The new mayor of Santo Domingo East, Manuel Jimenez in an interview with Diario Libre tells about his plans for the city. Jimenez is mayor since 26 April 2020. He was elected in the 15 March election.
Jimenez spoke of efforts to get the state university, the UASD, to set up a campus in East Santo Domingo. He said around 50,000 students that live on the eastern side of the Ozama River commute daily to the National District campus. He has plans to first rent a location, and later envisions the construction of the new campus. Already two large higher learning centers primarily focused on technical careers are located in East Santo Domingo. These are the Las Americas Institute of Technology (ITLA) near Las Americas International Airport, and the Technical Community Institute (ITSC) in San Isidro.
Jimenez also advocated for the opening of a medical center to serve the general population. He said that at present, the two main centers are but the Dario Contreras Trauma Hospital and the Los Mina Maternity Hospital. He complained that there are nine general hospitals in the National District. He also complained that Santo Domingo North has a major health center when it has half the population of Santo Domingo East.
Jimenez also spoke of the construction of a baseball stadium, where professional tournament games could be held. He said he has already located where the stadium could be built in his municipality.
He said Santo Domingo East should be get more attention as a tourism destination. He mentioned it is the location for the Ermita del Rosario, the first house of worship in the Americas, the Columbus Lighthouse, the Los Tres Ojos and Cachon de la Rubia natural parks, and the National Aquarium, all relatively near the Las Americas International Airport, the main port of entry for Greater Santo Domingo.
“Santo Domingo East has to break with its mentality of being a barrio,” he told Diario Libre journalists. He said Santo Domingo East has a population of 1.2 million people. He remarked that half of the population has opened bank accounts in the National District and not in Santo Domingo East bank branches. He said residents have more trust in the capital city. Most of the people that live in Santo Domingo East work in the National District.
Jimenez highlighted his plan is to reach the urban and social development that guarantees the municipality provide its own services.
Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
9 June 2020