The Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a Latin American country located in the Greater Antilles archipelago on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. It shares a border with the Republic of Haiti, making it one of two Caribbean islands that are split by two countries; the other is Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten. Hispaniola is the second-largest of the Greater Antilles islands, and lies west of Puerto Rico and east of Cuba and Jamaica.
La Vega 
La Vega is a province of the Dominican Republic.
Capital: Concepción de La Vega
Area: 2,287.24 km²
Population (2002 census): 385,101
Explored and claimed by Christopher Columbus on his first voyage in 1492, the island of Hispaniola became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti.
The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821, but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865. A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative rule followed, capped by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo from 1930-1961. Juan Bosch was elected president in 1962, but was deposed in a military coup in 1963. In 1965, the United States led an intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising to restore Bosch. In 1966, Joaquin Balaguer defeated Bosch in an election to become president. Balaguer maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. Former President (1996-2000) Leonel Fernandez Reyna won election to a second term in 2004 following a constitutional amendment allowing presidents to serve more than one term.
Topography
About 80 percent of this fertile, well-watered country is covered with a series of massive mountain ranges, which extend in a northwest to southeast direction. Pico Duarte (3,175 meters/10,417 feet), in the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Septentrional, a parallel range to the north, lies the fertile Valle del Cibao.
Temperature and Climate
The Dominican Republic’s semitropical climate is tempered by the prevailing easterly winds. During the summer months, lowland temperatures rise to between 27° and 35°C (81° and 95°F), while the highlands are considerably cooler. Annual precipitation avearges about 1,500 millimeters (60 inches). The wet season is from June to November. Damaging tropical hurricanes, such as David in 1979, occasionally strike the island country.
Environmental Issues
Urban dwellers of the Dominican Republic enjoy good access to safe water and sanitation, but the same is not true of rural communities. Current water use is low relative to available resources, and deforestation has let do an increase in flash flooding. The rate of deforestation is quite high, made more serious because most of it occurs in primary forest areas. More than 31.5 percent (1997) of the land areas is officially protected in some way, but the country lacks the institutional and legal frameworks required for effective environmental management.
The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean representative democracy that enjoyed strong GDP growth until 2003. Although the country has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. Growth turned negative in 2003 with reduced tourism, a major bank fraud, and limited growth in the US economy (the source of about 80% of export revenues), but recovered in 2004 and 2005. With the help of strict fiscal targets agreed in the 2004 renegotiation of an IMF standby loan, President Fernandez has stabilized the country's financial situation. Although the economy continues to grow at a respectable rate, unemployment remains an important challenge. The country suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GNP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of national income. The Dominican Republic's development prospects improved with the ratification of the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) in September 2005. Dominican Pesos/C$: 29.6 (Jan/07) Range Jan 2004 to Jan 2007: 41.8 to 21.7 (per Onada)
History
For over 3,000 years, the Caribbean islands were inhabited by settlers from South America who paddled in canoes over the neighbouring shores. By Columbus' arrival in the 15th century, these peoples had already entrenched themselves in the Antilles, establishing farming communities that comprise what is now known as the Taino culture.
People
 Today, mixed-race people account for three-quarters of the total population. The rest of the population is of European or African descent. The mixed-race group has a combination of heritages—Spanish and other European, West African, and indigenous.
Language
The official language is Spanish, but it differs from that spoken in Spain. For example, when eating, people request un chin (“a little bit”) of something, instead of the Spanish un poquito. Many people drop the “s” on the end of words, turning dos (“two”) into do’. The formal Spanish form of address for “you” (usted) is used, but people in urban areas prefer the more familiar tú. Some Creole is spoken near the Haitian border and in the bateys (sugarcane plantation communities) where many Haitian workers live.
Religion
Most Dominicans are officially Roman Catholic; however, a much smaller proportion regularly attends church. The remainder of the population includes Evangelical Christians, Seventh-Day Adventists, Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and those of other denominations. A Jewish colony in Sosúa was established after World War II, when immigration policies welcomed refugees.
Family & Gender
Common-law marriages are generally accepted, and many people never officially marry. Single-parent families are common. Many young, single mothers live with their parents. Members of the extended family, including grandparents and other relatives, often occupy the same household. The father is respected as the head of the household, but the mother often has the greatest responsibility and influence in everyday family life. Machismo is a common attitude in the Dominican Republic; it reflects a male-dominated society.
Food
Rice is served at most meals in large quantities, along with beans and cassava. Cassava is usually boiled or prepared as fritters, or baked into rounds of crisp cracker bread called casabe. Plantains and bananas are plentiful. Mangoes, papayas, pineapples, guavas, avocados, and other tropical fruits are also grown locally. Small quantities of chicken, beef, pork, or goat may be eaten with a meal. Bacalao (dried fish), is eaten in some areas; fresh fish is eaten along the coast.
The national dish served on special occasions is sancocho, a rich stew made with vegetables and meats. Habichuelas con dulce (a sweetened drink made from beans) is served at Easter. Dominican coffee is usually served sweet and strong. National beers and rums are widely consumed, as are bottled soft drinks and sweetened fruit juices.
The main meal, comida, is served at midday and often lasts two hours. Families prefer eating at home. Desayuno, or breakfast, is usually light: sweetened coffee and bread are common. The cena, or evening meal, is also light, often not more than a snack or leftovers from comida. Guests are served first, and sometimes separately and more generously. Table conversation is often lively.
Fruit figures prominently in the Dominican diet, and most of it is grown locally. Guava, tamarind, and passion fruit are some of the fruits that residents of the Dominican Republic enjoy.
Holidays & Festivals
New Year’s Day is celebrated on 1 January in the Dominican Republic. The Epiphany or Day of the Kings (Dia de los Reyes) on 6 January commemorates the visit of the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus. Gifts are often given to children on this day rather than at Christmas (25 December).
The day of Nuestra Seňora de la Alta Gracia (Our Lady of High Gratitude) is a holiday on 21 January. Duarte’s Day on 26 January remembers Juan Pablo Duarte, who is know as the father of Dominican independence from Haiti. Independence day on 27 February marks the country’s independence from Haiti in 1844 and is celebrated with parades and political meetings. Carnaval, the pre-Lenten festival, is celebrated for several weeks in the early spring. Many festivities mark this occasion, including parades full of people in costume. Urban families like to vacation at the beach or in the mountains during the Holy Week before Easter.
Customs & Greetings
Men shake hands firmly when they greet. Most women kiss each other on both cheeks. A handshake and Como está usted? (How are you?) is a common formal greeting with usted being dropped for casual situations. It is polite to ask about one’s family. It is not polite to enter a room without greeting everyone present, nor should a person leave without saying goodbye to everyone.
For many Dominicans, especially those in rural areas and barrios, socializing with friends and relatives is one of the main forms of recreation. A visit may be long or short and may occur at any time. Whether expected or not, company is genuinely welcomed. In rural areas, doors are kept open and it is considered strange to close them and not accept visitors. Privacy is unimportant. A desire for solitude is likely to be interpreted as a sign that a person is sad, to be alone is lonely.
Pastimes
Men spend many hours, especially on Sundays, playing dominoes at outdoor tables. Cockfighting too, is very popular, as people lay large bets on which bird they thing will win. The Dominicans’ love of gambling is also evident from the large number of lottery tickets sold. Baseball is the most popular sport. A variety of cultural activities such as theatre and concerts, is available in large urban areas. Dominicans love music and dancing. Merengue, is especially popular, but the people also enjoy salsa and other Latino styles, as well as music and jazz from the United States.
Education
Free public education is provided through the secondary school level. Attendance is mandatory until the sixth grade, but many children cannot attend because they have to help support their families. Lack of transportation and money to buy required uniforms is also a problem, especially in rural areas. Educational resources are limited. Parents and teachers must provide basic supplies such as pencils and paper, and textbooks and other materials are scarce. University education is available and trade schools provide technical training.
Transportation & Communication
Main roads in the Dominican Republic are paved and get a lot of use. Rural roads are often unpaved and may not be passable during the rainy season. Guaguas (small vans or buses) and larger buses are used for public transportation. Travel to and from rural villages is often by pickup trucks or small vans that carry passengers, animals, and cargo. Local urban travel is also done by taxis that follow certain routes. People are more likely to own motorcycles than cars.
Government
Presidents served four-year terms and could be re-elected. Legislature, known formally as Congress of the Republic, consisted of Senate and Chamber of Deputies. Judicial power exercised by Supreme Court of Justice and by other courts created by 1966 Constitution and by law. All judges chosen by Senate, not by president. Provincial (state) governors appointed by president; municipalities (counties) governed by elected mayors and municipal councils.
Following independence from Haiti in 1844, country was characterized by political instability for almost a century. Dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina took power in 1930 and ruled in repressive authoritarian fashion until his assassination in 1961. Conflict aborted by direct military intervention by United States.
Subsequent elections brought Trujillo protégé Balaguer to presidency, an office he held for twelve years. Balaguer's attempt to nullify 1978 elections thwarted by pressure from Washington, allowing Silvestre Antonio Guzmán Fernandez of social democratic Dominican Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Dominicano--PRD) to assume nation's leadership. PRD also won 1982 elections with lawyer Salvador Jorge Blanco as its standard bearer. Both PRD governments plagued by economic difficulties that forced them to institute austerity measures instead of social reforms they initially advocated. Declining popularity of Jorge government contributed to Balaguer's election for a fourth term beginning in 1986.
The Dominican economic decline was an ongoing issue in the 1986 and 1990 elections. Balaguer, elderly and blind, narrowly won fifth term as president. Ex-president Blanco was convicted in absentia of corruption in 1988. In 1992 he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Health & Sanitation
Those Dominicans who can afford it usually opt for private medical treatment. Public hospitals and clinics provide free care, but most suffer from a lack of resources. In rural areas there may be health care workers, but no doctors. Many people still consult curanderos, who are traditional healers. Lack of early treatment and preventative care are genuine concerns. Vaccination campaigns are helping to fight disease, but malaria and illnesses caused by intestinal parasites remain common.
Agriculture
Almost half of all Dominicans are involved in some sort of agriculture. Many are poor and own or rent small farms. In the last decade, however, melons, citrus, bananas, and other fruits have become more lucrative exports and have helped diversify the economy.
Dominican Republic Farmland
North of the Dominican Republic’s Cordillera Central is the Cibao region, the agricultural center of the country. La Vega, the principal town in the Cibao area, is the capital of the province of the same name. On the prolific Valle Oriental del Cibao (Royal Plain), farmers raise avocados, bananas, mangoes, oranges, rice, sugarcane, and tobacco, while growers in the nearby forested foothills cultivate coffee and cacao. Almost half of all Dominicans work in agriculture.
Housing
 Most families live in small houses, either rented or self-built. They may be constructed of cement, wood, or palm bark, and often they are brightly painted, have cement or dirt floors, and are covered with a zinc roof. Electricity and running water are considered luxuries. Urban houses owned by wealthy Dominicans are larger and often have walled and landscaped grounds.
The future challenges in the Dominican Republic
as reported by the World Bank (Oct/2007)
Despite many advances, the Report on Poverty in the Dominican Republic 2006 (World Bank-Inter American Development Bank) indicates that at the end of 2004, 42 of 100 Dominicans were poor. Of these, 16 of 100 lived in extreme poverty (they did not satisfy their nutritional needs). In that year, 20 percent of the richest families concentrated 56 percent of the national income, while the poorest 20 percent received only 4 percent. The inequality of income has remained intact over the past seven years with a Gini coefficient of 0.52, just the average for Latin America and the Caribbean, the region with the greatest inequality of the world.
Poverty and income for the most vulnerable population practically showed no improvement from the bonanza produced between 1997 and 2002. Further, the crisis of 2003 and 2004 caused a dramatic deterioration in real income and an increase of poverty levels. Between the beginning of 2003 and May 2004, nearly 15% of the Dominican population (1.5 million persons) fell into poverty and 7% (some 670,000 personas) into extreme poverty. This situation has greatly increased the vulnerability of poor homes to the external and internal crises and highlights the need to improve social protection services.
The Dominican Republic regained economic growth in 2005; the peso re-valued and inflation dropped. Seven percent of the population (483 thousand Dominicans) exited moderate poverty between October 2004 and October 2006 as the result of stability and the accumulative effect of economic growth. During this period, extreme growth also fell at the national, urban and rural levels, but less (3% of the population, 233 thousand persons altogether).
However, many challenges are ahead: high poverty and inequality, the need to strengthen governance and public institutions, improving basic services, especially the electric sector, investing more and better in education and health and resolving certain urgent problems of social exclusion (e.t., close to 30% of poor Dominicans do not have official identification documentation, which blocks their access to basic public services, among them attending school and health care).
Although the Dominican Republic is on the path towards the Millennium Development Goals, if the trends of the past years persist, it is unlikely that it will attain the objectives related to reducing poverty by one half, the eradication of hunger, the reduction of infant and maternal mortality and environmental sustainability before 2015.
|
