Santo Domingo. — The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT), Franklin García Fermín, assured that the Dominican Republic is going through a stage of unprecedented political and institutional transformationmarked by transparency, public ethics and a firm regime of consequences against corruption, under the leadership of President Luis Abinader.
During his participation as a guest on the Aeromundo program, hosted by the journalist Guillermo Gomez and transmitted by Color Vision, channel 9, Garcia Fermin He stated that as of August 16, 2020, the country began a before and after in the form of govern.
“With the arrival of the president Luis Abinader political decency was established in the National Palace. “He is a president who does not tolerate or allow corruption,” said the official.
The minister highlighted that the current president has been consistent between what he promised as a candidate and what he has executed as head of statewhich, he said, is reflected in concrete decisions that break with practices historical impunity.
“The president reiterated, not on one occasion, but on the five occasions he was in Aeromundo, that he was not going to and would not tolerate the corruption in the country. And that has been demonstrated with facts,” he stressed.
In that contextGarcía Fermin cited as an example the case of Senasa is emblematicwhich came to court by order of the Executive Branch itself.
“Not only did he allow the case will come to justice“But he ordered that the institution be constituted as a civil party to recover every last peso that belongs to the Dominican people,” he stated.
The owner of the MESCyT He stated that this decision constitutes an unprecedented event since the beginning of Dominican democracy in 1961, contrasting with previous administrations.
“No president has done that in more than six decades. During the governments of the Dominican Liberation Party there was no consequences regime; impunity was the norm and corruption became an industry,” he said.
García Fermín maintained that the governments headed by Leonel Fernández and Danilo Medina They were characterized by the absence of political will to confront corruption, despite multiple national and international complaints.
“There was not a single case promoted by the government itself. On the contrary, corruption was protected and its existence was denied, while they made billionaires under the protection of power,” he indicated.
The minister emphasized that, although corruption is a phenomenon present in all societies, what distinguishes the current administration is its zero tolerance and firm action by the State.
“Corruption can exist in any country, even those where there are severe penalties. What cannot exist is the toleranceimpunity or cover-up from the government, and that does not happen in a government of Luis Abinader,” he stated.
Likewise, he highlighted as a pillar fundamental of this anti-corruption policy the independence of the Public Ministry, promoted by express decision of the president.
“In his first decree, the president designated Miriam German Britoa woman of impeccable conduct, as Attorney General of the Republic, guaranteeing a independent justicealthough constitutionally the position depends on the Executive Branch,” he explained.
He added that the permanence of Yeni Berenice Reynosoa career prosecutor appointed in previous administrations, demonstrates the institutional respect and professionalization of the justice system.
Finally, Garcia Fermin assured that President Abinader’s ethical conduct has raised the country’s international image, to the point that the Dominican Republic will host a global meeting against corruption, organized by International Transparencyone of the most prestigious entities in the world on the subject.
“We Dominicans should feel proud to have a president who acts with coherence, transparency and firmness. Today there are consequences, and whoever makes a mistake, whoever it is, will have to answer to justice,” he concluded.
