The Dominican Republic (Spanish:
República Dominicana, pronounced [re'pußlika ðomini'kana])
is a Latin American country located on Hispaniola, the second-largest
island in the Caribbean's Greater Antilles archipelago. Hispaniola
lies west of Puerto Rico and east of Cuba and Jamaica.[2] Its western
third is home to Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands
that are split by two countries, Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten being
the other.
The Dominican Republic is the site of the first permanent European
settlement in the Americas, its capital Santo Domingo,[3] which
was also the first colonial capital in the Americas.[4] It is the
site of the first cathedral,[1] university, European-built road,
European-built fortress, and more.
For most of its independent history, the nation experienced political
turmoil and unrest, suffering through many non-representative and
tyrannical governments. However, since the death of military dictator
Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina in 1961, the Dominican Republic
has moved toward representative democracy.
Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 The Taínos
1.2 Spanish rule
1.3 French rule
1.4 The Ephemeral Independence and Haitian rule
1.5 Independence
1.6 Re-colonization and the Restoration War
1.7 U.S. intervention
1.8 U.S. occupation
1.9 Trujillo era
1.10 Post-Trujillo
1.11 1978 to present
2 Government and politics
2.1 Politics
2.2 Foreign relations
3 Provinces and municipalities
4 Geography
4.1 Climate
4.2 Environmental issues
5 Symbols
6 Economy
6.1 Recent years
6.2 Currency
6.3 Tourism
7 Demographics
7.1 Population
7.2 Ethnic composition
7.3 Racial issues
7.4 Religion
7.5 Education
7.6 Health statistics
7.7 Immigration
7.7.1 Stateless Haitians
7.8 Emigration
7.9 Crime
8 Culture
8.1 Cuisine
8.2 Music
8.3 Sports
9 Holidays
10 Military
11 Services and transportation
11.1 Communications
11.2 Highways
11.3 Electricity
12 See also
13 References
14 Further reading
15 External links
History
Main article: History of the Dominican Republic
The Taínos
The island of Hispaniola was inhabited by the Taínos, an
Arawakan-speaking people, who may have arrived around A.D. 600,
displacing earlier inhabitants.[5] The Taínos lived in villages
headed by chiefs and called the island Ayiti or Haiti ("mountainous
land"), Bohio, and Quisqueya.[6] By 1492 they were divided
into five chiefdoms (cacicazgos in Spanish, from cacique, chief).
There are widely varying estimates of the population of Hispaniola
in 1492, including 100,000,[7] 300,000[5] 3 million,[8] and 7-8
million.[9] They engaged principally in farming and fishing,[3]
as well as hunting and gathering.[5]
Spanish rule
Christopher Columbus landed at Môle Saint-Nicolas on December
5, 1492, in his first voyage, and claimed the island for Spain.
Nineteen days later, the Santa Maria ran aground near the present
site of Cap-Haitien; Columbus was forced to leave 39 men, founding
the settlement of La Navidad. He returned to Spain, voyaging back
to America three more times. After initially friendly relations,
the Taínos resisted the conquest. One of the earliest leaders
to fight against the Spanish was the female Chief Anacaona of Xaragua,
in the southwest, who married Chief Caonabo of Maguana, in the center
and south of the island. The two fought hard against the Europeans;
she was captured by the Spanish and executed in front of her people.
Other notables who resisted include Chief Guacanagari, Chief Guama,
and Chief Hatuey, who later fled to Cuba and helped fight the Spaniards
there. Chief Enriquillo fought victoriously against the Spaniards
in the Baoruco Mountain Range, in the southwest, to gain freedom
for himself and his people in a part of the island. The Taínos
were by then nearly extinct. Most of the survivors mixed with runaway
African slaves, called cimarrones, producing zambos. The mestizos
increased in number as native women conceived to European men.
By the mid-1500s the majority of Taíno people had died out
from mistreatment, disease, suicide, the breakup of family unity,
starvation,[5] forced labor, torture, and war with the Spaniards.
In 1561 Bartolomé de las Casas wrote that when he reached
Hispaniola in 1508 "There were 60,000 people living on this
island, including the Indians; so that from 1494 to 1508, over three
million people had perished from war, slavery and the mines. Who
in future generations will believe this?"[10] Due to the total
lack of previous interaction with Europeans, and hence no previous
exposure to European diseases, the Taíno had developed no
immunity to smallpox — which they probably contracted in some
cases via sexual relations with Europeans — and other contagious
diseases, resulting in a catastrophic loss of life that some have
termed a genocide.
The Taíno bloodline in Hispaniola diluted more and more
as the decades went by, primarily due to the establishment of Africans
and Mulattos on the island; however, it is believed that many Dominicans
today retain some native ancestry.[11][12] It has been stated that
Las Casas exaggerated the Indian population decline in an effort
to better persuade King Charles to intervene, and that encomenderos
also exaggerated it, in order to receive permission to import more
African slaves. Moreover, censuses of the time did not account for
the number of Indians who had fled from the Spanish into remote
communities, where they often lived alongside runaway Africans.
To this are added further problems of racial categorization itself
which, evidence suggests, was influenced by social factors: for
instance, mestizos who were culturally Spanish were counted as Spaniards.[11]
In 1496 Bartolomeo Columbus, Christopher's brother, built the city
of Nueva Isabela (New Isabella), now Santo Domingo, in the south
of Hispaniola. It was one of the first Spanish settlements, and
became Europe's first permanent settlement in the New World. The
Spaniards created a plantation economy on Hispaniola, particularly
from the second half of the 16th century.[7] The island became a
springboard for European conquest of the Caribbean islands, called
"Antilles", and soon after, the South American mainland,
including what is modern-day coastal Venezuela and Colombia. Santo
Domingo colony was for decades the headquarters of Spanish power
in the New World. However, with the conquest of the mainland empires
of the Aztecs and Incas, Hispaniola declined and Spain paid ever
less attention to it. French bucaneers settled in the western part
of the island, and in the 1697 Treaty of Ryswick Spain ceded that
part of Hispaniola to France. It grew into the wealthy colony of
Saint-Domingue (now Haiti), with four times the population of Santo
Domingo at the end of the 18th century.[13]
French rule
France came to own the whole island in 1795, when in the Treaty
of Basel Spain ceded Santo Domingo as a consequence of the French
Revolutionary Wars. At the time the slaves in the western part (Haiti),
led by Toussaint Louverture, were in revolt against France. In 1801
Toussaint Louverture captured Santo Domingo from the French, thus
gaining control of the entire island. However, an army sent by Napoleon
captured him and sent him prisoner to France in 1802; still, Toussaint
Louverture's successors, and yellow fever, expelled the French again
from Haiti and gained independence, although France went on to recover
Spanish Santo Domingo. In 1808, following Napoleon's invasion of
Spain, the criollos of Santo Domingo revolted against French rule,
and with Britain's (Spain's ally) and even Haiti's help,[14] returned
Santo Domingo to Spanish control.[15]
The Ephemeral Independence and Haitian rule
After a dozen years of Spanish misrule and neglect and failed independence
plots by various groups, former Spanish lieutenant-governor José
Núñez de Cáceres declared the colony's independence
as the state of Haití Español (Spanish Haiti) on November
30, 1821, requesting admission to Simón Bolívar's
Gran Colombia. But the new nation's independence was short-lived,
as Haitian forces, led by Jean-Pierre Boyer, invaded just nine weeks
later in February 1822.[16] As Toussaint Louverture had done the
first time, the Haitians abolished slavery; they also dispossessed
the white landowners and closed down the university. Most whites
fled Santo Domingo for Puerto Rico, Cuba (both under Spanish rule),
and other nations. Pro-independence, pro-Spanish, pro-French, pro-British
and other movements gathered force following the overthrow of Jean
Pierre Boyer in 1843.
Independence
The Founding Fathers: Left, Francisco del Rosario Sánchez;
Middle, Juan Pablo Duarte; Right, Ramón Matías MellaIn
1838 Juan Pablo Duarte founded a secret society called La Trinitaria
that sought pure and simple independence of Santo Domingo without
any foreign intervention.[17] Ramón Matías Mella and
Francisco del Rosario Sánchez, (the latter one having African
ancestry)[18] in spite of not being among the founding members,
went on to be decisive in the fight for independence and are now
hailed, along with Duarte, as the Founding Fathers of the Dominican
Republic. On February 27, 1844, the Trinitarios, as the members
of La Trinitaria were known, declared independence from Haiti, backed
by Pedro Santana, a wealthy cattle-rancher from El Seibo who became
general of the army of the nascent Republic and is known as "El
Liberador." The Dominican Republic's first Constitution was
adopted on November 6, 1844, and was modeled after the United States
Constitution.[3]
Yet the decades that followed were filled with tyranny, factionalism,
economic difficulties, rapid changes of government, and exile for
political opponents. Archrivals Santana and Buenaventura Báez
held power most of the time, both ruling arbitrarily. They promoted
competing plans to annex the new nation to another power: Santana
favored Spain, and Báez the United States.
Re-colonization and the Restoration War
General Gregorio Luperón, Restoration Hero.In 1861, after
forcibly silencing or exiling many of his opponents and mainly due
to political and economic reasons, Santana signed a pact with the
Spanish Crown and reverted the Dominican nation to a colonial status,[19]
the only Latin American country to do so. Opponents launched the
War of the Restoration in 1863, led by a group of men including
Santiago Rodríguez and Benito Monción among others;
General Gregorio Luperón distinguished himself at the end
of the war. Haitian authorities, fearful of the re-establishment
of Spain as colonial power on their border, gave refuge and logistics
to Dominican revolutionaries to re-establish independence.[19] The
United States, then fighting its own Civil War, vigorously protested
the Spanish action. After two years of fighting, the Spanish troops
abandoned the island.[19] The Restoration was proclaimed on August
16, 1863.
Political strife again prevailed in the years that followed; warlords
ruled, military revolts were extremely common, and the nation amassed
debt. In 1869 it was the turn of Báez to act on his plan
of annexing the country to the United States,[16] with a payment
of 1.5 million dollars by the U.S. as part of the deal, in order
to alleviate the Dominican Republic's debts.[20][3] U.S. President
Ulysses S. Grant supported this plan, but the United States Senate
refused on June 30, 1870,[16] albeit by just one vote. President
Grant thought that former American slaves could go to the Dominican
Republic and live in peace, free of harassment by Southern whites.[21]
Ulises 'Lilís' Heureaux, President of the Dominican Republic
1882-84, 1886-99.Báez was toppled in 1874, returned, and
was toppled for good in 1878. A new generation was now entirely
in charge, with the passing of Santana (he died in 1864) and Báez
from the scene. Relative peace came to the country in the 1880s,[22]
which saw the coming to power of General Ulises Heureaux.
The new president was initially popular.[23] He was, however, "a
consummate dissembler", who put the nation deep into debt while
using much of the proceeds for his personal use and to maintain
his police state.[23] Heureaux's rule became more despotic with
time and he all the more unpopular.[24][23] In 1899 he was assassinated.
However, the unprecentedly long calm over which he'd presided allowed
for some improvement in the Dominican economy. The sugar industry
was modernized,[25] and the country attracted foreign workers and
immigrants, both from the Old World and the New.
From 1902 on, short-lived governments were again the norm and provincial
leaders held much of the power. Furthermore, the national government
was bankrupt and, unable to pay its debts, faced the threat of military
intervention by France and other European powers seeking repayment.
U.S. intervention
It was this situation that U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt sought
to prevent, in great part in order to protect the vicinity of the
Panama Canal, which was then under construction.[23] He made a small
military intervention to ward off the European powers, proclaimed
his famous Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, and in 1906
the Dominican Republic and the United States entered into a 50-year
treaty giving control of customs administration to the United States.[3]
In exchange the United States agreed to use the customs proceeds
to help reduce the immense foreign debt of the Dominican Republic,[3]
and even assumed responsibility for said debt.[23]
In 1914, the United States, due to extreme political internal instability
in the Dominican Republic (inability to elect a president), expressed
concern and stated that a leader must be elected, or the United
States would impose one.[26] As a result, Ramón Báez
Machado was elected provisional president on August 27, 1914.[26]
Presidential elections held on October 25 returned Juan Isidro Jimenes
Pereyra to the presidency. Despite his victory, however, Jimenes
felt impelled to appoint leaders and prominent members of the various
political factions to positions in his government in an effort to
broaden its support. The internecine conflicts that resulted had
quite the opposite effect, weakening the government and the President
and emboldening Secretary of War Desiderio Arias to take control
of both the armed forces and the Congress, which he compelled to
impeach Jimenes for violation of the constitution and the laws.
Although the United States ambassador offered military support to
his government, Jimenes opted to step down on May 7, 1916.
Arias never assumed the presidency formally. The United States
government, apparently tired of its recurring role as mediator,
had decided to take more direct action. By this time, U.S. forces
were occupying Haiti. The initial military administrator of Haiti,
Rear Admiral William Caperton, had actually forced Arias to retreat
from Santo Domingo by threatening the city with naval bombardment
on May 13, 1916.
U.S. occupation
The first Marines landed three days later, on May 19, 1916. Although
they established effective control of the country within two months,
the United States forces did not proclaim a military government
until November. Most Dominican laws and institutions remained intact
under military rule, although the shortage of Dominicans willing
to serve in the Cabinet forced the military governor, Rear Admiral
Harry S. Knapp, to fill a number of portfolios with United States
naval officers. The press and radio were censored for most of the
occupation, and public speech was limited.
The surface effects of the occupation were largely positive. The
Marines restored order throughout most of the republic (with the
exception of the eastern region); the country's budget was balanced,
its debt was diminished, and economic growth resumed. Infrastructure
projects produced new roads that linked all the country's regions
for the first time in its history. A professional military organization,
the Dominican Constabulary Guard, replaced the partisan forces that
had waged a seemingly endless struggle for power. Most Dominicans,
however, greatly resented the loss of their sovereignty to foreigners,
few of whom spoke Spanish or displayed much real concern for the
welfare of the republic.
The most intense opposition to the occupation arose in the eastern
provinces of El Seibo and San Pedro de Macorís. From 1917
to 1921, the United States forces battled a guerrilla movement in
that area known as the "gavilleros". The guerrillas enjoyed
considerable support among the population, and they benefited from
a superior knowledge of the terrain. The movement survived the capture
and the execution of its leader, Vicente Evangelista, and some initially
fierce encounters with the Marines. However, the gavilleros eventually
yielded to the occupying forces' superior firepower, air power (a
squadron of six Curtis Jennies), and determined (often brutal) counter-insurgency
methods.
After World War I, public opinion in the United States began to
run against the occupation. U.S. President Warren G. Harding, who
succeeded Woodrow Wilson in March 1921, had campaigned against the
occupations of both Haiti and the Dominican Republic. In June 1921,
United States representatives presented a withdrawal proposal, known
as the Harding Plan, which called for Dominican ratification of
all acts of the military government, approval of a loan of US$2.5
million for public works and other expenses, the acceptance of United
States officers for the constabulary — now known as the Guardia
Nacional (National Guard) — and the holding of elections under
United States supervision.
Popular reaction to the plan was overwhelmingly negative. Moderate
Dominican leaders, however, used the plan as the basis for further
negotiations that resulted in an agreement allowing for the selection
of a provisional president to rule until elections could be organized.
Under the supervision of High Commissioner Sumner Welles, Juan Bautista
Vicini Burgos assumed the provisional presidency on October 21,
1922. In the presidential election of March 15, 1924, former President
Horacio Vásquez Lajara handily defeated Francisco J. Peynado.
Vásquez's Alliance Party (Partido Alianza) also won a comfortable
majority in both houses of Congress. With his inauguration on July
13, control of the republic returned to Dominican hands. He gave
the country six years of good government, in which political and
civil rights were respected and the economy grew strongly, in an
atmosphere of peace.[27]
Trujillo era
Rafael TrujilloThe Dominican Republic was ruled by dictator Rafael
Leonidas Trujillo from 1930 until his assassination in 1961. Trujillo
ruled with an iron fist, persecuting anyone who opposed his regime.
There was considerable economic growth during his rule, although
a great deal of the wealth went to the dictator and other regime
elements. He also renamed many towns and provinces after himself
and members of his family, including the capital city Santo Domingo,
renamed Ciudad Trujillo (Trujillo City).
In 1937 Trujillo (who was himself one-quarter Haitian),[28] in
an event known as the Parsley Massacre or in the Dominican Republic
as El Corte (The Cutting),[29] ordered the Army to kill Haitians
on the Dominican side of the border. An estimated 17,000 to 35,000
Haitians were killed over approximately five days, from the night
of October 2, 1937 through October 8, 1937. Haitians were cut down
with machetes.[28][16] The soldiers of Trujillo would go out and
interrogate anyone with dark skin, hold up a sprig of perejil (parsley)
and pronounce what they were holding up. Haitians who spoke French
and/or Kreyol said the "r" in perejil with a flat long
pronunciation, while Dominicans said it with a trilled "r"
sound.[29] This massacre was alleged to have been an attempt to
seize money and property from Haitians living on the border.[30]
As a result of this massacre the Dominican Republic agreed to pay
Haiti $750,000.00, which was later reduced to US$525,000.[31][19]
The Dominican government headed by Trujillo for a long time was
supported by the USA,[32] the Catholic Church, and the Dominican
elite; even after the death of Dominicans in the political opposition
and over 17,000 Haitians.[29] Trujillo was assassinated on May 30,
1961 in Santo Domingo.
Post-Trujillo
A democratically-elected government under leftist Juan Bosch took
office in 1963, but was overthrown later in the year. After nineteen
months of military rule, a pro-Bosch revolt took place in 1965.
US Marines arrived in the Dominican Republic to restore order in
Operation Powerpack, later to be joined by forces from the Organization
of American States.[33] They remained in the country for over a
year and left after supervising elections, in which they ensured
the victory of Joaquín Balaguer, who had been Trujillo's
last puppet president, over Bosch.
Balaguer remained in power as president for 12 years. His tenure
was a period of repression of civil liberties, presumably to prevent
pro-Cuba or pro-communist parties from gaining power in the country.
Balaguer's rule was accompanied by a growing disparity between rich
and poor.
1978 to present
In 1978, Balaguer was succeeded in the presidency by opposition
candidate Antonio Guzmán Fernández, of the Dominican
Revolutionary Party (PRD). From 1978 to 1986, the Dominican Republic
experienced a period of relative freedom and basic human rights.
Balaguer regained the presidency in 1986, and was re-elected in
1990 and 1994, defeating PRD candidate José Francisco Peña
Gómez, a former mayor of Santo Domingo. Both the national
and international communities generally viewed these elections as
a major fraud, leading to political pressure for Balaguer to step
down. Balaguer responded by scheduling another presidential contest
in 1996, which was won by Bosch's Dominican Liberation Party for
the first time, with Leonel Fernández as its candidate. In
2000, Hipólito Mejía won the electorate when opposing
candidates Danilo Medina and a very old Joaquín Balaguer
decided that they would not force a runoff after the first got 49.8%
of the votes. In 2004, Leonel Fernández was elected again,
with 57% of the votes, defeating then-incumbent president Mejía.
Government and politics
The National Palace, Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicMain article:
Government of the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a representative democracy, with national
powers divided among independent executive, legislative, and judicial
branches. The President of the Dominican Republic appoints the cabinet,
executes laws passed by the legislative branch, and is commander
in chief of the armed forces. The president and vice president run
for office on the same ticket and are elected by direct vote for
4-year terms. Legislative power is exercised by a bicameral Congress
composed of the Senate (with 32 members) and the Chamber of Deputies
(with 178 members).
The Dominican Republic has a multi-party political system with
national elections every 2 years (alternating between presidential
elections and congressional/municipal elections). Presidential elections
are held in years evenly divisible by four. Congressional and municipal
elections are held in even numbered years not divisible by four.
International observers have found that presidential and congressional
elections since 1996 have been generally free and fair. Elections
are supervised by a Central Elections Board (JCE) of 9 members chosen
for a four-year term by the newly elected Senate. JCE decisions
on electoral matters are final.
Under the constitutional reforms negotiated after the 1994 elections,
the 16-member Supreme Court of Justice is appointed by a National
Judicial Council, which comprises the President, the leaders of
both houses of Congress, the President of the Supreme Court, and
an opposition or non-governing-party member. One other Supreme Court
Justice acts as secretary of the Council, a non-voting position.
The Supreme Court has sole authority over managing the court system
and in hearing actions against the president, designated members
of his cabinet, and members of Congress when the legislature is
in session.
The Supreme Court hears appeals from lower courts and chooses members
of lower courts. Each of the 31 provinces is headed by a presidentially
appointed governor. Mayors and municipal councils to administer
the 124 municipal districts and the National District (Santo Domingo)
are elected at the same time as congressional representatives.[34]
Politics
The Dominican Republic holds elections every two years at the congressional
levels and every four years at the presidential levels. The country
becomes highly politicized, as millions of dollars are spent in
propaganda and campaigning. The political system is characterized
by clientelism, which has corrupted the system throughout the years.[35]
There are many political parties and interest groups and, new in
this scenario, civil organizations. The three major parties are
the conservative Social Christian Reformist Party (Spanish: Partido
Reformista Social Cristiano [PRSC]), in power 1966–78 and
1986–96; the social democratic Dominican Revolutionary Party
(Spanish: Partido Revolucionario Dominicano [PRD]), in power in
1963, 1978–86, and 2000–04); and the liberal Dominican
Liberation Party (Spanish: Partido de la Liberación Dominicana
[PLD]), in power 1996–2000 and since 2004.
Foreign relations
Main article: Foreign relations of the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic maintains close relations with the nations
of the Western Hemisphere and the principal nations of Europe. Relations
with the U.S. are very close.[36] The country is a member of the
following international organizations:[2] ACP, Caricom (observer),
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA (graduate),
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (or ITSO),
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent member), ITU, ITUC,
LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory),
PCA, Rio Group, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Unión Latina,
UNOCI, UNWTO (or WToO), UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (or
WTrO).
Provinces and municipalities
Main articles: Provinces of the Dominican Republic and Municipalities
of the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is divided into 31 provinces. Additionally,
the national capital, Santo Domingo, is contained within its own
Distrito Nacional (National District).
The provinces are divided into municipalities (municipios; singular
municipio). They are the second–level political and administrative
subdivisions of the country.
Azua
Bahoruco
Barahona
Dajabón
Duarte
Elías Piña
El Seibo
Espaillat
Hato Mayor
Independencia
La Altagracia
La Romana
La Vega
María Trinidad Sánchez
Monseñor Nouel
Monte Cristi
Monte Plata
Pedernales
Peravia
Puerto Plata
Hermanas Mirabal
(formerly Salcedo)
Samaná
Sánchez Ramírez
San Cristóbal
San José de Ocoa
San Juan
San Pedro de Macorís
Santiago
Santiago Rodríguez
Santo Domingo
Valverde
D.N.*
* The national capital, also known as Distrito Nacional (D.N.),
is the city of Santo Domingo.
Geography
Main article: Geography of the Dominican Republic
See also: Hydroelectricity and dams in the Dominican Republic
Map of the Dominican RepublicThe Dominican Republic is situated
on the eastern part of the second-largest island in the Greater
Antilles, Hispaniola. The Dominican Republic shares the island roughly
at a 2:1 ratio with Haiti. The whole country measures an area of
48,730 km² (or 48,921 km²),[37] making it the second largest
country in the Antilles, after Cuba.[2] The country's capital and
greatest metropolitan area, Santo Domingo, is located on the southern
coast.
To the north, at a distance between 100 and 200 km, are three extensive,
largely submerged banks, which geographically are a southeast continuation
of the Bahamas: Navidad Bank, Silver Bank and Mouchoir Bank. Navidad
Bank and Silver Bank have been officially claimed by the Dominican
Republic.
Bust of Duarte on top of Pico Duarte, with La Pelona in the background.The
country's mainland has four important mountain ranges. The most
northerly of these ranges is the Cordillera Septentrional ("Northern
Mountain Range"), which extends from the northwestern coastal
town of Monte Cristi, near the Haitian border, to the Samaná
Peninsula in the east, running parallel to the Atlantic coast. The
highest range in the Dominican Republic — indeed, in the whole
of the West Indies — is the Cordillera Central ("Central
Mountain Range") (in Haiti known as the Massif du Nord). It
gradually bends southwards and finishes near the town of Azua de
Compostela on the Caribbean coast. The Cordillera Central is home
to the four highest peaks in the West Indies: Pico Duarte (3,087
m / 10,128 ft above sea level), La Pelona (3,085m), La Rucilla (3,049m)
and Pico Yaque (2,760m).
In the southwest corner of the country, south of the Cordillera
Central, there are two other ranges. The more northerly of the two
is the Sierra de Neiba, while in the south the Sierra de Bahoruco
is a continuation of the Massif de la Selle in Haiti.
There are other minor mountain ranges, such as the Cordillera Oriental
("Eastern Mountain Range"), Sierra Martín García,
Sierra de Yamasá and Sierra de Samaná.
With mountain ranges running parallel to each other, the Dominican
Republic boasts a number of valleys and plains. In between the Central
and Septentrional mountain ranges lies the rich and fertile Cibao
valley. This major valley is home to the city of Santiago de los
Caballeros and to most of the farming areas in the nation. Rather
less productive is the semi-arid San Juan Valley, south of the Cordillera
Central and extending westward into Haiti. Still more arid is the
Neiba Valley, tucked between the Sierra de Neiba and the Sierra
de Bahoruco. This valley is also known in Haiti as the Cul-de-Sac.
Much of the land in the Enriquillo Basin is below sea level, with
a hot, arid, desert-like environment. There are other smaller valleys
in the mountains such as the Constanza, Jarabacoa, Villa Altagracia
and Bonao valleys.
Cayo Levantado Samana one of the many cays in the D.R.There are
many small offshore islands and cays that are part of the Dominican
territory. The two largest islands near shore are Saona in the southeast
and Beata in the southwest.
The Llano Costero del Caribe ("Caribbean Coastal Plain")
is the largest of the plains in the Dominican Republic. Stretching
north and east of Santo Domingo, it contains many sugar plantations
in the savannahs that are common here. West of Santo Domingo its
width is reduced to 10 km as it hugs the coast, finishing at the
mouth of the Ocoa River. Another large plain is the Plena de Azua
("Azua Plain"), a very dry region in the Azua Province.
A few other small coastal plains are in the northern coast and
in the Pedernales Peninsula.
South shore of Lake Enriquillo, looking northward to the Sierra
de Neiba.Four major rivers drain the numerous mountains of the Dominican
Republic. The Yaque del Norte carries excess water down from the
Cibao Valley and empties into Monte Cristi Bay. Likewise, the Yuna
River serves the Vega Real and empties into Samaná Bay. Drainage
of the San Juan Valley is provided by the San Juan River, tributary
of the Yaque del Sur, which empties into the Caribbean. The Artibonito
is the longest river of Hispaniola and flows into Haiti. The Yaque
del Norte is the longest and most important Dominican river.
There are many lakes and coastal lagoons; the largest lake is Lago
Enriquillo, a saline lake at 40 m below sea level, the lowest point
in the West Indies. Other important lakes are Laguna de Rincón
or Cabral, with freshwater, and Laguna de Oviedo, a lagoon with
brackish water.
Climate
A beach on Saona Island.The country is a tropical, maritime nation.
Wet season is from May to November, and periodic hurricanes between
June and November. Most rain falls in the northern and eastern regions.
The average rainfall is 1346 mm, with extremes of 2500 mm in the
northeast and 500 mm in the west. The main annual temperature ranges
from 21 °C in the mountainous regions to 25 °C on the plains
and the coast. The average temperature in Santo Domingo in January
is 25 °C and 30 °C in July.
Environmental issues
Bajos de Haina, 12 miles (19 km) west of Santo Domingo, was included
on the Blacksmith Institute's list of the world's 10 most polluted
places, released in October 2006, due to lead poisoning by a battery
recycling smelter closed in 1999. As the site never was cleaned
up children continue to be born with high lead levels causing learning
disabilities, impaired physical growth and kidney damage.[38][39]
Symbols
Some of the important symbols include the flag of the Dominican
Republic, the coat of arms, and the national anthem, titled Himno
Nacional. The flag has a large white cross that divides it into
four quarters. Two quarters are red and two are blue. Red represents
the blood shed by the liberators. Blue expresses God's protection
over the nation. The white cross symbolizes the struggle of the
liberators to bequeath future generations a free nation. An alternate
interpretation is that blue represents the ideals of progress and
liberty, whereas white symbolizes peace and union amongst Dominicans.[40]
In the center of the cross is the Dominican coat of arms, in the
same colors as the national flag.
The national flower is the flower of the West Indies Mahogany[41]
The national bird is the Cigua Palmera or Palmchat.[42]
Economy
Recent years
Santo Domingo.See also: Economy of the Dominican Republic
See also: Dominican Peso
The Dominican Republic is a lower middle-income[43] developing country
primarily dependent on natural resources and government services.
Although the service sector has recently overtaken agriculture as
the leading employer of Dominicans (due principally to growth in
tourism and Free Trade Zones), agriculture remains the most important
sector in terms of domestic consumption and is in second place,
behind mining, in terms of export earnings. Tourism accounts for
more than $1.3 billion in annual earnings. Free Trade Zone earnings
and tourism are the fastest-growing export sectors. Remittances
("remesas") from Dominicans living abroad are estimated
to be more than $2 billion dollars per year.
Sector of PiantiniFollowing economic turmoil in the late 1980s and
1990, during which the gross domestic product (GDP) fell by up to
5% and consumer price inflation reached an unprecedented 100%, the
Dominican Republic entered a period of moderate growth and declining
inflation until 2002, after which the economy entered a recession.
This recession followed the collapse of the second-largest commercial
bank of the country (Baninter), linked to a major incident of fraud
valued at $3.5 billion during the administration of President Hipolito
Mejia (2000-2004). The Baninter fraud had a devastating effect on
the Dominican economy, with GDP dropping by 1% in 2003 while inflation
ballooned by over 27%.
Despite a widening merchandise trade deficit, tourism earnings
and remittances have helped build foreign exchange reserves. The
Dominican Republic is current on foreign private debt, and has agreed
to pay arrears of about $130 million to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
Commodity Credit Corporation.
According to the 2005 Annual Report of the United Nations Subcommittee
on Human Development in the Dominican Republic, the country is ranked
#71 in the world for resource availability, # 79 for human development,
and #14 in the world for resource mismanagement. These statistics
emphasize national government corruption, foreign economic interference
in the country, and the rift between the rich and poor.
Santiago de los Caballeros, the Second largest city in the country.The
Dominican Republic has become trans-shipment point for South American
drugs to Europe as well as the United States and Canada.[2] Money
laundering is favored by Colombian drug cartels via the Dominican
Republic for the ease of illicit financial transactions.[2]
The Dominican Republic enjoys a growing economy and a 2007 GDP
per capita of $9,208, in PPP terms, which is relatively high in
Latin America. In the trimester of January - March 2007 it experienced
an exceptional growth of 9.1% in its GDP, below the previous year's
10.9% in the same period. Growth was led by imports, followed by
exports, with finance and foreign investment the next largest factors.[44]
The service sector in general has experienced growth in recent years,
as has construction. Economic growth takes place in spite of a chronic
energy shortage,[45] which causes frequent blackouts and very high
prices.
Santo Domingo, the capital of the Republic is the source of most
of is GDP and has become one of the leading cities of the Caribbean.
Currency
The Dominican peso (DOP) is the national currency of the country,
although US dollars (USD) are accepted at most tourist sites. The
peso was worth the same as the USD until the 1980s, but has depreciated.
The exchange rate in 1993 was 14.00 pesos per USD and 16.00 pesos
in 2000, but it jumped to 53.00 pesos per USD in 2003. In 2004,
the exchange rate was back down to around 31.00 pesos per USD.
The U.S. dollar is implicated in almost all commercial transactions
of the Dominican Republic; such dollarization is common in high
inflation economies. On February 2005, 1.32 USD = one € = 29
DR pesos; in October 2005, 1.19 USD = one € = 32 DR pesos.
As of September 2007 the value of the peso is 1 USD=0.7006 EUR=33.430
DOP.[46][47]
Tourism
According to the World Tourism Organization, the Dominican Republic
is the Caribbean's number one tourist destination.[48]
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of the Dominican Republic
Population
The population of Dominican Republic in 2007 was estimated by the
United Nations at 9,760,000,[49] which placed it as number 82 in
population among the 193 nations of the world. In that year approximately
5% of the population was over 65 years of age, with another 35%
of the population under 15 years of age. There were 103 males for
every 100 females in the country in 2007.[2] According to the UN,
the annual population growth rate for 2006–2007 is 1.5%, with
the projected population for the year 2015 at 10,121,000.
It was estimated by the Dominican government that the population
density in 2007 was 192 per sq km (498 per sq mi), and 63% of the
population lived in urban areas.[50] The southern coastal plains
and the Cibao Valley are the most densely populated areas of the
country. The capital city, Santo Domingo, had a population of 3.0
million in 2007. Other important cities are Santiago de los Caballeros,
La Romana, San Pedro de Macorís, San Francisco de Macorís,
and Concepción de la Vega. According to the United Nations,
the urban population growth rate for 2000–2005 was 2.3%.[51]
Ethnic composition
Dominican girls at carnival in Taíno garments and makeup
(2005).According to the CIA World Fact Book, the ethnic composition
of the Dominican population is, 73% Mixed, 16% White and 11% Black.[2]
The mixed population is mostly mulatto with some people indirectly
descended from the indigenous Taino.[52][11] Other ethnic groups
in the Dominican Republic include Haitians, Germans, Italians, French,
Jews, Spaniards, and Americans. A smaller presence of East Asians
(primarily ethnic Chinese and Japanese) and Middle Easterners (primarily
Lebanese) can be found throughout the population.
Racial issues
As elsewhere in the Spanish Empire, the original Spanish colony
of Hispaniola employed a social system known as casta, wherein Peninsulares
(Spaniards born in Spain) occupied the highest echelon. These were
followed, in descending order of status, by: criollos, castizos,
mestizos, mulattoes, Indians, zambos, and lastly, black slaves.[53][54]
The stigma of these social strata persisted for many years, reaching
its culmination in the Trujillo regime, as the dictator used racial
persecution and nationalistic fervor against Haitians.[55][29]
According to a study by the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, about
90% of the contemporary Dominican population has African ancestry
or has African roots.[56] However, most Dominicans self-identify
as being of mixed-race rather than "black" in contrast
to African identity movements in other nations. A variety of terms
are used to represent a range of skintones; these include "morena"
(brown), "india" (Indian), "blanca oscura" (dark
white), and "trigueño" (wheat colored),[57] among
others.
Many have claimed that this represents a reluctance to self-identify
with African descent and the culture of the freed slaves. According
to Dr. Miguel Anibal Perdomo, professor of Dominican Identity and
Literature at Hunter College in New York City, "There was a
sense of 'deculturación' among the African slaves of Hispaniola.
[There was] an attempt to erase any vestiges of African culture
from the Dominican Republic. We were, in some way, brainwashed and
we've become westernized."[58]
However, this view is not universal, as many also claim that Dominican
culture is simply different and rejects the racial categorizations
of other regions. Ramona Hernández, director of the Dominican
Studies Institute at City College of New York asserts that the terms
were originally an act of defiance in a time when being mulatto
was stigmatized. "During the Trujillo regime, people who were
dark skinned were rejected, so they created their own mechanism
to fight it" She went on to explain "When you ask, 'What
are you?' they don't give you the answer you want . . . saying we
don't want to deal with our blackness is simply what you want to
hear."[59] The Dominican Republic is not unique in this respect
either. In a 1976 census survey conducted in Brazil, respondents
described their skin color in 136 distinct terms.[59][60]
Religion
Main article: Religion in the Dominican Republic
More than 95% of the population adheres to Christianity, mostly
Roman Catholicism, followed by a growing contingent of Protestant
groups such as Seventh-day Adventist, and Jehovah's Witnesses. Recent
but small scale immigration has brought other religions, which make
up small percentages of the population: Spiritist: 2.18%, Mormons:
1.0%, Buddhist: 0.10%, Bahá'í: 0.07%, Muslim: 0.02%,
and Jewish: 0.01%.[61]
Catholicism was introduced by Columbus and Spanish missionaries.
Religion wasn’t really the foundation of their entire society,
as it was in other parts of the world at the time, and most of the
population didn’t attend church on a regular basis. Nonetheless,
most of the education in the country was based upon the Catholic
religion, as the Bible was required in the curriculum in all public
schools. Children would use religious based dialogue when greeting
a relative or parent. For example: a child would say “Bless
me, mother,” and the mother would reply “May God bless
you.”
The nation has two patroness saints: Nuestra Señora de la
Altagracia (Our Lady Of High Grace) is the patroness of the Dominican
people, and Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes (Our Lady Of Mercy)
is the patroness of the Dominican Republic.
Eventually the Catholic Church began to lose popularity in the
late 1800s. This was due to a lack of funding, priests, and support
programs. Because of this the Protestant evangelical movement began
to gain support. Protestants emphasized biblical teachings like
the Catholics, but also practiced rejuvenation and economic independence.
The Protestants added diversity to the Dominican Republic, and there
was almost no religious conflict with the Catholics.
There has always been religious freedom throughout the entire country.
It wasn’t until the 1950s that restrictions were placed upon
churches by Trujillo. Letters of protest were sent against the mass
arrests of government adversaries. Trujillo began a campaign against
the church and planned to arrest priests and bishops who preached
against the government. This campaign ended before it was even put
into place, with his assassination.
Judaism appeared in the Dominican Republic in the late 1930s. During
World War Two, a group of Jews escaping Nazi Germany fled to the
Dominican Republic and founded the city of Sosua. It has remained
the center of the Jewish population since.[62]
Education
Primary education is officially free and compulsory for children
between the ages of 7 and 14, although those who live in isolated
areas have limited access to schooling. Primary schooling is followed
by a two-year intermediate school and a four-year secondary course,
after which a diploma called the bachillerato (high school diploma)
is awarded. Relatively few lower-income students succeed in reaching
this level due to financial hardships and limitation due to location.
Most wealthier students choose to attend private schools, which
are frequently sponsored by religious institutions. Some public
and private vocational education is available, particularly in the
field of agriculture, but this too reaches only a tiny percentage
of the population.[63]
Health statistics
In 2007 the Dominican Republic had a birth rate of 22.91 per 1000,
and a death rate of 5.32/1000.[2] Dengue and malaria are endemic
to the country.[64] There is currently a mission based in the United
States to combat the AIDS rate in the Dominican Republic.[65]
Immigration
A border watch tower to control illegal immigration from Haiti located
in the Cordillera Central of the Dominican Republic.During the Haitian
rule over the whole island of Hispaniola (1822-1844) former Black
slaves and escapees from the United States were invited by the Haitian
government to settle there.[citation needed] In the late 1800s and
early 1900s large groups immigrated to the country from Venezuela
and Puerto Rico, so much so that two of the country's former presidents
and life long political rivals, Juan Bosch[66] and Joaquín
Balaguer[67][68] both had Puerto Rican parents. During the first
decades of the 20th century many Arabs primarily from Lebanon settled
in the country. There is also a sizable Indian and Chinese population.
The town of Sosúa has many Jews who settled there during
World War II.[69]
In recent decades, immigration from Haiti has increased once again.
Most Haitian immigrants arrive in the Dominican Republic illegally,
and work at low-paying, unskilled labor jobs, including construction
work, household cleaning, and on sugar plantations.[70] Current
estimates put the Haitian-born population in the Dominican Republic
as high as 1 million.[71] Working conditions on these sugar plantations
have caused controversy, including assertions that conditions are
near-slavery.[72] Moreover, the children of illegal Haitian immigrants
are denied citizenship[70][73] and basic health care,[74] and there
are frequent physical attacks and roundups on adult immigrants.[75]
Some Dominican and Haitian officials deny such accusations of slavery,
with the Haitian ambassador Fritz Cineas stating "I still have
not received any complaint of violation of human rights against
the Haitian immigrants in the country".[76] However, the President
of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernández stated publicly
during a seminar on immigration policy in 2005 that collective expulsions
of Haitians were carried out "in an abusive and inhuman way".[77]
Selective enforcement of deportation rules is much criticized in
Haiti, and it has been said that "the Dominicans could help
heal many of Haiti's open political wounds by extraditing back to
Haiti many of the criminals of the 1991 coup d'etat and the Duvalier
dictatorship who enjoy de facto political asylum in the Dominican
Republic." These people enjoy de facto political asylum in
the Dominican Republic, critics say.[78] When asked for a response
for the current situation, Fernandez stated "There must exist
an extradition treaty between the Dominican Republic and Haiti,
but there isn't one between our two countries,"[78] Exploitation
of Haitians immigrants in the Dominican Republic is the subject
of the 2007 political documentary narrated by Paul Newman, The Price
of Sugar.
Stateless Haitians
Haiti, a nation with a similar population but with 1/2 the land
size, is much poorer than the Dominican Republic. Many Haitian nationals
come to the Dominican Republic in search of work, but are often
relegated to second class status.[79] Although anyone born in the
Dominican Republic is theoretically a citizen, many children born
in the Dominican Republic to Haitian nationals find themselves stateless,
as they are not granted citizenship, due to the fact that their
parents are deemed to be transient.[80] However, Haiti's Constitution
states in Title II, Article 11: "Any person born of a Haitian
father or Haitian mother who are themselves native-born Haitians
and have never renounced their nationality possesses Haitian nationality
at the time of birth."[81] Competition for jobs has led to
the deportation of many Haitians in an effort to save native Dominican
rights. Unofficially there are 800,000 Haitians living in the Dominican
Republic accounting for almost 10% of the population.[82] After
a UN delegation issued a preliminary report stating that it found
a profound problem of racism and discrimination against people of
Haitian origins, Dominican Foreign Minister Morales issued a communiqué
denouncing it and stating that "Our border with Haiti has its
problems, this is our reality and it must be understood. It is important
not to confuse national sovereignty with indifference, and not to
confuse security with xenophobia..."[83]
Emigration
Main article: Dominican American
Main article: Dominican illegal immigration to Puerto Rico
A photo of the Dominican Day Parade in New York City, a major location
of emigration of DominicansThe Dominican Republic has experienced
three distinct waves of emigration in the second half of the twentieth
century. The first period began in 1961, when a coalition of high-ranking
Dominicans, with assistance from the CIA, assassinated General Rafael
Trujillo, the nation's military dictator.[84] In the wake of his
death, fear of retaliation by Trujillo's allies, and political uncertainty
in general, spurred migration from the island. In 1965, the United
States began a military occupation of the Dominican Republic and
eased travel restrictions, making it easier for Dominicans to obtain
American visas.[85] From 1966 to 1978, the exodus continued, fueled
by high unemployment and political repression. Communities established
by the first wave of immigrants to the U.S. created a network that
assisted subsequent arrivals. In the early 1980s, underemployment,
inflation, and the rise in value of the dollar all contributed to
a third wave of migration from the island nation. Today, emigration
from the Dominican Republic remains high, facilitated by the social
networks of now-established Dominican communities in the United
States.[86]
Crime
The Dominican Republic has served as a transportation hub for Colombian
drug cartels.[87][2] In 2004 it was estimated that 8% of all cocaine
smuggled into the United States has come through the Dominican Republic.[88]
The Dominican Republic responded with increased efforts to seize
drug shipments, arrest and extradite those involved, and combat
money-laundering. A 1995 report stated that social pressures and
poverty have led to a rise in prostitution within the Dominican
Republic. Though prostitution is illegal within the country and
the age of consent is 18, even child prostitution is a growing phenomenon
in impoverished areas. In an environment where young girls are often
denied employment opportunities offered to boys, prostitution frequently
becomes a source of supplementary income. UNICEF estimated in 1994
that at least 25,000 children were involved in the Dominican sex
trade, 63% of that figure being girls.[89]
Culture
Carnaval of La Vega, one of the most famous carnivals in the country.Main
article: Culture of the Dominican Republic
Main article: Dominican Spanish
The culture of the Dominican Republic, like its Caribbean neighbors,
is a blend of the European colonists, Taínos and Africans,
and their cultural legacies. Spanish, also known as Castellano (Castilian)
is the official language. Other languages such as Haitian Creole,
English, French, German, and Italian are also spoken to varying
degrees. Haitian Creole is spoken fluently by 159,000[90] or as
many as 1.2 million[91] Haitian nationals and Dominicans of Haitian
descent, and is the third most spoken language after Spanish and
English. European, African and Taíno cultural elements are
most prominent in food, family structure, religion and music. Many
Arawak/Taíno names and words are used in daily conversation
and for many items endemic to the DR.[2]
Cuisine
Dominican Republic cuisine is predominantly made up of a combination
of Spanish, Taino and African influences over the last few centuries.
Typical cuisine is quite similar to what can be found in other Latin
American countries but, many of the names of dishes are different.
Breakfast usually consists of eggs and mangú (mashed, boiled
plantain). For heartier versions, these are accompanied by deep-fried
meat and/or cheese. Similar to Spain, lunch is generally the largest
and most important meal of the day. Lunch usually consists of some
type of meat (chicken, pork or fish), rice and beans, and a side
portion of salad. "La Bandera" (literally, The Flag),
the most popular lunch dish, consists of broiled chicken, white
rice and red beans.
Typical Dominican cuisine usually accommodates all four food groups,
incorporating meat or seafood; rice, potatoes or plantains; and
is accompanied by some other type of vegetable or salad. Many dishes
are made with sofrito, which is a mix of local herbs and spices
sautéed to bring out all of the dish's flavors. Throughout
the south-central coast, bulgur, or whole wheat, is a main ingredient
in quipes or tipili (bulgur salad). Other favorite Dominican dishes
include chicharrón, yucca, casave, and pastelitos. Some treats
Dominicans enjoy are arroz con leche (or arroz con dulce), bizcocho
dominicano, habichuelas con dulce, flan, frio frio, dulce de leche,
and caña or sugar cane. The beverages Dominicans enjoy include
Morir Soñando, rum, beer, Mamajuana, batida (smoothie), ponche,
mabí, and coffee.[92]
Music
Main article: Music of the Dominican Republic
Musically, the Dominican Republic is known for the creation of Merengue
music,[93] a type of lively, fast-paced rhythm and dance music consisting
of a tempo of about 120 to 160 beats per minute (it varies wildly)
based on musical elements like drums, brass and chorded instruments,
as well as some elements unique to the music style of the DR, such
as the marimba. Its syncopated beats use Latin percussion, brass
instruments, bass, and piano or keyboard. Not known for social content
in its commercial form (Merengue Típico or Perico Ripiao
is very socially charged), it is primarily a dancehall music that
was declared the national music during the Trujillo regime. Well-known
merengue singers include Juan Luis Guerra, Fernando Villalona, Eddy
Herrera, Sergio Vargas, Toño Rosario, Johnny Ventura, and
Milly Quezada. Merengue became popular mostly on the east coast
of the United States during the 1980s an 90s,[94] when many Puerto
Rican groups such as Elvis Crespo were produced by Dominican bandleaders
and writers living in the US territory[citation needed]. The emergence
of Bachata-Merengue along with a larger number of Dominicans living
among other Latino groups (particularly Cubans and Puerto Ricans
in New York, New Jersey, and Florida) contributed to the music's
growth in popularity.[95].
Bachata, a form of music and dance that originated in the countryside
and rural marginal neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic, has
become quite popular in recent years. Its subjects are often romantic;
especially prevalent are tales of heartbreak and sadness. In fact,
the original term used to name the genre was "amargue"
("bitterness," or "bitter music"), until the
rather ambiguous (and mood-neutral) term bachata became popular.
Bachata grew out of — and is still closely related to —
the pan-Latin American romantic style called bolero. Over time,
it has been influenced by merengue and by a variety of Latin American
guitar styles.
Sports
Juan Marichal, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame since 1983Baseball
is by far the most popular sport in the Dominican Republic today.[96]
After the United States, the Dominican Republic has the second-highest
number of baseball players in the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB).
These include Sammy Sosa, Albert Pujols, Pedro Martínez,
Vladimir Guerrero, David Ortiz, Jose Reyes, Manny Ramírez,
Robinson Canó and Luis Castillo.
Dominican Citizen and Major League Baseball player David OrtizThe
Dominican Republic has participated in the Baseball World Cup winning
one Gold (1948), three Silver (1942, 1950, 1952), and two Bronze
(1943, 1969), second behind Cuba's record of twenty-five Gold, two
Silver and two Bronze.
Historically, the Dominican Republic has been linked to MLB since
Ozzie Virgil, Sr. became the first Dominican to play there. Other
very notable players were Juan Marichal, Bartolo Colón, Felipe
Alou, Rico Carty, George Bell, and Stan Javier, among many others.
The Dominican Republic also has its own baseball league, which
runs its season from October to January (called The Winter League
by MLB), and includes six teams: Tigres del Licey (Licey Tigers),
Aguilas Cibaeñas (Cibao Eagles), Gigantes del Cibao (Cibao
Giants), Azucareros del Este (Eastern Sugar-makers), Estrellas Orientales
(Eastern Stars), and Leones del Escogido (Escogido Lions). Many
MLB players and minor leaguers play in this six-team league during
the off-season. As such, the Dominican winter league serves as an
important "training ground" for MLB.
Olympic gold medalist and world champion over 400 m hurdles Félix
Sánchez, and NFL football player Luis Castillo both hail
from the Dominican Republic,[97] as does current NBA player Al Horford.
Holidays
Date Name
January 1 New Year's Day Non-working day.
January 6 Catholic day of the Epiphany Movable.
January 21 Virgen de la Altagracia Non-working day. Patroness Day
(Catholic).
January 26 Duarte's day Movable. Founding Father.
February 27 Independence Day Non-working day. National Day.
(Variable date) Holy Week Working days, except Good Friday.
A Catholic holiday.
May 1 Labour Day Movable.
(Variable date) Catholic Corpus Christi Non-working day. A Thursday
in June
(60 days after Easter Sunday).
August 16 Restoration Day Movable.
September 24 Virgen de las Mercedes Non-working day. A Patroness
Day (Catholic)
November 6 Constitution Day Movable.
December 25 Christmas Day Non-working day. Birth of Jesus Christ
Notes:
In those years when there is a new president, August 16 is a non-working
holiday and is not moved to another day.
The non-working holidays are not moved to another day.
If a movable holiday falls on Saturday, Sunday or Monday then it
is not moved to another day. If it falls on Tuesday or Wednesday,
the holiday is moved to the previous Monday. It it falls on Thursday
or Friday, the holiday is moved to the next Monday.
Military
Main article: Military of the Dominican Republic
Congress authorizes a combined military force of 44,000 active duty
personnel. Actual active duty strength is approximately 32,000.
However, approximately 50% of those are used for non-military activities
such as security providers for government-owned non-military facilities,
highway toll stations, prisons, forestry work, state enterprises,
and private businesses. The Commander in Chief of the military is
the President. The principal missions are to defend the nation and
protect the territorial integrity of the country. The army, larger
than the other services combined with approximately 20,000 active
duty personnel, consists of six infantry brigades, a combat support
brigade, and a combat service support brigade. The air force operates
two main bases, one in the southern region near Santo Domingo and
one in the northern region near Puerto Plata. The navy operates
two major naval bases, one in Santo Domingo and one in Las Calderas
on the southwestern coast, and maintains 12 operational vessels.
In the Caribbean, only Cuba has a larger military force.
The armed forces have organized a Specialized Airport Security
Corps (CESA) and a Specialized Port Security Corps (CESEP) to meet
international security needs in these areas. The Secretary of the
Armed Forces has also announced plans to form a specialized border
corps (CESEF). Additionally, the armed forces provide 75% of personnel
to the National Investigations Directorate (DNI) and the Counter-Drug
Directorate (DNCD).
The Dominican National Police force contains 32,000 agents. The
police are not part of the Dominican armed forces, but share some
overlapping security functions. Sixty-three percent of the force
serve in areas outside traditional police functions, similar to
the situation of their military counterparts.[36]
Services and transportation
Main article: Transportation in the Dominican Republic
See also: List of airports in the Dominican Republic
There are two transportation services in the Dominican Republic,
one controlled by the government through the Oficina Técnica
de Transito Terrestre (O.T.T.T.) and the Oficina Metropolitana de
Servicios de Autobuses (OMSA), and the other controlled by private
business, among them, Federación Nacional de Transporte La
Nueva Opción (FENATRANO) and the Confederacion Nacional de
Transporte (CONATRA).
The government transportation system covers large routes in metropolitan
areas, such as Santo Domingo and Santiago, for very inexpensive
prices. In December 2006, the price was DOP$5.00(US$0.15), and air-conditioned
bus rides were priced at DOP$10 (US$0.30). It should be noted that
most OMSA buses are currently in very poor condition, and OMSA has
been criticized for its incapability to fully meet the people's
needs.[98]
FENATRANO and CONATRA offer their services with voladoras (vans)
or conchos (cars), which have routes in most parts of the cities.
These cars have roofs painted in yellow or green in order to identify
them. The cars have scheduled days to work, depending on the color
of the roof, and have been described as unsafe.[99]
Communications
Main article: Communications in the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic has a well developed telecommunications infrastructure.
With extensive mobile phone services and landline services. The
telecommunications regulator in the country is INDOTEL, Instituto
Dominicano De Telecomunicaciones. The Dominican Republic offers
cable internet and DSL in most parts of the country, and many ISPs
provide 3G wireless internet service. Projects to extend Wi-Fi hot
spots have been made in Santo Domingo. As of October 2007 a new
service was introduced in the country via WiMax, by OneMax, Tricom,
and the former Codetel, now Claro, that provides telephony over
IP as well as nation-wide broadband services to both residential
and commercial users. In fact the DR is the only country in all
Latin America to have this kind of service up to this date at a
national level.
Numerous television channels are available, including digital cable
Telecable Nacional and Aster. Many other companies provide digital
television services with channels from Latin America and the world.
The reported speeds are from 256 kbit/s /128 kbit/s for residential
services and up to 4 MB / 2 MB for commercial service. (The two
sets of numbers denote downstream/upstream speed.)
The Dominican Republic's commercial radio stations are in the process
of transferring to the digital spectrum via HD Radio.
As of October 2007, there are five major communication companies:
CODETEL, Orange, Tricom, Centennial Communications and Onemax.
On February 1, 2007, Verizon changed the names of its wireless
services to Claro and CODETEL. The company has been owned since
2006 by Carlos Slim Helú's América Móvil. Claro
is now the official name of the Wireless Division and CODETEL (the
original Compañia Dominicana de Teléfonos) is the
updated name for the Verizon Dominicana landline and broadband market.
Highways
Main article: Highways and Routes in the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic has five major highways, which take travelers
to every important town in the country. The three major highways
are Autopista Duarte, Autopista del Este, and Autopista del Sur,
which go to the north, east, and western side of the country. Dominican
Republic lacks a good system of routes interconnecting small towns,
and most of these routes are unpaved or in bad condition.
Electricity
Electrical services in the country have been a headache for the
population, as well as the business and other areas for more than
40 years. Due to the extreme corruption within the government, no
administration has been able to cope with this problem. In 1998,
three regional electricity distribution systems were privatized
via sale of 50% of shares to foreign operators; in an unexpected
decision, the Mejía administration repurchased all foreign-owned
shares in two of these systems in late 2003. The third, serving
the eastern provinces, is operated by U.S. concerns and is 50% U.S.-owned.
Industry experts estimated distribution losses for 2006 surpassed
40%, primarily due to low collection rates, theft, and corruption.
At the close of 2006, the government had exceeded its budget for
electricity subsidies, spending close to U.S. $650 million.[100]
Household and general electrical service is delivered at 110 volts
alternating at 60 Hz; electrically-powered items from the United
States work with no modifications. The majority of the country has
access to electricity. Still, in 2007 some areas have outages lasting
as long as 20 hours a day. Tourist areas tend to have more reliable
power, as do business, travel, healthcare, and vital infrastructure.
The situation improved in 2006, with 200 circuits (40% of the total)
providing permanent electricity, as 85% of electric demand overall
was met and blackouts were reduced from 6.3 hours per day to 3.7.[101]
Concentrated efforts were announced to increase efficiency of delivery
to places where the collection rate reached 70%.[102] The electricity
sector is highly politicized, and with 2008 presidential election
campaigning already in motion the prospect of further effective
reforms of the sector is poor. Debts, including government debt,
amount to more than U.S. $500 million. Some generating companies
are undercapitalized and at times unable to purchase adequate fuel
supplies
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