Santo Domingo.- The Government conducts the ground studies to determine the areas of conflict with property owners, the optic fiber grid and the sewage system, aimed at extending the Metro’s second line as far as San Isidro and not just San Luis, as initially stated.
Transport Reform Office (Opret) director Diandino Peña, after meeting with president Leonel Fernandez in the National Palace, revealed that the French businessman Joan Giacinti also took part, who’s interested in investing in the Metro.
"God willing the Metro’s second line will be a fact and more successful than the first. The Metro has surprised us in the last few months because the flow of passengers has increased to 100,000 daily," the official said.
He said the excavations in the avenues Padre Castellanos and V Centenario are for two stations and affirmed that the authorities will decide on the extension of the Metro’s second line next week.
The Opret had planned to take the second Metro line from Los Alcarrizos in the northwest to San Luis in the southeast, but then it announced it would be only until the downtown avenue Maximo Gomez.
Peña said after the elections he’ll meet with the media to offer more information, like on the extension, the budget and the Government’s participation in its construction. "We decided to extend the Metro until San Isidro by the demand of the community and the military who reside there. In addition the study we did on the demand resulted in favorable numbers."
From: United States, Yonkers, NY
Where are they getting the money from for this???
Written by: Atabey, 4 May 2010 9:29 AM
From: United States, NYC
"French businessman Joan Giacinti also took part, who’s interested in investing in the Metro."
"...after the elections he’ll meet with the media to offer more information, like on the extension, the budget and the Government’s participation in its construction."
"El Gobierno francés condecora al diplomático Joan Giacinti, Consejero Comercio Exterior
Entregó insignias de Caballero de la Orden Nacional del Mérito, al empresario presidente de Consejeros del Comercio Exterior de Francia en el país.
"...reconocer la larga trayectoria humana y profesional del destacado empresario francés radicado en Santo Domingo desde el año 1980. El representante del gobierno francés y del presidente Nicolás Sarkozy en el país, destacó que el condecorado empresario él contribuyó a fortalecer las relaciones económicas bilaterales, en particular, en el campo de la modernización de las grandes infraestructuras del país."
From: United States
platanos, dont worry about the money, we need this metro! only leonel fernandez can do this kind of projects.
From: Dominican Republic
This is excellent news. I would want any government which comes into power to continue this project because it is so needed in a city like Santo Domingo where transportation in general is chaotic, now imagine public transportation.......
Written by: brootto, 4 May 2010 12:23 PM
From: United States, South West Florida
one third of the money spend on the metro could educated haft of the country children all the way to college. I mean giving those kid the proper tools to be make.
Written by: ateo2010 
, 4 May 2010 1:13 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Owning Noobs
El_Platano
"Where are they getting the money from for this??"
Well, from our tax money, national and also foreign investors are evolved just not the government....
The project is going fast. The TBM just arrived like a week ago in port of Haina...
e' pa lente seguimos.
Written by: brootto, 4 May 2010 1:15 PM
From: United States, South West Florida
yeah palante ok wait and see. so fast that is going to miss it stop.
Written by: ateo2010 , 4 May 2010 1:16 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Owning Noobs
@brootto,
True. But the metro is a priority as well, just like education. Because another metro line is being built doesn't mean there's no more money for education. If we spent hundreds of million in ungrateful haitians why not in in our own damn education as well??
From: Dominican Republic, I dislike all politicians and their afiliated parties... "I simply say it AS IT IS!!"
jarabacoa, great comment...
brootto, the government is not fully responsible for education. Parents are responsible for creating solid kids. If one parents are good for nothing, what do you think the kids are going to be?
It does not only happen in DR, where kids turn to be deliquents, prostitues, drug addicts cause they had low life parents who did not know how to talk, educate, and imply moral values on their kids.
It all starts at place called HOME.....NOT GOVERNMENT
Written by: buenoha, 4 May 2010 1:35 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo
The Metro should go all the way to Invivienda in Santo Domingo Este. Than it will be a real cross city work! And a lot of people will start using it.
Written by: Escott, 4 May 2010 2:00 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera and Sosua a 2 days a month for payday
They robbed the money for the first Metro from Education. Second one will also milk education. That is why some of you don't get it because there was no money for your education either so you remain without a clue.
From: Dominican Republic, I dislike all politicians and their afiliated parties... "I simply say it AS IT IS!!"
Sure, Escott.
All super developed countries today, they use beat up cars to transport their ppl. They use canoes to travel from country to country. Oops!! They don't have metros, they put all their money in education.
Have you read lately what's going around the world and education?
Most of countries are cutting on their educational budgets?
A lot teachers are losing their jobs, so I don't understand
At least DR some programs are free or at very low cost. If parents don't care about their kids' education is not government problem or should we turn communist now?
Look at some super power countries, they have worst problems we do when it comes to education. Their school programs are so much easier and yet kids (girls/boys) are good for nothing. Smoking weed, having sex, skipping school and probably doind who knows what else?
See, it's not only DR, check some Europeans news and you'll be amazed. I'm not saying ours is perfect, neither the worst!!
Written by: xwill7, 4 May 2010 2:32 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
I hope they keep the metro as clean and secure as it is now. I hope they do not cut security budgets a few years later... Then it will really look like a NYC subway (with all of the garbage and tagging on the walls)
Josean is happy
From: Dominican Republic, NEVER FORGOTTEN, NEVER FORSAKEN!
Where's Joseann when you need him?
That guy Brootto sound like him, it brings back memory of the late Joseann Pie. LOL.
Written by: Veriozka, 4 May 2010 3:43 PM
From: Dominican Republic
I totally agree that education is super important and that more needs to be done in DR about education.
But I have to agree that an infrastructure that allows people to get around the city is extremely important as well.
And by the way, in all the years that I have lived in the US I have never heard of a free University, the UASD may not necessarily be Harvard but at least it is true public education. Not like here where state schools are ridiculously expensive.
From: United States, I dont even live inside a house , I haunt one!
josean is gone he said he cannot continue to be part of a hyprocrital site that allows censorship!!
Written by: ateo2010 , 4 May 2010 4:44 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Owning Noobs
Basta if it was for people like you, DR would be a columnist- drug lords aDDICT ghetto country that never does nothing. in other words we would still be riding horses to school and work... :b
Written by: xwill7, 4 May 2010 4:54 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
basta was going to ride the train but he was hi
From: Dominican Republic, I dislike all politicians and their afiliated parties... "I simply say it AS IT IS!!"
ateo2010...
BASTA still lives in a cave.
From: United States, Yonkers, NY
The Metro is the wrong project at the wrong time and for the wrong cost. Maybe 20 years from now it would be the right time. Fix the electricity problem, the roads, the schools, and make clean drinking water first, then worry about luxuries like a Metro.
Written by: jonbonz, 4 May 2010 10:53 PM
From: Dominican Republic, santo domingo
The first Metro did take money out of the education budget. It was reported here in DT. Also while I have no issue with mass transit I see the roads in the Capital and can tell you that if traffic laws were enforced, roads repaired and the street lights worked the issue of transportation would be greatly improved.
Does any one know what the DRs external debt is? Then another $750 Million in long term bonds.
I drove through Villa Mella today and the supports for the first Metro already are cracking, So how is the maintance going ? If they wanted some kind rail transit why not surface literail on the existing streets. Just put the rail down in one lane of the road and fine the H@@@ out of people that block the Train. Use a diesel electric engine. Now no need for depending on luz. Mandate that they run on biodiesel made on island and jump start the domestic production. The theory is removing traffic from the street should free up a lane of traffic.
From: St. Helena, saint helena island
parents are responsable of a education of a child.
if a family can only send one child to college,why they have many children.
think what kind of education youcan give to your children,not what the govermentcould give them.
Written by: jonbonz, 5 May 2010 1:38 AM
From: Dominican Republic, santo domingo
daswolfgang
Lets see. You work and save for the future The bank collapses or if the bank does not collaps you go fro 17 to one to 48 to one in a few months and your savings goes out the window. There for to get any benifit out of your hard earned money is use it now. Then the only thing you can count on to take care of you when you are old is your kids. So to increase your chances of one of them taking care of you you have as any as possible.
I had some one say you buy a silver wedding ring but other jewlery is gold. The reason is the wedding ring is something you keep but gold can be hocked.
I do not completely understand the mentality that the poor people I know have but I can see where it comes from. We have people that depend on oral history to guide the way. It is the same way the Appalachian people pass on the knowlege. Gardening, Hunting, and fishing are the mountain skills, Dominican skills are survive bank failures, corrupt cops, dictators, and IMF developement programs.
Written by: DomLon, 5 May 2010 8:15 AM
From: United Kingdom
Agree with jonbonz - comments. The priority in Santo Domingo should be managing traffic demand, better traffic management, better land use planning, encouraging walking and cycling etc. The emphasis should be on developing a dense integrated bus network rather than a few costly underground routes. Why weren't trams or segregated bus routes considered these would have been finished at a fraction of the cost of an underground system. According to the web the entire route of metro 2 is underground - is this really necessary?
Written by: Atabey, 5 May 2010 12:16 PM
From: United States, NYC
I"t does not only happen in DR, where kids turn to be deliquents, prostitues, drug addicts cause they had low life parents who did not know how to talk, educate, and imply moral values on their kids.
It all starts at place called HOME.....NOT GOVERNMENT"
Written by: JPDTrinity,
You make an excellent argument. Too many people want government to solve their deficiencies, instead of looking at their own inefficient and unproductive lifestyles. They want to push unto government the responsibility to educate their children, feed their families, etc. And to be honest, that is not a constructive model to base any worthwhile society. It is high time that Dominicans in general take up the difficult and time-consuming tasks that create vibrant and productive societies: strong work-ethic combined with strong family cohesion to education, health and respect for intellectual advancement. South Korea was as poor as DR in the 1950s. Today it's an advance nation with educational
Written by: jonbonz, 5 May 2010 12:23 PM
From: Dominican Republic, santo domingo
Lets take one example of what could be fixed. MegaCentro. There are dedicated drop off and pick up areas in front of the Mall. But they are not used. The drop off and pick up is sometimes three lanes deep. Now post two Amets there and and wrecker to confiscate cars violating the law with video camera recording so not one can argue what happend then we would have that one mess cleared up. I will donate my time to video everything for AMET free of charge.
I am sure that we could in this forum come up with about 25 choke points in traffic in the city that enforcement of the laws at those key areas alone with alleviate a good portion of the problem.
With in Villa Faro I know af about five and one is within 50 yards of a police station.
Written by: Atabey, 5 May 2010 12:47 PM
From: United States, NYC
achievements more advanced, in the younger generations, than even the US! Its industrial and national infrastructure have advanced to world standards based on incredible motivation and even serious Corruption Scandals.
From: Dominican Republic
Listen I agree that we have a long way to go here in DR with regards to Education, Health Care, Social Security etc but with all honesty none of the countries of todays developed world waited to have all of this resolved prior to building their subway lines. In NYC when the train was being built there were poor people living in slums, with no running water, or electricity starving and no jobs. Transportation is needed in all social aspects of life for a society to improve and progress. Let's stop complaining and work with what we have to improve it, and at the same time invest in new modern infrastructure that 20 years down the road will be a powerful element of our country's economy.
Written by: Veriozka, 5 May 2010 3:07 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Oje, beautifully, put I could not agree with you more.
Written by: jonbonz, 5 May 2010 3:53 PM
From: Dominican Republic, santo domingo
The issue for me has not been whether some for of mass transit was needed. Only the cost to get there. A series of surface routes on existing right of ways would have cost a fraction of the cost. Would have been able to get more coverage. The interest alone on the debt used to build this monstor will eat up any possible economic benifit.
Those routes could have been phazed in using the public busses that are in operation with phazed change over to lite rail. Repair and maintain the roads in existance now. Have the approved stops on the median and only approved stops would be allowed. One per block and not near the interesection but in the center of the block.
Do those things and traffic would be redeced. The population could get from point A to point B easier and the debt loadof the country woudl have been reduced. Now metro 2 is slated to come in and be just as expensive as the first metro.
From: Dominican Republic
That to me is small thinking and many thought the same exact way when NYC decided to build their today superb subway system. Again lets think large while at the same time improving what we already have. I do not have a problem with improving what we have but that does not mean we need to not continue to expand. The Metro was one of the most inexpensive metros ever built in the world. This was a worldwide accomplishment and we need to embrace it as such.
From: Dominican Republic
I know many might think oh but that money could have been invested in education and it could have been invested in healthcare but you know what, that was not the purpose of that investment. The government needs to have a purpose with healthcare and education and set a goal and invest in those areas without forgetting the transportation system as well. For example "La Ciudad de la salud" in Chales de Gaule Avenue is a great investment and will transform the healthcare system for the poor in that area. It will be top of the line healthcare accessible to the masses which is something never seen before in our country. These investments need to continue without forgetting the other needs which need to have incentives to continue to grow in all aspects of our economy as a whole.
Written by: jonbonz, 5 May 2010 4:37 PM
From: Dominican Republic, santo domingo
Most big problems are just a bunch of small problems needing a group of small solutions. What most peoples hostility toward the metro comes down to is how much money was spent without any kind of transparancy. We are still waiting for the court ordered disclosure of the the finances from the first metro. How much money was skimmed off and went to political friends.
I have lived here and watched the first one get built. I watched the misinformation about the metro, I have watched the cement companies use it as leverage, I have seen the sindicos strike over it and watch the impident government allow them to terroise the population.
It is small minds with gand visions and no understanding of how to achive them that built this.
Written by: jonbonz, 5 May 2010 4:37 PM
From: Dominican Republic, santo domingo
Most big problems are just a bunch of small problems needing a group of small solutions. What most peoples hostility toward the metro comes down to is how much money was spent without any kind of transparancy. We are still waiting for the court ordered disclosure of the the finances from the first metro. How much money was skimmed off and went to political friends.
I have lived here and watched the first one get built. I watched the misinformation about the metro, I have watched the cement companies use it as leverage, I have seen the sindicos strike over it and watch the impident government allow them to terroise the population. And to this day you still do not know how much the first one cost.
It is small minds with gand visions and no understanding of how to achive them that built this.
Written by: SALSOUL, 5 May 2010 5:42 PM
From: Dominican Republic, UNC-Chapel Hill
"The Metro is the wrong project at the wrong time and for the wrong cost. Maybe 20 years from now it would be the right time. Fix the electricity problem, the roads, the schools, and make clean drinking water first, then worry about luxuries like a Metro." [El_Platano]
Ditto!
Written by: Atabey, 5 May 2010 5:47 PM
From: United States, NYC
"Most big problems are just a bunch of small problems needing a group of small solutions."
Take health care. For the most part, most Dominicans would be infinitely better served if they and their families developed better nutritional habits. Less smoking, less drinking of alcohol, more fresh fruits and vegetables in their daily diets. Less frying of foods, and less multiple use of old cooking oil, etc. More attention to living a healthy lifestyle. More daily exercise and long walks. More pensive thinking and less loud entertainment. More sex BUT LESS unprotected sex, etc. The same for any person, be they American, European, Asian, African, etc.
From: Dominican Republic
jonbonz,
what you mention here about not knowing how much money was stolen is a corruption issue. It is something completely different which by all means must be addressed but what we are arguing here is the construction of the metro. Que roban, todito roban. Thats a whole different ball game and it is something that the whole Dominican society needs to attack and address. In this country you know what we need para acabar de salir del tercer mundismo? We need a whole different mentality! Aqui el que mas tiene va a boca marina y gasta 20 mil pesos y deja 500 pesos de propina si acaso, y eso es un abuso and it is another example of corruption to a lesser extent. When our society starts to change their ways of thinking and starts to open their horrizens and expand their mentality then you will the the whole country grow into a strong, fair and just nation. Until then we are stuck but we all need to do our part to get to where we want to be as a nation.
Written by: Atabey, 5 May 2010 7:32 PM
From: United States, NYC
And please keep in mind that serious corruption didn't prevent South Korea, China, Brazil and many other nations from advancing. While we would all ideally want the DR to advance with little or no corruption, the likelihood of that ever being a realistic proposition is extremely remote. Yes, by all means keep the authorities on edge, but don't lose sight of the BIGGER picture, as ojedamaggiolo80 and JPDTrinity suggest. We are likely to have a similar course of advancement as the nations mentioned above: Advancement with serious corruption. Not the ideal, but far from the worst outcome.
Written by: jonbonz, 5 May 2010 7:33 PM
From: Dominican Republic, santo domingo
How many Coups, disapeared partyies and unanswered questions happened in Brazil and South Korea to get where they are? In Brazil Desilva pretty much stopped all projects and paid down the debt before the went further and that is how he is able to do the populist programs now and get by with it without causing ripples. I also bet the coccuption levels while still are there are way lower today.
It is also how he tells everyone to but out when he told the EU and North Americans that is was blue eyed bankers that caused the crisis.
Written by: jonbonz, 5 May 2010 7:33 PM
From: Dominican Republic, santo domingo
I can not argue with the corruption is another issue point. However as long as that is a problem I would lobby against any big ticket project no matter how useful it would be in the end. The cost to benefit is just not there. Because corruption is a part of every transaction here it needs to be factored in to the equation. Now if I were to see an actual aggressive prosecution of corruption rather than lip service then I would be all for these public works projects.
History tells us the Hitler used public works project to create an artificially high GDP and to line the pockets of the Nazi faithful. Once the debts were to high to continue the projects is when the Blitzkrieg started.
BTW one of the Public Works projects that was built was the Autobahn. Can we really feel that the total cost of those projects to Germany and the rest of the world was really worth the benefit received?I realize that is an extreme case but yet a valid one.
Written by: Atabey, 6 May 2010 12:26 AM
From: United States, NYC
"I can not argue with the corruption is another issue point. However as long as that is a problem I would lobby against any big ticket project no matter how useful it would be in the end. The cost to benefit is just not there. Because corruption is a part of every transaction here it needs to be factored in to the equation."
If you take that position little if anything would ever be accomplished. Look, most people would like to have development without corruption, but the main problem is that we don't live in an ideal state. Never have, and never will. Just look at Greece. Here you have a country of 11 million people that owe more than 300 billion euros! And have a 30 billion euro current annual gap or deficit! Even good solid nations like Germany carry huge debt burdens. Debt is a fact of life. However, well managed debt should be the goal of all responsible nations. The DR needs to streamline its operations. Get out of the business of electricity, etc.
Written by: jonbonz, 6 May 2010 7:54 AM
From: Dominican Republic, santo domingo
But I submit that in Greece they are rioting in the streets over the measures needed to be able to get another loan just to float the debt.
The debts and corruption that is happening here will lead to a revolution. How much money was spent on Faro Colon? How much money was spent on the Barahona international Airport.
Now I am not a Dominican. I am married to a Dominicana and I live in the Capital. I look at things through a different set of glasses.
I see the minimum of things that would not cost money not being taken care of. I see any external debt with the IMF and world bank as a way to let what every occupant of the White House dictate Dominican policy. Notice every time that the DR goes with hat in hand to the IMF for a new loan there is standby agreement written up and signed. That is a quid pro quot, Selling a little more of the DRs sovereignty for a loan that the DR pays back, It is not even a grant that they are selling it for but a loan.
Written by: Veriozka, 6 May 2010 10:14 AM
From: Dominican Republic
I hear all this talk about changing the traffic patterns and making the surface roads better and changing the rights of way. Isn't that what they tried to do with the elevadoas and tunnels and that still did not relieve the traffic problems.
They tried to have a stricter enforcement of traffic rules, ei the AMETS, and that still doesn't fix the problem. Lets face it buddies, Dominicans drive like crap and that is not going to change for a very long time if ever. Talk about a waste of money, trying to solve the traffic problem by trying to change the mentality of the Dominican driver.
Can you imagine if the Cities of NYC and Chicago waited for corruption to be eliminated in order to start building their transportation infrastructure. We would still be traveling by horse and buggy.
From: Dominican Republic
jonbonz,
As atabey said if we take that attitude nothing would be accomplished and then there will be a real revolution and I would be the one to start it because then not only will there be corruption but nothing to benefit the masses. While we work on our corrupt state changes are being made to address certain important issues that the poor masses need. That corruption needs to be addressed? By all means yes it does. Does this mean that progress needs to pause absolutely not because as I said before then there will be a true revolution beginning with me lol.
From: Dominican Republic
By the way if you do not believe me all you have to do is search for the results of the last encuestas taken by a private entity. They show el PLD on top for 70% of the positions in the elections of May 16. Do you think this is because is not corrup? Absolutely not but because even though they are corrupt there is still progress being made while in the other political parties there was corruption, chaos, bankruptcy and no sign of progress what so ever. By the way I am not in favor of any political party but I am for those who benefit my family and my country and as far as I can remember Hipolito (which I thought was going to do something possitive) F...... up any possibilities of me ever voting for el PRD while I have life in me. Balaguer was an a.......... who murdered many students but atleast was better than Hipolitos government when it comes to economy. If you ask me for who I will vote? Until someone better shows up el PLD is on top.
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"...after the elections he’ll meet with the media to offer more information, like on the extension, the budget and the Government’s participation in its construction."
"El Gobierno francés condecora al diplomático Joan Giacinti, Consejero Comercio Exterior
Entregó insignias de Caballero de la Orden Nacional del Mérito, al empresario presidente de Consejeros del Comercio Exterior de Francia en el país.
"...reconocer la larga trayectoria humana y profesional del destacado empresario francés radicado en Santo Domingo desde el año 1980. El representante del gobierno francés y del presidente Nicolás Sarkozy en el país, destacó que el condecorado empresario él contribuyó a fortalecer las relaciones económicas bilaterales, en particular, en el campo de la modernización de las grandes infraestructuras del país."
"Where are they getting the money from for this??"
Well, from our tax money, national and also foreign investors are evolved just not the government....
The project is going fast. The TBM just arrived like a week ago in port of Haina...
e' pa lente seguimos.
True. But the metro is a priority as well, just like education. Because another metro line is being built doesn't mean there's no more money for education. If we spent hundreds of million in ungrateful haitians why not in in our own damn education as well??
brootto, the government is not fully responsible for education. Parents are responsible for creating solid kids. If one parents are good for nothing, what do you think the kids are going to be?
It does not only happen in DR, where kids turn to be deliquents, prostitues, drug addicts cause they had low life parents who did not know how to talk, educate, and imply moral values on their kids.
It all starts at place called HOME.....NOT GOVERNMENT
All super developed countries today, they use beat up cars to transport their ppl. They use canoes to travel from country to country. Oops!! They don't have metros, they put all their money in education.
Have you read lately what's going around the world and education?
Most of countries are cutting on their educational budgets?
A lot teachers are losing their jobs, so I don't understand
At least DR some programs are free or at very low cost. If parents don't care about their kids' education is not government problem or should we turn communist now?
Look at some super power countries, they have worst problems we do when it comes to education. Their school programs are so much easier and yet kids (girls/boys) are good for nothing. Smoking weed, having sex, skipping school and probably doind who knows what else?
See, it's not only DR, check some Europeans news and you'll be amazed. I'm not saying ours is perfect, neither the worst!!
Josean is happy
That guy Brootto sound like him, it brings back memory of the late Joseann Pie. LOL.
But I have to agree that an infrastructure that allows people to get around the city is extremely important as well.
And by the way, in all the years that I have lived in the US I have never heard of a free University, the UASD may not necessarily be Harvard but at least it is true public education. Not like here where state schools are ridiculously expensive.
BASTA still lives in a cave.
Does any one know what the DRs external debt is? Then another $750 Million in long term bonds.
I drove through Villa Mella today and the supports for the first Metro already are cracking, So how is the maintance going ? If they wanted some kind rail transit why not surface literail on the existing streets. Just put the rail down in one lane of the road and fine the H@@@ out of people that block the Train. Use a diesel electric engine. Now no need for depending on luz. Mandate that they run on biodiesel made on island and jump start the domestic production. The theory is removing traffic from the street should free up a lane of traffic.
if a family can only send one child to college,why they have many children.
think what kind of education youcan give to your children,not what the govermentcould give them.
Lets see. You work and save for the future The bank collapses or if the bank does not collaps you go fro 17 to one to 48 to one in a few months and your savings goes out the window. There for to get any benifit out of your hard earned money is use it now. Then the only thing you can count on to take care of you when you are old is your kids. So to increase your chances of one of them taking care of you you have as any as possible.
I had some one say you buy a silver wedding ring but other jewlery is gold. The reason is the wedding ring is something you keep but gold can be hocked.
I do not completely understand the mentality that the poor people I know have but I can see where it comes from. We have people that depend on oral history to guide the way. It is the same way the Appalachian people pass on the knowlege. Gardening, Hunting, and fishing are the mountain skills, Dominican skills are survive bank failures, corrupt cops, dictators, and IMF developement programs.
It all starts at place called HOME.....NOT GOVERNMENT"
Written by: JPDTrinity,
You make an excellent argument. Too many people want government to solve their deficiencies, instead of looking at their own inefficient and unproductive lifestyles. They want to push unto government the responsibility to educate their children, feed their families, etc. And to be honest, that is not a constructive model to base any worthwhile society. It is high time that Dominicans in general take up the difficult and time-consuming tasks that create vibrant and productive societies: strong work-ethic combined with strong family cohesion to education, health and respect for intellectual advancement. South Korea was as poor as DR in the 1950s. Today it's an advance nation with educational
I am sure that we could in this forum come up with about 25 choke points in traffic in the city that enforcement of the laws at those key areas alone with alleviate a good portion of the problem.
With in Villa Faro I know af about five and one is within 50 yards of a police station.
Those routes could have been phazed in using the public busses that are in operation with phazed change over to lite rail. Repair and maintain the roads in existance now. Have the approved stops on the median and only approved stops would be allowed. One per block and not near the interesection but in the center of the block.
Do those things and traffic would be redeced. The population could get from point A to point B easier and the debt loadof the country woudl have been reduced. Now metro 2 is slated to come in and be just as expensive as the first metro.
I have lived here and watched the first one get built. I watched the misinformation about the metro, I have watched the cement companies use it as leverage, I have seen the sindicos strike over it and watch the impident government allow them to terroise the population.
It is small minds with gand visions and no understanding of how to achive them that built this.
I have lived here and watched the first one get built. I watched the misinformation about the metro, I have watched the cement companies use it as leverage, I have seen the sindicos strike over it and watch the impident government allow them to terroise the population. And to this day you still do not know how much the first one cost.
It is small minds with gand visions and no understanding of how to achive them that built this.
Ditto!
Take health care. For the most part, most Dominicans would be infinitely better served if they and their families developed better nutritional habits. Less smoking, less drinking of alcohol, more fresh fruits and vegetables in their daily diets. Less frying of foods, and less multiple use of old cooking oil, etc. More attention to living a healthy lifestyle. More daily exercise and long walks. More pensive thinking and less loud entertainment. More sex BUT LESS unprotected sex, etc. The same for any person, be they American, European, Asian, African, etc.
what you mention here about not knowing how much money was stolen is a corruption issue. It is something completely different which by all means must be addressed but what we are arguing here is the construction of the metro. Que roban, todito roban. Thats a whole different ball game and it is something that the whole Dominican society needs to attack and address. In this country you know what we need para acabar de salir del tercer mundismo? We need a whole different mentality! Aqui el que mas tiene va a boca marina y gasta 20 mil pesos y deja 500 pesos de propina si acaso, y eso es un abuso and it is another example of corruption to a lesser extent. When our society starts to change their ways of thinking and starts to open their horrizens and expand their mentality then you will the the whole country grow into a strong, fair and just nation. Until then we are stuck but we all need to do our part to get to where we want to be as a nation.
It is also how he tells everyone to but out when he told the EU and North Americans that is was blue eyed bankers that caused the crisis.
History tells us the Hitler used public works project to create an artificially high GDP and to line the pockets of the Nazi faithful. Once the debts were to high to continue the projects is when the Blitzkrieg started.
BTW one of the Public Works projects that was built was the Autobahn. Can we really feel that the total cost of those projects to Germany and the rest of the world was really worth the benefit received?I realize that is an extreme case but yet a valid one.
If you take that position little if anything would ever be accomplished. Look, most people would like to have development without corruption, but the main problem is that we don't live in an ideal state. Never have, and never will. Just look at Greece. Here you have a country of 11 million people that owe more than 300 billion euros! And have a 30 billion euro current annual gap or deficit! Even good solid nations like Germany carry huge debt burdens. Debt is a fact of life. However, well managed debt should be the goal of all responsible nations. The DR needs to streamline its operations. Get out of the business of electricity, etc.
The debts and corruption that is happening here will lead to a revolution. How much money was spent on Faro Colon? How much money was spent on the Barahona international Airport.
Now I am not a Dominican. I am married to a Dominicana and I live in the Capital. I look at things through a different set of glasses.
I see the minimum of things that would not cost money not being taken care of. I see any external debt with the IMF and world bank as a way to let what every occupant of the White House dictate Dominican policy. Notice every time that the DR goes with hat in hand to the IMF for a new loan there is standby agreement written up and signed. That is a quid pro quot, Selling a little more of the DRs sovereignty for a loan that the DR pays back, It is not even a grant that they are selling it for but a loan.
They tried to have a stricter enforcement of traffic rules, ei the AMETS, and that still doesn't fix the problem. Lets face it buddies, Dominicans drive like crap and that is not going to change for a very long time if ever. Talk about a waste of money, trying to solve the traffic problem by trying to change the mentality of the Dominican driver.
Can you imagine if the Cities of NYC and Chicago waited for corruption to be eliminated in order to start building their transportation infrastructure. We would still be traveling by horse and buggy.
As atabey said if we take that attitude nothing would be accomplished and then there will be a real revolution and I would be the one to start it because then not only will there be corruption but nothing to benefit the masses. While we work on our corrupt state changes are being made to address certain important issues that the poor masses need. That corruption needs to be addressed? By all means yes it does. Does this mean that progress needs to pause absolutely not because as I said before then there will be a true revolution beginning with me lol.