25584: Arthur (news) Comparing murder rate in Haiti with the DR (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Tttnhm@aol.com

Charles Arthur writes: While the continuing violence in Port-au-Prince is of
course very worrying, perhaps a comparison with the situation in the
neighbouring Dominican Republic puts things in some perspective:


Dominican Republic: Crime concerns (source: DR1.com) 6 July 2005
The National Police reported that during the first five months of the year
there were 1,259 homicides, of a population of approximately nine million
people. This is an average of 252 murders per month, or nine per day, as Hoy
newspaper highlights in its editorial today. The newspaper considers that the
statistics are alarming, especially in a country that prided itself on its
peacefulness. The editorial writer comments that the motives of the assassinations are
another matter of concern, especially the increase in murders to rob people. Of
the homicides, 288 (22.9%) were due to quarrels, 245 (19.46%) were
consequence of theft or assault, 35 (2.8%) occurred amongst people in entertainment
centers (alcoholic beverages involved), and 48 (3.8%) were murders of women while
19 (1.5%) were related to narcotic drugs.