I have about had it with Alejandrina German

[bob saunders]

The public schools have to go through the same process. Perhaps it differs from School district to school district, but it seems at least some of the people in charge of the public system in Jarabacoa care.

[NALs]

Originally Posted by catcherintherye

qgrande asks a very good question. To find the answer one must ask another basic question, Cui bono? Who benefits from an uneducated populous? Perhaps not all within the Political leadership of both major parties, but perhaps a large enough number to keep the process slowed to a crawl. One thing is certain, the longer the people of the DR are kept to a very basic education the political leaders with have an almost exclusive lock on the benefits of "leadership."

The current administration has been focused on two things:

1. Investing on tertiary education (mainly UASD and its regional campuses) in terms of finishing the infrastructure of the regional campuses and key infrastructures in the main campus, inauguration of the main library, introduction of computers and technology to the curriculum, new textbooks, etc. Also, the expansion of the scholarship program to students of public schools with excellent GPA's. These scholarships pay for their tertiary education at a university abroad, usually in the United States with the hope that once the students graduate, they will return to the DR and begin to apply their acquired expertise. This is all in the hopes of not only increasing the number of well educated peoples in important positions in the country, but also an attempt to include people of disadvantage positions but with potential to become college educated and apply their knowledge to solve the DR's problems in whatever area of expertise they majored in.

2. Expansion of primary and secondary schools in order to allow more school age children to attend school. Also, there has been great emphasis on the breakfast program for the same reason and an expansion of the mobile libraries, "real" libraries, and other educational centers nationwide - even in many bateyes. In other words, the current administration has had an extensive approach rather than intensive towards public education at the primary and secondary levels and the reason for this is due to the deficit of classrooms nationwide. Once that deficit is sufficiently reduced, the focus will shift from expanding access of public education towards improving the quality.

Leonel will also meet with professional Dominicans in the United States later this year. There is a group of Dominicans that are investigating and searching for educated Dominicans all over the eastern US, particularly educated Dominicans that are not in the spotlight. This meeting that will take place with the hopes of getting those educated Dominicans excited and interested in using their knowledge and networks to help the DR in one way or another. Also, to help the progress of the Dominican community in the US as well.

-NALs

[NALs]

Originally Posted by Lambada

I see Nuria got the last laugh on the Education Minister. From todays DR1 News


Nuria explains
Investigative journalist Nuria Piera is explaining why she hasn't purchased a lavish summer home located in the hills of Jarabacoa from Education Minister Alejandrina German. After releasing the story of the vacation home that contrasted with the poor conditions at the public school in the same community, German said she would sell the home to Piera. Piera says the purchase didn't take place, not because of a lack of money, but because the land the house is built on is the subject of litigation. Piera said that herplan for the home was to either build a children's home or to give it away, but that she decided not to buy it on advice from friends.

Emboldening mine. Nice one Nuria!

Actually, what Nuria has basically said (without blatantly saying it) is that when Alejandrina offered her house for sale to Nuria, it was not a publicity stunt as many people alleged, but it was REAL!

Alejandrina had offered the home at its current market value to show that the home did not had or have the value that Nuria claimed.

The fact that Alejandrina kept her word when she publicly offered her vacation home to Nuria is evidence that she was not bluffing as many were claiming. If Alejandrina was not bluffing, the it must be because she has nothing to hide and/or did nothing wrong or immoral.

Had Alejandrina retracted from her original offer, I'm sure Nuria, being a journalist and all, would had made it more than clear that Alejandrina later "changed her mind" about the offer. Alas, that didn't happen and the show must go on somehow, with the politician being the villain in this drama. That is something that can be achieved given the suspicion many people have of every politician, regardless if they are good or bad politicians.

Nuria has made that obvious in her latest statement regarding this issue.

-NALs

[Chirimoya]

NALs, do you seriously believe that the house is worth just RD$5 or 6 million?

[bob saunders]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

NALs, do you seriously believe that the house is worth just RD$5 or 6 million?

Do you have a link that shows a picture of the house?

[catcherintherye]

NALs, I do not disagree with the points you made in your response to me. I also believe there are many honest and well-meaning people within the current administration. However, if you read comments closely, you will see that I was simply saying that there are many (a few, some, several, whatever) people within the administration whose agenda might be different than than the stated goals of Leonel and his party. It is no secret that a few well-positioned administrators can pretty much control the speed, form and substance in the implimentation of any policy. Sometimes those administrative posts carry over from one administration to the next. Again, I am not arguing for or against the basic intent of any political party. It's just in the real world there is always compromise and subterfuge, so one has to look at what is actually being accomplish, not what a president might want, or not want, to be accomplished. And on that point, I do not know enough to suggest one thing or another.

[Chirimoya]

Originally Posted by bob saunders

Do you have a link that shows a picture of the house?

See here: Espejo Público: La casita de Alejandrina Germán en Jarabacoa

See also the YouTube video of Nuria's report:
www.dr1.com/blogs/entry.php?u=Chiri&e_id=3826

Just getting the building materials up to the site will cost a huge amount, let alone the cost of landscaping and actual building at such a remote and inaccessible location. Then there's the access road and electricity lines that had to be installed especially. RD$6 million, my posterior.

[A.Hidalgo]

Has Nuria or any other journalist said anything about the subject of litigation with the house. What are the particulars or is there some kind of court gag.

[A.Hidalgo]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

See here: Espejo Público: La casita de Alejandrina Germán en Jarabacoa

See also the YouTube video of Nuria's report:
www.dr1.com/blogs/entry.php?u=Chiri&e_id=3826

Just getting the building materials up to the site will cost a huge amount, let alone the cost of landscaping and actual building at such a remote and inaccessible location. Then there's the access road and electricity lines that had to be installed especially. RD$6 million, my posterior.

Hot doggie. I'm no architect but looking at those pictures that's no RD$6 million dollar property.

[Chip]

Based on what I know homes go for in Jarabacoa, this house is probably worth close to US1.5M, if not more.