SANTO DOMINGO.- The National Hotels and Restaurants Association (ASONAHORES) yesterday proposed that the government take out a US$500 million long-term loan to build the tourism infrastructure the country needs to convert the Dominican Republic into a world- class destination.
Asonahores President Luis Lopez said the high cost of energy is one of the the industry’s priorities and asked the government and the private sector to work with a common agenda
“Our current challenges are to keep coordinating with the government and the private sector to identify and place those urgent points at the forefront, to completely organize and improve the tourism regions and give us an advantage over our competitors,” the hotelier said.
Asonahores asked that the hotels be allowed to become unregulated users to benefit from the competition among power companies to lower costs, and to connect the Punta Cana and Bayahíbe power companies to the national grid.
Lopez spoke last night to inaugurate the organization’s 22nd Commercial Exhibit, in which 95 local, United States and Costa Rica companies participate, and attended by the new Tourism minister, Francisco Javier Garcia.
Written by: buenoha, 28 Aug 2008 10:02 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo
Why do they propose that the state takes more loans? Of course infrastructure is vital, but the state should be the one to calculate their budget and it should not be the private sector who tells the state what amounts they should take as a loan. FRESCURA!
Written by: jacirez, 28 Aug 2008 12:59 PM
From: Canada, Northern Alberta
buenoha,
The National Hotels and Restaurants Association (ASONAHORES) is what in North America we call a Lobby Group. They "persuade" the government to take up positions that are favorable to their agenda.
In this case Asonahores also asked that the hotels be allowed to become unregulated users to benefit from the competition among power companies to lower costs, and to connect the Punta Cana and Bayahíbe power companies to the national grid. Such a move is designed to lower their energy costs.
Half a billion dollars would go long way in leveraging their own infrastructure expenses. Since these upgrades are vital to the future of the industry and these expenses will have to incurred anyway, they are trying to "persuade" the government to put up the money, so they won't have to.
Hope that helps...
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
Punta Cana has produced their own power for some time and has nothing to do with the government that is why it works and that is why there is hardly ever any apagones.....allow these incompetents to touch it who are in the government and that is the end of the good and consistent service
Written by: jacirez, 28 Aug 2008 1:46 PM
From: Canada, Northern Alberta
gouletcolonial,
"the hotels be allowed to become unregulated users to benefit from the competition among power companies to lower costs, and to connect the Punta Cana and Bayahíbe power companies to the national grid..."
They will become what in North America we call Co-Generators: They will use use the national power grid when power is cheap; then pump power into the grid when it is expensive...Such a move is designed to lower their energy costs.
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
good for them at least they know what the hell they are doing and they are consistent ,,,,the Government should have given them the power company for free 15 years ago and we would be in the 21 st century by now...Instead of praying for nutty hugo to bail us out
Written by: jacirez, 28 Aug 2008 2:23 PM
From: Canada, Northern Alberta
gouletcolonial,
I agreee. The power grid and distribution should have been completely privatized a long time ago--however, unless there is a stringent enforcement of the power company's responsibilities (to provide power); it would be for nothing...
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
we agree .....then stop calling me a bigot and a peasant
From: United States
yes, Jacirez. peasant, maybe.
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
yes I am proud of my humble beginnings
Written by: jacirez, 28 Aug 2008 3:20 PM
From: Canada, Northern Alberta
gouletcolonial,
I promised I will...if you promise to rise above petty racial epithets and fat jokes. I believe you to be a rather thoughtful and intelligent individual, let that side of you make the arguments...
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
we shall see....I must check with my advisor Dreadlocks....racial epithets sounds so ugly and I know I dont use them except with very close friends to whom they apply....and I am also round myself
From: United States
goulet, let me just be your advisor on matters equestrian. my advice; Red Rum in the fifth.
Written by: Trujillo, 28 Aug 2008 4:37 PM
From: Dominican Republic
More than that is wasted...I mean, spent each year in subsidies. The govervenment should stay out of the energy sector and many other things. The less government involvement in the energy sector the better.
From: United States
ARTICLE SAYS: (ASONAHORES) yesterday proposed that the government take out a US$500 million long-term loan to build the tourism infrastructure the country needs to convert the Dominican Republic into a world- class destination.
Asanhores---Should get their own loans; They want the benies; Let them get the collateral, make the commitment to repay the loan, take the risk, and pay it back. If you dance to the music ..pay the piper. Infrastructure? if they didn't need these secluded resorts for their exclusive clientele, they'd be no need for the roads, utility lines, police patrol, and the rest of the ammenities.
On another (related) note, here's a Nobel Laureate's opinion on the "Caribbean for sale concept":
http://www.caribbeanworldnews.com/middle_top_news_detail.php?mid=1317 Prostitution of the Antilles? Son of a beach.
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
From: United States
Arsenio, i sang the same song in many of my postings, and took a lashing from other posters. it is not just happening here in the DR, but the cancer is very aggressive here. folks, this is not some sort of xenophobic rant. i said in a posting maybe 2 weeks ago that the Dominican Republic is all that dominicans have to call home. when it gets sold off to foreigners, who give nothing back, then you end up with nothing. i do not presume to be as erudite as Mr Walcott, but we see eye to eye on this subject. and, for all the Dominicans living in new york, who keep celebrating the influx of foreigners as a great development, because they bring jobs, ; why do't some of you come here, go through the classifieds ,where these guys advertise these JOBS, and apply for one. you will realise, in short order, that these jobs are not intended for you. they are for other foreigners who live here. if they need dishwashers and gardeners, you will be apprised!
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
Dread you obviously did not read the above article from the same publication as Walcotts.rant......and from an organization with data and statistics ...not a literary left wing political crank speaking in a very socialist country
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
the taxes are being collected and in essence being stolen or incorrectly used by the inept crooked local governments .....The room tax ...departure tax etc are enormous.....let alone jobs and small businesses
From: United States
thanks for the article, GC. but that has nothing to do with the selloff of the country to outsiders. if i had the time and the resources, i would undertake a study to determine what percentage of hotel management jobs in the DR are filled by locals. i mean, real good jobs. i bet there are not too many people from germany and spain washing dishes in bavaro!
From: United States
Well dreadlocks, I think the situation in DR is a double edged sword. At one time DR wasn't known to many in the world, it was just a small country that shares an island with Haiti. Dominicans as a whole are people filled with pride, and they embrace the fact that Trump, and big time investors are coming to invest in their country. Before they didn't have any jobs period, they didn't have jobs being a gardener or being a dishwasher. Though it seems ridiculous that they are pushed to those menial jobs, but I think their mentality is that it is better to have something than nothing. The only thing that dominicans fail to understand is the growing inequality between the rich and the poor. And the long term goal for the country. Right now the foreigners are not really set into integrating with the Dominican identity. The sad thing is that tourism isn't all that bad if ur smart with it. I think DR needs to use tourism to better the lives of dominicans not foreigners only
From: United States
Anonymous, you cannot use tourism to benefit the lives of Dominicans when you have only symbolic control of it. the worst condition a developing country can experience is BRAIN DRAIN. i am not opposing the fact that dominicans do benefit from the tourist industry. my question is which dominicans. subsistence wages paid to menial laborers is a suckers game. there are hordes of dominicans who have spent time at utesa and uasd, getting college degrees. i know brilliant young kids here, who walk around with typewritten resumes that are weatherbeaten and threadbare, because they have shown them to so many people in the hotel industry, with no success. then some guy comes in on vacation from somewhere like canada, has a few beers in a bar, and by night's end has a job offer in tourism or real estate. these are not imaginings; i see it all the time. so what does the educated, unemployed dominican do? he joins the line at the US embassy, looking to take his skills to a place where he has hope
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
DREAD That is a very scary statement nationalize tourism "you cannot use tourism to benefit the lives of Dominicans when you have only symbolic control of it. " Dread say it aint so
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
government cant keep the lights on ....How well do think they would do with room service
From: United States
nationalise, no. just make for more just rules of hiring. tourism is the most important hard currency provider that the country has. it is also the largest provider of jobs, if you ignore the bureaucracy. that being the case, it has to be formatted in such a way as to offer meaningful jobs to Dominicans. i am not advocating running off foreigners. i just don't think foreigners should be allowed to run off Dominicans, either! a certain amount of management jobs should be set aside for dominicans. that is not unreasonable; do you think there could be a hotel in germany wherein all the upper management is dominican, and the germans are pushing brooms? i think not.
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
dread the Dominican tourism industry is preparing and has been preparing skilled hotel employees for some time at a rate better than most islands....the major American hotel chains cherish locally skilled mid and upper mgt staff .....What the DR needs to do is build a Hospitality and Hotel School to provide accounting skills and Mgt training......God only knows they collect enough room and departure tax and then spend it on their fat salaries
From: United States
Here's the problem:
Bear Stearns, Wall Street Securities giant, was in the headlines recently with financial woes.
Nationwide Mortgage, NO.1 mortgage lender in U.S. went bankrupt, BankOne bought them for pennies on the dollar. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, housing top echelon lenders, teetering on the verge of collapse. At least '300' banks in America, are at the brink of economic death. The whole earth is contemplating the shattering of the global economies.
The scenario:
DR Borrow $500 m? At this point in history (a esta altura del juego)?
The perfect storm is brewing!
(ASONAHORES) must know where the elusive 1,200k are. They must be snorting some nitron puree, cachet bombita! Not only are they pontificating and sending the DR "on a beer run"; They think they're slick..World Class country? It's time to sit back and watch the next shoe to drop. Time to watch you assets; Not to hock your assets for a frivoulous investment scheme loan? 'Tan pero bien pasao. Sober up
From: United States
Arsenio, with the risk of sounding overly genuflective, i have to say you have a way of expressing yourself that is highly refreshing. and GC, I do agree that it is past high time for serious hotel schools here. but there are people here who are trainable for simple jobs, and they are passed over for foreigners. i see it every day, and it pains me, because some of these are really bright people. if north americans and euros want to discriminate in their countries, then , so be it. but it should not happen here.because we are going to lose the brightest and the best, who will probably do the next best thing and get into politics. what a waste! or, we will be hearing from them via postcard from manhattan.
From: United States
Continued----
(ASONAHORES) Or they're doing 'Tony Montana', lines, or they're being gassed up by motivational speaker Tony Robbins! Either way they need to sober up, and smell the fish. An economic Tsunami is threatening to engulf the whole world and these tycoons are thinking of more expansions; Sending the DR to borrow for them.....If the country weren't able to pay back......37 x $500 M........If things are bad now; what will happen when the borrowers start to lean hard on the DR for their money? A replay of the American occupation of the early 20th Century....Next, they'll handle the shipping tarrifs?
Thanks, but no thanks......Just, say no! Get help at Hogar Crea...Or, the Betty Ford clinic; But, don't offer that cocaine induced grandiose perspective called advice to the country. Get help!
$500,000,000................Que va, olvidate de eso! A mind is a terrible thing to waste!
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
Dread it is unusual for foreign workers to accept jobs on the Dominican pay scale and it is very expensive to transfer people from the States or Europe...Most companies would be thrilled to discover local talent ...At one time an old friend of mine was the GM of the Juaragua. Hotel I spent a lot of time their and the imports were as few as possible....for example kitchen staff of large hotel 2 imports mostly they were department heads
From: United States
correction, GC. i do not know about where you live, but there are numerous foreigners who live on the north coast who are happy to live on 7 dollar per hour salaries. they can get a decent studio/ 1 bedroom for 7 thousand pesos per month.they have almost 30,000 left over to live on. there are quite a few of those jobs around, but, as i said before, dominicans ain't getting them. they are reserved for foreigners!
Written by: jacirez, 29 Aug 2008 5:22 PM
From: Canada, Northern Alberta
dreadlocks,
Not true. If you have the language and ancillary skills--you will most likely get the job as much as a foreigner..
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
Dread the hotel business is very specific and specialized what jobs are they taking I cannot imagine ?I know many young experienced hotel and Fand B people who would work here for that money but if they are not bilingual forget it ....but only the adventurous and single for a year maybe but I am skeptical ...Corporate hotels of any quality dont work like that ....Dread this is a bigger problem in the english speaking islands where local talent is even thinner and the antagonism greater
From: United States
are you asking me, Jacirez, or are you telling me? i really have a problem with people who seek to correct me regarding a subject, when i see the issue on a daily basis. by the way, without being specific, do you live in the DR? have you ever applied for any of these jobs yourself? do you know of anybody holding these jobs? are you just assuming your position, or can you give specifics.? no theories,nor philosophies, please. just plain old fashion facts and reality.
From: United States
GC, in which islands is local talent thinner than it is here? just asking.
From: United States
further GC, as you well know, the tourism industry is not just hotels.there are other ancillary services, i already told you about the time i enquired about a job, and the canadian manager told me "sorry, but we are only hiring canadians". right here in the DR! not like" send me your resume", or " do you have experience in x and y ?" just plain old "no, you are not canadian. so, Jacirez, do not tell me "not true". I'VE BEEN THERE AND BACK!
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
dread this is in todays paper about Charley Rangel they must be going after him...NEW YORK - A published report says Rep. Charles Rangel has "only sporadically" declared rental income from a beachside villa he owns in the Dominican Republic, raising questions about his financial disclosures under federal regulations.
The New York Post says Rangel has owned the "casita No. 412" at the Punta Cana Hotel for 20 years and regularly rented it out for $500 to $1,100 a day, depending on the season.
The Post quoted Rangel as saying he had "not received any rental income" from the property. He also refused to comment on his investments in the resort, calling that "a private matter."
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
casita at Punta Cana beach club for 20 years....nice little investment,he got in on the ground floor .....you figure he must be the token dread
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The National Hotels and Restaurants Association (ASONAHORES) is what in North America we call a Lobby Group. They "persuade" the government to take up positions that are favorable to their agenda.
In this case Asonahores also asked that the hotels be allowed to become unregulated users to benefit from the competition among power companies to lower costs, and to connect the Punta Cana and Bayahíbe power companies to the national grid. Such a move is designed to lower their energy costs.
Half a billion dollars would go long way in leveraging their own infrastructure expenses. Since these upgrades are vital to the future of the industry and these expenses will have to incurred anyway, they are trying to "persuade" the government to put up the money, so they won't have to.
Hope that helps...
"the hotels be allowed to become unregulated users to benefit from the competition among power companies to lower costs, and to connect the Punta Cana and Bayahíbe power companies to the national grid..."
They will become what in North America we call Co-Generators: They will use use the national power grid when power is cheap; then pump power into the grid when it is expensive...Such a move is designed to lower their energy costs.
I agreee. The power grid and distribution should have been completely privatized a long time ago--however, unless there is a stringent enforcement of the power company's responsibilities (to provide power); it would be for nothing...
I promised I will...if you promise to rise above petty racial epithets and fat jokes. I believe you to be a rather thoughtful and intelligent individual, let that side of you make the arguments...
Asanhores---Should get their own loans; They want the benies; Let them get the collateral, make the commitment to repay the loan, take the risk, and pay it back. If you dance to the music ..pay the piper. Infrastructure? if they didn't need these secluded resorts for their exclusive clientele, they'd be no need for the roads, utility lines, police patrol, and the rest of the ammenities.
On another (related) note, here's a Nobel Laureate's opinion on the "Caribbean for sale concept":
http://www.caribbeanworldnews.com/middle_top_news_detail.php?mid=1317
Prostitution of the Antilles? Son of a beach.
Bear Stearns, Wall Street Securities giant, was in the headlines recently with financial woes.
Nationwide Mortgage, NO.1 mortgage lender in U.S. went bankrupt, BankOne bought them for pennies on the dollar. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, housing top echelon lenders, teetering on the verge of collapse. At least '300' banks in America, are at the brink of economic death. The whole earth is contemplating the shattering of the global economies.
The scenario:
DR Borrow $500 m? At this point in history (a esta altura del juego)?
The perfect storm is brewing!
(ASONAHORES) must know where the elusive 1,200k are. They must be snorting some nitron puree, cachet bombita! Not only are they pontificating and sending the DR "on a beer run"; They think they're slick..World Class country? It's time to sit back and watch the next shoe to drop. Time to watch you assets; Not to hock your assets for a frivoulous investment scheme loan? 'Tan pero bien pasao. Sober up
(ASONAHORES) Or they're doing 'Tony Montana', lines, or they're being gassed up by motivational speaker Tony Robbins! Either way they need to sober up, and smell the fish. An economic Tsunami is threatening to engulf the whole world and these tycoons are thinking of more expansions; Sending the DR to borrow for them.....If the country weren't able to pay back......37 x $500 M........If things are bad now; what will happen when the borrowers start to lean hard on the DR for their money? A replay of the American occupation of the early 20th Century....Next, they'll handle the shipping tarrifs?
Thanks, but no thanks......Just, say no! Get help at Hogar Crea...Or, the Betty Ford clinic; But, don't offer that cocaine induced grandiose perspective called advice to the country. Get help!
$500,000,000................Que va, olvidate de eso! A mind is a terrible thing to waste!
Not true. If you have the language and ancillary skills--you will most likely get the job as much as a foreigner..
The New York Post says Rangel has owned the "casita No. 412" at the Punta Cana Hotel for 20 years and regularly rented it out for $500 to $1,100 a day, depending on the season.
The Post quoted Rangel as saying he had "not received any rental income" from the property. He also refused to comment on his investments in the resort, calling that "a private matter."