Commentary

A shady business still thriving

YESTERDAY, THE STAR published a story about three St. Catherine business persons who were found selling bleaching cream and gels.

The story goes on to say they were fined $50,000 each or sentenced to three months imprisonment at hard labour for breaching the Pharmaceutical Act.

Strangely, it is not the first time a story of this nature has been published about people being arrested for selling illegal substances on the streets. And, judging from stories we have carried in the past, it won't be the last.

What can be said though is that the bleaching industry will always exist. It will continue to function as long as some of us Jamaicans are insecure about the colour of our skin.

The fact that the persons were found with a quantity of items known to cause the skin to lighten for a short period, shows that there must have been some amount of interest on the part of buyers to encourage these business persons to stock up on these illegal items.

It also shows that more needs to be done to educate our population about the harmful effects of bleaching as well as the need to appreciate the way they were made.

That aside, it is time more stringent measures are taken to monitor the sale of certain drugs without the use of a prescription. As it is only a matter of time before these drugs fall into the wrong hands which may use them to cause death or permanent injury.