All last week long, the Dominican press, television, and radio news programs were occupied by the coverage of the Wednesday, 14 May 2025 meeting of the four Presidents — three former Presidents, Leonel Fernandez, Hipolito Mejia, Danilo Medina and current president, Luis Abinader. The topic was simple: Haiti.
Previous to the meeting itself, President Abinader had said that the former Presidents would be informed as to current policies, issues, and possible future actions regarding Haiti. He said that there would be no policy discussions at the meeting.
Everyone has speculated President Luis Abinader had something important to share with the former Presidents. What this would have been has not been shared with the general public.
What is known is that after the two-hour meetings that also included a sit-down with the Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Relations, it was announced that the Presidents had agreed to maintain a single position regarding the Haitian situation. It was further announced that the Presidents had agreed to create working groups as well as bilateral groups that would assist in the creation of a national policy vis á vis Haiti.
Another agreement by the four men who have led the country for the past 39 years, was to convene the Economic and Social Council (CES) to create positive steps during this crisis. The four men committed to attend the first meeting.
Another agreement was that President Abinader would provide regular updates on such issues as national security and the crisis in Haiti. According to the presidential spokesman, the President would be holding one-on-one meetings with each of the former Presidents in the coming weeks and days.
Finally, it was reported that government top officials presented the Presidents with detailed reports on what each government agency is doing in regards to the situation in Haiti. Foreign Minister, Roberto Alvarez, the Minister of Defense, Army Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernandez Onofre, and the heads of the Dominican Army, the Intelligence Department (DNI), and Migration all reported to the Presidents.
Following the meeting, it was reported that Minister of Defense Carlos Antonio Fernandez Onofre and Minister of Interior and Police Faride Raful traveled to El Salvador.
As reported, the official visit of Minister of Defense Fernandez Onofre to El Salvador was in response to an invitation by that country’s Security Cabinet. As reported, the primary objective was to learn about El Salvador’s internal security model and its strategies for combating crime and gang activity, as well as to strengthen defense cooperation and institutional support for civilian authorities.
The Dominican delegation also included Interior and Police Minister Faride Raful and followed a work agenda coordinated by El Salvador’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security. This agenda comprised strategic meetings and visits to institutions linked to the public security system.
During his stay in El Salvador, Lieutenant General Fernández Onofre met with authorities from the National Public Security Academy (ANSP), led by Commissioner César Flores Murillo. He also toured the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), the maximum-security facility.
On the second day, the Dominican Minister of Defense met with his Salvadoran counterpart, Vice Admiral René Francis Merino Monroy, Minister of National Defense. They discussed topics such as the prevention and combating of organized crime, regional cooperation, strengthening institutional capacities, and the mission of Salvadoran troops deployed in Haiti to support stabilization and security efforts there.
Additionally, Fernandez Onofre held a high-level meeting with Gustavo Villatoro, Minister of Justice and Public Security. They exchanged experiences on controlling and dissuading gang activity as well as implementing comprehensive citizen security policies.
The government reported the visit is part of the Dominican government’s efforts to identify best practices in public security, promote the exchange of experiences, and solidify bilateral cooperation mechanisms with allied countries.
Read more:
Listin Diario
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Hoy
Ministry of Defense
DR1 News
DR1 News
19 May 2025