The suggestion of President Luis Abinader to the matches of opposition that instead of criticizing the rise in prices they make suggestions to mitigate them, was received with skepticism by members of the Dominican Liberation (PLD) and Dominican Revolutionary (PRD) parties, who assure that they have done so in several occasions.
The answers were immediate from the PRD in the voice of its vice president, Héctor Guzmán and the members of the Political Committee of the PLD, Francisco Domínguez Brito, Johnny Pujols and Juan Ariel Jiménez.
When asked by Free Journal, Héctor Guzmán considered that the opinion of the President Abinader does not correspond to the truth, because as he points out from the PRD, he has been raised on several occasions that to face the current crisis, not only the inflationary issue, the consensus of all sectors of the country is needed.
“That the country in the face of the current crisis needs a consensus plan in which we all join efforts towards the same objective, to reduce the impact of the crisis, mainly by protecting the most vulnerable sectors, to avoid social situations that endanger political stability. and the social peace that we have today”was expressed by Guzmán.
Regarding the increase in the prices of the basic products of the family basket, the vice president of the PRD assures that they have been clear from that organization when proposing a dialogue with the productive sectors of the country and “Do not impose against your will, the zero-rate bill”as he points out, has been done since governmentfor understanding that if food prices are not reduced, what is going to be destroyed is the national agricultural and agribusiness productive apparatus, “with the social consequences of unemployment, migration, food shortages and price increases that will be generated in the future.”
“Now, we take him at his word and we make the proposal to President Abinader in relation to the zero rate project and it is the following: leave it without effect and summon the productive sectors, professional organizations in the area and representatives of the political parties so that together Let’s reach a consensus on the issue.”Vice President of the PRD
He assured that, in a general sense, his party in all the dialogue scenarios that have been convened by the governmentas is the case of the CES, have always taken the political line of “useful, constructive and responsible opposition, raising criticism and solutions to national problems”.
“We always signal our support for the measures that we consider are for the benefit of the people and rejecting those that harm them,” maintained the PRD leader.
While, Juan Ariel Jimenezvice president and member of the CP of the PLD, assured that both he and the secretary of economic affairs of the party, Guarocuya Féliz, have repeatedly made recommendations to the Government that have not been heard.
Jiménez explained that he has made multiple suggestions in economic matters of what could be done in cases such as those that are occurring in the country, which includes a fragmented return of the Itbis to the packaging used for the marketing of products that are Dominican. and that fall into the category of first need, programs that help producers with the distribution of seeds of those products that tend to increase.
Similarly, other recommendations that he assures have been made from the PLD is the creation of a rural infrastructure development fund.
The also former Minister of Economy, stressed that what the president said does not correspond to the actions of that party since the suggestions they have made have been reviewed by the national press.
“I have made several recommendations in the different radio and television programs that I have participated in, so both Guarocuya and I have publicly made several recommendations”Jimenez said.
While Francisco Domínguez Brito lamented that the President Luis Abinader has not paid attention to the various proposals that PLD leaders have made in recent months to manage inflation.
“When President Abinader says that he is only asking the opposition for a recommendation, I wonder if he did not read the article by Juan Ariel Jiménez that proposed seven measures, or the interventions of Guarocuya Féliz, who has proposed several recommendations on alternatives for managing price increase”, he pointed.
Domínguez Brito said that both he and the PLD have made proposals regarding the temporary reduction of the tax on fuels for agricultural producers and transporters, the temporary reduction of the Itbis for packaging and containers of food products, the reduction of tariffs on equipment and machinery for production. agriculture, among other proposals.
“The PLD had to deal with international price increases that were much stronger than the current ones, because we just have to remember that in 2007-2008 the price of oil exceeded 140 dollars, while today it is at 100 dollars, or remember that both the corn and wheat were more expensive in 2013 than today, and never in the PLD governments was the Dominican Republic among the countries with the highest inflation”Dominguez Brito pointed out.
Another who referred in those terms was Johnny Pujolsmember of the Political Committee of the opposition party, who assured that the current authorities of Government they don’t listen to position matches.
“The opposition has made (and will continue to make) proposals to guarantee the well-being of the people. For example, we suggest applying a zero rate, but to fertilizers and products necessary to guarantee and promote local agricultural production, why was it ignored? was pointed out by Pujols moments after the President made his statements during a meeting with the three main trade union centers in the country last Sunday.
