Calls to probe ‘escort services’

“The girls with whom we have spoken, sound quite youthful and one can’t help but wonder what circumstances led them to undertake this type of work. The phenomenon of human trafficking cannot be ignored in this scenario, with its horrendous element of sexual slavery; and it is ironic that while articles have been printed condemning and highlighting the problem of human trafficking, several pages ahead in the classifieds sections are ads indicating, for example, ‘Latin escorts service available’,” Jattan noted.

He said it was even more incredulous that these establishments have not been investigated by the authorities.

“The police ask for information all the time on criminal activity, but the advertisement of a certain type of criminal activity is right under their noses in a major newspaper with contact numbers provided. All kinds of questions thus arise in this regard,” he said, adding: “A routine call to the numbers listed in these ads reveals that for the right price sex can be provided with one or more persons, including males. The question which also comes to mind concerns the legality of these services, particularly the escort service, which is really just a code word for prostitution.

“Prostitution or the sale of sex remains an offence in the law books of Trinidad and Tobago, under the Sexual Offences Act 2000 (Section 19-24). What concerns Heswatt is how rapidly these ads have grown in number and the deafening silence on the part of civil leaders in this regard.” Jattan also warned of the risk of ill health, in the form of STDs, to young men and women, and called on the police to use their legal authority to investigate the services being offered.