Theo Chambers, president of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce.

WHILE CONDEMNING those who engage children in prostitution, business interests in Negril insist tourism is not to be blamed for teen delinquency and prostitution in the town. Instead, they say that training in parenting skills is an urgent requirement for locals whose children are being led astray.

Theo Chambers, president of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce and operations manager for Times Square Shopping Centre in Negril, told The Sunday Gleaner; "Child prostitution is wrong. It is child abuse and parental mismanagement. We condemn it in every sense of word."

Evelyn Smith, general manager of Point Village Resort and president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Negril chapter, said "Everybody in Jamaica is aware of this problem, especially in resort areas."

However, Sydney Grant, regional director of the Child Development Agency (CDA), is not aware of the problem of sexual exploitation." I am not aware of the issue of trafficking and child prostitution in Negril. It has never been brought to our attention," he stated.

Noting that the issue could be a difficult one to tackle, Grant said it was very difficult to verify the age of young girls because of how they dress.

He said more research was needed as well as the cooperation of the police, schools and community-based organisations. "Individuals are reluctant to give vital information. A collaborative effort involving parents, teachers and vice groups would have to come together to address this sensitive matter," said Grant.

According to Smith, "All the chapters (JHTA) are supportive of any programme of rehabilitating our children. Many of our members work with particular schools and also do work-study programmes. Almost every single small property have schools which they work with. There is no disjoint where the industry does not try to reach out to children in school at all levels."

- Avia Collinder