Should they give a green light to the Red?
Well, being a rather wet and rainy Sunday afternoon here in Jamdown, I don’t have much to report. I guess I could mention that last night I took a friend of mine from Mo Bay to dinner at the Thai restaurant. She enjoyed the food as much as I did but they managed to piss me off as they forgot to place the order for the appetizers that I had made. So, I was quite taken aback when the waitress arrived with the main course which was Sweet and Sour Fish, Chicken with Green Curry and a vegetable fried rice. I got over the lack of the appetizers eventually. Maybe it was the gods trying to tell me that I nyam (eat) too much. Anyway, that is really not why I’m here doing an entry today.
I read an article in today’s Gleaner which says that our Minister of Health has said no to the development of a Red light district here in Jamaica. Now in recent times, there have been calls from health care and social workers for some sort of system to be put into place to oversee the running of such establishments.
Presently, prostitution is illegal in Jamaica (so is the use of ganja, which is available just about everywhere.) Despite brothels being illegal, there are a number of nightclubs in Kingston (go go clubs) that men frequent for topless and nude dancing, massage parlours have proliferated in the last five years and if you wish it is possible to solicit sexual favours at some of these establishments for a price. So the world’s oldest profession is very much in our midst here.
Up comes the issue of STDs. Now, there is no point in ignoring that these Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) exist. In fact, they come to our attention in medicine seeking treatment. It is our duty to educate them about practising safe sex and the use of condoms. The fact of the matter is that they are doing this, so pretending that they don’t exist because some view it as immoral is really not helping to solve ths issue. They will continue.
There is the argument that the designation of a Red Light District could possibly lead to an increase in STDs, and would conflict with the laws of the country. It does not spell sense to be allowing a Red Light district if commercial sex is illegal, does it?
Personally, I think I sit on the fence at the moment regarding my views about this, but feel that if coerced just a little I would if I was asked to, vote in favour of it. You may think that I don’t have any morals. Not true, I am just trying to be practical here.
Strangely enough, I stumbled across this article about a change of attitude amongst the Dutch in Amsterdam who are famous for being liberal where commercial sex and ganja use are concerned.
What are your opinions on this? I would like to hear your views as I am sure this could spark off quite a lot of healthy discussion. Should we give a green light to the red light district? I will check back for replies later, though I know this is a holiday weekend in the US, and hits may well be lower than usual. Try not to Labour too much on Labour Day tomorrow friends. Later.
September 1st, 2003 at 8:01 pm Normally, I’d have said straight off that we should set up the red light districts, but then I read the article you linked and an article in the Gleaner and they pointed out that Italy and Holland are backpedalling from that situation because they see where it has been leading to more problems. I say that we need to look at other countries that have done it, study their implementation of it and the results and based on that study, determine if its the right way to go.
September 1st, 2003 at 8:24 pm Perhaps you’re right Mad Bull, but I still feel that the CSWs need to get more organized help. They are not going to stop doing what they do. In fact, as the economic constraints that more and more Jamaicans find themselves in worsen, there are likely to be even more women looking to this line of work to help make ends meet. More stuff for Mr. Junor to consider on. I think it will take a joint effort to come up with a workable solution. The government may not OK the red light district, but the problems that these people face need to be addressed.
September 1st, 2003 at 8:44 pm I haven’t had the opportunity to read the article you linked to, but I have a few thoughts on this. I think prostitution will occur whether it is illegal or not. I think we would make it safer for those involved if we made it legal, required regular check ups and medical treatment, and taxed it as any other business. For those women (and men) who have no choice about using their bodies this way, the least we could do would be to create a safer environment for them to work.
September 2nd, 2003 at 8:18 am Buffy, you said what I wanted to say, but far more clearly. Another Gleaner writer continues the discussion making some valid points IMHO.
September 3rd, 2003 at 1:34 am Hmmmm legal punanie (sp?), that would *really* boost tourism! Here in the U.S. the only place where prostitution is legal is Las Vegas. At face value, it makes perfect sense as it’s regulated by health officials, and the uh, “workers” have to submit for testing on a regular basis. I can’t help but think that when something is illegal, people tend to hide in the shadows and take unnecessary risks. (Much like abortion back in the old days.) And as far as Ganja… I have never understood why that’s illegal and alcohol isn’t. Alcohol is far more dangerous.
September 3rd, 2003 at 2:47 pm Man, I don’t know about that one. I think if it’s going to be, it might as well be safe. But speaking for the ‘topless joint/massage parlor’ areas in Dallas, they tend to be really scuzzy areas and to crowd out more, um, mainstream businesses, as well as bring down property values. I don’t know the crime statistics, or in comparison to areas of town that are just bad areas. I agree with Mad Bull about looking at what other countries have done. There’s no sense in jumping in without looking first, huh?