The St Catherine police are issuing a stern warning to all exotic club operators in the parish to ensure that all their employees have reached the legal age of employment or be prepared to face the con-sequence.

Speaking with The Star yesterday, Superintendent Ter-rence Bent, head of the St Catherine North police, said the police have already had meetings with various night/ exotic club operators about the illegality of employing underage girls, and any operator found in breach will be prosecuted.

birth certificates needed

"We have had public education sessions with the club operators and we informed them that anyone seeking employment at their clubs must present them with a authentic birth certificate showing that they have reached the legal age of employment," the officer said. "The law prohibits children from being employed, more so in industries that will negatively affect their morals or otherwise harm them."

Superintendent Bent said the move by the police to sensitise the club owners about the law surrounding the employment of persons under 18 years was fuelled by reports they received earlier this month that a certain club operator in Portmore, St Catherine had employed an underage teen to dance at his exotic club. He said visits to the location turned up nothing.

In 2004 police raided the Las Giddy exotic club on Port Henderson Road and took two 16-year-old exotic dancers into their custody.

police on the ball

Deputy Superintendent Deu-tress Foster-Gardener, head of the Old Harbour police, said while there have not been any cases of that sort in Old Harbour, the police have 'been on the ball', hoping to keep things that way. She noted that any breach of the law in this regard would be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.

A story published in The Star earlier this month, reported that a 16-year-old teenager, working as an exotic dancer, was arrested following the stabbing death of her 21-year-old co-worker at the establishment in Clarendon. The May Pen police said the owner of that club was also implicated in a previous matter where another underage girl was employed at the same club.