Hurricane & Tropical Storms and the Economy

[RonS]

I have read a lot about the government's increasing surpluses over the past few months and was just wondering if anyone had any insight on how the expenditures for cleanup and rebuilding operations are affecting the surpluses and the DR economy overall. Are these expenditures anticipated in the annual budget? Or are they paid for on a case by case basis?

[Texas Bill]

I would venture to say, judging from past performance by the political entities within the Dominican Government, tha a goodly portion of all the contributions will end up being siphonedoff by incumbents where there is no "oversight" being conducted by the contributing parties.

In other words, this is a series of "cash cows" that the government just won't be able to resist.

Texas Bill

[pyratt]

In 23 years of providing rescue and recovery services to third world countries and migrant people all over the world...I've never been stone walled by a more corrupt and unfeeling government.

Donated supplies from TS NOEL disappeared before ever making it to the barrios and campos. Money donated from other countries was STOLEN by the very DR governmental moochers who extended their hands like the poor in the streets of the DR. They gave the hungry........ rice and oatmeal, but no fresh water or a means to cook it.

And now, they lie again.....claiming to have warned the people.

Serious questions were asked of General Luna after TS Noel. He walked away from the microphone instead of those answering questions. The DR government has NO PLANS for any emergency, no budget for relief after an emergency and no desire to develop one. Their lack of action speaks louder than any words...

TWICE this year....Government officials have left the country's poor to the devices of Mother Nature in hopes she will wash away the country's burden of the destitute....and have done so while claiming to have "under estimated" the strength of two storms even though their access to modern day forecasting is only a click away.

(yes, I know..Dominican weather people don't work on Sundays)

If in fact you live in the DR, I urge you to prepare yourselves....to "get a plan", to secure your home, store emergency food and water and know exactly what you are going to do when the real storm comes....perhaps the DR1 group can get together and provide "shelter" for each other depending on where you live on the island....in othe words, have safe shelter in different areas with DR1 friends.

This year's storm tracks took the majority of every tropical system within striking distance of the DR, most became Category 3 or higher systems. The TWO storms that devasted parts of the island were "nothing". I say this being a survivor of two CAT 5 storms, a CAT4 and numerous CAT1 hurricanes...I was deployed to New Orleans and Mississippi post Katrina. Bloated bodies, starving and scared aggressive dogs....the stench and the sights some of the worst I've ever seen.

The day the DR is hit by a real hurricane, life in the island's affected areas will be surreal and seeing the government's inabilty and lack of desire to respond after this season should bode well as a warning as to their plans for the "big one"....it's not a matter of IF, it's only a matter of WHEN.

[RonS]

Wow! I had an awful feeling that it was bad, but I had no idea it was that bad. I've been observing the government and civil authorities in the DR for a number of years now, and I am just amazed at how consistently corrupt they are and at how they seem to consistently get away with it.

[pyratt]

Originally Posted by RonS

Wow! I had an awful feeling that it was bad, but I had no idea it was that bad. I've been observing the government and civil authorities in the DR for a number of years now, and I am just amazed at how consistently corrupt they are and at how they seem to consistently get away with it.

It's worse than "that bad"...

I'm just not at liberty to say in this forum...I'll say this though....they don't buy body bags. (witnessed first hand) Religion is a shield they hide behind.

[DunHill]

Specially THIS goverment, that works on a PR base, every disaster is a political giveaway, cost-free frontpage news with pictures, more money to play with, more long talkshows about how to do it better next time AND absolutely don't change anything, else you loose all those free "extra's"
And all that to "lure" people to vote for you, because you are doing so much good NOT !

Investing in bodybags and other necessary items ?? please no !! let the international community send money to buy them after a disaster (at a 1000% higher price from a friendly seller - preferable family or partymember) and make them disappear asap so you don't have them when needed and you can again ask for money.

Same as that dam.
Maybe i am stupid, but if a lake is THAT high (after a rainperiod) you normally lower slowly the waterlevels, you don't wait for the next event/disaster to occur OR IT MUST BE A PLANNED THING !!!

A.

[MaCabrera]

Right on the mark DunHill, the current party in power (which claims to be the party of progress) has had less time in power than the other two major parties but they've stolen at least ten-fold what the other two stole combined. Leonel then goes on TV with his forked tounge and and big words. The fact is that right before and during TS Olga, most of the top government authorities were criss-crossing the country campaigning for his re-election. Y
your comments about the Taveras Dam is right on the mark as well, those in charge should be rotting in jail but the government is going to cover them up. But they'll go around bringing little bags of chicken and pesos buy the very people they destroyed with their incompetence and disregard.

Sometimes I'm actually ashamed to say I'm Dominican, for real

[SamanaJon]

May God continue to bless the DR, regardless of it's Leaders. Be it Olga, Noel or any other issue, the existing governing party and its slick, silver-tounged leader, LF, will continue to maintain a certain level of popular support from the people. I am amazed, where ever I may go in the country, people still are on board with him and that damm chant, 'e pa lante que vamos". I can only think of one single common factor, Lack of Education, and the masses continue to be lead like sheep to slaughter. Perhaps that is why he continues to cut the budget on Education. He wants to keep the "STUPID", that way he can continue to lead and steal at will. Unfortunately Venezuela and Haiti went through similar steps, and you see where they are now! Wind storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods are all open channels to grab the CHECKBOOK and begin their favorite exercise, making MO' MONEY... got to love it, I admire them for their onions

[NALs]

Originally Posted by SamanaJon

Perhaps that is why he continues to cut the budget on Education. He wants to keep the "STUPID", that way he can continue to lead and steal at will. Unfortunately Venezuela and Haiti went through similar steps, and you see where they are now!

Prove that the budget for education has been cut when it has in fact risen by over 200% since Leonel took office!

Read the third post here.

Show me the data where it states that the education budget has been cut. Other than people of opposition parties spreading lies and the gullible believing them, other than those group of people; its clearly understood that education has seen an increase in funding. As if that is not enough, every data set further proves that it has increased, whether such data comes from the government or private organizations evaluating education since 2000 to the present year.

So please, show me the data of your unfounded and misleading claim.

-NALs

[Lambada]

Originally Posted by MaCabrera

Sometimes I'm actually ashamed to say I'm Dominican, for real

No, you don't need to feel this way. We know it's only the politicos, all parties, which behave in the way described. Some more smooth tongued than others. But people are catching on fast. Unlike SamanaJon I'm finding more and more people here in Puerto Plata are saying a definite 'Leonel - OUT'.

The only problem is...............are the alternatives any better?