Originally Posted by
Hunter
Pretty good post from DR1....sounds pretty legit.
I'm doing a large project, not real estate, which has to be approved by the DR gubmint, and requires the approval and assistance of numerous top Ministries.
In the last few years, especially the last 8 months, I've had to meet with some pretty powerful people, not because I want to rub shoulders, but I have to for my project. Many here on DR1 know who, why and some know when (especially the small victories .)
In all this interaction, some of which requires the word "Sosua" as a destination, I have never once offered any opinion of the town, mongering, or anything remotely similar to these people.
I can give you a few takeaways from what *they* have said that you can take or leave:
The local officials, the mayor, etc. are minor players. By the way the DR is structured, they take orders from above. If anything, *some* local officials have been slow-walking the orders of these national officials.
The current DR Ministers think Sosua and Boca Chica are national embarrassments. They may be hypocrites, yada, yada, yada, but that does not mean they don't find Sosua a national embarrassment.
Tourism strongly thinks that prostitution in Sosua has badly hindered local economic development for years.
I learned six months ago the hammer was going to be dropped on Sosua as a sex-tourist destination, and even tried giving DR1ers a heads' up. I was mocked and ridiculed which didn't bother me at all. And voila-six months later the hammer got dropped.
Now I don't pretend to know what the future holds in Sosua next month or 1, 5 or 10 years, have no dog in that fight, have no interest in the area beyond an occasional pass-through and have no "inside scoop" on any development projects or plans. The locals know better.
But what I can tell you with great confidence is that the power folks in Santo Domingo are very serious about "cleaning up" Sosua. And it is an election year. You can do some simple math and take my observations for what they are worth: everything or nothing.
A wise man would plan accordingly.
Enjoy the show.
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