A.M.: The truth

[NewsWhore]

Today's Diario Libre page two editorial is Adriano Miguel Tejada's hard look at Tropical Storm Olga and the aftermath of opinions. Tejada starts off by praising the work of government recovery teams working after both TS Olga and its predecessor, Noel. It is understandable in the light of the presidential elections, he says. However, what is not understandable is the fact that the government has not be able to obtain the assistance of all Dominicans in this recovery work, nor has it proceeded with sufficient vigor against those responsible: the lack of warning about Noel and the criminal opening of the floodgates at Tavera Dam in the case of Olga. These are not intentional acts by evil people, but in both cases errors were made that caused death, pain and untold material damage for individual citizens and the country as a whole. As a lawyer, Tejada knows the Criminal Code, and he cites Article 319 of the Code that sets fines and prison terms for anyone who "through stupidity, imprudence, inadvertence, negligence or lack of observation of the regulations, commits involuntary homicide..." The editor in chief of the newspaper goes on to say that it will be very difficult to convince Dominicans that proper protocols were followed in the release of the Tavera Dam waters. This dam has never caused so much damage despite the fact that (Hurricanes) David, Frederick, Georges and Noel, just to mention a few, brought more rain than Olga. The reason is that the dam was never opened so violently. Tejada ends by saying that the people have a right to know, in public, open and frank discussions, the reasons behind the tragedy, and the government would be well advised to get this out of the political arena where feelings are stronger than reason.

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