General Info

Cell Telephone Question

If I wanted to buy a cell phone in DR would I do better with Cortatell or Orange. Not sure of the plus or negatives of each place. Time would be on the card concept. Thanks for the help.
Frank

I don't know What Cock Suckers problem is But I can tell you only from what I have seen here in the pics is that it just leaves more babes for me I hope to see some of the true Mongers there in the future!

Cell Phone Question:

Hey Frank,

It all depends. My chicas and I prefer Orange. If most of your contacts down there have orange, then it is cheaper to call them from your Orange phone. I also like the idea of walking into the Orange store right on the main strip for service, etc.

www.orange.com.do is the website for them.

Also, you could bring a GSM phone from the states and they can hook it up at the store for a couple hundred pesos.

MISTER NYC :D

Thank you Mister. I had some similar questions that you just answered. If in the States you have Cingular, call their customer service, and ask for an international tech. If you are all set up, you should be able to be activated in DR, they are a partner of Orange , I think.

Well with the election comming up this Sunday, May 16th it appears that current President Hipolito Mejia and his band of hoodlums are about to be run out of office!

The most recent gallup pole among likely voters has former President (PLD) canidate Leonel Fernandez leading (PRD) canidate President Mejia by 53.6% to 29.9%. If these percentages hold it will mean a first round victory for Fernandez, and a return to power for the PLD party!

I think it is strangely ironic that the much of the credit for Fernandez' strong showing in the polls can be directly attributed to his ability to draw a considerable percentage of the votes of the countries poor and lower class. It was this same group (the poor) that ran Fernandez out of office "on a rail" in 2000 if you all remember.

It is sad but the lower classes voted overwhelmingly for Mejia in 2000 to save them from Fernandez and now they are voting for Fernandez to save them from Mejia!!

I certainly hope we see a solid first-round victory a return to a degree of national stability and NO last minute suprises out of President Mejia. I believe that after the outcome of the election is decided the actual reigns of power are not turned over to the new regime until August 16th. (This should be a "pleasant" three months!)
Cheers,
FORD

Ford,

Thanks for the overall good political report. Only, as I recall, Fernandez did not run in 2000 (as he was forbidden from doing so by a law recently changed), but instead put up a croney who, indeed, lost to the bald one, Meija.

To Sexy Surfer,

Yes, you are correct! In the 2000 presidential election Leonel Fernandez was ineligible to run so the PLD party chose Secretary to the President Danilo Medina to head the ticket. I might have confused people by some of my choice of language.

Medina lost in a one-sided election 49.9% to 24.9% to current President Hippolito Mejia, and then withdrew prior to the run-off election. It was widely maintained that the vote was vote against Fernandez because Medina was his hand-picked successor. In reality it was in fact the PLD rather than Fernandez that was run out of office "on a rail" in 2000!
Cheers.

Hello All,

Today (05/16) I proposed a new section to this forum entitled "Living in The Dominican Republic". Below I attached a copy of the proposal that I placed under the forum section "Suggest New Topics Here". Anyone who thinks this is a good idea, I would appreciate it if you would also let your opinion be heard and send a mesage to Jackson seconding my idea.
Thank You.

***Hey Jackson,

I would like to propose a new section called "Living in the Dominican Republic"

You have sections called Living in Argentina, Living in Brazil and Living in Peru under the respective country boards and these sections have become quite popular, and have resulted in many informative discussions and spirited exchanges.

I think a section entitled "Living in the Dominican Republic" would be a good place to post information on house prices, new construction, long-term rentals/leases, monthly living expenses etc. and give those of us who have entertained the idea of moving to the DR an appropriate forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions.
Thank you.
Cheers,
FORD

Ford,

Great idea. Everytime i "go down there" , pun intended, that irrational thought crosses my mind. Might be a great reality check for mongers. I have had many people tell me ( ex pats) that unless you can live like a tourist, you might not want to move there. It can be difficult.

http://espanol.news.yahoo.com//040517/1/s35g.html

That link is to a yahoo article about how Medina already conceded that he lost.

In 2000 the PLD lost because 1) Leonel could not run and 2) Balaguer opposed the PLD candidate.

See Medina is a descendant of the Mirabal daughers which were killed unde the Trujillo government... and Balaguer was invlved int eh government.

Medina accused Balaguer of being partly responsible and Balaguer told him to go F himself, and put all his power into kicking the PLD party out.

Balaguer died a few years ago, and Leonel was the candidate this time, so thats the low down on DR politics.

Hippo out, Leonel in. Interesting to see what the next few months will bring.

Yes, Leonel Fernandez defeated Hipolito Mejia on the first ballot %54 to %36. Mejia has recognized the victory.

I think the first thing we should hope for is a safe, peaceful transfer of power. (This is never guaranteed) and then we should hope for a slow general improvment in the overall economy. Hopefully, no more protests that turn deadly.

I think everyone generally acknowledges that the days of a 15 RDP -1 USD are over but that an exchange rate of say, 38RDP to 1 USD is actually having the effect of spurring on tourism! Alot can we said for an island that can now claim to be "the best value in the caribbean!" The "DR" is that.

Cheers.

>>That link is to a yahoo article about how Medina already >>conceded that he lost.

Should have read MEJIA not Medina.

Medina is the nephew of the Mirabal sisters. Theyw ere killed by Trujillo. Had he not pushed Balaguer about his involvement on the death of his Aunts... he might have had a better shot in 200.

PLD tore the PRD a new one. Mejia saw he was lost before the second Bulletin was released.

I can't wait to go down for the Inaguration.

When I was in SD late last year every local I spoke to was hoping that Leonel Fernandez would win. I saw his posters everywhere. Hopefully this result will lift the people's spirit some, and what else it does we shall see.

Was checking the exchange rate and it looks to be up around 47-48. Mid fifties might not be out of the question in the short term. I was surprised to see movement like that on a "holiday".