Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has sealed its borders and is turning away refugees from Haiti. Anyone know who we can call about this? Schumer? Clinton? The Embassy ? All of the above? Thanks

It's frickn' sad, but they did the same thing with Katrina—prevented people fleeing the disaster area from entering neighboring towns; the police of these towns actually fired on said refugees.

The DR is not known for its love of Haiti or its compassion at a gvt level. It's appalling.

If there was a major disaster in Mexico and Mexicans started running for our borders in large quantities, I'm fairly certain our gov't. would do the same. Not that it would be right, just that I think they'd do it.

And it's not like the DR has universal healthcare and the resources to take care of their own - there's plenty of bone deep poverty in the DR that's not being addressed - a flood of non-Spanish speaking refugees isn't going to help anyone.

Sad but true.

From my experience in most hospitals in the Dominican Republic they ask you to supply your own bandages, alcohol, and damn near stitches.
Perhaps they should have created some sort of Red Cross emergency headquarters where refugees could gather and be processed.
DR was lucky to be spared and while I understand resisting a mass exodus, they should do more than send over earth moving machines.
: /

can anyone explain, why is there discrimination against the dark skinned dominicans in the DR? im just curious?

It's silly madness and ignorance!

Same reason there has been prejudice against every darker skinned group within populations around the world.

BoogieKnight wrote: And it's not like the DR has universal healthcare and the resources to take care of their own - there's plenty of bone deep poverty in the DR that's not being addressed - a flood of non-Spanish speaking refugees isn't going to help anyone.

Sad but true.

And yet...

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/01/15/2010-01-15_injured_haiti_earthquake_victims_stream_across_border_to_.html

i'm glad there's some good things happening in DR. i admit my knowledge of the countries' relationship is far from thorough, but the things i do know about their history don't make DR sound so great.... (Edwidge Danticat's "The Farming of Bones" is beautiful and horrifying.)

Untrue.

Read the piece that BoogieKnight posted:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/01.....am_across_border_to_.html

bococalady wrote: can anyone explain, why is there discrimination against the dark skinned dominicans in the DR? im just curious?

This article explains it well