8/9/2019 Crack down on Human Trafficking in Belize, Ambergris Caye

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Crack down on Human Trafficking in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye

INTRODUCTION

Our two previous Appeals to the Government of Belize, in which we urged them tostop human trafficking in their country, extended a hand of partnership to PrimeMinister Dean Barrow.

In this our third Appeal, we provide further details on a step that can be takenimmediately to address human trafficking in Belize: crack down on San Pedro Ambergris Caye.

San Pedro, Ambergris Caye

The Belize tourism boycott has designated San Pedro a red flag no-go zone for tourists because it is a center for human trafficking. In fact, it is among the worst violators in Central America.

San Pedro is heavily populated with ficha bars specializing in exploiting women

victims of human trafficking. The Town of San Pedro counts 90 human traffickingbars that specialize in forced prostitution of human trafficking victims. Thisis in a town with a population of a population of 12,000.

Human Trafficking Corruption in San PedroTop Cop Corrupted

Top Cop Corrupted

Corruption in San Pedro as it affects human trafficking has three pulse points:Mayor Elsa Paz; the police; and the bar owned by the Mayor, Big Daddys Night Club.

Mayor Paz enjoys the benefits but none of the restrictions associated with conflict of interest for politicians. The Mayor appointed her brother George to theresort islands five-member liquor board, which is authorized to issue and enforce liquor regulations locally. The liquor board approved over 390 licenses thisyear. Ninety of those licenses were awarded to ficha bars known for offering human trafficking victims as part of their bill of fare.

As the co-owner of Big Daddys Night Club she uses her influence to make sure the human trafficking victims in her club remain enslaved, working for her and herbrother. Together they profit from the trade in drugs and human trafficking, selling victims to other local bar owners or forcing them into prostitution at Big Daddys.

Big Daddys Night Club is the anchor for human trafficking in San Pedro. It is the hub out of which all of the human trafficking victims coming to town are sold and dispatched to other local ficha bars. Our sources in San Pedro tell usup to 500 human trafficking victims a year are processed through Big Daddys. Notorious for its selection of trafficked girls, it operates without interferencefrom the police. It is also a major drug-dealing establishment, which the police also turn a blind eye to.

The police are in Mayor Pazs pocket. They do not enforce liquor licensing laws, which hold that prostitution in bars is an offence, punishable by fine and possible conviction. They also provide security for Big Daddys and are among the establishments best customers for trafficked girls.

Appeal to Prime Minister Dean Barrow: start with a crack down on San Pedro

8/9/2019 Crack down on Human Trafficking in Belize, Ambergris Caye

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In our recent Appeal #2 to the Belize government, we urged Prime Minister Barrowto strengthen and enforce liquor laws so they provide penalties to bar owner profiting from prostitution, including:

1) Fines for bar owners, starting at $2,000 (Belize) for a first offence

2) Suspension of liquor license for a period of six months for the first offence

, up to two years for the second, and up to five years for subsequent violations

3) Monitor police enforcement of liquor license laws

In the immediate term, we are asking the Prime Minister to enforce Belizes current liquor license laws. These laws that would empower inspection and crack downon bars which permit on-premises prostitution.

We respectfully submit that Prime Minister Barrow move immediately to investigate and prosecute San Pedro bar owners profiting from human trafficking victims inforced prostitution. We suggest he make a first-strike example of Mayor Paz, her bar, Big Daddys Night Club, and her relationship with the police.

We further submit that the following San Pedro ficha bars, which openly exploithuman trafficking victims, be investigated and pursued under Belize law: Tinapa;Black& White; Back-A-Town; Riverside; Mings; Las Amigos; Pedros; Sport Bar; Jovinies; and Tackle Box.

APPEAL

In submitting this appeal to the Belize government, I am urging the Dean Barrowgovernment to act immediately to address human trafficking along and within itsborders.

Specifically, I am endorsing the above-noted anti-trafficking measures regarding

: targeting a crackdown on human trafficking in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye; inspecting and pursuing under Belize laws San Pedro bar owners who profit from humantrafficking victims.