Retreating from a position that he strongly advocated merely a week ago, the boss of the correctional services, Major Richard Reese, now backs keeping the age at which a girl can legally consent to sex at 16, rather than raising it to 18.

Ironically, Reese's revised position was communicated to the parliamentary committee studying the issue by Mary Clarke, the Children's Advocate, who had launched a withering assault on the prison boss' proposal. Clarke had argued that raising the age of consent would only serve to drive issues concerning the sexuality among children further under ground at a time when they most needed help.

Yesterday, she reported to the joint select committee that there was now an inter-agency consensus, involving the Ministry of Health, her office and the Department of Correctional Services, following consultations after last week's sitting of the committee.

Clarke told the parliamentarians that the consultations had led to a "meeting of the minds" that the current position on the age of consent should be retained.

Further consideration

At the same time, the Children's Advocate suggested, the committee should give further consideration to options for treatment and punishment adopted in other jurisdictions. In particular, she cited the Trinidadian approach as one model to examine, especially with regard to "age differences between the perpetrator and victim".

Major Reese, seated beside Mrs. Clarke, signalled his agreement with the position enunciated.

The age of consent in Jamaica was last raised - from 14 to 16 years - in December, 1988.