Santo Domingo.- Foreign Relations minister Carlos Morales on Sunday said he doesn’t imagine any friendly country joining the smear campaign headed by Spanish-born catholic priest Christopher Hartley, which in his view denigrates and belittles Dominican Republic.
The official’s affirmation comes in the heels of a complaint the priest filed before the U.S. Department of Labor on the Dominican Government’s alleged failure to implement labor laws in sugar cane plantations, as chapter 16 of the Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) stipulates. “The advances and improvements in the sugar industry’s labor conditions are evident, except for the Spanish priest.”
“Father Hartley’s animosity against Dominican Republic is very well known, especially after the circumstances which forced him to leave his ministry and the contradictions with the ecclesiastical hierarchy,” Morales said.
He said the absurdity of the accusations eliminates any concern regarding punitive measures. “We can’t imagine any friendly country joining such an ignominious campaign.”
“The topic of father Hartley doesn’t divide the country, it unifies it in the criterion that his nonsense in no way seeks accomplishments in the field of human rights, but to denigrate and belittle us instead,” Morales said.
Written by: BASTA, 23 Apr 2012 7:49 AM
From: Dominican Republic, =Ghetto/Legalize Drugs/Free abortions for all
Truth hurts hmmmmm.
Written by: zooma, 23 Apr 2012 8:27 AM
From: United States
The RD is sort of like a dysfunctional family. It has a lot of bad issues but does not have the capacity, will, or knowledge to fix it; because it has enabled itself to live within its own mess. When someone outside of the family, the priest; points out the issues, they circle the wagons and accuse him of slandering the family, rather than heed the advice and take measures to seek a remedy.
No wonder there is no progress !
From: Dominican Republic
Ssssshhhhhh.....
Careful he may get censored by to mini minus club as a foreigner saying things aren't as good here as they and the PLD are saying they are....
Is anyone really surprised this is going on??? Both the denial and the bad labor practices?
Written by: Cacique, 23 Apr 2012 8:40 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Dominican shaman say chiefs bad men for workers, tribe punish, shaman from other land say, tribe not celebrate, first see if man is snakeye. Peace!
Written by: Grosero, 23 Apr 2012 8:53 AM
From: United States
Nothing wrong With Believing In God
But There Is Everything Wrong With believing In religion!
The padre is hypocrite
From: United States
DT must work harder to improve the accuracy of their articles. After reading a series of different stories over the years, I find a lot of factual errors or misleading titles.
This particular one is a good example-Is Fafher Christopher Hartley a "Spanish Priest" because he was born in Spain or because he graduated from a Spanish Seminary? Why is he called Spanish ?
He is better or more accurately described as a British-Spanish Catholic missionary priest. He was born in England but is the son of a Bristish father and Spanish mother. He later lived in Spain and at age of 15 entered a diocesan seminary in the Archdiocese of Toledo in Spain. In 1982, he was ordained by Pope John Paul II during his first apostolic voyage to Spain.
From: Dominican Republic, NEVER FORGOTTEN, NEVER FORSAKEN!
People, the sugar field Masters don't give a rat tail about these people, all they care is about the bottom line, take it or leave it. They are not being forced to do this, and as bad as it could sound, they can always go back to Haitii where their government ( if can be called a government) don't even offer these kinds of jobs.
D.R. has a hand full with the Haitians. We're being pressed from every angle; are we obligated to make these people's lives better when our people struggle every day?
The Haitians are not at fault for trying to survive by leaving their country; our government is responsible for letting them in.
Written by: Pedrin, 23 Apr 2012 9:27 AM
From: United States
The priest is probably speaking the truth. Morales is trying to wrap himself in the flag. Samuel Johnson said: Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. That quote is very apropos in this case.
From: United States
The irony of it all is that the priest has always turned a blind eye to slavery in Haiti which is 10 times worse then in the Dominican republic. When it comes to being hypocrite this guy at the top of the list.
From: Dominican Republic
DONT_BE_SILENT
"D.R. has a hand full with the Haitians. We're being pressed from every angle; are we obligated to make these people's lives better when our people struggle every day?"
This article makes no mention of Haitians....
Would these operators treat their workers the same be they Dominicans or Haitians???
Bad labor practices are bad labor practices to anyone working in them anywhere....
From: Cuba, La Havana, Que Viva La Revolucion
@zooma,
Very well put. You hit the nail on the head.
Written by: kennyB, 23 Apr 2012 10:29 AM
From: United States
@SantiagoXL
"Truer words were never spoken -" Ah, but true words leave hearts broken!
Written by: RamonEBT, 23 Apr 2012 11:31 AM
From: United States, South Carolina
I don't know who Zooma is, but he or she has the best statement of fact without bias or prejudice towards one political party or another. And I am complete agreement, when will we mature and become the fathers of our nation and not remain the children playing childish games with everyone's lives??? If this were the only issue; if this were the top issue; but NO, this is just one of a supermarket of issues where you can go down any isle and select an issue to deal with. Sad, but true...REBT.
Written by: MannyTav, 23 Apr 2012 12:07 PM
From: United States
Funny to see all the rhetoric linking corruption solely to the PLD. We have short memories. The PRD was a bigger disaster and a bigger embarassment to the DR. While I dont agree with the PLD, I also don't agree with any of the major parties and their stances against corruption, etc. The sad part, generation after generation goes uneducated, unfulfilled and the will is broken little by little. No education, no will equals great advantage to whoever is governing. After all, if you get rich in government when you clearly werent before you got elected or had hook into the government, why woud you want thigns to change?
From: United States, I dont even live inside a house , I haunt one!
truth is dominicans and haitians are beign discriminated by non existing labor laws in dominican republic , It is 21th century slave field negro job , and the dominican government has chosen to do nothing about it . This has gone on forever and they will continue to practice this .
Written by: DomRat, 23 Apr 2012 12:52 PM
From: Dominican Republic
@Hellborne25, On the contrary, the Dominican Republic has some very strong labor laws, it is just they allow a certain few from having to comply with them. The Republic would be well served to do a review and make over correcting abuses that extend in both directions. Example: If your worker goes out on the weekend, gets blind drunk (again), and piles up his motor bike, you the employer have to pay him half his wages until such time as he is declared able to work by a doctor. You cannot fire him due to his drinking problem unless he shows up on the job drunk and then have to go through 3 written warnings or be liable for a large payout for lack of notice, plus of course liquidation, vacation, and Christmas bonus, and division of 10% of the company’s profits split between the workers each year.
From: Dominican Republic
Dom... both of you are right... strange laws protect some and hinder others....Some employers get all the protection and get away with virtual slavery, while others can not remove someone because they are not good at, right for, qualified or not even doing their job in the first place..... all very strange the way some laws work ....
From: Dominican Republic, I dislike all politicians and their afiliated parties... "I simply say it AS IT IS!!"
Zooma, right on!!
You are the a true visonary. That's the real Dominican Republic.
A bag of nothing. Much Ado about Nothing.
From: Dominican Republic, popon@att.net
OUR GOVERMENT MUST STOP IMPORTING HAITIAN HANDS ONCE FOR ALL!!! OR IN THE NEXT DECADE THE REAL DOMINICANS WILL BE EXTERMINATED.
Just look at the demography and looks of our population from the seventies to the present one.
Our government must start and agreement with other Latin American countries to bring labor form sister nations instead of Haitians who has done nothing for u s but killed and destroy our true PEOPLE.
All Haitians bring to the plate IS PROBLEMS AND MORE PROBLEMS TO THE DOMINICAN LAND AND PEOPLE.
Of course he is not Spanish. Only non-Hispanic are trying to eradicate the real Dominican people. Why doesn’t he goes to Haiti and try to preach that!? He won’t last one day there.
From: Dominican Republic, popon@att.net
hatians=lots of broblem for dominicans
not more haitians laborers please...the problem could be remedied quickly
no more haitians=no more prdoblems…..simple as that!
Written by: Pepe32, 23 Apr 2012 10:20 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Hartley is a Jesuit and Jesuits are just communists disguised as priests .Mr Hartley is an agent for unification and as such is an enemy of the Dominican Republic as a free and independent nation.
We know the problems in our country and we understand that we have many things to fix but there is a difference between knowing something is wrong and wanting to correct them and outsiders who only wish to denigrate our country and have no interest in what is best for DR .
The main problem here is Haiti and the disaster the Haitians have created in their country and as even the perpetual detractors of DR know we are not equipped to handle our own ,never mind the Haitians deeper and more complicated issues!
Written by: RoyStone, 24 Apr 2012 12:41 AM
From: Australia
Grosero, states
"Nothing wrong With Believing In God, But There Is Everything Wrong With believing In religion!"
Belief in a god or gods is religion. Religions invented gods.
Written by: RoyStone, 24 Apr 2012 12:45 AM
From: Australia
The law is the law and should be enforced and obeyed. If it is a bad law, then change it. If the government does not want to comply with the Free Trade Agreement then it should not join remain a member.
From: Dominican Republic
error
From: Dominican Republic
Why was this priest removed from the country?
Written by: josean, 24 Apr 2012 5:20 AM
From: United States, Fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia; Guillermo Moreno President 2016
Redux
"denigrates and belittles Dominican Republic."
What do you call what Lie-onel Fernandez, Felix Bautista and the PLD have done?
Written by: RoyStone, 24 Apr 2012 9:28 AM
From: Australia
poponlaburra,
How do you get so many pluses in such a short time? I find it hard to believe that the overwhelming majority of posters agree with your extreme bigotry and racism towards Haitians.
I have just returned from Jarabacoa, perhaps one of the nicest towns I have seen in the Dominican Republic. Well maintained streets, happy Dominicans and I have never seen so many Porsches and BMW S3s. Where does the money come from? Choko farming. And who does the back-breaking hard work on these steep mountain slopes, and walk to and from the job? No prize for guessing. (If you are having trouble, the name begins with "H").
It would not surprise me if they were illegals, rendering their employers immune from labor laws requiring they provide decent pay and conditions.
Written by: RoyStone, 24 Apr 2012 9:32 AM
From: Australia
Succinctly put, zooma
From: Dominican Republic, popon@att.net
Roystone, I call it like it is.
your almost cute, really, you talking about bigotry and racism? and what is it your are knokw in this DOMINICAN SITE, almost funny you big looser, infeliz.
From: United States
Roy Stone,
You talk a lot about religion for a man who seems so opposed to it. This article doesn't seem to even be about religion as much as it is about labor laws.
From: United States
WOW !!!!!!
I lived to see the day when Roy actually said something positive about the DR. Unfortunately and regardless of that and no matter what, he some how always manages to find something negative right smack in the middle of good.
Roy reminds me of some one I met not long ago. We were standing and waiting in the supermarket check out line. I attempted to strike a casual conversation with the gentlemen behind me and commented about what a nice day we were having. His response was,"Oh really, what's good about it?"
Written by: RoyStone, 25 Apr 2012 9:22 PM
From: Australia
MasGrande,
Perhaps you didn't notice, but the article is about a comment made by a Catholic priest. If the comment was made by a street-sweeper, bus-driver or bank-teller, no one would have noticed. His whole authority comes from the fact he is a member of an organization professing to represent God on Earth, the Roman Catholic Church. Therefore it has everything to do with religion. Get it?
By the way I am not opposed to religion - I am deeply religious myself, as a Secular Humanist. I am, however, opposed to hypocrisy, deceit, cruelty, dishonesty, piety, oppression of women, racism, arrogance and terror, the hallmarks of some religions, especially Islam and Christianity.
Written by: RoyStone, 25 Apr 2012 9:35 PM
From: Australia
guillermone,
Are you denying that the back-breaking work on the Jarabacoa Choko farms is done by poorly-paid Haitians? You obviously don't have any problem with poponlaburra's racist, bigoted rants, but you have a problem with me pointing out some simple facts, that incidentally are not a criticism of the Dominican Republic per-se. As for your experience at the supermarket check-out, it has nothing to do with me. For what it's worth, I've had a wonderful day in the Dominican Republic today. And you?
From: United States
RoyStone,
I see your point on the priest. However, you paint Christians and Muslims with a very big brush, lumping many good examples with the bad ones you have in mind. The characteristics you list in your post are not 'hallmarks', as you say. Based on my travels and observations, especially the many fine Dominican Christians I know, your statement about "hypocrisy, deceit, etc." is wrong. You are making unfounded assumptions about people you do not know. Be careful with your words.
Written by: josean, 26 Apr 2012 7:54 AM
From: United States, Fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia; Guillermo Moreno President 2016
Roy,
Only likes Purple Christian Fundamentalists like Danilo!
Written by: RoyStone, 26 Apr 2012 9:22 AM
From: Australia
MasGrande,
My criticism is not of Christians or Muslims, it is of Christianity and Islam. I do not like cancer either, yet many good people have it. I also accept that some priests do good work, however I believe that is because of their natural empathy, not their ordination.
"Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion."
Steven Weinberg - Nobel Prize winner -1979
Written by: RoyStone, 26 Apr 2012 9:26 AM
From: Australia
josean,
In a bigoted, superstitious country like this, no politician in his right mind would admit to being anything else.
In Australia there are some ministers of the Anglican Church who openly admit they do not believe in god, but continue to promote some of the moral values traditionally attributed to the mythical Jesus. They not only keep their jobs, but in an era of diminishing congregations, are growing theirs.
Written by: RoyStone, 26 Apr 2012 9:36 AM
From: Australia
MasGrande,
Let me ask you this:
Of those "many fine Dominican Christians" that you know, how many would cease being "fine" if they stopped believing in the invisible man in the sky?
Perhaps you can also explain, why are the highest rates of murder, crime, corruption, cruelty and environmental vandalism, in the most religious countries?
Written by: RoyStone, 26 Apr 2012 9:36 AM
From: Australia
MasGrande,
Let me ask you this:
Of those "many fine Dominican Christians" that you know, how many would cease being "fine" if they stopped believing in the invisible man in the sky?
Written by: josean, 26 Apr 2012 1:02 PM
From: United States, Fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia; Guillermo Moreno President 2016
Now for a little more information:
26 April 2012, 08: 05 AM
"Jesuits allege violation of rights of the “bracero” in DR"
SANTO DOMINGO.-The Bonó of Santo Domingo Center, run by the Jesuits, denounced the violation of the rights of the bracero in the Dominican Republic and demanded the Government improve the working conditions in that sector.
"A day laborer cannot cover their minimum needs with an income below the 129 pesos (2.50 euros) per day", the institution expressed in a statement, which denounced that sowing and cutting the cane in the country is carried out in "conditions of exploitation" and days are, sometimes, twelve hours for seven days a week.”
The Agency issued its statement before the opening of an investigation by the Department of Labor of United States, which sent a delegation to Dominican Republic to inquire about complaints made by the priest Christopher Hartley.
continued:
Written by: josean, 26 Apr 2012 1:03 PM
From: United States, Fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia; Guillermo Moreno President 2016
The priest is currently out of the Dominican Republic but worked there from 1997 to 2006 in the parish of San José de los Llanos, in the Eastern Province of San Pedro de Macoris, between the "bateyes" (villages nestled in the middle of the sugar plantations).
The priest has disclosed for years complaints about the treatment of large companies to mostly Haitian workers engaged in cutting sugar cane.
They have been accusations of trafficking in persons, child labor, racial discrimination and lack of health care, as well as exploitation, fraud and labor abuses.
A delegation from the Office of trade and labor (OTA) Department of Labor Affairs of us undertakes the evaluation visit, provided for in the free trade agreement between Central America, Dominican Republic and United States (DR-Cafta).
continued:
Written by: josean, 26 Apr 2012 1:05 PM
From: United States, Fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia; Guillermo Moreno President 2016
Center Bonó also highlighted the progressive weakening or disappearance of trade unions due to coercive strategies of some employers, that makes it difficult, in his view, workers "demand respect for their rights".
The Agency, in particular, drew attention to hundreds of "elderly who devoted his youth and life to the sugar industry and now expect only death in the bateyes, the majority of whom do not have drinking water and health services".
The Center proposed to the Dominican authorities to take action to ensure compliance with the law and equality, take control of monitoring the situation in the sector via their Ministry of Labor, impose sanctions "against abusive employers," the granting of pensions to the workers and the improvement of their wages.
From: United States
For what it's worth, I've had a wonderful day in the Dominican Republic today. And you?
@Roy-Great to see so much improvement upon your attitude and dispostion. Believe me I am more then please to see you happy............
Written by: RoyStone, 26 Apr 2012 4:51 PM
From: Australia
Thanks, guillermone,
but I haven't changed my attitude. The world has.
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The RD is sort of like a dysfunctional family. It has a lot of bad issues but does not have the capacity, will, or knowledge to fix it; because it has enabled itself to live within its own mess. When someone outside of the family, the priest; points out the issues, they circle the wagons and accuse him of slandering the family, rather than heed the advice and take measures to seek a remedy.
No wonder there is no progress !
Ssssshhhhhh.....
Careful he may get censored by to mini minus club as a foreigner saying things aren't as good here as they and the PLD are saying they are....
Is anyone really surprised this is going on??? Both the denial and the bad labor practices?
But There Is Everything Wrong With believing In religion!
The padre is hypocrite
DT must work harder to improve the accuracy of their articles. After reading a series of different stories over the years, I find a lot of factual errors or misleading titles.
This particular one is a good example-Is Fafher Christopher Hartley a "Spanish Priest" because he was born in Spain or because he graduated from a Spanish Seminary? Why is he called Spanish ?
He is better or more accurately described as a British-Spanish Catholic missionary priest. He was born in England but is the son of a Bristish father and Spanish mother. He later lived in Spain and at age of 15 entered a diocesan seminary in the Archdiocese of Toledo in Spain. In 1982, he was ordained by Pope John Paul II during his first apostolic voyage to Spain.
D.R. has a hand full with the Haitians. We're being pressed from every angle; are we obligated to make these people's lives better when our people struggle every day?
The Haitians are not at fault for trying to survive by leaving their country; our government is responsible for letting them in.
"D.R. has a hand full with the Haitians. We're being pressed from every angle; are we obligated to make these people's lives better when our people struggle every day?"
This article makes no mention of Haitians....
Would these operators treat their workers the same be they Dominicans or Haitians???
Bad labor practices are bad labor practices to anyone working in them anywhere....
@zooma,
Very well put. You hit the nail on the head.
@SantiagoXL
"Truer words were never spoken -" Ah, but true words leave hearts broken!
Dom... both of you are right... strange laws protect some and hinder others....Some employers get all the protection and get away with virtual slavery, while others can not remove someone because they are not good at, right for, qualified or not even doing their job in the first place..... all very strange the way some laws work ....
You are the a true visonary. That's the real Dominican Republic.
A bag of nothing. Much Ado about Nothing.
OUR GOVERMENT MUST STOP IMPORTING HAITIAN HANDS ONCE FOR ALL!!! OR IN THE NEXT DECADE THE REAL DOMINICANS WILL BE EXTERMINATED.
Just look at the demography and looks of our population from the seventies to the present one.
Our government must start and agreement with other Latin American countries to bring labor form sister nations instead of Haitians who has done nothing for u s but killed and destroy our true PEOPLE.
All Haitians bring to the plate IS PROBLEMS AND MORE PROBLEMS TO THE DOMINICAN LAND AND PEOPLE.
Of course he is not Spanish. Only non-Hispanic are trying to eradicate the real Dominican people. Why doesn’t he goes to Haiti and try to preach that!? He won’t last one day there.
hatians=lots of broblem for dominicans
not more haitians laborers please...the problem could be remedied quickly
no more haitians=no more prdoblems…..simple as that!
We know the problems in our country and we understand that we have many things to fix but there is a difference between knowing something is wrong and wanting to correct them and outsiders who only wish to denigrate our country and have no interest in what is best for DR .
The main problem here is Haiti and the disaster the Haitians have created in their country and as even the perpetual detractors of DR know we are not equipped to handle our own ,never mind the Haitians deeper and more complicated issues!
"Nothing wrong With Believing In God, But There Is Everything Wrong With believing In religion!"
Belief in a god or gods is religion. Religions invented gods.
Redux
"denigrates and belittles Dominican Republic."
What do you call what Lie-onel Fernandez, Felix Bautista and the PLD have done?
How do you get so many pluses in such a short time? I find it hard to believe that the overwhelming majority of posters agree with your extreme bigotry and racism towards Haitians.
I have just returned from Jarabacoa, perhaps one of the nicest towns I have seen in the Dominican Republic. Well maintained streets, happy Dominicans and I have never seen so many Porsches and BMW S3s. Where does the money come from? Choko farming. And who does the back-breaking hard work on these steep mountain slopes, and walk to and from the job? No prize for guessing. (If you are having trouble, the name begins with "H").
It would not surprise me if they were illegals, rendering their employers immune from labor laws requiring they provide decent pay and conditions.
Roystone, I call it like it is.
your almost cute, really, you talking about bigotry and racism? and what is it your are knokw in this DOMINICAN SITE, almost funny you big looser, infeliz.
You talk a lot about religion for a man who seems so opposed to it. This article doesn't seem to even be about religion as much as it is about labor laws.
WOW !!!!!!
I lived to see the day when Roy actually said something positive about the DR. Unfortunately and regardless of that and no matter what, he some how always manages to find something negative right smack in the middle of good.
Roy reminds me of some one I met not long ago. We were standing and waiting in the supermarket check out line. I attempted to strike a casual conversation with the gentlemen behind me and commented about what a nice day we were having. His response was,"Oh really, what's good about it?"
Perhaps you didn't notice, but the article is about a comment made by a Catholic priest. If the comment was made by a street-sweeper, bus-driver or bank-teller, no one would have noticed. His whole authority comes from the fact he is a member of an organization professing to represent God on Earth, the Roman Catholic Church. Therefore it has everything to do with religion. Get it?
By the way I am not opposed to religion - I am deeply religious myself, as a Secular Humanist. I am, however, opposed to hypocrisy, deceit, cruelty, dishonesty, piety, oppression of women, racism, arrogance and terror, the hallmarks of some religions, especially Islam and Christianity.
Are you denying that the back-breaking work on the Jarabacoa Choko farms is done by poorly-paid Haitians? You obviously don't have any problem with poponlaburra's racist, bigoted rants, but you have a problem with me pointing out some simple facts, that incidentally are not a criticism of the Dominican Republic per-se. As for your experience at the supermarket check-out, it has nothing to do with me. For what it's worth, I've had a wonderful day in the Dominican Republic today. And you?
I see your point on the priest. However, you paint Christians and Muslims with a very big brush, lumping many good examples with the bad ones you have in mind. The characteristics you list in your post are not 'hallmarks', as you say. Based on my travels and observations, especially the many fine Dominican Christians I know, your statement about "hypocrisy, deceit, etc." is wrong. You are making unfounded assumptions about people you do not know. Be careful with your words.
Roy,
Only likes Purple Christian Fundamentalists like Danilo!
My criticism is not of Christians or Muslims, it is of Christianity and Islam. I do not like cancer either, yet many good people have it. I also accept that some priests do good work, however I believe that is because of their natural empathy, not their ordination.
"Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion."
Steven Weinberg - Nobel Prize winner -1979
In a bigoted, superstitious country like this, no politician in his right mind would admit to being anything else.
In Australia there are some ministers of the Anglican Church who openly admit they do not believe in god, but continue to promote some of the moral values traditionally attributed to the mythical Jesus. They not only keep their jobs, but in an era of diminishing congregations, are growing theirs.
Let me ask you this:
Of those "many fine Dominican Christians" that you know, how many would cease being "fine" if they stopped believing in the invisible man in the sky?
Perhaps you can also explain, why are the highest rates of murder, crime, corruption, cruelty and environmental vandalism, in the most religious countries?
Let me ask you this:
Of those "many fine Dominican Christians" that you know, how many would cease being "fine" if they stopped believing in the invisible man in the sky?
Now for a little more information:
26 April 2012, 08: 05 AM
"Jesuits allege violation of rights of the “bracero” in DR"
SANTO DOMINGO.-The Bonó of Santo Domingo Center, run by the Jesuits, denounced the violation of the rights of the bracero in the Dominican Republic and demanded the Government improve the working conditions in that sector.
"A day laborer cannot cover their minimum needs with an income below the 129 pesos (2.50 euros) per day", the institution expressed in a statement, which denounced that sowing and cutting the cane in the country is carried out in "conditions of exploitation" and days are, sometimes, twelve hours for seven days a week.”
The Agency issued its statement before the opening of an investigation by the Department of Labor of United States, which sent a delegation to Dominican Republic to inquire about complaints made by the priest Christopher Hartley.
continued:
The priest is currently out of the Dominican Republic but worked there from 1997 to 2006 in the parish of San José de los Llanos, in the Eastern Province of San Pedro de Macoris, between the "bateyes" (villages nestled in the middle of the sugar plantations).
The priest has disclosed for years complaints about the treatment of large companies to mostly Haitian workers engaged in cutting sugar cane.
They have been accusations of trafficking in persons, child labor, racial discrimination and lack of health care, as well as exploitation, fraud and labor abuses.
A delegation from the Office of trade and labor (OTA) Department of Labor Affairs of us undertakes the evaluation visit, provided for in the free trade agreement between Central America, Dominican Republic and United States (DR-Cafta).
continued:
Center Bonó also highlighted the progressive weakening or disappearance of trade unions due to coercive strategies of some employers, that makes it difficult, in his view, workers "demand respect for their rights".
The Agency, in particular, drew attention to hundreds of "elderly who devoted his youth and life to the sugar industry and now expect only death in the bateyes, the majority of whom do not have drinking water and health services".
The Center proposed to the Dominican authorities to take action to ensure compliance with the law and equality, take control of monitoring the situation in the sector via their Ministry of Labor, impose sanctions "against abusive employers," the granting of pensions to the workers and the improvement of their wages.
@Roy-Great to see so much improvement upon your attitude and dispostion. Believe me I am more then please to see you happy............
but I haven't changed my attitude. The world has.