By Sista

July 8, 2007 6:05 PM | Link to this

Hello

I have seen the documentary in Paris and it was so funny to see the Dominican people in te cinema with the attacks they prepared for another movie thht has been screened the day before ! When i see the reaction in Miami, it s because they ahd time to prepare themselves and to prepare their questions and attacks. They are unable to react by themselves and to discuss really … to see how they are manipulated by the ones who earn a lot of money on their naive state of mind …

What do they think is the goal of the filmaker ? she has any reason or tim to lose to “attack” RD ? Let’s be serious …

By Jamie

July 8, 2007 3:54 AM | Link to this

Dominicans are too brainwashed by goverment imposed nationalism to see the truth about thier country; that it is a racist, backward state where a few make a fortune off the backs of the many. What is needed is not only regime change but a disolvement of the a narco state that is a security threat to the USA.

By fmpfxesndh

July 3, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this

Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! dcowrtvnwhys

By Horus

July 3, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this

As a Dominican living for more than 10 years here in Florida I really need to express my concerns about the comments and the story that I just read. Who in his right mind will consider this crazy idea that slavery exist in my country. I invited anybody to visit my country where you will find not hundreds but thousands of Haitians working in hotels, in corners of the main roads selling their pottery, cell phone cards and other stuff. Please who could say that the Haitians are part of a slavery conspiracy? When they travel freely to their country every day and they send more than 200 millions of dollars back to support their own families and obviously to their country. Don’t judge the book by its cover that in this case is this documentary that is an insult to a country that has been the only country to help them every day. When you put comments please I urge you to think first and then reflect on something that you have never seeing and will probably never live.

By Adrian

July 3, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this

People talk about the Fanjul’s and this so call documentary that they haven’t seen yet. I went and saw it in FIU last week and I was not impress of the pictures that they show, because anybody that has been to the island of the Dominican Republic have seen similar scenarios like that. People forget that this is a third world country, that they are poor, that they live with more than 1 million Haitian that migrate to their side of the island to look for a better future that they have in their own country. They don’t see that this is not a problem of the Fanjul’s or governments from Haiti and the Dominican Republic; this is a problem of the world. Please don’t compare oranges with bottles, don’t compare what we are accustom here in the US with a third world country that is struggling to get out of poverty and progress.

By Zapata

June 30, 2007 12:29 AM | Link to this

Cubans crack me up.

Out of one side of their mouth you hear “Fidel is a dictator!” but give them a little power and they are pretty much Castro clones, willing to oppress anyone for gain.

I chalk it up to a bad role model (Fidel) but still have no sympathy for their oppressive tendencies.

By Zapata

June 30, 2007 12:27 AM | Link to this

Cubans crack me up.

Out of one side of their mouth you hear “Fidel is a dictator!” but give them a little power and they are pretty much Castro clones, willing to oppress anyone for gain.

I chalk it up to a bad role model (Fidel) but still have no sympathy for their oppressive tendencies.

By on plane with batista also

June 29, 2007 9:25 PM | Link to this

There are many secrets untold about how each of the two families run their business.

The sad truth is that all of the political clout, censorship, local noise and threats to the filmakers is great for the publicity of the film but I can not believe people are not asking the really important questions and demanding change. How can we help the children and more importantly who will investigate the allegations.

To see the images in the film, to hear the testimony of Children under the age of 10 clearly stating that they are being paid by Central Romana’s employees/supervisors is in direct violation of Child Labor laws.

The Fanjul and Vicini familes and their companies whether with direct or with no knowledge of what is happening on a daily basis (Child Labor laws, unsolicited repatriation of injured employees, lack of documenting Children born in the Bateys of the DR etc) Have a legal obligation and much more importantly a Moral obligation to make immediate changes to the way the Haitian workers and their Dominican born Children are being treated.

The living conditions are truly SUB HUMAN.

This situation needs SURGERY not a political Bandaid.

Regarding the above statement by the Fanjuls representative of someone having an agenda? Who is the mystery person/company with the agenda? Who funded this film? and more importantly why.

No sense in going half with a comment like that, go for the gold please tell us who has the agenda.

By Thelmo almeyda Rancier

June 29, 2007 8:00 PM | Link to this

Mr D.S. As to What you are saying it is all utopian.ifcomputers make a country’s economy strong and its people un-educated to handle tourism then our country fits the picture. In order to call it growing economy. we would have to be solvent, borrowing less,built tech. schools so it could be high tech.Feed ourselves with what we produce instead of importing. The transition as you call it exists in an utopian person such as your self. Don’t forget A.C. casinos were built to help residents and those are least beneficy due to lack of education.All employees are NYC’s PA residents. As to Donald Trump $2b US investment has to be seen yet. Social inequities will always exist even in the USA. No country is an Island as you may know.We need commerce in order to survive and just don’t see the country geared towards an industrial transition even less at the expense of agriculture, whilethey leave the farms to the Haitians because it is too degrading for them,they rather be on welfare in NYC. Also don’t forget all the industries are foreign owned. When they start paying taxes after the lease is up,you will see how many industries will remain in the country like they did in PR in the 1950’s.It is a globalized economy. A solid economy lies in the heavy idustries such as steel & machineries made at home,not imported. Semiconductors from cilicon valley or china is not the answer. We could get paper from cane as well as nitroglycer ethanol and other derivatives.That is why the USA will never sell La Romana comlex to the DR gvt. For the same reason you will always have Canadian-American ownership in the Ferro-Nickel extraction at the DR We know what they tell us but we don’t have Physical inspection to protect Dominican interest or a person with a degree in (minas y petroleo)or a geologist on the sight to see what is extracted.For all we know could be uranium,cobalt,gold. For what i read they are going to invest more money on the refinery & extraction of row iron ore. You don’t invest unless there i a positive results at the out- come.

By thesoothsayer

June 29, 2007 5:24 PM | Link to this

Pretty neat how a few wealth cuban immigrants can control the sugar cane industry in the western world and control the SFWMD and the water for 10s of millions of people plus poltics at the state and federal level. What real secrets do the familes really hold?

By smar-t-pants

June 29, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this

Well, if they are upset, but not planning to sue then maybe they should take a long hard look within themselves. If they know their business is clean, then there should be no reason to be upset or to worry.

By montana rising

June 29, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this

they’re not nice people worked there for two weeks and quit. rich, cold, snobby..don’t remember where they came from.

By Thelmo almeyda Rancier

June 29, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this

I don’t know where they get figures 1 million Dominicans living in Haiti.I also watch channel 424 and I don’t see the socio-economic positive impact the Haitians are causing in DR. For one thing char- coal industry and slave payments for their work. The varones of the sugar need their experties in cane cutting but don’t want to pay fare wages but $2.00 US dollars a day. The same pay Trujillo was paying them 60 yrs ago. As to having a choice of been there is something that has to be taken up with the Viccini & the Fanjul’s fly. You would have to read beyond what you were told. A corporation is run by share holders and they are not local Dominicans. What is described as Dominican elite? Employees of the co? Political crownies? People to show face?

By bobbyb

June 29, 2007 2:35 PM | Link to this

Fanjul’s are like any other succeful business. They know how the systems works and work with in it. If there is unfair labor practices occurring in SD, they need to address it their, just like China needs to address it there. All we can do is stop buying their products and hope more light is shined on the subject - in the hopes it will create change. As for Luis’ comment about lawn men, etc. being slaves. Shame on you these are hard working individuals making an honest living. Some will even save their money and someday open their own business, which may or may not end up in the news for praise or possible injust labor practices.

By M T.A.R

June 29, 2007 1:39 PM | Link to this

Let us get the real version of all this. Central La Romana is owned by Americans (Puerto Rico Sugar co)It is not owned by Fanjuls.He only runs it.Trujillo wanted to buy it for US40 millions and they will not sell it at any price.So if you are critical the way thing are run ,take it up with the owner!So at no time you may think it is Dominican property. The only Cicilian Dominican sole owner is the VICINI family.So go after the big guys I don’t see why the Dominican concul should be insulted if it is the truth, about the sub-human treatment given to the Haitian sugar cutters. Now with the ethanol plant to be built more Haitians are going to be needed.Why don’t they have the plant built in Brazil where they have rules and regulations for anti-slavery? The ethanol is not going to be for DR consumsion but American as Bush wants to keep the Haitians in DR so they don’t come to his brother’s FL The more Haitians the more BATEYES will be created so they could suck the blood out of the Haitians.

By M T.A.R

June 29, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this

Let us get the real version of all this. Central La Romana is owned by Americans (Puerto Rico Sugar co)It is not owned by Fanjuls.He only runs it.Trujillo wanted to buy it for US40 millions and they will not sell it at any price.So if you are critical the way thing are run ,take it up with the owner!So at no time you may think it is Dominican property. The only Cicilian Dominican sole owner is the VICINI family.So go after the big guys I don’t see why the Dominican concul should be insulted if it is the truth, about the sub-human treatment given to the Haitian sugar cutters. Now with the ethanol plant to be built more Haitians are going to be needed.Why don’t they have the plant built in Brazil where they have rules and regulations for anti-slavery? The ethanol is not going to be for DR consumsion but American as Bush wants to keep the Haitians in DR so they don’t come to his brother’s FL The more Haitians the more BATEYES will be created so they could suck the blood out of the Haitians.

By Domingo Santos

June 29, 2007 1:25 PM | Link to this

I thought slavery was a social-economic system under which people are deprived of their freedoms and forced to perform a job or provide service without compesation. Are Hatians being held captured and brought to the DR. against their will? The last time I checked they have the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to receive compensation in return for their labour. In fact, just yesterday I tuned into a TV program from the Dominican Republic via Satelite 424 featuring Hatians residing there and making serious social and cultural contributions there. Just like in Haiti the 1,000,000 Domincans there come from various social and economica backgrouds and perform all kinds of jobs for pay. The country has one of the fastest growing economies in the Americas and is transitioning from an agricultural to a service economy (primarely Tourism and High Technology). But just last week the President signed an agreement with Brazil to build an sugar cane ethanol plant near la Romana. At the same time, another Palm Beach Resident, Donald Trump and the Trump Group, is envesting billions of dollars in real estate development there. Social inequalities and Hatian Imigration issues must be addressed by the Dominican Government, United Nations, and World Humans Rights Organizations.

As to Oscar Haza…he is broacasting out of Miami for Miamians, therefore, his market needs this service and type of journalism focusing on that un-wanted regime. Great Job Oscar!

By citygirl

June 29, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this

Maybe the reason that Bush is in power is that the hate of rich people against everyone else we will always have rich families that suck us dry,they exploit people in both white and blue collar jobs for all.Bush helped the rich and now you have the new and improved USA (ha ha)

By kenC

June 29, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

The Fanjuls have received more subsidy than any other single agricultural family in U.S. history. Over 60 million dollars. You might want to rethink that “socialist” comment. The reason? To keep them competetive, keep sugar prices down so Fidel can’t compete as readily in the markets he’s allowed to. As long as Fidel is in power, our taxes will make the Fanjuls rich and they will be able to do whatever they want.

By Luis

June 29, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this

Slavery is never going to end..just look at your lawn man, roof man, nanny, dish washer farmworker ..etc.. It is sad, but that is one of the reasons why they did not pass the inmigration reform bill.

By Reality Check

June 29, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this

Get a grip people. People have choices - where to live, where to work. The Fanjuls provided both and now they are being criticized.

By barbara zorrilla

June 29, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this

shame, when you see a famous radio& tv personality, Mr. Oscar Haza, making his money out of the Cuban Tragedy and not defending his people who are suffering,mistreated and living in the most complete misery, thanks to the same families, just because he is part of the Dominican Elite that answer to the same masters, shame, shame and more shame when days before the showing at FIU he was insinuating words like “blood will run” like if the E.U. is the old west,I went to the showing at FIU, and the first three rows of the auditorium were filled with very high class Dominicans, not the everyday people, very much organized by the Dominican Consulate that were organizing a boycot against the film,only God and all the good people that made this documentary possible and of course the infortunate people of the Bateyes knows that every inch of film is the truth, May God be the Witness, and yes, I am sure that families like the Fanjuls were the couse to inititate revolutionaries movements in Cuba, like the one that have destroyed our Country, shame again that one of these families is Cuban, and Mrs. Serrano have a long history and proven work not been a socialist, but a humanitarian soul,more shame when two sheduled programs in TV were cancelled at the last minute,by the influence of the Fanjuls,justice do not have a political party, is just that justice!

By Dominican

June 29, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this

THE DOMINICANS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS THE AMERICANS HAVE IMGRATION ISSUES. THE HAITIANS ARE LIKE THE MEXICAN IN THIS COUNTRY THEY SHOULD FIX THERE COUNTRY AND GET OUT OURS! WE DONT NEED THEM!

By farmerboy

June 29, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this

Maybe the reason that Fidel is in power is that the envy of people against the rich we will always have rich families they are the reson that the US moves forward ,they supply both white and blue collar jobs for all.Fidel destoryed the rich and now you have the new and improved Cuba (ha ha)

By marc

June 29, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this

For Mr. Cantens to say that the Fannjuls’ feel “blindsided by the scrutiny” is a joke. I’m sure had they been contacted prior to the documentary being done, they Fanjuls would have somehow tried to cleanup their image. I’m glad they feel blindsided! The truth hurts sometimes.

By Tony Taylor

June 29, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this

Listen, The Fanjul’s have no duty to put up there employees in Ritz Carlton style accomadations, just as the employees have no duty to work for Their sugar empire. You socialists just don’t want anyone to strive for greatness and maintain it.

By sad resident

June 29, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this

As a long time resident of PB County it breaks my heart to see modern day slavery EVERYDAY here. It happens when immigrants are picked up in brightly colored old school buses and brought out to the Glades for slave like work under the hot FL sun. They work long hours for pennies. Next time you see a bus, you have seen slavery today.

By silvia

June 29, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this

I was present at FIU and believe that both sides must come together for the good of humanity. Also because further scandals are bound to negatively affect the tremendous subsidies received by an industry that is violating international protocols. Lets assist in this dialogue to improve the lives of those that live under subhuman conditions.

By Vince

June 29, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this

Could it be that the actions of the super wealthy Fanjul Family are part of the reason Fidel Castro has been in power in Cuba for the past 48 plus years?

By Lance

June 29, 2007 9:43 AM | Link to this

As a haitian American, I must say that it is refreshing to see these things come out. We’ve known this for the longest and I am glad that the world is finally paying attention. ” Welcome to our nightmare”

By Lance

June 29, 2007 9:43 AM | Link to this

As a haitian American, I must say that it is refreshing to see these things come out. We’ve known this for the longest and I am glad that the world is finally paying attention. ” Welcome to our nightmare”

By joanie

June 29, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this

If the Fanjuls’ are so upset with the “fictional” portrayl then they should come out and show us what great humitarians they are. How about those temporary housing? What did they think? They were only going to be in the sugar business for a year? The excuses don’t make sense and if they don’t make sense it’s not true.

By bmorgens

June 29, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this

I forgot to add that these subsidies raise the price of sugar and allied products where sugar is used. This means that the poor are over paying and are the ones that can least afford it.

If the sugar interests didn’t have this quiet stanglehold on sugar the poor would pay far less as the international market for sugar is decidedly much lower!

By bmorgens

June 29, 2007 9:24 AM | Link to this

What the film apparently does not show are the obscene sugar subsidies that our government gives to these predators. (Just because they are large contributors to both parties!)

When will we wake up?

By muck girl

June 29, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this

i have lived in the glades all my life and i have seen what the fanjuls have done. they think because they have helped opened an after school program and bring toys for christmas that they are such great people. how about giving bonuses and honest pays work for an honest days work at okeelanta co and osceola farms co?

By Mikeg

June 29, 2007 7:52 AM | Link to this

The truth hurts when you live your life in denial and become wealthy on the backs of the poor and mistreated.

By meatman

June 29, 2007 7:40 AM | Link to this

ive seen it first hand..the camps were in poor shape. and i felt bad for them..i delivered meats to the chow halls and seen how hard the men work in the fields.and there is always the one at the canteen making extra money selling things on the side. i wont get into that.

By Jose Marti

June 29, 2007 7:07 AM | Link to this

THE FANJUL FAMILY IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1960 IS WHAT FIDEL CASTRO HAS BEEN TO CUBAN PEOPLE SINCE 1959