Migrant journeys from impoverished Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico often

[Judi Lynn]

By Frank Griffiths
ASSOCIATED PRESS
10:20 a.m. August 8, 2004

AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico – Jaime Francisco Mota Morla is one of thousands of Dominicans who has risked death on rough seas to join a huge wave of illegal migrants trying to reach Puerto Rico and escape their country's worst economic crisis in decades.

At least 60 have died this year, and authorities say the number is probably higher. But Mota, 25, says he wasn't deterred by danger when he left his home town of San Pedro de Macoris.

"Things are hard there," said Mota, leaning against a chain-link fence at the U.S. Border Patrol headquarters in this northwestern coastal town where he was being held. "I wanted to find a better life."

The Dominican Republic's annual inflation is near 30 percent, unemployment is at 16 percent and the country of 8.8 million is plagued by blackouts. A U.S. dollar that cost 16 Dominican pesos in the 1990s now costs 45.
(snip/...)

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20040808-1020-deadlymigration.html

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[Nambe]

1. The UN is unfunded by the US these days.

It's a bad thing.

[Judi Lynn]

3. You might note that when Dominicans are travelling to other countries

because they need money, they are NOT deemed to be "fleeing," as are Cubans! Nor are Mexicans "fleeing."

Haitians were literally fleeing from the bloodbath _{George W. Bush} turned loose on them when he decided he'd remove President Aristide whom Bill Clinton had returned to his elected position. THOSE people, KNOWN to be fleeing in earnest were stopped short and forced back into the meat grinder they were trying to escape.

Some of us read in the days before _Bush changed Haiti's government (which is eating them alive now) that he had sent shipments of arms to the Dominican Republic, where he was also training rebels to use the equipment, etc., etc., and that also some of the Domincans were used for guerrilla warfare against ordinary Haitian citizens.

What a dreadful, evil mess he created in the Caribbean.

[SoCalDem]

2. Having spent time in Haiti and the DR, this is so sad

Both are beautiful places with wonderful people.. There is NO REASON for those people to be soo poor and downtrodden.. Look at the other caribbean islands that are doing great.. This island (Hispaniola) has so much to offer (had :cry:..), and a series of unscrupulous "leaders" have ruined them...

The people are so beaten down now, that no matter WHO they "elect", things will probably not change anytime soon...and by the time it does, their eco-system will be devastated..(more than it already is)