PRIME Minister Bruce Golding has flatly rejected a suggestion to decriminalise and regulate commercial sex work, describing the proposal as ludicrous, ill-informed and unauthorised.

In a release on Sunday, Golding said his administration had no intention of legitimising prostitution nor targeting the profession for revenue purposes. Furthermore, he said, such a proposal has never been considered by the Government and would not be entertained.

In an Observer report last week, senior medical officer in charge of the National HIV/STI Programme in the Ministry of Health, Dr Kevin Harvey, suggested that government could rake in up to $3 billion in taxes by decriminalising commercial sex work. This money, he explained, could fund the National HIV/STI programme which currently costs $1 billion annually. According to Dr Harvey, the fund could also be used for targeted intervention for sex workers since they are a part of the vulnerable group of persons at risk of contracting HIV and AIDS.

Professor Peter Figueroa, head of epidemiology and AIDS in the ministry, made a similar suggestion four years ago.

But on Sunday, Prime Minister Golding pointed out that the health ministry has been conducting a vigorous programme to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), especially HIV-AIDS. This includes public education to encourage safe sex practices, access to protective devices such as condoms, regular testing for early detection and appropriate treatment.

"While the programme is aimed broadly at the sexually active population, special attention is given, for obvious reasons, to those who, by virtue of engaging in commercial sex, are at severe risk," he said in the release.

He also disclosed that last month the World Bank approved an additional loan of US$10 million to support the programme and that an agreement for a further grant of US$44 million from the Global Fund will be signed later this month.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said he has directed the cabinet secretary to remind public officers of the provisions of Section 4.4 of the Staff Orders for the Public Service governing public statements on policy issues.

He said that "while he has no desire to muzzle public officers who are called upon from time to time to articulate and clarify Government policy, such a duty does not permit them to embark on their own intellectual frolic which leads to erroneous and confusing interpretation as to the policy and direction of government's thinking".

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