I have to admit that in my few years of living here things have changed just recently,and not really for the better.
I have strolled,ridden and driven the Malecon in POP many times, in fact just a few days ago to check out the new park and never actually felt particularly unsafe,other than the usual homicidal motoconchos, but now I'm really not so sure.
To kill a guy,tourist,no less, for a simple robbery does not seem to be DR style but it's really disturbing.I never wear bling or look rich when I'm out and about but this has shaken me quite a lot.
It's fine for Virgil to defend the Republic as in ancient times, but something is rotten in the state for sure,and I'm not convinced that the law enforcement agencies can stem it!
Catching the perps is a secondary duty for forces of order.Security and prevention should be the goal and it looks like that has fallen by the wayside to shaking down the hookers,drivers and wanna-be business operators.Tourist protection is one of those knee-jerk ineffectual visual "improvements" obviously.
Easy meat.
I was in my most disliked town in DR, Santo Domingo, and had a few hours to kill so considered a jolly walk along their Malecon ,only to be advised against it by no less than two separate local taxi drivers and the waiter from the cafe!
Something is swinging around here, and it doesn't seem to be beneficial to anyone:not even the crooks..
It does require a strong hand, but where to place it? Where will the priorities be?