The new president of the National Council of Drugs, Mabel Feliz Baez was sworn in to her post yesterday. She is a graduate of the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo law school. Prior to her appointment, she was legal advisor at the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications. She has also worked as a professor at the Universidad Tecnologica de Santiago (UTESA) on Dominican civil law. She was appointed by Decree No. 89-06 dated 10 March 2006 and replaces Major General Jose Anibal Sanz Jiminian. She announced her commitment to working to end narcotics consumption and trafficking, and pledged to work closely with the National Drug Control Department (DNCD) to revise strategies and implement joint programs. She is well known as a promoter of cultural movements and clubs, as well as for her participation in educational radio shows in her native Barahona. This is the first time a woman has been appointed to this post.