Economic progress has not trickled down in the DR, said Miguel Ceara Hatton, speaking yesterday during the launching of the 2005 Human Development Report of the Dominican Republic – Towards an inclusive and renewed global insertion. Despite experiencing an average 5+% GDP over the past 50 years, in 2002 the DR occupied the 13th place from bottom up of 177 countries that had least taken advantage of their growth. The DR only fared better than Equatorial Guinea, Botswana, South Africa, Gabon, Namibia, Angola, Swaziland, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran, Guinea and Grenada, Ceara-Hatton said last night during the report launching.<\/p>\n
The challenge now is how to create a socially-responsible business sector that may fully incorporate environmental, territorial order and tax norms. At the same time, how to create a government that assumes its role as a regulator. And how to generate the social capital that empowers the communities to guarantee solidarity and sustainability.<\/p>\n
Ceara-Hatton highlighted that so far the lack of trust in the capacity of citizens as a whole to build a satisfactory social order has justified clientelism, paternalism and authoritarianism. “It is considered normal that the state of law does not function, that there is arbitrariness in the application of the law, the privatization of the state and the reduction of public spaces,” he pointed out. He urged that this change and there instead be a systematic plan to develop our culture, and a coherent effort to strengthen our institutions and modernize the state, that the population be empowered so as to increase its self-esteem.<\/p>\n
Ceara-Hatton’s words were preceded by an introduction by UNDP representative Niky Fabiancic who challenged Dominicans to debate the findings and challenges for true structural transformation and the launching of a Project of a Nation needed to achieve the development of the Dominican people. “We seek to waken in all yearnings for change, the feeling that it is possible to among all build a better country,” he said.<\/p>\n
“What we do not want is that people be indifferent because what is at stake is very valuable, it is nothing more and nothing less than the future of the country, the country in which your sons and daughters will live. It is worth the time to think, give opinions, debate and act on something of such importance,” he urged his audience that included Vice President Rafael Alburquerque, Environment Minister Max Puig and the diplomatic corps.<\/p>\n
The report asks: What political, institutional, economic, social and cultural development has the DR accomplished as of today? What development models have been implemented in the past 20 years to reach these results? Are the results satisfactory? Have all benefited or only a few? What would happen if we continue doing more of the same? What do Dominicans want today and for the future? What impact will the international commitments the country has taken on have? What options does the country have for the Dominican population to enjoy greater progress, well being and social justice in a global world?<\/p>\n
For the complete words by Ceara-Hatton and Niky Fabiancic summarizing the report during the presentation, see http:\/\/www.dr1.com\/news\/2005\/051905_cearahatton.html and http:\/\/www.dr1.com\/news\/2005\/051905_fabiancic.html<\/p>\n
The 400-page document compiled from research by Miguel Ceara-Hatton presents a comprehensive summary addressing what has happened and the challenges and areas to be tackled regarding national exports, tourism, free zone sector, migration, culture. The report focuses on the challenges ahead for social services, capacity building, and strengthening of Dominican institutions. Leading research contributors were Pavel Isa-Contreras (exports), Jaime Moreno Portalatin (tourism), Ayacx Mercedes-Contreras (free zones), Frank Baez-Evertz (migration), Leopoldo Artiles Gil (culture), Miosotis Rivas-Pena (social capacities and training), Francisco Cueto and Ramon Tejada Holguin (institutions) and Lucero Quiroga (gender). Other leading collaborators were Adriana Velasco, Fidel Geraldino, and Ingrid Isidor.<\/p>\n
For a copy of the report in Spanish, go to http:\/\/portal.onu.org.do\/interfaz\/main.asp?Ag=12&did=802&CategoriaNo=13&<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Economic progress has not trickled down in the DR, said Miguel Ceara Hatton, speaking yesterday during the launching of the 2005 Human Development Report of the Dominican Republic – Towards an inclusive and renewed global insertion. Despite experiencing an average 5+% GDP over the past 50 years, in 2002 the DR occupied the 13th place … <\/p>\n