President Leonel Fernández opened the "Diálogo Nacional," debates stressing their importance and telling the more than 4,000 persons that filled the National Theater that "for the first time the Dominican people are participating in the building of our destiny." The National Dialogue is an open forum where groups and individuals can present proposals or witness discussions. Participating groups are divided in economic policies, social policies, popular sectors and unions, political reforms, laws, cultural policies, international policies, infrastructure and energy, agriculture, environment, and ecology. President Leonel Fernández, in his opening speech, said the electricity crisis is the number one problem affecting the nation, and that the government was making significant efforts towards its resolution. "We know we cannot enter the 21st century without a definite solution to the energy crisis," he said. "Perhaps there is no immediate definite solution, although it is obvious that progress is being made with the incorporation of new plants and rehabilitation of the old." President Leonel Fernández committed to act upon the decisions reached by the National Dialogue as he foresees the debates will bring upon visionary decisions that will benefit the population in years to come. He said the National Dialogue is a start in the building of a new nation with the participation of all Dominicans. He said it is the Dominican answer to the great challenges of the times. The discussions will climax at a plenary session on March 6-8. There is much skepticism among the population as to the need for the very costly debates. Political analysts have commented that everything has been said already, and that what is needed now is action. While Gallup Poll shows that President Leonel Fernández is the most popular Dominican, presidential credibility is not high. The President had offered a relief to the energy crisis in 120 days that end this week. 120 days after the presidential promise, Dominicans continue to suffer through the worst energy crisis since 1990.
