Cuban hotel guests complain of prostitution

Posted on Tuesday, 07.16.13

Cuban hotel guests complain of prostitution
BY JUAN O. TAMAYO
JTAMAYO@ELNUEVOHERALD.COM

Most online guest reviews of beach resorts mention the quality of the
sand, the water, the food and the towels and linens. And the Club Marea
del Portillo and adjoining Club Farallón on Cuba's southeastern coast
are no different.

But many of their guests also have complained about the young Cuban
prostitutes at the three-star hotels, favored by Canadians looking for a
cheap vacation — as little as $645 for a flight and one week's stay,
all-inclusive.

The Marea del Portillo, in the municipality of Pilón, a remote part of
Granma province, was home to James McTurk, 78, a Canadian convicted of
child sex tourism with Cuban girls as young as three, for seven visits
between 2009 and his arrest in Toronto last July.

Following are some of the guests' complaints about prostitution, most of
them written anonymously. Two hotel administrators hung up the phone
when asked about the complaints.
• "The worst part was the sex trade. I am used to seeing prostitution in
Cuba now, but when they are 13 & 14 year old girls ... that's just gross."
• "If you don't want to watch obvious prostitution happen right in front
of your eyes do not book at this resort."
• "Very young prostitutes are allowed to be brought in as guests for
some older customers. They kiss openly and behave seductively in public."
• "The resort has some sort of arrangement with local prostitution, as
we saw more than a couple 'escorting' guests at both hotels. They
wandered the premises quite comfortably."
• Repeat customers "consist of old men returning often to visit their
young Cuban girlfriends that have their children and in some cases
another on the way … If you like witnessing young women being exploited
then you might enjoy your stay."
• "Is it prostitution? What you see at Marea you're going to see
anywhere in Cuba. The rules have changed and Cubans are now allowed in
the hotels. If they're paid for, they have every right to be there."
• "Now that Cubans are allowed to visit the resort (and I am happy about
this, any new freedom for them is welcome) a lot of Canadians are hiring
prostitutes and bringing them to the resort, often to stay on-site with
them for the full week. This activity wasn't limited to fat old ugly men
either, there were a lot of women of all ages with their boy toys.

"I find this behaviour absolutely disgusting! What the hell is the
matter with these Canadians that they have to fly to Cuba to take
advantage of these people, make them sell their souls, just so they can
have a romp in the hay?"

Source: "Cuban hotel guests complain of prostitution - Cuba -
MiamiHerald.com" -
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/16/3501723/cuban-hotel-guests-complain-of.html