A ‘lady of the evening’ in search of clients in Cartagena, as

heads of state met for the Americas Summit, Apr. 14.

Don’t Blame the U.S. Secret Service: Restoring Cartagena’s Reputation (El Tiempo, Colombia)

“We regret that the crisis hasn’t led to genuine reflection on the constant, dangerous and undeniable growth of sex tourism in Cartagena, where many minors are exploited. This really is our problem - and one that we must attack with greater resolve. … Colombians cannot continue to treat Cartagena as if we, too, were foreigners.”

EDITORIAL

Translated By Douglas Myles Rasmussen

April 21, 2012

Colombia - El Tiempo - Original Article (Spanish)

Details of the sex scandal involving U.S. Secret Service agents during the recent Summit of the Americas in Cartagena continue to come to light.

Republican Senator Susan Collins revealed that 21 prostitutes entered the Hotel Caribe with a group of Secret Service bodyguards who were in the city as part of the detail protecting Barack Obama. The New York Times reported that the embarrassing episode, which could have jeopardized the life of the U.S. president, was sparked when the next morning, one of the guards refused to pay what was promised to the “escort” with whom he had spent the night. The newspaper El País recalls that members of the president’s security detail often recite the motto “wheels up, rings off” whenever they leave the country with their boss.

In the United States, where security never ceases to be a central theme and where the crisis confronted by President Bill Clinton over his indiscretions is still recalled with humor and Puritanism, the controversy is growing with each passing day. “Heads will roll,” said Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. Meanwhile, Republican candidate for president Mitt Romney has taken the opportunity to promise that should he be elected on November 6, he will immediately clean out the Secret Service once and for all. “We must remove from their posts all those who violate the trust of the people,” he asserted.

Three of the guards involved were expelled. Eleven players are suspended until further notice. Five soldiers are under disciplinary investigation.

Three of the bodyguards involved have been fired and eleven agents have been suspended until further notice. In addition, five soldiers are under disciplinary investigation.

Meanwhile, others are taking advantage of the situation in their own way. Pimps, who issue statements both nationally and internationally, are presenting their business as just one of the many attractions of today’s Cartagena. Social networks are full of all kinds of jokes and tourism-related businesses are inventing last minute promotions: U.S. carrier Spirit just launched a campaign that offers cheap flights to Colombia which, on account of this unfortunate episode, has in one week earned a reputation as a sex tourism paradise.

This advertisement from Spirit Airlines has been rejected by

the Colombia government.

SEE ALSO ON THIS:
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Cartagena Mayor Elías Terán called for people to show some respect, as he felt media were telling the story “as if the city was full of prostitutes.” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed regret that the “escort incident” may not only overshadow the progress made at the summit, but could also ruin “an opportunity to show how much Colombia has changed in recent years.” These are both undoubtedly fair points. But likewise, we should also regret that such a crisis hasn’t led to genuine reflection on the constant, dangerous and undeniable growth of sex tourism in Cartagena, where many minors are exploited. This really is our problem - and one that we must attack with greater resolve.

Long before this scandal erupted, the people of Cartagena found themselves fighting the dark side of tourism. They warned the country that 500,000 people there live in extreme poverty and that as much as was possible had been done to shut down all avenues leading to the deplorable prostitution of minors. This has been undertaken through campaigns created by the Rebirth Foundation [Fundación Renacer], the District Administration [la Administración Distrital] and UNICEF. It is time for the entire nation to recognize the problem. Colombians cannot continue to treat Cartagena as if we, too, were foreigners.