Great idea, attract more retirees. Access to Medicare would greatly improve the possibility.
Quality medical care would be critical for that demographic. Personal security would also be high on the list.

There are various countries around the world that have made special provisions and incentives for wealthy retirees to settle in their countries ..It has worked very well in Malaysia and in Thailand and I believe that it would be a great idea to have a similar plan here .There are normally rules that the foreign retirees should maintain a good amount of money in a bank where they have retired.
The retirement villages that are so common in western coun tries and which only admit the aged are not liked by many retirees who would prefer to live in an open community in a warm climate but with some provisions for health care and basic shopping nearby .
I hope that the DR works hard on this project .

ARRP with its massive clout and purchasing power will be able to get discounts for US seniors on Bullet Proof Vests and Glocks 40s. The more affluent can certainly buy some armored SUVS.

Americans will not put up with your pathetic judicial system and your endemic entitlement mentality.

The first 10,000 who experience the transparent corruption and the fact that no one goes to jail will warn the rest via US media. That will put an end to any well to do American living in the DR even for the winter.

They will not live behind bars.

Have you see the prices of homes and condos in Florida, Texas, Arizona and Nevada? Just to name a few.

You can buy a home for $30K and NOT live behind bars. Not be afraid the police will rob you and be more secure that if violence to you does occur, someone will go to jail.

You do not have a chance to get retirees down there.

josean, that would have to be true.

But once they experienced the increase of robberies at Christmas time, where everyone excepts it, with no one going to jail.

They will pack their bags and leave.

Excellent AARP ( Helen Baptist and Ángela Jones) I've been a member for 10 years.

I've watched the DR for 12 years now with hopes it would be far different today.

Since I haven't been able to bring change in the DR I can assure you I will know everything about these two (2) 'representatives' from here in the US.

The AARP does take our concerns seriously.

gmiller The DR has a very large number of retirees already ,,,for many people the DR is a very attractive retirement destination and yes they may dislike some things here but they have a much more positive attitude than , for example you do , Cocotal , Juan Dolio, Casa de Campo , Guavaberry , Cabrera are all places with american retirees mingled with European retirees,
They can afford a cok and a maid and play golf and go to the beach ..they do not really get involved in the judicial system and so on ,

Little dickie.

You are talking about people that make themselves feel upper class by needing a maid.

My friends would never use a maid and we are the middle of the bell curve.

When I need a maid or a cook is when I go into a nursing home. WTF would you do all day if you are not working?

Little dickie.

"they do not really get involved in the judicial system". What are you nuts? Sure, until they need it.

Who was the American lawyer who was shot and killed in his home in Sosua the day before he was to go to court. Everyone knows who did it, but no one goes to jail. Pathetic.

Once that type of transparent corruption makes the national media circuit the Europeans will be living there alone.

You keep spinning Little Dickie. But you cannot change the reality of the DR.

You can be damn sure that I will also be contacting the AARP since I am a member and let them know of the real situation here in the Domincan Republic. However you can be sure that AARP will not be swayed by some cheap and slick Dominican employee telling them it is safe to move to the Domincan Republic.
Bring a Smith and Wesson, bullet proof vest, armoured SUV and have enough security guards.

PS my opinion is that this guy just went for a quick paid holiday and declared he went to the AARP,

Maybe legalizing voluntary euthanasia will bring a few?

I am sure headlines like these will real bring the retirees here!

"Last night the office of Senator Amílcar Romero’s was shot up"

SAN FRANCISCO DE MACORÍS, Dominican Republic Thursday night,-unknowns attacked width shots from a moving vehicle the offices of Senator Amilcar Romero, setting ablaze a truck that was parked in the front of the building, located on the street on February 27 of the province San Francisco de Macorís.

If senators are being shot at imagine what the everyday Dominican is going through.

This is a Failed Narco State under mob control in a state of criminal anarchy!


Thank you Lie-onel the METRO has done wonders for the country!

http://www.noticiassin.com/2011/1....n-oficina-senador-amilcar-romero/

Well, this country is far from being perfect. But after 26 years, I am still living in this country and still love it. You can find corruption in every country as well as crime. I did had court experience and things were settle to my satisfaction. I also saw horrible court decision. Again, it happen in all country. The country offers great oppurtunity for retirees and most important as mentioned in an other comment would be the medicare protection. In Santiago they have a top private hospital with the best specialist in the country. My team and myself are planning to develop a retirement community in the country side of Puerto Plata and we focus on finding a full medicare protection plan to offer our guests.

We first visited the DR in 1976 booking 2 weeks at Casa De Campo. After 1 week, we became bored and visited Puerto Plata & Sousa. We visited PP & Sosua about 2 yrs later & purchased a condo in Club Nautico planning on spending winters there after retirement.

The PP airport was built circa 1980 & we've watched as the area changed during our annual 3 week vacations.

We had no problems with crime. During one of our visits I took my daughter to the hospital in PP and was dismayed. We were only able to continue with our plans to spend the whole winter by noting that medical evac services would be available to get one to Miami, though at great expense and delay in getting prompt medical attention.

However, plans change & we are now making arrangements to sell the Club Nautico condo.

need those dollars to keep flowing in dr

keep a low profile

I feel sorry for my elderly Neighbours that moved back to there home of birth, after 42 yr"s in the USA..because of crime, lost of respect for elders, prices of goods. and all the hustlers out there always trying to get that paso...after 4 yr"s ther thinking of selling there APT. and moving back to the US....they waited to move to there homeland they loved and missed for 42 yr's to live out there lives in the country they were born. They can't because all of the things that being spoken here ...sorry to ramble off talking, but I think you uderstand what I'm trying to say.....

joebin,
You excuse the terrible condition of the Dominican Republic by saying that you can find crime, corruption and injustice in every country.
Bulls**t!
Exactly how many countries have you been in?
Many countries have very low levels of crime, corruption and injustice and are doing their best to stamp it out completely.
By contrast, crime, corruption and injustice is accepted as widespread and normal here. You only need to see the way houses are built like jails, only difference is, the criminals are on the outside.

gmilller I see now that we are living on very different levels of your bell curve so I am sorry ,,I can not imagine living without a maid and a cook and a gardener ,,I try to employ as many Dominicans as I can and that is the type of retiree I am talking about and think we should encourage ,,,just as many of the Caribbean islands have done as well as Asian countries.

foresthill ,,,when you contact your AARP and telll them how bad you think the DR is ,,,please bring a good sample of your DT postings so they can see you have never anything good to say about anything or anyone ,,,shades of JimH

Well I just paid 2000. pasos to enclose my 2ND FLOOR balcony . at my Apartment in June. my wife said we had to because the people Will climb up and break into the house..I said really 2000. we live on the second floor, don't mean S%$#......WOW so I chill on my cage now

I with you Ricardolito, I tend to have more time or myself and live stress free for the time I'm in the Dr, having a personal Cook and service person makes all the differance. good wages and respect goes along way.

Ricardolito, in 3rd world countries, no matter how poor you are, there is always someone even poorer you can pay to do your dirty work. Maybe it has something to do with being descendants of slaves. Who was it who said: "One thing a slave longs for more than his freedom, is a slave of his own."?
When the poor need to kiss the asses of the rich to make a living, the country is not producing much.

Absolute and total nonsense ,,,there are very good jobs in domestic service and it has absolutely nothing to do with slavery and it is not doing my dirty work .My staff are well paid with all the required benefits and conditions and enjoy their work as a small team and are immensely proud of theiir work .,,they also have learned from me to speak english and french .
If every retireee coming here would emply a gardener and a maid and a cook it would help the economy and also directly help many Dominicans .
There are so many people on this board just waiting to knock the DR, whether it be problems at Cap Cana or this retirement idea or borrowing money for much needed social programmes ..Thank you earthy for your support here and to the employment situation

Hey RoyStone, I have been in many countries, developped and third world countries. Lets just pick USA, where a majority of citizen walk around with guns. I traveled all latin america and same things overthere. How about Mexico? I have been agressed twice in Spain where it was supposed to be safe area. In Madrid airport they took away my briefcase with with my company's computer right in front of the police!!! In Egypt, I felt extremely safe even if most of people will call that country a terrorist nest. In Buenos aires, Argentina, walking down to the metro I was also agressed by someone who wanted to take away my camera. So LIke I wrote, there is violence, crime and corruption in every country. Safe heaven does not exist unless you stay home lock in your room. In all latin countries you will find bars at windows and doors. HOOOOO I forgot to mention that you find that too in USA and Canada (I lived in both countries) European countries also have their house secured!!!

First F... Mexico. They haven't seen any of my money in 15 years. and that is what the DR is becoming.

joebin, Please save me the spin.

They are a country of 9 million the US 300 million. The % of crime/people from stealing to killing must be ten magnitudes greater.

It is the fact that they do crimes with impunity and wear their transparent corruption as a badge of honor and NO ONE goes to jail.

Do you live with bars on your windows? Then I do not call that living.

Do you know if anyone was convicted for any of those crimes? Well I have seen first hand police doing their best to find a perpetrator and the judicial system putting them in jail for a long time. And that made me feel safe.

Dominicans perpetuate the macho entitlement mentality and love it.

"Well I just paid 2000. pasos " Well I stand vindicated. Bars and pays in pasos????

Never had one single negative incident in visiting, or living in the DR over 15 years. Who cares about the politics, it doesn't affect gringos much at all. Some big whiners here apparently....Mama's boys. Glad I'm not in those pitiful shoes. They wouldn't be happy anywhere, not anywhere.

If I'm not mistaken the spanish brought the iron bars concept to the island in the 15th century when the only crime was the Spaniards killing all of the indians.

As time passed the need for iron bars REJAS on all the windows and doors became very necesary.

If I'm not mistaken the spanish brought the iron bars concept to the island in the 15th century when the only crime was the Spaniards killing all of the indians.

As time passed the need for iron bars REJAS on all the windows and doors became very necesary.

Ricardolito.
You have to wonder what kind of sadistic pleasure some on this forum, get from constantly bashing DR.
You also have to wonder that if they live there, and it is as terrible as they describe it, why not move to Washington DC's East side, or Chicago's South side, or New York's West side or Harlem? Let them get a taste and see how they like it.
The US's murder rate, per capita, is one of the highest in the world.
There's crime everywhere. DR is no exception.

Retirement communities, can be made secured and will be a great asset to retirees, as well as those that will benefit greatly from the dollar infusion into our economy.

But no matter what industry wants to invest, They'll always find someone or something terrible to blab about. You have to wonder if these are real Dominicans with a real desire to see our little nation prosper and be a great place to live? Or are they foreigners living outside with nothing better to do but to spew venom?

joebin,
Yes there are some dangerous areas in USA and some other 1st World countries,but by far the majority of areas in these countries are safe. Compare that to the Dominican Republic - nowhere is safe.

Ricardolito declares: "The US's murder rate, per capita, is one of the highest in the world."
Bulls**t!
The murder rate per 100,000 population is
El Salvador - 71.0 and increasing
Dominican Republic - 24.0 and increasing
USA - 5.0 and dropping
Australia - 1.2 and dropping
Despite government spin to the contrary, tourism is dropping off,(partly because of a growing reputation for crime) reducing the Dominican Republic's main source of income which will increase poverty hence more crime - it's a vicious circle.

easyrider,
did the Spanish also bring the very popular "high walls topped with razor-wire" look to Dominican architecture?

Roy the DR has been and has always been one of the most safest country to live in Latin America. Unfortunately, the crime wave we see and observe is really a very recent phenomena purposely created by some external forces to destabalize the DR. There is a consiparacy behinnd this, somehing is gong on the we have to get to the bottom of this........

Ron Evans ,,regrettably , the DR haters who write here are those who can not see the good things in life no matter where they are ,,they read every article with an inbuilt desire to write some thing bad about the DR and never mention all the wonderful things about the DR ...they are a form of chronic losers. This board is notorious for the postings complaining about everything and never praising anything ..obvious symptoms of losers and malcontents ..Far better for la alma to have a more pleasant humour

guillermone, First it is not as safe as you say. Expats are targets. And that is NOT what I hate about the DR.

1.If I get harmed in any way. NO ONE GOES TO JAIL.
2. If I get killed I would hope SOMEONE GOES TO JAIL, BUT it NEVER HAPPENS
3. If I get into a car accident, I pay, pay, pay or go to jail.
4. The entitlement mentality forces you to live behind bars otherwise it like saying come into my house and take what you want.
5. If you try and run a business, the local politicians think it is OK to ask for money. It is called extortion.

Ricardolito,
... and those good things that negate the bad are?

This is definitely not the place for older people to retire and they will find out VERY quickly. The things which will stop the influx of older retired people.

Lack of good medical care. Anyone can say whatever they want but the level of care in the US is much better than we have especially with insurance. After several hospital and doctors visits people will be fleeing the DR.

The crime and corruption with no real system of justice make it impossible for older people to live here. They will be robbed, extorted, and taken advantage of at every turn.

Grasping at straws is what I think. Our government is finally realizing we have ruined our tourism industry and other countries are now more attractive tourist destinations.Even the savvy shopper has learned DR all inclusive vacations aren't worth it. For the same price they can go to another island and get better quality meals and drinks since the government didn't pocket all the profits in taxes.

There are normally rules that the foreign retirees should maintain a good amount of money in a bank where they have retired

AS MR. RICKY WROTE YESTERDAY...ABOVE. COMMENT.
U NEED TO BE OUT OF YOUR F***ING HEAD TO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY AND PLACE YOUR MONEY IN THEIR BANKS.
THEY WILL TAKE YOUR F***ING EYE BALLS OUT OF YOUR HEAD.
AND THIS IS WRITTEN BY ONE DOMINICAN MAN.

ASK THEM WHAT YOUR GOING TO DO WHEN U GET REAL SICK? AND IF U DONT SPEAK THE SPANISH YOUR REALLY OUT OF LUCK OR SHOULD I SAY YOUR LIFE.

ask mr. ricky about the meds they sell in the dr?
s......... they are not real most are counterfeit as most things are in this country.
and the loud noise, the music, the party's that go on all night long and the most imporant thing is that your going to become a target for the bad guys.
put your money in their banks? better u go to one race track in the sates and throw it away over their.

please listen to me they have no real police force and no one is going to help u if your in to problems in the dr.

THANK U AND GOD BLESS U FOR SPEAKING THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS WILD WEST ISLAND BELOW YOUR COMMENTS
and those good things that negate the bad are?
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0 Written by: VeronicaDR, 12 Nov 2011 10:44 AM
From: United States
This is definitely not the place for older people to retire and they will find out VERY quickly. The things which will stop the influx of older retired people.

Lack of good medical care. Anyone can say whatever they want but the level of care in the US is much better than we have especially with insurance. After several hospital and doctors visits people will be fleeing the DR.

WELL WRITTEN AND AGAIN THANK U
GOD BLESS

if u go to look just look at every home where the good dominican try and hide and protect themselfs from the bad guys, just look every home and business is behind bars, men with shot guns try and guard the business and homes, the police bring their own crime wave to this very filty dirty island.
in pop alone over 27 tourists and white people that try to live there have been robbed and murdered is this so-called pasadise {far from that though}
the fod cost more then in the states as does the gas for your cars and thier is no real electricity in this country.

real estate fraud is one hugh business in the dr.
be careful old and young be very careful all.

chronic losers
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0 Written by: gmiller261, 12 Nov 2011 9:19 AM
From: United States

guillermone, First it is not as safe as you say. Expats are targets. And that is NOT what I hate about the DR.

1.If I get harmed in any way. NO ONE GOES TO JAIL.
2. If I get killed I would hope SOMEONE GOES TO JAIL, BUT it NEVER HAPPENS
3. If I get into a car accident, I pay, pay, pay or go to jail.
4. The entitlement mentality forces you to live behind bars otherwise it like saying come into my house and take what you want.
5. If you try and run a business, the local politicians think it is OK to ask for money. It is called extortion.
I KNOW OF GRINGOS THAT WHERE PARKED IN FRONT OF THEIR HOMES AND SOME LOW-LIFE DOMINICAN DRUNK SMASHED INTO HIS PARKED CAR
U KNOW WHAT HAPPEN DONT U? S........ THEY MADE HIM THE GRINGO PAY.
ITS A F***EN JOKE, THEY USE GRINGOS, THESE LOW-LIFES.

MR RICKY TELL ME THIS IS NOT TRUE.

.If I get harmed in any way. NO ONE GOES TO JAIL.
2. If I get killed I would hope SOMEONE GOES TO JAIL, BUT it NEVER HAPPENS
3. If I get into a car accident, I pay, pay, pay or go to jail.
4. The entitlement mentality forces you to live behind bars otherwise it like saying come into my house and take what you want

CRAP COUNTRY

According to
http://urbantitan.com/10-most-dangerous-cities-in-the-world-in-2011/
Santo Domingo ranks in the 10 most dangerous cities in the world.
The murder rate per 100,000 has steadily increased over the last decade as follows:
14 13 14 21 25 26 23 22 25 24 24
However the government (hence Dominican Today) congratulated themselves for a tiny drop two years ago. A recent report claimed an 80% drop.

According to some on this site, this is all negative propaganda spread by jealous foreigners.
Yeah, right!

Ron Evans can you imagine having to meet these DR hate writers ...one would feel like killing oneself after 5 minutes ,,,wow,,,give me some one with a positive and pleasant out look on life

Lie-onels Fernandez’s METROLANDIA is a Failed Narco State with rampant criminal anarchy, which cannot even provide its citizens with the basic necessities of life:

Education

Health Care

Clean Water

Public Safety

Anybody who fails to see that is either, a government apologist or has their head up their rectum; or both!

I want to see Mrs. Goldstein and Mr. Jones filing the batteries of their invertor and getting up on the roof to find that somebody stole their water tank while they slept.

Get real people young healthy Dominicans with resources catch hell in this country, imagine mobility challenged foreign seniors!

Ricardolito,
Smile and pretend everything is fine?
Yep, fits in with the delusion that you have an invisible friend in the sky.

No.. I smile because it is better than a frown , even though life is not perfect, and I have faith because it is better than having nothing in ones soul ,,and I hope what I have gives some light to others

Written by: danny00, 12 Nov 2011 11:26 AM

From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER

There are normally rules that the foreign retirees should maintain a good amount of money in a bank where they have retired

AS MR. RICKY WROTE YESTERDAY...ABOVE. COMMENT.
U NEED TO BE OUT OF YOUR F***ING HEAD TO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY AND PLACE YOUR MONEY IN THEIR BANKS.
THEY WILL TAKE YOUR F***ING EYE BALLS OUT OF YOUR HEAD.
AND THIS IS WRITTEN BY ONE DOMINICAN MAN.

ASK THEM WHAT YOUR GOING TO DO WHEN U GET REAL SICK? AND IF U DONT SPEAK THE SPANISH YOUR REALLY OUT OF LUCK OR SHOULD I SAY YOUR LIFE
----

mmmmm so i would think that people that don't speak english just die for the same reason on the USA, right?? ...this Gringo wanna be should be careful on his foolishness, they can be dismantled very easy

Written by: danny00, 12 Nov 2011 11:26 AM

From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER

There are normally rules that the foreign retirees should maintain a good amount of money in a bank where they have retired

AS MR. RICKY WROTE YESTERDAY...ABOVE. COMMENT.
U NEED TO BE OUT OF YOUR F***ING HEAD TO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY AND PLACE YOUR MONEY IN THEIR BANKS.
THEY WILL TAKE YOUR F***ING EYE BALLS OUT OF YOUR HEAD.
AND THIS IS WRITTEN BY ONE DOMINICAN MAN.

ASK THEM WHAT YOUR GOING TO DO WHEN U GET REAL SICK? AND IF U DONT SPEAK THE SPANISH YOUR REALLY OUT OF LUCK OR SHOULD I SAY YOUR LIFE
----

mmmmm so i would think that people that don't speak english just die for the same reason on the USA, right?? ...this Gringo wanna be should be careful on his foolishness, they can be dismantled very easy

Written by: danny00, 12 Nov 2011 11:49 AM

From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER

MR RICKY TELL ME THIS IS NOT TRUE.

.If I get harmed in any way. NO ONE GOES TO JAIL.
2. If I get killed I would hope SOMEONE GOES TO JAIL, BUT it NEVER HAPPENS
3. If I get into a car accident, I pay, pay, pay or go to jail.
4. The entitlement mentality forces you to live behind bars otherwise it like saying come into my house and take what you want

CRAP COUNTRY
----

So what are you doing writing here if it is a crap country...it must me hard for you to the fact that you cannot pronounce the word Yacht without having a spanish accent that can be cut with a knife...trully PATHETIC...

Ricardolito.
We also need to try and figure why all these naysayers and pessimists, spend valuable time reading up on the latest events and posting all these vile/ exaggerated criticisms. Why is that?
If I were searching for a suitable place to retire, and read up on these people's opinions, it'd be shocked and thanked them all for the fair warnings!
Fortunately, I know better and so do the tens of thousands of foreigners who call our DR, home.
The weir thing is that some of these critics, live there. yet they put up with all the terrible events, they say, are happening in DR!
What's stopping y'all from moving on to a better place? Don't like it? Leave! or stay where you are and don't come back!

I dare say it is simply a reflection of their personailities and background .. on the question of places to retire I was looking at many sites and the DR is mentioned often ,,but belize is up at the top .

Sure DR will attract many more retierees. Cost of living is half that of the US or less.
DR also has a huge number of air connections to many parts of the World.
Many property values have been increasing steadily.
S.

Ricardolito, declares
"No.. I smile because it is better than a frown , even though life is not perfect, and I have faith because it is better than having nothing in ones soul ,,and I hope what I have gives some light to others"

I think the following quotation is appropriate here:

"The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one."
George Bernard Shaw

There are better things to "fill your soul" than stupid superstition. The values of Secular Humanism are vastly superior and do not rely on delusional beliefs.

I believe in the Bible and much of what it teaches. And it is possible to learn and gather value from the principles in conveys, but not from a religious perspective but from a humanistic one at that. Nevertheless, I also understand it has been tampered with and must be reinterpreted so that mankind will not be snared by some of the falsehoods that have been added to it.

DR is not expensive - if you have bought your own place; if hobbies are simple, and you are in good health $400 a month is very generous in many parts of the DR for one person.
pi2

guillermone,
Which teachings of the Bible do you find particularly morally inspiring?
Is it the approval of slavery or subjugation of women?
Maybe it is God's instruction to the Israelites to rape the Middenite virgins that appeals?
Perhaps stoning someone to death for gathering wood on a Saturday takes your fancy?
How about the bashing of babies heads on rocks, does that appeal?
Human sacrifice and eternal damnation, that always pleases and inspires!

.... and please, please don't regurgitate that tired old bulls**t that its' all in the interpretation. Read the words as they are written. They are the plain, simple and inerrant words of God - no interpretation, sanitation or euphemising allowed!

Roy-Are you going to totally discredit a whole chain of restaurants because of one bad meal ?

Unfortunately, that is exactly what you did and what most people do when ever they have a single bad experience with anything. They become sort of traumatized with the incident, when in fact, and in the very end, it is all in your head and not in the meal eaten.

DR is not expensive - if you have bought your own place; if hobbies are simple, and you are in good health $400 a month is very generous in many parts of the DR for one person.
pi2

guillermone,
Sorry, but I fail to see the point you are making with your analogy or parable.
The mythical Jesus used parables to make ridiculous concepts seem plausible. Are you doing the same? We Secular Humanists believe in plain, simple speech. Please get to the point, no smoke or mirrors.

abc200,

Yes, living in the Dominican Republic is relatively inexpensive, unless you are robbed, scammed or cheated, or involved in a collision, even if not your fault.
Some things here are much more expensive than most other countries -
Used cars
Electronics
Bread
Dairy products
Imported fruit & vegetables

Well.............Yes, I did see it went over your head.......

But you still did not answer the question.

I mean is that not what you want, a literal interpretation for everything stated?

I pray hard to the invisible man in the sky that one of Australia's lowest criminals is a victim of a DR thug. But justice in Australia, that now should come with all the evidence, is very much on the cards and cannot be refuted.

"Our God is a wonderful God".(oh see Peter in the New Testament how Satan in the end times will go around like an angry lion knowing his time is SHORT)

Oh and if one knows the Bible God set out to destory the evil people and tried to create a pure race...........but this failed and the Israelites orJews were dispersed and no one knows who they are today. 95per cent of modern Jews are from eastern europe and adopted the faith for political reasons and use the Talmud (the most vile books written ) which was written hundreds od years AD.

This God I and others believe in will put the living evil through so much pain at the end they will beg to die (Revelation) and GOOD ON HIM after what one vile Australian did to me and my kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. And the "elite" of this world will suffer the same fate.

Roy.
You are a "secular humanist", in other words, an atheist. Which it's ok by me, I'm one myself.
The difference is that I see good things in mostly everything I see and read. The "sacred scriptures" gives a perspective by which we can gauge illusion and reality.But,
If nothing else, it's good read... Contrary to religious fanatics who preach metaphorical interpretations, I do take it literally. It is nothing short of horrific, gruesome and revolting that a "loving deity" can advocate and encourage such behavior!.
The same for the Koran. It says the same thing, in different words. So it reinforces my convictions of the banality of these books and religion.
Still, it has its good side, so I eat the flesh and throw away the bones.
In a way, all this relates as to how you and I see life generally. You call DR a place where you can be "robbed, scammed or cheated". I agreed. But anyone who allows himself to be a victim of all this, has got to be dumb, stupid or naive. Are you one?

Written by: RoyStone, 15 Nov 2011 4:39 PM

From: Australia

abc200,

Yes, living in the Dominican Republic is relatively inexpensive, unless you are robbed, scammed or cheated, or involved in a collision, even if not your fault.
Some things here are much more expensive than most other countries -
Used cars
Electronics
Bread
Dairy products
Imported fruit & vegetables
----

It must be TERRIBLE for you to wake up everyday here...Like the movie "Groundog Day", a freaking TORTURE!!...i would like to know WHERE do you buy this:

Bread
Dairy products
Imported fruit & vegetables

Just came back from the Bahamas and that statement regarding to DR prices made me laugh my a*s off!!

Where? The local Serena supermarket.
On Wednesdays fruit and vegetables are 35% off. Makes you wonder how much margin there is the rest of the week. However it's still competitive with the local market, which is like a disgusting garbage tip.
So things are cheaper than in The Bahamas? Wow, congratulations! Still more expensive than USA, Canada, Australia and much of the civilized world.
I have lived on ever continent except Africa, and this is the only country where you pay full price for 2-day-old bread, which is incidentally over twice the price of fresh bread in Australia. Still I grant you, the tropical fruit here is wonderful and cheap.
Groundhog Day? Fortunately this failed state has some redeeming features that make it worthwhile enduring the rest.

Rovevane,
Thank you so much for your comments. If you've noticed, Roy hasn't got a response for you.

Sorry, Ron, misspelled your username.

Brien,
I am very flattered that you are so keen to read my response to every rhetorical question on this site, directed at me.
However I thought it goes without saying that the assertion that only those who are dumb, stupid or naive are ever robbed, scammed or cheated here is ridiculous. Still for your benefit, I have stated it. Perhaps you might encourage RonEvane, to apologize to the thousands of victims (at least those still living) for adding insult to the other injuries they have suffered at the hands of this country's disgusting crime rate.
Now my advise to you is, if you can't handle criticism, don't dish it up.

One of the conditions need to be created to attract the powerful American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is for the DR Government to give a good example by putting in jail the crooks and liars such as ILONKA CASTILLO, her brother BORIS CASTILLO and family who stole money and savings from retired investors in DR.
Read the news: http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/....tors-in-Dominican-Republic-villas

RoyStone,
You are such a great study on how to live a pathetic life! you have all the answers, all the criticism, do all the pontificating, yet, you fall prey to the very people you are so quick to call lowlifes. My guess is wherever you might find yourself in this world, the trend will continue. with that type of energy you've got - it was tailor made to attract disaster.
I have traveled the World, and I'm glad to say, won't ever have the time you seem to be having. Go Drink a Presidente!

Thank you Brien. Well said.
Mr Roy, P.T. Barnum once said: "you can't cheat an honest man". Those that are cheated, generally are dumb, naive or dishonest people looking to score without paying the going rate. Anyone that offers a deal that's too good to be true, must be looked upon with cautious eyes.
A person who fails to do, do-diligence, most likely, will get scammed. Anyone who allows it must be dumb and stupid to think he can scam the scammer.
As the saying goes; Honesty is the best policy. Anyone who practice it will never be taken for a fool.

Thanks, guys for the advice.
I am happy to say that so far, touch wood, I have not been scammed or robbed anywhere and I have stayed in some countries considered even more dangerous than here. However I do not believe that the only people who have been robbed are thieves themselves, or that they are stupid.

Roy. You're right. Not all that have been robbed, are stupid or thieves themselves. I apologize if I
implied it. Many people get taken for reasons that doesn't involve stupidity, etc.
My house was burglarized once, and got taken for $100.00US when exchanging money in the street. So, I'm not immune to crime and behaving stupid.
My point, though, is that much can be prevented by being aware of where one is, who we're with, and why we're there and many other prudent measures.
I don't mean to sound paranoid. I'm saying, I would not stroll along Pedro Clisante street after midnight, carry a wad of cash, or wear gold anything. All that goes without saying. But what is not clear to many, is that whenever a transaction is made, Is up to us to do so on the up and up, and not try to cheat the govt or anyone else. Oftentimes, we end up cheating ourselves. I wouldn't do busines with anyone unless I know really well whom I'm dealing with.
Sometimes, regardless, we still get scammed. Alas!

RonEvane,
I agree about the prudent measures. I don't need to work at looking poor because I am. Local knowledge is vital too and that's why I am always with a local.
The first time I was in Brazil I met a German couple. The man had been there many times and he warned me not to wear a Rolex watch, etc. I told him I don't own one anyway. That evening he was robbed at knife-point by 2 guys only minutes from his hotel.
Also I am not sympathetic for people who are scammed by get-rich-quick schemes. If it seems too good to be true then it probably isn't.
I was only once ever scammed and that was by a uniformed police officer in Red Square in Moscow. He claimed there was an irregularity with my passport (which there wasn't). My friend told me to give him $50. I did and the irregularity disappeared. The only time you could say I bribed an officer of the law.

IF I was a big mouth right wing conservative tea bagger from the US who always complain about big GOV and all the regulations, let me be free and all of that BS...then you should enjoy the life style of the Dominican Republic ,do what you want and protect yourself by anymeans nesscesary

US prices:



Average Cost of a Loaf of Bread in 2011

Bread is consumed on daily basis and most people prefer to have it at breakfast. Thus, people should be aware of the price of this regularly purchased item. In 2011, the price of a loaf of bread is between $4 and $5. However, you would not have to pay this amount if you are buying bread from a supermarket, which makes the price of one loaf approximately $2. However, the price is also dependent on the quality of bread, with artisan breads costing as much as $4 or more per loaf.

DR prices are 1.25 dollars for a bagette and approx similar for artisan loaf tetc.

Milk is similar to US prices and cheese is cheaper.

Electronics under 200 dollars can be imported free of duty, tax etc.

I bought tuna fillet last week 120 pesos just over 3 dollars a pound approx. 1/5 or US prices.

The weather is kind and a lot of retirees give up on cars and use a quad, motorcycle, bicycle etc.
so car price does not come into many budge

A standard, white loaf of bread, (up to 4 days old) in Serena Supermarket is 3 times the price of the same loaf,( but no more than 12 hours old), in Aldi Supermarket in Melbourne Australia. Tropical fruits and vegetables, and some meats are cheaper, but dairy products are much more expensive in the Dominican Republic. Fish is cheaper because there are no health and environmental constraints. Timber from threatened species of tropical trees (in national "parks") is also cheep. "Prescription" drugs are available over-the-counter without a prescription. By law, cigarettes and alcohol cannot be sold to minors, but this law (like most others) is never enforced. General stores are never visited by health inspectors.

Electronic and electrical goods are more expensive and have only 48 hour warranty, instead of 6, 12 and 24 months in other countries.

On the other hand, the quality and availability of beautiful women leads the world, however perhaps of limited value to old, USA retirees?

Ride a pushbike? If not injured when it is stolen from you, the pot-holes, crazy drivers and mosquitobike riders will get you.

Your supermarket in Sydney must be subsidizing It is 99 pesoes here for large loaf. Check World grain prices
You can check the expiry date on a loaf it is similar to US one week.
33 pesos does not even cover the flour cost.
Artisan loafs are freshly baked and half the price of the US.

S.

Diary products are cheaper in the DR about 3 dollars for a pound of cheese.
S.

A Grande in a beachside bar costs two and three quarters dollars.,
In Miami two small beers equivalent would cost you 10 12 dollars in a beachside bar.
Unlike others I do not get minors to shop for me.Several US citizens drive a QUAD and do not find it dangerous in country areas.
Fish shrimp, lobster come out of the same seas equally polluted so I do not see why inspection makes a difference. In fact you are more likely to get really
fresh fish in the DR.
S

I was referring to a standard 680 gm loaf. I can't see how they can sell stale bread at full price. Late in the afternoon in Melbourne, any remaining bread (baked early that morning) is heavily discounted, like 2 for $1. What is left cannot be sold the next day.

Dominican cheese at $3 per pound is only suitable for mousetraps, or bland local tastes. Anything with any real taste costs a lot more, as it is imported.

Mercury concentration in seafood is not just a factor of the sea it comes from. For example, improper disposal of fluorescent lamps, common in the Dominican Republic, is a contributing factor. The species, age and part of the fish is also a factor. Regular inspection and testing ensures that unacceptable levels are not sold.

Fish in our barrio is distributed in open, unrefrigerated crates, covered in flies, on the back of a motorbike, and scaled in the street. Not my idea of "really fresh".

abc200,
Australia is a major wheat producer and exporter, partly due to highly-efficient mechanized and large-scale production, which you are so opposed to. However it allows very good and cheap bread to be available to everyone, even including the poor, unemployed and Aboriginal people who live off welfare, that you are so fond of.

Artisan bread is always fresh today.
Cut loaves sold in supermarkets have a sell by date.
The poor are only poor because their land has been confiscated or obtained by other trickery over the years so they cannot grow good nourishing food for themselves. They have to buy it , made from wheat of uncertain quality, from supermarkets, to keep the rich farmers in their SUVs and luxury yachts who operate the highly mechanized farms with robot combine harvesters and the like with gunned outposts to prevent people from picking even wild berries at the edge of fields or small ears the harvesters have left behind.
Aboriginal people are forced, of course, to live off welfare and through lack of land and resources and denied medical health die off young.
Australia has always been mean - some 15 year olds when I was that age were almost forcibly deported from, UK and worked housed in rough barracks in the outback clearing stones from the land for 60 hours a week.

Now Australia is very mean giving aid - a pathetic nation indeed

Creating a controversy, Sir Bob Geldof, a singer who helped organise Live Aid, described Australia's foreign aid budget as 'embarrassingly pathetic.' His remark was supported by Reverend Tim Costello, the World Vision Australian CEO.

Sir Geldof, in a press conference held yesterday at Brisbane, told reporters that Australia was one of the meanest country in the planet and its current foreign aid contribution of 0.3 percent of GDP
was a disgrace.
S.

No negative comments keeping me from going to the DR December 30...Best place in the world I say

"No negative comments keeping me from going to the DR December 30...Best place in the world I say"

I hear you, Hardedge. But here's a true negative comment: Dec. 30th has got to be the worst day of the year to travel there! Are you nuts?

queso blanco is a good cheese for salads and from a good local supplier is very tasty.
Cheddar and other varieties of packaged cheese can complement imported varieties on the cheeseboard.

I have no problem looking a fish in the eye and determining its fresh. Mostly it is from the local shops or beachside fish market. Most of the boxes on motorcycles are covered and the vendors take pride in their stock - it is not covered with flies. If it is filleted it is stored inside refrigerators in plastic bags or covered containers
It is the opinion that farmed salmon is not tested well in the US and anyhow testing only covers a small fraction of fish sold.

S.

I hear you, Hardedge. But here's a true negative comment: Dec. 30th has got to be the worst day of the year to travel there! Are you nuts?

Anyday in yhe Dr is a good day

"Anyday in yhe Dr is a good day"

Can't argue that, Hardedge! Have a good time!





.....Darn!! wish it was me, going..........