Faride Raful, the newly appointed Minister of the Interior and Police, expressed her determination to tackle the challenges of citizen security head-on. In her first meeting overseeing the citizen security program since taking office on August 16, Raful emphasized her dedication to ensuring safety across the country. 44-year old Raful is a lawyer, former deputy and senator for the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party, and TV host, with the leading evening variety show, Esta Noche con Mariasela.
In a country living an era of bonanza and where the tourism industry prevails, security is crucial to stability and growth.
“We are prepared to go above and beyond to make citizen security a reality in our country,” Raful declared with conviction during the meeting. She was joined during the press conference by National Police Director Ramón Antonio Guzmán Peralta and new Defense Minister Carlos Onofre.
The meeting at the Presidential Palace, led by Vice President Raquel Peña, revealed a notable 11% decrease in homicides compared to 2023. Despite this reduction, Raful underscored that every homicide is a tragedy and remains a primary concern for both the authorities and the public. The focus, she said, is on continuing to lower these figures and ensuring public peace.
Raful noted the importance of weekly meetings. “Every Monday, we assess the performance of provincial and regional police commands to take immediate actions,” she explained, emphasizing the goal of reducing the homicide rate to a single digit.
Looking ahead, Raful plans to leverage technology over the next four years to improve response mechanisms, aiming to keep police officers closer to the community and enhance their effectiveness.
“Citizen security is a collective effort,” Raful stated, calling for the support and collaboration of all Dominicans.
Faride Raful upon officially taking on the role of Minister of Interior and Police told the press she had a clear commitment to modernizing security management and strengthening community-based order. Her approach will focus on enhancing interagency coordination and optimizing services.
Raful emphasized the critical role of technology in improving response capabilities, stating that it is essential to connect various security agencies across the nation for effective prevention and law enforcement.
Regarding community-based order, Raful outlined plans to develop social and educational programs through local organizations such as neighborhood associations, sports clubs, and churches. Her goal is to foster a collaborative environment where “the entire society feels that we are all contributing to security from this ministry.”
On the topic of service efficiency, Raful pledged to work diligently to reduce wait times, eliminate intermediaries, and streamline bureaucratic processes. She stressed that the priority is to ensure every qualified Dominican receives prompt and high-quality responses.
In terms of effective interagency coordination, Raful highlighted the importance of a robust policy for crime prevention, working closely with the National Police, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the Migration Agency. She also underscored the need for well-trained personnel with enhanced skills.
Raful had sought to continue as senator for the National District, but the candidacy was passed to Guillermo Moreno who would lose to the son of President Leonel Fernandez, Omar Fernandez. Instead, she was named to replace Jesus (Chu) Vasquez as minister of Interior & Police.
As a senator, Raful had been critical regarding the work of her predecessor, Jesus (Chu) Vasquez who was “promoted” to one of the most cushy and well-paying jobs in the Dominican government, that of consul general in the city of New York. Instead of reforming the Police, Raful had stated that a totally new force should be created.
Before the meeting, she had also posted on X, affirming her commitment to improving citizen security and public order. She tweeted the four pillars that will guide her performance at the Ministry.
In a social media post on day one of her job, Raful emphasized her commitment to enhance public safety and order, framing her approach around a comprehensive vision grounded in the rule of law.
She highlighted that the first pillar focuses on advancing the modernization of security management. Raful aims to leverage technological tools to boost response capabilities by enhancing coordination among various agencies, including the Police, Traffic and Land Transport (Digesett) Agency, and Migration Agency, in their preventive and enforcement efforts nationwide.
The second pillar is centered on fostering community-based order through social programs and education. Raful plans to engage with neighborhood councils, sports clubs, local associations, churches, and other community organizations to ensure a collaborative approach to safety. “Our goal is for society to feel that security is a shared responsibility,” she stated.
Efficiency is the third pillar of Raful’s strategy. She intends to streamline services by reducing wait times, eliminating intermediaries, and cutting through bureaucratic red tape. “Our priority is to ensure that every Dominican who meets the requirements receives a prompt and quality response,” she explained.
The fourth and final pillar involves effective inter-institutional coordination for maintaining order. Raful will work closely with the Police, Public Ministry (state prosecutors), and the Migration Agency, among others, to enforce a robust crime-fighting policy supported by trained personnel with enhanced capabilities.
Read more in Spanish:
Presidency
Presidencia
X Faride Raful
Listin Diario
El Nuevo Diario
20 August 2024