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7 April 2008

National strike on 9 April?

The spokesperson for the 'Colectivo de Organizaciones Populares', Mr José Tavárez Fernández, has announced that a national strike has been called for on 9 April, and which is scheduled to last 48 hours, to protest about rising prices. Over the past few weeks the prices of cooking oil, flour, chicken, rice and milk have risen dramatically.


According to the strike leader, this results in considerable financial difficulties for many poor families. The government is doing nothing to help compensate for limited family budgets and, according to Mr Tavárez, is only concerned with the forthcoming election compaign (i.e. choosing a new president).
As usual, the tourist locations such as Sosúa and Cabarete will probably not see much evidence of the strike, but in the larger towns, such as Santiago and Santo Domingo, roads will probably be blocked by burning tyres and there will be some unrest. If possible, try to delay any trips to these places during the strike period. Over the next few days we'll probably hear more about whether the strike will go through - after all, there are many strikes here that are called for, but most never actually happen.

This was announce a while ago:

http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2008/4/1/27511/General-strike-in-Dominican-Republic-to-protest-against-high-prices

Unfortunately, there is not much one can do to predict the real effect of the strike and how seriously the people take it.

How do you guys feel about the strike? It should happen or it's just a political scheme?

Honeslty, I feel like whatever happens right now is for political reasons only. All these activities are being done so the PLD can lose the election. It's just baffling how people want Leonel to go to jail for la nominallas that Miguel Vargas also paid. The PRD will not change anything and will only continue and enhance corrupiton already experienced in the gov't.

I honestly believe DR is better off with leonel. He is not perfect but overall I think he has the best intentions for the people. There are just so many corrupt people businessmen (mostly) and politicans that want to continue dominated society by exploiting and creating more poverty in the country. These same people continue to stir up chaos to make the gov't look bad. We need someone to stand up to that which what Leonel faces on a day to day basis. People who want DR to stay behind and never advance.

The organizers for the strike just want a few $$$ so they can shut up. It's sad but true.

I think strikes in the DR are always organized for a political interest or are just an manipulation of mases (like the transports strikes). In general, I think strikes in the DR are worthless and nobody really wins everything with them.

About Leonel, I think every government has had it's problems and corruption. I don't think a change of political party right now is what the country needs, since every time we switch parties it's a lot worst: projects stop, time is wasted on the change, ongoing processes are halted, agenda's change, and everything has to be reinitiated. It's like if it's a giant reset of the country.

About the strike, my recomendation is, if by the 9th it's not clear if the strike is on, go on normally, and if you see trouble just get out of there and return home, always avoid getting into it if it really does materialize.

Ny4life,

I will just copy and paste this one from my previous comments.

I for one do not agree with STRIKES, since they never seem to get the people anywhere. other than to get there ass whipped with water tanks.

But if it manages to get them some airtime coverage , when all the local channels are not airing PLD commercial, more power to them. Maybe it will open the eyes to Dominicans who live out of the country, to see that the DR is not as pretty as the GOV paints it.

Let's see... in a couple of hours we will know if the strike was noticable.

On my part, I plan on working normally as I don't care too much about it, unless of course, things get out of control.

Hey Time2rise. It's good to have a democracy, and let people protest in a civlized manner. Like you alluded to it's nice to see the truth behind the lives of most Dominicans. I live here in the U.S. and I don't have the opportunity to see what actually happens day to day in DR. What I hear and read about the DR with Leonel Fernandez sounds really good, economy stabilit with 10% growth rate of the GDP for the last three years, numerous FDI projects (foreign direct investments) in tourism, free healthcare for all, a housing boom all over DR and especially SDGO and STGO. I wonder if the protest is bring about the real picture of DR or is it just a political way to dethrown Leonel.

I think Leonel is the best president the DR has ever had. Balaguer was a caudillo.

Time2rise, as a Dominican living in DR, I ask you what is the truth in DR? Is the FSA portraying the truth with no political motive? Do you think that with Leonel the future for DR is brighter?

Gracias hermano. Te lo escribo con una gran sinceridad. Solo quiero lo mejor para mis hermanos Dominicanos.

ny4life,

I'am originally from the states from florida, and i moved to DR in 2004. I can personally tell you that in these last 4 years, tourism has slowed down a bit, mostly because of prices on everything has gone up . Especially the 16% tax that everyone has to pay. Which will be good if it was put to use in a good way. For instance Health care, Education New Roads, etc.

There is no Free health care, it is sad to see sometimes when you are driving along, and all of a sudden you are stop by a family, with a picture of a family member who is in dying need of critical operation, and so there are looking for donations.

high prices of some food products are unjustified considering that some of those foods are abundant in the DR and are of good quality.I mean like eggs, chicken, rice, potatoes, onions and meats are produced here in the DR and there is no reason for their prices to go up.

Luckily for me i send money, to my family in florida so that they can send me a 4 feet box of food and misc. Like Rice, Oil, Can Goods, Deodorant, toothpaste etc.... So just imagine a dominican who makes only 4,000 pesos= $117 US a month, and with the cost of living so high.

Not to mention Gasoline oh my god Premium is $5.45 Regular $5.15 and still going up!
And i do not understand why it is so much more expensive that the US, If supposedly we get most
of our GAS from Venezuela from that PetroCaribe deal, im not sure if it is the 16% tax and include and
refinery charge or what.

School conditions are horrible, were i live there is a school near me that when it rains to much, the school is closed because it is flooded. And the poor teacher there every time she has to print assignments or tests, she has to come to my Internet shop to print, because the GOV does not provide printers nor PC's. If they want a PC they have to Finance one with the GOV.

Well this is just a fraction of what i have observe in the DR.

NY4 4 years.....i've been here 22...what have I seen? as much as everything changes it remains the same