SANTO DOMINGO. - The Justice Ministry yesterday accused Police agents of being accomplices of drug trafficking in Puerto Plata, forming “a serious stumbling block” to the prosecutors’ work to fight it, charges expected to unleash a confrontation between the heads of those departments.
Contrary to Police chief Rafael Guzmán’s allegation that it’s the zone’s prosecutors who conspire with drug traffickers, a report by Assistant prosecutor Ramon Arístides Madera says Police, antinarcotics (DNCD), and some Armed Forces agents destroyed and contaminated evidence, didn’t carry out Justice Ministry instructions, switched drugs sent to the forensics lab to protect narcotics traffickers and didn’t investigate bloody crimes in that zone.
“There was no way to break the inertia of those corrupted agents.” says the report given to Justice minister Radhamés Jiménez, and defends the actions of the prosecutors Grimilda Disla, Wilfredo Martinez and Ramon Núñez, “who have done their part, acted responsibly and heroically when denouncing and confronting the evil of drug trafficking in Sosúa and Puerto Plata.
It states that it was those prosecutors’ efforts that uncovered the actions 31 police agents who were fired for serious offenses.
On February 16 Guzmán denounced that the three assistant prosecutors had links with and provided protection for rings of narcotics traffickers in Sosúa, and made reference to taped telephone conversations between alleged narcotics traffickers and prosecutors.
From: United States
"President Leonel Fernandez last night again pledged zero tolerance against government corruption"
Working like the last time this coward said it.
Fire all these POP politicians and/or put them in jail.
From: Dominican Republic, la Romana
This is a prime case where an independent tribunal is needed to see who is telling the truth ..the police or the prosecutors and from what has been written here it seems quite obvious that the police have been protecting the drug dealers ..but I still think the one thing Leonel must do immediately is set up a proper tribunal that has muscle and respect
Written by: stefano, 1 May 2009 9:52 AM
From: Dominican Republic
the thing is if you dont get the monaies you a snich who is not corupt are not taking they piece of the cake
if they can they will do too
there is no free lunch
Written by: josean, 1 May 2009 10:02 AM
From: United States
a failed state!
Written by: agibus 
, 1 May 2009 10:12 AM
From: United States
Stefano make yourself clear .Puerto Plata is a nice place and investors are waiting for the cleaning of the police.DR must stop the negaive publicity .
Written by: agibus , 1 May 2009 10:21 AM
From: United States
Josean be positive.DR police corrupt is not the real image to offer.
From: United States
once again, agibus bewilders me with his offerings. tell me, agibus, if Josean refrains from making negative comments regarding police corruption, does that mean it does not exist?
Written by: Juango, 1 May 2009 11:32 AM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
This type of attitude is what will "Kill the Investment Community" that wishes to find a secure place for their money to grow. I have little faith of potential growth of any investment in the DR, therefore I have withdrawn. That is my opinion only, other disagree. But each has to make his own decisions. Look at what is happening in Cabarete, Las Terrenas/Samana and Juan Dolio, then tell me with a straight face it is sound/wise to invest in a business or property (RE). Until a safer investment environment is in place, the DR will continue to risky for most (investment) folks. No Security (Poor Law Enforcement), No Justice (Corrupt Lawyers/Judges) and questionable property ownership (fraudulent property titles), combined with the ever present DRUG business, leaves me out of this game.
Written by: josean, 1 May 2009 11:39 AM
From: United States
Hola dread!
Its a question of the what comes first the chicken or the egg.
From: United States
hey, Josean; glad to see that you are back. do us all a favor next time, good buddy; try to resolve the child support baby -daddy issues before they come for you.LOL. AND, JUANGO, KEEP THE GOOD STUFF COMING. you are a breath of fresh air. you have detractors, those who believe that all is great, and that those who disagree are just 'haters". so, ask them why it takes 2 hours and 20 minutes for the first response to a vehicular accident, if we are a superpower.
Written by: xwill7, 1 May 2009 11:48 AM
From: United States, Chicago
Agi,
DR cops are corupt... I thought that they were not suppose to stop cars and ask for a toll??? I have seen it many times
Written by: Juango, 1 May 2009 11:56 AM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
Thanks Dread. I have asked why it took almost 2.5 hrs to respond to the accident day before yesterday. Answer: it was too far for us to respond quickly. We knew that others would have taken all the good stuff before we got there, so why hurry.. (you do know that most all the victims (dead and injured) were robbed of their possessions (evenn some cloths and shoes were taken off the victims). So much for civilized people... who would want to live in that environment, if you had other options. Not all Dominicans are greedy, just the majority.
Written by: josean, 1 May 2009 1:00 PM
From: United States
dread,
Its just that the check bounced and I had to do the same.
Glad to know you are doing well!
Written by: juanb, 1 May 2009 1:02 PM
From: Dominican Republic
They are all involved in criminal activites. Police, prosecutors, judges, all of them.
Answer this question: What offficial, elected (senator, other than Wilton Gurerro, President) appointed (judge, prosecutor,secretary of a ministry, other than Miguel Cocco) or hired (Police) do you trust? If you can answer this by naming some group you should take your head out of the sand and look around and then think again.There is no one to trust.
From: United States
Those officials who can be trusted are few and far between. The problem is the level of corruption is so bad that even hard working business people are forced to pay these corrupt individuals and by doing so are inadvertantly involved. My family is forced to pay at times when people see our business is making money. Any business seen to be making money attracts this scum for payments of some type.
Anytime we do get a little money to put away it will always be moved out of the country. We will never buy any more property or keep our money here.This is coming from a Dominican family. It's just not worth it making money through hard work only to have some corrupt person come looking for their share they didn't earn. I thank God every day I am not stuck keeping my money and investments in the country.
The only people I see who provide a rosy picture are those looking to sell off their investments to get out or more of these corrupt types looking to rip someone off.
From: Dominican Republic, la Romana
Well Veronica ..I have many millions invested here in the DR and I could not be happier ..I pay for security and it works well , I have had two incidents where the police came in immediately and did their job well, I have wonderful staff and although I am not naive enough to believe their is not some bad practices, I would far rather be here than in the USA where all the mal content Dominicans seem to reside.
Like agibus , I get very tired of the unsubstantiated remarks from people like josean who seem to get their kicks from degrading this country. It is not a failed state in any way.
From: United States
key sentence, Ricardolito: ¨i have millions¨.i wonder if the gravamen of your posting would have been the same if you had said ï have a few hundred¨. people with millions of dollars at their disposal cannot equate themselves, nor their experiences, with people of modest means. you can buy justice, protection, and outcomes. you can hobnob with influential rich types, and direct your fortunes. some schmuck on a fixed pension of a few hundred dollars per month will not see things through your rosy prism. therein lies the rub. let us see how your life will be if you make a few bad deals and go bust. then we can tell if your cheerful disposition is informed by your wealth, or access thereto.
Written by: xwill7, 1 May 2009 4:03 PM
From: United States, Chicago
Ric,
not all Dominicans that live in USA are bad... I live here in USA but I have several investments in DR. I love both countries. I know that there are some bad apples on both sides DR and USA, but I treat everyone fairly and do not think that I am better than anyone.
I feel that DR is not perfect, but is on the right path, everywhere in the world there are corupt officials. Do not lower yourself to Agi's level
Written by: Juango, 1 May 2009 4:17 PM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
To Ricardolito only: Leonel, is that really you ???
Written by: xwill7, 1 May 2009 4:43 PM
From: United States, Chicago
Ric,
the only reason that the cops showed up quickly is because either you have bribed/tipped them in the past, the came quick to your rescue in order to see if you would give them some extra cash, or they are after your money and want to get to know you and your place better in order to then break into your house and take your items of value. The cops do not show up "fast" for a poor person.
From: United States
xwill, what Ricardolito is probably saying, in a round about way, is that had the authorities known that he was one of the accident victims, the response time would have been more like two minutes, instead of hours.
Written by: xwill7, 1 May 2009 5:13 PM
From: United States, Chicago
Dread,
Ricardo probably has a slave driver that he pays 5 pesos an hour to drive him around
From: Dominican Republic, la Romana
of course the last comment from xwill7 is offensive and without substance ,,and all my many friends in la Romana know me as fair and generous and to Juango , no I am not Leonel and I do not get involved at all in politics here but looking at his performance overall I give him high marks with the exception of the Presidential pardons where I believe he did something very very wrong and I think there needs to be more checks and balances to avoid that abuse of power.. I can only go by what I see and hear every day in this country and there has been great improvements here.
Rome was not built in a day and the turn around here is frustrating slow sometimes ..and I hate it when I see all the money from produce and land sales flowing from here to the USA and Europe..
The three big negatives in this country are the poor distribution of wealth, the profits flowing overseas without significant taxes and the corruption at high levels ..but poco por poco and I am doing my best to help here .
From: Dominican Republic, Boycott Dominican Tourism
and I hate it when I see all the money from produce and land sales flowing from here to the USA and Europe..
The three big negatives in this country are the poor distribution of wealth, the profits flowing overseas without significant taxes and the corruption at high levels
Yes, I see that too and I hate it but Dominicans are the only ones to blame for excepting these dumb as terms.
From: United States
Ricardolito, Dread is closer to reality than you.
Two (2) operative words make you part of the corruption. "I have many millions invested" and "know me as fair and generous"
And please do not accuse me of taking them out of context. You are the 1% variety, I can only hope that some entitled Dominican landrone does not kill you for being so generous.
Written by: Juango, 2 May 2009 10:16 AM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
Ricardolito, I was just "busting your Onions" (pulling your leg)....I totally agree with your last statement. Yes, LF must be more proactive in fighting corruption, just telling everyone that he won't tolerate it, just wont cut it any longer. He needs to begin "jail'in a few folks" ! At the moment he lost the faith of most dominicans and many outsiders. For such a smart man, he sure has blown it.. The only way to change this cycle, is through basic education !!! In your circle of acquaintances, many of the dominicans are possibly part of the problem. Check how their wealth was aquired. You will be surprised at how many "nouveau riche" are former "TIGUERES". I do know Diandino Pena bought property in Casa De Campo at >$5MM USD. Not bad for a goverment employee, whos salary never exceeded $50K/year except for the last 4 years. All his so-called friends accept this behavior and therefore become part of the problem as enablers. Are you Ric, part of the problem?
Written by: Juango, 2 May 2009 10:27 AM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
From: Dominican Republic, la Romana
Juango i have seen those properties in Casa de Campo purchased by tigeres who were formerly low income earners ..and I am aware that many nouveau riche achieved their status from mal practices . I have not met many of these people and have no particular desire to because most of my dominican friends are through sport or the arts But I believe all I can do is to constantly suggest that a totally independent anti corruption commission is established with wide powers and the courts ( not Leonel) must show more teeth and imprison those who commit white collar crimes who are just as bad as those who commit the physical crimes.
The point I was making is that this country seems to get better every year ..even if it has still a long way to go..
From: United States
Ricardolito; when you make an omnibus statement such as "this country gets better every year", you should be prepared to be more specific. better for whom? surely there are newer and more complicated cellphones, GPS in the Bimmers and Benzes, and computers with gazillion terabyte harddrives. but does the guy from Munoz, who had no electricity in 1998, have any today? is his medical care any better? does he get a decent break when he squares off against some wealthy guy at the Fiscal's office? sure, it is better for some. but, it depends on your income bracket. i am not attacking you because you appear, by your own admission, to be a person of robust means. i am addressing you because you appear to be one who is oblivious to the nuances of how money affects the idea of "better every year".
From: Dominican Republic, la Romana
I understand where you are coming from , Dreadlocks , but firstly, working from rich to poor, I am quite certain that there are more people who are now in the upper middle class bracket , the nouveau rich, than there were 5 years ago and much of this has come from the construction industry . I am also sure there has been an increase in the middle classes that now have money left over after spending on basic food, clothing , fares and rent ..and much of this assumption is based on the huge increase in middle class shopping malls and on general observations.
As for the poor who comprise the bulk of the population I am quite certain that the majority have a problem having enough money every week for the basics but even there I see some signs of improvement. I happen to teach :gratis, two days a week to children of the very poor and am always in general conversation with them and in la Romana at least I can see they are now better fed and dressed.
From: Dominican Republic, la Romana
So I am fortunate that I do have sufficient money but i hope both you and Juango will give me some credit for doing my best to assist as many Dominicans as I can by spending the bulk of my income in this country and by giving my time and my friendship to as many normal . ordinary,mainly young, Dominicans as I can ..i have been repaid hundreds of times over by their open friendship.
If I could stop the corruption , stop the money outflow and fix the education problem I would do it ...not superman hee .
Written by: Juango, 2 May 2009 3:27 PM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
Credit given, Ric. You are doing the right thing. May you have a positive impact on all the dominican youth you are able to reach. You are a better person than I, for I have learned to not trust anyone in the DR. I have been burned too many times by those I tought were friends, over a 25+ year period. Good luck to you, I wish you well.
Written by: Tommy, 2 May 2009 4:23 PM
From: Canada, Northern Ontario
Well, Ricardolito, my hat is off to you.
Keep it up and thank you.
Dread, and some others, you know who you are, do not be so sarcastic and put some effort into
helping your fellow human instead of wasting your superb eloquence here.
Above all, have fun and enjoy life.
Tommy, in the DR again. Once a month now / loving it.
Written by: xwill7, 4 May 2009 10:16 AM
From: United States, Chicago
Ric,
LF has done some major improvements, but there are areas in DR that have been missed and need help today.
Zona,
the pop up has become a bit of a pain. if I want to check a flight cost I will go to a travel site to compare all airlines not just AA. We all know that AA travels almost everywhere, do they have to keep on reminding us???
Written by: Bailarin , 4 May 2009 1:35 PM
From: Dominican Republic
And some of you people actually have problems believing my haitiano popi chulo comments are nothing more than boogie men under the bed figments of the imagination ? lol lol ..ahhh , the realities of north coast living ..Simply paradise...
Written by: stefano, 4 May 2009 1:59 PM
From: Dominican Republic
y que paso con el diablo de cabarete
Written by: Bailarin , 4 May 2009 3:04 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Se volvio' con su Harley Davidson Y el resto de sus angeles....
Written by: Bailarin , 5 May 2009 9:04 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Yes Xxmoto . I believe Agibus is the censorship natzie if it isn't yourself....
From: Dominican Republic
In Rocky Mountains, Colorado (trying to save his beautiful home [for sale!] from the ladrone bankers)
Well!
To think this forum started with an article on drugs (or the illegal ones).
The comment from Veronica; I could have used the same words except have been talking about how bad the USA is. It is a police / slave state. Did anyone notice the DEMOCRATIC senate April 29th under pressure from the bank lobbyists failed to pass an OBAMA measure to allow bankruptcy judges to alter overpriced mortgages? It's all about slavery and control here.
Which is WHY I TOOK MY MONEY TO A FREE COUNTRY CALLED: Republica Dominicana! And haven't looked back yet!
Thanks to Ricardolito for the positive comments. It's not that hard, start a security company in the DR. I'll hire you.
Most important is to be 'For Real'. The people in my new community of Catey are good Dominican people. A lot of good is coming their way in the future, I'll make sure of it. They love that I'm learning Spanish.
From: United States
to Tommy from Canada; i have no idea what you mean when you lump me in with those of us who ¨know who we are¨. a clarification is in order here, if you will. if you adumbrate for me who you think i am, we can ventilate the issue further. if the assertion is laden with negative assumptions, please understand that i am ready, willing, and excruciatingly able to defend my positions.
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Working like the last time this coward said it.
Fire all these POP politicians and/or put them in jail.
if they can they will do too
there is no free lunch
Its a question of the what comes first the chicken or the egg.
DR cops are corupt... I thought that they were not suppose to stop cars and ask for a toll??? I have seen it many times
Its just that the check bounced and I had to do the same.
Glad to know you are doing well!
Answer this question: What offficial, elected (senator, other than Wilton Gurerro, President) appointed (judge, prosecutor,secretary of a ministry, other than Miguel Cocco) or hired (Police) do you trust? If you can answer this by naming some group you should take your head out of the sand and look around and then think again.There is no one to trust.
Anytime we do get a little money to put away it will always be moved out of the country. We will never buy any more property or keep our money here.This is coming from a Dominican family. It's just not worth it making money through hard work only to have some corrupt person come looking for their share they didn't earn. I thank God every day I am not stuck keeping my money and investments in the country.
The only people I see who provide a rosy picture are those looking to sell off their investments to get out or more of these corrupt types looking to rip someone off.
Like agibus , I get very tired of the unsubstantiated remarks from people like josean who seem to get their kicks from degrading this country. It is not a failed state in any way.
not all Dominicans that live in USA are bad... I live here in USA but I have several investments in DR. I love both countries. I know that there are some bad apples on both sides DR and USA, but I treat everyone fairly and do not think that I am better than anyone.
I feel that DR is not perfect, but is on the right path, everywhere in the world there are corupt officials. Do not lower yourself to Agi's level
the only reason that the cops showed up quickly is because either you have bribed/tipped them in the past, the came quick to your rescue in order to see if you would give them some extra cash, or they are after your money and want to get to know you and your place better in order to then break into your house and take your items of value. The cops do not show up "fast" for a poor person.
Ricardo probably has a slave driver that he pays 5 pesos an hour to drive him around
Rome was not built in a day and the turn around here is frustrating slow sometimes ..and I hate it when I see all the money from produce and land sales flowing from here to the USA and Europe..
The three big negatives in this country are the poor distribution of wealth, the profits flowing overseas without significant taxes and the corruption at high levels ..but poco por poco and I am doing my best to help here .
The three big negatives in this country are the poor distribution of wealth, the profits flowing overseas without significant taxes and the corruption at high levels
Yes, I see that too and I hate it but Dominicans are the only ones to blame for excepting these dumb as terms.
Two (2) operative words make you part of the corruption. "I have many millions invested" and "know me as fair and generous"
And please do not accuse me of taking them out of context. You are the 1% variety, I can only hope that some entitled Dominican landrone does not kill you for being so generous.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias_det.php?id=198044&l=1
never stops..business as usual....just I dont think the judge is totally clean. Can she be an INTERESTED party as well???..
The point I was making is that this country seems to get better every year ..even if it has still a long way to go..
As for the poor who comprise the bulk of the population I am quite certain that the majority have a problem having enough money every week for the basics but even there I see some signs of improvement. I happen to teach :gratis, two days a week to children of the very poor and am always in general conversation with them and in la Romana at least I can see they are now better fed and dressed.
If I could stop the corruption , stop the money outflow and fix the education problem I would do it ...not superman hee .
Keep it up and thank you.
Dread, and some others, you know who you are, do not be so sarcastic and put some effort into
helping your fellow human instead of wasting your superb eloquence here.
Above all, have fun and enjoy life.
Tommy, in the DR again. Once a month now / loving it.
LF has done some major improvements, but there are areas in DR that have been missed and need help today.
Zona,
the pop up has become a bit of a pain. if I want to check a flight cost I will go to a travel site to compare all airlines not just AA. We all know that AA travels almost everywhere, do they have to keep on reminding us???
Well!
To think this forum started with an article on drugs (or the illegal ones).
The comment from Veronica; I could have used the same words except have been talking about how bad the USA is. It is a police / slave state. Did anyone notice the DEMOCRATIC senate April 29th under pressure from the bank lobbyists failed to pass an OBAMA measure to allow bankruptcy judges to alter overpriced mortgages? It's all about slavery and control here.
Which is WHY I TOOK MY MONEY TO A FREE COUNTRY CALLED: Republica Dominicana! And haven't looked back yet!
Thanks to Ricardolito for the positive comments. It's not that hard, start a security company in the DR. I'll hire you.
Most important is to be 'For Real'. The people in my new community of Catey are good Dominican people. A lot of good is coming their way in the future, I'll make sure of it. They love that I'm learning Spanish.