In Guyana, there is strong public support for a lobby to raise the legal age of consent from 13 to 18. A group comprising of the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), the Guyana Association of Women's Lawyers (GAWL), religious groups and government and opposition legislators are in the process of fine-tuning a draft text to amend the current law in a bid to protect children from sexual exploitation by adults. Recently, there has been a huge public outcry for a change in the law - which has been on the books for more than 200 years - after the mother of a 13-year-old girl had to take legal action to end a sexual relationship between her daughter and a 39-year-old businessman. GHRA official Mike McCormack told BBC Caribbean Radio that while most people were in favour of raising the age, some were concerned that it would criminalise sexual activity between teenagers. "The explanation we are promoting is that the purpose of this act is to protect children against adults," he said. "The problem of underage consenting sexual activities - we think - will be dealt with if the age gap between the two parties is less than three years." Mr McCormack said he believes the practice of sex between adults and minors is widespread but it is difficult to give any specific numbers. "Partly because of the shame associated with it, it is very difficult to get accurate figures," he said. "Judging from the number of complaints we receive here - particularly from the rural areas - I wouldn't say they've rocketed up, but I would say it's a serious problem. "Raising the age to 18 will have no magic results on adults on adult preying on young children but it will make it more difficult if the age is raised," Mr McCormack said. "The other thing is it sends a message that the sexual exploitation of children is being taken very seriously. At the moment, it isn't." Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo is also in favour of raising the age of consent. During the recent case of the 13-year-old girl, he gave the assurance that his government will back new legislation. Across the rest of the Caribbean, the age of consent ranges between 14 and 17. In St Kitts, boys can have sex at 14, while girls have to wait until 16. In Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad, the age of consent is 16 while in Grenada it is 17. SOURCE: BBCCARIBBEAN.COM