SANTO DOMINGO. - The head of Dominican Republic’s truckers grouped in Fenatrado –one of the unions local media call the country’s “owners” for their extortion tactics similar to the Teamsters during the Jimmy Hoffa reign- Thursday morning announced a strike by its drivers on August 10.
Fenatrado president Blas Peralta said the 24 hour walkout is to halt the Government’s planned tax increase on fuels, which in his view is to force the people to pay for its deficit he affirms surpasses RD$50 billion.
He said Fenatrado’s strikeis in esponse to the Government’s decision to raise taxes on fuels, a measure he views as having a negative effect on the population’s standard of living.
Peralta asked the Government to discard the effort to amend the Hydrocarbons Law because it would lead to increases on all staples.
From: Dominican Republic, Barbacoa Samana in the Hills
These thugs and goons days are numbered ...........a modern society cannot tolerate this
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
What happened to Hoffa should also happen t them.
No way to get rid of them otherwise.
Written by: juanb, 29 Jul 2010 12:09 PM
From: Dominican Republic
There is no will, on the government's part to do anything about the control that these "owners" exert over our lives. There is no will on the government's part to do anything.
From: United States
this ugly animal should be put to rest , they conduct themselves with violence and terror . they dont deserve no new contracs, no nothing just a jail cell.
From: United States
Whoa now everyone. I do not agree with the past tactics of this group however lets look at what this is all about.
The truckers know that the government is operating on a huge deficit because of Leonels borrow-borrow till it runs out attitude.
The Truck owners are protesting what the rest of the DR hasen't figured out yet, and that is that Leonel cannot continue on this borrowing and spending track just so a few of his cronies get rich, then turn around when he can't borrow anymore tax the daylights out of everyone.
Fuel will be indexed, aduana hungry for cash come on DR wake up and perhaps join the truckers strike, this may be the only way to get things done.
Written by: xwill7, 29 Jul 2010 12:49 PM
From: United States, Chicago
The tourists will love to see this
Written by: Atabey, 29 Jul 2010 1:26 PM
From: United States
Jimmy,
I don't see how you can advocate in favor of a Union that extorts and makes it very difficult to rid the nation of an anti-modernist group of truckers. Why do you defend these characters? Don't you see that they represent part of the problem, the corrupt past and present impediment to modernization? And Leonel's program is having modernizing tendencies in the DR; not as fast and substantial in education and other sectors but movement is positive in exports and transportation modernization.
From: United States
atabey,
I think you may misunderstand my motive for my post.
I in no way support the truck owners union, I want to be clear on that.
What I was trying to say Leonels spending spree on borrowed money must come to an end.
You can see increases everywhere already. The price of fuel in the DR is much higher than the US because of its taxation. Leonel now has to pay back the caribe petro loans and he has to start getting cash money from somewhere.
Unfortunately the truck owners union was not a good place for tax increases because of their hostile temeraments,
From: Dominican Republic, Boca de Chavon
Jim the borrowings are only 40% of GDP and with the economy expanding , more taxes coming in and with an ability to repay and with glowing comments from the World Bank , the IMF and other lenders , there is absolutely no evidence of anything more than infrastructure being financed by several generations instead of just ours . The benefits of the borrowing can be seen everywhere ..in roads and bridges in school extensions ..Yes I am sure not every dollar is spent wisely or honestly but what you are suggesting is out of the question ,,,to align oneself with a group of murderous thugs ..no way :
Written by: Atabey, 29 Jul 2010 1:59 PM
From: United States
Jim,
I now understand your point better. However, this Union needs to be checked, and perhaps this is the time to engage them. I don't know if this is the most prudent time, but at some point the National government has to take them on, and assert their supremacy over this crucial sector. These mafias have developed over the last decades in many different sectors of the nation and even state and serve to keep the DR in its awful state of corruption. This needs to change. By the way Jim read the paper below for a better understanding about why the DR is in its current state of affairs.
http://www.yale.edu/ccr/workshop/schrank.docFrom: Dominican Republic, 1st SANTIAGO OF THE AMERICAS
Jim, AKA Josean:
I don't like LF, but if the case is to get get the money to pay for petrocaribe, let's get it from these LADRONES, these guys are scumbags, especially that nigga in the picture, and the other one that looks like Bin Laden.
From: Dominican Republic, Boca de Chavon
It is incredible that a democratically elected government should be threatened by a small number of union thugs on a matter they probably have no understanding of ,This union behavior is reminiscent of union thuggery in UK during Thatcher, in Marseilles 20 years ago and in the USA ,It simply has to be dealt with in the only way these people will understand ,,With total force . And this is one matter that Leonel has to stand up against and act as a leader .
Written by: cbelk99, 30 Jul 2010 12:21 AM
From: United States
Blas Peralta ,You Are an UGLY Ayitian. Please Go HOME>
Written by: Escott, 30 Jul 2010 3:05 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera and Sosua a 2 days a month for payday
First time I have agreed with any sort of Union in my llfe. First time they have done anything constructive.
We pay for our gas at the pumps. They pay on credit and steal the monies we had already paid.
Written by: Atabey, 30 Jul 2010 8:37 PM
From: United States
"Written by: JimHarrington, 29 Jul 2010 1:45 PM
From: United States
atabey,
I think you may misunderstand my motive for my post.
I in no way support the truck owners union, I want to be clear on that.
What I was trying to say Leonels spending spree on borrowed money must come to an end."
Jim,
I think you have it somewhat wrong here: Leonel spending is not likely to decrease IF he is able to manage things to Uncle Sam's liking. What these interests consist of are:
1. Haiti. Maintain a cordial and respectful stance towards Haiti and facilitate accommodations for the time being, regarding migration, illegal workers, etc.
2. DR. Sustain macro-economic stability and work with the international community to sustain economic/fiscal discipline.
3. Regional regimes. Leonel facilitates and helps to ameliorate regional crisis; so he goes to Cuba and helps out there, when the Colombia and Venezuela situation boils over, there's Leonel on his plane with messages and talks.
Smaller
Bigger
Close Gallery
Facebook
Digg this
del.icio.us
Technorati
Yahoo
No way to get rid of them otherwise.
The truckers know that the government is operating on a huge deficit because of Leonels borrow-borrow till it runs out attitude.
The Truck owners are protesting what the rest of the DR hasen't figured out yet, and that is that Leonel cannot continue on this borrowing and spending track just so a few of his cronies get rich, then turn around when he can't borrow anymore tax the daylights out of everyone.
Fuel will be indexed, aduana hungry for cash come on DR wake up and perhaps join the truckers strike, this may be the only way to get things done.
I don't see how you can advocate in favor of a Union that extorts and makes it very difficult to rid the nation of an anti-modernist group of truckers. Why do you defend these characters? Don't you see that they represent part of the problem, the corrupt past and present impediment to modernization? And Leonel's program is having modernizing tendencies in the DR; not as fast and substantial in education and other sectors but movement is positive in exports and transportation modernization.
I think you may misunderstand my motive for my post.
I in no way support the truck owners union, I want to be clear on that.
What I was trying to say Leonels spending spree on borrowed money must come to an end.
You can see increases everywhere already. The price of fuel in the DR is much higher than the US because of its taxation. Leonel now has to pay back the caribe petro loans and he has to start getting cash money from somewhere.
Unfortunately the truck owners union was not a good place for tax increases because of their hostile temeraments,
I now understand your point better. However, this Union needs to be checked, and perhaps this is the time to engage them. I don't know if this is the most prudent time, but at some point the National government has to take them on, and assert their supremacy over this crucial sector. These mafias have developed over the last decades in many different sectors of the nation and even state and serve to keep the DR in its awful state of corruption. This needs to change. By the way Jim read the paper below for a better understanding about why the DR is in its current state of affairs.
http://www.yale.edu/ccr/workshop/schrank.doc
I don't like LF, but if the case is to get get the money to pay for petrocaribe, let's get it from these LADRONES, these guys are scumbags, especially that nigga in the picture, and the other one that looks like Bin Laden.
We pay for our gas at the pumps. They pay on credit and steal the monies we had already paid.
From: United States
atabey,
I think you may misunderstand my motive for my post.
I in no way support the truck owners union, I want to be clear on that.
What I was trying to say Leonels spending spree on borrowed money must come to an end."
Jim,
I think you have it somewhat wrong here: Leonel spending is not likely to decrease IF he is able to manage things to Uncle Sam's liking. What these interests consist of are:
1. Haiti. Maintain a cordial and respectful stance towards Haiti and facilitate accommodations for the time being, regarding migration, illegal workers, etc.
2. DR. Sustain macro-economic stability and work with the international community to sustain economic/fiscal discipline.
3. Regional regimes. Leonel facilitates and helps to ameliorate regional crisis; so he goes to Cuba and helps out there, when the Colombia and Venezuela situation boils over, there's Leonel on his plane with messages and talks.