Forgotten No More

This is a documentary about the sugar cane villages of the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic Bateys are unique communities formed around the expansive sugarcane fields of sugar mills. Despite their rural locations, these settlements resemble shanty towns, slums, or ghettos, in sharp contrast to the lush greenery and vibrant beaches typically associated with the Dominican Republic. Within these Bateys, a staggering number of people, ranging from 200,000 to 1 million, endure harsh living conditions characterized by severe deprivation. Bare necessities such as access to water, electricity, education, and legal counsel, especially concerning labor rights, are scarce or absent, leaving the inhabitants in vulnerable and dire circumstances.