The PLD and the FP affirmed that the Government has not controlled inflation, nor has it complied with the promised works
The Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and the People’s Force (FP) agreed that President Luis Abinader’s accountability speech evidenced the government’s failure to execute promises made to the Dominican population by the president in his previous intervention, on that same stage.
The PLD listed what it calls “important omissions in the president’s speech”, both in terms of public policy, the control of price increases for products in the basic food basket and the construction of infrastructure works.
The organization indicated that it is striking that in the rendering of accounts the president did not explain how they have used the 8 thousand 522 million dollars they took in loans last year, nor the more than 3 billion they have already taken this year.
“They justify themselves with the pandemic, but their own numbers show that only 1.81 billion dollars were used in social assistance programs and 536 million in health resources for COVID,” the PLD refers.
The political organization of the opposition recalls that President Abinader promised during the campaign “that upon his arrival in government the prices of the basic basket would be reduced by 30%”, but the opposite has happened because since his arrival the price of the basic basket has passed from 36,083 to 40,547 pesos.
“And, although as a responsible party we recognize the difficult international scenario, what we cannot accept is that the Dominican Republic is the fourth country in Latin America with the highest price increase, only surpassed by Venezuela, Argentina and Brazil. The people deserve to know the truth, that 7 out of 10 countries in the world had lower inflation than the Dominican Republic,” says the PLD.
Unkept promises
In a statement, the People’s Force considered that far from being accountable, President Abinader made an act to excuse himself with the Covid-19 pandemic, and justify the breach of the promised works, also predicting that he will breach the new promises due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In addition, the opposition party argued that, “the president alleges in his presentation that 90% of the commitments assumed a year ago have been made or are being executed, but making a comparison between both speeches, it can be seen that the statement It doesn’t correspond to the truth.”
Among the unfulfilled promises, the FP points out the Port of Manzanillo, in Montecristi, whose works for its expansion and remodeling have not been started. Likewise, the work on the Navarrete Beltway, and the Santiago Cable Car, which in September 2021 was said to be inaugurated by 2023, but indicated that the work is just beginning.
In addition, the opposition party mentions that the construction of the Ámbar highway has not yet started, which should connect Santiago with Puerto Plata, which to date has not started, and the North Zone film studio in Puerto Plata. Likewise, Fuerza del Pueblo denounced that in the Historic Center of Santiago, in the Government of Abinader, no type of work is being carried out for its renovation, nor in the Monorail.
Other unfulfilled works, according to the FP, are the lighting of the Cabarete-Puerto Plata section, in the north, Silicon Beach, in Puerto Plata, sanitation of the Cañada Arroyo Gurabo, which crosses the city of Santiago and the Haché-Circunvalación section, assessment.
On his side, the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), issued a document on the presidential speech and maintained that he was doing so “in the exercise of his line of constructive opposition.”
“The presidential speech was not a rendering of accounts, but rather, a reiteration of the promises made during the electoral campaign that led him to take office on August 16, 2020,” the PRD said in a statement.
It indicates that “to the astonishment of the country, President Abinader remains in the attitude of a candidate, while national problems continue to worsen.”
On its side, the ally Dominican Humanist Party (PHD), expressed its support for the economic measures announced by President Luis Abinader and defended the need to continue working for the benefit of the most needy in the country.
Entrepreneurs value speech
The executive vice president of the National Council of Private Enterprise (Conep), Cesar Dargam, described as positive the Account Rendering speech made by the President of the Republic, Luis Abinader.
Dargam stated that it was a positive speech at a time of uncertainty where the unity of all Dominicans is required.
He added that it was an Accountability where the president was able to present everything that the country has advanced in the process of economic recovery and employment and address the challenges it faces, especially in terms of subsidies to the most affected sectors.
The president of the National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (ANJE), Luis Manuel Pellerano, described the speech delivered by President Luis Abinader before the joint meeting of the legislative chambers as accurate and comprehensive.
“As the president indicated, we are facing a great opportunity for all sectors to unite and work on building the country we want,” said the ANJE director in a press release.
He indicated that the recovery process that is impacting the tourism sectors, free zones, film industries and mining activity is encouraging. “It is worth applauding the recovery that these sectors are experiencing, being protagonists of the country’s economic growth and social development,” said Pellerano.
Appreciate mention of armed conflict in Ukraine
The ambassador of the European Union in the Dominican Republic, Katja Ahfeldt, appreciated that President Luis Abinader referred in his accountability speech to the challenges ahead due to the geopolitical situation with Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.
“These are challenges that we all have. I have been very impressed by how seriously the president has taken him, ”Ahfeldt said as he left the National Congress after finishing the president’s speech.
The diplomat also appreciated the mention of the reform program promoted by the Executive Power and that President Abinader summarized while speaking to the Dominicans.
