dreadlocks previously said:
... locals are trying to buy real estate with dominican paychecks, while foreigners are competing for the same land with European and north american wherewithal. guess who wins the prize? so, if the situation continues apace, all the prime land will end up in the hands of expatriates, while dominicans settle for scrubland.

dreadlocks previously said:
....a guy will have his novia, but wants nothing to do with other dominicans. the same applies to the women..(...).... who have been here for 15 and 20 years, yet cannot speak more than a few spanish phrases?

Anonymous previously said:



Well dreadlocks, I personally think that's the sacrifice the dominican government is willing to make.
A good way to summarize the phenomenon will be looking at the rabbit versus the turtle race. DR to me is like the rabbit, they are fast, they have the momentum and resources to place DR on top in the carribean. Yet, they forget that its not just speed that will get you to that destination. Like in the cartoons, it is the turtle who wins the race. DR is too focused in getting to the finished line with its economic boom and momentum in the real estate. They are slowly forgetting that the advancement of of DR does not solely rely on just getting the glitzy real estate and investments from unknown sources. It relies on the advancement of bonafide DOMINICANS being able as a people to reap the success of a country. Giving an ignorant person higher salaries and more benefits, they will use up all of it in booze and women. Give an educated and wise man higher salaries, he will save and invest it in his country. My all time fear would be for DR to have all of this economic boom and investments in real estate, to only find out that nothing is fixed for the common folk. What's the purpose of giving all your country men jobs as gardeners and hotel workers, when they can't afford to buy food with their income. In a way, it gives a false sense of hope. This is probably needed to be discussed in another thread. But why is the cost of food so expensive in a country where 80% of the food is grown and raised in DR. I dunno what to say, but playing devils advocate, I can see why a poor boy from the barrios main dream is to become a politician. This is the probably the only way that they can make it out of the barrio. I feel that DR may find itself being ANALLY RAPED by foreigners in the end if it doesn't start thinking about the long term goals for the country.

To MRDOM, nothing but respect goes out to you for your pride with the real estate development. I am not bashing you because I must say some of those structures are amazing. I was only commenting on what's going on with the common day dominican. Im sure they are being offered more jobs, but what's the purpose of have a job when you can't still afford some of your basic necessities.

As for FranktheTank and Cibaeno, I am trying to think of a name. Anonymous was my name, but i guess its not good enough. Soo im going to make a debut with the new name by next week.

riverasanchez previously said:

I am American Born with most family coming from Santiago. I have been visiting Dom. Rep. since my childhood during summers and this is way back and for a while as I am now 44 years old. For the first time I have an interest in permanently moving to DR and is a challenge mostly for the uncertainty that Dominican live every day with economy, jobs and politics.

DR has come a long way as lots of money has been flowing for years now. And is good to see a few get rich while most of the rest basically have a hard time and what they know best is how to survive. I hope to see DR's people not just surviving buy enjoying their countries resources.

DR's boom well, I can say is awesome construction!!! Bu you would never catch me putting my life at risk living in one of those towers!! No way!

WIth so much land!!!! and 3-4 story buildings! why put yourself at risk that way! DR has dome quite a bit and we have come a long way. But to make high rises using tree thumbs to hold the next floor cement platform is not a building I can trust. But then again is not just trust, is in fact codes etc!

I just do not know! I would want my kids trying to evacuate from one of those towers! No way!