1.
CU PAN..DOCK AREA
0.12

2.
MV SOLDIERS IN CAR
0.17

3.
MV ARMED SAILORS IN FRONT OF BANK
0.20

4.
CU 2 ARMED SOLDIERS
0.25

5.
MV SOLDIERS ON TRUCK
0.28

6.
PAN..SQUATTERS ON PORCH
0.35

7.
MV GROUP OF CHILDREN
0.38

8.
MV NEGLECTED BARN
0.41

9.
MV RUSTED EQUIPMENT
0.44

10.
MV DESERTED BARN
0.48

11.
CU STALLS
0.51

12.
MV SIGN "CORRAL DE VARAS"
0.54

13.
PAN..STALLS
0.59

14.
CU TROUGH WITH CHICKENS AND PIGS
1.04

15.
CU SIGN "INSTITUTO AGRARIO DOMINICANO"
1.07

16.
MLV HOUSE
1.10

17.
MV HOUSE
1.12

18.
PAN..SWIMMING POOL
1.18

19.
SIGN "ESCOLARES"
1.21

20.
MV BUILDING
1.24

21.
MV NEW BARN
1.28



Initials JFG/N/JF/BB JRG/N/JF/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: FIVE GOVERNMENTS AND TWO COUP D'ETATS AFTER THE DEATH OF DICTATOR RAFAEL TRUJILLO THREE YEARS AGO, THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IS STILL TRYING TO GET ON ITS FEET ECONOMICALLY.

THE ROAD TO ECONOMIC STABILITY HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY ONE. LABOUR DISPUTES HAVE FLARED PERIODICALLY SINCE TRUJILLO'S ASSASSINATION. A TRANSIT STRIKE PARALYZED THE COUNTRY LAST WEEK; THE WALKOUT CONTINUED FOR SIX DAYS AND THERE WERE FREQUENT OUTBURSTS OF VIOLENCE. TROOPS WERE NEEDED TO DISPERSE RIOTERS IN SANTO DOMINGO. EIGHT HUNDRED PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED DURING THE DISORDERS AND A NUMBER OF CIVILIANS WERE SHOT.

THE COUNTRY HAS HAD ECONOMIC SETBACKS IN RURAL AREAS, TOO. AFTER TRUJILLO'S DEATH, HUNDREDS OF PEASANTS MOVED ON TO FARM PLOTS THAT WERE ONCE PART OF THE DICTATOR'S VAST ESTATE. THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED AN OFFICE OF LAND REFORM IN THE TRUJILLO MANSION OUTSIDE SANTO DOMINGO. IT ALSO BUILT A SCHOOL WITH ALLIANCE-FOR-PROGRESS FUNDS NEAR THE TRUJILLO SWIMMING POOL.

BUT THE IMPACT OF THE LAND REFORM PROGRAMME WILL NOT BE FELT FOR MANY YEARS. FOR THE TIME BEING, THE PEASANTS STILL MUST WORK THE LAND WITH OUTMODED EQUIPMENT AND THEY HAVE NOT YET BEGUN TO PUT INTO PRACTICE WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED ABOUT ANIMAL RAISING. PIGS AND CHICKENS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE STILL FREE TO ROAM INTO CATTLE FOOD TROUGHS. ONLY AFTER MORE EFFECTIVE FARM OPERATION METHODS ARE PUT INTO PRACTICE WILL AN UPTURN IN THE DOMINICAN ECONOMY BE LIKELY.