A file photo of a similar tragedy two years ago in Nagua.
Sabana de la Mar, Dominican Republic.- Authorities found another body that of a woman and now total seven recovered Sunday, from a makeshift boat headed to Puerto Rico which sank Saturday in Samaná Bay, where 18 found thus far after the 11 yesterday.
Navy regional command Captain Héctor Ramon Méndez said a US Coast Guard cutter Capella, two speedboats and two rescue craft are in the zone, joined by six boats crewed by volunteer fishermen.
Six women and 12 men are confirmed dead and the search for the rest of the undetermined number of missing has been suspension until tomorrow, the official said.
Some of the 19 survivors are being taken to the Sabana de la Mar Navy Station as suspects while others were taken to the town’s hospital, with various injuries and first and second degree burns, he Navy said in a statement.
Daniel Cepeda, one of the as yet undetermined number of survivors, said he paid 30,000 pesos (around 770 dollars) for the failed trip across the Monsa Passage.
From: Canada
So very sadly another heartache ...
Written by: MarkS, 5 Feb 2012 11:30 PM
From: Dominican Republic, w/a NY State mailing address
stupid, sad, unnecessary.
Written by: RonEvane, 6 Feb 2012 6:56 AM
From: United States, Gaithersburg, Maryland
No one is to be blamed for this, but the government.
Obviously, the dire economic state of our nation, compels people to risk all, for a chance at a better life. How sad and tragic!
This has been going on for too long. I wish I knew what could be done....
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
Not even the government is responsible for such a stupid and foolhardy attempt .. people know the crossing to Puerto Rico is treacherous . Just a tragic waste of life and so sad for those who bear the grief
From: Puerto Rico
I am so sorry to see this
Written by: RegisC, 6 Feb 2012 9:23 AM
From: Dominican Republic
RonEvane, what could be done would to start educating the poor people and get a little family planning/birth control down here. The fertility rate in the DR is almost 3, the population will grow to almost 15 million by 2050. There is no work now for these people, and what jobs are available dont pay enough to live on. Crime is getting bad now, I cant imagine what it will be like by 2050.
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
I am wondering if in fact the whole boat was organised by these people smugglers ,,,and if so , it is here where the total guilt lies ,,and invesigations and prosecutions need to be made
From: United States
Ricardolito, as you say, there is more than enough guilt to go around.
From: United States
Folks are now smuggling and receiving money when the drugs arrive in PR. This is the main incentive not so much the economic conditions in the DR. I agree with Regis, the DR is very catholic making birth control and abortions illegal which is a big problem for a developing nation.
From: United States
I no longer buy into the idea people risk their lives to to seek better opportunities elsewhere. It is not so much that things are bad at home, but rather the misconception "grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." The reality is that life for illegals in the US is no longer what it use to be. Immigration laws have tightened, with out proper papers plus a bad economy has made getting decent work next to impossible. The US govt has increased the numbers and stepped up deportations to levels unheard. If these same people would think twice before reserving space on a yola, take the same money and instead of using it to pay traffickers start a micro-business, we would hear more success stories and less tragedies of people dying at sea.
From: Canada
The deaths are horrifying. But the real story here is about the epidemic of human smuggling at the hands of organizations that prey on the poor and desperate. The storyline here says that "suspects" have been detained. Hmm... I wonder whose tax dollar is going toward processing those parasites. The authorities should seize their assets to pay the tab. Maybe it'd be more fitting to avenge the dead by putting the perpetrators in a leaky boat and setting them adrift to eventually feed the crabs. Then again, perhaps that's not a good idea. They'd probably make the next haul of seafood taste sour.
Written by: RoyStone, 6 Feb 2012 11:56 AM
From: Australia
I am encouraged to see the tide of opinion changing, at least on this site, from blaming the government to accepting that much of the responsibility rests with the people themselves.
My view has always been, no matter how poor you are, who helps you or how much you pay, if you break the law then you face the consequences.
If you pay $770 for a short, uncomfortable and unsafe journey then you are not flat-broke and you know it's illegal.
TonyTunTun for your information contraception is not illegal here and in fact is provided free by the government. There is no excuse for the country's out-of-control exponential birthrate (mostly underage), but the Catholic Church deserves much of the blame. The criminal activity of the people-smugglers is trivial by comparison.
From: United States
What kind of country is it where people are not free to leave. it may be difficult to get into the US, but if you want to leave the country, they say "Have a nice trip". I ride by the Spanish embassy everyday, and there are lines of people dying for a visa to get out of here; most of which will be denied. No one wants to leave freedom, they leave to seek freedom and democracy, and those two items are not on the menu here.
Written by: RoyStone, 6 Feb 2012 12:45 PM
From: Australia
corruptman,
Next time you pass the Spanish Embassy queue, stop and ask why they want to leave. Seriously. We all speculate and theorize but we don't really know.
As guillermone suggests, I think that "grass-is-greener syndrome" may be a factor.
Some Dominicans think foreigners are richer purely by the good fortune of where they were born, and not that they actually worked for it, and paid substantial tax as well.
From: United States
RS, when you have no food, no hope, hear of crime and politics being the way to wealth, the grass is greener. If the government has no fears, why build gates to keep people in.
Written by: RoyStone, 6 Feb 2012 1:06 PM
From: Australia
corruptman,
I don't think the Dominican government is trying to keep people in (especially the penniless unemployed).
It is the recipient countries trying to keep them out.
Wouldn't you?
I'm trying to figure out how most of these poor, starving Dominicans are overweight, and keep breeding like rabbits.
Written by: RoyStone, 6 Feb 2012 1:08 PM
From: Australia
Yes, building a Metro under the Moana Passage is the answer,
with free tickets for Haitians, and subsidized by a special loading on drug mules.
Solved!
From: United States
so you pay $770 for a chance to leave (escape)? Why not take a plane or a real ship somewhere? Penniless and homeless? Enough nonsense.
Written by: poncaal, 6 Feb 2012 1:19 PM
From: United States
there seems to be a little misunderstanding about us law we are not all that free. anyone with felon can't get pass port to leave us thats just tip the ice burg were doomed with laws that should never be i agree with everybudy it gets complex quick welfare we dont give out cash welfare in most states anymore welfare is the other half of ss we do give out disabled funds and the cash flow has made its way to the drug crime so the dollar is worth less so we have food stamps for low income or no income
Written by: RoyStone, 6 Feb 2012 1:22 PM
From: Australia
corruptman, I wonder what they do when they get there -
With no skills, no education and a bad attitude, walk in to a well-paid, satisfying job, or fraudulently jump on to the American welfare system, supplemented by some petty-crime or prostitution?
Yes I can see the attraction.
From: United States
@corruptman-Where exactly are those gates built which you talk about to keep people in?
And no food, no hope, fear of crime and politics? Are you referring to Haiti or DR ?
Last I heard food is in plentiful supply in the DR. There are community kitchens all over the country where for a nominal fee you can get a decent meal and not die of hunger. If our natives have not figured that one out yet, maybe we can ask Haitians who cross our borders to get food. About "no hope" there is no such thing even when you are on your last death bed, there is always hope while still alive no matter how bad things may be. Hope is in your head, within ourselves, all it takes is a change of mind to change expectations. You decide whether to look at the glass half full or half empty. Now about fear of crime, what? Are you telling me crime is endemic to the DR and not Pto Rico. If that is the reason to risk life & jump on a yola to PR for safety, you will be greatly disappointed when you get there
Written by: RoyStone, 6 Feb 2012 5:01 PM
From: Australia
TonyTunTun, thank you for the link -
This should be compulsory reading for all Dominicans, especially those who support the Catholic Church. 90,000 back-yard abortions is an absolute disgrace. It seems a contradiction that sex-education is such a taboo in a country with so much overt sexuality.
From: United States
@Corruptman "....they leave to seek freedom and democracy, and those two items are not on the menu here."
Can you please elaborate here. Last I heard "freedom and democracy" is not something you can order from a list on a menu, but rather you must fight to achieve it, in order to get it. No waiter is going to hand it over to you on a silver platter. And if you think otherwise, you will be greatly disappointed. And if you do, it is nothing more then the typical entitlement mentality which keep people behind, enslaved and dependent on government to solve their personal issues. Forget government and take the bull by the horn, solve your own problems, but getting on a Yola is not the solution if you can't get a visa out.
Written by: RoyStone, 7 Feb 2012 10:20 AM
From: Australia
guillermone +1 from me on that
Last time I looked, there is no slavery in this country, and every adult has the right to vote, but many don't bother to. In a way, they have been "handed freedom and democracy on a plate" however if not defended, it can easily be taken away again.
From: United States
guillermone is on top of his game today.
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No one is to be blamed for this, but the government.
Obviously, the dire economic state of our nation, compels people to risk all, for a chance at a better life. How sad and tragic!
This has been going on for too long. I wish I knew what could be done....
Not even the government is responsible for such a stupid and foolhardy attempt .. people know the crossing to Puerto Rico is treacherous . Just a tragic waste of life and so sad for those who bear the grief
I no longer buy into the idea people risk their lives to to seek better opportunities elsewhere. It is not so much that things are bad at home, but rather the misconception "grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." The reality is that life for illegals in the US is no longer what it use to be. Immigration laws have tightened, with out proper papers plus a bad economy has made getting decent work next to impossible. The US govt has increased the numbers and stepped up deportations to levels unheard. If these same people would think twice before reserving space on a yola, take the same money and instead of using it to pay traffickers start a micro-business, we would hear more success stories and less tragedies of people dying at sea.
My view has always been, no matter how poor you are, who helps you or how much you pay, if you break the law then you face the consequences.
If you pay $770 for a short, uncomfortable and unsafe journey then you are not flat-broke and you know it's illegal.
TonyTunTun for your information contraception is not illegal here and in fact is provided free by the government. There is no excuse for the country's out-of-control exponential birthrate (mostly underage), but the Catholic Church deserves much of the blame. The criminal activity of the people-smugglers is trivial by comparison.
Next time you pass the Spanish Embassy queue, stop and ask why they want to leave. Seriously. We all speculate and theorize but we don't really know.
As guillermone suggests, I think that "grass-is-greener syndrome" may be a factor.
Some Dominicans think foreigners are richer purely by the good fortune of where they were born, and not that they actually worked for it, and paid substantial tax as well.
I don't think the Dominican government is trying to keep people in (especially the penniless unemployed).
It is the recipient countries trying to keep them out.
Wouldn't you?
I'm trying to figure out how most of these poor, starving Dominicans are overweight, and keep breeding like rabbits.
with free tickets for Haitians, and subsidized by a special loading on drug mules.
Solved!
With no skills, no education and a bad attitude, walk in to a well-paid, satisfying job, or fraudulently jump on to the American welfare system, supplemented by some petty-crime or prostitution?
Yes I can see the attraction.
@corruptman-Where exactly are those gates built which you talk about to keep people in?
And no food, no hope, fear of crime and politics? Are you referring to Haiti or DR ?
Last I heard food is in plentiful supply in the DR. There are community kitchens all over the country where for a nominal fee you can get a decent meal and not die of hunger. If our natives have not figured that one out yet, maybe we can ask Haitians who cross our borders to get food. About "no hope" there is no such thing even when you are on your last death bed, there is always hope while still alive no matter how bad things may be. Hope is in your head, within ourselves, all it takes is a change of mind to change expectations. You decide whether to look at the glass half full or half empty. Now about fear of crime, what? Are you telling me crime is endemic to the DR and not Pto Rico. If that is the reason to risk life & jump on a yola to PR for safety, you will be greatly disappointed when you get there
http://dr1.com/articles/abortion.shtml
This should be compulsory reading for all Dominicans, especially those who support the Catholic Church. 90,000 back-yard abortions is an absolute disgrace. It seems a contradiction that sex-education is such a taboo in a country with so much overt sexuality.
@Corruptman "....they leave to seek freedom and democracy, and those two items are not on the menu here."
Can you please elaborate here. Last I heard "freedom and democracy" is not something you can order from a list on a menu, but rather you must fight to achieve it, in order to get it. No waiter is going to hand it over to you on a silver platter. And if you think otherwise, you will be greatly disappointed. And if you do, it is nothing more then the typical entitlement mentality which keep people behind, enslaved and dependent on government to solve their personal issues. Forget government and take the bull by the horn, solve your own problems, but getting on a Yola is not the solution if you can't get a visa out.
Last time I looked, there is no slavery in this country, and every adult has the right to vote, but many don't bother to. In a way, they have been "handed freedom and democracy on a plate" however if not defended, it can easily be taken away again.