President Hipolito Mejia urged Dominicans to ?care for our country? during his 27 February state of the nation address from Congress. Mejia highlighted that these are uncertain times and that many neighboring countries are worse off than the Dominican Republic. He also focused on the difficult foreign situation, while emphasizing that, in 2002, the DR attracted US$961 million in foreign investment. He praised the advent of new players in the tourism, shipping and mining sectors, specifically mentioning Crown Plaza, Cap Cana, the Puerto Plata Discovery Park, Punta Caucedo, Placer Dome and Unigold, among others.
Commenting on the speech, Hoy newspaper said that the President upheld the same style of political rhetoric as in his previous speeches.
El Caribe newspaper concurred, saying that, precisely as on occasions past, President Mejia focused on external factors, compared the DR to other countries that are worse off, and laid blame on previous governments without recognizing any errors in his government?s management of the nation.
Elena Viyella, president of the National Council of Business, said that the solutions proposed by President Mejia are on the right track.
The Listin Diario publishes the speech in its entirety in today?s edition. It can also be read in Spanish online at
http://www.presidencia.gov.do/Discursos/2003/270203/DiscursoAsamblea.htm