I posted about the Dominican Republic minimum wage debates before. Employers wanted a 11% increase and the workers wanted a 30% increase. So a compromise was made. The last time the minimum wage went up was in June 2009.

The agreement takes effect June 1, when the minimum wages/ salario mínimo will go from RD$8,465 to RD$9,905; RD$5,820 to RD$6,810, and RD$5,158 to RD$6,035.

It is incredible that the Dominican farm workers pay for a 10 hour day was only RD$175 and now it will be RD $205. A private watchmen, those guys that sit around businesses and homes guarding now make RD$7,142, will be paid RD$8,356 per month.

The trade union leaders also made other agreements working toward improving working conditions, the social security system and to coordinate actions to address the growing informal economy.

Even though minimum wage will be more the beginning of June this increase still does not cover the average cost of living which is around RD $ 10,407.56 for a normal family.

Here are a few interesting notes.
-Two out of every ten High School graduates are unemployed and among those who manage to work, nearly half or them has an income below the legal minimum wage.
-Electric bills increased 8% without improving the service. An normal household with a refrigerator, running a few fans, a television, no hot water heater, without air conditioning using the minimal electricity will pay an average of RD $2000 a month.

We have a new museum in the Colonial Zone. This museum will be inaugurated this weekend, May 29, 2011 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the execution of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo (more information on Trujillo) and fall of the dictatorship. The museum is dedicated to all men and women who resisted, fought and defended freedom, justice and dignity of the Dominican people. It is for all including students, teachers, members of the Police and Armed Forces and the general public.

The mission of the museum is to collect, organize, catalog, preserve and exhibit the heritage of the nation. The Resistance Museum gives honor by commemorating the struggles of several generations of Dominicans and Dominican Republic during the Trujillo dictatorship from 1916 to 1966. It is an educational institution that is devoted to educate new generations about the value of life and fundamental human right to freedom, the right to act and express individual ideas without fear of losing his family, dignity or life.

The museum has on display a collection of more than 160,000 files, photographs, films, objects and books belonging to those who staged the resistance to the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. Using modern audiovisual resources, supplemented with items belonging to the heroes and survivors of the fateful Trujillo years. There are testimonies, recordings, photographs and videos of the fallen, dioramas and models depicting the torture prisons and certain historical events. Also included is restoration and extension of the Jail site 9/ Cárcel del 9 located in the basement area of the restored building.

The Memorial Museum of Dominican Resistance was accepted as a member of the International Coalition of Historic Site Museums of Conscience/ Coalición Internacional de Museos de Sitios Históricos de Conciencia, which is a network of museums covering topics such as genocide, human trafficking, state terrorism, totalitarianism, etc., With aim to raise awareness and stimulate dialog on humanitarian and democratic values.

The Resistance Museum will include areas such as bathrooms, library, cafeteria, an auditorium and a documentation center.

Location: Arzobispo Nouel #210 between Sanchez and Jose Reyes, in the Mansion of the Family Vicini, Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo
Contact: 809 563-3463
Director: Luisa Peña

http://www.museodelaresistencia.org/

For a map of Colonial Zone and more information about other museums in the Colonial city click the links. All links open in a new window.

The Inter-American Development Bank is going to give an initial investment of RD$30 million to get the projects started. They want to improve the Colonial city by preserving the monuments and buildings and also make more pedestrian walkways in the historical section.

They said that traffic needed to be reduced especially on Calle las Damas, the oldest street in the New World. They want to make this street a pedestrian only street only allowing the people living there and the businesses on the street to have access by vehicle. They are also discussing about making Padre Billini between Calle las Damas and Arzobispo Meriño, Arz. Merino between Arzobispo Nouel and Luperon and Calle Isabel la Catolica between Padre Billini and Las Mercedes into pedestrian only streets as well. (A map of the Colonial Zone to see where these streets are located)

If this happens many of the public transportation routes including buses, public cars and trucks, would have to be changed making the open streets more congested. They would divert these routes through Duarte. In my opinion this would still cause traffic problems.

The businesses, mainly the Hotels, are concerned that it would mean fewer tourists in the area thus affecting their businesses. Also some businesses that would have to pay for the renovation of their buildings would consider leaving the area, as it would be a really big investment to fix these buildings as required.

Now my humble opinion
*They need to focus on repairing the sidewalks and streets.
*Remove the garbage from the streets.
*Fix up the old and decaying buildings.
*Have bathroom facilities available for public use.
*Put speed bumps (policia acostado – I think that’s what they call them here) at every intersection and in the middle of streets where cars go fast. This will slow down traffic making it safer for pedestrians. Maybe these bumps would deter through traffic from using the Colonial Zone streets, as it would take so much time to pass through the streets. Maybe have different artists paint the speed bumps to make them attractive and another point of interest in our colonial city.
*Have more police on the streets at all hours, not just the daylight hours. There is needed more security in the evenings when people are walking dark streets to go out to the local establishments.
*Have streetlights on always, even when the power goes out. Maybe make them solar lights so power outages do not affect them.
*Make crossing the Malecon less dangerous. Speed bumps, police, overhead walkways at strategic spots. Whatever it takes so people can cross the street intact and sanely.
*Have activities like the outdoor concerts and events posted in strategic locations so visitors and locals can know what is happening in the parks and places of the Zone.

Any other ideas please post. Maybe someone of importance will read this and consider our opinions and ideas. Or maybe I can present these ideas myself to the big boys and gals.

Heraldos del Evangelio.
Tienen el agrado de invitarle a la Solemne Misa Jubilar en honor a Nuestra Señora de Fátima, presidida por Su Emcia. Rvma. Cardenal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez, el Viernes 13 de Mayo, 2011 en la Catedral de Santo Domingo, Primada de América en Zona Colonial.
Programa:
5:00 PM – Peregrinación desde el Convento de los Dominicos. Entrada por la Puerta de la Catedral para ganar la indulgencia jubilar.
6:00PM – Solemne Misa y Coronación de la imagen de Nuestra Señora de Fátima.

You can register at the web site www.gatorade.com.do. Registration is $300 pesos per person. Why not register even if you are not planning to run. It is for a good cause. You can also donate in a friends name.

After the race there will be lots of stuff happening at the Plaza Juan Baron. David Almengod and Tanke Lab will be performing. There will also be VJ’s and DJ’s and at the end there will be a fireworks display.

See you there!