Dominican legislator wants to ban bikini

A Dominican legislator stands for bikini ban- on television at least.

Photo: Dominican legislator wants to ban bikini

Dominican legislator wants to ban bikini

Opposition congressman Nestor Julio Cruz Pichardo said the skimpy swimsuits are contrary to the tropical Caribbean country's traditions and harm impressionable youngsters.

Yet Dominican resorts commonly lure visitors to the Caribbean's top vacation destination with advertisements portraying bikini-clad women on white-sand beaches fringed with palms.

Bikinis also have become an increasingly common sight on Dominican television, whether in news shots of tourists sunning on the beach, daytime fashion shows or in soap operas.

The bill would set fines of up to US$15,000 (10,085 EUR) in penalties for broadcasters who violate the ban.

Cruz said Monday that images of women in revealing swimsuits "are limiting the intellect and deforming the vocational interests" of children in the Dominican Republic.

It was not clear if Cruz had significant support from other lawmakers.