You've lost me completely. iilegarachnid, you understand that you are looking at two illegal activities and saying that one should be punished and the other should be ignored? Entering the country illegally is a punishable offence and so is prostitution.

As regards the latter, and according to the Sexual Offences Act both parties are guilty - the ones actually performing the sex acts and those who are supplying the sex workers or allowing their premises to be used for these illicit transactions and living on the earnings of prostitution.

Then you make the argument that paying a prostitute for sex is better than rape and paedophilia. ALL THREE ARE ILLEGAL.

Gardenia is asking a simple and important question. If according to the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago, prostitution is illegal, why aren't brothels and the owners of these establishments being suppressed?

iilegarachnid- Thanks for your comments.
You seems to be an intelligent blogger, and exercised your freedom of expression. Thats good.

First of all I will answer your last statement:
YES, it fell in my garden. You see this activity is occurring in MY COUNTRY, and it is a violation of the laws of the land. Until and unless this changes, we have to remain law abiding citizens; as the laws of the jungle does not apply anymore in T&T.

There are 3 violators in this activity.
So why are only the women targetted is my question. So you see you cannot pick and choose as to which you will accept, and which you will use as as 'horse whip' to try and intimidate others for exercising their freedom to question.

Sex between two consenting adults is not a problem with me. But when you take this act outside and desire to place it in the middle of an illegal activity, then you are crossing the line, and must be held accountable for your actions.

Your attempt at justification for paying for sex, being a customer of prostitution, is better than "rape or pedophillia" have no place in this discussion as they are two separate and different issues.

Yes, go chasing after those "who brought them in and by what means?" is the real question. I have no objection to this.

HOWEVER, if we go after men who are participating in an illegal activity and are able to erase this from the equation, then there would be no need for these women to be enticed and/or be attracted to entering this country illegally. Prevention is wiser than re-action.

Prostitution is considered one of the oldest professions. So this argument is not new.

Remove the demand, and ultimately you will remove the violators from entering this country. If these women enter the country, and there are no customers/clients, that will be the cheapest and most effective deterrant: and our Police Officers can concentrate on other important violations like the CRIME problems we are facing.

Ask the Task Force how much it cost the taxpayers for them to come down to Central to arrest these women and haul them off to face our justice system. Then come back and tell me that you do not mind these men participating in an illegal activity. The fines these women may have to pay as ordered by the Courts is small change when compared to what it cost the taxpayers to cover the cost of the Anti- ?? Squad - The Police, who came down in the Task Force to arrest these women and our Justice System.

Then there is the danger of contracting diseases, some life threatening, and taking it home to unsuspecting family members; and the potential cost to our health care system.

You have had your say, and I hope that my contribution will give you another opportunity to rethink your 'Stamp of Approval'. Your attempt to cast aspersions in my direction will not unseat me.

Gardenia

"It is time for the police services and the legal system to apply the full force of the law to these illegal activities:"

Lahiana, what you suggesting is like Calder Hart investigating UDeCOTT.

The police and so many others are on the take, "taxing" these brothels and drug blocks so that they can operate without any problems.

Guess who the primary customers are?

"Seamen's Bar indeed !!" Sounds more like "Semen's Bar".

It's the oldest profession in the world, and up to now no one has succeeded in eradicating it. Some countries have virtually given up trying and instead have tried to control and regulate the "industry". They find that driving the practice underground has been more harmful. Out in the open the "workers" are protected from unscrupulous "handlers" aka "pimps" and operate in a more sanitary and healthy environment.

But I agree we must not give up and we must ensure that the full force of the law is applied to all offenders in this demeaning, degrading and defiling "trade". But as long as corruption is allowed to thrive in the society, this business will carry on as usual. And in this country we have a very poor record of law enforcement. Just look at the growing number of murders and road deaths.