Legal to What Extent?

Over the years there has been a raging debate as to whether the age of consent should remain at 16 or be raised to 18. Quite frankly, I think it should be raised for reasons which will be outlined in this article. The age of consent as outlined in the Jamaican Constitution is the age at which a person can legally give permission to engage in sexual activities. Under the same Constitution, a child is defined as an individual under the age of 18 years. How is it then that the law permits a 16 year old to give consent to engage in adult activities, contradictory, isn’t it? Its a question that many parents are asking. Most parents are troubled by the current age of consent as their 16 year old is legal to give consent to sex yet unable to handle the responsibilities associated with such activities. Keep in mind that the law prohibits persons (children that is) under the age of eighteen from working or even obtaining a TRN without their parents consent. According to the Child Care and Protection Act, a person should have attained 18 years or over in order to drink, smoke, vote, enter a nightclub and acquire a driver’s license, yet the Law gives permission to a ‘minor’ to consent to sex. This goes to show how misguided and twisted our leaders are. Raising the age of consent can in no way prevent underage sex, but it will change things slightly. Children are often forced to grow up long before their age can allow; their bodies, along with a consent age at 16, trick them into thinking that they are mature enough for adulthood. The law needs to take into consideration the best interest of the child and amend the age of consent. -Laydee Sharmz

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