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On February 16th of this year, the unheard of happened. Allegations were made against the state’s law enforcers. Jamaican policemen were accused of gang-raping an exotic dancer. It was reported that five officers sexually assaulted an exotic dancer at a nightclub in Spanish Town, St Catherine. The Gleaner reported that the five policemen from the St Catherine North Division were conducting a raid at the nightclub just after midnight. Some of the officers stayed inside to search patrons, while five others reportedly took the dancer to the rear of the building where they allegedly took turns raping her. It goes without saying that such an act is grossly unacceptable. Following the report by the press, several Women Rights groups called for the police high command to investigate the matter as they were disturbed by the report.
Karl Angell, director of Communications for the Jamaica Constabulary Force, later confirmed that the officers were in custody and that they were investigating the matter. These situations are not new to the Jamaica Constabulary Force. In 2010 three policemen were said to have grabbed a prostitute, placed her inside the service vehicle and threatened to lock her up. She was then taken to a house in Waterford where they reportedly took turns raping her.
After almost six months following the report in February, I am yet to hear a follow-up by our local media. With this in mind, I can only conclude that Commercial Sex Workers are not valued as contributing and productive members of society who deserve the same right as everyone else. This view will not be embrace by our media, but as the old saying goes, “Action speaks louder than words”; however, in this case, I have not seen nor heard any words.
Well, I guess violation of one’s rights by a state body is not as important as the “bus that can cross it” or a political campaign /report tour. You might not be in agreement with my opinion, but that’s fine. I just wanted to remind you that given how small our small island is, you may just have a husband, father, uncle, brother, or son who have been engage with these Commercial Sex Workers. With this in mind, you could be affected one way or another.
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