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COLE BAY--Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu St. Maarten (SXM BJJ) is hosting a fund-raising self-defense class for girls age eight to 20 on Saturday from 10:00 to 11:00am. The fundraiser will benefit Mhakeda Shillingford's organization Petition to Expel Pedophiles (PEP).

Sixteen year old Shillingford had a terrifying experience in December when a bus driver kept pestering her for her name and telephone number. He did not cease his behavior when she told him she was only 16, and then refused to let her get off the bus unless she provided her details.

This strong young woman happens to be vice-president of the Youth Parliament of St. Maarten and a member of the Kingdom Youth Parliament so she and her family decided to take action.

Shillingford and her mother Brenda Maynard created a petition that states: We, the undersigned, insist that by the end of 2015, the St. Maarten Government and Parliament, through their respective authorities, unite to publish an ongoing national public register of all convicted sex offenders.

In addition, the petition seeks; A call to the minister of transportation to include a requirement that All public busses should not be tinted and should be lit after 5:00 pm;

A call to Government to allocate sufficient financial and human resources to entities to research, formulate plan of action, and execute same;

A call to NGOs and service organizations to assist in bringing awareness to child sexual abuse and pedophiles in particular;

A call to government to adjust the penal code, to provide stiffer penalties for child sexual abuse and pedophilia;

A call to government to address mental health, and other social issues, placing top priority on these through awareness of current laws and revisions of same where deemed necessary;

A call to legally establish a 'sex offender ' registrar...so parents can know where these people live etc., with DNA data included and up to date employment information;

A call to legally establish means to monitor child pornography in our communities! We must remember that the act of pedophilia does NOT start on the bus, the sport field, the classroom, etc! It starts in the home of the pedophile and is more times than not fed with pornographic images, which he /she desires to act out. Monitoring internet activity will need to be included, if there isn't already legislation covering this and

A call to put in place a thorough system to evaluate all persons who come in contact with our children - including coaches , teachers , day care assistants etc.

The fund raising seminar takes place at 15 Wellington Rd in Cole Bay (across from PDG). It will be taught by SXM BJJ's head instructor, Melissa Bardfield who holds the rank of brown belt under Master Renzo Gracie. For more information or to register please call 522-8993 or email \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it