In an address to the press yesterday, President Leonel Fernandez said that one of the government’s goals for next year is the creation of half a million new jobs, according to a reports in the local press. He expects the economy to grow by more than 9% – “one of the highest growth rates in the whole world and probably the highest in Latin America”. Fernandez was speaking at the Presidential Palace as part of his 52nd birthday celebrations. He stated that when he left office in 2000, unemployment stood at 13%, and in 2004 it reached 19%. According to the President, it is unacceptable and senseless to speak about economic growth if it is not accompanied by an improvement in the wellbeing of the ordinary citizen.