How does Puerto Rico compare with Dominican Republic and Cuba?

I only have second hand info, I never been to either.

But yes Cuba has great doctors and has a big pharmaceutical research. They were loaning doctors to Venezuela for oil, it the oil dried out.
I heard most workers in Cuba make around 12 dollars a month. I also saw an article that Cuba just opened a luxury mall selling items like perfumes that cost hundreds of dollars and locals would not be able to afford.

Dominican Republic has a fairly dictatorial government, problems with illigal Haitians, and very low salaries also.

Not a lot more that I can tell you.

You can go to the DR forum and ask. There is no Cuban forum.

Given the fact that the illegal immigration flow is from the DR into PR or Cuba into the US, the general perception in Cuba and DR must be that living in PR or the US is preferable to living in the homeland.    People are looking for better opportunity and living standards.   

The native Puerto Ricans that I know, are strongly opposed to illegal immigration and are rather vocal about keeping the DR immigrants out of PR.  I think the locals believe the immigrants from DR are taking their jobs. 

Some folks I know have an interest in visiting Cuba for the cultural experience, but it is more a travel interest than a "caribbean islander bond".   

Folks who have traveled to the DR have told me that the locals there are exploited, work for low wages in poor conditions in the DR, are forced to live in work camps to get jobs in the all inclusive resorts that attract the gringos.    We have not traveled to the DR, but would like to visit and see the island for ourselves.

Having visited DR, corruption is worse and living conditions are deplorable, specially for the poor. Police is corrupted and if you have enough money to bribe them, you can get away with almost anything. Tourist don't see the reality of the working conditions, specially if you don't understand the language. Most folks work for pennies and employers abuse power. Areas away from the tourist parts are deplorable and running water and electricity is almost nonexistent, specially away from main cities.
Don't get me wrong, it is a beautiful country with beautiful people. But the government corruption have made it into a third world country.

An idea surfaced that could be of interest. Since Puerto Rico is and will be in the news for awhile I wonder if a documentary could be put together that interviews citizens of each country PR, DR and Cuba and share their likes and dislikes as to what their country has to offer. Since Puerto Rico does not offer job opportunities the need for illegal immigration would be diminished unless it is for entry into the mainland. One country is communist/socialist another is a dictator state or so I have heard and the other PR is a colony of the richest country in the world and I personally am very curious about the basic differences in this sampling. I saw a documentary called "The Green Revolution" in Cuba. and after the fall of the Soviet Union, Cubans had to reinvent how they farmed. How farming practices differ. How health care differs and standards of living, health, economics, etc. and the pros and cons of them.

Russian Oil again flows in Cuba. http://flip.it/iDEhqa

This is what I do as a political scientist, the field of "political development".  No time or space to do your question justice here.  The short answer has been provided by Sitka, the "drawbridge test".  Drop the drawbridge and see where people go.  They clearly flow out of of Cuba, and to a lesser, though not insignificant degree, out of DR (they flow from Haiti into the DR).  The idea that Cuba is some sort of workers' paradise is the conceit of the Castros and American Progressives.  That there is significant investment in healthcare R&D in Cuba seems to be the case (though the extent to which Cuban data can be trusted is a matter of some dispute).  That Cubans live more healthy lives also seems to be the case.  The cause of Cuban vitality is unclear however -- is it socialized medicine or the absence of sodas and Big Macs? 

But this is "cherry picking".  Cuba suffers from a tremendous host of problems under the Castro regime, and the singular focus on healthcare (or medical research, which is not the same thing) is to ignore all of the other problems that Cubans face.

Adlin is right about the DR.  Corruption is rampant, as civil servants are not well-paid by a government that is unable to collect taxes in order to pay decent salaries.  As a result, these civil servants extract "direct taxes" from the citizens.  Salaries are low, certainly by American standards, and public services are unreliable.  Of course, this is true in most of the world.  The idea that you would have reliable electricity and water/sewage is true for only a very small proportion of the world's population.  The DR is a developing country.

While a comparison of the citizens of the DR and Cuba might be worthwhile, I fail to see how a comparison of the DR, Cuba and American citizens is valid.  If PR were an independent nation, then such a comparison would have some validity.

ReyP,

There is a Cuban forum here, the ones on the Island are careful as to what they say in the forum for fear of government reprisals.

CA GUY wrote:

ReyP,

There is a Cuban forum here, the ones on the Island are careful as to what they say in the forum for fear of government reprisals.

Yes you are right, somehow I missed it, I was predisposed that with a government like that there would be little contact with the Internet. My mistake.

I just went to the forum in Cuba for a moment and I do see very little activity, some posts have not been answered in a while, unlike the PR section they seem to be a more quiet bunch, seem a good number of the expats interested in Cuba are from Canada, probably because of the US restrictions on traveling to Cuba that I believe now have been lifted to some degree.

As to DR, for anyone interested, you can contact Planner, she is the DR expert and runs that forum. She has come to the PR forum on occasion and contributed. I spoken with her a few times. BTW I believe she is Canadian.

I just invited her, lets see if she has time to answer questions.

Thanks for the insights on  this subject. Once I get fully settled in  PR, which should be very soon, I have interest in traveling to DR and Cuba.   My interest is more on a fact finding visit involving art,  agriculture, architecture and alternative lifestyles comparisons than standard of living. I chose Puerto Rico because of US infrastructure especially USPS as this allows me a viable  business and access to the US market.

That's exactly what came to mind, when I first read the supposition.

At ReyP's invite I am here to weigh in on this.  Ive been in the DR  for  13 1/2 years, originally Canadian but that is "almost" American.....LOL

I live here for the freedom, the latino culture, the low cost of living. However I have skills that allow me to earn decent money  here or online!  That is not the case with  most people.

DR is highly corrupt, but we have movement in the right direction!  We deal with a daily struggle with illegal immigrants from Haiti mostly.  PR deals with the illegals from  DR. 

Many here see that anywhere else is better.  Unfortunately they really have no idea. Most cannot make real money no matter where they go. We need education here.

Many life at  subsistance levels.  There is public healthcare but it is worth what you pay for it.  Private healthcare is really very good and very affordable still!   WE have a growing industry of medical and dental tourism.

Tourism is our lifeblood and creates low paying service work that really does not help the masses. All inclusive tourism is a bad business model for the locals.

We have a growing agriculture and mining base here as well but we sure need more education in everything.

Big pluses -  cost of living is reasonable,   easy to get residencia,  lots of freedom! 

Anything I can answer for anyone just fire away with your questions!

Thanks for your input. Petty crime is more of a nuisance in PR and I never feel threatened by serious crime. Would this be the same in DR? I am interested in exploring the Art, Organic/ sustainable agriculture and Architecture in DR in relation to PR. I have a Colonial home in PR and it was vary affordable and has tax free status and is also commercial. Do you have expats on Expat DR that have similar interests? Thanks

Arts and architecture primarily in santo.domingo.

Agriculture here is really growing (pun pun). Sustainable is huge. I have friends with a large and getting bigger organic farm. We have lots of.land available for farming!!!

Yes we have expats.with similar interests. I helped an expat purchase a heritage home and renovate into a BnB.

I am near Puerto Plata and there is much work being done to conserve heritage homes! Come visit!

Crime - same as many places - stay away from certain areas. Dont flaunt wealth or possessions. Live below the radar.

Be very very careful who you associate with here. That may be different. Here most crimes are insude jobs!!!

I will visit once I get more situated in Pr. Puerto Rico offers me about everything I am looking for and we have US postal service which is very necessary for my online business. I have been to DR. Originally I had an exchange for a gated community townhouse and it lasted one night even though I had it for a week. I saw an image of lots of palm trees in Samana.  I liked Puerta Plata with the market etc but ended up in Las Terrenas after a grueling huge pot holed drive. his was in the mid 80's. Now I am in PR and involved in farming, ecotourism and art. My goal is to connect with DR residents with similar interest to see how we can exchange whatever.

Awesome.  So that road is better but still has potholes hahahahaha.

How is your merengue Planner?

@ Planner: Great to see your input here Planner. Been a while since we talked.
Yes, folks, DR is competition to PR for me.

@Mrkrpytn, Samana is my choice if I was to settle there. For different reasons I'm sure.. I love sailing, water, fishing, hiking into areas of coverage. Yes, Samana has it all for me.

To me, both have their Pro's and Con's.
Neither would I have my money in... Just what I need monthly.
Neither have reliance on daily's.. water or electricity..
Neither are free of crime.. Nor corruption of government.

Both have the climate that is inviting.
Both have opportunity if you have independent income.
Both have very interesting localities, people that will raise your anticipations if you involve yourself.

For me, PR has the major plus of the SVI's and onward for Sailing opportunity. Yet DR my money goes further.

My merengue bachata and salsa are excellent. The music and dancing here are huge reasons I live here!!!

planner wrote:

My merengue bachata and salsa are excellent. The music and dancing here are huge reasons I live here!!!

I may have to stop by one day and shake the rust of these old bones and learn bachata

Come on over honey!!!

Not a fair comparison, apples to oranges...PR is the nearest thing to a state other country's are republic .. just google a bit and share your thoughts!

Regards,

247realestatepr wrote:

Not a fair comparison, apples to oranges...PR is the nearest thing to a state other country's are republic .. just google a bit and share your thoughts!

Regards,

Remember now, the USA is a Republic (under which it stands) and PR is 'not' a state (an interesting dichotomy) ... And close only counts in horseshoes and nuclear power accidents.. LOL

To me, different types of apples. Which do 'you' prefer...

For me, sorry Planner, PR holds an edge.
I'm a Sailor at heart. Porting/basing in PR has greater opportunity.

To each their own reasons..

Its all about what works for you! What works for.me, others dislike. What works for you wont necessarily work for me

Its about looking at options, test driving em and figuring out where you belong.

Definately not one size fits all, thank goodness!

Absolutely, each of the countries have some similarities and differences, it is the differences that make a place perfect for one but not another.
Lucky for us we are not clones, each of us is driven differently, I guess that make us human.