Sosua Reports

[QUOTE=LuvBlkWomen]Was about to pull trigger on thxgiving week trip to Sosua, but your experience made me pause, being that I'm a chocolate man and will be traveling alone. Is this a common occurence in DR if you are black (to board)?

LBW[/QUOTE]Dude, you'll be fine. I know at least 3 other black guys that will be there the week of Thanksgiving and they wouldn't dream of putting off their trip over something like this.

I am also black and always travel solo. The problem is that I ALWAYS end up meeting other folks and end up hanging with them, lol. Happened both times I've been to DR and I'm sure it's going to happen again (meeting wingmen). Hell, we even had a Chinese guy in our mix and, other than (jokingly) being referred to as "Chino" by almost every other Dominican we came across, he had a blast.

Note what others are saying on the board: Harassment happens regardless of color. Gringos will always be moving targets.

Just try to blend in. I always get asked if I am an American Dominicano when down there (which I am not) and so far all of my trips went well.

Hi,

I was in Sosua in June/July and it was quiet compared with a year ago!

Is it still quiet?

[QUOTE=Manizales911]Having the embassy numbers in your phone is an awesome idea,please post them.[/QUOTE] U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo's American Citizens Services Unit:

For an American citizen emergency, such as an arrest, death, missing person, accident or hospitalization, please call them immediately at (809) 731-4294

Monday - Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For after hours emergencies you may call (809) 221-2171, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

-Helpmann :)

[QUOTE=Negro562]No. Dude had to be black as tar for one time to confuse him with a Haitian or he probably was Haitian but, since he lives in American he was downplaying that part of his heritage. Maybe he was Nigerian. Haitians look Nigeria.

Dat fool better put a S Curl up in hair before he come out here next time.[/QUOTE]
And he better bring a couple of bottles of curl activator with him.

[QUOTE=Helpmann]U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo's American Citizens Services Unit:

For an American citizen emergency, such as an arrest, death, missing person, accident or hospitalization, please call them immediately at (809) 731-4294

Monday - Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For after hours emergencies you may call (809) 221-2171, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

-Helpmann :)[/QUOTE]

Muchas Gracias!

I've been pulled over a half dozen times by the Santo Domingo Policia and I have been shaken down by the Politur and I've never had to pay a dime. I am very skeptical of paying first and asking questions later, because their greed can have no end. Once you quickly acquiesce to RD$2,000, there's nothing to prevent them from asking for more.

Personally, I play dumb. Yes, I provide them with photocopies of my international driver's license, passport, and car registration in an very amiable way; however, I do it as if I was the dumbest tourist in Santo Domingo. I pretend not to understand a lick of Spanish and I speak only to them in English. After 10 minutes, they usually get frustrated and wave me on. I have yet to meet a member of the Santo Domingo Policia that can speak more than a few words of English.

The times when I have been concerned are when I have some Dominicanas in the car. When I get pulled over, I insist that they "shut the fuck up," but sometimes they insist on opening their mouths to "help" me out.

Cheers!
Helpmann :)

[QUOTE=Geolopes]LBW: I'm a white guy but I lived in the capitol city of Santo Domingo for 6 months several years ago on official business. They don't like Haitians down there plain and simple and Dominican culture is obsessed with the light skin black vs dark skin black thing if you can believe it. I could give a class on this topic so I'll just leave it with 3 common observations:

1) I challenge you to find any dark skinned mannequins in store front windows when you're out shopping down there. The mannequins are almost always white as rice. Check it out!

2) Employment want ads in the local papers there often post job openings for high public visibility such as bank tellers, secretaries, slaes clerks in expensive stores, etc with the words, "buen presencia" or 'good presence'. This is code speak for light skin people only need apply for these positions and everybody knows this.

3) National ID cards or 'ceduals' specify your race just as they often do here in the USA "B" for white, "M" for brown skin, "I" for indian? And "N" for negro (naygrow)or black. Here's the problem with the Indian thing. They were all wiped out by various European white man diseases as well as their failure to adapt to slavery and were exterminated by the 1600's. So. If your baby is born is just a bit too dark skinned you can pay a bribe to have the child classified as Indian. There are NO indians down there, trust me. Now, how fucked up is that.

Go to Amazon and see if you can get a used copy of the book: "Why the Cocks Fight" by a female author with a funny last name like Wunk or something like that. This is an excellent resource on the history of the 2 countries that share the same island and the reasons for their (Dominican) fixation with race and skin color. I'm glad I read it when I did as it really helped me out alot to understand this culture.

Act and walk like an American and keep some sort of document to that effect and they should leave you alone. And leave the expensive gold jewelry and man accessories at home, PLEASE.

Take care.[/QUOTE]Using the mannequin analogy is one of the silliest things I have ever read on ISG,I mean c'mon now dude. Seems like you did your homework after that though.

[QUOTE=Helpmann]U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo's American Citizens Services Unit:

For an American citizen emergency, such as an arrest, death, missing person, accident or hospitalization, please call them immediately at (809) 731-4294

Monday - Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For after hours emergencies you may call (809) 221-2171, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

-Helpmann :)[/QUOTE]Are these numbers good for other parts of the island as well?

[QUOTE=Manizales911]Are these numbers good for other parts of the island as well?[/QUOTE]I am not sure if I understand your question. The US Embassy is in Santo Domingo.

-Helpmann :)

[QUOTE=Manizales911]Are these numbers good for other parts of the island as well?[/QUOTE]The numbers are good for the entire island. I am not sure if the US has a physical presence on the north coast. But I am sure the people in the Consular section in Santo Domingo have contacts throughout the island if anyone needs assistance.

[QUOTE=Manizales911]Using the mannequin analogy is one of the silliest things I have ever read on ISG,I mean c'mon now dude. Seems like you did your homework after that though.[/QUOTE]Manizales. On your next trip there (or do you live there now?) please check this out for yourself. When I was in Sosua/PP last May I challenged my 2 wingmen with this question and not even once could they find a dark-skinned store dummy in a store. Not once! It became a running joke with us.

This observation was also noted in the book I referenced earlier and it wasn't till I read it several years ago while I was living down there that I started to notice this trend.

Anyway, thanks for the U.S. Embassy info, I'll plug those digits in my phone. BTW, does the U.S. Embassy DR website still have all those official informational reports on suspected and confirmed human rights violations committed down there? I used to enjoy reading the USG, NGO published reports on [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord908][CodeWord908][/url] and slavery (indentured servitude, etc) that was happening during my time there with the Haitians working at the "Batays" (sp) where the farm owners worked them under slave-like conditions.

Do you know if this is still going on now? How about the on again off again official police roundups and forced repatriation of Haitian nationals, even those with proper paperwork, back to their country of origin. Are the cops still hasselling the Haitians for bribes as a protection racket so they'll leave them alone.

And of course, let's not forget the massacre of at least 30,000 Haitians in the border region in the 1930's. I used to work that region near Dajabon on Haitian border denoted by the "Masacre River". The DR Govt at the time ordered the genocide to be done with machetes and farm tools so as to not leave any evidence of official Govt. involvement (only the Govt had that kind of money for bullets at the time.)

Feel the love!

I consider myself an expert when it comes to Haiti and the DR. My 3rd real wife was Dominican. She was a great wife until I carried her to the U.S. and the bitches there trained her. I met her many years ago before Big Macs, Whoppers, and Wendys made their way there. Talk about screwing some hot babes up, they did it. the roads were terrible, there was very little electricity, and you had to take showers at certain times.. I now live in Haiti and I keep hearing about all you guys going to Sosua where the imported Haitian girls hang out. I have never been there but after reading these posts why do you put up with all that crap when you can come to Haiti and get everything your mind can dream of. And the police here are nothing like the Dominican police. My ex even says never trust a Dominican and she is Dominican. The Haiti House is nothing like the hotels in Sosua. You do not have to worry about some ***** stabbing you or some pimp breaking in and robbing you. Trust me, you will be at more ease here than anywhere in the DR. Call me. Go to the Haiti board and read all about us. There has not been one guest that has not said he will be back. They love the girls and the service they get here.

[QUOTE=Slimtower]Just got back home from a few days in Sosua and boca chica. My overall expierience was good but now I'm not to sure if I will be returning to Sosua. So anyway, on Tuesday night I was speaking with two friends after classicos closed. One of the guys who I was with, saw two of his friends so we all starting talking to together. Police came around asking everyone to dispurse. No problem with me. While I was getting ready to leave this asshole policeman approached one of the guys I was with and was asking him if he was Hatian. He wasn't, didn't speak any creole nor spanish. only english! Could you believe this bastard took this guy just because he looked hatian. But even if thats the case whatever. He showed him his American I. D. Spoke only english and he was still taken away. I was seriously disturbed by this. They didn't bother me but better believe I didn't stick around for anything to happen to me. (I'm a black american) And for the first time ever in my life I didn't feel safe in Sosua. It definetly changed my way of thinking. That was a long walk back to Europa. But on the way back I met up with my old pal Cessarina. DAMN this girl is fine. A sexy ass morena. Took her back to my hotel for a st romp in the sack. That calmed my nerves.[/QUOTE]I'm making my way down in a few weeks. I also have some concerns as a sinlge BM traveling alone in D.R. thanks for giving me some info on the situation. I look forward to hanging out wearing my Pedro Martinez, Phillies jersey.

Hi to all,

I would like to visit RD and this would be my first time. Last year I was in Cuba and things there were too complicated for the reasons we all know.

Since I will be alone, my main concerns are about safety. From what I read it seems Sosua can be a safe destination for a solo beginners. Am I right?

Could you list the main dangers can occure during the staying there and how to prevent them?

Thanks and regards

[QUOTE=Geolopes]... Haitians working at the "bateys" where the farm owners worked them under slave-like conditions.

Do you know if this is still going on now?[/QUOTE]
Conditions are improving, though still fairly horrendous. More significant is the fact that the sugar industry is dwindling in importance so far fewer Haitians are reliant on it for a living.

Also, most of the surviving mills are owned by the more efficient international companies which always maintained somewhat better conditions than those owned by Dominican families who relied on near-slavery to make a profit.

[QUOTE=Geolopes]How about the on again off again official police roundups and forced repatriation of Haitian nationals, even those with proper paperwork, back to their country of origin.[/quote]
I don't think the mass round-ups have happened under the Leonel regime but smaller groups still get arbitrarily repatriated. Those with proper paperwork are probably safe unless they are (rightly or wrongly) associated with some crime.

[QUOTE=Geolopes]Are the cops still hasselling the Haitians for bribes as a protection racket so they'll leave them alone.[/QUOTE]
Yes. But it is "small beer" (typically 100 or 200 pesos) and the Haitians are just resigned to it as a tax they have to pay to live here in the DR. And let's not forget for every 100 pesos the police blackmail the Haitians for, they probably get 5000 from Dominicans by similar scams.

[QUOTE=Geolopes]
And of course, let's not forget the massacre of at least 30,000 Haitians in the border region in the 1930's. I used to work that region near Dajabon on Haitian border denoted by the "Masacre River". The DR Govt at the time ordered the genocide to be done with machetes and farm tools so as to not leave any evidence of official Govt. involvement (only the Govt had that kind of money for bullets at the time.)[/quote]
We may not forget but most Haitians have only a vague "folk-memory" of this horrific event (condoned by the United States, the Vatican and other world powers at the time). One chica I asked about it even thought it was an event in the Haitian War of Independence (from France). Remember it was hushed up by the Haitian Govt at the time, as they were working hand-in-glove with Trujillo on people trafficking, gun-running and other rackets, so it never got into Haitian history books (such as there are).

Incidentally, the Masacre River did not get its name from that event but from a massacre during the War of Independence (which may explain the chica's confusion).