Abominable Rumor
Raul’s Rose Garden to open in San Pedro
This rumor will raise the pressure on all wives, cause goose bumps on all young ladies, annoy the priests, all religious leaders and all the Christian community of San Pedro. The rumor tells us that a well known prostitution house from Belize City, Raul’s Rose Garden, has already received permission to open business in San Pedro. Apparently the Town Council has already approved the permit in principle and plans are underway to start operation at “The Boat Yard Bar”.

Fact: We could not confirm whether this sad story is true or false. But we are investigating vigorously. In speaking with Mr. Wilbert Magaña, clerk of the Trade License Board, he confirmed to us that they are aware of this rumor and that the Trade License Board approved a license to Mr. Anne Clark to operate the Boat Yard. Mr. Wilbert also mentioned that after they had issued the license to Mr. Clark they were told that Raul Magaña, of Raul’s Rose Garden, wanted to take over the business establishment. In the mean time, we ask the Town Council to Please withdraw this approval that has been given. Ambergris Today will keep investigating this matter and will have an update as it becomes available.


Ambergris Today

And the rumor here is that we may be extending our legal prostitution into Las Vegas. I guess everyone is tired of getting screwed for free and figure they might as well make some money.

Prostitution is legal in Belize? How sad.

any other development and the "jobs" card is trump.
look at the jobs this would provide beyond the construction of a building.

madam
bartenders
bouncers
golf cart attendants
room cleaning personnel
laundry personnel
bookkeeper
maintainence crew
all the medical personnel who do checkups and repair work
immigration
security guards
advertising
some guy to watch the clock

thats allot of jobs, and i'm sure i'm missing some!
you may not agree, but the GOB seems to be OK with it!
building south beach next to hol chan is Ok, but this is abominable?

go ahead,, beat me up...

I guess it depends on who you ask.

How Sad? Please, prostitution should be legal everywhere. It is a service provided that some people want and or need.

As a mother I hate that a young woman has to prostitute herself to earn a living. My feelings have nothing to do with a false moral outrage at this as a chosen profession. I wonder how you would feel if your daughter was a prostitute.

ahhh,, you used the word 'chosen'?

Key word is 'chosen'. Many have no choice and choose this as a profession because it's the only one open to them to earn enough money to live above the most basic poverty level. How many other options do they have? How many do you not think that given the option would choose something else to make the same amount of money.

Again, how would you feel if your daughter choose this because she felt she had no other choice?

I always find it somewhat amusing that it's mostly men that have this attitude.

BTW I also think it ought to be legal. Many years ago ,1975, in Denver a lady that had a established business decided to move to Alaska (in the pipeline days) and start a new bussiness there. She and her husband approched me about taking over her clients. Why I have no idea as I had a good job as a bartender and had never entertained the thought of prostitution as a profession.

It's still sad in many cases and levels.

as i don't know the background of any of these girls, i can only assume some would rather be doing something else.
but i won't condemn the entire 'profession' because of that! if you shut it down then they get no money.

Marty sez this will annoy the religious community.
what do they think about the hundreds of bars on the island? and casinos?
it should be legal, well run, hell, i even think they should unionize!

Edit: and i bet the cops will have more trouble from all the other bars than 'Raul's II' will give them!

I knew someone who did this for a living in Canada. She was a very well put together woman and if she did not tell you it would be hard to guess that was how she earned a living. I found it interesting talking to her as I got to learn more about it first hand. She was a strong person and she explained a lot to me about the job, how it was, why she chose to do it, how she safeguarded herself as best she could.

I can imagine though it would not be the nicest job for everyone and and definitly be sad in some cases especially younger girls. I definitly would not think of it as "easy money"

Nancy, I of course see your point, my point however is that I don't believe the profession should have the negative connotations associated with it. If society would just recognize it as another job then I (and many others)would not care if our daughters did it.

your right,, society is the ones who make it such a bad thing.

I have to agree

i was 19 yrs old, in the military stationed in Asia, receiving a paycheck.
90% of that check went to beer and hookers,, the rest i just wasted.
i'm pretty sure i paid for one girls tuition thru med school!

deep down, truth be told, i believe the real reason for opposition to this is the belief that the tourist trade could take a hit?
but i don't think the tourists could care less.

People will pursue activities that pleasure their body, mind and soul despite regulations, restrictions, prohibitions and controls. Whether it is sex, alcohol or religion (certain religions are banned in some parts of the world), people will find ways and means to participate in these activities.

Prohibitions lead to lawlessness and in the specific case of prostitution to exploitation, human trafficking and slavery not to mention exposure to disease and drug abuse. When these activities are legal, regulated, controlled and taxed everyone benefits.

I've known many girls and boys, who for a whole variety of reasons found themselves somewhere in the spectrum of work available in the sex industry. Most would rather not do the work but it puts their kids through school, pays for their lifestyle, allows them to travel, study or whatever it is they need to be doing. Many were deprived of the advantages that most of us take for granted. In some cases prostitution pays for drug habits and basic survival. There are prostitutes still working in countries where they can be stoned to death for it.

Prostitutes should be respected for what they do or have to do and they should be protected, health tested, safe, have access to education so that they have other options and treated like the human beings they are. Especially because some of them really do a big service to society even though it is greatly unrecognised, but there are a lot of elderly, disabled, sad and lonely people out there who benefit greatly from access to professional sexual services.

Sex is a commodity that can be sold and bought and there is nothing that can be done to stop that age old exchange.

"Prostitutes should be respected for what they do or have to do and they should be protected, health tested, safe, have access to education so that they have other options and treated like the human beings they are."


hear hear!!! well said.
i have respect for them and the profession.

People have tried to run brothels here on ambergris before, I can remember several cases, as I understand it there are one or two establishments here now and have been in operation for quite awhile, quite a few years ago I can remember that the "local wives" ran hookers out of town supposedly to keep their husbands from frequenting the establishments, Rauls is just another contender, it will be decided by the local wives weather or not it is allowed.

News of a brothel opening and a new oxygen concentrator on the same day?

(nice donation by the way)

There's a good joke in there somewhere.








But your right about the latter. Way to go Moose!!

some times Sanpedro bats a thousand!!

I'm a Christian and I'm all for legalized prostitution. Wouldn't annoy me at all.

I thought this was just a bad joke.
Raul's notorious outfit probably the oldest embarrassment since independence. I can't understand how it's allowed to remain nor how anyone could condone expansion.

heres a gentelmans club from the southern hyway.

oh that is funny.

sounds like a successful, legal business. why deny their expansion??
and where are all those "IT WILL CREATE JOBS" cheerleaders who rally behind each and every other new business???? well,, the ones they approve of anyway.

Something about being the oldest profession in the world, go ahead and tell them one more time that they have to quit!!

Is it such a shock because Raul's is so well known, or perhaps that it will openly attract gringo business? I brought a couple of friends to the island a while back, one of whom, unbeknownst to me was what is called a "hobbyist." One of his fishing guides took him to bars all over the island to let him have his pick of girls. It really opened my eyes. It's already here, isn't it?

Rather than debate the issue of prostitution in general, maybe take a look at this particular business in this particular location at this particular time - ...... is it good for San Pedro, our kids, our image, our overall business climate, our public health and safety?
I suspect that most who live in this community would say no.
And that is what should prevail, not some debate about the lives of the young ladies who choose this job or the religions of the people who suppoprt or oppose it.

Raul's I has had more than it's share of trouble - including a young man being stomped to death.

The only people prostitution hurts ae the ones giving it away free.
Who among you worry about the drunk tourist - male or female - that goes off with someone they have know for less than a day?
Not only do they not get paid but often get rolled - and I don't mean in the hay!
One of the cutest sober drunks I ever heard talked said she was a failure at everything - even as a prostitute. She said she didn't know you had to ask for the money.

",,take a look at this particular business in this particular location at this particular time,,"

i knew it!!
it's all about the tourist dollar.

Raul’s Rose Garden
not granted license

Press Release – San Pedro Town Council – January 23rd, 2009
We refer to the January 22nd issue of the Ambergris Today Newspaper under the Rumors Column entitled “Abominable Rumor.”
The San Pedro Town Council wants to go on the record to clarify the issue regarding “Raul’s Rose Garden to open in San Pedro” that was wrongly reported on the said newspaper. The reporter did call our office and spoke to Mr. Magaña in his capacity as Clerk of the Liquor Licensing Board, the agency responsible for granting this permit. Mr. Magaña did confirm that the Liquor Licensing Board, and NOT the Trade Licensing Board as they reported, had approved a license to Ms. Anne Clark to operate her business at The Boatyard.
NEVER during their brief conversation did Mr. Magaña inform the Ambergris Today reporter that Raul Magaña of Raul’s Rose Garden wanted to take over the business establishment.
The San Pedro Town Council is aware of this sensitive issue and reiterates that it has NOT granted a license to Raul’s Rose Garden to operate on Ambergris Caye.

And no Barn, my comment was not all about the tourist dollar - it was about the many subtle considerations one makes each day whilst building a community.
Kids, health and safety - etc - those concerns were listed too.
Then again, without the tourist dollar in San Pedro there are no dollars at all.

bummer...
the existing 'houses' will have to carry the load!

just to keep this lively thread going,, what would be the difference in health, safety concerns between this place and any of the other bars around?
it's the image people are worried about. and the image comes back to tourist dollars.

Prostitute/street vendor if left unregulated it will eventually get out of hand and then the trouble begins.

I've had male guests offered girls by the taxi driver on the way from the airport to the hotel (politely declined). Personally, I'd rather see a controlled brothel, contained to a single area, which could be monitored and the girls kept in good health, than the current situation in San Pedro bars, which is inextricably seedier than a well run brothel. But I am realistic enough to realse that no potential new brothel owner in San Pedro would be prioritising those issues even IF there really was any intention to do this in the first place. I doubt it somehow. Sounded like a proper rumour to me and it did it's job in creating some outrage. Outrage is always fun.

Town elections coming up. Just a little political attack.

has there ever been a 'murder' at or related to an existing A.C. bar? any brawls? other violations?

Yes...yes.

I just don't understand why all the wives, girls and priest would care if the sum of all prostitutes moved from every bar, and i do mean their are prostitutes in EVERY bar, to a specific house of women. They are already everywhere as prostitution is legal in Belize and, listen carefully, THERE IS NO OTHER WORK FOR WOMEN!!!!! not since Nova shrimp factory shut down. What is sad is the lack of investment in the country and having to listen to people who would do NOTHING to help or lift up Belizeans from poverty to just complain about the things the poor people must do to survive. many of these girls support their entire family and most women find their husband to be in a bar where he "rescues" her.

In response to the message above:

I am pretty sure prostitution is not legal in Belize.

I understand that in some cases that is the only profession that some people feel they can do to make ends meet.

I do know that there are training programs for women around the country to teach sewing, cooking and other skills that can assist in making money from home.

I am also pretty sure that there are other jobs that women are suited for.

You've got to be frikkin' kidding me!? TROLL!

A newbie for sure (only 2 posts) - one suggesting that prostituion is legal in Belize, the other tells you how to smuggle illegal Cuban Cigars back into countries that don't allow them.

Troll, probably? - Or at least someone loving to pull our chains.

They do have a point though. If there was only one location women would only have to check one bar to find their husband or boyfriend

And you would be sitting at the head of the table ?

Tropical Squash is on some delusional drugs: "THERE IS NO OTHER WORK FOR WOMEN!!!!" What a demeaning, ignorant and stoopid comment. Yes, stupid with two "o"s.

Kind of in the dark here..........what the hell is Rauls Rose Garden?

Not what but where !

Up until a month or so ago, it was a bar between the airport and Belize City known for the ladies who frequented the place and the men who looked for them there. It burned down and I guess owners are looking for a new location.

How pathetic that someone can think so lowly of women that the only thing they can do to provide for themselves and families is to prostitute themselves.....UMMMM.....REALLY!

What exactly did YOUR MOTHER do??? Tropical Squash??? Pathetic!!!!

BTW, the women of BZE are beautiful, and plenty competent. They are more than capable of making choices based on the opportunities that present themselves.

ARGH, I hate stereotyping of whole groups of people! Get real!

The boys on the dock just told me its already open and called 'Alcatraz' way south on the island.
The guys said it has Rauls women but its an old established bar.

Not in my neighborhood.

I understand that place has already been relocated - right down the road from the original location.

Similarly to your definition of what should be described as "north", when something is described as way south of the island it can be referring to San Cristobal or San Marcos (less than a mile from town.)

Raul's has a new set up at Almond Hill on the Western Highway and the girls working are not Belizeans.

I find it interesting how some expect governments to deal with issues of morality. Some want same sex marriage to be legal. Some want sex between consenting adults to be illegal if it is done for money. If the determining factor on a relationship being legal was determined by whether or not money was involved, there would be a lot of marriages that would be consider illegal.

Its like discussing politics,religion and motoroil in a bar. Governments should govern. Leave morality issues to the people.

There is a Jr. Raul and Sr. Raul.
Jr is on the island and Sr. is at Almond hill...according to the dock gossip.