It would be like trying to legalise ganja. The majority of people will be against it. It is immoral, unethical, against what we would call 'a structured world.' Because if you did legalise it, where would you go from there?

As to how many women a Jamaican man can have, it varies from three to four at any one time. But the same goes for the Jamaican unmarried women, they can also have as many as three to four men at any one time. The men have these women strictly as sex objects whereas the women have these men strictly for economic reasons.

If you legalise it, the rules will not be followed, we have enough problems with keeping everything else legal, why add more headaches?

I have been divorced for many years and it is getting harder to find a decent woman who is not already involved with several men, and the same goes for decent Jamaican women.

- Albert Ohayon

It has become somewhat of a norm in our Jamaican society for men to have more than one female partner. It is no surprise that this is so. However, it is very surprising that although we women know of it, we can't come close to accepting that our men, husbands or lovers are like this.

We often say that 'all men are dogs', and whenever a girlfriend of ours discovers that her male companion is cheating, we oftentimes, without even noticing it, say; "Hush darling, that's how men are, them don't keep one woman."

As for legalising polygamy in Jamaica, I say that's a big NO- NO. Men have been bequeathed over time with the opportunity of having more than one girlfriend, but to go further and encourage them to have more than one wife - HELL, NO!!!

- Racquel Patterson, St. Thomas

No, I don't think that polygamy should be legalised in Jamaica or anywhere in the world.

Some people live the way the wider society thinks. In this case for example, it is ok for a man to have a lot of girls - he's a thug, gallis, and some will go further to say 'di real big man'; but if a woman has a lot of men, in the eyes of many - she's a dog, whore, slut and all the other negative things one can think of. Persons who are normally involved in this kind of lifestyle are those who suffer from low self-esteem (if they have any at all). What examples are they setting for the younger generation?

Destructive relationships like these open the door to some of the problems in society - problems such as that which affects the family, where children have different mother or father from their other siblings. Another is violence - where women are cursing, fighting and killing each other over men, and vice versa. Another deadly one is that of HIV/AIDS and other STDs ñ the most common causes are having multiple sex partners and having unprotected sex with an infected person. In relationship like these, there is no love or respect, neither for self nor for the others involved.

Moral standards and values have deteriorated. Society places little or no value on issues like these. We need to get back to 'basics of life' - God instituted one man to one woman. Polygamy should not be legalised.

- Kadie-Ann Cresser

In my opinion, I don't think that polygamy should be legalised in Jamaica. It is against God's marital plan, which was instituted from the creation of mankind. It's also a counterfeit for marriage.

Polygamy is in the same class as bestiality, lesbianism, homosexuality, etc, just to name a few of the immoral practices. It is against God and His plan for mankind.

What is God's plan for mankind? Marriage. Marriage is a sacred institution sanctioned by God. It also has God's blessing on it.

Does polygamy have God's blessing on it? No. It only results in death and the transgression of God's law and plan.

What is God's blessing to and for mankind? Marriage. It has the love and mercy of God and shows how much God cares. It is also a reflection of God's character.

- Stacey Hawthorne

Why not legalise polygamy? What harm can it do? After all, everyone will know about the other, no hard feelings, right? Wrong!! Dead wrong!!

How can it be possible for women to live with a man whom they all share? Can anyone honestly say they feel comfortable with such an arrangement? Even in societies where this practice is endorsed, I am sure if the women had a choice they would certainly choose a monogmous relationship. You may say well it works for them, but does it really? We may never know because in those societies, the women don't really talk about how they feel when it comes on to certain issues. They just bear it, I think, because they really have no choice. It is either accept or well ... be an outcast. And so they just get with that programme.

But my dear brothers, there is a flip side for you as well. Can you honestly and sanely be in a house with more than one woman who knows what you did with the other woman the night before, because she heard it and probably saw it? Can you deal with Jamaican women when they are jealous or angry? Can you really afford taking care of them equally, loving them equally (and by the word love I do not mean sex), can you afford all the children who will then come as a result of these multiple unions?

My brothers, yes, this may mean more sex, but couldn't you work on that one relationship with that one special person who will, I'm sure, lovingly you satisfy your needs.

My dear brothers, it's nice to have your flings but, alas, that too will pass. And if you are not convinced, look at Beenie man, whose popular song centred around having 'nuff gal', he's now married - to one woman.

- Shere Janas, words2livebi@yahoo.com

I know that most women won't agree with me, but I think that the government should go ahead and legalise polygamy. At least, then we will know who is who.

Let's face it, men are going to have 'nuff gal' if that is their intent and there is nothing any of us can do about it. (Nothing short of castrating them, that is).

I have a lot of male friends and I have asked the question of a few of them, "Are you single?" The most popular answer is "yes!" This answer would not spark much interest or concern if these guys did not have girlfriends! When asked how they rationalised this, the answer is that on any form, when asked if they are single, married, or divorced they had to put the tick of the box that indicates that they are single. So technically they are single. This is what we are up against.

I am one of those women that think that if a guy has a girlfriend (not a wife), that I know about, I may be willing to deal. If the women think they can share a husband, then they should go right ahead.

- Scharlie Ivy,Email: i.scharlie@yahoo.com

Definitely no! In my relationship I require a lot of attention from my spouse therefore if polygamy should be legalised then time spent between us would surely decrease, since it would have to be shared between, how many? One, two, three, four?

A relationship should be unique and special between partners so when a guy decides that he wants multiple partners then it is unlikely that a bond will be formed since insufficient time will be spent with each partner. Polygamy would be a 'no no' because each time the thought of my man being with other women crosses my mind, I'll be wondering what are they doing? Is she better sexually? Who does he love more?

Typically, a time schedule would have to be created displaying which nights are for whom, probably he'll have so many partners that the nights will also have to be divided. Regardless of the fact that the percentage of women in Jamaica is higher than that of the men, I am totally against polygamy. Let's make reference also to sexually-transmitted diseases. Already a lot of Jamaicans do not practise safe sex, therefore polygamy will increase these risks and not to mention the dreaded HIV.

- Nickesha Bailey, nickyb_17@yahoo.com

The issue is not about whether polygamy is right or wrong because frankly, I couldn't care less if it is, but why should we go so far as to legalise it? Does the court system not have enough on its plate?

The most offensive thing about this practice is the way it encourages gender inequality. In almost every country where polygamy is practised it is only the men who have multiple wives, and not the other way around. This irritates me to no end, the fact that when men do it, it's simply polygamy but if the women do it, they are called so many names. Proves how hypocritical and biased society can be when it comes to issues of men vs women.

I won't venture into the biblical aspects concerning polygamy as I have no expertise in that either. Some people say the Bible condones it and some say it doesn't but all I can say is that I DONT.

What I find funny about this issue is that the males to whom I have spoken about it seem to think that this is the best thing since 'sliced bread'. I only laugh at their ignorance because if they were to properly analyse this practice they would see that it is not all a bed of roses. The financial constraints should be enough to change anyone's mind.

I would never want this practice legalised in Jamaica; there are far more important things for us to do with the justice system. Polygamy is a morally-depraved way of life, it is fun to watch on TV but let's leave it at that - entertainment and nothing more!