Monday, January 15, 2018

Is Anguilla Civilised?




An update to the brothel blog of a few days ago.
In addition to her photographs and the comments to them, Ms Soncini has published an article on brothels in Anguilla.  I invite you to read it by clicking on the link.  Then, click on the tab in the left-hand margin, “English Version of Published Article.”  It is very instructional.
Since I published my article on brothels in Anguilla, I have been getting feedback.  One Jamaican lady in the bank line with me this morning mentioned that Pam Webster brought up the matter of my article in some recent meeting of the House of Assembly.  According to the lady, Victor protested that (a) most of the article was not true;  and (b) he saw nothing wrong with prostitution, as it existed everywhere and at all times.  I don’t know, I did not hear the broadcast.
Of course, my article was not about prostitution.  It was about illegal brothels.  It is about the failure of the authorities to prosecute those involved in managing them and profiting from the business.  It is about the exploitation in brothels of these foreign victims by Anguillian men.
A couple of nights ago, Minister Cora Hodge, phoned me to express her concerns.  I learned that the Immigration Department has, in fact, carried out three raids on illegal brothels, not one, as a result of which several more women have been deported.  (It was very kind of her to take the time to respond to my concerns, something she definitely was not obliged to do.  I am very grateful to her.)
My response to the Minister was that her Ministry had very poor PR if there have been three raids in all.  I have never heard of any raids on houses of prostitution except for the one raid (which I got in writing from a senior police officer).  The other two raids must be very recent, maybe even subsequent to the publication of my article.  I urged her to have someone write and publish a press release explaining to the Anguillian public what the Ministry of Home Affairs has accomplished in dealing with the illegal brothel problem.  It is not acceptable to keep sweeping this matter under the carpet.
The Minister did not seem to realise that what is really sad about merely deporting the foreign girls is that the only persons who are made to suffer from the criminal activity of the men who run the brothels and live off the proceeds are the female victims themselves.  They are not treated as victims but as criminals and deported.  They are doubly punished for their poverty and helplessness.  The men, by contrast, only have to wait until the replacement girls arrive to continue their connivance at their exploitation.
Minister Hodge further advised that the Ministry has found a solution to the large numbers of these women and girls working in Anguilla.  They have introduced a visa requirement for Venezuelans.  They have reduced the visa time to just one week.  What use is that, I ask?  My information is that the Anguillians involved in this trafficking frequently bring the girls in at night, illegally, at Sandy Hill and Little Harbour bays, landing them on the beaches.  When they enter Anguilla that way, no one asks them about their visa.  
The brothel activity is not reducing as a result of these three raids.  The Jamaican lady mentioned earlier told us that she lives in Blowing Point, and two new houses have opened up since the hurricane, right near to her home.  She told us that the demand for new girls is growing such that plane trips to Santo Domingo are now being arranged to bring back new stock.
My second problem with this so-called “solution” or “remedial action” is that this visa requirement only accomplishes two things I can see.  One, it ensures there is a steady supply of fresh girls imported into Anguilla.  The result of this “remedial action” is that the men who frequent these places have new victims once a week instead of once a month.
Two, all one week visa policy achieves is an increase in government’s revenue from granting the inevitably requested visa extensions.  This new visa policy makes it look like the government of Anguilla is knowingly participating in brothel keeping and living on the proceeds of prostitution.
One correspondent commented on the original Blog:  Remember when Anguillian men went off to Macoris and other places, well you know what happened, men being men and being away from their wives, well, boys will be boys and that sort of behavior resulted in lots of babies, which came to Anguilla to claim their birthrights, and with them they brought their culture which includes Bodegas and brothels.”
To which I responded that we need to be careful not to seem to adopt the usual, false, weasely, Anguillian, fall-back excuse that all these wrongs are caused by the foreigners in our midst, especially the “Spanish”, and not by real Anguillians.  The truth is that brothel keeping in Anguilla is principally an affair of native Anguillians.  So, the particular family who own the houses in question may not personally run them.  But, they knowingly rent out their premises to these brothel keepers.  They are as much living off the proceeds of prostitution as Liliana, shown in the Ms Soncini's photo blog.  It is the same with many of the other “Sports Bars” throughout the island.  They are owned by native Anguillians who are happy to live off the proceeds of prostitution while hiring others to do the dirty work.
My worry is that a lot of us in Anguilla (mainly the men) are in denial about the consequences of this growing illegal and unhealthy business on our society.  The church is silent in the face of their most prominent members being participants in this business.  The National Council of Women appear to have had their balls cut off.  Members of the Mothers’ Union can be said to have deteriorated to a state of decrepitude.  Seventh Day Adventists appear happy to argue only about the correct Sabbath Day, while ignoring the pain and suffering their members bring to these exploited girls and women.
Mind you, like Victor’s alleged assertion, I have no problem with prostitution.  Everyone has a right to sell his or her body for sex, ONCE they are an informed and consenting adult.  But, we know the hazards to health and welfare that exist where this behaviour is conducted in houses that are not regulated and licensed.  (I will let others more qualified than me in matters of morality worry about that aspect.)  Some of these women are not consenting adults.  Some are under-age.  Others have been trafficked, meaning to me, tricked, beaten, and exploited.
Unlike with licensed brothels in St Maarten (if they still exist), the workers in Anguillian whore-houses are not medically examined on a weekly basis.  Diseases such as Syphilis, super clap Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, HPV and Genital Herpes, among others, are being injected into our families when the men come back home from these houses.  Limiting the visa time for these women to one week is not going to have any impact on the rate at which STIs are introduced into our society.
Obviously, because they are illegal, these illegal whore-houses are not examined by the public health department to ensure the conditions are sanitary.  The derelict buildings that are used for this trade, (as demonstrated in Belinda Soncini’s photo-blog) and the second-hand mattresses that the customers lie on seemingly in the abandoned villas at Mariners Hotel at Sandy Ground and elsewhere remain vermin infected.  This is an appalling way to treat these women, as if they are dogs without rights, barely human beings at all.
Because these houses are illegal, the sex workers are not protected in the event they are raped, beaten and even killed as happened recently.  The result of this free for all is that children are trafficked to Anguilla as sex workers.  Without protection of law, we can expect that most of their money is taken away from them (not least in paying officials for protection).  Their passports are confiscated by their pimps and managers, so they cannot escape the island, even if they are so desperate as to ask directions to the nearest police station.
The conduct of these Anguillian men who condone this “Sports Bar” business is disgusting, and would be unacceptable in any civilised country.
This begs the question: Is Anguilla a civilized country?

Friday, January 12, 2018

Anguilla Brothel Keeping


Published in the commentary section of the regional internet newspaper Caribbean News Now on 12 January:  http://wp.caribbeannewsnow.com/2018/01/12/commentary-brothel-keeping-anguilla/
Prostitution is notoriously the world’s oldest profession.  Prostitution is not illegal in Anguilla.  No law is broken if sex is exchanged for money or goods.  It might be immoral, but no crime is committed when sex is paid for.
What are illegal are the two offences of keeping a brothel and living off immoral earnings.  These carry severe penalties in Anguilla.  Pimps and brothel keepers are serious criminals.  They live off the earnings of sex workers.  That is the essence of the offence.
Brothels have operated openly in Anguilla for decades.  The first and most notorious known to me was opposite the Tyre Shop in George Hill.  It started, I believe, in the 1980s.  Its Madame was my client.  Many years ago, she asked my legal advice on how to evict one of her “tenants”.  These were nationals of Santo Domingo.  They were desperately trying to better their condition.  They did what they had to do to send money back home for the support of their families.  I tried to give her the most humane advice possible within the law.  Her business continued uninterrupted for a very long time.  I assume she operated under the eye of the police.  There was nothing secret about her operation, and she was never shut down.
Over the past five years, things have changed in Anguilla, particularly the nationality of the most favoured prostitutes.  Venezuelans are now outcompeting Santo Domingans.  A large number of so-called “Sports Bars” have begun to operate in all the villages.  The industry is growing fast.  Sometimes, it seems that every other house in South Hill is rented out to a brothel keeper.  In some of them, there are scantily clad young Venezuelan women sitting at the bar.  There are bedrooms in the back available to rent.  These establishments serve food and alcoholic beverages.  If you drive past them at night, they appear to be doing a thriving business.
In the year 2016, photographer Belinda Soncini visited Anguilla.  The result of her visit was a photo blog.  She posted it on the Social Documentary Network.  It is available to be viewed here: https://www.socialdocumentary.net/exhibit/Belinda_Soncini/4145.  She calls it “Desperate Women: Venezuela’s Latest Export.”  In her words,
This project documents the lives of women from my country, Venezuela, who were forced to migrate to the Caribbean to sell their bodies to feed and buy medicines for their families.  These women were professionals with good jobs, but the economic crisis in Venezuela left them no other choice.  They live isolated, fearing being judged, exposed to countless perils, sacrificing their lives to provide for their families.  They say they will keep doing this until their bodies can’t take it anymore.
This is a very sensitive photo blog, as you would expect.  The faces of the women are not shown in the photographs.  Her main concern was to reveal the miserable lives her compatriots were forced to endure in Anguilla for the sake of their families they left behind, not to embarrass or shame them.
My main concern is different.  I question how did we in Anguilla come to this sad state?  For decade after decade we permitted the exploitation of vulnerable foreign women by Anguillian entrepreneurs.  A little research reveals that, though the photo blog was published in the year 2016, the exploitation of foreign girls and women in Anguillian brothels continues today.  The whole Anguillian community knows about it.  Yet, no one speaks out against this form of human trafficking.
The Royal Anguilla Police Force know about it.  They occasionally, from what I am told, pick up a low-level pimp.  No criminal convictions in court for keeping a brothel have been publicised or are known to me.
The Immigration Department know about it.  They occasionally deport a few of the women.  But, this hardly stems the flow of replacement sex workers that they permit entry into Anguilla.
There seems to be no cooperation between the various government agencies that are supposed to take care of our health and welfare.  Restaurant licences continue to be issued to brothels.  Applications by them for renewal of liquor licences go unopposed by the police at the regular six-monthly court hearings.  It is uncertain if any officer of the Labour Department visits to inquire about foreigners working in bars and restaurants without permits.
At a recent meeting of the House of Assembly, Pam Webster, the Leader of the Opposition attempted to raise the issue.  She was shouted down with calls that “This is not the right place.”  So, where is the right place to raise the issue?
I have decided to raise it in the newspapers.  My letter to the editor was published in the issue of The Anguillian Newspaper of Friday 12 January.  It reads:
Anguilla’s Latest Addition to her Tourism Product
Anguilla’s latest tourism venture is beginning to attract international attention, as the above webpage shows.  However, some persons in Anguilla find this development disturbing.
Questions are being asked, such as:
Why are we not taking care of our vulnerable populations?
Why haven’t those with the power to end this situation taken action?
Why aren’t there coordinated efforts to stop this?
Why do those in authority refuse to take action and/or ignore this situation?
Why do we not speak out when these things are literally happening in our backyards?
Why haven’t those in power shut down these establishments?
Why hasn’t a coordinated effort been implemented among the elected government officials, Immigration, Labour, the Police, and others?
Why haven’t we seriously noticed that human trafficking is happening right here in many ways, and this is only one of them?
Keeping a house of prostitution and living on immoral earnings are serious offences.
Why do we not charge and prosecute those bringing in these women and those using their services?
We must treat criminals as such, and seek help for those being exploited.
What is the cause of our apparent lack of understanding of what is happening here?
Why do we show such a lack of courage, boldness and tenacity to address this evil and to end it?
Why are we not grieved to our cores?
It is going to be interesting to see who responds.  Will there be any stirring of conscience among the smug and self-satisfied church and state officials?  Or, will they all shrug and say, “No need to respond.  It is just another 7-day wonder.  The story will soon go away, as it always does.”
Another and different letter to the Editor on the topic was published in the Daily Herald of St Maarten on Wednesday 9 January 2018.  This is what it said:
Meet Anguilla’s Latest Addition to her Tourism Plant
Anguilla’s new tourism product is beginning to attract international attention, as shown by the above webpage.
Looking for ideas on economic diversification, the Anguillian business community has struck on an exciting new way forward.  Their solution has met with near universal approval.
It appears that, with a reputation for 5-star accommodation, the previous houses of recreation for men are being upgraded.  The now 40-year old Santo Domingan product has long been in need of sprucing up.  Plant has been repainted and decorated since the passage of Hurricane Irma.  The staff is being re-trained in the latest customer service techniques.  A bright future for this industry is anticipated.
There is official approval for this development.  The ever-courteous Anguillian police officers and immigration officials clear the way of all obstacles, even falling over on their backs to help participants to find their new positions.
The Christian Anguillian community are anxious to encourage participation.  It keeps the men busy and out of mischief, social workers say.
Wives are happy to get the men out of the house, for an inexpensive night out, sampling the delicacies on offer.
Politicians hold town-hall type meetings at these venues.  After all, it is where most of their male constituents are to be found after work.
Celia’s and Anna Maria’s are ever popular, though less so now that the under-16 year olds have been discouraged.  Off-duty police officers observe the comings and goings from the porch, making sure the peace is kept.
There is a move underway for this latest addition to Anguilla’s tourism plant to apply for associate membership in the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association, stagnant for some years now.
The Chamber of Industry and commerce is always seeking to gain new members, and this area of growing economic activity is bound to be a boost for the Chamber.
The only negative comes from some Ministers of Religion who respond, “Well, at least they are not our girls.”  But, these are mere spoil-sports whose stock in trade is criticism, no matter how healthy and natural the topic of their condemnation.  We can be sure their views will be safely ignored.
Next week, look forward to a critical assessment of the choice of commodities available at the Drug House of South Hill, yet another of Anguilla’s emerging new industries.
The Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association and the Chamber of Commerce are, no doubt, going to be upset.  I make a preposterous and incredible suggestion that the illegal brothels are considering applying for membership.  Social workers and ministers of government will be highly offended that I highlight their inaction.  Police and Immigration Officers will be outraged that I jokingly suggest their incompetence.
My hope is that the whole of Anguillian society will be outraged, but outraged for the right reason.  I hope they will raise their voices in protest at this exploding form of human exploitation in Anguilla.  This is how public opinion is expressed.  Public opinion, when mobilised, is the most effective way of achieving social change and reform.  Keeping quiet does the opposite.
Maybe, this time the result of all this “taking offence” will be some action.  Search warrants can be obtained on the grounds of reasonable suspicion.  Nightly raids on one after the other of these illegal operations will soon have an effect.  With the evidence collected, a few lengthy jail sentences can be expected.  It won’t take long to shut them down.
Refusing their licences, searching their premises, collecting the evidence, prosecuting them, convicting them, locking them up, and closing them down are unlikely to happen unless civil society begins to make noise.  Without public agitation, too many persons are making money out of this lucrative business for our officials to risk offending the participants.
We shall see what happens.