Professor Bain and UniBAM: Clouding an issue in Public Health and Policy

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Posted: 21st May, 2014
"Who would have ever thought that we would need a witness protection programmed in a case like this."This was Stirm words on Rise and Shine this morning. Really? No one knocked out his teeth, invaded his family property, experienced constant triggered finger. We are under attack, and these individuals will not stop until they take GOD out of our constitution." This is, comes from Jason Andrew Jones. Really? In the entire show on Rise and Shine, Louis Wade never one referred to the University release.


The statement from The University of the West Indies dated May 20th, said," ... it has become increasingly evident that Professor Bain has lost the confidence and support of a significant sector of the community which the CHART programme is expected to reach, including the loss of his leadership status in PANCAP, thereby undermining the ability of this programme to effectively deliver on its mandate. It is for this reason that the University of the West Indies has decided to terminate the contract of Professor Bain.."
 
Dane Lewis, of JFLAGS said in a Gleaner, "The crux of the matter is that his affidavit helped to legitimise the anti-gay movement in Belize, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, and Jamaica that has been actively misusing epidemiological data to compromise the integrity of the regional HIV response. The issues raised in the call from Civil Society is not about L.G.B.T rights per se but about an approach to the regional HIV response based on the evidence available to those working in the field. This is evidenced by the broad range of Civil society groups who are signatories to the call.

Professor Bain supplied a report on behalf of a group of churches who asked the court to be listed as an interested party in the case and who have argued for the retention of the Belize Penal Code. As a result we believe his position as stated and decision to publicly articulate puts him in direct conflict with the University’s own stated position in respect of its role in the regional HIV response.




The above imagery was organized by Belize Action in support of Bain, but failed to recognised that  they had an opportunity to constructively dialogue on our concerns, to engage organizations responsibly, to address the quality of life issues.  Instead they have chosen to ignore our reality as L.G.B.T citizens using prayers. 


Bain has a right to hold a belief at work, church, home, among friends, but we cannot ignore the responsibility that comes with holders of key public positions that impacts public health policy. Bain is not a peer educator, but had a substantial leadership position, as such, is to be held to a higher standard for not upholding basic international human rights principles. 

The organizations supporting the engagement  on Bain was 35, of that 10 were L.G.B.T, most were HIV/AIDS, Feminists groups etc. The Plus TV spoke of " UNIBAM and 32 other homosexual advocacy groups demanded Bain’s termination from that post because of his expert testimony in the Caleb Orozco vs Government of Belize case over Section 53 of Belize’s criminal code.." check the facts Plustv.

The groups concern with Bain asked he be removed,""from any leadership position in the CHART programme and all positions of representation at the university on issues of HIV and AIDS".

Bain skills, experience, right to speech and academic freedoms is not in question, he has benefited from international resources and had access to a substantive role were an opportunity to faciliate the PANCAP Regional Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS objectives of supporting an enabling environment existed. He choose instead  to use that substantial position to misuse research data that was as much as 10 years old. He chose to submit a legal document to a court case that in effect legitimized the anti-gay movement in the region and support the undermining process of human rights of a marginalised group and PANCAP own strategic objective, a mechanism that is endorsed by regional government.



A Professor Trial
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140518/news/news1.html


UWI Statement on Bain
Source: http://myspot.mona.uwi.edu/marcom/newsroom/entry/5708

Professor in Hot water
http://www.stabroeknews.com/2014/news/regional/05/18/uwi-professor-hot-water-anti-gay-sex-testimony/

Professor Bain poured fuel on anti-gay fire
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140521/cleisure/cleisure5.html

Bain Undermine HIV Fight
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140521/cleisure/cleisure3.html

PlusTV coverage of Bain firing
http://www.plustvbelize.com/professor-fired-professional-opinion-didnt-line-up-with-unibams-agenda/

Protesters Picket UWI
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Protesters-picket-UWI-in-support-of-sacked-professor_16716625

76 crime news
http://76crimes.com/2014/05/22/aids-program-ousts-leader-who-embraces-anti-gay-laws/

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