The unexpected has marked the Abinader presidency from its start. President Luis Abinader took office during lockdown for Covid-19. He then completed his first year in government, having to postpone his rendition of accounts due to the passing of Tropical Depression Grace on 16 August 2021. President Luis Abinader will now be speaking to the nation from the National Assembly on Wednesday, 18 August.
On 16 August 2020, Abinader took office when 4-week positivity in the country was 32.4% and there were 32,751 active cases (Bulletin #149). Positivity as of 15 August 2021 is at 6.05% and on a downward trend with 6,126 active cases. Local authorities are vigilant for a possible spike in cases due to the Delta variant, as has occurred abroad. The decline is attributed to the aggressive National Vaccination Plan.
Also on the bright side, two leading sectors, the free zone industry and the tourism sector have recovered. This past week, the Ministry of Tourism authorized hotels and resorts to operate at 100% capacity, keeping to social distancing protocols. Masks are still mandatory. Curfew has been removed in the National District (capital city) and La Altagracia (Punta Cana).
It hasn’t been easy. The Abinader administration has had to battle demands from party members seeking positions in government while having to untangle corruption in the past government and deal with corruption in his own administration.
President Abinader has been the main spokesperson for his government. The government has continued the style of its predecessor and is spending billions on propaganda. The government has paid billions to television stations for air time for remote learning programming.
Meanwhile, while the floodgates have been open for staff severance payments and new hiring and wage increases, capital expenditures have lagged. Reports are that the government has spent only 20% of what was budgeted in construction works for this 2021. The pace of construction should pick up in the second semester of the year, a boom for the economy.
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Z101 Digital
17 August 2021