I think Radio Habana got it largely right in this uncopyrighted commentary (but for that the Zona Francas do in fact add wealth to the country - just not as much as other industries would - and that there are plenty of less governable places than the DR). It is also deliciously short of rhetoric:
"August 11, 2004
On August 16 Leonel Fernandez will once again occupy the Dominican Republic's presidential palace, though this time the situation is substantially worse, as the nation's problems continue to multiply. According to press reports, the youth vote was what put Fernandez over the top, defeating president Hipolito Mejia, who failed to stem growing unemployment and was unable to improve public services or make a better future for the younger generations, who removed him from office.
In a population of nearly nine million inhabitants, a third, or three million people, live in grinding poverty and that is a conservative estimate since many experts believe the situation is even worse.
Like many Latin American countries, in the l980s the Dominican Republic transformed its economy leaving behind agricultural exports as its principal activity due to the plummeting prices of most of its traditional products in particular sugar, citrus, bananas and coffee. As a consequence the country step by step became a free industrial area, a favorite for the maquiladora, or assembly industry. The industry fiercely exploits local labor since both the raw materials and the finished products come from and go back overseas without benefiting local populations, but making high profits for the their owners.
With the enormous change in its economy, the Dominican Republic experienced a sharp decline in public services like education and healthcare, in which the government invests five percent less each year, while energy shortages have become chronic and are getting worse. According to local analysts blackouts are no longer measured by hours but by days. And the lack of oil casts a pall on the future, since only a privileged few can afford private generators to light their homes.
Perhaps two details will give an idea of the situation. The first happened on August 4th when president Hip?lito Mej?a was run out of Santo Domingo's Autonomous University by enraged students as he attempted to inaugurate a library that had no books, furniture or equipment. The other incident was an announcement made by the Central Bank stating that starting August 10th, no state entity could write checks in order to guarantee that the new government will fund funds in the public treasury when it takes over next Monday.
Added to all this is the fact that the Dominican Republic's main cities are gripped by street violence and crime and the government is unable to control it. It is a difficult situation and it won't be easy for the government of Leonel Fern?ndez to provide hope for positive change in one of the continent's poorest countries. And many changes must be made in a nation where only a few control the wealth and the great majority are abandoned to their fates in what is fast becoming an ungovernable society, but one which an honest, hardworking and efficient government could turn around."
"August 11, 2004
On August 16 Leonel Fernandez will once again occupy the Dominican Republic's presidential palace, though this time the situation is substantially worse, as the nation's problems continue to multiply. According to press reports, the youth vote was what put Fernandez over the top, defeating president Hipolito Mejia, who failed to stem growing unemployment and was unable to improve public services or make a better future for the younger generations, who removed him from office.
In a population of nearly nine million inhabitants, a third, or three million people, live in grinding poverty and that is a conservative estimate since many experts believe the situation is even worse.
Like many Latin American countries, in the l980s the Dominican Republic transformed its economy leaving behind agricultural exports as its principal activity due to the plummeting prices of most of its traditional products in particular sugar, citrus, bananas and coffee. As a consequence the country step by step became a free industrial area, a favorite for the maquiladora, or assembly industry. The industry fiercely exploits local labor since both the raw materials and the finished products come from and go back overseas without benefiting local populations, but making high profits for the their owners.
With the enormous change in its economy, the Dominican Republic experienced a sharp decline in public services like education and healthcare, in which the government invests five percent less each year, while energy shortages have become chronic and are getting worse. According to local analysts blackouts are no longer measured by hours but by days. And the lack of oil casts a pall on the future, since only a privileged few can afford private generators to light their homes.
Perhaps two details will give an idea of the situation. The first happened on August 4th when president Hip?lito Mej?a was run out of Santo Domingo's Autonomous University by enraged students as he attempted to inaugurate a library that had no books, furniture or equipment. The other incident was an announcement made by the Central Bank stating that starting August 10th, no state entity could write checks in order to guarantee that the new government will fund funds in the public treasury when it takes over next Monday.
Added to all this is the fact that the Dominican Republic's main cities are gripped by street violence and crime and the government is unable to control it. It is a difficult situation and it won't be easy for the government of Leonel Fern?ndez to provide hope for positive change in one of the continent's poorest countries. And many changes must be made in a nation where only a few control the wealth and the great majority are abandoned to their fates in what is fast becoming an ungovernable society, but one which an honest, hardworking and efficient government could turn around."
