Omar Sweeney, Deputy Chairman of the Social Intervention Committee operating in the first Zone of Special Operations established in Mount Salem, St. James, is facing intense criticism after he declared earlier this week that 85 per cent of young women in Mount Salem, are engaged in some form of prostitution.
He made that assertion on Thursday at a Rotary Club meeting in New Kingston, but the following day he gave a revised figure of 70 per cent and sought to clarify that the girls were not all engaged in prostitution.
But residents of Mount Salem and representatives of various interest groups remained dissatisfied and protested in the community on Friday.
When RJR News journeyed to the community on Saturday morning our news team found the residents still upset.
“We’re not prostitutes, we are queens!” read one of the placards.
Lavina Shaw, a Mount Salem resident, told RJR News that she felt disrespected by the comment, adding that Mr. Sweeney’s apology was not enough.
Olivia Shaw, Miss St James 2017 Festival Queen, said the statement could have a damaging effect on young women from Mount Salem seeking jobs:
She added that the statement could also have an adverse impact on initiatives being undertaken by the Social Intervention Committee in Mount Salem as residents who feel hurt may not want to participate.
She also contended that the focus group from which Mr. Sweeney drew his conclusion was too small for generalisation.
The group involved 46 residents, males and females, aged 13 to 19.
Councilor
Kerry Thomas, Councilor for the Mount Salem division in the St. James Municipal Corporation, has also called for Prime Minister Andrew Holness to remove Mr. Sweeney from the Social Intervention Committee.
Mr Sweeney was appointed to the Committee after Mount Salem was declared a Zone of Special Operations on September 1.
Councilor Thomas said this was not the first time that inaccurate data have been used to paint the community in a bad light:
Apology
Mr. Sweeney, in an effort to placate the angry residents, met with them on Saturday morning and apologized.
He said he held discussions with community leaders regarding their concerns about his statement, and the delivery of social services.
According to Mr. Sweeney, the community has expressed a willingness to move on.