Former President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio (Lula) da Silva is in Santo Domingo to take part in a conference at the invitation of the American Chamber of Commerce in the DR.
President Danilo Medina welcomed the statesman at the Presidential Palace last night Thursday 31 January and he attended the National Youth Awards ceremony at the Salon Las Cariatides. Vice President Margarita Cedeno, Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo, Administrative Minister Jose Ramon Peralta, Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo and Minister of Youth Jorge Minaya were also present. During the Leonel Fernandez administration, Brazil provided millions in loans for public works construction projects by Brazilian company Odebrecht.
Lula took part in the tribute to youth leaders, winners of the 2012 Youth Awards. They were Juan de Jesus Santo, Espaillat and Miguel Angel Encarnacion, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, cultural development; Wagner Rafael Noboa, Azua, natural resource preservation; Anny Santa Lora, Valverde, merit student; Ismenia Altagracia de la Rosa, Dajabon, voluntary social services; Jimmy Feliz, Santo Domingo, social welfare. Also Rosa Albania Gomez, Santiago, human rights; Harold Jose Urena, Monsenor Nouel, farming community; Brenda Castillo, sports. The winners received a PC tablet and RD$100,000 cash prize.