what a showman

It sounds like what happen back in the 80s in Colombia when Pablo Escobar was elected as a congressman in order to avoid being arrested.

Go get them Wilton

I see the DR on a quick slide toward self-destruction, if a strong military hand does not step up to take control and set a new standard for the country. Personal security is quickly slipping away under everyone noses. I say, make a plan for a quick exit stragety, should things turn sour in the next few months. Good luck.

So, if they are drug traffickers and law enforcement knows about them. WHY ARE THEY NOT IN JAIL? Oh that's right, it is a Banana Republic!

lopez,
no one wants to be the snitch

"...It’s not only that drug trafficking is supporting political candidates as the Presidency’s Adviser on narcotics has said, instead many who seek to be on the ballot for congressional and municipal elections are narcotics traffickers...."
Jajajajajajaja!!!
You just can't make this stuff up.

Back in the mid to late 1990s Colombia took off the gloves when dealing with the cartels...Now Mexico seems to be doing the same...I wonder if the Right Honorable Sani Abacha (Dr. Leonel Fernandez) is going to get some 'cojones' and do what the constitution demands...
But then again, this is the DR under abacha, after all...

Wilton Guerrero le sobra lo que a Leonel le falta. Cojones para hablar la verdad de la vidad diaria.

I would bet my ridiculous student allowance that we will never, EVER, see the kind of response Mexico and Colombia gave (and are giving) the narcos here in the DR. There simply isn't any will from the administration to fight this problem.

The irony is that sooner rather than later, these narcos are going to become so powerful that they will be the 'gobierno constitucional de la republica'. Mark my words: Dominican Republic will be the new Colombia in the mid 1980s. We will see bodies hitting the floor like 'mangos maduros'

There is far too much money to be made and far too many corrupt politicians to fight this growing threat. WE ARE DOOMED!!!

"Oh that's right, it is a Banana Republic!"

Excuse the correction

Oh that's right, it is a Platano Republic!

Rosa La Linda,

As usual, an excellent post!

However:

"The irony is that sooner rather than later, these narcos are going to become so powerful that they will be the 'gobierno constitucional de la republica'."

I would only say the have already become the "gobierno constitucional de la republica!"

I can't help but think of "The Last Supper " painting as I consider this picture; in fact, tall guy immediately to left of senator Guerrero reminds me of Judas Icarious.

Senator, be careful, for you are making many enemies who have a great deal to lose and who really don't place too much value on anyone's life-not even a senator's.

Well, Juango
Most military dictatorships in this hemisphere; in the last century where installed and or supported by the U.S. so I doubt that we are going to get a dictator any time soon.

Its greed, corruption and I can’t blame them.
The senators, congress and the president himself are corrupted.
It’s not just the apples but the tree its self! That is rotten to the core.
What happens is everyone wants to be RICH, and they’ll do what ever it takes to get there.
The U.S. invades “and other ways” countries to steal natural resources.
And others traffic or sell drugs; or aid those that do.

Banana Republic? Does anyone know who the Fanjul brothers are? -- Alfonso "Alfy", José "Pepe", Alexander, and Andres -- are owners of Flo-Sun.
Look them up

Always a wonder how human beings look at another human being and are puzzled as to why they do certain things. A look in the mirror will take you no further to understand human interaction and behavior. The dilemma that Poltics has created for itself is one that will haunt it forever. Politics has established a rhetoric that instills in the masses the belief that a politician can cure cancer and lay the golden egg. So it has become the fate of the politician to accept the people's requests. It is expected that a politician will end world hunger, create world peace, destroy corruption, end the drug problem. Hardly ambitious you think? I know many will say that it is barbarish for me to say, but please correct my ignorance and show me which politician has achieved such goals? The problems of society can be diminished but never abolished. Even if DR was perfect we do forget that those outside of our picket fence are not and it is fact that the problems of your neighbor are yours also.

with that said, I would love to know who many would eliminate all of DR's ills??? Since we are in abundance of future politicians or rocket scientists in this forum I do expect DR to be a perfect utopia in a few more years. There is nothing wrong with criticism although there is something to be said of an analysis that understands that there are certain things that are just not in the power of the legislative process.

dominica,

I agree that this is a very complex problem, but the sooner we begin the sooner we will see results.

We need a world class universal educational system, which teaches the masses civic responsibility and the alternatives to dependence on government on the "benevolence of the wealthy" but true self reliance on ones ability and equal opportunity for all.

An educated populace is very difficult to control or bamboozle although it is not a guarantee it is a solid start. No modern country in record history has developed without a quality educational system.

We need a true free press to inform the public of shenanigans that will also occur, before they begin to take root again and become institutionalized corruption as we have now.

There should be restriction on corporations owning media outlets, and more than one type of media to prevent the monopolization and manipulation of the news to serve special interests.

continued:

We need a Dominican version of the Fairness Doctrine as well.

We need a truly independent judiciary from the municipal up to the Supreme Court where we can curtail outside influences to a minimal if at all.

To begin these steps among many others we need a true leader dedicated to the Dominican masses and the long term interests of building a better society.

I honestly think Guillermo Moreno is the one who offers us that possibility at this moment!

Josean makes alot more sense. If there is a problem find an alternative or a simple formula that can work in a better direction. To expect a miracle out of a human being and in turn blaming them for not making lead into gold is a bit discouraging. There are numerous flaws in the system starting with those who created the system or implement its laws. However, thinking that it will go from where it is today to the wishes in your head is impossible. The next election will not yield the next messiah. So I truly do hope many understand that perhaps creating a firing squad to make examples of people or to create laws based on authoritorian rules will not cleanse the country of its trash. Again, miracles happen only on TV and never in politics. Settle down closer to earth and leave the heavens to GOD and then your demands might be met.

We all wish for all wrongs to disappear as is the wish of all human beings to live in peace. Even the worst criminal expects to live a happy life. After all, narcotic traffickers or corrupt officials do not commit their crimes because it will ultimately destroy them. It is their own good which happens to be a bad for others. The same being said of what we all want. We want so much for ourselves not realizing that there are other human beings on this planet who also deserve the same. Bring in a firing squad and you will see how fast things change. Bring in the laws that most want and see how much more helpless you will be. Democracy, with all its problems, is still the best model. Anything other has proven to be limiting in the promotion of happiness for all.