The Meeting Place in Puerto Plata hosted last month a fascinating discussion, led by someone who lived through that era, about the dictator Trujillo. To follow this up we take on his successor Joaquin Belaguer who over a 30 year period went from being Trujillo's puppet president to the dominant figure in the DR's emerging democracy. We will watch excerpts from VIOLENCE AND POWER, by noted documentary film-maker Rene Fortunado, which portrays Balaguer as ruthless and Machiavelian. But many say that what he did was necessary to bring stability and make democracy possible. How should we judge him today? What traces of his rule to find in today's politics? Join Hector Jerez, Arturo Torres and other informed observers and express your opinion. Saturday Feb. 9 at 3 pm at The Meeting Place, calle Juan Bosch #60, Puerto Plata 809 262 7393.