PICKTON TRIAL VOIR DIRE BEGINS

Underbelly News
Downtown Eastside

PICKTON TRIAL VOIR DIRE BEGINS

Hi All

I haven't been blogging much in the past three weeks as I came down with some mysterious illness which unfortunately, is still leaving me quite weak and exhausted. I've had a battery of tests done and they all came back normal. In any event, the Pickton trial voir dire begins tomorrow and since this case revolves around sex trade worker violence, I'm going to dedicate the next month or so on this blog to exposing prostitution related matters here in dream city--Vancouver.

The previous Mayor, Larry Campbell and his COPE council colleagues did nothing to properly address this very important issue. Moreover, in fact, a number of organizations which purport to represent sex trade workers, also have a dismal track record when it comes to positively affecting change for street level sex trade workers.

Early on, when sex trade workers went missing, I was often the lone voice, along with Maggie deVries speaking out on this issue. As a result, I acquired information which I will write about on this blog. As many of you know, there is a publication ban on the Pickton trial. I have decided not to attend the trial as nothing good can come from attending. The collataral damage has been done and whatever the outcome of the trial, justice for the tragic victims was denied. A finding of guilt will not change the outcome of what happened on our mean streets.

Recently, our new Mayor, Sam Sullivan has articulated his desire to make sex trade violence a priority of his tenure. Therefore, its my plan to write about the various failings along with the current conditions which continue to create harm for Vancouver's most vulnerable women and men. Its my hope that we can prevent the violence, reduce harm and finally find solutions to the most pressing issue in our city. I believe, Mayor Sullivan, is an honest man and its my hope to meet with all the NPA's Councillors to finally put in place, the necessary steps to safely manage the sex trade issue.

Jamie Lee Hamilton
tricia_foxx@yahoo.ca