1. Emily Rodriguez
Dominican Repuplic

2. Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is located on the island of Hispaniola. It is borders by Haiti on the left and takes up 67% of the island. It is 48,442 square kilometers which is 18,000 square miles. The capital is Santo Domingo.

3. Basic Geography
The Dominican Republic is larger then the Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands COMBINED
It has over 1,000 miles of beaches
Its avg. temp is 80˚F of 25˚C, but it is known the during the winter season between November and January to cool down
Its natural resources are
Nickel
Bauxite
Gold
Silver
The Dominican Republic is full of landforms such as:
The Baoruco Mountain Ranges
Artibonite River
Camu River
Nizao River
Yuna River
The country is located close to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Plane flight to San Juan is about 40 min & from New York to Dominican Republic it is 1½ hours

4. Demographics & Economy
Population-9,760,000 million people
Annual population growth rate is 1.5%
The Dominican Republic has a caste system which goes
Peninsulares
Criolles
Castizos
Mestizos
Mulattos
Indians
Zambo & Black slaves
Has a large Haitian minority, Chinese, Japanese, Lebanese, Syrians, and Palestinians
Primary education is free and compulsory for children 5-14
Birth rate per 1000
Death rate-5.32 per 1000
The Dominican Republic is a represenative democracy (similar to U.S)
31 provinces is hgeaded by a presidentially appointed mayor
Demographics & Economy
As shown above 1 U.S dollar is worth 36 dollars
In the Dominican Republic

5. The current president of the Dominican Republic
Leonel Fernandez

6. History *Independence The Trujillo Era
The first inhabitants of the Dominican Republic where Taínos.
After initially friendly relationships the taínos refused the conquest of the Spaniards.
After Chief Caonoabo was killed in front of her very own people most taíno leaders fled to Cuba to help fight the Spaniards there.
By the late 1500’s most of the taíno people had died from illnesses brought from Europe, which brought the African slave trade to the Dominican Republic.
In 1496 Bartholomew Columbus built the city Nueva Isabella which is one of the first Spanish settlements in the “New World”
*Independence
In 1938 Juan Pablo Duarte started a secret group called La Trinitaria which main goal was the complete independence of Santo Domingo without foreign interruptions. On Feb,27,1844 Los Trinitarios declared independence from Haiti.
The Trujillo Era
Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina was the dictator of the Dominican Republic from 1930 till his assassination in He is officially the 36th and 38th president of the Dominican Republic. His era is known as the bloodiest of the 20th century. During under the regime of Trujillo, he had cities and statues built in his name for the “good” he had done for the country.

7. Society The official language of the Dominican Republic is Spanish
Religions
95.2% Christan
88.6% Roman Catholic
4.2% Protestant
0.1% Dominican Vudoo
Typical Food
eggs and mangú (mashed plantans)
'La Bandera‘ which is red beans, white rice and some sort of meat (represent the colors of the Dominican flag)
A Dominican marriage custom is that most men are very macho, where they feel they deserve certain privileges that there wife and daughters should not take part in

9. Current Issues Facing The Dominican Republic
Water Shortages
Soil eroding into the sea damaging the coral reefs
Deforestation
Sex trade
HIV

10. DOMINICAN SEX TRADE
“Evidence of the sex trade is everywhere as men in shorts and sandals duck into rent-by-the-hour "love motels" with Dominican women in bright dresses.” Imagine that being your daughter, sister, even your mother. This is the life of poor Dominican women. To become a prostitute to support their families or for shelter. The Dominican Republic is known for its beautiful beaches and perfect weather but in its cities it is known as a man’s paradise. Everyday tourist arrive to the island some looking for adventure but some are looking for adult fun. As said in sites promoting tourism to the Dominican Republic. And due to this “sex industry” it has given the Dominican Republic the highest cases of HIV in the region. Men go online and search for these spots on the island where you can customize your own room, & girl which comes with 20 drinks.

11. My Solution
My solution for this issue is to 1st shut down all cites promoting illegal sex trade through out the whole Dominican Republic. Second is to intruuce the Dominican Republic to the laws we have such as how prostitution is illegal in America and even if it is to start by putting a age limit. These young girls shouldn’t be selling their bodies and putting themselves at risks for disease. We need to educate these young women and show them that this isn't their only options.