President Leonel Fernandez has been honored with the Order of the Quetzal in the Great Collar rank by his counterpart President Alvaro Colom in Guatemala City. As reported on the Fernandez Presidency website, Colom said that Fernandez had left a footprint, was leaving footprints and would continue leaving footprints. He praised Fernandez for his work towards integrating the Central American region and the Caribbean and for his skills as public speaker. He said that in private conversations between Ibero-American statesmen Fernandez is regarded as the “professor of presidents with a great capacity for harmonizing. He praised Fernandez’s efforts for increased development in the region.
During the same ceremony, Fernandez decorated President Colom with the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella in the highest rank of Great Golden Cross. He praised Colom for his humanitarian qualities, and for his work in support of the poorest people and the indigenous culture in Guatemala. He said Colom would always be recognized for his contributions to democracy.
Fernandez also called for uniting voices to put a stop to speculation with international petrol prices that he says affected the poorer countries of the region. “Alone the Dominican Republic and Guatemala are not going to be able to confront this problem, we need to unite our voices,” he said. He highlighted that this type of speculation benefits a few but affects all. The proposal will be presented at the next General Assembly of the United Nations.
Fernandez traveled to Guatemala for an official visit. He also is meeting with business leaders who are interested in replicating the success of Guatemalan investors in the flour and sugar industry in the Dominican Republic. Guatemalans have invested about US$500 million in the DR after the signing of the Central American free trade agreement.
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