According to the authorities, children and young people were being used for sexual exploitation at these locations.

A police spokesman said that the selective raids were aimed at finding people with criminal records who worked in the illegal trade in children and adolescents.

The penalties against the owners of these establishments range from the closure of their businesses and coercion measures like preventive custody, a ban on leaving the country, bail payments and regular reporting to the authorities.

Source: STARCOM Network News

Haiti and Dominican Republic have 80% of the Caribbean’s HIV/AID

DominicanToday.com - The President’s Council on AIDS (Copresida) revealed Wednesday that the Caribbean region is the world’s second highest zone in the number of HIV AIDS patients, and the Hispaniola Island, shared by Haiti and Dominican Republic, has 80% of the cases.

Copresida director Gustavo Rojas said the situation stems from the high incidence of AIDS in Haiti.

He said those affected with the disease in Dominican Republic have more access to retroviral, once the Essential Medicine Program (PROMESE) entered the network of suppliers.

Rojas affirmed that a study with 2008 data found that the program’s annual cost was nearly RD$1.1 billion, with 49 funding with international aid, 26% from the Government, and 25% from the patients themselves.