[TCjwwhcY]

This is not something unique to Cabarete. It has happened before in other parts of the country. And like Rocky, I have no sympathy for the squatters when they are evicted from public or private land.

[Kotyara]

drsol has some more picture from the area:
http://www.drsol.info/forums/showthread.php?t=503

[E4qC1qQ5]

I think that unless there is actual evidence of clear title to the land-not anecdotes from a crying victim...I am told fraudulent land titles are a problem in DR...I will rerserve opinion on the actions of the authorities. There are 2 sides to every argument.

I wonder if the 'authorities' who were provided the 'titles' in this recent episode knew the difference, and if STEWART TITLE CO. could have been one of them. What guarantees that a STEWART TITLE is immune to these aggressive actions?

Susie

[krek-sikUp]

It's awfully quiet! Did we imagine it?
Did no-one else bump ino the unrest, stone throwing, road blocking and general melee just outside Cabarete on the road to Sosua at lunchtime today 30.07.04??
Some very angry and enojado Dominicans creating a big scene on the main road just past the end of kite Beach.
It appears that the army have been around and chased all the squatters off the lands and out of their houses??
Hope that my tourists got through okay with their taxi to the airport, (I did a 'U' turn with all the other drivers)!
Strange that no-one else reported it?

[rolex-buy]

Cris,

This CERTAINLY places a huge damper and questions on our plans to settle in Cabarete, and initiate construction plans for our new business venture! If what you say is true, than I resubmit my question in a recent thread "Rising Real Estate Prices"
my reply "Land Reform" # 22 post. (if I knew how to link it, I would)

If legally titiled land with 3 story structures/businesses were victims of this onslaught, what rights do any of us have? Were there no attemps to verify documents prior to the destruction?

Please, I'm requesting some encouragement to move forward....

Thank you!
Susie

The difficult part of your comment is figuring out whether the land is truly "legally titled". There are quite a few falsified titles out there. These were simple to obtain by providing some "incentives" to key people that monitor/maintain title information. There is good news; these title records are being collected from every province and will be added into a centralized database in SDO for some new "watchdog".

So, if you encounter someone who has title to a property you are interested in; get a copy of the title and have it researched to the point that you know the name of the first owner of record (and how many times it has changed hands). Find a good attorney through word-of-mouth and a surveyor who knows to take the lens cap off of the camera before taking any pictures of the property.

Until you get past this point, don't believe anything you hear or see (even if it's on paper).

Good Luck

[Michaelnewerb]

Ken,

Was that last pic of the familiar ROAD HOUSE Property on the main road?

Thanks,
Susie

It was, must have been a "squatters shack" thrown up the night before in the General's mind

I am willing to wager that some one was recently paid off to obtain this land before Hippo leaves office

[AmericaAirline 111]

Just buy and take care of your sorroundings and you'll be fine! Secure your land title through the Stewart Little company and capish, case closed.

!

Stewart Little also has starred in great movies. He is billed as an adorable little mouse with a big heart.
I am sure in his spare time he also runs a fantastic tile company.

[Creelaleps]

For all of you would be residents who are being scared to death (again!) by the expatriates here in the DR, let me give you some insight.

Many of these folks are preaching the truth, but as always it gets a little "carried away".

Sure, private property here is a notion that has caught on somewhat, despite the fact that the Europeans introduced such thing back in the late 1490s! But ask yourself this question:

Many of these expats posting here have properties in the DR. Many mention how they are buying up property in Rio San Juan, Puerto Plata, etc. etc. I'm talking about the Dominicanized expatriate, the ones that have been here forever now. Now, the question is this. Why is it ok for the seasoned expatriate to buy land in the DR and build houses or start businesses, but not for foreigners contemplating a move to the DR? Based from what TB or CC has been saying here it would seem that they don't own any property, but to my understanding CC owns his plot (I'm not sure of TB, but he probably owns something here too).

In short, if you want to move to the DR and you want to buy land and build go right ahead and do so. Just make sure that when squatters begin to squat the land around your property or yourown property, kick them out because when the Bulldozers come in, its everything that will be sweeped clean. Maybe if your house looks expensive and fancy it might be spared simply based on the notion that it belongs to some rich guy, but then again, maybe not.

Just buy and take care of your sorroundings and you'll be fine! Secure your land title through the Stewart Little company and capish, case closed.

When someone that lives in the DR at will tells you or gives you negative reasons why you shouldn't, always ask them why they themselves live in that place that is unliveable.

CC, TB, I'm not discrediting your statements or anything, just calming the nerves of this guy. You guys really do a heck of a job at keeping the DR to yourself!

[Creelaleps]

If they were squatters, then hurray! Those theives were going to get it one day, I guess for Cabarete today was the day!

If they were not squatters, then oh well, there is nothing that can be done. However, I'm sure that only a few had legal titles and the rest were squatters. Sometimes, the innocent pays along with rest I guess.

The one fault the military did was simply destroying the structures. They should have borrowed one of those trucks that they use to deport Haitians en masse and use them to take all those criminals to the local jail. Those squatters will squat the land again.

Overall, its good the military did that. Squatters and the government lack of doing anything about that problem was a main reason why most of the Jews who settled in Sosua left. Many of the squatters were jealous countrymen of the success the Jews made out of nothing in Sosua and as such, the squatted and squatted and squatted.

I'm glad the squatts are getting their piece of the justice pie.

The military and national police have alot of work ahead of them, especially in the slums of Santo Domingo. Those slum are a squatters dream.

[Michaelnewerb]

For all of you would be residents who are being scared to death (again!) by the expatriates here in the DR, let me give you some insight.

Many of these folks are preaching the truth, but as always it gets a little "carried away".

Sure, private property here is a notion that has caught on somewhat, despite the fact that the Europeans introduced such thing back in the late 1490s! But ask yourself this question:

Many of these expats posting here have properties in the DR. Many mention how they are buying up property in Rio San Juan, Puerto Plata, etc. etc. I'm talking about the Dominicanized expatriate, the ones that have been here forever now. Now, the question is this. Why is it ok for the seasoned expatriate to buy land in the DR and build houses or start businesses, but not for foreigners contemplating a move to the DR? Based from what TB or CC has been saying here it would seem that they don't own any property, but to my understanding CC owns his plot (I'm not sure of TB, but he probably owns something here too).

In short, if you want to move to the DR and you want to buy land and build go right ahead and do so. Just make sure that when squatters begin to squat the land around your property or yourown property, kick them out because when the Bulldozers come in, its everything that will be sweeped clean. Maybe if your house looks expensive and fancy it might be spared simply based on the notion that it belongs to some rich guy, but then again, maybe not.

Just buy and take care of your sorroundings and you'll be fine! Secure your land title through the Stewart Little company and capish, case closed.

When someone that lives in the DR at will tells you or gives you negative reasons why you shouldn't, always ask them why they themselves live in that place that is unliveable.

CC, TB, I'm not discrediting your statements or anything, just calming the nerves of this guy. You guys really do a heck of a job at keeping the DR to yourself!

What a statement, "Maybe if your house looks expensive and fancy it might be spared simply based on the notion that it belongs to some rich guy, but then again, maybe not." In other words; Invest a few hundred thousand and take the chance the local general will be in a good mood when it comes to your property?

this action will devastate property sales, severely slow purchase and development of business, and unfortunately for those already there, cause a decline in property values

Who in hell is going to buy property that can't claim a positive right to?

Stewart Little Title company, right..Do they have M1 Abrams to stop the bulldozers, titles and writs seem to be of no value in this land of absurd action, certainly not a land of laws.

Before you start your usual complaining that I am picking on you, it is the lack of respect and laws in the DR I am talking about, and NO this does not happen arbitrarily in the US

[Sarbrienna]

Cabarete, Friday, July 30, 2004 - Television and eye-witness reports from Cabarete today tell of an unnanounced raid by the Dominican military against long time residents of the Cabarete area in a strip between the Cabarete-Sosua Highway and the North Atlantic from Costa Azul to the new Kite Beach hotel. Witnesses say that the military arrived with caterpillars and bulldozers around noon today to evict what was termed "illegal residents" and proceeded to destroy all properties in the zone without warning. Many residents confronted the soldiers with their legal land and property titles but were rebuffed and their homes destoyed anyway. Some people returned from work only to find that their homes or business had been destroyed with all of their possesions still inside. Around 2:00pm witnesses say the crowd of displaced homeowners confronted the army and the army responded by firing on the growing crowd of homeless people. It is presumed that the shots were fired into the air and that no one was injured but that can not be confirmed at this time. The mayor of Cabarete is quote as saying that he was not informed of any pending action and described this action as a "big crime" that will "severely harm tourism" in the area as no one will be willing to buy property in the area if their legally granted titles do not protect their investment from wanton destruction and appropriation by military authorities. Neither the mayor nor anyone else has any information on who was behind the order to remove the structures, which included at least three business, two owned by foreigners, and most of which were substantially constructed 2-3 story concrete buildings, not simple wood and tin shacks. The property destruction and the ensuing protests closed the main north coast highway, route 5, at Costa Azul for several hours this afternoon. The road is open at the moment but down to one lane in the area due to crowds of displaced people scavenging for their belongings among the ruins of their former homes. Many of the residents were quite poor, and those displaced and now without a place to sleep tonight include women, very young children, elderly, and the infirm.

[E4qC1qQ5]

Stewart Little also has starred in great movies. He is billed as an adorable little mouse with a big heart.
I am sure in his spare time he also runs a fantastic tile company.

Double WHAMMY!

Thanks, Kim and Paul...I will be happy to contact Stewart Little whilst I search for new TILE for my kitchen and bath!

Thanks, guys, I inevitably needed a good laugh!

Susie

[E4qC1qQ5]

I am a little distraught...so please bear with me.
I just phoned the owner on his cell and the # has been diconnected (I think, for lack of my spanish translation)

I cannot understand this as I just spoke with him yesterday morning. The property was for sale through Hispaniola Real Estate and listed on thier website.

We made arrangements to meet with him the first week in Sept.
A few of the reputable realtors in the area were familiar with him and the property....The stink is getting worse by the moment!

If ANYONE has any knowledge, or was present at the time this place was knocked down, please PM me!

Thank you.
Susie

[PypeMaypetasy]

If the Dominican Constitution means nothing,do you think that a "Title" to a piece of land has any value? It just means that no one with more "Power" than the title holder wants that land!
I live above the Zoo in Santo Domingo.Have for 6 years.There was a large parcel of land that belonged to the Zoo,undeveloped,but still an asset to the Zoo.It was basically "jungle".About 5,or 10 (Hard to tell without going in)squaters had built their tin shacks there,grew their "Platanos,Juandiles,etc.A little over a year ago,I started seeing some articles in the SD papers stating how terrible that these people were squating on the Zoo's precious land!The zoo director agreed.I "sensed" that something was up! Sure enough,the "Bulldozers"arrived early on morning,and bulldozed first the houses,then the trees,then anything "green",then they flattened the hills,and filled in the valleys!This "destriction" went on for about 6 months,and then the "construcion" started.An "Urbanizacion',of about 20 houses,and 10 low rise apartment building.All built on "So-Called" Zoo land,now owned by Bisono!
So just remember,if someone has more "Power,read Political or military power,or more money than you do,and they really want your property,they WILL get it!
THe DR has huge books of "LAWS",and then there is "Real Life",where all those "Laws" are selectively enforced,or forgotten, to the advantage of those in power!
Don't get me wrong,those of us who "Survive" here use the system to our advantage,but one must never forgetthat;"Those Who Live By The Sword,can also,"Die" by the Sword "!
Cris Colon,CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CC

[Creelaleps]

And about the squatters protesting by throwing rocks, that simply shows the stupidity and ignorance these criminals have.

I always wonder what's the point of burning tires, throwing rocks and such as protest. The only thing that changes is a slight decrease in the local population by bullets, inconvenience, and more garbage. After that, everything stays the same!

Remember the last "huelga" that pretty much paralysed the country. It was suppose to make Hippo get on track as president. Look at us now, and Hippo is still no good. So, what was the point of those Huelgas other than hurting Dominican businesses and the economy?

[AmericaAirline 111]

Still going on at 4pm, my son had a hell of a job getting through to work in Sosua.

[Franchise]

My son came by there in a little open jeep. One of the Big Guys loaded up with weapons, knives etc., jumped into the jeep and promptly loaded up 2 more, saying that they are sure that nobody would mind driving the police around. Sonny boy dropped his hat kinda over his face so that no-one would recognize him and had a hard time convincing these guys to get out of the car when they got to Cabarete. Afterwards a moto conco driver said that "this is clearly Leonel's fault.... This is what Leonel did the last time that he came into power..."

[Creelaleps]

Stewart Little also has starred in great movies. He is billed as an adorable little mouse with a big heart.
I am sure in his spare time he also runs a fantastic tile company.

He he he, ooops, it's Stewart Title. You know what I meant!

[Sarbrienna]

or will these still be there when I visit next, perhaps time to look for another vacation spot.




these were emailed to me.

[Unrersvar]

How about due process in the DR? It seems like behind every problem is the fact that the Dominican Republic does not seem to be a nation of laws. - D