Harbor Lane streetwalkers’ plan cancelled

The DC’s plan to turn Harbor Lane into a zone for streetwalkers has been cancelled because the surrounding companies do not approve of it. Paramaribo North-East District Commissioner Mike Nerkust pointed out that officials will team up with the commercial sex workers or streetwalkers to look for a suitable and most of all discrete location. “It is possible that they will come up with a better proposal than mine,” said DC Nerkust. If it were up to the DC, the red light zone would have been established in January 2019. But it is clear that it will take more time to find a suitable location. Officials plan on establishing a streetwalkers’ district and to also let them apply for a permit. “If you work, you earn money which means that you must also pay tax,” said DC Nerkust. Several companies located along the Harbor Lane objected to the plans. They pointed out that establishing a streetwalkers’ zone at the Jules Sedney Harbor is a serious matter which must be well thoughtout first. At the beginning of September DC Nerkust announced his plan to establish a red light zone as part of the efforts to regulate the inner city. He also announced that the red light zone would most likely be established at the harbor. Establishing a red light or streetwalkers’ zone is deemed necessary due to the growing numbers of commercial sex workers or streetwalkers in Paramaribo. In order to guarantee the safety of the commercial sex workers cameras will be installed in and around the official red light zone. Several commercial sex workers also objected as they do not want to work too close to the competition and because they assume that their customers would steer clear of the official red light zone for fear of being spotted or recognized.