After a three-hour meeting with Dominican Council of Bishops, President-elect Leonel Fernandez told the press that the ?progressive deterioration? of the economy, society and social services is ?highly alarming.? He tempered his statement, however, by saying he felt the incoming administration could free the nation from the current crisis by dint of hard work and the hard work of the population. Fernandez met with the bishops to exchange opinions on various aspects of the current state of the nation. He said the reality was ?unavoidable,? but that ?through our understanding of the situation, we will know how to find the solutions.? The newly-elected President said he would maintain communication with the bishops through the offices of Cardinal Lopez Rodriguez.