Dear Sir:
Is ALBA becoming a huge socialist brothel, where the wearing of red bra and panties and burning a red light outside suits the ALBA sex tourist trade?
Should Vincentians embrace it or reject it, an answer is required from our prime minister.
With the influx of foreign politicians and local studs, the sex trade in Venezuela received a huge boost during the Chavez rally on January 10.
Venezuela
Venezuela, a tourist and domestic prostitute market, prostitution is legal.
Prostitution is common, particularly in Caracas and in other domestic tourist destinations.
Poor economic conditions and the ease with which fraudulent passports, identity cards, and birth certificates can be obtained create favorable conditions for human trafficking. Women and children from Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, and the Peoples Republic of China are trafficked to and through the country and subjected to commercial sexual exploitation. Citizens are trafficked internally and to Western Europe, particularly Spain and the Netherlands, and to countries in the region such as Mexico, Aruba, and the Dominican Republic for commercial sexual exploitation. In many cases traffickers place ads for models in regional newspapers and then lure respondents to Caracas under false pretenses of employment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Venezuela
Cuba
Cuba, the Caribbean version of Thailand. Cuba, considered to be free of prostitution since the 1960s, is experiencing an increase in prostitution and prostitution tourism as a result of the poor economy. (Jeszs Zzqiga, "Cuba: The Thailand of the Caribbean" Independent Journalists’ Cooperative, 18 June 1998)
Although there has been an increase in prostitution in Cuba, the women continue to be penalized. Cuba has revived an old law against vagrancy, using it against the women in prostitution who get three warnings before they have to face a sentence of up to eight years in prison.
Castro made his own contribution to prostitution and the increase in prostitution tourism by his public remarks and his own tolerance. He remarked that “Cuban women are prostitutes not because they needed to be, but rather because they liked to make love, and that they are the most educated and the healthiest prostitutes on the market“.
Prostitution is common in Cuba, with girls as young as 14 known to be available.
Dominica
A lesbian and prostitution ring is reportedly taking place in Dominica
“It stems from the abuse that goes on at home, it stems from the molestation that they face, it stems from the rapes that they have been through. Many of our young persons have had three and four abortions. Some have ended up at the psychiatric unit, some have even gone to the extent of wanting to kill themselves… this is not a joke,” St John said.
It has also been reported that local porn is being filmed and distributed throughout the island. The actors are said to be under-aged girls having sex with older men.
There have also been reports of under-aged females, as young as 14, having sexual relationship with men in the 50s and 60s and some parents are collecting money from these unions.
http://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/crime-court-law/prostitution-rife-in-dominica-official/
Boliva
In Bolivia, prostitution is legal and regulated.
Prostitutes must register and must undergo regular health checks for sexually transmitted diseases (every 20 days).
In Bolivia, the average age of entry into prostitution is 16. Child prostitution is a serious problem, particularly in urban areas and in the Chapare region. Most prostituted children come from the lower social classes and from broken families. Only 12.6% of the prostituted children have any education, leaving them with few opportunities. As a result, many remain in the sex trade throughout adulthood, despite wanting to exit. Approximately one third of girls and adolescents in prostitution have between one to five children, mostly under the age of 5. Most child prostitutes work on the streets, inside brothels or inside bars and clubs.
Ecuador
Prostitution in Ecuador is legal and regulated, as long as the prostitute is over the age of 18. The ownership of brothels is also permitted. Prostitution is widespread throughout the country.
Nicaragua
In Nicaragua, prostitution itself is legal, but it is heavily discouraged by the law (brothels and other forms of procurement are illegal).
Prostitution is common in Managua. Prostitutes work on the streets, in nightclubs and bars, or in massage parlors.
Child prostitution is widespread, particularly in Managua, port cities, along the Honduran and Costa Rican borders, and near highways. According to Casa Alianza, between 1,200 and 1,500 girls and young women work in the brothels of Managua, and almost half are under the age of 18.
Saint Lucia
Prostitution is illegal in St Lucia and it is simply ignored by the state despite calls by CAFRA St. Lucia to deal with and regulate the trade.
http://www.iwraw-ap.org/resources/pdf/St_Lucia_SR.pdf
Prostitution is creeping out of control and is uncontrolled in Saint Lucia.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
There is concern that child prostitution is becoming a larger problem in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
www.dol.gov/ilab/media/reports/tda/tda2006/Saint_Vincent_and_the_Grenadines.pdf
Although prostitution is illegal, a local human rights group reported that it remained a problem among young women and teenagers.
www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/wha/119173.htm
In St Vincent, the Minister for Social Development, the Family, Gender and Ecclesiastical Affairs has pointed to an increase in the number of street children and proposed that laws be revised to prosecute their parents for child abuse and neglect. His concern echoed that of the UNCRC Committee, which commented on the sexual exploitation of children, including boys and street children, for payment.
www.unicef.org/barbados/cao_resources_vulnerability.pdf
Peter Binose