'Medellín's sex tourism is a cancer' — Tourism Vice Minister

@wwaycorrigan

Colombia's Vice Minister for Tourism has spoken out about the 'huge problem' of prostitution in Medellín.

In an interview with Wrong Way's Colombia Cast podcast, Julián Guerrero Orozco described sex tourism in Colombia's second city as a 'cancer that we need to fight more strongly'.

Julián Guerrero Orozco: Colombia's Vice Minister for Tourism.

Unwelcome visitors

In reference to those who visit the country to engage in such activities he said, 'they are not welcome in Colombia. There is nothing that we dislike more than that type of tourism.'

While highlighting the various measures introduced by the government to deal with the prostitution problem, Vice Minister Guerrero admitted that so far the 'effort is not enough because more people want to come for this reason.'

On the specific issue of illegal underage sex workers, the Vice Minister referred to a new law introduced in December 2020 that allows for the prosecution and closure of hotels and other such establishments caught facilitating the practice.

'What we included in the law, there will now be a consequence for that [for hotels that allow underage
prostitution].'

'We are trying our best to combat sex tourism.'

Mr Guerrero also spoke of strengthening the cooperation between various regional and state bodies 'to try to reduce [sex tourism] as much as possible ... We are trying our best to combat this crime.'

In relation to the many problems facing the tourism industry in these pandemic times, the Vice Minister referenced the more than 40 specific measures already introduced by the government to help the sector.

'Probably no other economic sector in Colombia has received more benefits than the tourism sector.'

Although he didn't rule out further supports, he did warn: 'There has to be a limit at some point because it cannot go on endlessly. Already very significant measures [have been introduced], I would dare say that probably no other economic sector in Colombia has received more benefits than the tourism sector.'

Asked about prioritising domestic tourism in light of the major slowdown in international travel, the tourism chief said that 'it would be an error, not only for Colombia but for different countries, just to focus on domestic travellers. One needs to recognise that international travellers are good travellers, they have good incomes, they spend quite a bit.'

On the requirement for a negative PCR test for covid-19 when flying into the country, Mr Guerrero suggested that Colombia has been more flexible than others, particularly thanks to the availability of a test on arrival.

Finally, Vice Minister Guerrero, who previously worked as Vice President for Tourism at the state body ProColombia, ruled out further roles in the public sector once his current position ends next year.

'I will stay working in tourism, in sustainable tourism, maybe through consultancy or my own business ... But I've worked in the public sector for 20 or 25 years, so I think that's about enough.'

Watch the YouTube interview in full at https://youtu.be/bAJYSF6iEVg or listen to an audio-only podcast version at https://anchor.fm/brendan-corrigan/episodes/Colombias-Tourism-Minister-on-covid-supports--foreign-visitors--Medellns-prostitution-cancer-eqtufl.
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Listen to Wrong Way's Colombia Cast podcast here.

Facebook: Wrong Way Corrigan — The Blog & IQuiz "The Bogotá Pub Quiz".

'I dated President Duque's sister' — Daniel Coronell

@wwaycorrigan

Renowned Colombian journalist, Daniel Coronell, has revealed how he once dated the sister of current Colombian president, Iván Duque.

Bad romance: Coronell reveals he dated Iván Duque's sister.

Coronell, a regular critic of Duque as well as his party Centro Democrático and, more controversially, that party's leader, former president Álvaro Uribe Vélez, made the revelation in an English-language interview on Wrong Way's Colombia Cast podcast.

Divine intervention
'Many years ago, like 30 years ago, I was the boyfriend of Duque's sister. I loved her a lot', he said.

They even discussed plans to marry. 'I cannot imagine my life (today) if I was the brother-in-law of this president of Colombia.'

Miami-based Coronell, an atheist, joked that it was a higher power that put an end to their romance. 'There was a kind of superior decision — and I am an atheist — that broke (up) the relationship on time.'

"I loved her a lot."

Asked whether he still remains in contact with President Duque's sister, his response was a blunt 'no'.

He also spoke about his April 2020 departure from his columnist role with Colombia's leading current affairs magazine, Semana, a gig he had held for 15 years. 

His leaving coincided with sweeping changes at the publication, with well-known broadcast journalist Vicky Dávila eventually taking over as director, a move seen by some as a shift to a more populist, sensationalist editorial style.

Quoting the Italian film director, Federico Fellini, Coronell said, 'Yo nunca había visto nada igual (which translates as 'I'd never seen anything like it'), that's my opinion of Semana.'

As for writing for the magazine again, his simple reply to that question was 'probably not'.

In relation to the 2022 Colombian presidential election, the current president of news at the US-based Univisión TV channel expressed his concerns that the election would, as in 2018, become a left versus right shoot-out.

While he suggested he would be against whoever is selected by the Centro Democrático side on the right — the 'Uribe puppet' as he calls it — Coronell also has concerns about the leftist former candidate Gustavo Petro who is set to run again.

Nonetheless, if it came down to a choice between Tomás Uribe, Álvaro Uribe's son who is being mooted as a runner, and Gustavo Petro, Coronell said he would vote for the latter.

However, he predicted that the Centro Democrático may opt for a more traditional conservative candidate such as Luis Alberto Moreno.

Whatever the case, he said he hopes that a solid centrist candidate can emerge in the coming months.

Watch the YouTube interview in full at https://youtu.be/ZsWTBwGXRXY or listen to an audio-only podcast version at https://anchor.fm/brendan-corrigan/episodes/Daniel-Coronell-on-dating-Duques-sister--unmasking-Uribe--Petros-problems--Vicky-Dvilas-Semana-eq798l.
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Listen to Wrong Way's Colombia Cast podcast here.

Facebook: Wrong Way Corrigan — The Blog & IQuiz "The Bogotá Pub Quiz".

'Colombia's done OK, but prepare for a half-shut, half-open world for 2021' — Dr Bhattacharya

@wwaycorrigan

Dr Jay Bhattacharya, co-author of the controversial Great Barrington Declaration which called for 'focused protection' instead of widespread lockdowns in dealing with coronavirus, says we're in store for a 'half-and-half world' for most of this year.

Controversial: Dr Jay Bhattacharya, co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration.

The Professor of Medicine at Stanford University made the comments in relation to the probability that many of the high-income nations will have vaccinated the majority of their populations against covid-19 by August while low-income countries will be lagging behind.

Colombia's 'done better'
Speaking to Wrong Way's Colombia Cast, Dr Bhattacharya, who is director of Stanford's Center for Demography and Economics of Health and Aging, said 'Colombia has done better (in getting access to vaccines) but (for) much of South America that's not going to be the case. I think It's going to take much longer than August to get the vaccines out to the older populations.'

'A lot of the world will still not be vaccinated in August. Places that are vaccinated will still want to close borders to those who aren't vaccinated ... I think there's going to be this half-and-half world where half are still going to have lockdowns and half are not.'

When asked for his thoughts on the Great Barrington Declaration, four months on from its publication, Dr Bhattacharya maintains that 'focused protection' is the least-worst option for containing coronavirus.

He said that lockdown advocates 'have not respected the most important scientific fact about this disease which is the age gradient, mortality and risk. For people who are younger, it is not particularly dangerous. The flu is more dangerous ... That fact is incredibly important.'

As for Dr Anthony Fauci, the popular director of the USA's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and now also President Joe Biden's Chief Medical Advisor, Dr Bhattacharya claims Fauci's neglect of other public health issues during the pandemic has been an 'abdication of responsibility'.

Watch the interview in full at https://youtu.be/ZSb8VnG4nPs or download a podcast version at https://anchor.fm/brendan-corrigan/episodes/Dr-Jay-Bhattacharya-on-covid-controls--vaccine-priority--failing-our-elderly--Tony-Faucis-myopia-epuh4v.
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Listen to Wrong Way's Colombia Cast podcast here.

Facebook: Wrong Way Corrigan — The Blog & IQuiz "The Bogotá Pub Quiz".

 

Why I won't be rushing to get a covid vaccine

 @wwaycorrigan

[Listen to an audio version of this blog entry here.]

They are being dubbed the game-changers. More accurately, they are the weapon humanity is unleashing to render useless the real game-changer that has been holding us all to ransom for the best part of a year now — coronavirus, the virus that went viral.

The clear-liquid gold of 2021. (Image from pixabay.)

A jab for life

Our hopes of a return to something resembling the old normal BC, Before Coronavirus, hinge on the various vaccines being a success.

That being so, the world and its mother — particularly its elderly, vulnerable mother — must be anxiously awaiting their jab of life. Some, of course, have already got theirs.

As somebody classified as very low risk from covid-19 in terms of severe, life-threatening infection, I'm well down the inoculation priority list. Indeed, I'm in the last group in Colombia's five-stage vaccine rollout programme as things stand.

On top of that, considering the general lack of efficiency here across the board — unless you've got the money or palanca (appropriate contacts, that is) to receive a streamlined service — the chances of the programme being carried out smoothly and quickly are pretty low. The high-income countries' hoarding of vaccines also has to be factored in.

Put it this way, my current visa expires in November and it's unlikely the country will be in the final stage of the rollout by then.

Whatever the case, I'm in no panic to get the vaccine. Actually, all things considered, I'm happy enough not to get it at all.

For starters, as mentioned above, I am, in theory anyway, in the low-risk category for covid.

'The chances of completely eradicating coronavirus are, apparently, fairly low.'

Moreover, I would be quite surprised if I haven't had coronavirus in my body. As easily spread as it is, it would be pretty incredible if it hasn't already mingled intimately with me. 

In fact, if I have avoided it, then I should play the lottery (or it may be just another sign that few "agents" want to get intimate with me these days).

Some people counter that one is being selfish in choosing not to get vaccinated. How so?

Coronavirus, here to stay?

What's the risk if I'm not vaccinated but everyone else is (or at least those who are most vulnerable to serious infection)? As far as I'm aware, I surely couldn't infect those who are inoculated, could I?

Also, just because one has been given the jab doesn't mean he/she can no longer carry and spread the virus, does it?

The above, by the way, are genuine questions but from what I gather the answers are in the negative for all of them.

Another common retort is that if I had no problem getting vaccinated for yellow fever, hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), etc. then why am I getting all pernickety now for this vaccine?

Again, it comes back to risk. As we know, covid is ageist. The older one is, the greater chance of severe complications and death. Those other diseases mentioned above tend to be more indiscriminate killers.

Added to this, due to the nature of coronavirus, those who are vaccinated will most likely need to get re-inoculated every year or so, à la the flu jab.

The chances of its global eradication are, apparently, fairly low (it's well worth listening to the considered thoughts of Dr Jay Bhattacharya in this YouTube conversation). 

Remember, it's in the same family of viruses as the common cold.

Now, all that being said, if an unbiased, apolitical expert can give me strong reasons why somebody in my position should get vaccinated, rather than 'just because', I'm all ears.

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Listen to Wrong Way's Colombia Cast podcast here.

Facebook: Wrong Way Corrigan — The Blog & IQuiz "The Bogotá Pub Quiz".