Censorship

I thought they'd be helicopters and air traffic in Puerto Plata given the need for airports, hospitals and basic necessities in Haiti. The proximity of these two nations with its discriminatory, historical cultural divide is left unspoken. The only helicopter buzzing around was the one carrying  a "VIP" party. Our hotel resort is selling timeshares in condos and villas to world-wide consumers, perhaps looking for a tropical place and space to vacation and retire. All amenities and even an adjacent casino for our international gambling set.

But don't take off your wristband, depending on the sparkly gold, ruby, sapphire or a plain white band with cheapcaribbean.com stamped with blue ink identifies you to security and personnel. All signs that you are in a third world country disappear behind the manned security gates. The wristband designates what beaches you can go to and what expanded amenities are available to you. A resort larger than a cruise ship with all food, top-shelf drinks and cigars included. Tell Only Your Best Friends is their motto. So I am.


Security is every where and even when you think you've escaped to the little village down the beach, you haven't. Yes, it provides employment and a deterrent from getting out-of-control but the presence of so much security makes me uneasy. Where and what is the perceived threat?

It can be argued that as a resort catering to guests that discussing the catastrophe on the other end of the island serves no purpose or may upset the guests. Yet this is the biggest story, the most moral story of our lifetime and I'm in an environment of total news blackout. Sure, I could turn on the TV in my spacious room to CNN and ABC but I'm not prone to turning on the TV even when I'm home. I do not need a TV for companionship.

Yet even before my departure, I checked my bookmarked Dominica Today believing it might have more news and images of Haiti. Wrong. Barely a blip and it was not front page news! What is wrong with this picture?

Ah, censorship, you rascal. You're far more pervasive and evident in the DR than the US. I long to learn more. I learned three things there: The people have been told there is oil under their island, in Russia the entire island is named Haiti, not Hispaniola and third many Dominicans believe this is a new beginning for Haiti. That is indeed true. There should be an abundance of opportunities for both nations alike without censorship. An informed citizenry empowers.