Candelier para Presidente

[Stodgord]

This guy seems to be well rounded in the Dominican political arena. He has worked under different political parties and the population seems to love is hard line attitude against criminals. Do you think that this guy is what the DR need as President.

[suarezn]

NO. Candelier is corrupt just like almost everyone else. His image of being tough on crime is just that image. Here's a guy who made about 40,000 pesos a month and has a huge house (amongst other things) in an expensive area of the capital. His house even has a helipad on the roof. How do you think he got all this.

I don't think he has much of a chance though, unless he allies himself with The PRD. So far it sounds like he wants to go it alone. Politics is very different from being chief of police...these guys (Hatuey, Leonel, etc...) will eat him alive if he tries to go against them, and you'll see his image crumble very quickly.

[Stodgord]

Originally Posted by suarezn

NO. Candelier is corrupt just like almost everyone else. His image of being tough on crime is just that image. Here's a guy who made about 40,000 pesos a month and has a huge house (amongst other things) in an expensive area of the capital. His house even has a helipad on the roof. How do you think he got all this.

I don't think he has much of a chance though, unless he allies himself with The PRD. So far it sounds like he wants to go it alone. Politics is very different from being chief of police...these guys (Hatuey, Leonel, etc...) will eat him alive if he tries to go against them, and you'll see his image crumble very quickly.

Yeah. Everyone knows that politicians are corrupted and not to be trusted but they also know that candelier is hard core. With the rampant criminal activities affecting the the DR lately, I am afraid that the population will turn a blind eye to his past corruptions and elect him for his proven 'manos duras' on criminals.

[samiam]

I've been here a week and everyone seems to be fed up with the current political/economic/social situation. Most people have complained about lack of authority and lack of respect for the law. Most seem to wish for a change towards a more disciplined authority.....most seem to be joking at the moment but a I sence a hint of thruth behind the sarcasm of the remarks.

This government seems to be kinda too soft. Public debt is up to U$8.000, corrupt PRD guys are still free, the attorney general has no respect for supreme court rulings, corruption crisis in the police, corrupt business men and pseudo-journalists are sent as ambassadors to Japan and Chile and everywhere you look there is a big *** jipeta with government plates......e pa' lante que vamo!!!!

[Mirador]

Originally Posted by suarezn

NO. Candelier is corrupt just like almost everyone else. His image of being tough on crime is just that image. Here's a guy who made about 40,000 pesos a month and has a huge house (amongst other things) in an expensive area of the capital. His house even has a helipad on the roof. How do you think he got all this. .

When I first met Col. Candelier, circa 1981, before he showed his iconic zeal combating illegal forestry, by burning a cache of charcoal (unfortunately still attached to the donkey), he was a wealthy man, owner or part owner of an automobile import business, mainly from NY. He even gave the then First Lady a late model white Mercedes.

[suarezn]

Originally Posted by Mirador

When I first met Col. Candelier, circa 1981, before he showed his iconic zeal combating illegal forestry, by burning a cache of charcoal (unfortunately still attached to the donkey), he was a wealthy man, owner or part owner of an automobile import business, mainly from NY. He even gave the then First Lady a late model white Mercedes.

Is this Candelier talking?

[arturo]

Originally Posted by suarezn

NO. Candelier is corrupt just like almost everyone else. His image of being tough on crime is just that image. Here's a guy who made about 40,000 pesos a month and has a huge house (amongst other things) in an expensive area of the capital. His house even has a helipad on the roof. How do you think he got all this.

I don't think he has much of a chance though, unless he allies himself with The PRD. So far it sounds like he wants to go it alone. Politics is very different from being chief of police...these guys (Hatuey, Leonel, etc...) will eat him alive if he tries to go against them, and you'll see his image crumble very quickly.

Candelier's resume goes like this: head of national police, then head of AMET. It is widely accepted that he was forced to take this significant reduction in prestige and power because of international pressure from human rights groups in the wake of a number of extra judicial killings that occurred during his watch. Some of you may remember the scary riots in Capotillo during this period. This was also the period during which the El Siglo newspaper ceased publication after Candelier called it "chismoso." Net, net, if he runs his reputation will suffer greatly. The political class here will paint him as an out of control killer and an embarrasment to the country. They can't afford to let him build a grass roots movement because he has too much popular support, particularly amongst the middle class and the uneducated, which leaves the small but powerful oligarchy who hedge their bets by financially backing all the major parties. Que paisito!

[Mirador]

Originally Posted by Mirador

When I first met Col. Candelier, circa 1981, before he showed his iconic zeal combating illegal forestry, by burning a cache of charcoal (unfortunately still attached to the donkey), he was a wealthy man, owner or part owner of an automobile import business, mainly from NY. He even gave the then First Lady a late model white Mercedes.

The story of the First Lady's late model white Mercedes doesn't end here. The automobile was one of over one hundred vehicles that the NY FBI reported stolen in NY, physically detected in Santo Domingo, and for which they had asked the Dominican government's cooperation to get them back. When time went by with no response, the NY FBI decided to go public with the news through the media, which created an international incident. When the DR goverment pulled strings in Washington (State Dept of course), the FBI agents were forced to make a public detraction pulling a Galileo (...and yet it moves!).

[RHM]

Originally Posted by Mirador

The story of the First Lady's late model white Mercedes doesn't end here. The automobile was one of over one hundred vehicles that the NY FBI reported stolen in NY, physically detected in Santo Domingo, and for which they had asked the Dominican government's cooperation to get them back. When time went by with no response, the NY FBI decided to go public with the news through the media, which created an international incident. When the DR goverment pulled strings in Washington (State Dept of course), the FBI agents were forced to make a public detraction pulling a Galileo (...and yet it moves!).

Wasn't his name also on the list of cops who were in possession of numerous stolen cars that had been recovered and never returned to the rightful owners? I seem to recall the number 15 next to his name. But I am not 100% sure.

Scandall

[frank alvarez]

This guy is a throwback to the 50's and 60's in attitude; that is, authoritarian, uncaring about little things like human rights, fairness and justice. There are a lot like him still around here and in other countries in Latin America, unfortunately. Although with the amount of 'tigueres'
(hoodlums) and tiguere-like mentalities in the lower classes, sometimes I
think a dinosaur like this is what we need. Our present president is too
decent (read 'soft' for a Dominican) for most of our populace who are used
to getting a miserly hand-out and a kick in the rear from their 'leaders'.

By the way, nothing has been said about an expensive (aren't they all?) villa in Casa de Campo that was supposedly 'a gift' to Mr. Candelier.