prostitution affects tourism in sosua

[GuillermoRamon]

A lot more Dominicans would visit Sosua and walk the town all year long, not just visit the beach on occasion, including wealthy Dominicans, it if didn't have the reputation it does. That is my point.

Let's take a step back for a second, even if Sosua didn't have the "reputation" it has, if you were a Dominican with a few bucks why would you go? If you take the town as is, and remove all that gives the reputation, what is there? A beach, and a few restaurants...

Considering:

1) If you want to go to a nice beach theres, Punta Cana, Playa Rincón, Cayo Levantado, and the list goes on...
2) Golf? No golf in Sosua, so thats a no-go
3) Water Sports, pretty much non-existent, unless you have a thing for Banana boat rides
4) Eco attractions, also non-existent
5) Not a lot, if anything, that is kid oriented, a water slide at Ocean village is about it.

So Ultimately, it's not really the "reputation" that doesn't bring them, there is pretty much nothing else to do...

 

[the gorgon]

Let's take a step back for a second, even if Sosua didn't have the "reputation" it has, if you were a Dominican with a few bucks why would you go? If you take the town as is, and remove all that gives the reputation, what is there? A beach, and a few restaurants...

Considering:

1) If you want to go to a nice beach theres, Punta Cana, Playa Rincón, Cayo Levantado, and the list goes on...
2) Golf? No golf in Sosua, so thats a no-go
3) Water Sports, pretty much non-existent, unless you have a thing for Banana boat rides
4) Eco attractions, also non-existent
5) Not a lot, if anything, that is kid oriented, a water slide at Ocean village is about it.

So Ultimately, it's not really the "reputation" that doesn't bring them, there is pretty much nothing else to do...

gee...

i have been saying for years that without the trim, Sosua has next to nothing...the above makes my argument..

 

[ctrob]

Let's take a step back for a second, even if Sosua didn't have the "reputation" it has, if you were a Dominican with a few bucks why would you go? If you take the town as is, and remove all that gives the reputation, what is there? A beach, and a few restaurants...

Considering:

1) If you want to go to a nice beach theres, Punta Cana, Playa Rincón, Cayo Levantado, and the list goes on...
2) Golf? No golf in Sosua, so thats a no-go
3) Water Sports, pretty much non-existent, unless you have a thing for Banana boat rides
4) Eco attractions, also non-existent
5) Not a lot, if anything, that is kid oriented, a water slide at Ocean village is about it.

So Ultimately, it's not really the "reputation" that doesn't bring them, there is pretty much nothing else to do...

While true, none of that matters to your average Dom. It's not about economics or how can we "draw more people" to our town.

It's about not having their daughters migrate to the sex trade and not having the "in your face" Pedro Clisante carnivale. And also not having the drugs and theft that comes along with it.

What replaces the monger trade is a distant second to them.

 

[jd426]

No way 90% of the girls in Sosua are Haitian. No way. Not even close.

Of Course not, but its much easier to blame the dark skinned Haitian girls for " bringing that dirty Prostitution" to the DR... and then REMOVING them from the Lifestyle, aka " rescuing them"...
Nice , neat little package, so the Dominican's can feel better about themselves, and of course way superior ..
Not knocking Dominican people, but that is how they roll..

 

[jd426]

Let's take a step back for a second, even if Sosua didn't have the "reputation" it has, if you were a Dominican with a few bucks why would you go? If you take the town as is, and remove all that gives the reputation, what is there? A beach, and a few restaurants...

Considering:

1) If you want to go to a nice beach theres, Punta Cana, Playa Rincón, Cayo Levantado, and the list goes on...
2) Golf? No golf in Sosua, so thats a no-go
3) Water Sports, pretty much non-existent, unless you have a thing for Banana boat rides
4) Eco attractions, also non-existent
5) Not a lot, if anything, that is kid oriented, a water slide at Ocean village is about it.

So Ultimately, it's not really the "reputation" that doesn't bring them, there is pretty much nothing else to do...

Its essentially a Whore Hamlet, with a small drinking problem ..

 

[GuillermoRamon]

It's about not having their daughters migrate to the sex trade and not having the "in your face" Pedro Clisante carnivale. And also not having the drugs and theft that comes along with it.

What replaces the monger trade is a distant second to them.

While I agree about there potentially being a draw for their daughters to migrate into "The abyss"(and that not being a good thing), let me play Devil's advocate and ask a question, where are their daughters going to work in Sosua? As I noted above, are they going to work at all the attractions that don't exist?

Let's take a look at whats happening, if indeed they are revamping it into a family oriented place, they open (yet more) restaurants that cater to gringos, most of the daughters barely graduate school, let alone speak a second language to cater to those gringos that are being attracted.

Are there exceptions, sure, for example, let's look at the Jolly Roger, they have Dominican girls working as waitresses, pre-requisite is to speak English, admittedly I haven't been in there in awhile as I hang out elsewhere, but, when I did go there, only one of the girls working in there was originally from Sosua, and she wasn't fluent English, that's not to say there are no local girls that do not. Now, I am not saying that to be denigrating, my point is the job creation (for the most part) is not going to be had by the local girls. Sure there will be cooking and cleaning jobs and such, where they need not converse with the gringos, or be the face of the business, but how many jobs will that be?

A lot of the other bars/restaurants that are open and have been open for a while that cater to gringos (The families that Sosua is trying draw, although I don't have any idea how, as there is nothing to do), all have gringos working in them, with a low % of Dominicans, usually as stated, in a non interactive role. Some forward thinking is required if the true desire is for their daughters to have a better life, like teaching them to stay in school, and sex-ed such that by 20 they don't already have a couple kids with no father figure around.

 

[Expat13]

While I agree about there potentially being a draw for their daughters to migrate into "The abyss"(and that not being a good thing), let me play Devil's advocate and ask a question, where are their daughters going to work in Sosua? As I noted above, are they going to work at all the attractions that don't exist?

Let's take a look at whats happening, if indeed they are revamping it into a family oriented place, they open (yet more) restaurants that cater to gringos, most of the daughters barely graduate school, let alone speak a second language to cater to those gringos that are being attracted.

Are there exceptions, sure, for example, let's look at the Jolly Roger, they have Dominican girls working as waitresses, pre-requisite is to speak English, admittedly I haven't been in there in awhile as I hang out elsewhere, but, when I did go there, only one of the girls working in there was originally from Sosua, and she wasn't fluent English, that's not to say there are no local girls that do not. Now, I am not saying that to be denigrating, my point is the job creation (for the most part) is not going to be had by the local girls. Sure there will be cooking and cleaning jobs and such, where they need not converse with the gringos, or be the face of the business, but how many jobs will that be?

A lot of the other bars/restaurants that are open and have been open for a while that cater to gringos (The families that Sosua is trying draw, although I don't have any idea how, as there is nothing to do), all have gringos working in them, with a low % of Dominicans, usually as stated, in a non interactive role. Some forward thinking is required if the true desire is for their daughters to have a better life, like teaching them to stay in school, and sex-ed such that by 20 they don't already have a couple kids with no father figure around.

There in lies the problem, lack of education from school and at home! Girls having sex with street kids and not using protection. Nine months later, another uneducated single Mom and a Chopo ex-boyfriend who is already 3 girlfriends done the road. These girl will be forced to do what they do whether in Sosua or elsewhere. Hopefully in an area where there are tourists so they can continue to blame it all on the gringo!

 

[Dov1984]

There in lies the problem, lack of education from school and at home! Girls having sex with street kids and not using protection. Nine months later, another uneducated single Mom and a Chopo ex-boyfriend who is already 3 girlfriends done the road. These girl will be forced to do what they do whether in Sosua or elsewhere. Hopefully in an area where there are tourists so they can continue to blame it all on the gringo!

That's where organizations such as the Mariposa foundation can help. I am unsure how big they are or how big an impact they are having but it seems they are trying their best. I am no saint by any sense of the word. I began coming to the DR specifically the North Coast years ago strictly for the chicas. I went through a rough divorce after a long loveless marriage. That is for a whole different discussion. I never liked Sosua and until last year never checked it out after the first few times coming down. To make a long story short I think if they set up a red light district with brothels such as in Germany and Amsterdam, then cleaned up the rest of Sosua it would be a big benefit. I am on who very much objects to making everything family friendly. While I know it was a problem and a black eye , I miss the Time Square of Old in NYC. I hate how pasteurized Las Vegas has become. Now that my children are grown if I ever go to an all inclusive it has to be adults only. I think it would benefit Sosua to embrace yet control it being the sin city of the Caribbean so to speak. I know it's easier said then done. I really think it would attract more sex tourists, bachelor/bachelorette parties if it was cleaned up and people felt safer. I enjoy Cabarete for much of that reason, it is nicer, I feel safer, there are things to do besides mongering. But mongering still exists there.

Sent from my SM-T550 using Tapatalk

 

[ramesses]

So, you didn't pick them up because you weren't living in Sosua at the time and not because the opportunity didn't present itself?

I lived in Sosua for over 2 years. I met women out and about in the country. Sosua is my favorite little town. Is that enough info?

 

[TropicalPaul]

Two things to add. First, the authorities reported seizing evidence of payments for "salidas" for the chicas, basically where the girl has to pay money to the bar to leave. That type of system always accompanies some type of pimping and coercion - they have to come to work at the bar at a certain time, and are only allowed out if the punter pays a Salida. If they try to sneak out without someone paying a salida, they aren't allowed to. This is quite clearly a case of a third party profiteering from prostitution and quite clearly illegal (and would be in most countries).

Secondly, given that so many people posting on here supposedly live in Sosua and aren't remotely interested in the chicas, it's amazing that these same people seem to know what percentage of these chicas are Haitian and whether they are forced to work or not.

 

[jd426]

Let he who is without Sin cast the first stone .....

 

[Harleysrock]

Secondly, given that so many people posting on here supposedly live in Sosua and aren't remotely interested in the chicas, it's amazing that these same people seem to know what percentage of these chicas are Haitian and whether they are forced to work or not.

I in no way would ever pay for sex, it’s not my thing, I don’t really like most mongers but I talk to and watch the sex workers. it’s obvious driving through town they are not 90% Haitian you would have to be pretty stupid not to notice that even though you are not into the scene.

 

[wrecksum]

....On this thread are many things that are the problem with Sosua.....So I asked 3 women in my church what was the big problem, they and their frens all said same thing......the whole town is falling apart........they are right you need to replace and repair much if the tourist will visit.....nobody has talked about another big problem...this winter I was snorkling around Sosua bay and out in the ocean there, the coral was mostly dead...............Doc............

That must be the other Sosua..I have many friends who dive here,myself also and I can assure you it is far from dead!The blanched coral in Sosua bay is not a new phenomenon but still harbours a multitude of wildlife.As for the newly surfaced streets and drainage systems,(yet to be tested) and the gentrification of several of the previous night spots,new restaurants and clean streets,they are swept daily by the way, I personally think it's tidier than when I first came here about 9 years ago. Sorry to be a bearer of good news...

 

[cavok]

Two things to add. First, the authorities reported seizing evidence of payments for "salidas" for the chicas, basically where the girl has to pay money to the bar to leave. That type of system always accompanies some type of pimping and coercion - they have to come to work at the bar at a certain time, and are only allowed out if the punter pays a Salida. If they try to sneak out without someone paying a salida, they aren't allowed to. This is quite clearly a case of a third party profiteering from prostitution and quite clearly illegal (and would be in most countries).

Secondly, given that so many people posting on here supposedly live in Sosua and aren't remotely interested in the chicas, it's amazing that these same people seem to know what percentage of these chicas are Haitian and whether they are forced to work or not.

The place I think you're referring to provided accomodations for the the girls - typically 4/room. They had to pay for every night they stayed there. If a client wanted the girl to spend the night with him, the girl still had to pay for the night at his place. That's the "salida" you're talking about.

In no way was there any coercion involved and, if the girls decided they no longer wanted to work there - they were free to leave and go elsewhere. So many girls wanted to work there he had to turn some away.

As I said before, almost all of these girls in Sosua are freelance workers. I don't know of, nor have I ever heard of, any sex slave places in Sosua like you mentioned there were in Santo Domingo.

If you've lived up here as long as I have, it's pretty easy to see the difference between a Haitian and a Dominican - even if you don't patronize any of these girls. I don't claim to know the exact percentage of Haitians, but it's way less than than 90%.

 

[TropicalPaul]

The place I think you're referring to provided accomodations for the the girls - typically 4/room. They had to pay for every night they stayed there. If a client wanted the girl to spend the night with him, the girl still had to pay for the night at his place. That's the "salida" you're talking about.

In no way was there any coercion involved and, if the girls decided they no longer wanted to work there - they were free to leave and go elsewhere. So many girls wanted to work there he had to turn some away.

As I said before, almost all of these girls in Sosua are freelance workers. I don't know of, nor have I ever heard of, any sex slave places in Sosua like you mentioned there were in Santo Domingo.

If you've lived up here as long as I have, it's pretty easy to see the difference between a Haitian and a Dominican - even if you don't patronize any of these girls. I don't claim to know the exact percentage of Haitians, but it's way less than than 90%.

You seem to know a huge amount of detail about this business, were you involved in it in some way?

 

[RDKNIGHT]

That must be the other Sosua..I have many friends who dive here,myself also and I can assure you it is far from dead!The blanched coral in Sosua bay is not a new phenomenon but still harbours a multitude of wildlife.As for the newly surfaced streets and drainage systems,(yet to be tested) and the gentrification of several of the previous night spots,new restaurants and clean streets,they are swept daily by the way, I personally think it's tidier than when I first came here about 9 years ago. Sorry to be a bearer of good news...

i was just in sosua looks like the same sh@@ Hole to me pal....

 

[GuillermoRamon]

i was just in sosua looks like the same sh@@ Hole to me pal....

Where were you in Sosua, that it was so nasty?

 

[ctrob]

Where were you in Sosua, that it was so nasty?

Maybe playa sosua, it's one big oozing septic field.

 

[GuillermoRamon]

Maybe playa sosua, it's one big oozing septic field.

Ah, I get it now, it's cool to trash Sosua, because, well, just because...Funny, all the times I go to the beach I never see this ooze you speak of, nor anything in the water, or a smell. You'd really think if it was that bad, one of the previous things mentioned would occur, don't ya think?

 

[Seamonkey]

Maybe playa sosua, it's one big oozing septic field.

Have you ever been to a marina or boat anchorage? Have you ever wondered where all that sewage goes? Do you think that all the boaters are using their holding tanks? Those valves on the holding tanks are open and the sewage goes straight out.

I know of nobody who has ever been sick or had a skin rash from swimming or walking Sosua beach. Water is crystal clear and garbage free. The coral reef is very well alive and if you ever take the time to go snorkeling you'll see lots of fish and no sign of garbage. In the bay of Charamicos, I don't know of any details.