All views and claims expressed in this letter belong solely to the author.
Dear Editor:
The High Court heard the constitutional challenge to the abortion law on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. The court normally aims to make decisions within six months.
We have now had a gestation period of a full nine months. So, delivery is due. And the court’s term ends in a few days on July 31.
But there should be no rush for the court to make its decision, since the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital, most professional health bodies have done nothing to prepare for what could be a disruptive outcome.
Of course, they may be right: the High Court could declare the law constitutional. It may hold that an English law written in the 1860s is a perfect fit for our constitution of 2026. If that is the decision, then the health institutions are well ahead of the game: no need to change anything.
But what if the court makes a different determination?
At that moment, abortion would cease to be a crime and become health care. That would place a new charge on healthcare professionals. They would have to replace stigma and judgement with kindness and service. That is not mere change: that is transformation.
For several months, we have been appealing to a long list of senior health leaders with almost no response whatsoever. These include: Minister of Health and Wellness, Junior Minister of Health, Permanent Secretary, Chief Medical Officer, Principal Nursing Officer, Director of Medical Services, Director of the Department of Social Services, President of the Dominica Medical Association, President of the Pharmaceutical Society, and President of the Dominica Bar Association. Their contempt has been uniform.
The sole exception has been the Dominica Nurses’ Association. They were gracious, accommodating, and engaging.
What were we seeking? Two things: (i) An opportunity to present the findings from two studies, approved by the Research and Ethics Committee of the Ministry of Health, and (ii) suggestions about preparation for any change arising from the High Court’s decision.
We thought we could share lessons for other countries where courts ruled their abortion laws unconstitutional, Canada (1988), Northern Ireland (2019), and Colombia (2022).
Apparently, we prefer to scramble rather than to be orderly; and perhaps we take independence to mean we have nothing to learn from other countries. Or worse, perhaps, they have already resolved that they will ignore whatever decision the High Court makes.
After all, if the law is declared unconstitutional, the people who would really benefit are poor women and young girls. All other women in Dominica already enjoy access to quality abortion care.
Sincerely,
ASPIRE
ASPIRE is a pro-motherhood, pro-family, pro-choice, non-governmental advocacy group registered in Dominica and five other Caribbean countries. It promotes research and dialogue with civil society and governments to advance fairness and justice in reproductive health.
