Q COSTARICA — The mayor of Garabito, Francisco González, the canton that includes the beach town of Playa Jacó, has proposed creating a designated “permissive” area where prostitution would be tolerated and where, in the future, regulated consumption of drugs might also be allowed.
This idea comes in response to a recent investigative report that documented the ongoing prostitution routes in Jacó, highlighting the challenges local authorities face in controlling these activities.
In a session of the Municipal Council on Monday, June 22, the mayor indicated that the canton’s regulatory plan will include a 70-hectare zone in Playa Jacó where hotels and bars will be established, with 24-hour licenses, so that these activities can ‘leave’ the city center and return to being a family area.
“Today I have bars, prostitution, drug distribution, alongside restaurants, cafes, ice cream shops, all mixed in the same pot,” the mayor said.
The mayor’s proposal aims to concentrate prostitution in a specific zone to better regulate and monitor it, rather than allowing it to spread across the town, which is currently occurring in the canton and throughout the country in an uncontrolled way. Alongside this, the suggestion includes the possibility of eventually allowing controlled drug use within this area, as a step toward harm reduction and public safety.
González asserted that Costa Rica must open a national discussion on these issues and questioned the traditional strategy of police persecution.
This approach marks a shift from strict prohibition toward pragmatic management of issues that have long been part of the local reality.
The mayor emphasizes that these measures would require careful planning and cooperation with health and law enforcement agencies to ensure they contribute to community well-being without exacerbating problems.
The proposal has sparked debate, reflecting broader discussions about how to handle prostitution and drug use in tourist towns like Playa Jacó, where these activities intersect with the local economy and public order.
González lashes out at the United States
In his speech before the municipal council, the mayor also questioned the United States’ role in the international fight against drug trafficking.
“Have you ever heard of the biggest drug trafficker the FBI has indicted on U.S. soil?” González asked, before pointing out that, although the U.S. is one of the world’s largest drug consumers, the structures responsible for distributing narcotics within its borders are rarely discussed.
The mayor of Garabito stated that discussions about drugs are often avoided for political reasons, even though he believes the problem now affects the entire country. “It’s a complicated issue, and it’s difficult to talk about,” he acknowledged.
The mayor insisted that he is not seeking to promote drug use or prostitution, but rather to establish controls that reduce crime and improve health and safety conditions.