Operation Falcon: Major raids in Santiago, Santo Domingo and Punta Cana

[aarhus]

There is still enough money in the country to buy hundreds of Porsche, Lambos or Mc Laren.
Miguel Vargas has sentenced the PRD to death with his big ego, bien hecho...
But now we're really OT so the mods can open a new thread about the political history of the DR.

I think it’s a good idea. When I tried a year ago I was trolled and told nobody was interested in that. Seems many are.

 

[aarhus]

I think it is difficult for people who come from less corrupt countries to understand the code of conduct that ran through all of government here, especially until you have lived in the country for years. Politicians just wanted to be politicians so they could roll in money. All of them were at it, no matter what party. Even if your party lost, your mates in the winning party would give you a botella - a salaried job you didn't need to turn up for.

My take on it is this. Danilo made some grand moves which looked like he was trying to change things, like building thousands of schools and building new highways but it turns out these were just new ways of milking cash from the system in a slightly less obvious way. Then comes Abinader who says he is anti-corruption and is going to change things, and I'm sure all the politicians thought "hey ho here we go again, what color do I want my Lamborghini". But then he started throwing the book at people in his own party and in the institutions like the electricity companies, and a lot of these guys are having a double-take. It remains to be seen if he will stick to it or if he will be eliminated one way or another.

Terrible time to own a Porsche garage though, I can't imagine they have many customers these days.

My understanding is from talking to Dominicans is that the real power broker is Lisandro Macarrulla

 

[La Profe_1]

Back on topic, please.

 

[aarhus]

There is still enough money in the country to buy hundreds of Porsche, Lambos or Mc Laren.
Miguel Vargas has sentenced the PRD to death with his big ego, bien hecho...
But now we're really OT so the mods can open a new thread about the political history of the DR.

I guess you can always start a thread about it under Government.

 

[principe]

I'm 40 years old, and never in my entire life have I seen the DR in better shape when in comes to the application of justice. Lets just say that having the ex-president's brother in jail, and the ex-Attorney General in jail is a HUGE achievement for the justice system in the country.

Albeit, still a long way to go.

 

[johne]

I'm 40 years old, and never in my entire life have I seen the DR in better shape when in comes to the application of justice. Lets just say that having the ex-president's brother in jail, and the ex-Attorney General in jail is a HUGE achievement for the justice system in the country.

Albeit, still a long way to go.

Agree BUT the "albeit" is the "proof is in the pudding", the "signed sealed and delivered sentence", the nail in the coffin, ....LOL, remember THIS is the DR.
Kinda like the theme song from "The Twilight Zone". Hopefully, we don't need to play that song.

 

[MariaRubia]

Agree BUT the "albeit" is the "proof is in the pudding", the "signed sealed and delivered sentence", the nail in the coffin, ....LOL, remember THIS is the DR.
Kinda like the theme song from "The Twilight Zone". Hopefully, we don't need to play that song.

I think it's the sign that they are sending to the little people who do corruption on a small scale that is most important. I imagine the big fish will always find a way to be big fish, but the lady who worked in the Ayuntamiento who hardly ever went to work and used to expect a back-hander for doing anything is probably now feeling far more motivated to do her job by the book. And this will run for every government official, every policeman, everyone who works for the electricity company and so on.

 

[london777]

All these parties are analogous to Mafia families. They may squabble among themselves but will co-operate or accept each other's members when opportune. The main difference between them and European parties is that they have no ideologies. All European parties, at least until the recent vogue for populist parties, have some ideology, even if they may wander far from it at times.

 

[USA DOC]

There is still enough money in the country to buy hundreds of Porsche, Lambos or Mc Laren.
Miguel Vargas has sentenced the PRD to death with his big ego, bien hecho...
But now we're really OT so the mods can open a new thread about the political history of the DR.

Maybe not the Mc Laren.......

 

[USA DOC]

I think it's the sign that they are sending to the little people who do corruption on a small scale that is most important. I imagine the big fish will always find a way to be big fish, but the lady who worked in the Ayuntamiento who hardly ever went to work and used to expect a back-hander for doing anything is probably now feeling far more motivated to do her job by the book. And this will run for every government official, every policeman, everyone who works for the electricity company and so on.

You are right about the big fish....that fish got away again, seems he was tipped off and left the country right before the first raid....thats how a fish gets BIG..........

 

[MariaRubia]

All these parties are analogous to Mafia families. They may squabble among themselves but will co-operate or accept each other's members when opportune. The main difference between them and European parties is that they have no ideologies. All European parties, at least until the recent vogue for populist parties, have some ideology, even if they may wander far from it at times.

Most of the richest families in DR have Italian surnames. Rainieri and Vicini and Bonetti aren't Spanish names.

 

[AlterEgo]

Most of the richest families in DR have Italian surnames. Rainieri and Vicini and Bonetti aren't Spanish names.

Let’s not go there please, stay on topic

 

[bob saunders]

Most of the richest families in DR have Italian surnames. Rainieri and Vicini and Bonetti aren't Spanish names.

And many have Lebanese surnames. Mean only that those families are good business people.

 

[JD Jones]

And many have Lebanese surnames. Mean only that those families are good business people.

^This^

For example, I bet most folks are now aware that Punta Catalina is built on rented land. The owner of the land? The Vicinis.

 

[windeguy]

My understanding is from talking to Dominicans is that the real power broker is Lisandro Macarrulla

That would be interested to know more about . I have not heard of him.

 

[MariaRubia]

That would be interested to know more about . I have not heard of him.

I am happy to fill in some gaps with what I know, but we will then be going waaaaay off topic. Can I suggest that we start a thread on which Dominicans are the real movers and shakers? Would that be OK with the mods?

 

[aarhus]

I am happy to fill in some gaps with what I know, but we will then be going waaaaay off topic. Can I suggest that we start a thread on which Dominicans are the real movers and shakers? Would that be OK with the mods?

Same with me. I am certainly not an expert but recently have been paying more attention. I understand Macarrulla is similar to a PM. Like in France or Russia maybe. I first thought like a chief of staff but now I am told more like a PM.

 

[AlterEgo]

I am happy to fill in some gaps with what I know, but we will then be going waaaaay off topic. Can I suggest that we start a thread on which Dominicans are the real movers and shakers? Would that be OK with the mods?

That’s fine, just nothing libelous.

 

[aarhus]

That’s fine, just nothing libelous.

True that is important. But I think it’s valuable also to learn about the system. For all of us. There are some clever honest business people here and even some politicians lol

 

[Kipling333]

Clever and honest business Dominican people ?? There are some very good people in the professions especially in specialist medical fields but I am scratching my head to recall ever meeting any honest decent business people.