Headlines in the daily newspapers in the Dominican Republic attest to rising rates of crime, some of a violent nature, a burgeoning drug culture and some 36% of the population living below the poverty line (which means on less than US$2 a day). So, is it still safe to live as an expatriate in the Dominican Republic or is Dominican society falling apart? Can the American and European retirement population still find their piece of paradise in the sun, to make their golden years truly golden, or do they have to surround themselves with high tech security devices in order to protect themselves against robbery........and worse?

It is certainly true that the current Dominican Republic is not the same as the one this writer emigrated to more than 12 years ago.

All of that has changed as what is after all, a third world country (or a 'developing country' for the politically correct) struggles to enter the twenty first century. In fact what is happening here is in many ways similar to what happened in other parts of the world 50 years ago and more.

A population move from countryside to town, an agrarian economy becoming more industrialised, a switch of focus from extended to nuclear family and, yes, drug vending and associated crime.

None of this is peculiar to the Dominican Republic - it is the hallmark of 'progress' with all its attendant ills. Add to this mix 4 years of the most corrupt Government the Dominican Republic has ever had (2000-2004) and rising unemployment and it is not difficult to see why some crime exists. In the last few years US citizens have 're-found' the Dominican Republic.

Currently this has the benefit of being tax free although this could well change. The weather is wonderful (other than during hurricanes!) and the indigenous population is friendly and helpful. So in many ways the Dominican Republic is an ideal retirement destination.

If you are sensible.

Unfortunately, some of the newer foreign arrivals would appear to have more money than sense. They can afford an opulent lifestyle in what is, after all, a third world country.

All this demonstrates for economically poorer Dominicans is the lifestyle gap......well, more of a crater than a gap. And not surprisingly, a people who are not resentful of others' good fortune by nature, are likely to have feelings of social injustice, which has been known to manifest itself in some robbery of expatriate homes.

But, this has to be put in perspective. It is not a crime wave and there are many other countries which are far, far worse.

We had a recent visitor from South Africa who could not believe that golf clubs can be left in a car port of a low walled house without disappearing. And in fact the only crime which impinges upon the expatriate population is the occasional robbery - all easily avoidable with sensible precautions. 

Crimes of violence are virtually unheard of in relation to the expatriate population; when they do occur, there is always a 'reason'.

But only after doing a lot of research, making a start on understanding the country and its people and being determined to integrate as far as possible with the Dominicans.

Those not prepared to make these adjustments had better head to Florida!