I am a freshman at Agnes Scott College traveling to the Dominican Republic this spring. This storfiy will have my views on a variety of important aspects of the Dominican Republic. After my travels, I hope to also include my perspective on the disscussed issues. I hope you enjoy my Storify !
Storified by Kirsten Jackson ·
Wed, Mar 16 2016 14:32:24
![Haitians, Dominicans need joint solutions to common problems: Businessman]()
Haitians, Dominicans need joint solutions to common problems: BusinessmanSanto Domingo.- Haitian businessman Philippe Bayard on Wednesday said his country and the Dominican Republic should seek a joint solutions to the problems common to both nations. Although he discarded notions of Dominican racism against Haitian citizens, he stressed that the only way to put an end to issues such as the immigration status is addressing them jointly.
Philippe Bayard is Haitian businessman who thinks that the Dominican Republic, and Haiti should seek to find a solution to their problems that are affecting both nations. In our class we have discussed the tension between both countries and how its has directly affected the Hispaniola island as whole. The racism and immigration issues are causing much conflict on a island that these rivalry countries share. Bayard stresses “that the only way to put an end to issues such as the immigration status is addressing them jointly.” Bayard’s reasoning for wanting to improve the relationship with Dominican Republic and his country’s is for Haiti’s economy. “Haiti’s economy would improve if it completely open its doors to trade with the Dominican Republic, which would also help ties between the Hispaniola neighbors.” Since tensions have risen in the countries. Haiti’s economy has been strongly affected because they have not been able to trade with their neighboring country. Haiti is already a very poor country and the only way to get the country out of poverty is to extend their market to the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is slowly developing with tourism and industry. Bayard feels that the countries should make amends to bring economic growth to the entire island. There are two open markets on the island and he feels that the island should make it one open market. Opening up the Dominican market to the Haitian economy does not imply that the DR has to open their border because , Haitians and Dominicans still know their is much work still needed to be done in both countries.
![El 50% de la población sufre de alguna alergia]()
El 50% de la población sufre de alguna alergiadoris.pantaleon@listindiario.com Alrededor del 50 por ciento de la población sufre de alergias, pero la mayoría sólo acude al especialista cuando el proceso está muy avanzado, ya que muchas veces se manifiesta con molestias mínimas. Esa realidad convierte las alergias en problemas importantes de salud, porque si no se tratan eficientemente y a tiempo, pueden complicarse y desencadenar en otras enfermedades que pueden volverse crónicas.
With the Dominican Republic’s issues with pollution of the air, contamination of food and other external factors the country suffers from some kind of allergy. Doctors in the Dominican Republic were noticing that patients only decided to seek medical attention when they started to experience extreme allergy conditions. Due to the country’s poor medical facilities and lack of urgency towards better health care, doctors and the Dominican Society of Allergies, Asthma and Clinical Immunology conclude that these simple allergies could quickly lead to serious illness. “For example, untreated asthma can become pulmonary emphysema, rhinitis can become pulmonary hypertension and atopic dermatitis can affect emotional states”(Pantaleón). In class we have discussed when an epidemic happens in a very poor country such as the Dominican Republic it is highly likely that the sickness will do more harm then it would do in a more developed and aware country. Dominican Physicians such as Jose Gonzalez Cano, Juan A. Giraldez Casasnovas, Antonio Almodóvar Hache and Fernando Batlle Perez, have warned government officials and journalist that the root of the allergy issues is environmental factors such as vehicle pollutants, power plants and other industry. The Dominican Republic is introducing new industry to their country and their people are not responding well to the pollution in the air. Along with air pollution, citizens are now having allergic reactions to some foods that are in their everyday diets such as cow milk, eggs, seafood and peanuts.
![Caribbean urged to ramp up vector control to combat zika | Caribbean News Now]()
Caribbean urged to ramp up vector control to combat zika | Caribbean News NowA community health officer visits a house to educate the owner and check water storage to control mosquito breeding sites in Colombia WASHINGTON, USA (PAHO/WHO) -- Control of mosquitoes that transmit zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses must be ramped up in the Americas, experts have urged after a three-day meeting at the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).
In the Caribbean there is a urge to control the mosquitos who transmit zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses. In class we have discussed Zika and its affects in depth, however this article discuss that Zika is just one of the Caribbean countries worries. The area is known for their high population of mosquitos that carry infectious diseases. The Caribbean is working effortlessly to find a way of prevention for the viruses. “After reviewing a series of measures focusing on integrated vector management measures, which include various tools and strategies to cut the toll of vector-borne disease.” The region feels decided if they can strengthen surveillance they could really combat the spread of the viruses. Zika, is the most prominent diseases in the region that has spread to 31 countries since the outbreak. As discussed in class , Zika has flu like symptoms that can harm those women who are pregnant or who will become pregnant. Zika is the worst case of a mosquito transmitted disease. Therefore, combating Zika will combat all the other diseases as well. Since those in the Caribbean are in a mosquito infested community officials are working their hardest to reduce the number of mosquitos to protect their citizens.
![Gold mine 'environment risk' toxic waste dam ready to drain]()
Gold mine 'environment risk' toxic waste dam ready to drainSanto Domingo.- Energy and Mines minister Antonio Isa onMonday said all need studies have been done to start draining the Mejita toxic waste dam near Cotui (central), calling it "a major step" to eliminate the environmental risk. He said the project start is at the level of details, but affirmed that he already has the necessary resources.
In Santo Domingo, there is an issue of the Mejita toxic waste. Antonia Isa who is the of the Energy and Mines minister has been studying how the city should drained the Mejita toxic waste. There is some toxic waste that landed in a dam called Cotui (which means central). Toxic waste in any water source is detrimental, however this issue was specifically harmful because it is located in the center part of the city. The dam has been collecting toxic sediments every since the Rosario Dominicana mining company moved near the dam. The Rosario Dominicana company is being asked to move their location because they are contamination a main source of water. The Dominican Republic as well as other Caribbean countries have various water issues that makes tourist sick every year. The water is not purified causing tourist to have really horrible side effects if they drink the water, or brush their teeth with it. Those who live in the region are accustomed to this water but it can still make them very sick. Water pollutants causes many diseases that are prominent in the Caribbean, in America we don’t have these issues because we have the resources to purify our water before it reaches our public. In Santo Domingo, the ministries of Energy and Mining and the Environment are making mining supervision a protocol.
![Cemex aclara sobre deuda para carretera]()
Cemex aclara sobre deuda para carreteraCarretera de Maimón. Cemex aclaró que una deuda de RD$300 millones, acumulada durante 18 meses por la Oficina de Ingenieros Supervisores de Obras del Estado (Oisoe) con la empresa, es la razón por la que se encuentran paralizados los trabajos de construcción de la carretera Gregorio Luperón en la provincia de Puerto Plata.
