Destroying our Future: the effects of child exploitation in the Caribbean

Contemporary tourism has portrayed the Caribbean to be this wonderful place where all of life’s worries can be washed away with the crystalline waters and a ray of sunshine. Unfortunately, this “heaven on earth” has also been modified to accommodate different fantasies which in the case of “Sirena, Selena” also include child sexual exploitation. The book written by Mayra Santos-Febres depicts, among other things, the crude reality that forces the native people to devise strategies for subsistence due to the economic hardships that prevail and how tourism, particularly sex tourism, becomes one of the infinite solutions. It is a shame that the economic situation of the region is so dire that young children have to resolve to methods of exploitation in order to survive. But what is even more horrifying is the fact that it is so conspicuous that even the authorities partake in the act. Nevertheless, it is an issue that needs to be carefully examined and an in depth research should be performed in order to understand the effects that child exploitation has not only on the economy but also on the lives and future of the youngsters who participate.

Child exploitation is a serious crime not only because of the people it has an effect on, but also due to the serious repercussions that it involves. Many children, as in the case of Sirena, are forced into this lifestyle because of the harsh economic conditions they encounter. These conditions unfortunately only worsen when drugs and alcohol are involved. Children that are thrown into this situation suffer from serious emotional and psychological abuse, not to mention the obvious physical abuse to which many are subject due to their line of work. Contrary to a new business venture, these children not only gamble with the chances of making money, but most importantly put their own lives at risk for the simple purpose of surviving. This is a dangerous balancing act between life and death that puts many six feet below ground and to the few lucky ones, a hot dinner plate on their table.

Besides the obvious dangers that child exploitation bestows upon the children, it also endangers the particular country’s economy and population. Basing tourism, an important economic sector, as the catapult for this industry greatly affects the other areas of a country’s economy. Since child exploitation is a clandestine form of recreation, the amount of capital that flows in and out of a country could never be exactly determined. Nor could it be assume that the children involved are receiving their fair share of the deal. It also endangers the participants that are transported abroad for the sole purpose of providing sexual favors and hinders the family dynamics that are common of the region. It also grants economic power to these young individuals, who with regards to their fellow counterparts possess a considerable amount of disposable income, giving them even more reasons to quit their studies. This results in a considerable amount of young people who are uneducated, without a legal trade for acquiring capital and lack the opportunity of securing a better future.

In conclusion, child exploitation is a dangerous crime that has terrible repercussions for the children involved. It also drains a country from renewing its labor source since it utilizes part of the population that would eventually be replacing the present work force. Not to mention that it is a despicable act due to society’s standards because it robs children of their innocence and puts them in a situation in which their own survival is at jeopardy. Therefore, measures should be taken in order to help, if not eradicate, at least minimize the extent to which child sexual exploitation plays an important part in the economy of many Caribbean countries.