Santo Domingo.- President Leonel Fernández says that although 2009 may bring many challenges, “Dominicans will emerge victorious thanks to the climate of peace and the investment projects in the pipeline”.
He said that while many were predicting that the country was close to the edge and on the verge of an apocalypse, the country would rise to the challenges of the coming year as a result of dreams and hope.
The president made these statements during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Punta Perla project on the east coast of the country. The project involves an investment of US$5 billion and will create 20,000 direct jobs in its first phase. Also present at the event were Albert II of Monaco and project president Ricardo Miranda.
Fernández said that the project at Punta Perla, together with others that are under way, will weaken the effects of the economic crisis that is affecting the rest of the world.
"Thanks to the power of dreams and the power of utopia, today we are able to host the prince of Monaco and to formalize an interchange agreement between Monaco and the Dominican Republic”, said the president.
Ricardo Miranda thanked president Fernández and his government for supporting the investment. He said that the first phase would involve the construction of a beach club, the first boutique hotel, the marina and the first golf course. The first hotel is expected to open next year. Punta Perla will also include 1,082 residential units (villas and apartments) and a range of commercial premises. Also present at the ceremony were Labor Minister Max Puig, Public Works Minister Víctor Díaz and Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
Punta Perla let us hope for the best it is the new wave of tourism if the economy improves ...you would have thought Grace Kelly would have had better looking kids ...anyway someday the Prince will be the titular ruler of a very wealthy casino ...Punta Perla hot stuff
http://www.puntaperlasales.com/Written by: josean, 30 Dec 2008 9:26 AM
From: United States
Lie-onel doing what he does best, shoveling caca!
Written by: Juango, 30 Dec 2008 9:49 AM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
Let us wait and see how these grand investments pan out over the next 18-24 months. My money (the little I have) will continue to buy USA. DR projects have far too much Flash and too expensive for real world values, at this time. The DR can't even provide decent infrastructure at present. These projects, if ever completed, will bring thousand of new jobs for dominicans; bell hops, waiters, maids, gardeners, pool boys, etc. What a future for the the DR. Keep digging LF.
Written by: zak325, 30 Dec 2008 10:48 AM
From: United States
Albert should have brought his trollop sister with him.
From: Dominican Republic, Bonao
good! :)) that part of the country is growing very fast, I'm very happy .. ^^
Written by: Edward, 30 Dec 2008 11:10 AM
From: United States, Faux News: Unfair Imbalance
Great news. I just hope this also benefits the people and not just the investors.
Written by: Jander, 30 Dec 2008 11:35 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Great news! when you can attract the likes of Prince Albert , LF must be a heck of a salesman.
20,000 jobs !
From: United States
i will applaud when i see Leonel digging dirt to start a school to prepare the youth for the future. 20,000 direct jobs; sounds nice, right? lets see how they are distributed. i am keen to see how many chambermaids will be from Monaco.
Written by: Username, 30 Dec 2008 12:11 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Prince Albert will show up anywhere where there is champagne and hot girls. I hope they'll do better than Cap Cana.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
Albert should have brought his trollop sister with him." says Zak ....which one ?
Written by: josean, 30 Dec 2008 12:45 PM
From: United States
Junago your a scholar!
"Written by: Juango, 30 Dec 2008 9:49 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Let us wait and see how these grand investments pan out over the next 18-24 months. My money (the little I have) will continue to buy USA. DR projects have far too much Flash and too expensive for real world values, at this time. The DR can't even provide decent infrastructure at present. These projects, if ever completed, will bring thousand of new jobs for dominicans; bell hops, waiters, maids, gardeners, pool boys, etc. What a future for the the DR. Keep digging LF."
Written by: Juango, 30 Dec 2008 12:49 PM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
Thank you Josean, but I am not worthy: you are my... GOD! I bow before you.....
From: Spain, Ibiza, Minorca, Mallorca
Isn't this Albert II, the son of the late Grace Kelly (who mysteriously died in an accident) and Rainier such and such? This is another example of what some of the sheeple call a single bullet, grassy knoll conspiracy cases....Que bonito? Now her son is "investing" in el Este...I see that region being over-exploited within a short time...It will be one big development like Florida's Gold Coast that runs 70 miles from Miami to West Plam Beach.....All the way up A1A, traffic signal city...
Albert II, merci pour les euros mon ami! Mais, ou est ta mere?
Written by: josean, 30 Dec 2008 12:58 PM
From: United States
GOD!
Spell it backwards and Chauncey wil agree with you!
From: United States, New York City
"you would have thought Grace Kelly would have had better looking kids "
I mean seriously...her daughters look no where near as stunning as Grace Kelly was..rather simple looking chicks..she does have a hot grandaughter, though..
Written by: antonio1, 30 Dec 2008 4:20 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Av Santa Rosa, La Romana
This is the one part of the country that needs the most investment to reduce boat people from risking their live.
Written by: jacirez 
, 30 Dec 2008 5:35 PM
From: Iran, Zähedän
Let's wait and see, shall we...?
Written by: Username, 30 Dec 2008 9:36 PM
From: Dominican Republic
What boat people? In the capitalist DR? I thought only those poor Commie Cubans were doing that.
From: Spain, Ibiza, Minorca, Mallorca
Written by: cibaeño75, 30 Dec 2008 1:46 PM
From: United States, New York City
"you would have thought Grace Kelly would have had better looking kids "
Cibao: Time is a deteriorating factor; 30 years ago (the big sister) Caroline of Monaco was considered a "fox'.
Even I thought so....She was not bad looking at all......Fast forward 30 something years? Una vieja cualquiera.. Now Prince Ranieri on the other hand, the husband was no Dandy! Feo y pico!
Bueno, como decia Andy Montañez del Gran Combo: "las hojas blancas siguen callendo".
From: Dominican Republic, Boycott Dominican Tourism
Written by: Maquis, 31 Dec 2008 3:35 AM
From: United States
Great. Soon it will be like Harlem and the people won't be able to afford to live in their own homes. The rich can sweep in and build mansions with ocean views. A permanent underclass of maids, gardeners, and cooks has been created. Bravo!
From: United States
Maquis, i appreciate your supporting input. when i make mention of the socio-economic dynamics which eventuate from this modality, i take all manner of flagellation from posters who see me as xenophobic, and anti-foreigner. you are absolutely correct in your assessment, and the local dominican will soon find that he will be a stranger in his own land. a little song from calypsonian Rohan Seon;
like an alien
in our own land
i feel like a stranger
and i sense danger
we cannot sell out the whole country
to please the foreign lobby
what is the point of progress
is it really success
if we gain ten billion
but lose the land we live on?
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
Written by: antonio1, 1 Jan 2009 11:13 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Av Santa Rosa, La Romana
Lets be objective, Dominican wants a steady jobs to feed their family and have some money in their pocket to drink a beer. The workforce required to build this project will be in the hundreds for several years and that is precisely what this part of the country need.
From: United States
well, antonio1, we have a difference of opinion. you apparently are a minimalist in terms of expectations. for you , it is a matter of dominicans "having a steady job to feed their families and drink a beer". it does no seem to occur to you that the foreigners who are associated with the hotels are not just here to make a pittance and buy a beer with what is left after they go to the colmado. i am not a believer in the dictum that "we should be grateful for the jobs". do you think that the multinational corporations who build these facilities should be "grateful" that they have a place to set up their operations, get cheap labor, and make a fortune in profits, while locals are "buying a beer"? does it bother you that for every dollar made in the tourism business, the DR sees 19 cents? does it bother you that in order to get the liitle amount we receive, Dominicans cannot drink this beer on certain beaches? or cannot access certain areas? how about the drain on local resources?
From: United States
are you aware that foreigners consume 20 times the water per capita as locals? so, when Belkis is using a pail to take a bath with 5 gallons of water, Mr Gringo is in the hot water for 20 minutes? how about all the attendant social externalities, such as drugs, crime, and prostitution? the pedophilia occasioned by several of the guests upon young girls and boys? the raising of prices of consumer staples, and land in the tourist catchment area? is all of that worth a beer? i think not.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
Dread the beer is way over priced do to lack of competition for so many years ...We know you and I are doing our best buying Brahma ....the Brahma brewery alone had to open another bottling line just to handle your consumption
From: United States
GC, i just cannot drink beer, for some reason. once in a great while , maybe, but habitually, no. i would rather have a rum and coke. the only problem is that i am yet to meet a barmaid or bartender who understands that a cuba libre (please eschew the politics for now) is made to a formula; 2 parts rum, 5 parts cola, and a spritz of lime. if you have a zester, you can add a touch of lime zest. now that is a drink; not the rum and cokes you get here, with 1 ounce of carta dorada and 12 ounces of cola in a beverage glass. i would not use that to wash my hubcaps.
Written by: antonio1, 2 Jan 2009 3:27 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Av Santa Rosa, La Romana
Mr Dreadlock, whats the alternative?
Written by: santanar, 2 Jan 2009 3:38 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Ramon Santana
800 plus jobs should be a blessing para Miche and surrounding areas, I just return back from my hometown of Ramon Santana (30 north of San Pedro de Macoris) and the progress is enormous, lets not mention La Capital that is becoming one of Latin America best looking city.
Written by: josean, 2 Jan 2009 3:49 PM
From: United States
"Ramon Santana (30 north of San Pedro de Macoris) and the progress is enormous"
Such as?
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
dread have you you tried an " Anita Bryant " it is two ounces Mount Gay rum five ounces OJ and a Squeeze
From: United States
sounds good, GC.. thanks for the heads up. you just cannot drink too many, because of the citric acid, or tomorrow you will be suicidal. as to antonio, i believe he needs a small lesson in the sociology of labor in this neck of the woods. Dominicans are not going to benefit much from the construction of these buildings. the skilled labor will all come from abroad, and the donkey work will be done by Haitians, who will accept anything that they can get. the multinationals are all a part of the race to the bottom; getting labor as cheaply as possible; in this case, Haitians. i can offer no short term solutions, but that does not mean i cannot assess and criticise the situation. because of unemnployment and lack of proper educational opportunities, people will have to take what they can get. the foreigners are aware of this, and that is why they offer the slave wages that they do. it helps in a pinch, but that does not mean we have to be grateful.
From: United States
the people who have to be grateful for the condition are those who are driving around the compounds in the Bimmer and the Benz, not the guy who can "buy a beer".
Written by: santanar, 2 Jan 2009 4:36 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Ramon Santana
Such as?
Josean what do you know about my home town other them what you read on Wikipedia? I'll tell you that between new constructions, clean streets and people working are areas of progress, trust me, I know// Mr D, your assessment is well make, but as you well pointed out the initial construction from the earth mover to the guy who lay down the foundation to the block layer and other task that goes with building an infrastructure should bring in jobs in the NEAR to MID term.
Written by: josean, 2 Jan 2009 4:45 PM
From: United States
About your home town: I know the beautiful hillsides are strewn with garbage because of no municipal garbage disposal.
But since I do not know anything please enlighten me!
Some newspaper articles, some web sites with before and after pictures of the PLD miracles in Ramon Santana, so I don't have to depended on Wikipedia!
Written by: josean, 2 Jan 2009 4:51 PM
From: United States
Written by: antonio1, 2 Jan 2009 4:56 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Av Santa Rosa, La Romana
One thing of note is that the same thing is happening across the globe, rich people invest their capital to get a return in country where their assets are no going to be nationalizes, and that created jobs and opportunities for the local. Take as example Toyota, they are going to open a plant in Santiago that will created thousands of jobs, the people on the pay roll don;t care how much of a bonus the CEO is going to take home, he only care about the 1.300 pesos he will bring to the nest.
From: United States
santanar, when i make the commentaries i make, it is because i have SEEN the thing for myself. i do not speak on subjects which i do not understand. i have personal knowledge of a project on the north coast in which all the upper echelon construction staff was brought in from abroad. the haitians were there to do the heavy lifting. it is the same all over, and will not change any time soon.
Written by: josean, 2 Jan 2009 4:58 PM
From: United States
Written by: santanar, 2 Jan 2009 5:00 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Ramon Santana
Thanks Josean, I working on updating the Wiki page, stay tune; FYI population is less then 5 thousand.
Written by: josean, 2 Jan 2009 5:06 PM
From: United States
Written by: santanar, 2 Jan 2009 5:06 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Ramon Santana
Mr D, I don;t have problem with talented Haitians making a living, but the majority of hotels in PC, Sto Dom, Juan Dolio, amongst others are Dominicans, from the front desk, maid, cooks, drivers, bartenders, entertainers.
Written by: santanar, 2 Jan 2009 5:10 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Ramon Santana
Thanks again Josean, but is really hard to appreciated the beauty of my small town from such a high
Written by: santanar, 2 Jan 2009 5:12 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Ramon Santana
Well folk, I work (thanks God) and need to punch out, hasta luego.
From: United States
and, Santanar, i notice where your list did not include people like owners, managers, and upper echelon people. just maids and gardener level employees. is that acceptable, in your mind? then again, it is not absolutely the fault of the foreigner. the successive governments have not prepared locals for this type of employment, so it has to be imported. as long as the government continues building Metros, there will be no money to change the equation.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
dread same old song and it aint so ....throw them back into the sea the exploiters and the oppressors...maids and gardeners only need apply
Written by: Username, 2 Jan 2009 7:44 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Almost every company in DR that's making money (in the open market without government connections and government contracts) has imported management, or very well paid foreign advisers. Education receives less funding than the department for maintaining government Land Cruisers.
From: Dominican Republic, PROUD & Glad to have a Spanish last name and ancestry
Let’s hope that whoever is hired to design future projects in DR take in consideration that there should be green public spaces for the locals to use, and the historical context to be maintained.
When I returned to Santiago after ten years of absence back in the 90’s, I went to the Monumento; I felt my hurt dropped when I saw the ugliest replica of the Santo Domingo opera House (I think that is what is called?) right in the middle of the most beautiful Boulevard that existed leading to the Monumento. Not only they killed this beautiful boulevard with that ugly building, it was not enough, they built a monstrous elevated bridge with the cheapest ugliest light poles they can find, ignoring all historical aspect of the area.
Continues…
From: Dominican Republic, PROUD & Glad to have a Spanish last name and ancestry
Continuatuon..
Decades ago when you were in the Avenida Duarte coming from La Vega or Santo Domingo you could see the Monumento from miles with its blossoming red flamboyanes. When I saw this crime, I wanted to cry. The view was gone, so were these old flamboyanes.
My point, there should be a city/community hearing that approves any projects, locals historians , architects and city planners must be involved in a non paid volunteer position to approve or reject any project that is not suited for the area.
From: United States
GC, you keep saying "it ain't so", without providing evidence to the contrary. show me, with facts and figures, wherein the management and ownership of these facilities is justly represented by locals..as i said before, i do not see any caucasian faces scrubbing pots in the kitchens. if they are in the kitchen, it is because they are the executive chefs.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
why dont we just drag some cigar salesman off the playa and make him executive chef
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
dread define justly ....to you it is a unionized standstill with little quality or efficiency....ie automobiles /taxi sindicatos= worker justice
From: United States
no, GC; your POTENTIAL executive chefs..do you believe that foreign builders bring carpenters from abroad to work on hotels here because there are no carpenters to be found locally? do you believe that foreign concerns have all the upper echelons staffed by foreigners because there are no educated people here? do not get into the reductionist ideas of dragging cigar salesmen off the beach and making them chefs; there are good chefs available locally. i know of one who is going to work in a hotel in Haiti next week, because he cannot get a job here.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
dred the concept of food costing alone is a skill that some never master let alone on a scale of hundreds or thousands of meals a day .....on the job training is very good ....do you think these companies want to pay the huge salaries and per diem etc it costs to import these people ....the answer is no
From: United States, Orange County, California
It's not just about building, but advertising in order to attract the visitors. Too much investments in tourism, but what about the other sectors. We are in the need of diversification.
From: United States
ZonaDominicana, at least one person agrees with me here; tourism is being overbuilt, and the rest of the productive sector is being overlooked. scholars have all opined that consumption patterns are going to change ,what with the economics of the world today. the one constant will be agriculture, as people have to eat. but agriculture is not sexy, and this culture likes showy things. so, people are impressed by the golf courses and the coming here of famous people. it does not matter if they benefit; it makes for big time bragging rights. with some of the best agricultural land on earth, the agricultural sector is underperforming woefully; a lost opportunity. with all the developments in agricuilture, we could take advantage of new seed types and growing methods , and produce wonderful crops
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
yes agriculture is fantastic seriously ....but dread this is a concentration of wealth by large farms and co ops...just like the plantation.... training tractor drivers etc
From: United States
agriculture modalities in the DR do not have to mimic the agribusiness ways of North America. with the labor rates here, agriculture can remain labor intensive in the short to medium run, and still be competitive. food is the only constant there is in terms of commerce. unlike another constant, medical supplies, it does not suffer from the phenomenon of constructive destruction, so a farmer today will be able to remain a farmer tomorrow, without massive expenditures on research and development.
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20,000 jobs !
"Written by: Juango, 30 Dec 2008 9:49 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Let us wait and see how these grand investments pan out over the next 18-24 months. My money (the little I have) will continue to buy USA. DR projects have far too much Flash and too expensive for real world values, at this time. The DR can't even provide decent infrastructure at present. These projects, if ever completed, will bring thousand of new jobs for dominicans; bell hops, waiters, maids, gardeners, pool boys, etc. What a future for the the DR. Keep digging LF."
Albert II, merci pour les euros mon ami! Mais, ou est ta mere?
Spell it backwards and Chauncey wil agree with you!
I mean seriously...her daughters look no where near as stunning as Grace Kelly was..rather simple looking chicks..she does have a hot grandaughter, though..
http://vainasdominicanas.blogspot....onel-dando-estillas-en-dubai.html
From: United States, New York City
"you would have thought Grace Kelly would have had better looking kids "
Cibao: Time is a deteriorating factor; 30 years ago (the big sister) Caroline of Monaco was considered a "fox'.
Even I thought so....She was not bad looking at all......Fast forward 30 something years? Una vieja cualquiera.. Now Prince Ranieri on the other hand, the husband was no Dandy! Feo y pico!
Bueno, como decia Andy Montañez del Gran Combo: "las hojas blancas siguen callendo".
From: United States
It's 10:00 pm! Does Leonel knows where his daughter is? apparently he's not the only one that likes Kipe.....
http://vainasdominicanas.blogspot....onel-dando-estillas-en-dubai.html
she is fat , but not ugly like her father.
like an alien
in our own land
i feel like a stranger
and i sense danger
we cannot sell out the whole country
to please the foreign lobby
what is the point of progress
is it really success
if we gain ten billion
but lose the land we live on?
Such as?
Josean what do you know about my home town other them what you read on Wikipedia? I'll tell you that between new constructions, clean streets and people working are areas of progress, trust me, I know// Mr D, your assessment is well make, but as you well pointed out the initial construction from the earth mover to the guy who lay down the foundation to the block layer and other task that goes with building an infrastructure should bring in jobs in the NEAR to MID term.
But since I do not know anything please enlighten me!
Some newspaper articles, some web sites with before and after pictures of the PLD miracles in Ramon Santana, so I don't have to depended on Wikipedia!
Look there is nothing on Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramon_Santana
http://www.maplandia.com/dominica....an-pedro-de-macors/ramon-santana/
http://www.playasantana.com/english/the_resort.html
PS I am usually very luck at their casino!
When I returned to Santiago after ten years of absence back in the 90’s, I went to the Monumento; I felt my hurt dropped when I saw the ugliest replica of the Santo Domingo opera House (I think that is what is called?) right in the middle of the most beautiful Boulevard that existed leading to the Monumento. Not only they killed this beautiful boulevard with that ugly building, it was not enough, they built a monstrous elevated bridge with the cheapest ugliest light poles they can find, ignoring all historical aspect of the area.
Continues…
Decades ago when you were in the Avenida Duarte coming from La Vega or Santo Domingo you could see the Monumento from miles with its blossoming red flamboyanes. When I saw this crime, I wanted to cry. The view was gone, so were these old flamboyanes.
My point, there should be a city/community hearing that approves any projects, locals historians , architects and city planners must be involved in a non paid volunteer position to approve or reject any project that is not suited for the area.