7 News Belize

Immigration’s Crackdown on “Bar-Girls”
posted (June 20, 2017)
Dozens of so-called "bar girls" in southern Belize have spent the past two days in police stations and courtrooms after an Immigration crackdown in Stann Creek and Toledo on Sunday. The Director of Immigration Diana Locke confirms that a total of 31 women were detained in the South - denying rumors which put the total number above 50. They are being processed in Punta Gorda, Independence and Dangriga Magistrate's Courts - while being held at the PG and Dangriga police stations. Additionally, three bar owners are being held.

According to Director Locke, so far none has been identified as trafficking victims, but they are all illegal and working without temporary work permits in these Bars. As we understand, so far a number of them have pleaded guilty to not having documents to be in Belize legally.

But the southern sweep is just one of four operations countrywide to crack down on the bar-girl phenomenon.

Last week Immigration conducted operations in Cayo, Belmopan and Belize City. A number of the girls were fined, and 7 were deported from Cayo, along with charges for 4 employers. In Belmopan 8 females were charged and deported, and two employers were fined. In Belize City they got 7 convictions and deportations.

So why the crackdown on bar girls? Director Locke says the focus was not necessarily on bar girls but to look for possible cases of human trafficking.

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