Dear Editor,
Recently on Hard Talk, Minister Juan Edghill MP said that that there is no scientific evidence anywhere that anybody is born to be gay. He said homosexuality is learned behaviour, that it should not be tolerated and it should not be allowed to take place. He stated that a homosexual way of life will bring down the wrath of God on homosexuals. He said “Frankly the Bible don’t [sic] change to suit people. It is people that is [sic] expected to change to come up to the standard of the word of God… and that is not something that we will compromise on.” Minister Edghill said he was speaking from religious conviction. It would therefore be helpful if he could tell the people of Guyana how to live up to the standard of the word of God.
Exodus 21:7 allows a man to sell his daughter to be a maidservant or a slave. However slavery, servitude and human trafficking are prohibited by the constitution and other laws of Guyana. It would be helpful if Minister Edghill would tell the Guyanese people what we should obey – the law of God or the manmade laws of Guyana?
Minister Edghill expressed concern on Hard Talk about the impact of homosexuality on the “family” which is the core institution of society. I would like Minister Edghill to tell us what effect he thinks it will have on a family if a man, relying on Exodus 21:7, sells his daughter.
Leviticus 20:10 states that if a man commits adultery with another man’s wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death. The laws of Guyana allow a woman to divorce her husband if he commits adultery. It would be helpful if Minister Edghill would tell the Guyanese people whether the laws of Guyana should be brought into line with Leviticus 20:10 and if not, why not? If Minister Edghill believes that the law should be changed to satisfy Leviticus it would be helpful for him as a Member of Parliament and a minister in the PPP/C government to say whether he will vote to change the law in favour of killing an adulterous pair.
Leviticus 20:09 states that all who curse father or mother shall be put to death. There are people who curse their parents in Guyana. Minister Edghill should tell the Guyanese people whether the law should be changed to meet this verse of Leviticus and if not why not. He should also tell us whether he would vote for a law to impose a death sentence on anyone who curses his/her mother or father.
Exodus 35:2 says that whoever works on a Sunday must be put to death. There are many people in Guyana who work on a Sunday. Some of them run emergency services. Some are medical practitioners. Some are farmers taking care of animals which have to be fed and watered every day. There are young people cleaning out the manatee pond so these wonderful animals can have a better environment. Minister Edghill should tell us whether the laws of Guyana should be altered so that all these people who are violating God’s command can be put to death in accordance with the Holy Scripture. He should also tell us whether, as a member of parliament and a minister in the PPP/C government, he would vote in favour of changing the law to reflect the command of God.
If Minister Edghill would not vote in favour of changing the law to bring people’s behaviour up to the standard of the word of God, it would be helpful for him to explain his reasons since he has said that he will not compromise on the word of God.
I have written directly to Minister Edghill asking him these very questions so that the people of Guyana can learn how to come up to the standard of the word of God.
Yours faithfully,
Melinda Janki
