Dear Editor,

Last week, while watching BBC World News; I saw where, in Switzerland, prostitution is now a legitimate profession. For me, being a young Catholic Christian, that became a great concern, along with the effects it will have on Jamaica.

In less than three days our local newspapers carried the news that members of Jamaica western fraternity of prostitutes want to become legitimate. But what really are the pros and cons of prostitution?

In my research I have come to realise that the cons outweighed the pros, especially in Jamaica where crimes against our women and children are still taboo and kept undercover. I therefore plead to our Government not to legalise prostitution for any political or economic gains.

Some members of society will argue that prostitution is free choice and it is without victim, because persons involved are adults. However, the UN and National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (1992) indicated that 55 per cent of persons involved in prostitution around the world are under the age of 18, and those above the age 18 were victim of abuse before entering the lifestyle of prostitution. The report also states that, on many occasions, prostitutes are forced to engage in sadomasochistic acts. Therefore, this indicates to us that not many persons had the intention to enter this type of negative lifestyle, but instead need help from society to educate themselves and gain meaningful employment. It also indicates that our society has failed to protect the most vulnerable amongst us — our children.

Every day on our local stations we are plagued with several faces of missing young people, and within an island as small as Connecticut we simple find it difficult to locate them, despite our claim of technological advancement.

In a country, like ours, with high moral decay, and where society demands of us to be “free” or the excuse is “it is my right”, we must stand firm in the face of sin and immorality and simple say no! No, we will not legalize same sex marriage. No, Jamaica will not legalise abortion. No Jamaica will not legalise prostitution.

Our young women and men who engage in prostitution need help, love, and compassion, along with opportunities for success and a better standard of living. Any Government who take disadvantage of our poor and abused people will have to give an account one day.

Roger Goodwill

roger_goodwill14@hotmail.com