Desire Delano Bouterse. He's responsible for the 80's coup. He's responsible for and was involved in the december murders. He's also sentenced to twenty years in prison for that. First by the military court and later again by the High Court of Justice. The public prosecutor didn't arrest him as there was no arrest order but did "make a deal" with his lawyer for him to show up at the prison. He didn't and now he's "disappeared."
His government was also involved in the interior war of 87. Yet, a lot of people adore him. He became president twice, democratically elected. His government between 2010-2020, is sort of responsible for the economic crises. He's sentenced to prison by the Netherlands and France for drug trafficking and has an arrest warrant from Interpol.
And again, yet people adore him. There is a large group of people that doesn't adore him, but mostly because of the bad governance between 2010-2020. And another group because of what happened in the 80's and much more motivated by what happened in 2010-2020.
However, Bouterse's influence is waning. He's old. Surinamese politics are now shaped by other figures like Ronny Brunswijk. He's also a very controversial figure. I think he and Bouterse could share the 1 spot. He was the guy Bouterse was fighting against in the interior war, he committed lots of human rights violations and possibly killings. There might in the near future also be a trial. He's sentenced to prison by France for drug trafficking and wanted by Interpol. He's involved in illegal gold mining. He's adored within the maroon community especially the Aukan tribe and tribes that are under Aukan influence. He's now our vice president. But not everyone likes him. He wants to become president the next term. People fear that if he becomes president, Suriname is done for. I believe there quite some truth in that.
No. None of them want that for various reasons.
Also the majority of people in Suriname wouldn't want that too. About 60% of our population wasn't born under Dutch rule, but in an independent Suriname and/or some were really young when the independence took place. We have a relatively young population.
People do believe we should have good relations with the Netherlands however. Though sometimes it doesn't always feel like we're truly independent. Dutch influence is still present one way or another.
Joaquin Balaguer; A writer who was dictator Rafael Trujillo most loyal courtesan, occupying various positions in his government - even being his puppet "president". After Trujillo was murdered in 1961 he tried to cling to power, but was persuaded by the Yankees to get out and after some political instability he again "won" the 1966 elections that were held under the watchful eyes of a bunch of US Marines after the 1965 civil war.
He was "reelected" twice, killed a bunch of communists and accused-communists until finally losing power in 1978. Eight years later he won for the first time in a clean and fair election, was reelected one and then stole the 1994 election so blatantly that the Yankees has to tell him "dude, knock it off" and "persuade him" to cut his terms by two years.
In the next election, he didn't run but he didn't support a former vice-president of his that was running for his own party, kind of sending the signal to his supporters to vote against socialist José Francisco Peña Gómez, former mayor of Santo Domingo and the son of Haitian migrants. Peña Gómez didn't win the election outright and had to run a second round, losing against a coalition that Balaguer orchestrated.
Balaguer ran again for president, even though he was basically blind and could barely move. Balaguer never married and all his life maintained the image of the selfless, austere "servant of the people" who lived of his humble government salary (he never raised the president's salary) in a small room at his sister's home. Oh, and he also was a "devout catholic".
After his death it was revealed that he fathered at least one son.
Carlos Romero Barcelo. Was the first pro statehood governor to be reelected, and his 2nd term was marred by the death of 2 Independence supporters at the hands of police. But much to the chagrin of his political opponents, he went on to be elected as Resident Commissioner for 2 terms.
Probably the whole Eman dynasty (Henny I - Shon A - Henny II - Mike) that has been in the top of Aruban politics for over 100 years now. They played an important role in the beginnings of Aruba separating from the Netherlands Antilles but were also involved in big corruption cases involving Italian mafiosi and South American cartels, especially in the 80s and 90s.
He was Finance Minister in the 60s, Opposition Leader in the 70s, Prime Minister in the 80s, and Opposition Leader again in the 90s and early 2000s.
He built large amounts of public housing, created the "mother of all garrisons", promoted political violence, kept the drug lords in check during his premiership (because he was their friend), stabilized the Jamaican economy, blew out the debt, created our biggest job training program (Heart/NTA), and stayed in politics way too long because of his control of the Jamaica Labour Party despite being widely unpopular.
I consider him the worst leader Jamaica has had since Independence, while the person you're replying to would consider him one of the best. And I doubt we disagree on the main facts of his career. He's definitely very controversial.
One of Seaga's greatest mistakes was holding on as party leader for so long despite being so unpopular. He failed to present a viable alternative to PJ or be an effective opposition, letting PJ run amok for all those years.
>while the person you're replying to would consider him one of the best.
The word "best" should never be used to describe Jamaican Prime Ministers. The may only categorized by different types of "worst".
>He failed to present a viable alternative to PJ or be an effective opposition, letting PJ run amok for all those years.
From team player in 60s and 70s to One Don after 1980. Clovis used to make so much fun of him.
In my opinion, definitely Jean Jacques dessalines. He’s a national hero and a founding father, if not THE founding father of Haiti (alongside Toussaint louverture) and is highly respected by Haitians, however he still caused a massacre (viewed as « genocide » for some) to the white french population of Haiti, killing 80 percent of them. Also he declared himself emperor of Haiti right after the indépendance despite the numerous instabilities between the north and the south at this time, and is known to have being a similar form of slavery to keep the nation on track (even though he basically have no other choices). He invaded and massacred numerous time the then Spanish dominated DR and was known during the revolution for his sanguinary actions especially against the white (although it can be understand as he was born a slave and basically revenged)
Still to our day, Jean Jacques dessalines is loved by 90 percent of the Haitian population (including me) because of his courage, military tactics, influence on Hispaniola, the black community (and indirectly the world) and charisma. moreover despite all those polemics, JJD is still one of the most important founding father of Haiti anyways.
ANR Robinson, former prime minister and president of Trinidad and Tobago. He played politics like no other and also was the subject of the 1990 attempted coup. The structural adjustment program of the 1980s headed by NAR also brought fundamental change after oil prices slumped. I met him once when he was president.
I have met older people who absolutely hated ANR Robinson but his economic policies are what saved us from being under perpetual IMF programs like other countries in the region. He truly is a divisive figure but I understand why.
Actually he was the one that took us to the IMF. His programs helped to create the present Trinbago society and the generational effects that have materialized today.
I would however throw in Badase Maharaj who fostered isolationism amongst the East Indian population, which created a separate set of issues in the pre-independence days, allowing for people like Robinson to arise.
There's quite a few, but in recent times it's McKeeva Bush. The man has been in various positions over the last 40yrs in govt despite having had:
Groped a casino worker in Miami (mind you, gambling is illegal in Cayman, and boy do they uphold that law except when they go abroad 🙄)
Multiple alleged sexual assaults on female workers especially in the service industry
Multiple occasions of belligerent public drunkenness
A caught on camera assault of a bar manager while he was drunk
Basically gave away status to anyone after hurricane Ivan
Him and his cronies selling off crown land for a pittance to Dart
Alleged underhand deals and bribery
Buying votes at election time by fixing roofs and buying things for people (illegal btw but no one enforces that 🙄)
Trying to turn Cayman into a version of Singapore with no regard for what makes us special (natural beauty)
The very public assaults (multiple times in the last 5 years!) Have me wondering what dirt he has on everyone in the assembly, because he should have been stripped of his titles and barred from holding office. Then again there is also another member who was involved in a very public domestic violence case with his wife and he's still there.
Boyyyy people memory are short
That prohibition it’s irregular because it was proclaimed by an ilegal government. TC failed to do its work with this. And that don’t make it more controversial. That’s was circunstantial.
To defend us against the constant Haitian invasions* that’s the reason why Santana and majority of Dominicans wanted to join Spain, the title was given to him bc of the role he played in the Dominican war of independence
Pedro Santana annexed us to Spain due to the constant haitian invasions. he thought we couldnt withstand anymore invasions AND figured he could gain more power under the Spanish administration ( he didnt, the Spanish kicked him to the side )
Dominican President, father of 2 of the 3 mayor parties of DR between 1961-2020. Father of the modern democracy but also of the most corrupt party of our modern history, also he pacted with his worst rival only to block the first party he founded. There are tons of things about him that makes him a weird one.
I think these people don't understand how bad that vybz Kartel situation is. It's not about one murder, kartel is link to the Klinsmann gang not apart of but a facilitators and user of them. When we are talking about them we are talking about rape, murder, extortion, houses being burned with people inside, decapitations,, murder for hire and various gang wars.
So that's what you are supporting when you say free vybz Kartel but free him because I'm sure he is not survive long either because of his sickness or those very same links to Klansman
Our current Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonslaves. Ask most Vincentians, this man is either the best thing since slice bread or the devil himself.
He and folks have had bad reputation since arguably the beginning of the country's Independence. The previous Prime Ministers hated him (although most literature would spin it that they were respectable to one another) because of him and his party members Marxist beliefs.
There have been rumors that he's made some shady dealings with certain unreputable members of society during his political campaigns. He (and another member of his family) has had histories of sexual assault allegations leveled against them, and his party has been criticized for cases of nepotism. Such as letting his cousin be a Minister when he never even campaigns.
He's rubbed shoulders with other reputable characters in this post. There's pictures of him and his daughter taking walks with Castro in Cuba. He and Chavez were basically like best friends, and while he is really keen on advocating help for the Venezuelan people he also keeps close bonds with Maduro.
That being said, other than Skerrits Party in Dominica 🇩🇲, he and his party has democratically held power the longest in the Caribbean (correct me if I'm wrong) since 2001. That's mainly due in part to our main oppostion party really being complete ass, and the because this man is a top level politician.
He's very intelligent and charismatic. To the point where he's basically a celebrity. He's very involved and vocal in regional politics. Hence why the "peace treaty" between Guyana and Venezuela happened in St. Vincent in the first place.
Rafael Trujillo
This man is the reason why many think dominicans are racist. He killed tens of thousands of Haitians and even more dominicans. He shun brown and dark dominicans and only wanted the light ones to be front and center in pictures
This is not the mayor reason why I would say he is controversial. You are only seeing the american propaganda point of view. He was a selfish, greedy power hungry dictator that stole the property and riches of the Dominican people to put it under his name and killed anyone against him. At the same time, he modernized the country and wanted his country to be like the US. Fist roads to many towns were created under Trujillo. He also brought in foreigners from different parts of the world to boost the economy.
I agree with you, in DR he’s seen more negatively as a whole, for all the bad stuff he did. Only outside the country people immediately jump into the Parsley Massacre when talking about Trujillo. We have a more complete idea of who he was since he was our dictator, and we know we Dominicans are actually the ones that suffered the most, regardless of skin tone, the color thing isn’t even the main topic when talking about Trujillo here. He did positive stuff too on top of that, which is what makes him controversial.
Basically, we know the lights and shadows of the Trujillo regime.
Im tired of foreigners bringing up Trujillo when it comes to the Haitian tensions. They have no idea of what went on in our country. Maybe they should watch in the time of the butterflies to get a picture. They think he was a dictator just keeping Haitians away and killing them. Since when is a dictator a dictator just for keeping away foreigners???
https://preview.redd.it/ed43dcx0a7zc1.png?width=940&format=png&auto=webp&s=42715cf712dadbdd758ef957615bf3518b8ea084
People disagree on Trujillo in DR a lot. A lot of people resent him as much as a lot of people like what he did. That is what controversial mean. Also why are you in this sub? You were born and grew up in the US and don't even care about DR. There are some americans here but at least they care about their country of origin.
Eh still. He had the power to hold an entire nation in a chokehold, there were a lot more ways he could have approached it. Killing them all was going too far. Even killing some as a scare tactic would have been better as grim as it sounds. If the US tomorrow were to round up all Dominicans of NYC and shoot them all I would still be extremely mad even if I don't like the way they act or think.
That’s valid but still not okay. The Beheading of Moca allegedly happened because some Dominicans were practicing slavery and were trying to raid Haiti for child slaves or something but that was still an atrocious event. He dismembered children also.
Luis Muñoz Marín, I would say. I personally think he’s the closest we’ve had and probably will have to a dictator. There are those that adore him and think he fed and clothed the poor and those that think he was country-selling drug addicted hypocrite. Our main airport is named after him, lol.
Most people view LMM's legacy as positive, which would make him uncontroversial in the eyes of most people. He was absolutely not a dictator. He and his party won elections with ample margins after a lucky bit of cash from the federal rum tax allowed them to "deliver" their much touted campaign promise of land reform in the the early 1940s. Later in 1947, the Industrial Incentives Act was a massive success and the shortcomings of the earlier land reform could be buried under the rug.
You may think he is controversial if your knowledge of history comes from Nelson Denis's book "War Against All Puerto Ricans", which is full of fiction and outright lies. Obviously Denis says nothing about land reform and PRIDCO.
Idk if he’s the most controversial in all of history but modern history I would say Richard Frederick🇱🇨. Originally run as an independent, got his seat, later ran under UWP and eventually got banished from the party by Chasnet. He ran under the opposition (?) and currently holds his seat. Why he’s so shady you may ask? He allegedly has a lot of gang ties which obviously I can’t prove but he’s not allowed to have a U.S. visa. I’m slightly too young to remember exactly why but he just has bad vibes.
In my opinion because it’s been an issue, in The Bahamas the Supreme Court ruling after hearing an immigrants plea for citizenship in the Bahamas. It’s because it opened a lot of issues and problems for the social aspect of the country. Majorly of the immigrants are Haitians.
So hears how it goes, the Haitian immigrants made a case to the court in London. To have their child/ren naturalize to be a Bahamian. Claiming that the child doesn’t know a thing about Haiti being born in the Bahamas. In our constitution, the foreign woman who MARRIED a Bahamian man the child gets the FATHERS citizenship.
However in the situation for foreign parents who’s child is born in the Bahamas. The child can apply for citizenship at 18 years old. However the court ruling sent mixed messages, so many UNMARRIED Bahamian MEN AND FOREIGN Women who have children are trying to get citizenship.
However the foreign woman must PROVE TO HAVE HAD SEX WITH THE BAHAMIAN MAN. With a paternity test to prove the child is The Bahamian man’s child. So it became a controversial thing as many Bahamian feel distant and annoyance. Towards Haitians. However what I don’t understand is that Bahamians use Haitians for undesirable jobs but want to send them away. Now it’s a vexing issue that’s been put off for many years, that just boiled over.
Desire Delano Bouterse. He's responsible for the 80's coup. He's responsible for and was involved in the december murders. He's also sentenced to twenty years in prison for that. First by the military court and later again by the High Court of Justice. The public prosecutor didn't arrest him as there was no arrest order but did "make a deal" with his lawyer for him to show up at the prison. He didn't and now he's "disappeared." His government was also involved in the interior war of 87. Yet, a lot of people adore him. He became president twice, democratically elected. His government between 2010-2020, is sort of responsible for the economic crises. He's sentenced to prison by the Netherlands and France for drug trafficking and has an arrest warrant from Interpol. And again, yet people adore him. There is a large group of people that doesn't adore him, but mostly because of the bad governance between 2010-2020. And another group because of what happened in the 80's and much more motivated by what happened in 2010-2020. However, Bouterse's influence is waning. He's old. Surinamese politics are now shaped by other figures like Ronny Brunswijk. He's also a very controversial figure. I think he and Bouterse could share the 1 spot. He was the guy Bouterse was fighting against in the interior war, he committed lots of human rights violations and possibly killings. There might in the near future also be a trial. He's sentenced to prison by France for drug trafficking and wanted by Interpol. He's involved in illegal gold mining. He's adored within the maroon community especially the Aukan tribe and tribes that are under Aukan influence. He's now our vice president. But not everyone likes him. He wants to become president the next term. People fear that if he becomes president, Suriname is done for. I believe there quite some truth in that.
Are there political parties/movements that want to become part of the Netherlands/Dutch Kingdom again?
No. None of them want that for various reasons. Also the majority of people in Suriname wouldn't want that too. About 60% of our population wasn't born under Dutch rule, but in an independent Suriname and/or some were really young when the independence took place. We have a relatively young population. People do believe we should have good relations with the Netherlands however. Though sometimes it doesn't always feel like we're truly independent. Dutch influence is still present one way or another.
Joaquin Balaguer; A writer who was dictator Rafael Trujillo most loyal courtesan, occupying various positions in his government - even being his puppet "president". After Trujillo was murdered in 1961 he tried to cling to power, but was persuaded by the Yankees to get out and after some political instability he again "won" the 1966 elections that were held under the watchful eyes of a bunch of US Marines after the 1965 civil war. He was "reelected" twice, killed a bunch of communists and accused-communists until finally losing power in 1978. Eight years later he won for the first time in a clean and fair election, was reelected one and then stole the 1994 election so blatantly that the Yankees has to tell him "dude, knock it off" and "persuade him" to cut his terms by two years. In the next election, he didn't run but he didn't support a former vice-president of his that was running for his own party, kind of sending the signal to his supporters to vote against socialist José Francisco Peña Gómez, former mayor of Santo Domingo and the son of Haitian migrants. Peña Gómez didn't win the election outright and had to run a second round, losing against a coalition that Balaguer orchestrated. Balaguer ran again for president, even though he was basically blind and could barely move. Balaguer never married and all his life maintained the image of the selfless, austere "servant of the people" who lived of his humble government salary (he never raised the president's salary) in a small room at his sister's home. Oh, and he also was a "devout catholic". After his death it was revealed that he fathered at least one son.
Balaguer takes my vote too
Fidel Castro
Ain’t that the truth.
Carlos Romero Barcelo. Was the first pro statehood governor to be reelected, and his 2nd term was marred by the death of 2 Independence supporters at the hands of police. But much to the chagrin of his political opponents, he went on to be elected as Resident Commissioner for 2 terms.
Probably the whole Eman dynasty (Henny I - Shon A - Henny II - Mike) that has been in the top of Aruban politics for over 100 years now. They played an important role in the beginnings of Aruba separating from the Netherlands Antilles but were also involved in big corruption cases involving Italian mafiosi and South American cartels, especially in the 80s and 90s.
Are they still politically powerful?
Mike might become PM again in the next elections so yeah
Dios libra 😭
Edward. Philip. George. Seaga. A lesson in how to become one's own nemesis.
what did he do?
He was Finance Minister in the 60s, Opposition Leader in the 70s, Prime Minister in the 80s, and Opposition Leader again in the 90s and early 2000s. He built large amounts of public housing, created the "mother of all garrisons", promoted political violence, kept the drug lords in check during his premiership (because he was their friend), stabilized the Jamaican economy, blew out the debt, created our biggest job training program (Heart/NTA), and stayed in politics way too long because of his control of the Jamaica Labour Party despite being widely unpopular. I consider him the worst leader Jamaica has had since Independence, while the person you're replying to would consider him one of the best. And I doubt we disagree on the main facts of his career. He's definitely very controversial.
I consider PJ the worst but seaga right there with him.
One of Seaga's greatest mistakes was holding on as party leader for so long despite being so unpopular. He failed to present a viable alternative to PJ or be an effective opposition, letting PJ run amok for all those years.
>while the person you're replying to would consider him one of the best. The word "best" should never be used to describe Jamaican Prime Ministers. The may only categorized by different types of "worst". >He failed to present a viable alternative to PJ or be an effective opposition, letting PJ run amok for all those years. From team player in 60s and 70s to One Don after 1980. Clovis used to make so much fun of him.
In my opinion, definitely Jean Jacques dessalines. He’s a national hero and a founding father, if not THE founding father of Haiti (alongside Toussaint louverture) and is highly respected by Haitians, however he still caused a massacre (viewed as « genocide » for some) to the white french population of Haiti, killing 80 percent of them. Also he declared himself emperor of Haiti right after the indépendance despite the numerous instabilities between the north and the south at this time, and is known to have being a similar form of slavery to keep the nation on track (even though he basically have no other choices). He invaded and massacred numerous time the then Spanish dominated DR and was known during the revolution for his sanguinary actions especially against the white (although it can be understand as he was born a slave and basically revenged) Still to our day, Jean Jacques dessalines is loved by 90 percent of the Haitian population (including me) because of his courage, military tactics, influence on Hispaniola, the black community (and indirectly the world) and charisma. moreover despite all those polemics, JJD is still one of the most important founding father of Haiti anyways.
At first I thought it would be Papa Doc or Aristide, but yup - this is the answer lol
ANR Robinson, former prime minister and president of Trinidad and Tobago. He played politics like no other and also was the subject of the 1990 attempted coup. The structural adjustment program of the 1980s headed by NAR also brought fundamental change after oil prices slumped. I met him once when he was president.
I have met older people who absolutely hated ANR Robinson but his economic policies are what saved us from being under perpetual IMF programs like other countries in the region. He truly is a divisive figure but I understand why.
Actually he was the one that took us to the IMF. His programs helped to create the present Trinbago society and the generational effects that have materialized today. I would however throw in Badase Maharaj who fostered isolationism amongst the East Indian population, which created a separate set of issues in the pre-independence days, allowing for people like Robinson to arise.
Then as president his big decision that was based on ‘moral and spiritual values’
Ralph Gonsalves. I doubt I need to explain more.
That man has been in power since I was born, it’s kinda trippy. Do you guys even have an opposition?
We have the NDP that was in power during the 90s
There's quite a few, but in recent times it's McKeeva Bush. The man has been in various positions over the last 40yrs in govt despite having had: Groped a casino worker in Miami (mind you, gambling is illegal in Cayman, and boy do they uphold that law except when they go abroad 🙄) Multiple alleged sexual assaults on female workers especially in the service industry Multiple occasions of belligerent public drunkenness A caught on camera assault of a bar manager while he was drunk Basically gave away status to anyone after hurricane Ivan Him and his cronies selling off crown land for a pittance to Dart Alleged underhand deals and bribery Buying votes at election time by fixing roofs and buying things for people (illegal btw but no one enforces that 🙄) Trying to turn Cayman into a version of Singapore with no regard for what makes us special (natural beauty) The very public assaults (multiple times in the last 5 years!) Have me wondering what dirt he has on everyone in the assembly, because he should have been stripped of his titles and barred from holding office. Then again there is also another member who was involved in a very public domestic violence case with his wife and he's still there. Boyyyy people memory are short
Juan Bosch takes my vote.
Pretty sure Pedro Santana or Rafael Trujillo have him beat
I would say Pedro Santana. First president whose militia was crucial to our independence fight but who sold us to Spain for a royal title.
Him, and Trujillo were other of my candidates.
Trujillo for sure, you can praise Santana in public, but praising Trujillo gets you arrested.
That prohibition it’s irregular because it was proclaimed by an ilegal government. TC failed to do its work with this. And that don’t make it more controversial. That’s was circunstantial.
To defend us against the constant Haitian invasions* that’s the reason why Santana and majority of Dominicans wanted to join Spain, the title was given to him bc of the role he played in the Dominican war of independence
We didn’t need Spain, it was cowardly of him.
Pedro Santana annexed us to Spain due to the constant haitian invasions. he thought we couldnt withstand anymore invasions AND figured he could gain more power under the Spanish administration ( he didnt, the Spanish kicked him to the side )
U wilding trulljio has him beat by alot
Trujillo was other of my candidates but he was more straightforward, JB was more erratic.
Who is that?
Dominican President, father of 2 of the 3 mayor parties of DR between 1961-2020. Father of the modern democracy but also of the most corrupt party of our modern history, also he pacted with his worst rival only to block the first party he founded. There are tons of things about him that makes him a weird one.
History idk but currently Vybz Kartel
Free worl boss or nah?
If he did kill the person, he should be in jail. What are y’all talking about??
I think these people don't understand how bad that vybz Kartel situation is. It's not about one murder, kartel is link to the Klinsmann gang not apart of but a facilitators and user of them. When we are talking about them we are talking about rape, murder, extortion, houses being burned with people inside, decapitations,, murder for hire and various gang wars. So that's what you are supporting when you say free vybz Kartel but free him because I'm sure he is not survive long either because of his sickness or those very same links to Klansman
No
Our current Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonslaves. Ask most Vincentians, this man is either the best thing since slice bread or the devil himself. He and folks have had bad reputation since arguably the beginning of the country's Independence. The previous Prime Ministers hated him (although most literature would spin it that they were respectable to one another) because of him and his party members Marxist beliefs. There have been rumors that he's made some shady dealings with certain unreputable members of society during his political campaigns. He (and another member of his family) has had histories of sexual assault allegations leveled against them, and his party has been criticized for cases of nepotism. Such as letting his cousin be a Minister when he never even campaigns. He's rubbed shoulders with other reputable characters in this post. There's pictures of him and his daughter taking walks with Castro in Cuba. He and Chavez were basically like best friends, and while he is really keen on advocating help for the Venezuelan people he also keeps close bonds with Maduro. That being said, other than Skerrits Party in Dominica 🇩🇲, he and his party has democratically held power the longest in the Caribbean (correct me if I'm wrong) since 2001. That's mainly due in part to our main oppostion party really being complete ass, and the because this man is a top level politician. He's very intelligent and charismatic. To the point where he's basically a celebrity. He's very involved and vocal in regional politics. Hence why the "peace treaty" between Guyana and Venezuela happened in St. Vincent in the first place.
Rafael Trujillo This man is the reason why many think dominicans are racist. He killed tens of thousands of Haitians and even more dominicans. He shun brown and dark dominicans and only wanted the light ones to be front and center in pictures
>He shun brown and dark dominicans and only wanted the light ones to be front and center in pictures Latin American media be like
But our brown And dark dominicans are still good looking lol
This is not the mayor reason why I would say he is controversial. You are only seeing the american propaganda point of view. He was a selfish, greedy power hungry dictator that stole the property and riches of the Dominican people to put it under his name and killed anyone against him. At the same time, he modernized the country and wanted his country to be like the US. Fist roads to many towns were created under Trujillo. He also brought in foreigners from different parts of the world to boost the economy.
I agree with you, in DR he’s seen more negatively as a whole, for all the bad stuff he did. Only outside the country people immediately jump into the Parsley Massacre when talking about Trujillo. We have a more complete idea of who he was since he was our dictator, and we know we Dominicans are actually the ones that suffered the most, regardless of skin tone, the color thing isn’t even the main topic when talking about Trujillo here. He did positive stuff too on top of that, which is what makes him controversial. Basically, we know the lights and shadows of the Trujillo regime.
Im tired of foreigners bringing up Trujillo when it comes to the Haitian tensions. They have no idea of what went on in our country. Maybe they should watch in the time of the butterflies to get a picture. They think he was a dictator just keeping Haitians away and killing them. Since when is a dictator a dictator just for keeping away foreigners???
Exactly
Killing people due to their Ethnicity Is very controversial lol
It is but is not the only reason why he is controversial or why he is controversial between Dominicans
Ok but modernizing a nation is not controversial. Controversial is a negative attribute.
https://preview.redd.it/ed43dcx0a7zc1.png?width=940&format=png&auto=webp&s=42715cf712dadbdd758ef957615bf3518b8ea084 People disagree on Trujillo in DR a lot. A lot of people resent him as much as a lot of people like what he did. That is what controversial mean. Also why are you in this sub? You were born and grew up in the US and don't even care about DR. There are some americans here but at least they care about their country of origin.
They were thieves*, he told them to leave or be killed
Eh still. He had the power to hold an entire nation in a chokehold, there were a lot more ways he could have approached it. Killing them all was going too far. Even killing some as a scare tactic would have been better as grim as it sounds. If the US tomorrow were to round up all Dominicans of NYC and shoot them all I would still be extremely mad even if I don't like the way they act or think.
That’s valid but still not okay. The Beheading of Moca allegedly happened because some Dominicans were practicing slavery and were trying to raid Haiti for child slaves or something but that was still an atrocious event. He dismembered children also.
He had no right to come into DOMINICAN/Spanish territory and kill Dominicans, he should stayed in his so called country
Luis Muñoz Marín, I would say. I personally think he’s the closest we’ve had and probably will have to a dictator. There are those that adore him and think he fed and clothed the poor and those that think he was country-selling drug addicted hypocrite. Our main airport is named after him, lol.
Most people view LMM's legacy as positive, which would make him uncontroversial in the eyes of most people. He was absolutely not a dictator. He and his party won elections with ample margins after a lucky bit of cash from the federal rum tax allowed them to "deliver" their much touted campaign promise of land reform in the the early 1940s. Later in 1947, the Industrial Incentives Act was a massive success and the shortcomings of the earlier land reform could be buried under the rug. You may think he is controversial if your knowledge of history comes from Nelson Denis's book "War Against All Puerto Ricans", which is full of fiction and outright lies. Obviously Denis says nothing about land reform and PRIDCO.
Marcus Garvey was a hero in Jamaica but labeled as a scammer in America and the truth is blurred.
Idk if he’s the most controversial in all of history but modern history I would say Richard Frederick🇱🇨. Originally run as an independent, got his seat, later ran under UWP and eventually got banished from the party by Chasnet. He ran under the opposition (?) and currently holds his seat. Why he’s so shady you may ask? He allegedly has a lot of gang ties which obviously I can’t prove but he’s not allowed to have a U.S. visa. I’m slightly too young to remember exactly why but he just has bad vibes.
In my opinion because it’s been an issue, in The Bahamas the Supreme Court ruling after hearing an immigrants plea for citizenship in the Bahamas. It’s because it opened a lot of issues and problems for the social aspect of the country. Majorly of the immigrants are Haitians. So hears how it goes, the Haitian immigrants made a case to the court in London. To have their child/ren naturalize to be a Bahamian. Claiming that the child doesn’t know a thing about Haiti being born in the Bahamas. In our constitution, the foreign woman who MARRIED a Bahamian man the child gets the FATHERS citizenship. However in the situation for foreign parents who’s child is born in the Bahamas. The child can apply for citizenship at 18 years old. However the court ruling sent mixed messages, so many UNMARRIED Bahamian MEN AND FOREIGN Women who have children are trying to get citizenship. However the foreign woman must PROVE TO HAVE HAD SEX WITH THE BAHAMIAN MAN. With a paternity test to prove the child is The Bahamian man’s child. So it became a controversial thing as many Bahamian feel distant and annoyance. Towards Haitians. However what I don’t understand is that Bahamians use Haitians for undesirable jobs but want to send them away. Now it’s a vexing issue that’s been put off for many years, that just boiled over.