President Leonel Fernandez, only the second Dominican to return to the presidency by democratic elections, vowed to reduce government expenses by ?at least 20%? in his inaugural speech yesterday. He said government funds would not be allotted to purchase ?jeepetas,? nor for unlimited mobile phone calls. He also said there would be many less deputy ministers in this government. Fernandez in his previous administration created numerous new deputy minister posts. He also said he would send Congress a law to limit consular earnings to their wages, but did not explain whether he would implement this measure administratively before the law was ratified.
Fernandez said his government would resume the agreement with the IMF and would confront the quasi-fiscal debt of RD$90 billion by using the deposits to be made in the Banco de Reservas and Central Bank by national and international companies that will make future investments in the country. He said he would honor previous commitments made on the certificates of deposit in the Central Bank, and those with the international capital markets bondholders.
Fernandez said he would not be a flag bearer for the ?let?s move on and forget past tradition? in Dominican politics, leaving the courts to hear the cases of corruption.
He announced the introduction of emergency programs for low-cost food, pharmaceuticals and the public hospital system, as well as a bolstering of the school breakfast program.
He said his government would use a US$50-million line of credit to pay for fuel to immediately resolve the long blackouts.
He highlighted that his government?s top priority would be education, and promised to launch computer literacy programs in elementary public schools, bilingual education and community colleges.
He stressed the importance of strengthening of the nation?s institutions, so as to move ahead politically from the charismatic leadership of legendary Dominican politicians such as Bosch, Balaguer and Pena Gomez.
On the international front, he stressed that he would adhere to United Nations and Organization of American States guidelines for the promotion of peace, and would strengthen links with Asian, African and American nations, with special attention to Haiti.
He issued a challenge for Dominicans to adopt a new national slogan of ?Dominicano, e pa?lante que vamos!?
To read the complete speech, see http://dr1.com/news/2004/081704_fernandez.pdf
For photos of the change of mandate, see http://www.dr1.com/news/2004/photos081704.shtml
For comments on the speech, see http://www.dr1.com/forums/…