Politics in the Dominican Republic

[Osanhopps]

With the recent changes in the Dominican Republic, they will now see what there actions in Sosua and other parts of the DR will cause. The opening of Cuba puts a hurt on travel to the DR with shorter travel time from destinations in the US. And knowing that your dollar will go further. Those cruise ships they where counting on now has another option. Now instead of closing down the business of Sosua and other regions. The DR needs to re-evaluate their recent decisions before we all find this new location a better buy. Look I am already packed, tell me what airlines I need to used to get to Cuba. I was planning my last trip to the DR in March. That might be on hold right now. I do love the DR, but the winds of change are in place and I will always love a new adventure. So I will see you there brothers.

[Jaosousa]

Thank God Jaosousa doesn't read the Sosua forum, or you would be in for a lecture about how you need to put on a full hazmat suit before approaching a Haitiana.

Please post the location or the post where, anything written by me referred to Haitianas as having some deadly contagion that would require a hazmat suit to be near them.

In the past I offered to meet you in person in Sosua or Santo Domingo and you did not accept. I could invite you to New York City, where I can introduce you to the Haitians who have been my friends for over 20 years.

I have posted the link for this video several times, Dekole J Perry [Official Video-HD] feat Shabba & Izolan; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4hx-EFvZN8 The song in this video is about Haitian Pride and Self-Reliance.

I will re-post some of the photos I have previously posted here on the Dominican Republic thread of the ISG (photos regarding Haiti).

My next trip to the Dominican Republic, I will try to travel to Haiti and spend money there. The Haitian economy could use tourism dollars.

PS: Why did you delete the user thread you started named "Quick?"? (You deleted that thread after I posted there saying I would do all I can to help re-elect Obama because he is a great man).

[Jaosousa]

You could get a job as a pollster for Obama and interview every single person who lives in the US to find out how they plan to vote, and then there will be no need for elections.

Obama is a great man and I will do all that I can, to help him get re-elected (for excellent polling analysis you can read Nate Silver at 538).

[Jaosousa]

http://www.vicinigroup.com/

"The Price of Sugar is a 2007 documentary by Bill Haney about exploitation of Haitian immigrants in the Dominican Republic involved with production of sugar, and the efforts of Spanish priest Father Christopher Hartley to ameliorate their situation. It is narrated by actor Paul Newman. The documentary shows the poor working conditions in the sugar cane plantations, and political control exerted by the Vicini family to stifle efforts to change the situation. The movie has resulted in several lawsuits from the Vicini family."

[Cagep1967]

I have been to Santo Domingo over the last 10 years and yet to have any major issues with the Police of any branch. I have been pulled over for Random Traffic Stops in a brand new Range Rover and a 87 Dotson with no lights. I have yet to receive a request for Propina / Bribe by both Federals in Trucks by they Bridge and locals on Bikes. I don't run from police in America and I damn sure am not going to run from police in a Foreign country. I do as I do here. I pull over in a lighted highly visible area.

I have had instances on the street, Hotels and Apartments where I was dead ass wrong for my actions and had the attending officer act utterly professional. However, I can say that when a situation has arisen from my own making or other Monger Hazards. 1,500 DOP is always the least I tip the Jefe for Disposal of after party remnants. Lot of you on here try to buck the service charge for cleaning up your messes. Generally, the Jefe is the one with the 45 in the front of the Bullet proof, the ones holding the mossberg Riot Pump and AR's are his subordinates The Captain and lieutenant bars helps. If you have mongered on Pastuer you know the young Tourist Police Captain and squad I'm referring to. If your getting harassed by him your a complete assholes.

As I have stated several times, I have yet to see locals (Aside for the Robbers, who will jack anyone) go out of their way to treat tourist bad. In fact, it is the opposite. What I have seen are tourist who try to take advantage of the locals and the home network takes care of them from all fascists of the society. You think your actions both good and bad do not get around?

I've been pulled over many times and the only the polica national have asked for me to pay my multa right there and then. The PN before the toll on the road to Bani do not give some sort of BS excuse because the see me all the time, they come right out and just ask for a little help, rather than ask if I have fire arms, drugs etc. I give them a buck or 2 occasionally.

The one and only time I paid a bribe was when I was pulled over for running a red light when there wasn't any electricity. He asked for 6k, when I gave him 100 pesos he replied how am I supposed to eat with this and started talking about taking me in to the station. I gave him 20US he let me go.

I have received 5 tickets from AMET for various offenses, no seat belt, talking on cell. Etc. Once I made an illegal uturn right in front of one and I always play dumb first pretending not to speak spanish, then I realized this is an AMET officer and the worst they've ever done to me is write me a ticket, I immediately asked him in spanish to give me my ticket I needed to go, he was shocked that I spoke spanish he laughed and told me he didn't have his ticket book with him and I could go.

I tried that with a pretty AMET officer and she actually spoke english and told me that in the united states I can't use my cell phone and drive, got a ticket and her phone number.

With the national police I use business cards that I got from the Dominican Consulate in NYC, I have a bunch in my wallet. I tell them I don't have any cash just Credit Cards, I give them my paperwork with one of the business cards and tell them my uncle works in the consulate. I've gotten off everytime with that.

I take it easy with the National Police, recently 2 were arrested for being paid for killing a fruit vendor that was disturbing some old man. The old man paid the police who beat the crap out of this kid and then killed him. It was all over the news down there.

The National Police are very corrupt. My car rental battery was stolen and they wanted to be paid to fill out the report. I needed it for my insurance but the just stood around saying wow that's really bad. Luckily the replacement and installation was only $75.

I've seen some very nasty shit with the National Police, I've seen them shoot someone they had in custody, handcuffed on the ground. Granted the guy just robbed 2 girls of jewelry and their bags, but to shoot the guy in the back?

I never play the ugly american anywhere and I travel all over the world, but I get nervous about those guys. The politur and AMET are ok (although the AMET have killed a few domincans recently) but the National Police are bad news. The guys in the local towns are pretty good, because everyone knows each other. But the ones in the capital are always looking for something.

[Alex Deuce]

I have been to Santo Domingo over the last 10 years and yet to have any major issues with the Police of any branch. I have been pulled over for Random Traffic Stops in a brand new Range Rover and a 87 Dotson with no lights. I have yet to receive a request for Propina / Bribe by both Federals in Trucks by they Bridge and locals on Bikes. I don't run from police in America and I damn sure am not going to run from police in a Foreign country. I do as I do here. I pull over in a lighted highly visible area.

I have had instances on the street, Hotels and Apartments where I was dead ass wrong for my actions and had the attending officer act utterly professional. However, I can say that when a situation has arisen from my own making or other Monger Hazards. 1,500 DOP is always the least I tip the Jefe for Disposal of after party remnants. Lot of you on here try to buck the service charge for cleaning up your messes. Generally, the Jefe is the one with the 45 in the front of the Bullet proof, the ones holding the mossberg Riot Pump and AR's are his subordinates The Captain and lieutenant bars helps. If you have mongered on Pastuer you know the young Tourist Police Captain and squad I'm referring to. If your getting harassed by him your a complete assholes.

As I have stated several times, I have yet to see locals (Aside for the Robbers, who will jack anyone) go out of their way to treat tourist bad. In fact, it is the opposite. What I have seen are tourist who try to take advantage of the locals and the home network takes care of them from all fascists of the society. You think your actions both good and bad do not get around?

[Charles Pooter]

Everywhere else in the world Easter Monday is the day following Easter Sunday.

LOL. This is the DR. I am sure the Cardinal is as open to bribes as anyone else here. The Church has been kissing the government's ass here for so many decades I am sure the President could move Christmas Day to the middle of July if he thought it would boost tourism.

[Frannie]

From what I understand most police in DR get very low salaries.

Chances of getting pulled over for nothing by the Policia are probably greater before major holidays like Navidad (Christmas) or Semana Santa (Easter week).

Some recent shutdowns of casas in Santo Domingo occurred around Semana Santa (a time when many Dominicans travel to different areas of the country for a vacation) , it could be possible some people were looking for some Semana Santa vacation money.

"The signature dish of Lent until the beginning of Holy Week is "Sweet Beans" (Habichuelas con Dulce or Habichuelas Dulces) a base of red beans, sweet spices such as cloves and cinnamon, sweet potato, condensed milk, shredded coconut and raisins, but each family has its own recipe and variation. The beans are usually served cold."

For 2011:

April 17, Palm Sunday.

April 18, Easter Monday.

April 19, Holy Tuesday.

April 20, Holy Wednesday.

April 21, Maundy Thursday.

April 22, Good Friday.

April 23, Holy Saturday

April 24, Easter Sunday

Everywhere else in the world Easter Monday is the day following Easter Sunday.

[SavePros321]

People getting killed by the police unfortunately happens here almost on a daily basis. This is what the police calls "intercambio de balas" gunfire exchange with alleged criminals.

Another thing I found interesting: Whenever I ended up doing TLN I would always end up with the chicas that want to watch their novelas. Around this time is when the "Noticias" are on. I was very surprised that when reporting deaths in the DR the news cameras show the entire body. The first time I saw this they showed what looked to be a young Haitian man lying dead in the field (someone shot him). In the US the most they would show of a dead person is their shoes. The Haitiana in my room at the time was even more surprised that I was surprised, LOL (seeing as the people there are probably desensitized to the images of death in their news segments).

[Jaosousa]

I am also surprised you haven't had any problems with the police the many times you have visited and driven on the island. The first half of the 2010 Human Rights Report you linked to has someone being killed by a police officer and a good number of them happened during traffic stops by the police.

That is some pretty fucked up conditions to be living under.

From what I understand most police in DR get very low salaries.

Chances of getting pulled over for nothing by the Policia are probably greater before major holidays like Navidad (Christmas) or Semana Santa (Easter week).

Some recent shutdowns of casas in Santo Domingo occurred around Semana Santa (a time when many Dominicans travel to different areas of the country for a vacation) , it could be possible some people were looking for some Semana Santa vacation money.

"The signature dish of Lent until the beginning of Holy Week is "Sweet Beans" (Habichuelas con Dulce or Habichuelas Dulces) a base of red beans, sweet spices such as cloves and cinnamon, sweet potato, condensed milk, shredded coconut and raisins, but each family has its own recipe and variation. The beans are usually served cold."

For 2011:

April 17, Palm Sunday.

April 18, Easter Monday.

April 19, Holy Tuesday.

April 20, Holy Wednesday.

April 21, Maundy Thursday.

April 22, Good Friday.

April 23, Holy Saturday

April 24, Easter Sunday

[Berthold]

According to a report on Listin Diario 40% of gun fire deaths are caused by the police.

Their mentality is shoot first and ask questions later. Sometimes you can even read in newspaper articles that the police is asking alleged criminals to turn themselves in in order to save their lifes

[Jaosousa]

I am also surprised you haven't had any problems with the police the many times you have visited and driven on the island. The first half of the 2010 Human Rights Report you linked to has someone being killed by a police officer and a good number of them happened during traffic stops by the police.

That is some pretty fucked up conditions to be living under.

I know one light skin African American Monger who doesn't stop for the police, when the police in DR have a type of traffic stop (where between 2-8 police are standing on the side of the road waving down cars to stop).

From the US report: "On July 3, police officers shot and killed an 81-year-old man, Elio Reyes Severino, a passenger in a vehicle ordered to stop while driving between Santo Domingo and Samana."

I have been stopped numerous times by the Policia Nacional, while driving in Santo Domingo. In zona oriental, on the other side of the river from the main part of Santo Domingo, there are Policia Nacional standing in the streets at night, stopping cars. I always stopped and those guys were always nice to me and told me to be careful. Parts of Zona Oriental are a little rough.

Other times Policia on motorcycles have told me to stop and those Policia riding motorcycles were looking for easy money and some were a little threatening in their manner.

If the Policia are friendly and polite to me, sometimes I will give them some small amount of money. The ones who are rude and threatening get nothing from me.

The Policia on the side of the road who have stopped me have been armed with shotguns or rifles that look like m-16s, most also carry 9 mm semi automatic pistols, all are usually wearing bullet proof vests. Some of those streets are dark.

One time I got stopped near the La Romana Airport, by guys who looked like soldiers, they were part of some drug interdiction force, they stopped and searched every car that drove near the airport that night, they were nice to me. They searched my car and I was free to go, I told them I was going to a place called Klimax (now called Scores, a pay for play venue with some very fine chicas) , the soldiers laughed and said have fun.

[BoricuaOnline]

People getting killed by the police unfortunately happens here almost on a daily basis. This is what the police calls "intercambio de balas" gunfire exchange with alleged criminals.

According to a report on Listin Diario 40% of gun fire deaths are caused by the police.

[Berthold]

I am also surprised you haven't had any problems with the police the many times you have visited and driven on the island. The first half of the 2010 Human Rights Report you linked to has someone being killed by a police officer and a good number of them happened during traffic stops by the police.

That is some pretty fucked up conditions to be living under.

People getting killed by the police unfortunately happens here almost on a daily basis. This is what the police calls "intercambio de balas" gunfire exchange with alleged criminals.

[SavePros321]

Http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt...wha/154503.htm

"Washington's 'corrupt' label could cost Dominicans US$200M (April 11, 2011) ; Santo Domingo- The Dominican Anticorruption Alliance, ADOCCO, warned Sunday that the USA State Department's report disclosed Friday would keep Dominican Republic from accessing funds from the Account of the Millennium.

In said the report, which cites violation of human rights, killings and torture by police, subhuman prison conditions, a marked increase in people trafficking, violence against women, discrimination against minorities and a little enforcement of labor laws, stresses "instances in which security forces acted independently of civil control" last year.

But what most concerns ADOCCO is the report's affirmation that "Corruption is generalized in the Dominican Republic, ' an element it says would shut the doors to benefits of nearly US$200 million, from the Account of the Millennium."

http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/loc...inicans-US200M

From the 2010 Human Rights Report: Dominican Republic, US Department of State (link for the full report is above) : "Serious human rights problems included unlawful killings; beatings and other abuse of suspects, detainees, and prisoners; fair to harsh prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention of suspects; a large number of functionally stateless persons; widespread corruption; harassment of certain human rights groups; violence and discrimination against women; child prostitution and other abuses of children; trafficking in persons; severe discrimination against Haitian migrants and their descendants; violence and discrimination against persons based on sexual orientation; ineffective enforcement of labor laws; and child labor."

I am also surprised you haven't had any problems with the police the many times you have visited and driven on the island. The first half of the 2010 Human Rights Report you linked to has someone being killed by a police officer and a good number of them happened during traffic stops by the police.

That is some pretty fucked up conditions to be living under.