President Leonel Fernández yesterday proposed that the nation’s political parties sign a pact that would guarantee the long term social and economic development of the DR, regardless of the political party in power. President Fernández made the proposal at the Seminar, "Proyecto de Diseño de una Estrategia Competitiva Nacional" held at the Hotel Lina all day yesterday. The President was not scheduled to speak, but after meeting with Michael Fairbanks and Felipe Larrain of the Monitor Company yesterday at the National Palace, he chose to make an appearance at the seminar that primarily gathered local businessmen. President Fernández spoke of how some of the more outstanding cases of development have occurred in countries that are not democracies — Singapore, Chile, Hong Kong and South Korea. He said that a political pact is necessary as the DR is trying to promote its development within a democracy. He explained that it is necessary to develop a consensus on the long term strategic objectives that will be carried out regardless who is in power. The US government Agency for International Development sponsored the seminar. The Monitor Company (http://www.monitor.com) was responsible for the presentation.
