Life came almost to a standstill in the DR following the news of the worst terrorist attack in US history as the DR shared the US tragedy. Shopping, social and many evening activities were reduced to a minimum as people grouped together to comment on the horror story and digest what it will mean for the DR. Afternoon newspapers and TV focused almost entirely on the incident. More than one million Dominicans live in New York City alone, and the US is the DR’s leading trading partner and source of visitors. President Hipolito Mejia, in the name of all Dominicans, sent a letter to President George Bush expressing his “absolute and total condemnation of the acts and his solidarity in these times of anguish and pain”. Minister of Foreign Relations Hugo Tolentino Dipp sent a note to Secretary of State Colin Powell to express his “sorrow for the vile attacks and to express the Dominican Republic’s unconditional support”, as reported by El Caribe. All Dominican international airports were offered as alternate landing fields in case they were needed. Santo Domingo Mayor Juan de Dios Ventura sent a message to New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiliani condemning the attack brought about by the “wrath and evil of those who are filled with hate and incomprehension.” Both Listin Diario and El Caribe say there is still no death toll of Dominicans. Consul General Luis Eludis Perez said there are reports of three missing Dominicans, but he said that hundreds are thought to have been employed in the World Trade Center buildings. To follow the incident updates as they become available, see: http://www.cnn.com http://www.atnewyork.com http://www.bloomberg.com http://www.google.com
