Juan M. Santos, Leonel Fernandez.
Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic and Colombia on Thursday agreed to bolster bilateral relations, increase trade and work closer in security and on the war on drug trafficking.
Colombia’s president-elect Juan Manuel Santos made the statement in a press conference after meeting with president Leonel Fernandez in the National Palace yesterday in which questions weren’t allowed.
He said his visit to the Dominican Head of State aims to look for ways to improve relations and increase collaboration in several fronts. “There are many fronts where we can work together, we have identified the economic front and the social front, because Colombia is participating in infrastructure projects here."
He said he was highly pleased that Colombian companies have won important biddings in the Dominican Republic, because that means an additional bond.
Against drug trafficking
Santos said he and Fernandez dealt with the topic of security and the war on drug trafficking, areas where he said Colombia has an enormous potential to exchange accumulated information and experiences with the region’s other countries.
“Colombia has accumulated experience and knowledge that we want to share in the war against crime financed by drug trafficking. There is also an enormous potential to work together."
Conflict with Venezuela
As to his nation’s conflict with Venezuela, Santos said he will address the issue after he takes the Oath of Office in Bogota within one week, noting that Alvaro Uribe is still the President until August 7. "It’s my duty to respect that situation and for that reason the prudence in declarations on topics that are currently issues."
From: Dominican Republic, Barbacoa Samana in the Hills
Photo Caption ......" After we take care of nutty hugo you can stiff him for the oil "
From: United States
What has Leonel done to fight drug trafficking in theDR?
Nothing, most of the military and police are corrupted by the drug traffickers all the way to his office.
This is a photo op again.
Written by: Atabey, 30 Jul 2010 8:42 AM
From: United States
Jim,
Not so fast. If Chavez puts the squeeze on Colombia, economically speaking, then Colombia has to prepare itself. And forging better relationship with its other Latin republics is a wise and prudent step by Juan Manuel. Leonel gets to extend his diplomatic credentials yet again, Uncle Sam is smiling on him, and this will allow him and the DR more lateral movement and perhaps more cookies, too. It's a game. Leonel is playing it far better than any other DR President in living memory. And remember, there is that Cable to consider. Perhaps it will be financed after all. Then again, a war between Venezuela and Colombia is not totally out of the picture. As Chavez's reign gets myriad in its internal soup of dysfunctional operations, he will no doubt lash-out and blame foreign interests for his ruinous reign. So, interesting times ahead.
Written by: juanb, 30 Jul 2010 8:49 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Great photo op. Thanks for sharing.
Written by: juanb, 30 Jul 2010 8:54 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Atabey:
Would you please let me know what , other than personal agrandizement, LF has acheived thus far in his last 6 years in office. When he came in the Free Zones were booming, now they are empty. There are no jobs. The economy is tanking, in spite of borrowing money like a drunken sailor. Drugs? Crime? Sometimes I feel like a broken record. But these problems keeps going around and around as well.
By the way. I was wondering this morning how you happened to come across that paper about the failure of the Far East philosophy?
From: Dominican Republic, Boca de Chavon
Jim I do not think that you are on the right track here , Leonel changed his police chief recently and also his anti drug chief two times .. I really think he is finding it difficult to find people he can trust as is the anti drug chief ..You may have read that all the anti drug officers in Samana, Boca Chica and now Puerta Plata have been dismissed because of their corrupt involvement with drugs ,,and probably it is just as bad in other locations ( we know it is in Higuey ) , So what can Leonel do and who can he turn to and trust ,,not his old silly drug advisor surely . I really would hate to be in his position. I do not know if he has makes some money illegally from the drug trade but I doubt it ..I am sure he has enough via the Presidential pardons
From: Dominican Republic, Boca de Chavon
juanb ..can I answer for Atabey please. I have seen this country transformed in the last 5 years ,,with new hospitals , new roads and bridges , better communications, better shopping , more books in schools and better employment conditions, The middle class is growing all the time and you can see this in the better cars on the road, apartments being built and so on. The demise of the zona francas comes with the changing economy
Now, I am also more nervous living here so that is a real downside , I have absolutely no concerns about the level of borrowing ..all it means is that the next two generations will share the financial burden of the improvements .
i am aware that you do not like the way things are going , it would be hard not to see that !! but it is not as bad as you are saying , ( except for the law and order problems)
Written by: Atabey, 30 Jul 2010 9:13 AM
From: United States
Juanb,
Buenos dias. On the paper, I posted some of it on the Forum when I started posting on DT some 8 months ago. Generoso helped me out. I should have posted the entire paper. I came across it from my investigations into why we Dominicans have failed to achieve modernization. It's always troubled me, WHY? I remember, some 20 years + that a cousin of mine in Santiago once told me that his father, politically active in Balaguer's government, had told him that the US had made Balaguer an offer after the 1966 elections. The offer was to do in DR what had been achieved in Puerto Rico: Export led development. I told my cousin if he had proof of this and he said there wasn't any he could provide other than what his dad had told him. My cousin told me that Balaguer and the rest of his team did not understand modernity, they were still looking at things from the perspective of a past era that had been eclipsed and was on its death bed. I guess there's some truth in that.
Written by: Atabey, 30 Jul 2010 9:28 AM
From: United States
One of the most important lessons to come out of this investigation is the TOTAL destruction of the theory that states that the DR is kept in its underdevelopment state by the US. Nonsense. If that were so, why would the US have made such an offer? No, there's more to this underdevelopment, and largely it's a psychological disposition towards modernity and what it implies for all groups in society, especially the governing elite, economic and political. Both must change fundamentally their approach in society. They must leave behind the old ways of doing things and allow a new society to emerge. A society based more on merit and not family connections. A society based on the rule of law, and not the impunity of the strong. A society based on modern accounting and management principles and not "little black books" and personal accounting.
Written by: Atabey, 30 Jul 2010 9:30 AM
From: United States
A society based on learning and creativity, and not on exploitative schemes to wrestle funds from unsuspecting investors, etc. A society that exports and connects to the wider world community and shares its creative impulses, and not one with an unbalanced economic framework. In short, a society that looks towards the future within the family of nations, and not one that adheres to failed practices and age old policies of a bygone era of caudillismo.
"By the way. I was wondering this morning how you happened to come across that paper about the failure of the Far East philosophy?" [Juanb]
Be careful Juanb. The Far East philosophy is not at fault here. East Asia actually applied the PUERTO RICAN model believe it or not! It was in PR that the US implemented this Export Led Industrialization model. And it did exactly what it was meant to do: modernize the Nation and the State of Puerto Rico.
From: United States
Splitting up the dope money.
Written by: Atabey, 30 Jul 2010 10:02 AM
From: United States
JuanB
If you look at PR from the post WWII years until 1970, check out the World Bank web-site, their rate of economic expansion is very impressive. It was during this period that PR institutionalized its modernity. The Munoz-Marin Era. Gone where the days of "letrinas" poor education, poor infrastructure, poor sanitation, little portable water, poor electrical service, etc. DR could have had the same results during the period 1970-2000. DR would have, in my estimation, a per capital of some 20,000 or higher by this point. Our modernity would be institutionalized and not underdeveloped. And had we continued using our peso currency to devaluate it according to world-wide competitive pressures, like Chile does, our world-wide competitive relationship would have extended the export boom well pasted the stages reached by Puerto Rico.
From: Dominican Republic, Barbacoa Samana in the Hills
atabey if only the DR had gone this route their would be much more prosperity .....instead of trying to escape the past .....what a shame
Written by: Atabey, 30 Jul 2010 10:10 AM
From: United States
So true, Blut.
Written by: jhcl2012, 30 Jul 2010 10:20 AM
From: United States
JimHarrington: "What has Leonel done to fight drug trafficking in theDR? "
What has the US Government done to stop the growth, production, traffic and consumption of drugs in the USA? I believe only the US can control, oops, they already CONTROL it...
No les echemos la java a los paises chiquitos!!!!
Written by: Atabey, 30 Jul 2010 10:20 AM
From: United States
Puerto Rico, in my opinion, has lost out because its wage rate is uncompetitive with the rest of the world. The minimum wage rate has killed the Goose that lays the golden eggs. Who in their right mind would pay low productive labor, say in the rural sector, the US minimum wage rate? But the DR would not have had this problem and the exports would have provided the revenue streams to finance and achieve the modernity so much clamored, justifiably, by our people.
From: United States
for all the people that feel Leonel has done something, here is one of todays articles.
National Police chief Rafael Guzmán has close ties with drug trafficker
From: Singapore, Singafiao
Good luck with your war that can never be won!
From: Dominican Republic, Boca de Chavon
Jim but if you look at this article it is not correct ,,just a beat up again to get you and juanb boiling ..the article has been refuted by many
Written by: riosm, 31 Jul 2010 10:49 AM
From: United States
In order to fight a tiger one must first start pull her teeth out.
The DR / Colombia and the U.S should not ask but demand Venezuela to pull the FARC out of Colombian soil for starters.
From: United States
atabey by cable are you reffering to that plan to have underwater cable lines to power up the dominican republic and to solve are energy problem. I dont know why would colombia would offer such a ridiculous and absurd idea to leo, its sounds like a dangerous and very monetary costly plan. I think if dr wants to solve there energy issue, there gonna have to seek to seek tougher laws for idiots who steal energy and for the private companies who corrupt the system
Written by: Grosero, 1 Aug 2010 10:09 AM
From: United States
That's One Peso for you and Three pesos for me, and One peso for you and five pesos for me, and one peso for you and a thousand peso's for me...
WAIT...We don't take no stinking Colons ....Only PESOS
Smaller
Bigger
Close Gallery
Facebook
Digg this
del.icio.us
Technorati
Yahoo
Nothing, most of the military and police are corrupted by the drug traffickers all the way to his office.
This is a photo op again.
Not so fast. If Chavez puts the squeeze on Colombia, economically speaking, then Colombia has to prepare itself. And forging better relationship with its other Latin republics is a wise and prudent step by Juan Manuel. Leonel gets to extend his diplomatic credentials yet again, Uncle Sam is smiling on him, and this will allow him and the DR more lateral movement and perhaps more cookies, too. It's a game. Leonel is playing it far better than any other DR President in living memory. And remember, there is that Cable to consider. Perhaps it will be financed after all. Then again, a war between Venezuela and Colombia is not totally out of the picture. As Chavez's reign gets myriad in its internal soup of dysfunctional operations, he will no doubt lash-out and blame foreign interests for his ruinous reign. So, interesting times ahead.
Would you please let me know what , other than personal agrandizement, LF has acheived thus far in his last 6 years in office. When he came in the Free Zones were booming, now they are empty. There are no jobs. The economy is tanking, in spite of borrowing money like a drunken sailor. Drugs? Crime? Sometimes I feel like a broken record. But these problems keeps going around and around as well.
By the way. I was wondering this morning how you happened to come across that paper about the failure of the Far East philosophy?
Now, I am also more nervous living here so that is a real downside , I have absolutely no concerns about the level of borrowing ..all it means is that the next two generations will share the financial burden of the improvements .
i am aware that you do not like the way things are going , it would be hard not to see that !! but it is not as bad as you are saying , ( except for the law and order problems)
Buenos dias. On the paper, I posted some of it on the Forum when I started posting on DT some 8 months ago. Generoso helped me out. I should have posted the entire paper. I came across it from my investigations into why we Dominicans have failed to achieve modernization. It's always troubled me, WHY? I remember, some 20 years + that a cousin of mine in Santiago once told me that his father, politically active in Balaguer's government, had told him that the US had made Balaguer an offer after the 1966 elections. The offer was to do in DR what had been achieved in Puerto Rico: Export led development. I told my cousin if he had proof of this and he said there wasn't any he could provide other than what his dad had told him. My cousin told me that Balaguer and the rest of his team did not understand modernity, they were still looking at things from the perspective of a past era that had been eclipsed and was on its death bed. I guess there's some truth in that.
"By the way. I was wondering this morning how you happened to come across that paper about the failure of the Far East philosophy?" [Juanb]
Be careful Juanb. The Far East philosophy is not at fault here. East Asia actually applied the PUERTO RICAN model believe it or not! It was in PR that the US implemented this Export Led Industrialization model. And it did exactly what it was meant to do: modernize the Nation and the State of Puerto Rico.
If you look at PR from the post WWII years until 1970, check out the World Bank web-site, their rate of economic expansion is very impressive. It was during this period that PR institutionalized its modernity. The Munoz-Marin Era. Gone where the days of "letrinas" poor education, poor infrastructure, poor sanitation, little portable water, poor electrical service, etc. DR could have had the same results during the period 1970-2000. DR would have, in my estimation, a per capital of some 20,000 or higher by this point. Our modernity would be institutionalized and not underdeveloped. And had we continued using our peso currency to devaluate it according to world-wide competitive pressures, like Chile does, our world-wide competitive relationship would have extended the export boom well pasted the stages reached by Puerto Rico.
What has the US Government done to stop the growth, production, traffic and consumption of drugs in the USA? I believe only the US can control, oops, they already CONTROL it...
No les echemos la java a los paises chiquitos!!!!
National Police chief Rafael Guzmán has close ties with drug trafficker
The DR / Colombia and the U.S should not ask but demand Venezuela to pull the FARC out of Colombian soil for starters.
WAIT...We don't take no stinking Colons ....Only PESOS