The Ministry of Interior and Police and the Dominican Municipal League (LMD) have agreed to strengthen their joint efforts to improve public safety, enhance municipal police and fire services, and promote peaceful conflict resolution. Since August 2024, the Ministry of Interior and Police has a new minister, Faride Raful.
Interior Minister Faride Raful and LMD Secretary General Víctor D´Aza reached this agreement during a meeting on Tuesday, 15 October 2024, that included a progress report on the plans and actions implemented by the League in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior over the past three years.
The project also focuses on managing road safety in coordination with the National Institute of Land Transportation and Transit (Intrant). This is the first meeting of the LMD Executive Committee, preceding a gathering with the country’s 158 mayors scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, 17 October 2024.
The goal of this meeting is to strengthen the Community Coexistence project, which aims to reduce common social conflicts across the nation.
Raful stated that the Ministry of Interior is adapting Colombia’s model for resolving social conflicts within communities, addressing issues through local leadership without resorting to the judicial system for everyday matters.
“We are working on a Community Coexistence program that includes resolving disputes between neighbors and citizens,” Raful explained, aiming to establish mediation as a first step in conflict resolution, exhausting all persuasive means before involving the courts.
D´Aza, the League’s secretary general, emphasized that the organization has the necessary teams and tools to back local governments in implementing comprehensive municipal policies. This approach empowers local authorities to contribute more directly and effectively to building a harmonious and peaceful society.
Listin Diario also reported on the positive impact of the Attorney General Offices in 14 densely-populated barrios where citizens can air their problems and seek solutions in a first tier of justice. The report, nevertheless, calls for more support for the initiative.
Read more in Spanish:
Ministry of Interior & Police
Diario Libre
Listin Diario
16 October 2024