CC pretty much summed it all. If I open my mouth about current economical condition of this country, people will say I am full of Sh*T and only represent my views coming from a person who lives in a depressed city. I can understand if you are the top 1-2% who deals in dollar currency and can write your own ticket but the truth is, the majority of dominicans have had it. The protest was just the peak of the iceburg; if the lights do get shut down on friday and the long blackouts persist for a few weeks then hell will break loose. The small business owners will not be able to sustain these setbacks and will crumble like sand castles. In santiago and (yes) in the north coast as well as in santo domingo, small businesses are hanging by threads. People are not only worried, they are angry now. Now with the deaths of the few unfortunate ones in the riots, people are going to get even more violent in the up-coming huelgas. No one can afford to buy foreign goods at the rate of 38 to 1 (dollar) rate (I am speaking of middle class dominicans). The prices of dried milk for babies has doubled, the prices of Medicine have doubled. The peso is only worth half as much as it did before. Poeple have lost jobs and the salaries have not gone up to match the devaluation. Almost all the doctors have empty offices and if you are a regular lawyer or a dentist, then god help you. There is no money on the street. Plaza Lama has reduced it work force and many sales people who work on commission are hurting bad. No one is buying cars at the current prices. car parts have gone up as well. The chicken cost 110 peso or more in the super market. Even the guy who sells coconut juice is charging more.
I am surprised to see that dominicans have not stepped up in taking matters into their own hands as they did in argentina. Dominicans are very docile folks and will take a beating of a few more rounds before they will strike back.