In recent weeks I read in a section of the media about the dismissal of a case brought against a group of females in a local night club. I am not aware what the charges against them were but a statement was published to the effect that prostitution is not a crime in The Bahamas. I wish through your newspaper to take issue with this statement.
In 1951, I attended the Police Training School in Nassau and in 1958 I attended the West Riding Detective Training School in Yorkshire. I have also had the privilege of working with outstanding Police Officers in the persons of Messrs Albert Miller (now Sir Albert), Stanley Moir and the late former Commissioner of Police Mr Salathiel Thompson. I was well taught by them and read the laws of The Bahamas very frequently.
I wish to quote herein the laws as they relate to prostitution. The titles and section number may have changed, but I am not aware of any change in the laws and the interpretation.
Section 136 of The Penal Code states: “Whoever keeps or manages, or acts, or assists in the management of a brothel; being the tenant, lessee, occupier or person in charge of any premises, knowingly permits such premises or any part thereof to be used as a brothel, or for the purposes of habitual, prostitution; being the lessor or landlord of any premises or the agent of such lessor or landlord, lets the same or any ﾠpart thereof as a brothel.”
Section 137: ﾠ”Whoever knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of prostitution; in any public place persistently solicits or importunes for immoral purposes.”
Section 212 (13): “Whoever loiters or wanders about and importunes any passenger for the purposes of prostitution.”
Over the decades of my service as a policeman we have made numerous arrests for prostitution and the persons were convicted in the courts in Nassau and Freeport.
Most notable was the raid on a club in the Ardastra Gardens, which resulted in the arrests of the manager and several lewd dancers, who were all convicted and sent to prison.
If what the media reported is correct I would have expected an appeal from the Attorney General’s Office depending on what the charges are. I also would wish that the Police Staff Association would write and give their views on such matters.
By: PAUL THOMPSON Sr
