By Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU

While the police, businesses and tourism officials continue to be frustrated by their inability to put a dent in Montego Bay's runaway crime problem, local prostitutes have seemingly found a novel way to conduct business safely.

Capitalising on the security cordon created around the tourism belt to insulate visitors from the city's horrifying crime situation, the 'ladies of the night', especially those who do business with tourists, have reportedly been checking into hotels as guests and then using their rooms for their sexual liaison.

"Yes, it is true," said Olive, a Montego Bay prostitute, who admitted using hotels on the Golden Corridor (tourism belt) for her sexual rendezvous with her predominantly tourist clientele. "It costs more but it is a lot safer."

In explaining, the veteran prostitute said she does bookings herself or, if it is a guest she is going to be with for an extended period, she could have him make the booking from overseas.

"It is simple. Once the bookings are made it is all good," she added. "It is expensive yes, but at the end of the day, you get value for money in terms of service and of course, it cost our partners substantially more than when we use a rented room or guest house."

Quizzed about what the prostitutes have labelled 'high-end prostitution', president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and General Manager of Sandals Montego Bay Hotel, Horace Peterkin, said he was hearing about it for the first time. "I am not aware of that situation so it would be difficult to speak about it," said Peterkin. "It has never come up in any of our meetings so I seriously doubt that it could be happening at the more established properties."

However, Operation Officer for the Area One police, Superintendent John Morris, said the matter has come to their attention but he believes the prostitutes are acting more out of self-preservation than out of any concerted effort to help control crime.

Self-preservation

"We have a very active unit out there to prevent these ladies from soliciting on the street," said Supt. Morris. "So as to avoid being arrested, they have become more sophisticated and have chosen to take their business into the hotels. I suppose it is all about self-preservation."

A number of local hotel workers have confirmed seeing more and more local prostitutes checking into properties. One worker said sometimes when she sees these known prostitutes at her workplace, she sometimes feel inadequate. "When you see these girls checking in and having a great time and you realise that you can't afford that lifestyle, it sometimes makes one feel inadequate," the worker commented. "Then again, I would not want to be a prostitute so I don't allow such thoughts to occupy my mind for more than a few seconds."

Within recent times, there have been a number of well-publicised cases in Montego Bay where tourists have either been robbed, injured or killed on hotel properties in incidents involving prostitutes or persons believed to be acting on their behalf.

However, it is generally accepted that despite the city's escalating crime problem, Montego Bay remains a fairly safe tourism destination.

"Despite what is happening in the wider society, as an industry we can pride ourselves in the fact that Jamaica has the enviable record of having the lowest crime rate against visitors in the Caribbean," said Mr. Peterkin.

"However, we want to make it absolutely clear that we are not in support of any activities that are against the law."

But for Olive and her colleagues, who remains ardent practitioners of the world's oldest profession, they are on a mission to offer safe and satisfying service to their clients and they see the Golden Corridor as ideal.

"I am quite happy. I don't have to be running from the police and it is really a chance to live like a foreigner in your own country," said a smiling Olive. "For me, all is well that ends well."