The Editor, Sir:

I have been longing to write to THE STAR for some time now, but have been waiting for the right time to express my feelings towards the portrayal/activities of young Jamaican girls. I am a Canadian-Jamaican. Upon visiting Jamaica a few months ago, I realised that a lot of my friends had pornographic videos on their cellphones of young school girls in uniform offering men sexual favours in return for a ride in a taxi or bus. I find it repulsive that some of these older men find it okay for school girls to offer such favours, and even more repulsive that people record them on their cellphone and send it to their friends - what shame! How can an entire generation degrade the values of intimacy? Moreover, how can those whom young women trust and deal with daily manipulate and exploit them in such a way?

As a country with such strong religious influences, something should be done to stop the negative influences infiltrating our youth's minds and lives. Jamaica is a beautiful island, full of optimism and success. Many people abroad are jealous of the zeal many Jamaicans have, and more often than not, mimic the beauty which is our culture. One can argue that I am ignorant to the causes of the situation because I don't live there, but as a young Canadian-Jamaican female, I am a supporter and a believer of the greatness that Jamaica has to offer to its young people. Don't corrupt our youth - discipline them, lead them when wrong, or simply put the recorder down! If we must change, it has to start with someone. Be encouraged Jamaica.

I am, etc.,

Colette Daley

colette_daley@yahoo.com