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I don't agree with Haiti and DR being alike. They are very different and should never be confused. As I said on another thread, Haiti was settled by the French who then brought tons of African slaves. It seems the French didn't share their culture or knowledge with these people. They were only used as slaves to do chores and work in sugar cane fields. DR's side was settled by the Spanish. I am not speaking in favor of the Spanish, they have their own huge faults, but they did leave an architecture, a language and a means to acquire knowledge: DR had the first university of the Americas. These colonizations happened a long time ago but they marked the start of two countries and one (Haiti's) had less advantage than the other. The French and the people that are know now as Haitians didn't blend in very well. In DR, Spanish, Africans and others blended somewhat better. There was less slavery in the Dominican colony. Even today, Spain has a presence in DR. They invest in the country and many of the major businesses are owned by Spanish-Dominicans.
Haiti's lack of support from other nations has a role in their progress (or lack of). DR has always been a very open supporter of the US and other countries in Latin America thus they receive support back. Remember that most of America, not counting the US and Brazil, speaks Spanish which makes relations with other Latin American countries easier.
So, Haiti and DR are very different and the reasons why one is better off than the other are several: a difficult start in history as a slave colony, lack of education of the first settlers, a geography prone to hurricanes and floods, too much political unrest, and a culture marked by violence in which too many do not care for each other.
Foreign policy. Basically since Haiti declared indepence it has other countries basically try to dictate their internal affairs thus causing it to be politically unstable in the long run. (Imagine how stable america would be if the queen of england was still trying to tell americans who should represent them). Thus the result is DR is more stable and stablity allows investment.
Other than that I can' think of any explanation. Its kind like saying why is Cuba messed up and Jamaica besides it high crime rate is basically paradise?
H= unstable gov, economy controlled by 3 or 4 families, constant threat of military intervention, lack of investment in infrastructure (including education)
DR= stable gov (compared to H), economy much more broad-based, military not as much of a threat, more investment in infrastructure
however, if you are a poor citizen of either country, then your primary goal is to leave as there are few if any opportunities to climb up the economic ladder
One intreresting aspect of Haiti is it lack of a fishery. Haitians eat only about 5 pounds of fish per year, one-seventh of the global average. In spite of its insular situation, the fishery in Haiti has never been developed.
Average fish consumption in Haiti is surprisingly low:
North America, 50 pounds per capita per year
Global = 35
Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic = about 25 each
Guyana = 50
Haiti = 5
It would appear that an extremely modest investment in a domestic fishery in Haiti would significantly improve the ability of the people to feed themselves.
I've been there, and honestly, the DR and Haiti are NOT that much different. In fact I can tell you, first hand, why all their buildings collapsed in this earth quake.
However, I would have to say the main difference is what decades of different types of government have done to each country's morale, wealth and infrastructure.
Ummmm... You do need to be aware of the fact that Santo Domingo is NOT representative of the rest of the DR. Also, one of the primary drivers of the economy in the capital city is TOURISM. Foreign dollars.
If you'd like more honest and accurate pictures, perhaps I can dredge up some of mine that were taken in Santiago, or out in the mountains.
That Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur Genius grant, in particular, kind of jump out. But do tell-- how, specifically is he "full of crap?"
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