Advertise Here!

The US State department recently published a report into Human Trafficking and it doesn't make particularly good reading, or should I say bed time reading as far as Cyprus is concerned. The report insists the focus was not so much on the number of victims of Human Trafficking but more on the actions of governments to prevent the practice. In the occupied north the situation is classed as serious with women from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Georgia brought into the country to work as 'performers' in Night Clubs or Cabaret. It worryingly added there were no laws against Human Trafficking in the occupied North.

The Republic of Cyprus fared a little better, but quoted just 47 investigations being carried out by the Greek Cypriot Police in 2005, while in 2006 the number increased to 60. The Police may be stepping up their prosecutions due to EU pressure, but generally the approach is one of tolerance to the cabaret trade.

The report also confirmed certain members of Greek Cypriot Police involved in bribes regarding Human Trafficking and 3 police officers were under investigation and another had been charged and sentenced to 14 months imprisonment. Cabaret clubs are tolerated by the authorities even though the nature of the business is well known.

Lets' face it if the authorities really wanted to dry up the supply of sex workers they could by tightening the control on immigration. But the reality is the immigration authorities have a separate office for processing applications from 'artistes', which effectively speeds the process and therefore helps the cabaret owners and the pimps.

According to the Migration Office 2,928 entry permits were issued for women seeking to work as dancers in 2006. Now unless I have missed a couple of Riverdance tribute acts and three or four all female ballet troops I can't believe there are almost 3000 dancers working on the island. So dancing as in strictly ballroom it isn't, so where are the 'dancers' and what is cabaret all about?

"What good is sitting alone in your room? Come hear the music play. Life is a Cabaret, old chum, Come to the Cabaret".

Well, I decided against going, but after a few gentle probes I was introduced to a local aficionado who explained how Cabarets work and he was amazingly open and blunt. "Forget the girls dancing and stuff; it's nothing to do with that sort of Entertainment. It's straight forward sex. So it's best to make the arrangements with the barman as soon as you go in and ask for a girl who is free for the night. You don't even have to hang about and watch the show. Just pay the CYP40 "release fee" which is what you are expected to spend on 4 drinks. There's another CYP30 for the girl and you return 10 minutes before closing time to pick her up".

Simple as that then? So what happened to "Come taste the wine, Come hear the band. Come blow your horn, start celebrating; right this way, your table's waiting".

"No point", he said "anyway the drinks are expensive so I go somewhere cheaper. Then it's back to the club to pick up your girl, take her home, have sex and then drive her back in the morning before midday. I've got a villa and they're definitely more up for it rather than taking them to a hotel plus hotels cost money".

So there is no actual dancing or cabaret as such I innocently enquired. He laughed. "Get real, a bit of pole dancing maybe but everyone knows what it is and let's face it, you wouldn't go there for a beer at CYP10 a pint would you". Ah, no, good point I mused.

So it is prostitution, I casually offered. "Look, you call it what you like, but we call it cabaret". I thought for a moment and asked if he thought the clubs might be sailing too close to the wind and risking a police raid. "Why would they do that?"
my man replied with an air of complete bewilderment "they know what it's all about and the police might have been there themselves or perhaps a family friend owns it. It just doesn't happen and why would they want to make trouble when there isn't any"

"I used to have a girlfriend known as Elsie. With whom I shared four sordid rooms in Chelsea. She wasn't what you'd call a blushing flower... As a matter of fact she rented by the hour".

Despite her unbridled gusto the lyrics somehow passed me by when Ms Minnelli was in full flow but on reflection they fit quite nicely. OK, I admit it, having seen the posters and flashing welcome signs outside the clubs, I wasn't naive enough to believe entry guaranteed you two hours of Andrew Lloyd Webber greatest hits and an ice cream during the interval. It's a bit too obvious but the cold reality turned any remains of the pale smoke screen utterly transparent.

It's the oldest profession in the world and it is blatant. So blatant that foreigners who apply to work in Cyprus as "dancers" or "artistes" are approved by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation before an entry permit is issued. The mind boggles at how they might approve them though.

Therefore the CTO knows what the majority of the girls will be doing. Maybe? No absolutely, because the women are given medical tests for sexually transmitted diseases and if they test positive, they are deported. Not a bad thing to test people and keep AIDS and other such diseases off the island you might think, but hang on a minute. How many other "professions" are tested before entry?

Not your average bus driver, housewife or accountant I'll warrant but lets' not get too flippant about the seriousness of the subject. Yes they may be naive but some women who work in cabarets are real victims of sexual exploitation and arrive on the island unaware of their new profession's actual duties.

These are the people who need the help and protection. If there is complete tolerance to the activities of the Cabarets why not make the whole process legal and licence legitimate brothels such as they have in the Netherlands.

The problem isn't going to go away, it's hasn't for over 2000 years and I have serious reservations regarding any such demise over the next 2000 years! The CTO and the government know the girls are here to work in the cabaret and by definition most will be selling sex. If that simple fact is clarified at point of entry then at least the girls would be forewarned and could leave if they chose to.

There is a contentious point here as the CTO and the government would be condoning prostitution so it probably won't happen but there should be some control put in place. The girls who want to work in the industry will but there has to be assistance available for those unfortunates who are coerced and conned into the cabaret trade.

Let's be perfectly clear, it is widely, if not universally known what the cabaret clubs are all about. The Police know, the Government know, the CTO know, people living here know and now you know.

The only debate appears to be the protection of those who come to work here and don't know.

No use permitting some prophet of doom to wipe every smile away.

Come hear the music play. Life is a Cabaret, old chum, Come to the Cabaret!

And if you do go don't order a sex on the beach, multiple orgasm or a slow screw against the wall because you might just be offered something you didn't quite bargain for.
 

Any comments? Email info@scenethenews.com

Other Features Articles:

Kafenio Scene - Chris Hopkins has his ear to the ground in the local coffee shop, and brings us the latest here.  >> Click to read more

Trapping Animals is Illegal -  Ruth Mews from the Peyia Animal Rescue Centre with strong views on a controversial subject.  >> Click to read more