WHILE THE nation has been consumed with issues of politics, gun violence, drugs and dons, a dark, seamy side of life has apparently been flourishing.
The shocking revelation in yesterday's Sunday Gleaner of a nefarious trade in young girls that has been in existence for some time is evidence of a sick society. According to reports, the girls are "farmed out" at weekly "trade fairs".
Some crafty male predators go after these girls at the most vulnerable period of their lives, the teen years. Some of the girls probably lack self-esteem. All obviously are in need of parental guidance. They may well have sought to escape abject poverty and, unshackled by any moral precept, fell victim to the lure of making easy money .
Alarm bells should have started to ring in the society, as "massage parlours" became a big growth industry. There is a proliferation of advertisements in the daily newspapers for "young, attractive women... no experience necessary" to work in these establishments. Indeed, the ads for the parlours themselves are often very explicit, leaving little doubt as to their real purpose.
What are the laws governing the establishment of massage parlours? Are they required to be licensed?
According to the Offences Against the Person Act, for anyone convicted of attempting or getting a woman to become a prostitute the term of imprisonment is up to three years. That the person could also be "privately whipped" at the discretion of the court speaks to the age and inadequacy of this particular law.
While these revelations may spark sociological discussion as to the causes of this phenomenon in the society - whether it is the influence of cable television or the barrel children syndrome - action is needed, now.
Massage parlours and strip clubs are reported to be lucrative trades, but the society cannot tolerate trading in the youthful flesh and naiveté of misguided young women.
This is indeed a travesty of youth employment often flaunted as adult entertainment.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.
