President-elect Leonel Fernandez urged Dominicans to have faith and optimism for the future because the Dominican Republic has been through difficult times before, only to rise above them and become stronger. He said he is confident that, despite the great challenges and difficulties ahead, ?this is another battle the Dominican people will win.?
Interviewed by Alicia Ortega on CDN, Channel 37, Fernandez said he envisions a modern, prosperous country, with opportunities for all citizens to develop their potential.
He said that his government will apply initial measures to resolve the quasi-fiscal deficit of the Central Bank, a consequence of the collapse of the commercial banks. He also mentioned that another priority will be the state of the foreign debt, financial sustainability and matters related to the electricity sector. The President-elect said that his government will seek to reactivate economic growth and job creation so the nation may return to prosperity. There will be various meetings conducted to seek a consensus on several topics and means to invigorate the economic climate, according to Fernandez, and several teams are already working on a plan of action for the PLD government?s first 100 days. He said his government will start with a series of proposals and initiatives to make the country aware that a new government has begun. He spoke of the need to lower the exchange rate so that prices can decline on consumer items and highlighted the importance of returning the US$3 billion in flown capital over the past year and a half to the country. He said he would also stimulate foreign investment to increase the flow of hard currency in order to strengthen the peso.
Finally, Fernandez stressed that consensus, dialogue and congruity comprise the magic formula for governing in harmony.
Fernandez left government in August 2000 to preside over the Fundacion Global Democracia y Desarrollo from where technicians in several fields have plotted how to bring progress to the Dominican Republic. Thus the government-elect has a four-year head start in developing its action plan. The state of affairs at which the nation is received in August 2004, nevertheless, will determine the measures needed to be taken at the start of the new government.