A visiting American expert on parental alienation said Government interference in child custody is causing widespread social chaos and called for major reforms of the law.

Dr. Stephen Baskerville, a professor of political science at Howard University, in Washington D.C., talked about the rights of divorced parents, at a Rotary Club luncheon held at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club.

Dr. Baskerville was brought to the Island by Childwatch to take part in ‘International Parental Alienation Awareness Day’ activities this week.

“The Government is tearing children from loving and fit parents,” Dr. Baskerville said.

Dr. Baskerville wants to see shared parenting — or joint custody — set up in the United States and Bermuda. In shared parenting both parents have equal rights to their children.

Dr. Baskerville is president of the American Coalition for Fathers and Children, and his articles have appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers.

On his website, Dr. Baskerville said that children have become pawns of the “divorce regime”.

“The terror of the divorce regime is not a future possibility; it is a present reality,” he said.

Although he said he also spoke for some mothers and grandparents, the focus of his talk was on fathers’ rights. He said cheating fathers are often blamed for the break-up of most marriages.

Today, Dr. Baskerville is due to speak at a public forum ‘Social and Economic Benefits to Communities with Shared Parenting’ with panellist Dale Butler, Minister of Social Rehabilitation, and Suzann Holshouser, Shadow Minister of Social Rehabilitation, at the Bermuda College from 6.30 p.m. to 9 p.m..

Mr. Butler will also give a proclamation on the steps of City Hall about International Parental Alienation Awareness Day at 12.15 p.m.

For more information about Dr. Baskerville, go to http://www.stephenbaskerville.net/