MoBay sex workers want to form association

Several prostitutes who operate in and around Montego Bay, St James, say they are now lobbying to form their own organised group which they call 'MoBay Commercial Sex Workers Association'.

The prostitutes told THE STAR that several of the women who operate within their cluster are constantly being abused, robbed, beaten, raped, and even sometimes killed by male customers, who, on most occasions, refrain from paying for the sex services they offer.

Uniformed group

One outspoken member of the group, 'Pinky', said that they believe it is in their best interest to form a uniformed group, so they will be better able to protect each other.

"We a woman an wi face nuff danger a night time a sell sex to man, but still yet the police inna MoBay not even wudda tek we inna consideration. Dem jus mek the man dem a tek advantage a wi every night," Pinky said. "A jus wha day a tour bus driver tek a girl from bottom road and bring har go pon a corner a Salt Spring. When she fi get har money, him an sum a him fren dem beat har up, an run out pon the street inna the night. She even a fi run lef har shoes."

Pinky said that they have made many reports to the police after they have been robbed and beaten.

"All dem do a tell we fi come a station cum mek report. Dat naw help we, so most a wi a fi start walk wid some little form a weapon fi defend we self."

The sex workers told THE STAR that a number of them are mothers, and they have to hustle for their children to get food, and a proper education.