The talk of the town on Monday, 2 December 2024, was the remark by former President Leonel Fernandez that he appears in the database of the Abinader administration’s Bono Navideño. Fernandez is today the president of the Fuerza del Pueblo, that has become the leading opposition party after splitting from the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), now under the stronghold of former President Danilo Medina.
President Abinader had announced the Christmas bonus would benefit thousands of vulnerable Dominicans. The list is around 3 million people.
President Luis Abinader defended the program saying it is a dignified way of giving vulnerable people a Christmas bonus. He compared it to the Christmas bags and boxes with goods program for years unfolding during the Christmas seasons in the PLD governments. He recalled these boxes were distributed most of the time in chaotic and unchecked settings and circumstances. Abinader said that the card makes it possible to distribute precisely the RD$1,500 to one person, compared to the lack of accountability for who was receiving the boxes during the PLD governments.
Gloria Reyes, in charge of the Bono Navideño government program, when asked during the La Semanal press conference on 2 December 2024 about the statements made by Fernandez, would explain that Fernandez appears in the database because he is retired. She said the list of vulnerable people was expanded to include those who are retired and unemployed. As reported, former President Hipolito Mejia was also included in the list of possible beneficiaries of the 2024 Christmas Bonus.
Gloria Reyes explained that persons need to go in person to receive the card that gives access to the RD$1,500 extra and thus, neither Fernandez nor Mejia would have been automatically acredited the bonus.
The database is down for consultations.
Read more in Spanish:
Presidency
Diario Libre
Listin Diario
3 December 2024