The Great Presidential Airplane Caper

Hi TW,

please could you name a source for this information, something like a newspaper article or similar?

Thank's Mido

Tarjeta de credito

Mido, some offical information is in today's Listin online. See: www.listindiario.com.do/cuerpos/republica/rep1.htm Regards, PJT

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DR1 News carried the story. It was, however, vox populi for several days before breaking. And it is logical
1) Hippo's weathy-beyond-dreams backer, Ramon Baez Figueroa, gave Hippo the card. It came from his bank., BanInter
2) However, it was not RBF that did the checking on the vouchers as they came into the bank for payment. This was done by minions of the bank, and they have large mouths, especially with something as juicy as this.
3) The bank refused to pay 16RD$ million in charges as "obviously false claims" as stated by bank authorities. RD$24 million were covered by the credit card insurors against fraudulent(?) use.
4) You can be sure that the Credit Card agency-VISA, MC or whichever- yelled like hell when they saw this and BanInter was in a very tight and embarassing spot.
5) However, like the scoppion that bites the hand that takes it out of the drowning pool, a banker is first a banker and then a friend, (Like the scorpion, he can't help himself, the scorpion bites; the banker watches his money-it is Nature). RBF, had to tell Hippo that his man was a thief.
6) Yet, days before, the minions were gossiping about all of this and "ears" heard about it and it became fodder for all of the talk shows, morning noon and evening and late night...there was no way to spin it...
7) RBF owns most of the TV and Radio stations and newspapers., but not all of them and people heard and people talked...and people printed...Why? Because a lot of people don't like him or Hippo.

I agree 100% with GOLO....they will try to put it under cover, but this will rival US Grant's administration or Warren Harding's ...
Nixon lied, so did Johnson, but they didn't steal, not like this....

HB

Where is that poster who recently was incensed about the Catholic Church not giving Hippo and his government the credit due them for their efforts to wipe out corruption?

From far away....and only using information gathered over the internet...it has been clear to me that this DR goverment has been stealing lots of money....when I looked at the original US$500Million bond sale over 6 months ago, it was blatantly obvious that at least half of that money was stolen...it was all there in black and white at the official goverment web sites..what we see now and will see in the future is exactly HOW they have been pocketing the money.... I am truly sick to my stomach when I hear all this... what can be done, I dont know....but I hope that those party to the Mejia Mafia get whats coming to them.

I'm confused. Is it his people that were stealing, or is it the consensus that Mejia himself is involved? The posts imply Hipolito did not know, was not part of this, and now he has jailed his right hand man who I assume was also a friend. They also imply Hipo IS still fighting corruption - even if it involves his closest people. So why call it the Mejia Mafia if he is not involved in the corruption, and if he is involved in the corruption, why jail his man?

I think people call it "Mejia Mafia" due to the fact that he personally appointed some of the people involved. Some of the corruption is so blatant and obvious to all it's scary.
Just look at some of the loans, the electricity contracts, the railway etc etc.

Turning a blind eye is as good as indorsing it...

What worries me is that so many people are still convinced that this party, with it's present incumbent as President, is still GOOD for the country. What can we, the thinking populace, do to get the message across to the masses, that we need an honest & honourable set of Senators/Congress people, to elected to Government? Are there such people from within the country? How do we persuade them to join the political parties & get voted to power?? Hence my responses to your recent 'Questionaire' Robert. How can DR1 &/or it's posters, make a concertive effort to make constructive changes in the way this country is Governed? Count me in on the "DR1 party" for 2008!!!! HB for President or should it be Golo??? Maybe PIB, she could be the ist woman President IF Milagra doesn't make it in 2004!!!

CNN reports quantifying the fraud at an estimated RD$300-million on the basis of the goods and merchandise confiscated.

But, I have a feeling it will all get swept under the carpet after a week or two. It's up to the media to keep the pressure on.

I'm sure some members of the PRD are not happy, especially with the amount of money involved and they didn't get a cut... or did they?

Yes, this is the tip of the ice-berg!

My point Golo was not what Hipolito (or the PRD) have done to the countrey's economy, or what they have not done for the people of the country, nor what the PRSC or PLD would do in similar situations, it was what WE can do to have an influence on the future of the country. How do WE get the message to the voting Dominican poplulace as to what is ACTUALLY happening & what the implications are, so that they can use their votes to ensure better control of the country's finances?

You that have a vote, have a chance (albeit small) to make your point at the ballot box, we who are not yet citizens of the DR need a means of communicating to that voting populace. What is the best media for this? Can DR1 have any effect? Does it WANT any influence?

Perhaps I ought to start with the question "Is anyone out there INTERESTED in telling the Government what it wants to see happening in the country?" "Is anyone interested in trying to influence the voting masses?" - Grahame.

BushBaby,

We email just under 12,000 people daily and are read online by 2,500+ daily.

Our email list (20% local subscribers) has almost every major businessman and influential individual here in the DR. We email all the embassies, consulates and associations etc.

We are trying to do our bit...

Golo is the man when it comes to inside politics. I have met Hipolito up close with his aids. Believe me, these guys wear shirts which can cost close to 500 dollars a piece. His coronels are well dressed and decorated with medals down to their asses. I have seen hipo take out a huge bundle of 1000 pesos bills and hand out each bill to the poor and the desperate folks just for asking. All his coronels and his aids drive latest models of fully loaded SUVs. Even the wives of his group drive late model SUVs and use government cell phone. Oh the cell phones: they even gift the government cell phones to their family and friends. This means you make all the calls in the world and pay nothing. The government picks up the tab. I have used those phones to call all over DR and USA. The person even brags to everyone in the restaurant that his phone is free. Even the people from next table used his phone to make phone calls within DR to other cells and talked for a while.
Most of Hipo's party members supported them (PRD) in the elections (working like slaves) in return for better jobs and properties at dirt cheap prices. The PRD members resemble a mafia family. They are arrogant and dangerous. If they are your friends, you can get away with murder in this country and enjoy everything this country has to offer...all for free or at dirt cheap prices.
How do you think I get to go away on weekends to resorts / private villas with private swiming pools etc and hi-class parties for free? My friends are fully ingrained in the PRD party and they act like the big shots where-ever they go. No one can question their authority or come in their way.

If what you say is true "AZB",you are noting more than a PRD "WHORE"!

An Ungrateful "Whore" as well! You take the benefits,then condem your benefactors?(The PRD Mafia) That is really a "Low-Life" practice.I though that you were more honorable! Well,at least you realize that you are running with thieves,poor Jim Hinsch still think that "Hipolito" is an honest man! Come on Jim,you know the old dominican saying:Show me your friends,and I'll tell you who you are"! "Hipolito" can't plead ignorance about every incidence of corruption in his administration."Pepe" is a "Lambonaso Gigante"! When the "Prez" takes a "DUMP","Pepe" was the one with the "Royal Toilet Paper"! Please,wake up and smell the "Stench"! Tom....PS,Balaguer stole more from the famous"Water Project",1 Billion US!

Yes I am a PRD whore. This is the way to get things done in DR. You think, you alone can change the way dominicans do business on daily basis? Like they say, go with the flow or drown. No, I don't like what they are doing to this country, but I am not going to go against them and get crushed. No sir, I am happy to be kissing PRD's asses and living a good life. Maybe next election time around, I might be good friends with another leading party. Who knows.... life goes on in DR.

AZB,
I got goose bumps reading your post and then your reply to Criss. It's your "type" of attitude that has this country the way it is.

I do not mean to judge you (and your thoughts), for I do not know you. However, generally speaking, if everyone has the same attitude as you (and the whole friggin PRD party seems to), it's no wonder this country can't due away with corruption.

Yes, life does go on.... but it is up to each individual to make a change starting with his or her own persona.

Live life to the fullest, but don't use the pitiful excuse that if everyone does this or that "It must be o.k. for me to do it (regardless of it being wrong or right).

DON'T JUST GO WITH THE FLOW - MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

"Just my dos centavos".

I have no opinion on the honesty of Hipolito. I don't have the info to have an opinion on that. It isn't looking good though.

I liked the projects that were announced by his administration. Those were the correct things to do to pull the country ahead, including the loans needed to pay for them. Now if the money gets stolen, squandered, and the projects don't come to fruition, that's a separate issue.

All of us have had a scumbag friend from time to time, or at least worked with one, or we have had friends that thought WE were questionable. Hipolito is jailing his own corrupt people. That's a start. We'll see. Maybe he's a crook, maybe not. But he IS responsible. I'd say that he should step down, but I have nothing that tells me his replacement would be better.

People during his election said he was an idiot, not too bright. Maybe that's the case then, and he didn't know and he was just inexperienced, naive, his administration sucks, and/or he isn't too bright. Not good, but not character flaws. Let's reserve judgement at least until the initial investigation report is made public.