The police are warning a group using BlackBerry Broadcast Messaging (BBM) to solicit teens to sell sex to earn extra cash that they could be slapped with charges.
A broadcast message has been circulating recently in an attempt to attract females between the ages of 16 and 25. The broadcast reads, "Need three serious ladies to do business with ... If you don't mind selling ..... I can get u work. Link mi up ..."
The message goes on to clearly describe the persons being sought and discriminates against obesity and females with body odour or bleached skin.
The pull factor, clearly being the money that can be made, is heavily emphasised with the claim that more natural and innocent looking girls will be better suited.
THE STAR became aware of the message after being contacted by a Canadian investigator. The investigator expressed how taken aback he was at the levels to which persons in Jamaica try to influence young girls to wreck themselves.
"I have a 17-year-old daughter living in Jamaica. That is just straight up child pornography and prostitution they are promoting. The organiser should be prosecuted," he said.
However, former head of the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse, Superintendent Gladys Brown, when contacted, said that she was not aware of the broadcast message but reiterated that prostitution is illegal in Jamaica.
Brown said, "This is the first I am hearing of such a message. Persons who organise it, if they are caught by the police, they can be prosecuted. It is illegal".
When THE STAR used the advertised number in the message to contact the apparent organiser for the group, our news team was told that they have been getting good responses to the broadcast.
The representative said, "We are planning on closing that group soon because the subscription is overwhelming. I don't discuss my aspect of the business which is making things happen or making things available. People have contacted me to express their disapproval but it's obvious they can't read because it says at the top, if this is not for you don't bother asking nuh question".
THE STAR was allowed to speak to an 18-year-old girl, said to be one of the 'sellers', who told us that economic pressures had pushed her to be a part of the group.
She said, "It's easy for persons to object to things than for anybody to stretch a hand out. I do what I do because it is okay and safe because of the clients you are involved with. They are not pushy and are willing to pay. I make a living and I am able to help myself I don't regret it".
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