TORONTO..- The Canadian Council of the Americas on Thursday night bestowed the "Statesman of the Year" recognitino on former president Leonel Fernandez, for his leadership throughout his terms in office.
The distinction hails ??his role as a mediator in conflicts between Latin American countries and in strengthening democracy.
Recent contradicting polls by locals newspapers place Fernandez’s approval rating from as high as 70% to a low of 43%.
Written by: RoyStone, 21 Sep 2012 9:01 AM
From: Australia
Leadership of what, his entourage?
Written by: Yucahu, 21 Sep 2012 9:27 AM
From: United States, Miami
Leadership in how to be a fraud, an empty suit. He helped Canada's Barrick rape the land in Cotui. All that gold, the DR's gold just looted by the Canadians. Leonel's crimes will become more transparent as time moves along. Asqueroso.
From: United States, FREEPORT, Long Island.... ((You're blind to the fact that you're blind))
I'm sure his oversight of the mining contracts didn't have anything to do with their decision making
From: United States, Fresh Water Paradise-NY Finger Lakes
With that proclamation, it is easily concluded that this is a pompous and meaningless council/assembly/think thank or what not.
MJEV.
Written by: josean, 21 Sep 2012 10:32 AM
From: United States, Fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia; Guillermo Moreno President 2016
Be sure to Bring your Umbrellas when you tour the Monument to Himself of the Statesman of the Year the USELESS METRO!
Written by: BASTA, 21 Sep 2012 11:12 AM
From: Dominican Republic, =Ghetto/Legalize Drugs/Free abortions for all
Our Xqueen rules and here I thought Dominicans had an excuse; Lack of education.
What assholes; for you fernadex always.
Written by: juanb, 21 Sep 2012 11:41 AM
From: Dominican Republic
This is just one think tank giving another think tank "the old reach around".
Written by: juanb, 21 Sep 2012 11:41 AM
From: Dominican Republic
This is just one think tank giving another think tank "the old reach around".
Written by: josean, 21 Sep 2012 12:23 PM
From: United States, Fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia; Guillermo Moreno President 2016
Do you Saint Danilo now thinks Lie-onel deserves this award like he might have thought in March!
The Truth has way of Biting you in the ASS!
“In March Danilo believed that Leonel would leave him a rich and stable economy “"So many riches"
"Never before in the history of our country, has so much wealth been created as in the Governments of the PLD and by comrade Leonel" said Medina"
"So many riches" that had supposedly were created Leonel Fernández today do not appear, but the large debts and the deficit do.”
Read the rest at:
“En marzo Danilo creía que Leonel le dejaría una economía rica y estable”
"Las “tantas riquezas” que supuestamente había creado Leonel Fernández hoy no aparecen, pero sí las grandes deudas y el déficit"
“En efecto, el candidato presidencial del PLD dijo en un acto en la ciudad de Doral (Florida, Estados Unidos) que nunca antes en la historia dominicana se habían creado tantas riquezas como en el gobierno de Leonel Fernández.”
cont:
Written by: josean, 21 Sep 2012 12:25 PM
From: United States, Fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia; Guillermo Moreno President 2016
acento.com.do/index.php/news/21717/56/En-marzo-Danilo-creia-que-Leonel-le-dejaria-una-economia-rica-y-estable.html
File this one under
Danilo tells Lie-onel "Show Me The Money Carajo!"
From: Canada, Ontario
Don't know "how" to weigh in on this one. Having read all of your comments for so long, I had to go to the website to see what the criteria for this award actually are. No luck there, so I'm left with the notion that your comments are a legitimate cross section of public opinion. And, that leaves me scratching my head over how to understand the question "why", let alone be able to answer it. I'm really puzzled over this one.
As for Barrak... well... as a proud Canuck, I don't count them as Canadians at all. As I've said many times in these comment sections; Greed has no nationality - just a convenient home base. They are not a lone entity who is operating from here, but rape the land of others and destroy our national reputation in the process. That makes me sad. But you all know that we're not like them.
From: Dominican Republic
Leonel "statesman of the year ". Sure! of course ! when a "Leader" of a foreign country helps you (Canada) exploit billions of dollars of GOLD via Barrick Gold and Falconbridge of course he will be like a saint for you! que descaro! Now these !@#$% want to go to my providence (Santiago Rodriguez) and begin taking away our GOLD and ruin our rivers. You want to see how DIABOLICAL Leonel Fernandez is? Late 2011, Leonel wanted to create the "Manolo Tavares Justo National Park" in Santiago Rodriguez so mando ser un descreto. He will throw out around 500 families from their land to create this park. But what many people didn't know was that the reason for this park was because they found a huge GOLD reserve around these areas. .
From: Dominican Republic
Continued....
When Falcon Bridge (Canada GOLD MINERS) tried to start exploiting, our great farmers and citizen of Santiago Rodriguez started to protest and our senators and diputados has joined in, damanding Danilo to stop this injustice. We have to help the people effected by the greed of Leonel and corrupt government officials In his campaign Danilo has stated that he will abolish new mining deals so I will wait if Danilo is a man of his word. I know most of us live abroad but we have to start to take control of DR or we will soon lose are beautiful country. We need to start educating and motivating citizens about this issue. I stand behind the people of Cotui, Loma De Miranda, and now my home providence of Santiago Rodriguez which hits next to my heart.
I'm sorry to say this but blood in the street of our citizens and our love ones are inevitable in the future. The government never seem to listen peaceful solutions so I know they will have to listen the hard way; Unfortunat
Written by: RoyStone, 21 Sep 2012 8:20 PM
From: Australia
ElMayimbe007
You have no evidence what-so-ever that Barrack Gold is "ruining your rivers". Feral Dominican peasants have already done a thorough job of that. Just take a look at the rivers, and the beaches where much of the rubbish and pollution ends up.
Written by: Yucahu, 22 Sep 2012 5:54 AM
From: United States, Miami
Mining companies are in it for the mines, they say screw the Eco- system. We need more trees!
From: Canada, Ontario
@ Roy
You and I agree on many points of view. But, I fear that this MAY not be one of those.
Surely the poverty and squallor of a depressed economy are often evidenced by - say - its detritus, and it's impact. But this does not detract from the fact that mining corporations are fettered with questionable actions in foreign lands and that they often exploit this social predicaments. I consider these as potentially "twin sons of different mothers".
As a Canadian, I am shamed to learn that this cadence often includes Canadian based mining entities. The actions of these people in South America are not only restricted to those of environmental concerns, but those of human labour rights as well, (something documented and verified by our own national broadcasting company). So, to hear these exact same claims - of South Americans - eminating from the RD, only conjurs the notion that it's walking and quacking, so it's likely a duck - and I'm chilled.
I'm keeping my antennae up.
Written by: airgordo, 22 Sep 2012 9:26 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Written by: ElMayimbe007
From: Dominican Republic
Leonel "statesman of the year ". Sure! of course ! when a "Leader" of a foreign country helps you (Canada) exploit billions of dollars of GOLD via Barrick Gold and Falconbridge of course he will be like a saint for you! que descaro! Now these !@#$% want to go to my providence (Santiago Rodriguez) and begin taking away our GOLD and ruin our rivers. You want to see how DIABOLICAL Leonel Fernandez is? Late 2011, Leonel wanted to create the "Manolo Tavares Justo National Park" in Santiago Rodriguez so mando ser un descreto. He will throw out around 500 families from their land to create this park. But what many people didn't know was that the reason for this park was because they found a huge GOLD reserve around these areas. .
---
YOU just read My mind!! JUST with that contract given AWAY by this TRAITOR clown to a CANADIAN company with very good friends on the canadian state he should be name F@king GOVERNOR there!
Written by: RoyStone, 22 Sep 2012 2:04 PM
From: Australia
originalmrb,
I do not deny that mining has caused some terrible human and environmental disasters around the world. More so has agriculture but I don't see anyone wanting to totally ban farming. In general mining companies have become more responsible of late, on their own initiative, and under pressure from governments, public opinion and even share-holders. I believe the Barrak Gold project to be based on sound extraction and refining processes with enormous benefits to the Dominican Republic, not just Barrak's shareholders. Watch their operation like a hawk by all means, and the minute they do any environmental damage jump on them, but not before. Much mining is done responsibly and the environmental constraints are much higher than other activities like farming, transport and construction, and the economic benefits much greater. In the meantime, take a look at all the rubbish in Dominican rivers and look where it comes from - not mining.
Written by: jasfalon, 23 Sep 2012 8:50 AM
From: United States
Canada + Barrick Gold + Dominican Republic + Leonel + $$$$$$$ = Statesman of the Year
Written by: Observer, 27 Sep 2012 3:42 PM
From: United Kingdom
All the negative comments are "over the top". I don't live in the DR but I've been visiting regularly since 2003, about every 18 months. I've seen a big improvement over the past 8 years. The country was in a terrible state towards the end of Mejía's term. Since Leonel Fernandez became President in 2004 there seemed to be less corruption than under Mejía. Before 2004 it was not unusual for customs officials to hint to foreigners that a bribe would get them through customs faster. That hasn't happened to me since 2004. Then, the Santo Domingo metro. I think it's great. It's clean, it's reliable. OK there are some problems but they are nothing to the problems you can see in London, New York, or Paris! Come on, people, be reasonable!
Reasonable people can disagree about Leonel Fernandez' priorities, he put economic growth before social policies. But you can't help poor people unless the country is generating wealth. He made a good start on the economy, which everything else depends on.
From: Canada, Ontario
@ Observer:
Agreed. I am also a non-resident, and by virtue of that, we may not have a right to anything other than anecdotal and observational commentary. There's a lot of crying over spilled milk going on here - most of it deserved. We are not among those bearing the scars, & we must allow some latitude for the 'once bitten twice shy rule'. If we have learned anything at all - from the Latin American experience - we surely have taken away that old grudges die hard, and nothing changes until the national psyche does. From the outside, you and I can easily see both the forest and the trees. Give em time to heal.
@ Roy:
We do agree on the need for vigilance. But I see the issue of social detritus, as a separate issue. However, in the confusion it creates, it can be an indicator - to some - that people who are disrespecting their own house are prime targets for manipulation and deception. Perhaps a mobian concept wherein the prey is - in part - also the predator.
Written by: josean, 27 Sep 2012 4:11 PM
From: United States, Fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia; Guillermo Moreno President 2016
Written by: Observer, 27 Sep 2012 3:42 PM
From: United Kingdom
All the negative comments are "over the top". I don't live in the DR but I've been visiting regularly since 2003, about every 18 months. I've seen a big improvement over the past 8 years. The country was in a terrible state towards the end of Mejía's term. Since Leonel Fernandez became President in 2004 there seemed to be less corruption than under Mejía. Before 2004 it was not unusual for customs officials to hint to foreigners that a bribe would get them through customs faster. That hasn't happened to me since 2004. Then, the Santo Domingo metro. I think it's great. It's clean, it's reliable. OK there are some problems but they are nothing to the problems you can see in London, New York, or Paris! Come on, people, be reasonable!
continued:
Written by: josean, 27 Sep 2012 4:13 PM
From: United States, Fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia; Guillermo Moreno President 2016
Reasonable people can disagree about Leonel Fernandez' priorities, he put economic growth before social policies. But you can't help poor people unless the country is generating wealth. He made a good start on the economy, which everything else depends on."
The above non-paid POLITICAL AD was brought to you by supporters of Narco-Lie-onel for President 2016!
Written by: airgordo, 28 Sep 2012 7:00 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Written by: Observer, 27 Sep 2012 3:42 PM
From: United Kingdom
----
YOU said it well, YOU DON"T LIVE on DR, therefore you got NO freaking clue of what you are writing about, that is the ONLY rational explanation for you to come up with comments like
-Less corruption
-Customs Wanting Bribes
-Good Start on economy (specially when the IMF just said what everybody HERE knows, the goverment is BROKE)
I just wonder WHAT part of the Dominican Republic is the one you are visiting that makes you think this kind of nonsense, perhaps the DIstrito Nacional on Santo Domingo? where ALL the money was concentrated...THAT is NOT the DR, that is just a small pice of land that dopes not PRODUCE a penny!!...Please get better informed on the COUNTRY, which has 48,000 SQ km , not 1,000...
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With that proclamation, it is easily concluded that this is a pompous and meaningless council/assembly/think thank or what not.
MJEV.
Be sure to Bring your Umbrellas when you tour the Monument to Himself of the Statesman of the Year the USELESS METRO!
What assholes; for you fernadex always.
This is just one think tank giving another think tank "the old reach around".
This is just one think tank giving another think tank "the old reach around".
Do you Saint Danilo now thinks Lie-onel deserves this award like he might have thought in March!
The Truth has way of Biting you in the ASS!
“In March Danilo believed that Leonel would leave him a rich and stable economy “"So many riches"
"Never before in the history of our country, has so much wealth been created as in the Governments of the PLD and by comrade Leonel" said Medina"
"So many riches" that had supposedly were created Leonel Fernández today do not appear, but the large debts and the deficit do.”
Read the rest at:
“En marzo Danilo creía que Leonel le dejaría una economía rica y estable”
"Las “tantas riquezas” que supuestamente había creado Leonel Fernández hoy no aparecen, pero sí las grandes deudas y el déficit"
“En efecto, el candidato presidencial del PLD dijo en un acto en la ciudad de Doral (Florida, Estados Unidos) que nunca antes en la historia dominicana se habían creado tantas riquezas como en el gobierno de Leonel Fernández.”
cont:
acento.com.do/index.php/news/21717/56/En-marzo-Danilo-creia-que-Leonel-le-dejaria-una-economia-rica-y-estable.html
File this one under
Danilo tells Lie-onel "Show Me The Money Carajo!"
Don't know "how" to weigh in on this one. Having read all of your comments for so long, I had to go to the website to see what the criteria for this award actually are. No luck there, so I'm left with the notion that your comments are a legitimate cross section of public opinion. And, that leaves me scratching my head over how to understand the question "why", let alone be able to answer it. I'm really puzzled over this one.
As for Barrak... well... as a proud Canuck, I don't count them as Canadians at all. As I've said many times in these comment sections; Greed has no nationality - just a convenient home base. They are not a lone entity who is operating from here, but rape the land of others and destroy our national reputation in the process. That makes me sad. But you all know that we're not like them.
When Falcon Bridge (Canada GOLD MINERS) tried to start exploiting, our great farmers and citizen of Santiago Rodriguez started to protest and our senators and diputados has joined in, damanding Danilo to stop this injustice. We have to help the people effected by the greed of Leonel and corrupt government officials In his campaign Danilo has stated that he will abolish new mining deals so I will wait if Danilo is a man of his word. I know most of us live abroad but we have to start to take control of DR or we will soon lose are beautiful country. We need to start educating and motivating citizens about this issue. I stand behind the people of Cotui, Loma De Miranda, and now my home providence of Santiago Rodriguez which hits next to my heart.
I'm sorry to say this but blood in the street of our citizens and our love ones are inevitable in the future. The government never seem to listen peaceful solutions so I know they will have to listen the hard way; Unfortunat
You have no evidence what-so-ever that Barrack Gold is "ruining your rivers". Feral Dominican peasants have already done a thorough job of that. Just take a look at the rivers, and the beaches where much of the rubbish and pollution ends up.
You and I agree on many points of view. But, I fear that this MAY not be one of those.
Surely the poverty and squallor of a depressed economy are often evidenced by - say - its detritus, and it's impact. But this does not detract from the fact that mining corporations are fettered with questionable actions in foreign lands and that they often exploit this social predicaments. I consider these as potentially "twin sons of different mothers".
As a Canadian, I am shamed to learn that this cadence often includes Canadian based mining entities. The actions of these people in South America are not only restricted to those of environmental concerns, but those of human labour rights as well, (something documented and verified by our own national broadcasting company). So, to hear these exact same claims - of South Americans - eminating from the RD, only conjurs the notion that it's walking and quacking, so it's likely a duck - and I'm chilled.
I'm keeping my antennae up.
From: Dominican Republic
Leonel "statesman of the year ". Sure! of course ! when a "Leader" of a foreign country helps you (Canada) exploit billions of dollars of GOLD via Barrick Gold and Falconbridge of course he will be like a saint for you! que descaro! Now these !@#$% want to go to my providence (Santiago Rodriguez) and begin taking away our GOLD and ruin our rivers. You want to see how DIABOLICAL Leonel Fernandez is? Late 2011, Leonel wanted to create the "Manolo Tavares Justo National Park" in Santiago Rodriguez so mando ser un descreto. He will throw out around 500 families from their land to create this park. But what many people didn't know was that the reason for this park was because they found a huge GOLD reserve around these areas. .
---
YOU just read My mind!! JUST with that contract given AWAY by this TRAITOR clown to a CANADIAN company with very good friends on the canadian state he should be name F@king GOVERNOR there!
I do not deny that mining has caused some terrible human and environmental disasters around the world. More so has agriculture but I don't see anyone wanting to totally ban farming. In general mining companies have become more responsible of late, on their own initiative, and under pressure from governments, public opinion and even share-holders. I believe the Barrak Gold project to be based on sound extraction and refining processes with enormous benefits to the Dominican Republic, not just Barrak's shareholders. Watch their operation like a hawk by all means, and the minute they do any environmental damage jump on them, but not before. Much mining is done responsibly and the environmental constraints are much higher than other activities like farming, transport and construction, and the economic benefits much greater. In the meantime, take a look at all the rubbish in Dominican rivers and look where it comes from - not mining.
Reasonable people can disagree about Leonel Fernandez' priorities, he put economic growth before social policies. But you can't help poor people unless the country is generating wealth. He made a good start on the economy, which everything else depends on.
@ Observer:
Agreed. I am also a non-resident, and by virtue of that, we may not have a right to anything other than anecdotal and observational commentary. There's a lot of crying over spilled milk going on here - most of it deserved. We are not among those bearing the scars, & we must allow some latitude for the 'once bitten twice shy rule'. If we have learned anything at all - from the Latin American experience - we surely have taken away that old grudges die hard, and nothing changes until the national psyche does. From the outside, you and I can easily see both the forest and the trees. Give em time to heal.
@ Roy:
We do agree on the need for vigilance. But I see the issue of social detritus, as a separate issue. However, in the confusion it creates, it can be an indicator - to some - that people who are disrespecting their own house are prime targets for manipulation and deception. Perhaps a mobian concept wherein the prey is - in part - also the predator.
Written by: Observer, 27 Sep 2012 3:42 PM
From: United Kingdom
All the negative comments are "over the top". I don't live in the DR but I've been visiting regularly since 2003, about every 18 months. I've seen a big improvement over the past 8 years. The country was in a terrible state towards the end of Mejía's term. Since Leonel Fernandez became President in 2004 there seemed to be less corruption than under Mejía. Before 2004 it was not unusual for customs officials to hint to foreigners that a bribe would get them through customs faster. That hasn't happened to me since 2004. Then, the Santo Domingo metro. I think it's great. It's clean, it's reliable. OK there are some problems but they are nothing to the problems you can see in London, New York, or Paris! Come on, people, be reasonable!
continued:
The above non-paid POLITICAL AD was brought to you by supporters of Narco-Lie-onel for President 2016!
From: United Kingdom
----
YOU said it well, YOU DON"T LIVE on DR, therefore you got NO freaking clue of what you are writing about, that is the ONLY rational explanation for you to come up with comments like
-Less corruption
-Customs Wanting Bribes
-Good Start on economy (specially when the IMF just said what everybody HERE knows, the goverment is BROKE)
I just wonder WHAT part of the Dominican Republic is the one you are visiting that makes you think this kind of nonsense, perhaps the DIstrito Nacional on Santo Domingo? where ALL the money was concentrated...THAT is NOT the DR, that is just a small pice of land that dopes not PRODUCE a penny!!...Please get better informed on the COUNTRY, which has 48,000 SQ km , not 1,000...