The Dominican Constitution orders the President of the Republic to present before Congress, at the opening of the first regular legislative session on 27 February, the ministries’ reports, and to render account of the administration during the previous year.
President Luis Abinader is the first to represent a political party other than the Dominican Liberation Party since 2004. With only six months in government, President Luis Abinader used the occasion of this past Saturday, 27 February 2021 to share a recap of government efforts instead and give insights into what’s in the works, while stressing many of the objectives of the government for the next three and a half years.
The President is the most communicative in modern history. He has taken upon himself to be his government’s voice, contrary to recommendations that he let his ministers take a more predominant role in government communications. In his 27 February speech, he recapped lots of what he had already announced in events taking place at the Presidential Palace.
Abinader spoke for 1 hour and 28 minutes and gave an overview of advances in health, education, tourism, agriculture, environment sectors.
The President spoke of reductions in wasteful spending in government. He said he was pleased to recall that 2020 had ended with a fiscal deficit equivalent to 7.4% of GDP, instead of the 9.4% budgeted. He spoke of reductions of RD$2.6 billion in foreign service expenditions, RD$820 million in tourism promotion contracts and savings in purchases of pharmaceuticals by Promese of more than RD$500 million “despite having acquired more medicines.”
He spoke of his satisfaction in the reduction in wages, allowances, and benefits to government officials by 46.8% or RD$541 million in January 2021 compared to the same month in 2020.
He spoke of Central Bank foreign exchange reserves at more than US$12.5 billion on 31 January 31, almost double those of 31 July 2020 at the end of the past government. “These reserves are the largest in history, achieved amid a pandemic and are a guarantee of exchange rate stability,” said the President in his 27 February address.
Abinader highlighted his government is dealing with the pandemic, offering support to needed social sectors, preparing the country for relaunching the economy, promoting a general culture of transparency and honesty in the management of public funds, and kickstarting the needed structural reforms.
He announced the Presidency would submit a bill for more transparency in the Hydrocarbons Law 112 that dates back to year 2000 and rules over fuel costs in the Dominican Republic.
He mentioned the construction of reinforced fencing at important crossing points with Haiti.
He highlighted several important public works that are construction this year. Among these:
Major maintenance and improvement works on the Duarte Highway that links Santo Domingo on the south coast to Puerto Plata on the north coast. He said RD$2.5 billion is being invested in the pavement, the signage, closing irregular crossways, building safe returns and illumination at key points. Also improvements at the San Francisco de Macorís to Controba crossing on the same Duarte Highway.
He mentioned the Ministry of Public Works was building and improving more than 500 kilometers of rural roads. He spoke of the bridges of La Canela and Las Mercedes in Santiago, and El Caimito in La Vega, the bridge in Polo, Barahona and the reconstruction of the Higuamo bridge in San Pedro de Macorís.
He said the government was finishing the Montecristi-Copey-Dajabón highway, making travel easier on the border provinces.
He spoke of completion of the Portillo-La Luisa, Monte Plata road and the Sabana de la Mar-Hato Mayor mountain road.
He again announced works would begin on the entrance to the city of Samaná from Sánchez. He also announced the improvements to the entry of La Romana from San Pedro de Macorís city.
President Luis Abinader also announced advances in the public-private alliance to build 3,000 hotel rooms in Pedernales province beach areas.
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Hoy
1 March 2021