Where are we heading..

Hello,

I would like to comment here an incident that took place with me
at the Department of Civil Aviation of the Dominican Republic..
I am a Dominican born young man with Eropean nationality and earned an Aeronautical Engineer degree after 5 year of intence studies.
Since I always have dreamed of living in a sunny weather I came to a caribbean Island to work for an airline company as an Engineer in its maintenance dept.
Sadly this company went bankrupt and I then decided to try the Dept of Civil Aviation of my country before trying the USA or Europe.
I went to this Dept with all my credentials to make an apointment with the head of personnal Affairs/Human resources..
Great was my surprice when I heard from the receptionist that
nobody can get an apointment with Human resources dept without a "recomendation letter" of the party or if you are not affiliated to the ruling party.
I demanded to speak to someone else and I was put in Contact
with somebody whos position inside that organization is still not very clear to me.
Days went by and my appointments just kept cancelling or rescheduled.
Finally I gave up because I realise that politics there is more important than the interest to have qualified personnel at the civil aviation of the DR.
It disapoints me to see my country in this situation where even if you have the chance to study you don't get the chance not help your country because of politics.
Aviation "safety" is serious business and qualified personnel should be screened by its credentials and not by political interest.

Thank you..

Where we are heading...

It is sad, shameful, inmoral, unfair and most posibbly illegal, but we are accustomed to that reality. Where we're heading? I'll tell you: deeper into the hole excavated by hundreds of years of government corruption.

OK! Where are all the dominicans who jump all over me and any other foreigner when we "tell-it-like-it-is" in the dominican republic? Hey john,Hey Joaquin,Hey Henry,come on lets here it!.....I didn,t think so! Criss

Amen, Criss !

The prospective traveller should be aware of the reality and make an informed decision as to whether it is worth it for whatever reason he wants to visit the DR.

Why would anyone wish otherwise?

CF: I can understand your dissapointment. Its a disgrace that fine talent like you cannot even find an appointment for a job you seem to be well qualified for. Unfortunately, talent does not get you anywhere in this country, WHO YOU KNOW and CAN YOU INHERIT, does. Dominican Republic is a wonderful tourist destination but a tough place to find jobs. There is over 20% unemployment and more than 70% underemployment(by my own obsservation)

This country is a patronage club, with a few chiefs and many indians. It is a huge cell sorrounded by millions of parasites. There is a President and a cabinet whose sole purpose is to provide jobs for all the people who participated in the political campaign. Since the PRD won and more than 60% of the population helped the PRD to power, there are not enough jobs for everyone. Private industry is in the hands of families, so if you are connected with the families you got a job. Few get to the top jobs in family operations, because top jobs are inherited. Just take for instance Banco Popular. The actual President is the son of the Chairman of the Board. He got that job when he was born!!!
Another Company, Hache, the Chairman and President is Anthony Hache, The Vice-Presidents are Jean Antonio Hache, Antonio Hache, and Marco Hache. All three sons in the family head the three key divisions and have three future generations of presidents after Don Anthony, the godfather dies. Pedro Rivera, owner and Chairman of Induveca died and his son inherited the Presidency, who also has a son, the future President. That is the sad story...look at the Peynados, the Reids,the Pelleranos, the Vicinis, they are all the same.qualified or not!

So, you have to have a PHD in Dominican Survival to make it in this country and be financially independent if you do not have a pedigree in Dominican society.
Good luck in your future endeavours!!

TW

If this is true do all of these future Presidents have any qualifications? For example, Hache(German name)would need a controller(either CPA, CGA ect) do their family members have the skills and education to fill this type of position?

What about the legal department, HR, skilled managers ect.? How can families who only put their sons and daughters in the top postion expect to prosper?

Ususally, inherited wealth is gone in 3 generations if not properly managed.

Patronage may work in family run businesses, however, sooner or later someone has to take over the reins with some insight, otherwise the business will not last.

20% of 9,000,000 people unemployed would be about 1,800,000 people, I truly believe that the number is much higher.

IMHO...

I think TW's numbers are somewhat closer to reality than the official numbers. There is something that only happens in under-developed countries such as ours: many people have very informal occupations that are bordering in the unemployment category. People who have "chiripas" or "echa d?as" do not consider themselves as employed, although they do work for a pay.

Furthermore, I have no idea where the government gets its numbers, but if it comes from the census then it is highly unreliable. Dominicans trust the government even less than far-right Americans do. If you have, say, a ?puesto de chinas? and you?re asked if you are employed you most probably say you?re not when in reality you own a small business and probably make more money than government ?employed teacher or nurse. Yes, ?formal? employment is low, but it does not mean that everybody ?listed? as unemployed is just sitting home doing nothing.

And coming back to the original subject? Yes, if you do not have ?un primo alcalde y un t?o polic?a? like my grandfather used to say, then you are gonna have to carry the heavy load in DR.

My 20% DR unemployment figure is still slightly higher than the official government figures which are placed at around 16%. But I agree with you, it seems like more people are out of jobs because you see so many people hanging around. But then again, I am sure I am counted and listed as unemployed because I have no job, yet I am doing very well. So are many Dominicans who just don't work and somehow make a good living. Don't ask me how. Each one of us has its own secrets(It's not drugs by the way in my case)

Many company presidents who inherited their jobs have been sent by their parents to top foreign universities. This is the case of the Haches, for instance. However, they got their training on the job and there were much more qualified executives in their chain when they got these responsibilities. It's equally true in every family company case. What is amazing is that even large corporate banks like Banco Popular with many shareholders and an executive board would still permit in this day and age that Alejandro Grullon's son be given the presidency. Is he the most qualified banker in the world to deserve this position. I would say no.

You ask about the HR and Accounting Department. Well these are key jobs reserved for very close asssociates, most importantly YES PEOPLE.
tw

Re: Hache family is arab

You are right AZB. They are I believe Lebanese. Among other Arab notables here are the Naders,Yearas,Antun, Sueds, Najhris and others. Dominican-Arabs are extremely successful because of their work ethic and entrepeneurial abilities.
TW

Re: Hache family is arab

True they may be Arab, but Hache is a typical German last name.

TW, FYI...

Tony Rivera had to sell the company because he was so stupid that he ran it down.. Sold it to the Manicera, another large (huge) family business-Bonetti.
Peynado lost control of Delta thru politics...had to sell it...

but you are right about family...

HB

Again TW...

Every one of the top families sends their children to the finest universities. Harvard, Yale Princeton, Wharton Oxford Cambridge.
If they have done university here-PUCMM or UNPHU, of course, they then go to Grad School anywhere they want.

anecdote: At a stockholder's meeting, a noted accountant was questioning Alejandro Grullon's expenses, and suggested that perhaps he step down from the Presidency since he was not doing a very good job. Alejandro's answer was to fire the guy on the spot, dismiss him from the board, and tell the rest: "I have the majority of the stock and I will do what I want!"

The Hache's like the vast majority of the Lebanese that are here are products of entrepreneurship to be sure, but they came over here in the mid 1890s when this was "virgin" territory for a people with 4000 years of commerce in their genes. (Hache means "cook" in Arabic, btw). One of the great success stories was Yapur Dumit. He pushed a cart in Santiago and eventually amassed a fortune so large that he had Balaguer as the Probate Officer. No one even knows how much it was but at least four families have enjoyed a very nice life since his death without issue..

HB

Re: Hillbilly:TW, FYI...

And of course, Jacinto Peynado inherited a fortune he has almost exhausted running for President thru the efforts of his father who was one of Trujillo's lambones. His father was one of Trujillo's puppet Presidents and he was highly rewarded for kissing his ass.

Pedro Rivera and his hi-society wife spent too much and produced too little for Induveca and like you said, MERCASID was born or better yet reinforced. The Bonettis are another group of ex-Trujillo's allies who served him unconditionally. So was the rest of the entire high class Dominicans, whom he bought.

Delta Comercial in addition spent too much money thru Jacintico Jr.'s racing hobby and expensive car taste. And, of course Jacintico ended up as the Sales Manager at a very tender age without any sales experience. Jacinto Jr. used companies' cars like a Supra super car, a Volvo T850 and a Porsche Boxter. At resale time after he got tired of using them they took a big loss. That and politics took its toll.
TW

And the Najri s and the Isa s and the

Baez took it all!....they saved face but business is business...

i think anyone that banks on politics has a loose screw....

And Baez is still another example of nepotism at work..it just keeps getting better and better....

Hb

Re: Hache family is arab

Lebanesse Catholics,not "A"-rabs!!! A big differance! Criss

Re: Hache family is arab (criss)

Criss: for your info, christain arabs / muslim arabs are "ARABS". period. This is something very arcane for your corny mind but just take my words for it.
For your info: Not all PLO militant groups are muslims. Some of the most militant and extremist anti Israeli groups are also Christians. This is something you never see in the news.
Foreign minister of Iraq, Tariq Aziz is Christian.
PLO spoke-woman Hanan Ashrawi is also Christian.
Get your facts straight Mr. Colon before you misinform public.
Do you know how many times I am met with Arab Christian Dominicans who shake my hand and assure me that I am their brother?
No these same people don?t hang out in your local carwashes where you find love and happiness; so you may never meet them.
Let me ask you this: christain pakistanis are not pakistanis?
Arab Christians, Muslims have the same blood flowing through their veins.
Do you know what is flowing though your 390 lbs gut?

Re: Hache family is arab (criss)

Who asked you? I thought we were talking about Lebanesse/Dominicans,not the PLO,and Iraqis!Why are you so upset? Pakistanis are not "A-rabs"! There is a Big differance between Lebanesse Cristians and Muslims! Just ask either one.To say they have the same blood in their veins is to say that Haitians and dominicans have the same blood in their veins!(Which is true, not only in Gods eyes,but genetically,but not to dominicans!right "TW"?)You insulted me,you said you would not be the first! Just like a Pakistani,can,t believe a word they say! Like they will "Fight to the Death" in Afghanistan!Last seen running from the American military might for the border! Please help me with your use of "arcane",look it up ,if you can find it,and tell me what the hell you meam! Pakistani Christians,I saw some on the news,just after their Pakistani Muslim brothers entered their Church and shot 7 of them dead!Must have been "staged" by the Jews who control all the Media! What flows thru my "gut" is Mabi,chicharrrrrron-ron-rones,and Viagra!

Re: Hache family is arab (criss)

"There is a Big differance between Lebanesse Cristians and Muslims! Just ask either one.To say they have the same blood in their veins is to say that Haitians and dominicans have the same blood in their veins. criss"

I don't expect you to understand that at all. Its not your fault.
The only difference between the lebanese christains and muslims is the religion. They both eat the same food and speak the same language. Their names are also the same. They have the same blood and they are same 100%.
But, you wouldn't understand that.

?Just like a Pakistani,can,t believe a word they say! Like they will "Fight to the Death" in Afghanistan!Last seen running from the American military might for the border! Criss?

I am sorry, can you clarify who is doing the fighting on the ground? Americans or northern alliances? I thought Americans were only dropping bombs from the sky.
Anyhow, don?t think the war is over yet. I challenge the American military to try to occupy Afghanistan like the Russians tried to do in the 80?s. Lets see how long will it last. Remember Somalia?
BTW, great victory: world's greatest super power against a stone age country. Great acheviement. Should be written down in history books in golden ink. hahahahaha

?Pakistani Christians,I saw some on the news,just after their Pakistani Muslim brothers entered their Church and shot 7 of them dead. Criss?

For your info, Pakistan has been the focal point of terrorist bombing and targeted killings for many decades. Many different ethnic groups have conflicts with each other and continue to battle it out on daily bases in Pakistan. There are more muslim sects who kill each other than there are Muslims and Christians cases like you had mentioned above. This struggle has become the part of daily routine in nations like Pakistan, India etc.
I assure you in general Pakistani christains and muslims live in peace and harmony in Pakistan. Of course, an isolated incident like you had mentioned above can strike any religious groups ex: Sunnis, Shiites etc.
But you haven't heard all this in the CNN so I must be making all this up. Right?