Leonel, You are doeing a wonderful job at the UN however everything you preach outside of the Domincan Republic will never see the light of day in the Domincan Republic as you can see from this article. People are so desperate they are willing to give up their lives so that you and your wife can live in the life of luxury. Hurah for you and the PLD.

NEW YORK.- Dominican Republic president Leonel Fernandez on Wednesday affirmed that unstable food and crude prices have sparked concerns, political unrest and a problems of nourishment insecurity among millions of people around the world.

foresthill,

Excellent comment!

Thank you for pointing out the PURPLE HYPOCRISY!

Another tragedy, may God rest their souls.

This is a story of lack of government responsibility to maintain a high surveillance of its coastline, which includes the fear of enforcement officials to perform their duties. They don't want to go out at night out of concern of bodily harm from whatever boogeymen lurk behind the bushes, or they are just plain lazy, or they get a cut of the profits.

Next, the US should involve itself with this matter to discourage these trips by placing a bounty on the head of any yola operator and if a yola operator is caught operating in US waters it is an automatic 10+ years jail time upon conviction. The DR should do the same under its jurisdiction, the bounty is paid from the monies confiscated from the traffickers before or after the authorities take their portion.

Desperate or stupid?

" Desperate or stupid? " RoyStone


BOTH

Both, but god will save them

It is a tragedy that some people make money off taking people to their death and convincing these people that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.
There is a group of people that don't go after these people all they want to do is blame the government for all problems that happen

thats 2 or 3 boat at least that hit reefs broke up in last 3 months is it that ruff in the ocean there?? that area must have lots people smugglers is it still 1,ooo to get aboard yolo that boat adds to lot cash not to say the death end of it what can really be done to help this not to happen?? any buddy have the real info.??

I would not be surprised if some of the passengers involved in this disaster were also also involved in the previous. Does anyone know if this has happened?

What if they all got to the USA. Would most of them be sent back to DR, like the "100 excellent dominicans" that returned in company with US marshalls last week? From my very close experience with dominicans abroad I would say at least 70%.

ScandiViking,
I suspect that many would disappear into the Puerto Rican woodwork until obtaining forged American citizenship documents, then going on to the USA welfare system, getting legitimate jobs or continuing in crime, or a combination of these. If they can afford the yola fare they could probably afford convincing forgeries as well, and don't doubt there is a well-oiled network set up for this purpose. Perhaps that is included in the yola fare, in leu of lifejackets?

Hi Roy - I see you keep up the excellent comments -

"I suspect that many would disappear into the Puerto Rican woodwork until obtaining forged American citizenship documents, then going on to the USA welfare system, getting legitimate jobs or continuing in crime, or a combination of these."

So speaks Roystone, expert on all things Dominican. Smh. On what evidence do you base your "suspicions" on, pray tell?

The DR has no president. Leonel answers to the UN just as Obama answers to the UN. The world has a one world government and one global criminal bank. People must live with this fact in the DR, USA, Europe and everywhere else on the globe now. Learn it, like it.

Thank you for your compliment, cibaeño75,
but I wouldn't go so far as to say I am an expert on everything Dominican, only that I know more than you about some things, including those you write as if you are an authority, let me guess, from somewhere in Washington Heights?
In answer to your question, my suspicion is based on my conversations with local Dominicans, my own observations, and what I have read, here and in Puerto Rico. I have not accompanied a yola across the Mona Passage, but I suspect you have not either. However if you are privy to information not available to the rest of us, perhaps you can give us all the benefit of your superior knowledge?
Also "Smh" is not a word I am familiar with, so feel free to educate me on that. I am familiar with the Sydney Morning Herald, but from your comments, I doubt you have ever read it. I'm only guessing.

In other words anecdotal evidence, which is no evidence at all really. Smh- shaking my head. It's called an acronym. It's a pretty common way to express ones' self on this thing the kids are calling the internet. Please join us in 2012. And no I'm not from Washington Heights. There are Dominicans in other parts of nyc. Don't ever assume. But then again that seems to be all you are good at. But you are correct on one note, I've never read an Australian rag. I live in the media capital of the world. Why would I resort to getting my news from a paper that serves a people on the fringes of the English speaking world? And what do you feel that you know more about me concerning things Dominican? I need a good laugh so please pray tell.