Fernando Gonzalez Nicolas, center.
Santo Domingo.- 2011 was a significantly good year for Dominican Republic’s trade balance on burgeoning relations with the worldwide Commonwealth of Nations, whose countries have become the leading foreign investors.
For Fernando González Nicolas, president of the Round Table of Commonwealth Nations in the country, the assertion is evidenced by the Canadian miner Barrick Gold’s US$2.9 billion investment in its operation at Pueblo Viejo, Cotui (central), and consolidates by far those countries’ position as the leading investors.
He said during 2011 the Dominican private sector forged an alliance with the most influential entity which groups the major locally-established companies from Commonwealth countries, by joining forces to represent the country before the London-based Commonwealth Business Council. “The world’s main companies in the sectors of petroleum, financial institutions, industrial gas and mining are members of this organization.”
Based on the agreement, the business leader said the Roundtable also organized a trade mission to Trinidad and Tobago, with representatives from the most dynamic business organizations and 41 local industrialists, led by Industry and Commerce minister Manuel Garcia.
Gonzalez Nicolas said the Roundtable also participated in the Commonwealth Business Forum held in Perth, Australia, with more than 1,400 business leaders from its 54 countries. “There timely contacts were made promoting Dominican Republic as the American continent’s historical entry door.”
“We also showcased our country’s prevailing investment climate where we began to highlight it’s mining, aside from the other lines such as tobacco, cacao, bananas and tourism,” the Roundtable president said, adding that key Commonwealth personalities and industrialists will visit the country to look into investments and commerce this year.
“Despite that Dominican Republic isn’t an active Commonwealth member, the tendency is for relations between Dominicans with its 54 countries will continue increasing in a significant and unwavering manner to benefit all sectors.”
Written by: RoyStone, 2 Jan 2012 9:00 AM
From: Australia
Are we to believe that the Canadian miner Barrick Gold’s involvement in this country has anything what-so-ever to do with Leo's men gate-crashing British Commonwealth business meetings?
I think it is as likely as Queen Elizabeth II becoming head-of-state the Dominican Republic!
Maybe not a bad idea, when you think about it.
Written by: josean, 2 Jan 2012 9:14 AM
From: United States, Show your Love for DR Vote AGAINST the PLD!
And the benefit to the average Dominican is?
Written by: abc200, 2 Jan 2012 9:16 AM
From: United Kingdom, Dominican Republic
From: United States, words of wisdom from the nutcracker
so barick gold investment plan is to united or bring about all commonwealth countries to do more bussness with the dominican republic ? dont see any real improvement in the dominican republic economy , I just see barick gold selfish investments getting better .
Written by: RoyStone, 2 Jan 2012 11:11 AM
From: Australia
Prince Harry was going to stop over ...
until the British Ambassador told him the realities of this country. Some "real" Commonwealth countries have better, safer beaches anyway. If the Dominican Republic joins, they'd have to change the name - any suggestions? How about "Common-wealth-and-common-poor-and-corrupt of Nations"? Maybe "Commonwealth of Nations and Banana Republics"?
Written by: antonio1, 2 Jan 2012 12:08 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Av Santa Rosa, La Romana
Esto se Jo-Jo,,,,,,llegaron los calieses con su envidia a opinar mie_da.....que si corrupcon, que si yo que vaina!!!....Bienvenidad sea la inversion de Barrick Gold’s, o que se la quieren llevar pa'lla
Written by: anthonyC, 2 Jan 2012 1:59 PM
From: United States
Written by: josean,
"And the benefit to the average Dominican is?"
Oh I don't know but if I had to guess $2.9 BILLION US DOLLARS and 1000's of Jobs!
Of course the idea that it is suppose to help "everyone" is just more entitlement stupidity.
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
I tend to think this article is mainly nonsense,,,yes Canada invested money here as did England...but who else ,,,and the investment from Canada had nothing to do with Canada being part of the Commonwealth .
Written by: josean, 2 Jan 2012 4:05 PM
From: United States, Show your Love for DR Vote AGAINST the PLD!
Alpha66,
Where are those "thousands" of jobs? I seem to have missed that in the reading of this "PRESS RELEASE!"
Wasn’t one of the issues between this company and community groups that the high paying jobs were being given to imported foreign workers from Chile and Peru?
Is it an entitlement mentality for businesses that benefit in a foreign country to share those gains with citizens of the host country?
Written by: RoyStone, 2 Jan 2012 4:32 PM
From: Australia
josean,
Mining companies need to employ people who can get the job done. They don't import workers if locals can do it. Obviously they can't.
As for royalties, that's a matter for government to negotiate with the company.
Written by: josean, 2 Jan 2012 4:44 PM
From: United States, Show your Love for DR Vote AGAINST the PLD!
Roy I understand better than anyone the lack of skills that exits in my country because of our horrendous educational investment and system.
The point I was making to Alpha 66 was that those “1000” jobs are not mentioned in the PRESS RELEASE and the jobs that have been created are not for the nationals, at least the high paying high skilled ones.
As to royalties, these purple gangsters only care about the immediate payoffs to benefit them. Thinking in terms of royalty agreements to benefit future generations to them is like showing the Cross to a Vampire. (Sorry Roy)
Written by: anthonyC, 2 Jan 2012 9:54 PM
From: United States
Written by: josean,
"Is it an entitlement mentality for businesses that benefit in a foreign country to share those gains with citizens of the host country?"
Of course it is an entitlement mentality. BG signed a contract in good faith with the DR Government. BG's only duty to the DR is to honor that contract and share its benefits with the stockholders. Not to "share" what moochers like you think they should.
You are under some strange notion that private companies have some social responsibility to reward people for doing nothing.
Here is some info for you. Social Responsibility is a Marketing Term to dupe people like you. Companies "Give Back" to the communities for good press and to keep fascists like you quiet so they can make money.
BTW It is because of BG that 1000's of jobs exist. Directly and indirectly.. Everything from workers at the mine to truckers, waiters at local restaurants all the way the ports.
Written by: josean, 2 Jan 2012 11:16 PM
From: United States, Show your Love for DR Vote AGAINST the PLD!
Again Alpha66,
Where are those "thousand" jobs? I seem to have missed that in the reading of this "PRESS RELEASE!"
Please dedicate three hours of your life and watch this interview I have linked below.
WARNING this is to be viewed only by person with and open mind otherwise your grey matter may begin to sizzle like a steak over a Charcoal Fire!
However, it may also enlighten you from the Neo-liberal mentality that corporate capitalist knuckle dragging brainwashers like Alpha 66 try to promote!
http://www.c-span.org/Events/In-D....alist-Chris-Hedges/10737426679-1/Written by: RoyStone, 3 Jan 2012 1:27 AM
From: Australia
If the locals want a better deal, they need to claim some Taino ancestry,then say they need to be compensated for the the mining desecrating their ancient traditional burial-grounds. In Australia, people who are 15/16 Caucasian and 1/16 Aboriginal can call themselves Aborigines and get the special privileges, and if anyone complains they can be prosecuted under the new Anti-Racial Vilification Act,as journalist Andrew Bolt was in his article "White is the new Black".
From: Dominican Republic
Barrick Gold’s US$2.9 billion investment, not much of it is invested in the country.... If looked into you would find it would be more like a few hundreds mill not billion...modern mining hires very few people and the ones it does are experienced with equipment unknown in this country.. Mining companies only sign deal with countries if it's heavily in their favor, low taxes, low environmental protection requirements and low revenue pay out to governments with very high profit returns. The claim of 1000's of jobs.I think you are dreaming and reading propaganda from Barrik and those that do gain from this operation.I don't think anyone is or was asking for a hand out as some are claiming but are asking where the revenue is going? what mining standards are their using? and how many of the "1000's" of the well payed jobs are going to Dominicans?Yes blar blar they need to make a profit... but at what cost??? History of mining is full of good looking investment but is far from it. PNG for 1
Written by: josean, 3 Jan 2012 8:40 AM
From: United States, Show your Love for DR Vote AGAINST the PLD!
stillhere,
This how naive or manipulative Alpha 66 is or both;
"BTW It is because of BG that 1000's of jobs exist. Directly and indirectly.. Everything from workers at the mine to truckers, waiters at local restaurants all the way the ports."
This is a Press Release from a company that doesn't have the best reputation, acceptance or press in DR. Now if they could in any way document, semi document or spin the development of a 1000 direct or indirect jobs, don't you think they would have!
Alpha 66’s brain is so saturated with the neo-liberal mantras from the corporate propaganda machine that he has lost contact with reality. He has heard the rhetoric for so long that he adds words or statements when they don’t even appear in the text.
continued:
Written by: josean, 3 Jan 2012 8:41 AM
From: United States, Show your Love for DR Vote AGAINST the PLD!
Now here is the kicker of his mental contradictions:
“Here is some info for you. Social Responsibility is a Marketing Term to dupe people like you. Companies "Give Back" to the communities for good press and to keep fascists like you quiet so they can make money.”
He takes issue with companies that try to seek good community relations regardless of their motives and blames community advocates for companies acting as good corporate citizens. Then he labels those persons as Fascist not knowing that the socio-economic jargon and rhetoric he is espousing (that he barely understands, which I think he does out of naiveté or ignorant bravado) is in essence neo-fascist.
Written by: josean, 3 Jan 2012 9:22 AM
From: United States, Show your Love for DR Vote AGAINST the PLD!
Update:
“Barrick investments in Pueblo Viejo to be verified”
‘SANTO DOMINGO (r. Dominicana).-the company Barrick Pueblo Viejo considered positive the selection of a Spanish firm to verify compliance with the investment that, in accordance with the contract, must be made until the start of operations.”
But why spend that money I ask, when Alpha 66 has already verified their compliance and even found the company has produce 1000’s of jobs even before they started?
http://www.7dias.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=113655Written by: airgordo, 4 Jan 2012 7:57 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Written by: anthonyC, 2 Jan 2012 1:59 PM
From: United States
Written by: josean,
"And the benefit to the average Dominican is?"
Oh I don't know but if I had to guess $2.9 BILLION US DOLLARS and 1000's of Jobs!
Of course the idea that it is suppose to help "everyone" is just more entitlement stupidity.
---
Hahahaha, this is ridiculus...those 2.9 Billion WILL BE PAID BACK with Dominican GOLD, nothing but a BIG BULLSH*T , there is NO BENEFIT whatsoever for the Dominicans!!! NOTHING, ZERO!!! someday "whites will be hanged" and the people who signed this stupid contract will be judged for HIGH TREASON.
From: Dominican Republic
"whites will be hanged"???? I agree with your other comments but really.....?????
Written by: airgordo, 4 Jan 2012 1:51 PM
From: Dominican Republic
that is an EXPRESION of dominican republic, it means basically that someday a time that now seems unlikely will come, in spanish is "algun dia ahorcan blancos"
From: Dominican Republic
ok?? I think a lot was lost in the translation......
Written by: RoyStone, 4 Jan 2012 3:52 PM
From: Australia
Perhaps if Barrick Gold was a totally clean, incorruptible corporate citizen, they would not be conducting business in the Dominican Republic, and the gold would stay in the ground, of no benefit to anyone?
From: United States, words of wisdom from the nutcracker
The need to taxed these private companies out the @ss , private companies like barrick gold offer absolutely nothing of good to the dominican republic . The dominican goverment should charged them double and give em nothing , like my good friend blue use to say .
Written by: RoyStone, 5 Jan 2012 10:18 AM
From: Australia
Fortunately the ignoramus hellborn25 has no say in the matter.
Barrak Gold is not a private company, it is a listed public company. Anyone, (even Dominicans) can buy shares. They bring much-needed investment, infrastructure, jobs and even education to this country, in an environmentally and culturally responsible manner.
Much of Australia's wealth, which all Australians benefit from, comes from mining, which affects less that 1% of the surface area of the country.
I suggest you critics look at:
http://www.barrick.com/GlobalOper....a/PuebloViejoProject/default.aspx... and if you say this is corporate bull@hit, then you will need to provide equivalent of better evidence, not just left-wing rhetoric.
From: Canada
Just to inflate the numbers so it makes sense for everyone ... US $2,900,000,000 = DR $111,940,000,000 ... at a current exchange rate of 38.6 peso to the dollar ...
Written by: josean, 8 Jan 2012 5:46 PM
From: United States, Show your Love for DR Vote AGAINST the PLD!
Written by: RoyStone, 8 Jan 2012 6:50 PM
From: Australia
Josean,
I counted about 70 jobs advertised on the site you posted, for the Dominican Republic. These are all management or professional positions. Perhaps less-skilled basic employees are recruited locally rather than advertised on the internet? The mine is till in the construction phase, so maybe the main labor-force is not being recruited yet? I don't now. Regardless the jobs advertised go right up to Mine Superintendent, suggesting to me these positions have not be reserved for Canadians.
Come on, buddy, I know you don't like holes in the ground, but this mine is good news for this country.
Written by: josean, 8 Jan 2012 7:54 PM
From: United States, Show your Love for DR Vote AGAINST the PLD!
Roy,
I will count again because in the Spanish jobs section there were only 27. But even at 70 it still way off the 1000s that Alpha 66 was claiming.
However, the border argument is not whether this good news or not, it’s how much benefit will the society as "whole” see from this hole!
Written by: airgordo, 16 Jan 2012 10:54 PM
From: Dominican Republic
just 3% of the BENEFITS from the gold are for DR, the 97 remaining is for Barrick Gold, Roy should READ de Contract before posting
Written by: RoyStone, 17 Jan 2012 1:34 AM
From: Australia
Airgordo where does it say that?
Written by: airgordo, 21 Jan 2012 4:07 AM
From: Dominican Republic
on the contract, GOOGLE it, is on the Camara de diputados, they were the TRAITORS that signed that
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I think it is as likely as Queen Elizabeth II becoming head-of-state the Dominican Republic!
Maybe not a bad idea, when you think about it.
And the benefit to the average Dominican is?
Come to think of it - jubilee year this year - DR associate memeber of the commonwealth?
Perhaps Prince Harry could stop over...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011....mily-diamond-jubilee-commonwealth
S.
until the British Ambassador told him the realities of this country. Some "real" Commonwealth countries have better, safer beaches anyway. If the Dominican Republic joins, they'd have to change the name - any suggestions? How about "Common-wealth-and-common-poor-and-corrupt of Nations"? Maybe "Commonwealth of Nations and Banana Republics"?
"And the benefit to the average Dominican is?"
Oh I don't know but if I had to guess $2.9 BILLION US DOLLARS and 1000's of Jobs!
Of course the idea that it is suppose to help "everyone" is just more entitlement stupidity.
Alpha66,
Where are those "thousands" of jobs? I seem to have missed that in the reading of this "PRESS RELEASE!"
Wasn’t one of the issues between this company and community groups that the high paying jobs were being given to imported foreign workers from Chile and Peru?
Is it an entitlement mentality for businesses that benefit in a foreign country to share those gains with citizens of the host country?
Mining companies need to employ people who can get the job done. They don't import workers if locals can do it. Obviously they can't.
As for royalties, that's a matter for government to negotiate with the company.
Roy I understand better than anyone the lack of skills that exits in my country because of our horrendous educational investment and system.
The point I was making to Alpha 66 was that those “1000” jobs are not mentioned in the PRESS RELEASE and the jobs that have been created are not for the nationals, at least the high paying high skilled ones.
As to royalties, these purple gangsters only care about the immediate payoffs to benefit them. Thinking in terms of royalty agreements to benefit future generations to them is like showing the Cross to a Vampire. (Sorry Roy)
"Is it an entitlement mentality for businesses that benefit in a foreign country to share those gains with citizens of the host country?"
Of course it is an entitlement mentality. BG signed a contract in good faith with the DR Government. BG's only duty to the DR is to honor that contract and share its benefits with the stockholders. Not to "share" what moochers like you think they should.
You are under some strange notion that private companies have some social responsibility to reward people for doing nothing.
Here is some info for you. Social Responsibility is a Marketing Term to dupe people like you. Companies "Give Back" to the communities for good press and to keep fascists like you quiet so they can make money.
BTW It is because of BG that 1000's of jobs exist. Directly and indirectly.. Everything from workers at the mine to truckers, waiters at local restaurants all the way the ports.
Again Alpha66,
Where are those "thousand" jobs? I seem to have missed that in the reading of this "PRESS RELEASE!"
Please dedicate three hours of your life and watch this interview I have linked below.
WARNING this is to be viewed only by person with and open mind otherwise your grey matter may begin to sizzle like a steak over a Charcoal Fire!
However, it may also enlighten you from the Neo-liberal mentality that corporate capitalist knuckle dragging brainwashers like Alpha 66 try to promote!
http://www.c-span.org/Events/In-D....alist-Chris-Hedges/10737426679-1/
stillhere,
This how naive or manipulative Alpha 66 is or both;
"BTW It is because of BG that 1000's of jobs exist. Directly and indirectly.. Everything from workers at the mine to truckers, waiters at local restaurants all the way the ports."
This is a Press Release from a company that doesn't have the best reputation, acceptance or press in DR. Now if they could in any way document, semi document or spin the development of a 1000 direct or indirect jobs, don't you think they would have!
Alpha 66’s brain is so saturated with the neo-liberal mantras from the corporate propaganda machine that he has lost contact with reality. He has heard the rhetoric for so long that he adds words or statements when they don’t even appear in the text.
continued:
Now here is the kicker of his mental contradictions:
“Here is some info for you. Social Responsibility is a Marketing Term to dupe people like you. Companies "Give Back" to the communities for good press and to keep fascists like you quiet so they can make money.”
He takes issue with companies that try to seek good community relations regardless of their motives and blames community advocates for companies acting as good corporate citizens. Then he labels those persons as Fascist not knowing that the socio-economic jargon and rhetoric he is espousing (that he barely understands, which I think he does out of naiveté or ignorant bravado) is in essence neo-fascist.
Update:
“Barrick investments in Pueblo Viejo to be verified”
‘SANTO DOMINGO (r. Dominicana).-the company Barrick Pueblo Viejo considered positive the selection of a Spanish firm to verify compliance with the investment that, in accordance with the contract, must be made until the start of operations.”
But why spend that money I ask, when Alpha 66 has already verified their compliance and even found the company has produce 1000’s of jobs even before they started?
http://www.7dias.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=113655
From: United States
Written by: josean,
"And the benefit to the average Dominican is?"
Oh I don't know but if I had to guess $2.9 BILLION US DOLLARS and 1000's of Jobs!
Of course the idea that it is suppose to help "everyone" is just more entitlement stupidity.
---
Hahahaha, this is ridiculus...those 2.9 Billion WILL BE PAID BACK with Dominican GOLD, nothing but a BIG BULLSH*T , there is NO BENEFIT whatsoever for the Dominicans!!! NOTHING, ZERO!!! someday "whites will be hanged" and the people who signed this stupid contract will be judged for HIGH TREASON.
Barrak Gold is not a private company, it is a listed public company. Anyone, (even Dominicans) can buy shares. They bring much-needed investment, infrastructure, jobs and even education to this country, in an environmentally and culturally responsible manner.
Much of Australia's wealth, which all Australians benefit from, comes from mining, which affects less that 1% of the surface area of the country.
I suggest you critics look at:
http://www.barrick.com/GlobalOper....a/PuebloViejoProject/default.aspx
... and if you say this is corporate bull@hit, then you will need to provide equivalent of better evidence, not just left-wing rhetoric.
I found 27 jobs being offerd by Barrick in DR.
Could you be so kind and find the other 973?
https://barrick.taleo.net/careersection/2/joblist.ftl
I counted about 70 jobs advertised on the site you posted, for the Dominican Republic. These are all management or professional positions. Perhaps less-skilled basic employees are recruited locally rather than advertised on the internet? The mine is till in the construction phase, so maybe the main labor-force is not being recruited yet? I don't now. Regardless the jobs advertised go right up to Mine Superintendent, suggesting to me these positions have not be reserved for Canadians.
Come on, buddy, I know you don't like holes in the ground, but this mine is good news for this country.
Roy,
I will count again because in the Spanish jobs section there were only 27. But even at 70 it still way off the 1000s that Alpha 66 was claiming.
However, the border argument is not whether this good news or not, it’s how much benefit will the society as "whole” see from this hole!