Miches, Dominican Republic.- Surrounded by green and lush mountain forests to the south and by calm, paradisiacal beaches with tall coconut palms and fine white sand to the north, the town of Miches languishes amid the paradox.
Rows of rickety houses along what was a highway and now is just a bit more than a cart trail where its residents, their children and even street dogs seem to hang on to some sprinkle of hope.
“Here we live a critical situation because there are no companies, there are no industries, there are no free zones, there’s nothing. Here if you aren’t going to fish, you must go to the field and in the field what you plant, who are you going to sell it to? If the little that you make, the guagüita (little bus) eats it in spare parts because of the bad conditions of the roads,” says one of the inhabitants.
The sea is what paces Miches’ rhythm since being a fishing town, the high and low tide restricts its movement. The park and other public spaces reveal negligence, everything smacks of the lack of money here.
Wealth with nowhere to go
The lack of viable roads makes Miches practically isolated with no entry or exit. The three access roads are in such a deplorable state they defy description.
“And that’s one of the so many reasons that prevent our development,” says the mayor Gregorio, Aquino, who adds that the highways’ poor state keeps the locals form selling their products in other towns with some profit, limits the visit by potential tourists and scares away possible investments. “Everything is a disaster for each one of us.”
But Andri Garrido, president of the Pro Tourism Development and Natural Resources Conservation Committee (Conatura-Miches) goes even further.
For her the disastrous state of the roads is one of the main hurdles to the region’s tourism development. “So what are beautiful beaches and landscapes good for if it’s impossible to reach them?”
When nothing happens
In Miches, and according to the data of the National Statistics Office (ONE), 55.6% of the residents are poor, and their main complaint is the lack of jobs.
“Here we live on remittances,” says Rafael Candelario. “Thanks to that is why one survives. The fishing is difficult because one day there’s fish but another there’s none and the farmers cannot sell their fruits.”
SOURCE: listin.com.do
From: United States
Well, whatever you do, do not let hotels in there.
Because your 10 year old mentality SD "Mayor blames hoteliers for prostitutes, thugs "
From: Dominican Republic
I was in Miches on Monday. The road from Otra Banda to Miches is best left to those on dual purpose motorcycles. Bridges washed out....culverts washed out and leaving a one lane rocky passage....one area is filled with earth...now two deep ruts impassible for cars and small SUVs. It is 65 miles from Bavaro...only takes 3 hours!
The road south to El Seibo is somewhat better, but the landslides are normal and it too is full of increasing dangers.
I have always enjoyed a lunch in Miches, as I did the other day. Thankfully my TW200 gets me there without having to replace parts!
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
That's nothing new. I've "discovered" Miches 25 years ago, and nothing has changed.
Only, more poor people because of the Dominican national sport..
Written by: zooma, 6 Oct 2010 9:55 AM
From: United States
The road to Miches from La Otra Banda is one of the most scenic on the island because of its beautiful vistas of the campo and lack of commercial sprawl. The drawback of the road as mentioned in the earlier posts is the lack of repair and improvement, to travel it is a horror show as this poster has done it many times. Each successive passage of the road finds more damage to the point it is barely adequate even by Dominican standards.
The village needs an economic booster shot, the repair and improvement of this via and the others is absolutely necessary to allow uninhibited transit of commerce into the area. However, this comment is guarded because the commerce needed should be that to improve the life of the inhabitants, not to rip them off.
From: United States
OK. Why the -1's? It was a joke, like the Mayor of the largest city in the DR.
If I was to suggest a real cure, it would be not to let ANY Dominican politician, police or government agency in Miches.
Then you could be assured things would get better.
Written by: danny00, 6 Oct 2010 1:42 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
many years ago on t.v. they where asking people to send money to some country in africa. the problem at this time in this country their had been no rain for over 20 years in this country. the united nations and other groups where sending money food and many other supplies help these poor people. from the lack of rain they could not grow any food from the farms.
GET TO THE POINT. WHY DONT THEY MOVE TO A OTHER AREA WHERE THE LAND IS RICH AND THEY CAN GROW FRUITS AND VEG'S?.
again my thoughts would be why dont these poor folks MOVE TO OTHER PART OF THE ISLAND?
what are they waiting for?
Written by: danny00, 6 Oct 2010 1:44 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
so they are poor their are many poor people in the dr. and many other countries in the world. they can be poor in other cities in the dr. thats not a hard to do.
Written by: razon, 7 Oct 2010 1:01 AM
From: United States, Florida
I think it's the perfect place for a monastery
Written by: Escott, 7 Oct 2010 3:34 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera and Sosua a 2 days a month for payday
Miches was touted as the next Punta Cana. I went to investigate and my girlfriend didn't want to stay one day in that shithole. There is Nothing there other than a beach and guess what on an island you have beaches all around.
Only problem with the TW200 is it has the smallest gas tank of all bikes. While I enjoy it, gas is a constant worry. Good on the roads here with the fat tires. Bumps are easier than other bikes.
From: United States
Unfortunately, the only industry and number one export from Miches is illegal traficking to Puerto Rico. One good thing about that is that they will send remittances to families back home.
Written by: machete, 14 Oct 2010 4:46 PM
From: United States
I was born and raised, in this town, the people from Miches though some of us had has the chance to come to the US or moved to other part of the island still very much intouch with the town because of family and because its hard to leave what you know, to pack and move to other town without knowing if you'll find something to eat,or work, because unlike other places in DR. in miches,we all eat from the same plate, a little piece of bread it might be little but it is bless cus we will all eat a piece. but the reality is that this is town that has been neglected by its politicians. I remember how in the 80s and 70 the amount of money suppostely dedicated for education and the road, just to hear that the engineers and workers has stole it all. but the educations is what is important here, 55% of the community dont have a high school diploma, because you have to help make ends meat. hopefully there would be a goverment that would do for Miches,instaed of taking from its people
Smaller
Bigger
Close Gallery
Facebook
Digg this
del.icio.us
Technorati
Yahoo
Because your 10 year old mentality SD "Mayor blames hoteliers for prostitutes, thugs "
The road south to El Seibo is somewhat better, but the landslides are normal and it too is full of increasing dangers.
I have always enjoyed a lunch in Miches, as I did the other day. Thankfully my TW200 gets me there without having to replace parts!
Only, more poor people because of the Dominican national sport..
The road to Miches from La Otra Banda is one of the most scenic on the island because of its beautiful vistas of the campo and lack of commercial sprawl. The drawback of the road as mentioned in the earlier posts is the lack of repair and improvement, to travel it is a horror show as this poster has done it many times. Each successive passage of the road finds more damage to the point it is barely adequate even by Dominican standards.
The village needs an economic booster shot, the repair and improvement of this via and the others is absolutely necessary to allow uninhibited transit of commerce into the area. However, this comment is guarded because the commerce needed should be that to improve the life of the inhabitants, not to rip them off.
OK. Why the -1's? It was a joke, like the Mayor of the largest city in the DR.
If I was to suggest a real cure, it would be not to let ANY Dominican politician, police or government agency in Miches.
Then you could be assured things would get better.
GET TO THE POINT. WHY DONT THEY MOVE TO A OTHER AREA WHERE THE LAND IS RICH AND THEY CAN GROW FRUITS AND VEG'S?.
again my thoughts would be why dont these poor folks MOVE TO OTHER PART OF THE ISLAND?
what are they waiting for?
Only problem with the TW200 is it has the smallest gas tank of all bikes. While I enjoy it, gas is a constant worry. Good on the roads here with the fat tires. Bumps are easier than other bikes.