And while we wait for that third arrest, in the middle of this is a now 15-year-old girl who is three months pregnant. Sadly her case is only one of which social workers say is a growing and unsettling trend. Some call it the "sugar daddy" syndrome in which young girls find themselves older men with money to show them a good time that their age and circumstances would not normally permit.
Judith Alpuche is the Executive Director of the National Committee for Families and Children (NCFC) and a tireless activist for children's rights. She couldn't comment specifically about this case but told us the one thing we should all remember in cases like these is the victim.
Judith Alpuche, Executive Director - NCFC
"I hate to think of it but I think that these things have been going on for a long time and now we are seeing them reported which in a way is a step forward, that people are reporting into the system of the violations against children. These are always very difficult cases especially when you have a situation with an adolescent and multiple partners because the tendency of society is to blame the victim once again, to forget that what we are dealing with is a child.
Sometimes I talk to people in public education settings and I always say even if the child is laying down naked in the bed, remember that you are the adult in the situation. Families also have a duty to protect their children and to officer guidance no matter how difficult the situation is that the family is in. Poverty and need is not an excuse to prostitute your children.
What is it about us as a society that we cannot understand that adolescents, particularly our girls are still children and need protection and guidance? And what is it about our society that adults cannot exercise control.
When these things happen people say, 'what is this authority doing' and 'what is the other authority doing' and what is whoever doing and yes there are agencies and there are entities that are in place as a system to protect children but what are we doing collectively as communities, as families, parents to protect our children to guide our children. These cases always usually highlight to us the need for the kind of work we've been doing at the NCFC."
The attorney for Eligio and Usher made an application today for bail in the Supreme Court. It should be heard tomorrow. At yesterday's arraignment Magistrate Margaret Gabb-McKenzie denied the duo bail but promised to release them on May 10th.
