The president of the Chamber of Commerce and Production of Puerto Plata, Sixto Peralta said he is in a state of shock after the coronavirus religious procession was allowed in Puerto Plata city on Sunday, 26 April. He criticized “the lax and irresponsible attitude on behalf of the authorities,” in an interview in Listin Diario.
“While it is true that the new authorities of the municipality acted with irresponsible ignorance, those who had to maintain control and order turned a blind eye and did not fulfill their duty, as were the provincial government, Public Health authorities and the National Police”.
He said that this situation “throws overboard the efforts being made to mitigate the effects of the epidemic in the province.” He said the province was working hard so that cruise ship operations could resume in June.
He also lamented “the behavior, more of a politician than a minister, of Dr. Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas, in understanding that it is a shared responsibility, of the Public Health authorities, the Government, the Mayor’s Office and the Police, to maintain the social distance rules to avoid people becoming infected.”
Meanwhile, the local chapter of the Dominican Medical Association (CMD) condemned the procession on Sunday and called for a 15-day total lockdown.
Dr. José Natalio Redondo, of the Centro Médico Bournigal, wrote in his Facebook page that not all Puerto Plata people should be condemned. He called for responsibilities to be established. He said there is shame in Puerto Plata upon the happening. But he said the situation should be clarified because there was so much negligence. He said the “negligence borders on illegality and criminality.” The coordinator of the High Commission for Prevention of Coronavirus said there will be no penalties.
Read more in Spanish:
Listin Diario
29 April 2020