Tourism is emerging as Belize's national industry and many young people, particularly in urban centers, are moving away from agriculture and seeking employment in this booming service industry. But not all the jobs are on the level. Today one 20-year-old woman from Belize City who'd been recruited to work as a prostitute below the whistle on her would be employer. The would be employer is described as a North American male, possibly a Canadian, going by the name Larry Yarmus. Fearing reprisals from this man, she asked us not to show her face. She says the whole sorry episode started innocently enough when she was looking for a job.

Jules Vasquez Reporting,
This is the ad she responded to in the classified section of the April first Amandala Newspaper.

Offered Job As Prostitute,
"I found a vacancy saying that this company is looking for tour guides for a tour operating company, specifically young ladies. They asked for young ladies."

And even though it also says "presentable young ladies" - it seemed harmless enough. She responded and was called for an interview at the Belize Biltmore Best Western Hotel. In a pre-interview with the local agent, it seemed promising.

Offered Job As Prostitute,
"The lady gave me a brief rundown about what the business is saying that it is a travel agency and they want tour guides to escort people. At that time she didn't specify what kind of people but she just said people and she told me that they would provide you with free makeup, free clothing, free everything - good."

Sounded good but nothing could prepare her for what happened in the interview.

Offered Job As Prostitute,
"He told me it was a tour operation. He said basically their company is looking for female companions for males who'll be coming into the country for recreation of course. So at the time when he told me they were looking for female companions, I asked him what kind of companions he was talking about. He explained to me, 'girlfriend companions to be specific.' When he told me that, I asked him what should these female companions do and he explained to me that when these people come here if they ask you to go out with them, you would go out with them; if they asked you to go to hotels with them, you go with them - basically saying if they ask you to have sex with them, you have sex with them."

She rejected the offer but still her interviewer persisted, and he gave her a two page application form.

Offered Job As Prostitute,
"To my surprise the second page is asking you the type of sex which you prefer to have: anal, oral, vaginal, and others."

Many others. It went on to great and lurid detail to details sex acts practices and groupings and she didn't need to read further, she got the sense and was sickened by it.

Offered Job As Prostitute,
"And I was like, 'why is this necessary?' I asked the man if he was trying to tell me that this is a prostitution job. He looked at me and told me he wouldn't call it that. I said but even if it is not a prostitution job, I take it as that. I said I didn't know you needed a resume for a prostitution job, since when. So the man told me you'll be paid a lot of money and you'll be collecting tips and you'll be compensated if you have sex with these men, if you do as they say. They'll give you tips but you will get $100 Belize a day. I told the man I am not interested and to please give me my resume and my pictures so that I can leave. I said, 'do you see my attire? I am dressed very professionally. I thought I would have come here for a professional job as a tour guide, not as a prostitute tour guide.'"

And she left outraged and humiliated.

Jules Vasquez,
When you left there, how did you feel?

Offered Job As Prostitute,
"When I left there I was very distraught. I literally cried because I didn't expect that I would pay a taxi $12 to go up to that hotel to take an interview for something like that. I am looking for a job, yes. I am desperate to find a job yes but not a job like that. Honestly when I walked out that hotel I literally cried. I was very angry. I came home, I cried again."

And now this humiliation has made her weary about looking in the classifieds again.

Offered Job As Prostitute,
"I tell myself I don't think I will apply for any more job after this. Whatever comes my way, just comes."

And while she is discouraged, still she says she is glad she blew the whistle.

Offered Job As Prostitute,
"Honestly to many other countries abroad, everybody knows that Belize isn't really economically developed. Yes we have lots of issues, yes and then to bring in this kind of business into Belize, using the females in Belize as prostitutes, I think that would really downgrade Belize a whole lot more."

The 20 year old says the main thing she wants right now is to get back her resume and personal photograph from Larry Yarmus. She fears they may be used on the internet. But no one quite knows where he is. Today a representative of the Biltmore Teodoro Tejada told us that they did not know what he was up to and only became aware of his activities during the Krem WUB Morning Show. He says they acted immediately and asked him to leave the hotel. He left a little too early for police who showed up shortly after to question him. Right now, they are still looking for him.