Students scammed by Dominican Government official

posted on: Apr 28 2011 12:16 by The Reporter. Viewed 675 times.


A group of Dominican students who journeyed to America to see democracy in action had hoped to see the White House — but had to settle for the black granite of the Passaic County Administration Building in Paterson, New Jersey.

A dozen high school students traveling as the Dominican Republic Juvenile Parliament planned to visit Washington, D.C., to address the Organization of American States when they flew into JFK Airport on April 21. But their trip was blown off course when they discovered that the Dominican government official who had arranged their visas had allegedly pocketed the 60,000 pesos (about $2,000) that each student paid for hotels and meals.

Rather than cancel the trip, the students made hasty arrangements to stay with Dominican families in the metropolitan area of New Jersey. And the search to see democracy in action abruptly shifted from Washington to the halls of Passaic County government.

“For all of these students, it is the first time they have ever been to America,” said Bethania Marmolejos, a Wayne mother of two who had five students living at her house this week. “They were thrilled to be here, and excited by what they saw.”

A chaperone with the group, Juana Manzueta, was philosophical about the change in plans. “Everything happens for a reason,” she said.

Marmolejos said the Dominican Republic Juvenile Parliament would like to return to Passaic County with another group next year. But for now, the group has some unfinished business to take care of when they return home with the Dominican official who arranged the trip.

“He hasn’t been answering his phone and nobody is home at his house in Santo Domingo,” Marmolejos said. “But they’ll find him.”

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