PUNTA CANA.-During the opening of the Assembly of the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA), President Luis Abinader affirmed that the Dominican Republic lives “a time of freedom”, where the word circulates freely, criticism is respected and journalism is exercised with dignity, when leading the inauguration of the 81st General Assembly of the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA), held in Punta Cana.
In his speech, Abinader welcomed media representatives from the hemisphere and reiterated that his Government has assumed transparency and respect for the press as fundamental pillars of Dominican democracy.
Rule with the truth
“From my first day in office we made a clear decision: govern with the windows open, with accountability, with access to information and with absolute respect for the work of the media and critical voices,” said the president.
The head of state maintained that freedom of the press is not a concession of power, but a right won and protected by the joint efforts of journalists, citizens and the State.
Freedom of expression
Likewise, he announced that the Dominican Government is promoting a process of modernizing legislation on freedom of expression and the media, in order to adapt it to current challenges, including disinformation, artificial intelligence and the protection of journalists.
Abinader highlighted that international organizations have recognized the country’s progress in terms of information openness and plurality.
He recalled that, according to the IAPA’s Chapultepec Index, the Dominican Republic is among the nations with the greatest respect for press freedom.
“These recognitions are not a point of arrival, but a responsibility. They commit us to continue strengthening the institutions and guarantee that no voice is silenced by fear, power or indifference,” the president stressed.
defend the truth
Defending the truth is no small task: it is a form of civic patriotism, a defense of reason against noise, and of democracy against fanaticism, Abinader said during his speech that opened the assembly.
President Abinader concluded that press freedom is a path that is built day by day and that requires trust and mutual respect.
“As long as a free voice is heard in this country, a brave truth is published, and a different opinion is respected, we will be able to say with pride that freedom lives among us,” he stated before journalists from the continent participating in the 81st IAPA Assembly in Punta Cana.
