The following “Dear Colleague” memo was distributed to Members of the U.S. House of Representatives:
Dear Colleague,
I would like to bring to your attention the following excerpts from an article appearing in Spain’s El Mundo newspaper earlier this month.
Though disturbing, this piece provides a clear window into the ongoing practice of child prostitution in Cuba’s tourism industry.
The madame of luxury and her catalog of Cuban women and kids.
She looks like a gentle grandmother…
…Her business is prostitution.
She always carries a black leather folder, and is looking for partying foreigners or Cubans with money that have had too much to drink and which she believes are looking for a hot night. She approaches them politely to offer her services…
…she pulls an album of glossy photos, that no doubt was prepared by a professional photographer, with dozens of boys and girls, depending on the sexual preferences, appear short of clothes and in provocative poses…
…”They are very young, my son, but if you are looking for some 12 or 13 years old, you will have to pay more,” says [the madame] in a maternal soft voice.
The madame starts providing prices in a soft voice. “…What I have here is first class. These are shy girls, who are not full-time prostitutes, some are students,” she explains while detailing the quality of her “merchandise.”
Clients are taken to discreet brothels where they are offered expensive drinks and hors d’oeuvres. The chosen girl is already there
waiting. After having a strong rum drink or a couple of beers with her, they go to an air-conditioned room that has TV and music…
Any efforts to increase tourism to Cuba merely enable the perpetuation of this repulsive practice.
Sincerely,
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Ranking Member
Committee on Foreign Affairs
