Abandono en Las Terrenas

ridiela · #1 05-26-2008, 10:31 AM

Has anybody read this from listin?
La RepÃºblica - El abandono de Las Terrenas contradice su oferta turÃ*stica (spanish)

Most of it is completely true, but I think that this síndico has really done something (not much, but more than nothing) and I think we have to give him a little more time.

How do you think that we, residents and tourists, can do anything to improve this situation?

Jose.

Squat · #2 05-26-2008, 11:17 AM

There is now a big polemic on various forums about Las Terrenas... I guess that if I post the links my post will be deleted, but enough to say that I am referring to the 2 main French forums and another English-speaking board...

Basically, José Alexis, the sindico, helped by Anderson, the Medio-Ambiente representative, have been pressuring TerraFM to shut down the morning talk-show "Lo que pasa en Las Terrenas". They were not happy to listen to the hard facts every morning of the week. It is closed now.

Many people have been reacting to this, as well as to an editorial in yet another french website about Las Terrenas, where the sindico José Alexis basically insulted the gringo community about the trash issue...

PM me if you want the links...

Chip · #3 05-26-2008, 12:01 PM

Squat

What options do the local expat community have to make a change? Do they have a junta de vecinos? Could they create a group and let the sindico know that they will be advising their countrymen of the situation on foreign controlled forums which will adversly affect the investment in the region not to mention give him bad publicity?

Squat · #4 05-26-2008, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chip

What options do the local expat community have to make a change? Do they have a junta de vecinos? Could they create a group and let the sindico know that they will be advising their countrymen of the situation on foreign controlled forums which will adversly affect the investment in the region not to mention give him bad publicity?

Hard to say... Gringos are the ones "making" Las Terrenas, however we can't vote, we can't be elected... So politicians don't give a damn about us...

Locals in the opposition want locals in the majority to go out, and fire their botellas, so they can put their own botellas, and get their piece of the pie...

I don't know... I feel we are reaching a bottleneck...

RonS · #5 05-26-2008, 03:39 PM

Is it the expat community in Las Terranas, or is it the tourist community who travel to Las Terranas, who actually may have some influence? If it is the latter, how can that community be educated to the seriousness of the problem, and what can be done to leverage that influence to effect positive change?

Squat · #6 05-26-2008, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonS

Is it the expat community in Las Terranas, or is it the tourist community who travel to Las Terranas, who actually may have some influence?

As far as I know, none of the above... We don't vote, we don't get to say a word on how the government money is spent... So they don't give a sheeeet... People in the Ayuntamiento seem to be quite content to use whatever funds they receive from the government for their personal use... According to what I have been reading, some of them are "getting rich"... All that with the funds that came to fix things...

I know this is nothing unusual in this country...

RonS · #7 05-26-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squat

As far as I know, none of the above... We don't vote, we don't get to say a word on how the government money is spent... So they don't give a sheeeet... People in the Ayuntamiento seem to be quite content to use whatever funds they receive from the government for their personal use... According to what I have been reading, some of them are "getting rich"... All that with the funds that came to fix things...

I know this is nothing unusual in this country...

That is very true! However, LT and Samana Peninsula in general, are areas that should be considered prime tourist destinations and, as such, you would think that government officials would be more sensitive to these issues. They are killing a cash cow! I just don't get it!

rubio_higuey · #8 05-26-2008, 04:15 PM

Call "Gobierno de la manana" and "Gobierno de la tarde" on Z101 FM

They are not afraid of the government and don't shut up when threatened.

Chip · #9 05-27-2008, 09:36 AM

I think it would be helpful if one were to have a friend in another country create a free blog in English and Spanish where pictures could be posted, also with names and pictures and phone numbers of the sindico involved.

It should also say things like don't come to Las Terrenas because of such and such. Then send the link to the politician and explain to him that this blog will be sent to all travel agents in Europe, Canada and the US.

Believe me, these people will notice for sure.

Keith R · #10 05-27-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squat

Many people have been reacting to this, as well as to an editorial in yet another french website about Las Terrenas, where the sindico José Alexis basically insulted the gringo community about the trash issue...

Squat, I'm curious. What is the essence of the dispute between the sindico and the "gringo community" regarding trash?