDS policy in Barbados. Its up to them to blame and hold to account who they feel like. The reality is simply this , it does not matter how well we think they have performed since 2001, the number of infections continue to rise and Barbados is up there as one of the countries with the highest infection rate per thousand.
Please deal with that people!
David we all know what we need to do to prolong life and health. THIS IS A FACT ON THE PUBLIC RECORD. Doctors, studies etc preach to us almost 24/7.
However because of our own refusal to make lifestyle changes we are not only dying younger and faster but causing horrific costs to thehealthcare system.
I think if WE the people have no intention to make lifstyle changes that we ARE TOLD BY THE EXPERTS is the only way to live longer healthier lives. Do you think that if we appointed a body as in the case of the argument here about the PM and the Doctor that we are going to change? I doubt it and that is the problem. How do you get people to listen?
Most of these affected people believe they are invincible until it happens to them. This is particularly true with the young!
David,
Why you don’t just give up nuh?
The drivers can’t drive, but worse yet, the passengers blind….
Okay i didnot read all of those comments am sure some made sense. But let me add a couple of things. I had this discussion with my husband the other night and he was not in agreement all the way. We have a society of parents who are struggling to put food and shelter on the table for their kids. They have only just mastered the 1st and 2nd rung of Maslovs heriarcy of needs. They have no knowledge or time to teach the other needs like self actualization, healthy self concept and esteem. So we have a generation of young people who have not been told by someone that matters to them that they are special, and that their bodies are special and that they don’t have to be controlled by them. And further they don;t have to use them to survive. But maybe i am living in a neverneverland thinking like this. A lot a whole bunch of these kids when u talk to them they will tell u that I ahd no one to tell me that my vaginity is a precious thing that should be kept for that special someone (boths males and female). Some might say no one told them and they knew bully for you happy u got it on your own but they are some that need to be told and told and told until they get it.
But question if mom and dad too busy who will be telling, school, church, leaders? Who maybe if we get this small detail right me may stand a chance.
Statistics will tell u that kids who are permiscuous and misbehave are usually school drop outs and have difficulty learning. Think about that for a minute and i will come back later with a little more on this.
On the matter of AIDS i have always felt maybe just maybe if the ads that we are putting out there had a real end stage AIDS victim on it with the rotting flesh and yellow tongue. With they complete lack of control over their body functions, open sores ectc with a message that reads; THIS COULD BE YOU. CONDOMIZE!! Maybe just maybe it might place a flicker of fear in the hearts of our young and not so young. But on the ads u see healthy handsome people. tell me what is they to fear??
Isabella believe me AIDS/HIV is impacting wealthy children too.
But consider this and so far the discussion on this subject(HIV/AIDS) has not even visited this other sexually transmitted disease that is plaguing society with equally devastating results and I avoided bringing it up until now because of your post.
Young promiscuous women are now contracting Cervical cancer at rates that boggles the mind. It is said by the experts that this cancer is spread by a male infection or venereal type disease. I cannot speak for Barbados but developed Nations of the world is now using a vaccine to combat this other frontal attack on promiscuity.
If you have young girls I strongly suggest you check it out on the web.
Our education system is failing our young people in a very big way and we need to so something NOW to help our children. Too many children fail needlessly simply because the way in which they learn in incompatble with the ways they are being taught. Schools are filled with children who have given up and feel like losers just because their brains are not in synch with the demands and expectations of the school system.
Having an insight into the specific nature of the breakdown in learing is critical to creating an appropiate solution or remedy.
What i am basically saying, many of our children learn some by touch and feel then see and comprehend, others but sight and hearing. They are a number of pathways. The key is figuring out which path and where the breakdown occurs and how to fix it. How many teachers do this? How may have the skills, time or inclination to handle soemthing like this. Remedial classes is not the only solution. More talk and chalk talk and chalk.
Some kids are creative, artistic, when these skills are tapped into they can open up other paths call neurodevelopment systems that might encourage book learning. Focus on a strength to strengthen a weakness. And equally so for other differently abled children. Not all are or will be scholars, what is the system doing to caters to these kids. (We see so many skilled artist and artisians coming out of Glendary, sorry Harrison”s point oh sorry Dodds prison) they fellows were not tapped at school so they were thought to be fools or slow.
When will the ministry place a minister who has some educational trainiging in modern teaching methods to head this crutial area of our society the education of our future leaders?
Isabella,
What you are talking about requires leaders who are wise (can drive).
The obvious national tool available to deal with shaping morals of the youth MUST BE IN THE SCHOOLS.
It is pointless talking bout parents, home, church etc.. but some of us will continue to do that anyway.
We are spending MILLIONS PER YEAR (more than the flyover) on an education system that is more and more of a failure as we spend more and more on it… sounds just like the AIDS problem, the Hospital problem etc??! – the drivers are what we have in common.
You think someone would look at why this is so?
could minister WOOD? Hilary BECKLES? The PM?? – they have no licenses…
of course NOT – they just put more money in…
You have hit the nail on the head – we need to IMPROVE THE ABILITY OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO PRODUCE DECENT CITIZENS. (not only ‘scholars’)
..now let us see if someone can see how this can be done (for 10% of what we now spend…)
Oh for some drivers…
Isabella welcome to the real world and what you want though realistic isn’t going to happen anytime soon.
Are your kids getting tattos because that is the way to go these days. Are they dressing like prostitutes for school because that is their right. Do Teachers have the right to spank your children without being sued or lose their jobs?
Society and Government has instilled the ways of what a misguided society believes is the way to go and much is enshrined in legal legislation.
Who is going to change it? Especially when you folk in the Caribbean emulate everything the North American and UK society embraces.
Children can leave home in North America at the age of consent because they say they are being abused by parents, who are in fact only dishing out normal standards of discipline and can be taken in by half way houses, live on the streets or become prostitutes etc.
You need to deal with a changing world or you will accomplish nothing but sadness down the road
In my early university days, in a state of intoxication. An elder student spoke the true true words in response to this topic.
You will change when you get tired of going to funerals. That is why we changed in the 80′s.
Viekevie~are you saying that there is no hope? Must our societies fall to rise again? Whether our education?
What that ‘elder drunk student’ was saying David, is that this world is full of IDIOTS (the bible prefers to call them sheep)
As you know, any idiot will change his ways after suffering the consequences of his foolishness. (we will even change this Government next year -and the Americans will dump the Republicans too…)
But it takes a wise man to changes his ways pro actively, based on looking at the situation logically.
It was obvious that Bush was a joker when he ran against Al Gore, just as it was clear that he “isn’t all there’ at the last elections – But Americans went for the ‘War on terror’
Last elections it was clear that the BLP had no clue about solving Bajan problems too -but we went for the glitzy PR junk.
But as I said, the passengers are blind.
Back to solving the problem though…
I think that the discussion here has clearly identified that the problem is that we have no leaders with the wisdom and testicular fortitude to take the strong, wise decisions needed to solve the SERIOUS problems we face as a society.
I will even tell you where the REAL problem started… in the 1970′s with co-education… otherwise known as the UGLI plan to destroy manhood. (Universal Gays and Lesbians Institute – OK!! – i mek dat up)
This plan was championed by the World Bank and led locally by ministers Tull and Miller at the time.
Wisdom has always been a problem, but this was the beginning of the end of testicular fortitude in Barbados.
No more Barrows. Crawfords, Frank Walcotts, Sobers, Adams, etc – you name me two persons at this level of testicular strength under age 55.
(They got distracted between ages 12-16 and ended up driving ZRs…)
Someone above quoted Albert Einstein. – what Einstein was saying (in bajan language) is that you cannot expect the same idiots who create a big problem to be the ones to solve it…
You see anyone out there with the GUTS to save our boys? against the World Bank’s secret agenda and the local blind mice -many in the Ministry of Education, who (poor things) cannot even understand what is happening?
Like it or lump it – NO MEN means NO leadership. God made it so – not me.
No leadership means… well see what the bible says about sheep without shepherd.
..and No name or no brain or whatever you call yourself – this is a serious discussion – do us a favour and stop your junk about how things can never change and the lotta bull… I want to hear Isabella..
Alcoholics are still with us and are now killing on the road with cars. This problem is still waiting to be fixed in all countries of the world we now have added to it drug use, teefing and killing has been with us for decades and we are still awaiting solutions. Open your eyes and your mind!
Yes discipline, training of children from a young age and teaching them right from wrong is all part of the problem. That I have never denied but the problems of promiscuity, diseases etc are all over the world it is not isolated to Barbados. And if you think by changing leaders it is going away then you are more foolish than your rants suggest. Nations all over the world change leaders but how is that going to eradicate contagious diseases.
I have wasted enough time on this subject believe what you will it is a free country.
bbbbbaaaaaahh
Thank you for confirming my analysis of your approach, No Name… Bye- and have a nice day.
David my response to Iasbella yesterday brought up another very important medical issue involving promiscuity and young women having several sexual encounters with different partners.
I think that parents of young ladies at an age vulnerable in experimenting with sex should be very vigilant. And regrettably many of the young ladies being impacted are at the age of consent where parents have no legal control over their personal lives.
Though what I am speaking about may not at this stage be as deadly as the HIV/AIDS disease IF CAUGHT EARLY it is still spreading very quickly. And I suggest parents educate themselves about it. I am talking about the spread of Cervical cancer in young promiscuous women that is being caused directly by their prosmiscuity and being infected by one or more of their many partners. It has become a major problem in North America and here is why.
Many young women will not or do not get timely pap smears which themselves have recently come in for serious question as far as reliability of tests are concerned. It is now being advocated that Pap smears be replaced with DNA testing or a combination of both. This can be researched by parents on bringing up the Mayo Clinic Website, or the prestigeous Brigham Womens Hospital I think is the correct name. I am no expert I merely keep myself informed!
However parents need to pay attention because knowledge allows you to know what you are dealing with and your options for preventing it or treating it. We are living in a complicated and ever changing world we need to deal with it by facing reality.
What has to be encouraged is that young women get annual physicals and pap smears or as is being suggested now DNA testing because it shows up the cervical cancer early and it is treated and cleared up with an in-office visit at the OBY?GYN. It is a cauderization process. No Chemo or such therapy is required. However, if PAP smears or now DNA testing is not done annually and the cerivcal cancer is advanced the game is over in many ways. Death can be the ultimate price but a hysterectomy is a given and even if the young lady survives she lives a childless life.
Fortunately and I am sure the same is true in Barbados sexually active young women or most are on the pill and to get the pill respectable and responsible family doctors demand their patients get an annual and a pap smear.
We have to look at all of these situations in a clear and realistic way because as soon as we find a solution for one thing another surfaces.
In the case of these instances of cervical cancer there is a vaccine that young women can receive to protect them and it is on the market now, albeit the debate of the pros and cons of it are still being hotly contested by the medical and other professions.
For what it is worth!
However because of our own refusal to make lifestyle changes we are not only dying younger and faster but causing horrific costs to thehealthcare system.
I think if WE the people have no intention to make lifstyle changes that we ARE TOLD BY THE EXPERTS is the only way to live longer healthier lives. Do you think that if we appointed a body as in the case of the argument here about the PM and the Doctor that we are going to change? I doubt it and that is the problem. How do you get people to listen?
Well said no name
Another point that might be of interest to your male readers is information I was given at my last physical by my MD.
There is now a new test that males can get to determine if they have prostate cancer that is indicated by a rising PSA test that is non invasive. It costs $2000 Canadian. There is still only a few facilities and machines available but more are coming on line quickly. I think there are two in Canada and some in different parts of the USA.
The test is done like a cat scan there is a name for it but I forget but the machine doing it has the ability to measure a certain chemical component that is present if you have prostate cancer. I am told it is 99.9% reliable. It is still new.
However when compared to having a biopsy of the prostate done with all of its inherent after effects, like impotency, incontinence and others I think this new non invasive procedure is worth checking out. Because though a PSA test is helpful in determining if you might have prostate cancer it is highly unreliable and I think only 30% of biopsies recommendeded because of a high PSA test come back positive.
Mosquito,
why you don’t go back to defending the flyovers with your dengue logic?
..so if a parent find that his children will not listen to his instructions he should just throw up his hands and say ‘well I can’t do no more…” Was that your parent’s approach (that would explain a lot…)
my insect friend, a good parent (or leader) would find some way to get through to that child FOR THEIR OWN GOOD. either by extra attention, getting expert help, or licks as a last resort – if he really love that child…(as Adrian Hinds pointed out before)
If you and NO Name don’t know how to solve the problem either, wanna in good company with the PM and the DOC, why assume that your not knowing means that there is no solution?
If you have the solution to HIV/AIDS and how to stop people having unprotected sex do tell everyone. Dont hide your light under a bush along with the tea.
I trust that you are doing your bit going into schools telling the teachers that the buck stops with them that its all their fault for not producing decent citizens.
Course its much easier to preach than teach isnt it?
Good Mosquito, we are making progress. (despite your getting personal – I never said that I knew the answer…or that I didn’t…)
You don’t know what I do, so let’s leave that jab aside for now…. I ducking under it!!
You seem to be now accepting that, even if we don’t know, someone, somewhere might have a solution.
This is a MUCH better approach than preaching gloom and doom and ‘all is lost’. (see if you can talk to No Name – i give up)
This way, we will be open to new ideas in the hope that the solution may be right there…
btw, do you know that there are societies where HIV is not a serious problem? What do they do differently?
Are you aware that in some societies the politicians don’t steal at all?… and they manage the peoples’ business very efficiently? What is different in those places?
I feel we could work out this puzzle Mos…
I thought you were in the bussiness of generating hot air Bush Tea!
You are right there are countries where they (say) they dont have an HIV/AIDS problem.
These are the same countries where they hang homosexuals.In these countries people also allegedly dont steal at all either. Probably because a sector of the population have their right hands lopped off every week or so.Are you proposing this as a solution?
Why are you so focused on what i generate; what i am proposing; what i am doing in the schools…can’t we have a simple debate of IDEAS?
OK you say that some countries have little crime because ‘a section of the population have their right hands lopped off every week…’
This sound quite terrible, and obviously we would not want that here. But let us check out some FACTS…
have you ever been to one of these countries?
In a typical one of these countries (population 10 million) how many hands are lopped per year?
Suppose the answer was less that 3, and we compared a similar country (like ours) of population 1/4 million where we have an average of 4 murders of innocent victims of crime, 20 victims seriously injured and the whole community terrorized by a relative few criminals.
Where would you live (assuming you were an honest citizen)?
There are countries which hang those caught with drugs too. When last was someone hung?
Maybe these penalties reflect a serious NATIONAL abhorrence of these activities and a SERIOUS message that they will NOT be tolerated.
maybe that is national leadership…
what you think?
Bush Tea
These are countries that do not have the luxury of democracy. These are countries that have hereditary despots as leaders whose goverment is by unqualified relatives. These are countries where the leaders live a licentious lifestyle yet penalise their subjects for any misdemeanour.These are countries where woman, gays and anyone who opens their mouths have no rights at all.BU would not last two days.In these countries people are hung and maimed on a weekly basis. Is that what you call national leadership? It is what the rest of the thinking world calls opression.Is that what you want for Barbados?
..so emotional ‘quito… take it easy skip… and try to leave me out of it. i am just a little joker who like thinking out of the box….
Ok first let’s look at ‘the luxury of democracy’. You mean like ours? or the USA? Why you think that everyone else but you and ABC upset with the flyover scheme? that project was so open and democratic wasn’t it?
You think BU esists ” BECAUSE of our democracy? ” If David is a man let him give his real name – by tomorrow he would be charged with all sorts of things and searched all over his… ok left out dat.
Barbados has experienced more VINDICTIVE behaviour than many of your so-called despot countries…. ask the juman girl. You ever heard ’bout Tom?
Don’t be misled by the western media hype…
The POINT IS that democracy can be JUST AS BAD as a BAD DICTATOR…. so we agree that we need good LEADERSHIP. The challenge is to ensure that the ‘good’ is sustainable.
This requires a national SYSTEM to monitor, supervise and if needed, CONTROL the leaders -be they democrat or dictator.
Actually, a system that I like exist in the CREDIT UNION where they have a board of directors who run things – just like the Government does. BUT the general members ALSO elect a SUPERVISORY committee with powers to monitor the boards behaviors and to take appropriate action as needed when the Board strays…
Why can’t the electorate – at election time, elect such a body of persons to have similar ‘supervisory’ powers over all government activities?
This is what a meaningful senate should be….
where do you disagree?
The Aids rate in the caribbean islands (except haiti) is less than 2% so it would be great if Barbados stopped scaring the damn tourists by calling it a high aids rate, i saw a few ad’s that mentioned the “high aids rate” you like to censor your talk shows, when this is what you should censor.
Secondly and to the meat of the matter, there are many causes to the problem and to put it simply you need more public campaigns promoting safe sex. I’ve been in Barbados as a student so dont think im speaking without any experience in your island. It has made a noticable change in Jamaica and it can for you. Someone in the comments above asked about putting condom machines in school. I say put them in school, in jail, in church, and every wall you can find. With a combination of a good pr program and easy access to condoms people will use them more and more. And dont knock church, the first time i got into a girls panties was after chuch when everyone left.