In 2002, the Dominican Republic was a Caribbean nation with a population of over 8.7 million people. According to computerannals, it was governed by President Hipólito Mejía and the Congress of the Republic. The economy was largely based on services, with tourism playing a major role. In addition to services, the Dominican Republic had begun to diversify its economy in recent years and had experienced some growth in the agricultural sector. Education was highly valued in the Dominican Republic and primary school enrollment had increased significantly since independence in 1844. Healthcare services were provided by both public and private institutions, though access to healthcare remained relatively high due to government subsidies. Despite its progress since 1844, poverty remained an issue for many Dominicans with approximately 40 percent living below the poverty line. Corruption and mismanagement were also an issue as the government struggled to combat these issues with limited resources. Additionally, the Dominican Republic faced security threats from neighboring countries such as Haiti; however these threats were largely managed through diplomatic means.
Yearbook 2002
Dominican Republic. On May 16, congressional and municipal elections were held in the Dominican Republic. The opposition party Partido Reformista Social Cristiano (PRSC) went strongly ahead and doubled the number of members in the House of Representatives. The ruling party Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD) thus lost the majority it had since the 1998 elections, but at the same time took no less than 29 of the Senate’s 32 seats.
Despite the new power relations in the House of Representatives, the government is still trying to enforce constitutional amendments intended to lower the threshold for victory in presidential elections from 50% to 40%, and to enable the re-election of the president, which was banned by the previous constitutional changes in 1994. In the municipal elections, the PRD won in 104 of the country’s 125 municipalities.
According to Countryaah website, national day of Dominican Republic is every February 27. The leading person in Dominican politics for the past 40 years, Joaquín Balaguer, died July 14, 95 years old. He served as president for a total of 22 years during seven terms in 1966-78 and 1986-96.
Dominican Republic Country Overview
Visas to
The Dominican Republic do not require a visa for Finnish citizens. Visa policies and rates are subject to change without notice depending on local authorities.
Exit
fee The exit fee is paid in person upon leaving the country.
- According to ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG, DOM stands for Dominican Republic.
Insurance
Everyone participating in the trip must have a valid travel insurance that covers medical expenses in the event of illness or other similar need. Please check the validity of your own insurance and the terms and conditions of the insurance cancellation cover.
Please pay attention to the special nature of your trip and check the coverage of the insurance in that respect as well. In many locations, the insurance must also be valid when moving at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters, in which case it also covers mountain sickness.
Many hiking or diving trips require more extensive insurance, which covers, for example, diving or moving on a glacier. Please check the contents of your insurance with your insurance company.
Vaccinations No vaccinations
are actually required in the Dominican Republic, but hepatitis A vaccination is recommended. Please always check the vaccination requirements at your health center or the vaccination advice of the tourist clinic
Currency: Dominican Republic Peso (DOP). You can take US dollars or euros as a backup. Dollars are often used directly as a means of payment. You can pay by credit card in major cities. Currency can be obtained from Finland by booking in advance.
Tips
Most often, restaurants expect 10% tip money.
Time difference to Finland
The Dominican Republic has a time difference of -9 hours in summer and -8 hours in winter.
Electricity In
The Dominican Republic, electricity is generally 110 V and you also need an American-style adapter.
Mobile phones
In general, mobile phones work well, please check the coverage of your subscription with your operator. Area Codes for Dominican Republic are + 1-809, + 1-829 and + 1-849.
Climate
The average temperature in the Dominican Republic is around +25 degrees all year round. Indeed, some call the island an endless summer island because of its sunny and mild climate. The driest season is winter, from November to April. The summer season is from May to August and the climate is a bit wetter and hotter. June-November is also a time when hurricanes may occur in the Caribbean.
Religion
The official main religion in the Dominican Republic is Catholicism.
