Atabey previously said:

PuntaCanaMike
Location: Dominican Republic
Join date: December 2007
Member #: 74
Posts: 905

Bavaro...the new Boca Chica???
I have enjoyed my last 8 years here in Bavaro. I have started a new life, a wife, a daughter and a daughter due any day now. Life is good.

Problem is, the longer I live here, the more insecure I feel."


I second Generoso's take on matters. It's all well and fine to talk about being "the number one spot for ..." but in reality the QUALITY OF LIFE AND SECURITY OF SELF AND PROPERTY are determining factors in whether or not this area and others in DR can sustain themselves over time. Lacking these two crucial factors, much time and effort will have gone by the wayside. The incompetence of the police force is truly horrific. Please write to the Ministry for Tourism and any competent department of government. Shame and much needed change in procedures and handling must be brought to bare on this so-called Police station.

generoso previously said:



The police station in Bavaro is grossly inadequate and under staffed. The little money they make on the take, is when they search trucks and vehicles and ask for tokens.
Bavaro needs more police patrols and security guards. But also they must not rely on government to provide them. The business merchants and hotels are making mucho bucks and no taxes, and they should pool together and buy a dozen new patrol cars, and donate them with conditions. A member of the tourist police should be inside as well, and regular upkeep of the equipment must be audited by the donors. No taking home the patrol cars while not on duty either, just like you treat an underage minor.

PuntaCanaMike previously said:

I have enjoyed my last 8 years here in Bavaro. I have started a new life, a wife, a daughter and a daughter due any day now. Life is good.

Problem is, the longer I live here, the more insecure I feel.

This morning I received a phone call from some good friends who run a very popular restaurant in the area. Monday night they we robbed at gunpoint within their restaurant. They lost money, electronics, keys and computers...all to two mid 20's Dominicans (not Haitian). They had the balls to click the hammer. That sound has really flucked up my friend who through hard work and a lot of sacrifice, has contributed to the overall improvement of Bavaro.

When my friend went to report to Politur on Monday night right after the robbery...there was no one there to take a report...come back tomorrow. WHAT????? Next morning, they had to wait over an hour and a half until someone came in to do the report...they basically said..."so what do you think we can do about it"? The other answer was..."get a gun". This coming from the police who want the public to be dis-armed. So...what do they want? This translates into..."they do not care" about local businesses and residents.

Many nights I am out and about in Bavaro. I drink...I play...I socialize. I realized a month or so ago, that although the region "brags" to be the #1 destination in all of the Caribbean, it is actually a very helter skelter work in progress (if you can consider it progress). Sidewalks from nowhere to nowhere in the middle of nowhere, yet no sidewalks on the main road of Bavaro. No lighting to speak of on the roads...total darkness aside from the lights from private businesses. A very dark and unwelcoming place to be at night. I think the 1000's who have invested in condos and business here...most of whom contribute a good amount of money and opportunity to local and national business... love the days and worry about the nights. Think of the 1000's of tourists who would love nothing more than to venture off the resort at night for a little "local" time. I know that everything takes time and money, but what I have seen here as far as local (municipal) development...supports our average 4.9 years of education nationally. There is seldom a completion of any started project...a town of 1/2 finished projects....roads that are poorly marked (a round-about on the Tourist Boulevard suddenly appears out of nowhere, without any warning...takes out a few cars a week)), making the region unadvised for tourists to venture out. I could go on.

Last night as I departed a local watering hole, two tourist guests upon leaving the bar where approached by no less than 6 motoconchos...almost running the woman over. None with lights on the back (easy getaway from the pending robbery). At any time...there are too many people here who have NO REASON to be here....loitering about, harassing, robbing and intimidating both residents,businesses and tourists alike. There are 1000's of decent and hard working Dominicans and foreigners in Bavaro....and there are 100's of those who the police know...are a cancer on this community. It is time to act on this before we too in Bavaro, become yet another wasted away Dominican resort and residential community.

An increase in reported robberies within resorts...card cloning....one price for locals...one price for tourists. No one in power seems too concerned. It is great that the important members of this community have the latest and greatest of everything....but what about spending that money on things that benefit the "whole" region? Computers in the police office...not just a pad of paper and a pencil? Paint on speed bumps that does not wash off after the 2nd day of rain? Signs that warn of road deviations?

I feel very sorry for Willem and Anny. They have worked long hours to make their restaurant the top rated on a very prominent travel website. They have not only lost money and material items. They have lost confidence in the region as a safe place to conduct business which has an infrastructure that is there to support....not just extort and bribe....and do absolutely nothing. I think that perhaps a cocked gun to the head of some of the Leaders of this region might allow them a better understanding of how one feels when victimized by the likes that Willem and Anny encountered.
"it happens"....is no longer an except-able answer from the police and government.

Instead of pulling me over every time I drive through Friusa...why not pull over a bike without lights, carrying 4 people and an un-restrained propane tank? I will start showing respect for the police and local politicians when they start showing respect and service to those who pay their paychecks. AMET is a joke everyone can enjoy.

In closing, I might add that I love this country and will continue to offer support and opportunity for the community and it's residents and tourists...despite the lack of, as fore-mentioned.

vacanos previously said:



PCMike This is not just the case of just Bavaro but the whole country. The Government with their liberal ideas they brough from abroad had made a void in our justice system consequently the Government had slipped off their hand. The law to the minor among others had contributed to this decadence in our values. The drugs problem and the lack of salary for our law enforcement too. Also our Haitian problem had contributed a lot. In Bavaro there are probably more Haitians than Dominican. A few years ago, Nuria had a segment where the number was in the 60,000. This add to the problem as it leave more of our people with less opportunities. These same Haitians also are part of the problem as they commits their crimes and go back to their country to cool down. For example this Saturday in my natal of Santiago two Haitian hudlums killed a good man and raped his 15 years old daughter in his own home (http://www.noticiassin.com/2012/07/haitianos-asesinan-supuestamente-a-comerciante-en-santiago/)

abc200 previously said:



Must say some of the gringos are to blame too. Driving huge Jeeptas, flashing money around, dining out in restaurants where the servers are barely paid a living wage, shopping in pukka malls where locals cannot afford even a coffee.

Not to defend crime, but even in South East England, one of the weathiest regions of Europe for most people is bad taste to be ostentateous regarding wealth in public places.

But jelousy drives crime and those who incite jelousy must bear some portion of the blame.

I know that many richer gringos spare no effort to support local charities. And I do not deny credit to them.

But murder rates are very low in much of Europe, personal habits of many support not arrousing jelously.

So if gringos tread softly in the sand their actions are more likely to be construed as in harmony with the local populations.

This is inspired by that man stuck in a traffic jam driving an enormous Jeepta sounding his horn almost continuously.

S.

vacanos previously said:



ABCDe
That is no reason to get robbed. 20 years ago you could had a walking bank in you as we Dominican used to be known for flashing anything with gold on it and nothing happen to you no matter what time it was. That was the values we used to have that has been lost with these liberals Government. I remember the DR that was noble because I used to live in it. When NYC was Fort Apache DR was Greenwich, Conneticut. Over the last 20 years we had been doing something wrong OBVIOUSLY.