THE EDITOR, Sir:I WISH to add my voice to the too modest outcry following the report of an HIV-infected man being convicted for carnally abusing his seven-year-old step-daughter. It was significant that this case was publicised at or around the beginning of Child Month (May) and simply reminds us of the need to better protect our children.
Apart from the obvious issue of carnal abuse which no doubt has left this little girl mentally, psychologically and physically scarred, there is the further issue that she has been robbed of a full and healthy life as she is now infected with HIV. This latter issue is the focus of my letter as it raises the ugly reality of the myth called the 'Virgin Cure', which is widely known in Jamaica, but little discussed.
The 'Virgin Cure' is based on the idea that a man infected with a sexually transmitted disease can be cured by having intercourse with a virgin. Evidence that the myth is still widely held and, regrettably, widely practised is all around us in Jamaica, as it is manifested in the vast number of under-aged girls being diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases.
FORCEFUL CAMPAIGN
The practice is not effective in curing any sexual disease and it is my hope that a forceful campaign will be conducted to bring this message to the public and save our young girls from further abuse. Men who engage in this activity are not only perverted to have intercourse with a child, but exhibit the highest level of disregard for life since the innocent child invariably will contract the malady in the case mentioned at the beginning of this letter. I am amazed that the perpetrator was not also charged for some offence under the Offences Against the Person Act, and if this is not possible at present, the Act should be amended to include intentionally infecting another with a disease as an offence thereunder. As a nation, we should chastise carnal abuse and the Virgin Cure practice, and treat it with at least the same disdain that we as a nation have for homosexuality.
In this regard, I wish to commend dancehall artistes such as General Degree who through his song 'Cradle Robber' rebukes men who engaged in carnal abuse. Similarly, Lady Saw and Cecile in their song 'Loser' make mention of such men and rightly label them as 'losers'.
In closing I wish to recommend that a public campaign be effected to advise parents on how to educate their children (especially girls) on what types of touches by adults are appropriate or inappropriate and what to do when someone touches them in an inappropriate way. This message taught in the home should be reinforced in our basic, kindergarten, primary and preparatory schools the stages where children are most vulnerable to this type of abuse. Additionally, schools should make students aware of the services of support groups such as the Crisis Centre which have a 24-hour help hotline for cases of this nature. Every day our innocent girl children are being sexually abused and used as an alternative for medical attention. As a nation, we can stamp out these warped perpetrators who prey on the weakest in our society. Let us all do our part.... for the children's sake.
I am, etc.,
Y. JOLLY-STONE
P.O. Box 90
Kingston 11
