Presidents Leonel Fernandez, Alvaro Uribe and Felipe Calderon in the Drug Summit.
CARTAGENA, Colombia.- Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Friday backed a proposal put forward by Dominican counterpart Leonel Fernandez during the Expanded Regional Summit on the World Problem of Drugs, Security and Cooperation in this port city.
Calderon hailed as innovative and appropriate the Dominican leader’s proposal for the creation of a multi-national solidarity fund – financed primarily by oil-producing nations, which over the past 12 months have obtained $1.3 trillion in surplus revenue – for the benefit of developing countries that have been forced to divert funds previously used to fight drug trafficking in order to cover the higher cost of crude oil and food.
According to Fernandez, the fund should be administered by an international organization such as the Organization of American States, the United Nations or the Inter-American Development Bank. However, because of the need for urgent action to halt an eventual increase in drug trafficking, the Dominican president suggested that a “task force” be set up to study the best ways of implementing this alternative.
In addition to expressing his support for the Dominican president’s initiative, Calderon proposed that a huge database be set up with information about drug trafficking, use of weapons and details about members of organized crime groups.
Among the other leaders attending the summit are the presidents of El Salvador, Antonio Saca; Guatemala, Alvaro Colom; Panama, Martin Torrijos; and Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, as well as representatives of 25 Latin American governments.
The attending countries signed the “Cartagena Declaration” on Friday, and states that the fight against drugs be taken up “in a coordinated way across all links of the chain: demand, production, trafficking, distribution, diversion of chemical precursors, money laundering and related” activities.
From: United States
Nice try Leonel .. but will it be enough to even make a dent in the cocaine flow traversing the DR on it's way to North America?
From: United States
Leonel has absuloutely no control over his miletary or police. And using the excuse that the US does nothing is a blatant lie.
Leonel has done nothing but nothing in the fight against drugs and especiall over corruption in his own ranks.
Until he is commited in fact and not in words will he regain any credibility in putting a dent into drug trafficking in the DR
Written by: BLANCO, 4 Aug 2008 11:02 AM
From: Dominican Republic
the foxes sharing information,, who to shake down for the share!!!!
From: United States, New York City
"...cocaine business controls Amerikkka, ganja business controls Amerikkka...!" - KRS-One "Illegal Business". There is no way of stopping this unless Leonel turns Fidel. Park Avenue has to have their drugs.
Written by: JCjua, 4 Aug 2008 2:49 PM
From: United States, New York
If Leonel can get the ball rolling on the drug issue, God bless him.
It needs to stop somewhere.
I don't think the USA will help thought.
they are the ones that inform DR when there is a plane drop off. Now if they know DR will try to take the plane down, will they let DR know even when they oppose the DR on taking down planes?
Written by: Trujillo, 4 Aug 2008 5:14 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Not everyone knows how to lead a nation or has the balls needed to fight against corruption, etc. It's going to be very difficult under the current way of doing things to combat drugs when drugs lords have influence in the supreme court, congress, and no-one on top has the balls to go to hell for what is right.
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
I'm reminded of the murders that have been going on in Mexico over what the Druggies call a "lack of respect" for them. What they really mean is the lack of "fear" for them and what they stand for.
These guys have a very distorted sense of values as it is, so they use bullets and knoves to enforce compliance with their desires.
Don't waste money on trials, just shoot them on sight and stick up the"finger" at those who object to that form of punishment.
I'v got no truck with those who grow, refine, manufacture, transport, sell, or use the damned stuff, and if they're addicted it's just too damned bad. Reduce thesupply to ZERO, shoot all in between the growers and the users and let thepoor sobs suffer the withdrawal on their own. Fitting punishment, I'd say.
TB
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
TB I am no liberal by a long shot...I have difficulty reconciling Death Squads to any situation...... it will always come back to haunt you in another area when you least want it to
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
Anyway, this is like Presidente ang Brugal joining forces to fight alcoholism.
From: United States
I am so tired of this 'war' against drugs. Drugs are a health issue not a political issue. If you tell your people that drugs are bad they will stop using it. Plain and simple.
From: United States
Drugs are bad .. Drugs are bad .. Drugs are bad .. that should do it ..
From: United States
WaterPolo, i love your analogy. might i take from it that you feel that these two leaders might find the drug trade quite convenient?
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
I say NO to drugs ...when they ask me if I have had enough I say " NO "
From: United States
and, people, please grow up and stop acting as though you believe that there is any political and moral will to stop this dysfunction which we are witnessing. lets all act like adults here. the drug business is huge, and there is untold wealth to be gained from it. dominicans do not even have to toil in order to manufacture the thing. all we constitute here is a transhipment point in the supply chain. all the politicians have to do is remain still, turn a blind eye, and make tons of money. what is the alternative? they can make waves, make arrests, and take photos for tomorrows front page of Listin Diario. what is the downside to that? well, they will have to probably buy a 2007 Range Rover instead of a 2008. you think they want their picture in the paper that badly?
From: United States, New York City
Nice, Walter Polo.
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
Dread,
I agree with you 150%. You got it well figured out.
Only 1 thing: the DR is no longer a mere transhipment point. The big dudes did the math, and decided they were better off with a percentage of the loads than a mere cash payment. This explains why so many "puntos" have been sprouting up over the past, say 10 years: the big dudes would rather cut the stuff, cook it, what have you, and make the big bucks out of the retail business.
And since they're the big dudes, they run them in broad daylight, no questions asked.
So now, you can get your kicks even in Loma de Cabrera. Can't find Diet Coke out there, but no shortage of Coca Loca.
From: United States
in Loma de Cabrera? my, my, the stuff is really getting popular. ten years ago you would be doing time for trying to score some weed. but, as you said, the big boys did the math. the only guys who have to worry are the street vendor small fry, who get put away to create a facade that the government is not happy the way things are!
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Leonel has done nothing but nothing in the fight against drugs and especiall over corruption in his own ranks.
Until he is commited in fact and not in words will he regain any credibility in putting a dent into drug trafficking in the DR
It needs to stop somewhere.
I don't think the USA will help thought.
they are the ones that inform DR when there is a plane drop off. Now if they know DR will try to take the plane down, will they let DR know even when they oppose the DR on taking down planes?
These guys have a very distorted sense of values as it is, so they use bullets and knoves to enforce compliance with their desires.
Don't waste money on trials, just shoot them on sight and stick up the"finger" at those who object to that form of punishment.
I'v got no truck with those who grow, refine, manufacture, transport, sell, or use the damned stuff, and if they're addicted it's just too damned bad. Reduce thesupply to ZERO, shoot all in between the growers and the users and let thepoor sobs suffer the withdrawal on their own. Fitting punishment, I'd say.
TB
I agree with you 150%. You got it well figured out.
Only 1 thing: the DR is no longer a mere transhipment point. The big dudes did the math, and decided they were better off with a percentage of the loads than a mere cash payment. This explains why so many "puntos" have been sprouting up over the past, say 10 years: the big dudes would rather cut the stuff, cook it, what have you, and make the big bucks out of the retail business.
And since they're the big dudes, they run them in broad daylight, no questions asked.
So now, you can get your kicks even in Loma de Cabrera. Can't find Diet Coke out there, but no shortage of Coca Loca.