Prostitution has become a lucrative venture for many Jamaican women who travel to other small islands, THE STAR understands.

Despite the illegality of the hustling, it is reported that some of these women go to do prostitution under the pretence that they are strip dancers, while others are trafficked.

The police in several of these Caribbean islands have arrested several Jamaican women for their alleged involvement in prostitution or the trafficking of young girls.

Countries such as The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua have been reportedly listed as destinations for this kind of business.

It is even being suspected that some of the young girls who have been reported missing, may have fallen victim to human trafficking.

Our news team found several contacts to women who travel to some of these islands to do prostitution or 'strip dancing', however, only one of the females was willing to speak to us.

The woman who spoke to THE STAR on condition of anonymity, said that the least amount of money that she has made in one of her visits to Antigua to do strip dancing is $300,000.

Anita Bellsaid that she would not disclose if she went to Antigua to sell sex, but that she was only willing to admit that she has travelled to the small island to do strip dancing.

"I have been to Antigua three times, the last time I went was in August and I came back in Christmas. It is a secret to my family and I was introduced to it through some contacts. The first time I went I was very nervous and shy, but I got over it. Sometimes business is good and you can make like $300,000 or so," Bell said.

She added that she intends to travel to the Bahamas next as she believes that country has a wider range of clients who would be interested in her strip dancing.

Meanwhile, in February of this year, it was reported that a 23-year-old Jamaican woman made history in the Bahamas when she became the first person to be charged with trafficking in persons for the purpose of prostitution in that country.

soliciting clients

According to a report on www.bahamaslocals.com, Chevaneese Sashagaye Hall was charged with unlawfully withholding the Jamaican passports of those women on Grand Bahamas between January 10 and January 28. She was also charged with transporting the women through The Bahamas for the purposes of prostitution between January 10 and January 28 in contravention of the Trafficking in Persons Act.

In March, the Trinidad Guardian reported that two Jamaican women were among nearly so other women found by immigration officers soliciting clients at Elizabeth Street, in Marabella, Trinidad.

It is reported that the two Jamaican women, one Colombian, a Guyanese and 72 Dominican nationals were arrested and charged along with two Chinese nationals.

Head of Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse, Superintendent Gladys Brown, said some persons gravitate towards prostitution due to unemployment and the lack of opportunities.

As is relates to the human trafficking aspect, the senior cop said she is not aware of any recent local arrests, but it is a fact that around 60 per cent of the females who are being trafficked are older women.

"I do know that 60 per cent of the females who are being trafficked are older women. Boys and girls are being trafficked as well and they are being used for sexual purposes especially oral sex. Due to the closeness of the Bahamas to the United States, that country is a popular one," Supt Brown said.