THE St Thomas police have launched an effort to rid the dancehall and other entertainment events of persons under the age of 18. Reports are that the cops recently rounded up some 12 boys between the ages of seven and 17 years at The Settlement, held in Yallahs in the parish and two girls under 17 at another dance held in Seaforth.

These minors were taken before the St Thomas Childrens Court last week Monday and their parents have been summoned to appear before the Yallahs RM Court on March 3 to answer to breaches of the Child Care and Protection Act. And there are plans to prosecute the promoters of these events which allow access to minors.

Of course, this is good and we laud the cops in St Thomas for this initiative. However, there is the question of how one can prosecute promoters for something for which there is no prescribed regulation. We all know that minors are not allowed and that is not debatable, but the fact is that there is no system of identification set up at dances whereby patrons are asked to present their IDs at the gate. So unless one is driving to an event, it is hardly likely that a patron will walk with ID.

At certain clubs, persons who look as if they are not the required age are asked for IDs, but then, there are those minors who look much older than their actual age. With the right (or wrong) type of clothing and some make-up, a 15-year-old — whether she is a ‘yaki princess’ or not — can easily pass for 20 and many of them are seen every week at various events, from the hardcore open-air dances, to the carnival sessions to

the various parties held across the island.

And, then this brings us to the child performers. There are minors, like Baby Trish, whose presence at stage shows with Beenie Man at all hours of the morning we have questioned. Is there a special cut-off hour after which minors are not allowed to perform? Or can a promoter be prosecuted for Baby Trish “parring wid Beenie Man” at a stage show, regardless of the hour?

Some clarity would be beneficial to all concerned, and after that, it would be a good move for police across the island to support this move.