Migration from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico in the Eighties - Essay Example

Migration from Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico in the 80's   Migration of people from one destination to another has been happening since time in immemorial. People migrate for different reason and there is always a tangible need to move either for greener pastures, to run away from problems or just for a change. However, departure is an experience of its own for no one wants to say goodbye; but goodbyes for better life has to be said in order to give a room for a hello on the other side. This was the case of the Dominican Republics who migrated from their comfort zones of Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico in the 80’s. The journey of the Dominican Republic was not an easy one but the fact remains that they were able to reach their destination using some boats by the name “Yolas”. This essay aims to discuss the Dominican Republics migration to Puerto Rico in the 80’s. (Ferguson and James) To start with, history has it that there is a close link between Dominican Republic and the Puerto Rico since the pre-Columbian times. This happened when the Arawak people who originated from the Amazon basin of South America came and settled in both territories. The fifteenth and the sixteenth century mark the starting point of the problems in the Dominican Republic when Spain conquered Dominican Republic as well as the Puerto Rico. Spain remained in control until the 19th century and during this time there was a gradual constant flow of people in both directions. The bureaucrats, soldiers, clerics, professionals, students, artisans and slaves were flowing to both directions. Precisely, there were many exiles that moved from the Hispaniola Island of Puerto Rico in 19th century; this was due to political upheavals. (Falcon and Douglas) The political upheavals comprises of Spain cession of the Island to France, Haitian occupation of Santo Domingo and the Haitian Revolution of the 1804’s. Those who migrated settled in the Western region of Puerto Rico in particular Mayaguez and San German cities; they included Mulatto workers, white property owners and the black slaves among others. It is noted that at the end of the 19th century there was a change of the direction of the translational flow of people. This was as a result of development swift when the Dominican sugar industry moved to the eastern province of San Pedro de Macoris, La Romana and Puerto Plata which attracted so many interested workers form the Caribbean island as well as Puerto Rico. (Bulmer) From this time the historians continued to document the growing number of the people from Puerto Rico in the Dominican Republic and especially in the 20th century. For instance the census done in Dominican showed that there were six thousand and d sixty nine Puerto Ricans living in the Dominican Republic. The religious affinities, linguistic and cultural likeness made the Dominicans and the Puerto Ricans to intermarry which made their second generation not to term themselves as the Puerto Rican but Dominican. However, the period between 1930 and the 1960 had a very minute number of Puerto Ricans migrating to the Dominican Republic and very few Dominicans migrated to Puerto Rico. In 1940 there was a drastic stop of Puerto Rican to the Dominican Republic. Similarly, there was a strict control coming from the Trujillo regime which made it very hard for the Dominicans to travel and only professionals, entrepreneurs and political exiles were able to move and settle in Puerto Rico. Nevertheless, after the death of Trujillo in 1961, there was a large-scale migration from the Dominican Republic to the Puerto Rico. Research shows that there was a dramatic growth of the Dominican population in Puerto Rico. (Moya and pons) There were two major factors that contributed to the migration of the Dominican Republic especially in the 80s. These comprises of political and economic factors. Firstly, the political factors largely contributed to the Dominicans migration. (Ferguson and James) For example, the earliest migrates were linked to the Trujillo dictatorship which included the migration of people like conservative political leaders, the ruling class and the government employees. It is also said that President Balaguer sort refuge in Puerto Rico when he was removed from the throne but later returned to the Dominican Republic. The exodus of the Dominicans was perpetuated by the political factors especially during the period of the comparative democratization. Especially during the presidential reelection the number of emigrants continued to rise tremendously. This is because some of the people were not so happy about one president while others were and so they kept on moving in large numbers to sort refuge in Puerto Rico. Additionally, though politics is a good thing for it brings out the mind of the people it can be so dangerous and life-threatening to some people. Therefore, not everyone risks continuing residing in the country where there are so many upheavals due to political aspects; migration either by legal means or illegal means becomes the only option.(Falcon and Douglas) Secondly, the economic facts that led to the Dominican Republic exodus were the material hardship. Most of the Dominican Republic responded that they were migrating to Puerto Rico in search of a better life. The survey conducted in Santurce (area with large Dominican migrants) showed that most Dominican Republics were in search of job and good salaries. Most of the Dominican Republics were well educated in the professions such as the mechanic, mason, nurses and other careers and they were employed in their country. However, there was a great economic crisis in the Dominican Republic and this led to their migration to Puerto Rico. (Whalen et al) The economic crises comprised of bad transportation system, unemployment and underemployment, high cost of living, poor basic public services such as housing, health, education, electricity and running water among others. Additionally, there was a declining price of traditional export of sugar coffee cocoa and tobacco which affected the Dominican economy. Moreover there was a great rise of commodities such as oil foodstuffs and other essential commodities which were imported from other countries which led to the imbalance of payment and contributed to the growth of the foreign debt. The government implemented a development strategy to combat the crises which stimulated rapid economic growth but failed to improve the living conditions of the Dominicans.(Bulmer) As a result, the Dominicans continued to suffer from unemployment poverty and other problems and so they found emigration as the only avenue. More especially the Dominicans sort emigration due to the lower and middle class gaps created by the economical crises. (Moya and pons) As mentioned earlier, it was not easy for the Dominicans to just travel from one place to another due to the restrictions. Therefore, Dominican settled in Puerto Rico for it was very near to their place and they had not documents to travel to the United States. This led to many undocumented migration from the Dominican Republic who were living in Puerto Rico. This is because they were using illegal trips as they crossed the Mona passage using unauthorized sea vessels by the name Yolas (Spanish name). The Puerto Rican coastline was a well known route fro many travelers including the smugglers. However, this place was said to have so many personal calamities suffered by the people who tried to cross the Mona channel. The Dominican Republic was not exceptional as so many of their Yolas capsized causing so many deaths of the Dominicans drowning every year in the perilous sea journey. (Ferguson and James) These include young men, skilled and unskilled people seeking for jobs and their relatives, domestic workers and many others. They used Yolas for they were so common vessels found in the Eastern ports of Higuey, Samana and La Romana among others it nth Dominican Republic. The Yolas crossed them in the Western coasts of Puerto Rico with a minimum of U.S $ 300 per person. Those who managed to reach Puerto Rico were able to move in the metropolitan area (San Juan) where they were assisted by family and friends to such for jobs and houses. Most of them work in urban informal sectors doing jobs in the itinerant trade, domestic services and construction. Those who are lucky enough continue with their journey to either U.S or New York cities. (Falcon and Douglas) To conclude, a transnational perspective can be used to analyze the experience of the Dominican immigration to Puerto Rico. History has it that the Dominican Republic and the Puerto Rico shares the same history, culture, language religion and geographical features. In earlier days (1930) people migrated from Puerto Rico to go and work in the Dominican Republic especially in the sugar mills. Similarly as time went by the Dominican Republic migrated to Puerto Rico in search of a better life. The economical and political factor intensifies the number of the immigrants from Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. More especially, the Dominicans are said to have established a vibrant transnational community in San Juan in the Santurce and Rio Piedras forming transnational villages which offers them a room to function. Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico citizens continue to intermarry and become one family due to the commonality of religion, culture and language. This continues to strengthen their bond and unity as they continue to seek help from each other. However, it should be noted that moving from one country to another especially during crises is not an easy thing. For instance, we now know that the Dominican Republic have been using the unseaworthy vessels named Yolas to cross the Mona Channel to Puerto Rico. They risk so much in this perilous sea journey as most of these Yolas capsize and drown each year. Nevertheless, those who are lucky enough to cross safely to the other side are said to meet their families and friends who help them to find solace. However, not everyone is lucky and some end up getting involved in odd jobs though the salary is worthy it for there is no record of anyone who goes back due to the frustration in Puerto Rico. Migrations or the Dominican Republic seems to be so limited due to dictatorships which makes them to find no other option than to settle in Puerto Rico due to lack of proper documentation for travel. In my opinion, it think good governance it the answer to political and economical crises and if one was applied in Dominican Republic migration will be just a history to recall. References: Bulmer-Thomas, V. The Economic History of the Caribbean Since the Napoleonic Wars. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. Print. Moya, Pons F. The Dominican Republic: A National History. Princeton, N.J: Markus Wiener Publishers, 2010. Print. Falco?n, Luis M, and Douglas T. Gurak. Features of the Hispanic Underclass: Puerto Ricans and Dominicans in New York City. Ithaca, N.Y: Dept. of Rural Sociology [New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2000. Print. Whalen, Carmen T, and Vi?ctor Va?zquez-Herna?ndez. The Puerto Rican Diaspora: Historical Perspectives. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2005. Print. Ferguson, James. Migration in the Caribbean: Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Beyond. London: Minority Rights Group International, 2003. Print. Read More