It's the world's oldest profession and yet, in several countries, including ours, prostitution is illegal. However, it is clear that the legal status of this activity has done little to deter the trade. There is clearly a demand for the individuals who choose to sell their bodies, and as we all have observed in recent times, the supply is also increasing. It is time we re-evaluate the way we look at prostitution.

I know that we Jamaicans define ourselves as a 'Christian nation', but as we are a great example of contradiction, we also have a very secular culture. Just take a look at the evidence: we have produced dancehall music and rum; the average age of first-time sex is 15 years old for girls and 13 for boys; two in every five women have a child before age 20; prostitution is illegal, and there is an active trade in existence right now.

I am not going to try to make a moral case for prostitution because I believe that one's moral compass is personal and how one chooses to deal with various things will be reflected accordingly. But what if we were to explore the economic and social effects that decriminalising prostitution could have on our country?

If we took a look at societies that have taken steps to regulate the sex industry and profit from it, can we learn any lessons from the way they have chosen to deal with prostitution? Let's look at Amsterdam, for example.

- Their approach to prostitution is an allow-it-so-it-can-be-controlled method. If we were to look at the prohibition of alcohol usage, we could also agree that regulation is certainly a more effective way of reducing abuse.

- Prostitution is seen as a regular job in the Netherlands, and so the workers do not attract the stigma they usually do in countries where prostitution is illegal - even though some of the workers hide their profession from their families.

- The number of prostitutes on the street is very low, averaging 50 per day. Most prostitutes work out of a brothel where they have to maintain a standard set by the health department for their daily operations.

- Each prostitute, who is identified as an independent worker, must register with the chamber of commerce and pay income tax in order to legally practise.

- According to http://www.havocscope.com, the legal prostitution industry in the Netherlands generates €625 million annually. There are approximately 8,000 women working as prostitutes and the tax rate is 33 per cent.

I personally believe that we should definitely look into decriminalising and regulating prostitution in Jamaica. Along with the economic benefits from the tax revenue that we could enjoy, the regulation of the industry could go far in protecting and elevating the workers. Plus, there would be the creation of other jobs in support of the industry such as health inspectors.

Think about it. we already have the reputation of having beautiful, fabulous women, and we have a very sexual culture. Plus, with Jamaicanness being so popular internationally, now is the time to strike. I understand the moral standpoint as well, and as I stated earlier, your morals will guide you, so if you are not interested in becoming a prostitute, then the legal status should not make a difference. Ask yourself this: Would you be a prostitute if it was no longer illegal? Something to think about.

Stay sexy!

Send your questions or comments to sexychatwithshelly@gmail.com or Tweet me @drsexylive or Facebookwww.facebook.com/ShellyAnnDrSexyWeeks. Tune in to Shelly-Ann Dr. Sexy Weeks on Dr Sexy LIVE on Nationwide 90FM Mondays-Fridays starting at 10:00pm.

Question:

Dear Dr Sexy,

My boyfriend climaxes after five minutes, and sometimes I am not fully satisfied. He is good at oral sex and foreplay. whenever we are having sex and I am on top, I climax easily, say, after three minutes. How can he overcome this premature ejaculation now as he is at times sad now that he is 56 years old?

Michka, Harbour View

Dear Michka,

Premature ejaculation, especially in older men, not a strange thing at all. According to the 1999 NHSLS survey by Laumann et al, 30% of men ages 18-29, 32% ages 30-39, 28% ages 40-49, and 31% ages 50-59 stated climaxing too early was an issue. One thing that you can do is the start-stop method. when you are having sex and he feels like he will climax, stop the intercourse and do something else, with less stimulation. The longer you can delay the climax, the more intense it will be when you finally allow it to happen.

For more tips on curing premature ejaculation visit www.askmen.com. In the mean time, you have a system that works, so since you climax when you are on top, get on top! Anxiety can add to his problem, so making him feel bad for arriving so soon does not help.