海角乱伦

I have been following this as well.聽 It seems many people are supporting this move and there is a very vocal group opposed.聽

Seems to me the problem isn't actually the problem, rather a symptom of the problem.聽 Without addressing the root cause nothing much will change. Maybe it will move to a different location, quiet down for a while but not likely to go away.

Let's see how things continue.

Yes, the sex touirsts think Sosua will disappear without them.聽 They are "The Saviours of Soua" only in their minds.

I am sure some business owners are not happy, the mayor for one.

If Sosua disappeared, the government will have won that battle.

But Sosua will remain no matter what happens regarding the attempt to erradicate sex tourism

Many Dominicans hate Sosua because of the bad reputation it has and are for the actions being taken.

The government hates what the sex tourists post about their sexploits on line.聽 The underlying causes of what poor women do to make money is of course related at the underlying issue, but not what the government is focused upon.

Operation Atlantico

It has happened before and almost always without lasting results.

But this time, Operation Atlantico is serious. For several days, various actions have been underway to restore order to Sos煤a's nightlife. Yeni Berenice Reynoso, the Attorney General of the Republic, announced after the launch of the first phase of Operation Atlantico that the Public Prosecutor's Office intends to establish a special prosecutor's office in Sos煤a to combat illegal pimping, commercial sexual exploitation, and human trafficking. This special prosecutor's office in Sos煤a will primarily be responsible for enforcing the actions initiated and the operational management of all investigations related to pimping, human trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, human smuggling, and drug trafficking.

At the launch of Operation Atlantico last weekend, 29 raids led to the arrest of 174 women, including six minors and 22 men as well as the seizure of weapons, drugs, and evidence of migrant trafficking, exposing large-scale illegal networks operating in the area. Many Sos煤a residents point out that it was time for authorities to take action to curb the disorder in the city. Not only pimps and prostitution are responsible, but the micro-drug trade also causes bloody clashes that have resulted in deaths and injuries. Residents hope that this will now yield lasting results. In 2023, however, Sos煤a's mayor, Wilfredo Olivances, caused controversy by declaring in an interview with a Spanish journalist that prostitution 'is part of world culture'. His words were interpreted by many as normalizing sexual exploitation in the municipality and sparked a wave of criticism from sectors demanding a genuine transformation of Sos煤a, as well as greater protection for vulnerable women involved in this activity. The Dominican Republic's Attorney General's Office, Yeni Berenice Reynoso, has repeatedly emphasized her commitment to combating and eradicating sex tourism in the country since her time as Deputy Attorney General, particularly in areas where networks of exploitation and abuse are rampant.

As usual, we'll just have to wait and see what the end result will be.

@windeguy

And they are most of the vocal opposition for sure!聽 Somehow they think the DR needs their money.聽 In fact they don't care about their money at all.聽 I for one didn't like going to Sosua because of the issues there. If I went to Sosua Bay beach I made sure to leave town well before 4 pm.聽

And you are right, the govt doesn't care about the actual root causes and issues.

I was somewhat startled by what I saw when i visited Sosua last March. The community was teaming with sex workers in brilliant blue, green or pink hair to name a few. I was unaware of the reputation of Sosua when I decided to visit. I understand that poverty is at the root of many social issues and this is one of them.

I did not feel comfortable walking the noisy streets on my way to the beach or out to dine. I will not return....

Wait, there's someplace you can get to the beach without crossing a noisy street?

/signed/

newbie

Noisy streets are common but these are noisy busy streets for a different reason honey.

@wondering9

And how is that?

@planner

馃ぃ馃憤 馃ぃ

@Steverino7777

@wondering9 And how is that? - @Steverino7777

I guess I don't understand the question "and how is that?" (What does "that" refer to?)

When I was in Sosua recently, I didn't have any more (or less) trouble crossing the main drag to get to the beach than in the (admittedly few) other beachy places I've been so far. I was in the El Batey area, which I gather is ~ ground zero for the prostitution etc. But I usually go to the beach in the daytime. I assume the area is more (or differently) active at night. I didn't see any hookers aggressive or desperate enough to work during the day.

Your post made it sound like you were surprised that it was hard to get to the beach, so I wondered if it was easier elsewhere.

I now return you to the actual topic of this thread, which was not beach access

The noisy streets was probably the three block area around the main sex tourism region in El Batay at the west end of Pedro Clisante.聽 聽Perhaps some bars with loud music , and "activity" ..

Beach access,聽 not an issue now and it won't be in the future for Sosau Beach nor Playa Alicia.

prostitution is one of the oldest professions and you鈥檒l never eradicate it from society,

聽 聽 That said Souse is out of control , when I was there the girls were working聽 in the day but weren鈥檛 as aggressive as night fall , they have to reel it in especially if they want to change their image鈥�.. I saw plenty of construction going on and if they want to sell condos they have to project a lot better image

Sosua has so much potential and could be so much nicer, A section of Pedro Clisante could be blocked off to cars, motos and ATVs and whatever else that has a motor and turn that area into a pedestrian friendly walkable area with shops and restaurants like so many other towns and cities have done. There is room for Parking lots in the area and the road closure doesn鈥檛 necessarily have to be permanent, it could be聽 just in the evening. Maybe the new Police Force will actually try to enforce the rules against reckless driving and the mayhem that goes on every night?

There is a lot of new investment flowing to this area, it鈥檚 time for progressive thinking imo.

@Mmr986

I agree. Sosua does have potential but the way they are going about it will destroy this town. Why don't they just burn it down like they did in LA and Maui, Lahaina. In my opinion the goal is to kill all small business owners so the elites can come in and buy up properties on pennies on the dollar. Then they can turn it into Disneyland of DR. Anyone who has driven through this area can see the number of apartment buildings going up. There defiantly a long term plan in play.

I聽 disagree with some of what you have said.聽 Small business will continue in this area!聽 Just as it does in most other cities and towns. Yes there are more apartment buildings, pretty much going on everywhere here.聽 Population cannot keep growing without additional housing.聽 That applies to growth in locals and expats.

The clean up is a good thing.

Hopefully this operation will make Sosua a better place to live. Unfortunately there is many more problems here, not just the prostitutes. A friend is in the hospital because he was hit by a moto Concho driven by a 16 year old doing a wheelie down Pedro Clisante. He was speeding as many of them do. Despite all that, I still think Sosua is a good place to live in comparison to other towns in DR.

I am so sorry to hear about your friend.聽 Sadly we have way way too many accidents and deaths.

Every single town has its pros and cons. Absolutely. It always depends what you are looking for!聽 聽Sosua does have a lot to offer and聽 has its share of problems!聽

Hopefully聽 this will work because I don鈥檛 like seeing women exploited. We love Sosua and go for 5-6 months there every winter; we walk around in the evenings never felt unsafe, yes we see a lot of hookers but they have never bothered us. I have seen them aggressively pursue men that are alone but as far as couples they leave you alone. Traffic is crazy but it is in PP & Cabarete also. I don鈥檛 think as many businesses will hurt as some groups are letting on, I know of a really really large group of Canadians and Americans that come there every winter, we support local businesses, shop locally and enjoy the beaches. Not one of them seems afraid to me. The noise from the motos gets a little loud sometimes but it鈥檚 mostly tourists racing around and unfortunately most have never been on an ATV before and a lot of them are there for the sex especially Super Bowl weekend.

we love Sosua but it鈥檚 not our country so whatever happens we will have to accept but we are glad for the efforts being made. I just hope they don鈥檛 Americanize it, we love the no McDonal鈥檚 and no other American fast food chains, tons of great local food

Sosua is being taken back by the people.聽 They are going to have bi-weekly and hope to have weekly street festivals starting next weekend where they close one part of Pedro Clisante for that between 3 and 9 PM with things that are family and child friendly.聽

For those that recently came to Sosua, there is always Thailand.聽 Allegedly Colombia is doing a similar push back on sex tourists similar to what the DR just did.聽 They are not wanted their either.

The Hard Rock Cafe is open in Sosua.聽 I hope it does well

Another famous business that ends in an S is also coming to Sosua, so I was told by a reliable source who has a business in Sosua, No idea what S business that is.聽

I did hear a rumor that two different levels of Marriott hotels were considering building in Sosua.

I heard another rumor that the Scientologists might actually start work on their very large Dream City project just west of Sosua Abajo.聽 That was announced years ago, but nothing has happened as yet.

Time will tell on all of those.聽 Investors were holding onto their money , having discussions with the DR government, and now may be spending some of it after Project Atlantico.

The businesses that could fail are the big ones that were for window shopping for the latest type of sex tourists.聽 They could also be shut for proxenetismo reasons should the government chose that path, but they are at risk from a lack of clients because of the shut down on visible prostitution.

Those that come down and go on line for that alleged world's oldest聽 service can and will continue to visit and get what they want.

@windeguy

Then they also need to change the laws. Since its not unlawful in the DR unfortunately!

@windeguy Then they also need to change the laws. Since its not unlawful in the DR unfortunately! - @CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Prostitution will never be eliminated anywhere in the world at any time. That said:

I expect the DR government will use the broadest interpretation of the laws that already exist to achieve their goals of making sex tourist both unwelcome and uncomfortable. That is my story and I am sticking to it.

You know, like the just did with Project Atlantico.聽 No laws were changed for that to happen. Maybe they need a rinse and repeat from time to time.

@windeguy

Yep called a choice

@windeguy

Once you see the new construction start the money will cause changes. I see that happening in las terranas and end of semana santa week in las terranas as we previously knew it.

What do you mean "start"? There is almost constant construction and new projects. Not sure what you are referring to.

@planner

I am not talking about one or two new construction projects which wont change an area- and doesnt happen over night the changes especially how slow construction is in the dr.

I havent been to Sosua area in awhile or followed the construction but I can guarantee Las Terranas wont be the same in five years that it was prior.

New project after new project is starting.

Cap Cana is night and day from what is was 5 years ago and Punta Cana changing as well. The traffic is night and day from what it was.

But the locals complain cant afford the area anymore - cause and effect!

That's the way tourist and expat areas are

Construction is constant in many many areas of the country.

But the locals complain cant afford the area anymore - cause and effect!

Yes; we're the cause.

@wondering9

Wasnt meant towards you if you are a local. The new construction is the cause of the upheaval and changes for locals.

No, I'm an expat. The new construction isn't happening in a vaccuum, it's happening because there's demand from expats.

And demand from locals and Dominicans who live abroad.

Remember tourism provides jobs and some profits come here, not enough but at least some. Resorts and聽 restaurants etc buy local produce and products. They use local services.聽 聽

None of this is any one groups "fault".聽 It does need to be properly managed, protecting the country and the people.聽

Well said, and true!

@wondering9

Is it demand or investments by expats for airbnb properties...

@wondering9 Is it demand or investments by expats for airbnb properties... - @DRVisitor

So, instead of "expats" lets say "expats and tourists."

That's still not "the locals."

Among "the locals," my guess is that the people who can afford to invest in an Airbnb are not the people who are being displaced from their old neighborhoods.

Also, a lot of Airbnb owners/managers are not based in the DR. Whether they are citizens of other countries, or members of the Dominican diaspora, varies. I don't know much about that, but it's pretty clear that not all the money generated by tourism stays in country.

A lot of this is just basic supply-and-demand economics.

To me, it's not about "blame". (The original post on this subtopic mentioned "cause," which is not the same.)聽 I just think it's fair to acknowledge that our presence here does have an effect, including higher prices, that local people have no control over.

There's no escaping that we live in an interconnected world. As Planner said, it's all in how it's managed. Meanwhile it's hardly surprising if people caught holding the short end of the stick complain. We don't have to go around in sackcloth and ashes, but we can understand (and respect) that.