And the response has to include how it affects DR.
The Communist Party in China has long portrayed prostitution as a form of exploitation.
The penalties are harsh. Sex workers and their clients can be fined and locked up without
trial for up to 15 days. Prostitutes caught repeatedly can be sent, also without trial, to
“custody and education” centres, a type of jail where they can be held for up to two years.
Pimps can be sentenced to up to ten years in prison.
Its been my experience with Chinese investment comes the Chinese way of thinking (control)
and the Communist Party's opinions for better or worse can, will and do have a major impact
on what they deem as acceptable or unacceptable social behaviour in public establishments.
In order for Dominican politicians to appease these Chinese investors a.k.a. Santa Claus on
a scale these crooks have never seen before.....
I'm not saying the potential for massive Chinese investment is the main reason for the recent
clean up attempts, there are other factors at play like NGO's who sometimes act as the eyes
and ears for international lenders like the IMF.
I will say this, it would not surprise me at all if after 5 years places like Sosua Beach or Boca Chica
are snatched up by some large Chinese firm and the place is completely transformed from a hooker happy monger land to something that looks more like office complex / hotel with big fountains and glossy windows.
I've watched it happen in other parts of the world and to think it could not or would not happen
here in the Dominican Republic would be very naive.
NOTE: This response might be better suited for another thread which has
garnered more attention regarding prostitution lately, however, I think yall get the point.