- Thread starter Ken
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Sosua Beach Unions Want More Involvement
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Ahh a "wealthy" businessman owns a beach Casita? There was a retired PD chap that owned and later sold a beach Casita there about 10 years ago. He told me he paid 22 thousand U.S for it. What is wealthy?
Are you referring to Lou, he got off the beach over 15 years ago.
Nobody owns a casita, they rent from the prior squatter.
And Bobby donated money to all kinds of stuff for Kids as I recall. Everyone loved that guy .
No doubt he did the right thing but I think yall missed my point.
No matter how much money you have, how many businesses you
own, how long you've been married or how many children you may
have/ help down here...
The day they decide they no longer want you around (whatever the reason
may be) your done. Knowing what I know as a foreigner who has lived in multiple
"developing countries" I would not be making videos about the up coming changes
regardless of how I felt about them.
if that is the gent that later had an establishment on Pedro C, yes. My point being that it does not appear to be "wealthy" businessmen that are involved in the beach casita business
Did not miss your point at all .
Was simply saying even a guy like Bobby got RUN OUT of town , and Earlier I clearly compared this to Peter who also thought he was made of Teflon ( history lessons) . so a Regular Bar Owner on the Beach , does not even have a remote chance in hell . But he supposedly does not care ?
then why make a Video about it ? because his " Fans" asked for it ... that sounds like something Cuba Dave would have said ..
and yes , Making Videos , talking way too much , is big no no today in the DR , if you are a Foreign National .
This man obviously forgot that he is a GUEST , and on top of that he is a Squatter , but he will be reminded very soon..
But his biggest mistake is trying to speak for the Hundreds of people who will be unemployed, or affected, the motos , the Taxi Mafia ..
That is just blowing hot air he cant back up..
I swore off posting on threads awhile back but after reading 26 pages about a topic that is so dear to my heart, I couldnt resist not throwing my 2 and a half pesos into the well , even if its at yesderdays exchange rate.
When I moved here 16 years ago and opened my own short lived version of the American dream on Playa Sosua , I recall the same rumors being circulated about the path of progress eventually bull dozing the casitas and future plans to make an elite sancocho out of a mongers meatloaf.
Unfortunatly , the devil may be getting his due this time and one needs to only wake up and look at this disturbing trend that has been rapidly accelerated under the latest administration in its quest to make the D.R a Disney style " upscale " destination and finally put thier man on the moon...
2 weeks ago I went to my favorite beach in the country , El Valle near Samana and I was in shock when I arrived and was greeted by a milatary police trailer instead of the 7 little bar restaurants that were recently knocked down and cleared out without a moments notice to the poor owners . " Squatters" of course but just the same , they pulled this stunt on Playa Macao and Cabeza de Toro near Bavaro as well as Las Terrenas and soon Miches with its second all inc under way is the next jewel to be pawned..
Staying in context , it was only a matter of time before the cracked dominoe in Sosua fell but I find it interesting that no one has remarked about other in corresponding changes ( once unthinkable) that have all but spelled death for the town as we know it , such as the opening of Marriot next to Sosua by the sea ,and the new " entertainment " red light plaza by High Caribbean which is ready to house atleast 20 new bars..
Does anyone really think Marriott would invest in a town that looks like gangstas paradise with repulsive , profane grafity being regurgitated from every other bar on the beach at deafining volumes along with Walmart caliber street gals covered in Mamis Avon and homemade rat tats.?
This plan has been a long time on the burner and this current President and his sidekick Collado are cutting ribbons and pouring concrete at light speed and the latest visit with land title transfer should convince the nay sayers that " this time they mean business ".
Personally I believe all the hype and concern over protest and unrest is merely a green boogey man under the bed , as this scenario did NOT happen in any of the other beach towns that Ive mentioned above ( even when they were forced out )..
True , as I learned back when I had my short tenor on the beach, not one vendor owns nor has any right to that land . At best he may own the shack on the land and may even sub lease it but when push comes to shovel he can take his wood pile home when the curtain closes...
I also do find it curious how oblivious some of these present day business owners are to the status quo as most seem to be more interested in being pop culture you tube stars with cult followings than selling beer.
Another overlooked factor is that out of those 130 or so " operational " shanty shacks , atleast half are ran or owned by Haitians and we know how much right or voice they have in this fight and incidentaley ,many which are illegal and just a bunch of street hustling tigueres .
However to conclude this diary , I for the record will miss Sosua as we know it. Kill the beach and declaw the kitty.
And although most Dominicans wont articulate it , its so much more about economics , as most of these establishments barely make ends meet , but rather about preserving a culture and a way if life that is familiar and all most of them have ever known.
Does Sosua need a face lift ? Well , maybe a few shots of botox will suffice , and although I personally think atleast a few weeds should be pulled , the garden should be left to flourish..
Sosua is like no other place in the DR or on earth.
Maybe playa Magante or Ensenada have great local vibes and Dominican authenticity but Sosua beach is a cultural melting pot offering some of the best free entertainment one can get on a Sunday afternoon as they sip a cold drink and just watch the perpetual freak show procession stagger by lol.
Whatever Sosuas future may hold, Im just grateful for all the fond nostalgic moments and memories God has blessed me with . I will miss it.
When I moved here 16 years ago and opened my own short lived version of the American dream on Playa Sosua , I recall the same rumors being circulated about the path of progress eventually bull dozing the casitas and future plans to make an elite sancocho out of a mongers meatloaf.
Unfortunatly , the devil may be getting his due this time and one needs to only wake up and look at this disturbing trend that has been rapidly accelerated under the latest administration in its quest to make the D.R a Disney style " upscale " destination and finally put thier man on the moon...
2 weeks ago I went to my favorite beach in the country , El Valle near Samana and I was in shock when I arrived and was greeted by a milatary police trailer instead of the 7 little bar restaurants that were recently knocked down and cleared out without a moments notice to the poor owners . " Squatters" of course but just the same , they pulled this stunt on Playa Macao and Cabeza de Toro near Bavaro as well as Las Terrenas and soon Miches with its second all inc under way is the next jewel to be pawned..
Staying in context , it was only a matter of time before the cracked dominoe in Sosua fell but I find it interesting that no one has remarked about other in corresponding changes ( once unthinkable) that have all but spelled death for the town as we know it , such as the opening of Marriot next to Sosua by the sea ,and the new " entertainment " red light plaza by High Caribbean which is ready to house atleast 20 new bars..
Does anyone really think Marriott would invest in a town that looks like gangstas paradise with repulsive , profane grafity being regurgitated from every other bar on the beach at deafining volumes along with Walmart caliber street gals covered in Mamis Avon and homemade rat tats.?
This plan has been a long time on the burner and this current President and his sidekick Collado are cutting ribbons and pouring concrete at light speed and the latest visit with land title transfer should convince the nay sayers that " this time they mean business ".
Personally I believe all the hype and concern over protest and unrest is merely a green boogey man under the bed , as this scenario did NOT happen in any of the other beach towns that Ive mentioned above ( even when they were forced out )..
True , as I learned back when I had my short tenor on the beach, not one vendor owns nor has any right to that land . At best he may own the shack on the land and may even sub lease it but when push comes to shovel he can take his wood pile home when the curtain closes...
I also do find it curious how oblivious some of these present day business owners are to the status quo as most seem to be more interested in being pop culture you tube stars with cult followings than selling beer.
Another overlooked factor is that out of those 130 or so " operational " shanty shacks , atleast half are ran or owned by Haitians and we know how much right or voice they have in this fight and incidentaley ,many which are illegal and just a bunch of street hustling tigueres .
However to conclude this diary , I for the record will miss Sosua as we know it. Kill the beach and declaw the kitty.
And although most Dominicans wont articulate it , its so much more about economics , as most of these establishments barely make ends meet , but rather about preserving a culture and a way if life that is familiar and all most of them have ever known.
Does Sosua need a face lift ? Well , maybe a few shots of botox will suffice , and although I personally think atleast a few weeds should be pulled , the garden should be left to flourish..
Sosua is like no other place in the DR or on earth.
Maybe playa Magante or Ensenada have great local vibes and Dominican authenticity but Sosua beach is a cultural melting pot offering some of the best free entertainment one can get on a Sunday afternoon as they sip a cold drink and just watch the perpetual freak show procession stagger by lol.
Whatever Sosuas future may hold, Im just grateful for all the fond nostalgic moments and memories God has blessed me with . I will miss it.
The actual owners of the land and the DR government are involved through the land donation from owners to the government.
I do imagine the condos, if that happens, will be part of a "corporation" set up by the land owners so that fulfills your need to never set foot there again.
What other beaches are on your never again list?
Shark Bar was my go-to place for consistent good food and great conversation. I hope Lou is doing well.
I saw him 4 or 5 months ago and he was doing well.
If the devil is in the details then big corporations are ALWAYS in the planning as they lace the pockets and campaign trails of the political puppets who in turn carry out the elite agenda. Nothing new under the sun is there ?
The fear porn conspiricy prophets saw this coming years back when Carnival sailed in to Maimon and the Tainos saw it hundreds of years ago when Columbus came to save the day and rescue the miserable serfs from thier drudgery..
And behold , with Marriott now open and the W hotel set to open in Cab by 2024 , does anyone still doubt that the corporate elite are taking over the domino tables and transforming this area into a ball room for a " new sustainable " type of clientel and breed of tourism ?
Surely these CEOS arent going to invest millions and risk reputation in cheap expat monger towns without assurance from a compliant govt who will sell themselves out for a bachatta tune that this town and its image needs to be cleaned up and set up for "green sustainable tourism" and that process , though very slow and incrimental has been very subtle and intentional with bar closures , less hookers and forced relocations for some..
As for who really owns the land ? Who really knows but thats irrelavant at this point as the dirty deed has been done
I only know I dont own it and I doubt seriously that I will return to any beach access that remains . Thankfully there are still many great beaches close enough to frequent that atleast for now mom and pop Sanchez still call the shots and pour them.
So this is all Chris Columbus's fault?
It's amazing how many times this has to be repeated, but a Dominican family owns the land that abuts Playa Sosua. They can do with it as they please. They chose to allow the vendors to remain for 20 (?) years. To me, that was extremely generous of them. Now it looks like they are choosing to cash out on the land they own and take care of their own family.
That's not a "dirty deed" by any means. Where do you people come up with this stuff? Do you allow vendors to set up shop on your property?
It is my understanding one of the original Sosua families owns this land, they developed Playa Imbert & Hispaniola Beach, why wouldn't they move West?
Careful my friend lest the path of least resistance puts you on a collision course with the highway to hell lol.
For the record I am NOT blaming Columbo or his pirates for anything, except for the origins of sex tourism in exploited territories lol...Im sure the great kings that financed his adventures had great economic oportunities and job creation in mind for the displaced when they exchanged land and resources for section 8 plantations lol ?
But to the point , YES ! Whoever owns the land DOES have every right to do with it what they wish without apology and if we are true to the text as you claim , they were more than generous by allowing 500 squatters to occupy thier sandy patios and provide for themselves .Atleast I am not disputing that.
If the deed is dirty then the fault lies with politicians who are" selected" to serve the people who voted for them , not the big Corps and special interest groups that installed them..
When politicians bounce on a CEOs waterbed only the rich benefit and the poor , well you know ! ( I think ? )...
So , you have a prominent group of influentials promising that these vendors will be compensated and " takin into consideration when the walls come crumbling down" hahaha...But we all know what that smells like and THAT is a a dirty deed imho....
And please prove your claim that a Dominican family and not a wealthy old Jewish clan deeded by Trujillo does not own it ? Again , does it matter ?
I agree with almost everything Luz said.
The writing has been on the wall for a few years.
I would like to add the town has become an international thorn in the side for the Dominican Tourism Development interest in part due to (some not all) YouTuber wanna be celebrates who only post content highlighting the absolute worst the town has to offer..
Disagree? Get on YouTube and type in the word "Sosua" in the search bar.
Seriously folks?
Knowing how this administration is working so tirelessly to turn this country into the 51st state of America, how much longer do you really think they are going to "tolerate" (as in tolerated until it's been abused) this type of nonsense???
The writing has been on the wall for a few years.
I would like to add the town has become an international thorn in the side for the Dominican Tourism Development interest in part due to (some not all) YouTuber wanna be celebrates who only post content highlighting the absolute worst the town has to offer..
Disagree? Get on YouTube and type in the word "Sosua" in the search bar.
Seriously folks?
Knowing how this administration is working so tirelessly to turn this country into the 51st state of America, how much longer do you really think they are going to "tolerate" (as in tolerated until it's been abused) this type of nonsense???
April 1, 2022
Emotional meeting of beach entrepreneurs
Thursday 24 March there was a tumultuous meeting of beach entrepreneurs in the town hall of Sosúa. The entrepreneurs of the beach expressed their concerns about the disastrous developments of the beach for them. Present were councilors, mayor Wilfredo Olivences and the police commanders. According to the spokesperson José Manuel González (Lilo) of these beach entrepreneurs, a small group of wealthy entrepreneurs in Sosúa want to get rid of the current restaurants and bars. Instead, they want to build large hotels and apartments on the beach. For the hundreds of small entrepreneurs on the beach and for the thousands of family members (spouses and children) who also depend on this income, this will spell disaster. Lilo's impassioned speech was interrupted many times with loud cheers and clapping by the entrepreneurs present. The councilors present said that they stand up for the interests of the beach entrepreneurs.
Emotional meeting of beach entrepreneurs
Mayor Wilfredo Olivences also said in a short speech that he does not want to lose sight of the interests of small entrepreneurs. Finally, the architect present said that the entrepreneurs need to understand that the beach needs an update. But any adjustments will be made in consultation with the current beach board.
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