Juan Dolio - South Beach of the Caribbean !!!

[DrChrisHE]

Originally Posted by BushBaby

So I take it from THIS post (& that of ChrisHE) that Juan Dolio is not the 'South Beach of the Caribbean'??

I fully understand that the local populace of the Haitians & Dominicans might not have much say in where they live due to financial constraints but I do worry about the mindset of the 'Europeans & North Americans' who stay in places they do not have to. This may prove difficult for those who have purchased property there - but those who are renting??????? If you have even a little knowledge on medical things wouldn't you get out of there & look for a cleaner area?

Why put one's family at risk when you recognise the dangers to their health?

I am lucky I suppose - we have been here in Puerto Plata a number of years & have NOT had respiratory problems. We have NOT (even after all these years in a new environment) been smitten with 'New Allergies'. Maybe it is because we left the cold & miserable weather of England where by now we would probably have been in our graves after a heavy bout of pneumonia or something? Hey, even the NHS is killing people off with malpractice these days!!

Long live the Republica Dominicana with it's (occasional) sugar cane fires, huelga fires & motoconcho fumes in the street. 15 minutes after the things are out or have passed we are back to MUCH cleaner air than most parts of the UK!! ~ Grahame.

Grahame--We are here because of two reasons: 1-my dh is employed by a US-based company in the SPM zona franca; and 2-we wanted our three kids to be both bilingual and culturally aware of how people in developing countries live. That said, we rent in the even of rapid removal of income source (job lay-off or better op elsewhere). WHY in JD? Because compared to the alternatives around SPM, Juan Dolio IS less infested with the various problems but it is a far cry from the N. Coast in terms of livability (sorry Steve G but that's my opinion and arguing with an opinion is useless). We've known people to get fed up paying the Juan Dolio premium and move into the city of SPM, but then have even worse allergy, asthma and headache problems. I suppose La Romana is a better option in some ways but now that we've been in JD for almost 2 years we've built relationships with people so there's a comfort level. If we were to move soon, I think it would be OUT of the DR.

I utilize my skill to try and make a difference to the local population, but that doesn't mean I'm not upset at just having my SECOND case of Dengue Fever or that my kids' asthma has been the worst in many years. Wherever we have lived we try to improve the area we are living. Our children have grown up with parents who are activists and are doing likewise. The idea that one can give back to a community as well as take, is a strong tenet in our Unitarian Universalist background. Our family tries to enjoy the best parts of the DR (from what we see, given that dh's job is in SPM that means living in JD) and make or assist positive change for the negative.
paz y salud,
DrChrisHE

[BushBaby]

I HEAR your comments ChrisHE & can understand your frustrations with the dangers to health down there - as you say, we are perhaps more fortunate in the north to have more areas to move to whilst still being able to get to the workplace (for those who need/want to work!).

However, there is absolutely NO WAY I would endanger the health of MY family by remaining in a place that gave them allergies, respiratory problems & nasty lingering odors at night!! Work has always been secondary to my family's health .

Have you considered moving to a cleaner area where there are less health risks, where you are STILL able to give back to the community & Dh commuting Monday to Friday to the JD area? A bit hard on the family circle until the job situation is resolved I agree (used to do that in England so know of the strains it can put on the travelling man!!) but a darn sight better than putting the family's health at risk. I am sure that as a Health Administrator you would agree with this? ~ Grahame.

[MommC]

Since ChrisHE DH works in SPM, they have moved to the area that is the lesser of the evils.
SPM is worse as is La Romana (yes-free zone,traffic,garbage burning, and cane burning) and BC is almost as bad for all those things that make asthma and allergies flare up.

The joys of living on the 'industrialized' side of the island with all the added bonuses of the 'normal' way of life in the DR (i.e. burning garbage containing plastic). I dare say there is also more power generation and use of smaller generators this side also which doesn't help.

However the main culprit that has made the situation intolerable even for those who don't suffer from allergies or resiratory problems is the amount of dust kicked up by the construction.

I sit here looking out my balconey window at what should be a glorious view of the beach and sea and lo and behold - there is a 2 story mound of beach sand from the excavations for footings for Aquabella, which blows all the way across the street and into my balconey on windy days like today.

If I want to sit here comfortably I have to close all my windows and turn on all the fans and even then the dust has me coughing my head off within a couple of hours.

It wouldn't be so problematic if there was an end in sight however, that pile has been there for over 2 years and will probably still be there when I get back in Oct/Nov. after having been home for the summer.

At least I have the option of going home, for many people in the area (mainly Dominican) this IS their home!

[STEVE G.]

This is what people would call '' to be in the wrong place at the wrong time '' ...

Originally Posted by DrChrisHE

... If we were to move soon, I think it would be OUT of the DR...

... Basically knowing all parts of DR and not only South Coast I would suggest the total departure from DR in this case . If the one's family is not happy with their lives in one of the most prestigious gated community in the South Coast : Metro Country Club , the only place would be left is Casa De Campo ... And you are right MommC I don't see them happily living in San Pedro , Boca Chica or La Romana ether Santo Domingo . But trust me the same would happen if they lived in Puerto Plata , Sosua or Cabarete ... (sorry ChrisHE but that's now my opinion and arguing with an opinion is useless ether ) ...

[MommC]

Originally Posted by STEVE G.

This is what people would call '' to be in the wrong place at the wrong time '' ... ... (sorry ChrisHE but that's now my opinion and arguing with an opinion is useless ether ) ...

We bought in JD at the right time (back when it was a simple little town) and now have to live through the 'modernization'- 'expansion' from town to upscale urban city.

Won't I be glad when it's over (if I live that long ,that is!!)

[STEVE G.]

Originally Posted by mikey007

failed to mention allthe marinas in punta cana while they are still working on it in jd heard several years ago that there would be one still waiting for a slip ...

There was ( for many years ) one Marina in Juan Dolio : the marina of Metro Hotel & Marina and several years ago it was converted to Club Hemingway's restaurant ... and now there are 3 projects in the area ( not under construction yet ) that will have own marinas ... for now they are just in plans ... So if you need one now : the closest are in Boca Chica and La Romana

[DrChrisHE]

Originally Posted by STEVE G.

This is what people would call '' to be in the wrong place at the wrong time '' ... ... Basically knowing all parts of DR and not only South Coast I would suggest the total departure from DR in this case . If the one's family is not happy with their lives in one of the most prestigious gated community in the South Coast : Metro Country Club , the only place would be left is Casa De Campo ... And you are right MommC I don't see them happily living in San Pedro , Boca Chica or La Romana ether Santo Domingo . But trust me the same would happen if they lived in Puerto Plata , Sosua or Cabarete ... (sorry ChrisHE but that's now my opinion and arguing with an opinion is useless ether ) ...

This isn't a question of being happy (although currently I am exhausted as I'm coming off my SECOND diagnosed Dengue Fever episode and have been caring for our 9 year old who now has a 104 deg F fever with his first case of Dengue Fever--both of which were probably caught right here IN METRO).

As someone who really enjoys outdoor activities including surfing, swimming, tennis, biking, running, and general exploring, the DR COULD be a wonderland of these opportunities. Indeed we have had many fun experiences. When the activity ends and one has to LIVE and sleep with these things (the noise, soot from both trash burning and the canefield burning, toxic fumes, never ending dust due to construction), that is when one must question whether these are necessary evils of the island. IMNSHO, the are NOT necessary but rather a byproduct of those who choose to do things as cheaply as possible with the maximum profits.

The community that lives in JD and commutes to SPM for work and school pays a significantly higher price in rent in order to MINIMIZE (that is a relative term) their exposure to the negatives on this side of the island. No, I'm not happy about this particular aspect of our lives here but it isn't only our lives that are impacted. We have 5 acres of forested pristine land in the US with a paid off house, but right now we are here for the reasons stated above. I think it is dishonest of the developers to promote JD as being problem free and idyllic. It is NOT and especially if people are to live here full time and soon (as in they will definitely be affected by the lack of infrastructure.) Is it a nice place to get away from zero degrees in the middle of winter for two weeks...SURE it is great. From my perspective there is most definitely a trade-off in terms of what our children are learning about the lives of those in school with them in SPM, the orphans, the families in the batays and just life in general, counter balanced against the negatives we've been discussing (and they are fewer in JD than in SPM city or some other areas but still substantial.)

I have lived many places in the US and world, and NEVER encountered a community in such denial about the basic hazards and negative health aspects of the environment. My educated friends here cope with this by using air purifiers and AC full time if they can afford it. Most of us are forced to keep our windows closed--certainly during the day when the construction dust is at it's worst...but then there's the noxious smells that take over. From the perspective of health, the information I provided was not necessarily from my family's own health problems but from the statistical info provided by the DR, by peer-reviewed studies and both PAHO & WHO.

And, for what it is worth...most of the people who know me--as in have met me and taken any amount of time to get to know me--consider me to be very happy individual ANYWHERE I am. It is my optimistic side that allows me to continue going into horrible situations where children have been deprived and abused, and assess how we can improve the situation.

Steve, you just don't want us talking about this because it ruins the "SoBe" image of JD. Most of these things are amenable to change. They are within YOUR power as a force in the development community. Unless these changes are institutionalized now, I don't see how as the population increases in both the Cap and JD, these problems won't just intensify rather than improving as you have suggested time will show. Adding more people and never ending development to this mix will NOT help unless the existing problems are dealt with promptly. And, I am sorry that you have the opinion that you do because what it says to me is that you are afraid of anyone challenging your rose-colored-glass view of JD. If you hide yourself away in new SUVs, A/C new construction and don't have to function with the average person (the ones who live with dirt floors and tin roofs) you are never going to see the problems here. Yes, we live in a nice development and we PAY a PREMIUM for it--so we expect that there will be clean air, no trash filled with stagnant water breeding Dengue-carrying mosquitos, and relative safety.

[mikey007]

did you see the big announcemrnt by the tourism minister of 4 more skyscrapers being planned for juan dolio where are any announcements and allocated funds for the required infrastructure talk about 0 planning

[STEVE G.]

Originally Posted by mikey007

did you see the big announcement by the tourism minister of 4 more skyscrapers being planned for juan dolio where are any announcements and allocated funds for the required infrastructure talk about 0 planning...

Announcement of four 30 floors towers in Juan Dolio is new , ... the infrastructure announcements were done within past few years many times already

[mikey007]

i just hope there is some associated responsibility with this rapid development looks like real estate prices could triple from where they are now due to the united states probably coming out of a recession in 2 or 3 years when most of these developments will be online and operating