OBSERVE the rules of decency.

This is the plea from Roman Catholic Priest Father Clement Paul to the thousands of people who will be participating in this year's Crop-Over Festival.

And he is making a special appeal to women to avoid skimpy costumes.

Father Paul's comments follow the display of costumes in the Press and at a
recent band launch.

"Why do our women think they need to have skimpy costumes to bring out their
beauty?' he asked.

"Women are just as beautiful, or even more beautiful, with their clothes on."

The priest said he was "all for Crop-Over" and "all for costumes" but was begging women "in the same way that all games have rules, for Crop-Over let us observe the rules of decency".

He added: "A half-dressed woman is an indecently clad person."

Father Paul said he was forced to raise some concern because of the upsurge in sexual irresponsibility around.

"We are all being influenced by what is now the sexual revolution. It affects all of us, not just the ordinary lay person, but church people, too. What we need to get back to is a more controlled behaviour to help us cope with the strong desires we are having."

While acknowledging that the costumes he has seen so far were very beautiful, the Catholic priest contended that there was still too little clothing.

He also spoke of the need to send the correct message to young children, who were already seeing scantily dressed women on the streets.

Father Paul, who loves to sing calypso, is promising to get a song arranged this year and while he won't be in a tent, promises to be part of the festival. (TY)