The future of Sosua

[the gorgon]

Not at all. I say let the government close every single one of them, then
we'll take a look at how El Batey is doing in 6 months without them. Please
explain to all of us which businesses in Sosua are not in some way, shape or
form taking in money which trickles down from this "world's oldest business"
and the tourist who come for it.

an interesting aside in reference to what you said, about people benefiting from the chica trade...

i very often go to Santiago to look for cars for customers. experience has taught me never to try to get on the 8am bus out of POP for Santiago, because by the time it gets to POP, all the seats are taken.

by whom, you ask?

easy...all the chicas from the Cibao, going back home.

similarly, i do not go on Fridays, because after 2pm you cannot get on the bus...all the chicas going the other way.

even the bus companies will suffer.

 

[windeguy]

Not at all. I say let the government close every single one of them, then
we'll take a look at how El Batey is doing in 6 months without them. Please
explain to all of us which businesses in Sosua are not in some way, shape or
form taking in money which trickles down from this "world's oldest business"
and the tourist who come for it.

The government is only saying they are going to close the bar only locations on the western end of Pedro Clisante. The entire town is not going to be closed down.

 

[windeguy]

yup...his little dog whistle. it was so great before THEY came.

THEY are the ones , along with their postings on the internet, that brought up the ugliness to the surface.
THEY do indeed share at least some blame for what is happening.

 

[the gorgon]

THEY are the ones , along with their postings on the internet, that brought up the ugliness to the surface.
THEY do indeed share at least some blame for what is happening.

you will get no argument from me there, but it was never a haven for sophisticated bons vivants and racconteurs, dressed in English tweeds and reading Chaucer.

 

[windeguy]

you will get no argument from me there, but it was never a haven for sophisticated bons vivants and racconteurs, dressed in English tweeds and reading Chaucer.

True. The Germans, Italians and Canadians were just far more low key.

 

[Cdn_Gringo]

Clearly businesses will need to adapt to a changed environment if govt is successful in bringing about its new vision. The whole idea here is to removed the women, their customers and those business that depend on that trade. It's not a question of after the first two are removed how will the current businesses survive - they won't and that is the intended outcome for this central block in downtown Sosua.

Without other businesses to replace the "meet and negotiate" establishments it looks pretty bleak for the block. Thus the need for a phase II which sees the blighted facades bulldozed and replaced with a modern invigorated business and living space. It doesn't make sense to kick everyone one out of El Batey and then try to figure out what is going to come next - which is exactly how Sosua functions. They have no clue what to do in totality and if they did, they would undoubtedly muck it up by doing things in the wrong order or before the next phase of the plan is ready to go.

 

[lifeisgreat]

What was the reason?

There was blow back of not in my back yard you don’t..like trying find a garbage dump location...

 

[cavok]

The city council made bars close at midnight. They ordered clubs and discos to be enclosed. They shut down places like Passions and Pica Flor.

This is just another ill-conceived, half-baked idea from a city council that can't even build a sidewalk. It is destined to fail IMO.

 

[chico bill]

and who exactly do you think are the purveyors of this seediness to which you allude, chico bill?

I think the whole thing started going downhill when Sosua Dave started posting what a pussy-paradise Sosua was, and it wasn't long before others starting posting similar and putting party videos out there showing their conquests.

It was better there is no question. I think there was an even mix of Europeans and North American tourists. Now most of the Europeans have vanished (except for the long term residents).
It seemed more relaxed.

 

[USA DOC]

Clearly businesses will need to adapt to a changed environment if govt is successful in bringing about its new vision. The whole idea here is to removed the women, their customers and those business that depend on that trade. It's not a question of after the first two are removed how will the current businesses survive - they won't and that is the intended outcome for this central block in downtown Sosua.

Without other businesses to replace the "meet and negotiate" establishments it looks pretty bleak for the block. Thus the need for a phase II which sees the blighted facades bulldozed and replaced with a modern invigorated business and living space. It doesn't make sense to kick everyone one out of El Batey and then try to figure out what is going to come next - which is exactly how Sosua functions. They have no clue what to do in totality and if they did, they would undoubtedly muck it up by doing things in the wrong order or before the next phase of the plan is ready to go.

...after my last trip there, the meet and play show and tell and negotiate ...has moved into the hotel lobbies, mostly over a drink...or for water sports fans the new garden has a pool party most nights.. if you are not staying there just pay a few pesos to the man at the door....but its not a secret but the whole country has the same entertainment...not just SOSUA...…..

 

[Cdn_Gringo]

I don't hold out much hope for any sort of successful revitalization of "the block", this Mayor, this current iteration of the same old "plan" and Sosua in general. It remains a place where more English is spoken than elsewhere so those with limited Spanish seem to gravitate here to set up retirement shop in the gated communities and accept the limited infrastructure, shopping options and the nightlife downtown as par for the course. I am aware of nothing that would constitute anything other than a slow continual downward spiral for the town over the last 15 - 20 years.

 

[Big]

Certainly anyone who has moved to Sosua over the last 15 years and is so bothered by the chica trade to the point of being disgusted has no one to blame but themselves. The girls are and have been part of the landscape for decades, they are woven into the community. By all indications it is not going to change anytime soon, the debates will continue as well just like they have for the last 15 years.

 

[Seamonkey]

Certainly anyone who has moved to Sosua over the last 15 years and is so bothered by the chica trade to the point of being disgusted has no one to blame but themselves. The girls are and have been part of the landscape for decades, they are woven into the community. By all indications it is not going to change anytime soon, the debates will continue as well just like they have for the last 15 years.

They should not be disgusted with putas, but with Edenorte. Power issues have been brutal in the past while. Before the mayor changes the entire culture of Pedro Clisante she might want to address the power issues. I really doubt that the thousands of families that will be coming here from all over the world will be impressed with not having power as they walk the new and improved Pedro Clisante.

 

[ramesses]

They should not be disgusted with putas, but with Edenorte. Power issues have been brutal in the past while. Before the mayor changes the entire culture of Pedro Clisante she might want to address the power issues. I really doubt that the thousands of families that will be coming here from all over the world will be impressed with not having power as they walk the new and improved Pedro Clisante.

This is what I keep saying. Fix the problems that affect people each and every day...you know, the basic things before worrying about redoing the town.

They don't give a crap about the citizens and their needs...they are in this for money. Pockets lined, palms greased.

 

[slowmo]

Not that it is going to happen, but I would enjoy watching what would transpire if everybody moved to the other part of town and built new bars, restaurants and hotels. Maybe the mayor could find a way to build a new sidewalk.

Guaranteed the mayor would want to move all the families and cruise ship passengers to the new red light district and move the hookers and johns back to where they started.

 

[Ecoman1949]

Nice story. Thanks for putting it up.
The working girls are victimized enough.
Good people are everywhere is you look.

Totally agree and glad to do it. No woman wants to frequent Pedro Clisante selling her body. Poverty and other social issues force her to make that choice. Their plight is compounded by the abuse they receive from police and that includes high ranking police officials. I had conversations with some of the ladies who frequent the resorts. The simple act of taking the time to listen to them opens a door to me beyond their protective emotional armour. I’ve seen a fair degree of intelligence and beauty in some of them. Some are fiercely protective of their family and co-workers. They all want a normal life. The same desires as women everywhere.

 

[CFA123]

... Then there is the construction just east of Hi Caribe not yet finished and of unknown reason.

When I drove by about 6:30pm this evening there were 8-10 guys working there. Mostly welding the metal structure.

I drive by there 3-4 times a week on my way to dinner, and this is the first time in many months I have seen any construction workers there.

 

[CristoRey]

The govt should start with a curfew on bars.
Create and enforce a dress code for the women
who want to hang out in the restaurants after
curfew. Those who refuse to abide by the new
rules can sit in jail for the night. No unaccompanied
women allowed on the strip and no rowdy behavior
should be tolerated.

At the same time, encourage the bars to relocate
to another part of El Batey, perhaps further down
the road to a designated red light area where it can
be better controlled.

Might I add... I stayed in Charamicos a few weeks ago and
I've never seen so many working girls in a colmado vying
for customers. Its unlikely the girls are going to stop coming
up to Sosua anytime soon. Theiy're just plying their trade in
less desirable places.

 

[Timotero]

It's been ........................
I'd like to hear from someone in Sosua as to just how many vacant buildings down there at that end of PC are actually available for ALL the clubs to just move into.

“All the clubs”? How many are we actually talking about? No one is “naming names”.

IIRC there are only a few “bars” left on that block of Pedro Clisante?
Starting on the north side of PC moving east to west:
- Pratinum
-Bourbon Street (I think it would be classified as a Resturant?)
-Hotel Central
-Classicos/Merengue (I’m guessing this is the primary target?)
Across the street on the south side of that bock (east to west):
- King Sports (formally Rombas) (I think this would also be classified now as a restaurant?)
-Winners Circle
And that’s It! (Unless I’m forgetting some?)

If you also included the next block further east we are just adding Cez Montreal (is it a bar or restaurant?), Finn McCoolls (May already be closed), and City Lights.

What am I missing?

 

[cavok]

“All the clubs”? How many are we actually talking about? No one is “naming names”.

IIRC there are only a few “bars” left on that block of Pedro Clisante?
Starting on the north side of PC moving east to west:
- Pratinum
-Bourbon Street (I think it would be classified as a Resturant?)
-Hotel Central
-Classicos/Merengue (I’m guessing this is the primary target?)
Across the street on the south side of that bock (east to west):
- King Sports (formally Rombas) (I think this would also be classified now as a restaurant?)
-Winners Circle
And that’s It! (Unless I’m forgetting some?)

If you also included the next block further east we are just adding Cez Montreal (is it a bar or restaurant?), Finn McCoolls (May already be closed), and City Lights.

What am I missing?

Thanks for the info. I haven't been to PC at night in a long time, so I didn't know how many clubs there were.

With Bourbon Street and Rumbas most likely classified as restaurants, and some of the others adding food to be classified as such(does Sosua even have any definite regulations so as to how to differentiate between a club and a restaurant(?) - in Florida a certain percentage of sales must be food to classify), moving two or three clubs down to the other end will probably make no difference at all.