Dominican Republic: Development or Perception

We must remember that those people who left and who are leaving their small municipalities for the main cities of the country do so because they are suffocating economically and emotionally; they do so. After all, they have not been able to find a small job because they do not have a university at their outreach or a music academy, much less a comprehensive training center; they do not have the essential services that a family needs to live with dignity. Furthermore, they left because the development has not reached the majority of the municipalities; the development, “if there is one,” is only perceived in a minority class and the busiest cities of the Dominican Republic.

It is challenging for us to talk about development because we have not had a balanced development, a development that reaches all the municipalities, sustainably impacts the labor sector and the people of the countryside, and that affects everyone positively and transversally. However, in the sectors of Dominican society, It seems that the so-called “development” is the result of perception. It is the result of a sensory effect that makes us believe that we are getting out of poverty. It is so much so that there is in our psyche the idea that development is the proliferation of pharaonic works, and many of us know that all these works to be correctly evaluated within the development phenomenon should impact not only some cities, they should also equitably benefit all municipalities.

Development without planning is not development; cities like Santo Domingo, Santiago, and others, have suffered from uncontrolled growth, poor service, and poorly done constructions that threaten the safety of citizens. An example of development without planning is the terrible traffic in Santo Domingo; people leave their fields searching for improvement. The construction of higher and more meters will not be able to reduce and improve congestion. We must decentralize the so-called development. The governments and the business class must invest in the municipalities to implement economic development policies and thus stop emigration to the large cities.

We want to clarify that development exists in the Dominican Republic but in a sectorized manner, touching only a tiny percentage. To talk about development, we must think of the 235 municipal municipalities and 158 municipalities that the national territory has. We must honestly ask ourselves the question: Has development reached these municipalities? Is overcrowding in large cities the result of the few opportunities offered by municipalities? Is development an option for all social classes and throughout the Dominican geography?
We are screaming at the top of our lungs for a comprehensive development that promotes and strengthens economic development, intelligence, creativity, vocational development, the promotion of values, ecological education as a life mission, and the concept of the State above the political party.

We want to leave some proposals to the government of the day and the sectors interested in integral development:

1. Carry out, if it does not exist, a study that reflects the reality and needs of each municipality. This will allow the governments to work on a comprehensive development agenda.
2. Strengthen the importance of local government, increasing the participation of mayors, companies, and sectors of production and community action of the municipalities in the projects scheduled by the Dominican government.
3. There is not a single country that has developed in the context of corruption. Therefore, we propose applying the law at any cost, a firm hand, and, if possible, even social exile. If this does not happen, we will continue to expel viscous secretions and fatigue in the Dominican population.