Re: Raid at Classico/Merengue
THE LAW IN THE DR IS MONEY. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT THE ACTUAL LAWS ON THE PAPER/ BOOKS SAY. IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY AND PAY THE RIGHT PEOPLE (POLICE, AND THEIR BOSS and sometimes even the Chief, unless you kill someone in broad daylight when other people are around. And even then maybe not.
The cops in the dr get like $150 equivalent in pesos a month, the tourist police, politur a little more depending on what they do, the higher the rank, the higher the pay, but especially at the regular officer pay, sergeant, and liuetenant, I think most people would be on the take, or on someones payroll, or demanding money when they stop you are you get in trouble. And its better than getting a beating and then going to jail where no one cares and you have no rights like home. Even there in a very small concrete brick what they call house, to us is a toolshed, that amount of money is not even enough for food for the month, let alone anything else. That by no means makes it ok, nor am I condoning it. 90% of the policia there are corrupt.
So are most of the politicians just like here at home in the U.S. maybe worse. All of that money paid in gasoline taxes, - they buy it cheap from chavez, but sell it at Europe's prices almost. $6 a gallon roughly dont quote that. The money is given to politicians for them to have companies pave the roads, plant flowers, and palm trees, but they usually keep it for themselves until the President visits a particular town and asks why have'nt they done anything.
Last time I was in puerto plata, Leonel, the president, was going to visit for election support of certain PLD candidates. Well lets just say everyone and their mother were paving all the roads besides the main carretera. First time I ever saw that happen. Then after a couple of days, flowers and palm trees popped up all over.
A note on all the murders and robberies that have been going on. Do not make youself a mark. Meaning, especially if you are solo, do not wear any jewelry, only carry as much money as you need for the moment, and divide that into 2 pockets and some in another place like a sock. If you get robbed, give up the smalller contents of one pocket and live to tell about it. Always keep your safe and room key in your shorts next to your side of the bed and take them in the shower and the bathroom or whever you go with you. Trust no one or at least be skeptical. Try to stay to lighted areas and dont stay out until the bars close. If you see a fight breaking out, leave. Many people there are packing heat. Not everyone is patted down well b4 entering the clubs. And bars outisde - well. of course not.
Assume because you dress like a gringo and are from another country, that immediately everyone is watching you because you stick out. Not all for bad reasons. But because you are not from there. There is always someone watching you that if you drink too much, or let your guard down will take you for all you got. Chica or chico, or novia o novio - does not matter. That goes for anywhere in the 2nd or 3rd world, and these days even at home , just not as bad yet. The economy in very poor countries as well as home continue to go in the shitter more and more. Use your heads, and I know part of vacation is to relax and drink. But especially if you are solo, be careful with how much you drink. Dont take your money out in the open to pay for things, stick you hand in your pocket and only take out one bill. I know we like to roll with the wad at home, but that brings a shit load of attention there and most of you probably do not see it.
Yes, some chicas have knives in their pocketbooks. Yes, enough of them do coke and are crazy. With that said take it for what it is worth. You can live on the edge a little and stay in a halfass condo with no security where anyone can come in. Or a little better one with a locked gate. Even better one with at least one security guard who pays attention and a safe. Not in some remote area without lights. You can take a cab home with the chica at the end of the night. These are all little things that can keep you safe. If you are a few deep probably isn't necessary but depends.
Also, I might take some shit for saying this...there may be more variety and a different experience or cheaper "fares" at the clubs on the strip, however if safety is an issue the la passion choice pretty much takes the threat of being robbed or duped or suckered by a chica away. The way things seem to be going, might not be a bad idea. You dont have to worry about taking out money inside a club full of would be scammers and potential thieves, you do not have to worry about your keys, you do not have to worry about anything being stolen from your room, and you will not be pestered by all the annoying people who do not leave you alone on the strip.
Both are an experience to be had, however, if it is your first time, and you are solo, and do not speak spanish, have no wingmen, you can remove all the possible problems by taking a cab to la passion and home again, or try blackbeards too, which is good, a whole other experience, but maybe only a few days, its kind of remote, but self contained, but watch the room key there too.
Right now at home in new york city several people are shot, stabbed, or killed everyday, more than in Sosua, due to bad drug deals, gang shootings, frustrated people out of work. A lot of people are losing it. And burglaries are through the roof, even north of NYC , and on the island. People will do whatever they have to to put food on the table. Make sure where ever you are you lock your doors and windows. Home or on vacation. Act like you know where you are even if you dont. Always seem sure of yourself.
Of course nyc is much bigger and has a much bigger population, but even with the shitty economy, and I have argued this a million times with people, I still think sosua is safer if you know where you and be careful than walking or even driving in many areas in nyc late at night.
Until the president and the other politicians which make hundreds of thousands of dollars from gasoline money, pay the military and cops more, they will be corrupt, for the same reasons the chicas do what we want them to. Necessity. That being said, the morality of it is a different topic and I am not interested int that.
If you live in the DR, you should legally apply for a permit for a handgun or 2 or 3, and keep a shotgun locked up in your house (when you are out). Get an alarm system. It will not fix everything, but if you are an ex-pat and retired there or doing business there, people watch you and assume you have money. They know and we all know you have more money than the poor people you pass everyday. Eventually someone may try to take some of it. If you get one, you may have to use it one day.
Unless you live in a make belive world, and think you dont need one.
From what I've seen and read, Santo Domingo and Santiago are crazy now. Teenagers are robbing bodegas like back home. and gringos, and each other.
Id rather be safe than sorry. I wont even go to Santo Domingo anymore. Too dangerous. Too much traffic. Too many people and would be problems.
Also, on the topic on money being the law there, how do you all think those kidnapping keep happening all over the country mostly in big cities like Santiago and Santo Domingo and in between? How does a whole family who owns a grocery store chain or jewlery store get kindapped, but found in less than 4 hours? Easy, I'll tell you. The police kidnap them and have someone else working with them that demand ransom. They way they get found is the President sends his police people in, or a high ranking boss under him who get paid a little more, and who cant be corrupt because they get fired and arrested, from a decent paying job with some benefits, and they find the cops who kidnapped the people and beat them until they talk, then they go to jail. All of a sudden a few hours or a day later the kinapped people are found after being hidden in someones closet or basement, bedroom. How convenient.
A real kidnapping does not work like that. Many times it takes days. Be careful if you get stopped, if you have to give something only give $5 and see if they let you go. Do not show the police that you have too much money or you might be missing it after they threaten to charge you with some congered up bullshit, where you pay not to have to go to the jail.
Sosua, is a very corrupt town. That is why what goes on there in the open is allowed. Everyone has their hand out. Although it goes on in other cities in the country, it is not out in the open like that. Maybe in a casino, or bar. But out in the street and beach anytime after breakfast? I have not been to every place there so there may be others, but I aint seen nothing like it.
Maybe boca chica, aint been there. Too dangerous in my opinion. If security guards need machine guns to protect tourists in a hotel, it must not be the safest place. I know people who almost got robbed but they got away in the nick of time.
Originally Posted by
Apostropheman
JD my brother I must respectfully disagree....I'm going to pretend that I'm an optimist
I believe that this time they killed someone with enough well connected friends and business partners, both in the DR and US, that it will not just get "swept under the rug". The victim was big time and the case high profile...and the trail of bread crumbs pretty obvious. So much so that when looking at the bigger picture something will have to be done.
Whether the actual shooter, and/or the brains behind it all, gets nailed is another matter entirely but more than usual will be done, more seemingly accomplished and some kind of justice will also be done.
As a whole it is too big to be ignored AND it's a perfect vehicle,to be taken advantage of, for a few subplots/other matters to be furthered along...just wait and see. It's far from over and very "political".
I WILL KEEP MY GUNS
MY FREEDOM
AND MY MONEY!
YOU CAN KEEP
THE CHANGE!!!!!!
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