NewsWhore
02-28-2008, 04:20 PM
The Alternative Social Forum described President Leonel Fernandez's speech to the National Assembly yesterday as "superficial progress" that has no relation to the reality experienced by millions of poor Dominicans. These comments were made by Rhomer Castanos, national director of the Forum. Castanos said that Fernandez continued with his neo-liberal political slant by failing to address priority issues like health, education and nutrition. "That progress is artificial for the public and only benefits high-ranking government officials and the social elite, while poverty has increased by 60% during the last few years. Castanos said that Fernandez's speech fell short since he didn't mention anything about the Sun Land scandal or the salary increases that public employees are demanding. He added that progress is being measured by the jobs given to PLD supporters and by the quantity of "botellas" or paycheck collection jobs for political appointees. The PRD presidential candidate, Miguel Vargas Maldonado, also criticized Fernandez's speech, saying that the President didn't answer any real questions about the structural problems affecting the country or provide answers about the corruption scandals surrounding this current administration.
In protest, opposition party PRD members did not attend the speech at the National Assembly and were also absent from the Metro ride. Dominican Teachers Association (ADP) president Maria Teresa Cabrera complained that in the last nine government terms the country has been unable to invest more than 3% of its GDP in education. Dominican Medical Association (CMD) president Waldo Ariel Suero said that the speech didn't fulfill expectations, while Fourth Option presidential candidate Eduardo Estrella said that this was a "cosmetic session" which sought to mask the frustrating situation that the Dominican people are experiencing.
Central Bank president Hector Valdez Albizu and National Private Business Council president and ex-president Lisandro Macarulla and Celso Marranzini both described Fernandez's words as positive. Macarulla and Marranzini said that Fernandez was sincere in his comments because the President had acknowledged that there is still much work to be done. Civil society also welcomed the President's speech. Both Participacion Ciudadana (PC) and the Foundation for Institutionalism and Justice (Finjus) also said that the speech was positive.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)
In protest, opposition party PRD members did not attend the speech at the National Assembly and were also absent from the Metro ride. Dominican Teachers Association (ADP) president Maria Teresa Cabrera complained that in the last nine government terms the country has been unable to invest more than 3% of its GDP in education. Dominican Medical Association (CMD) president Waldo Ariel Suero said that the speech didn't fulfill expectations, while Fourth Option presidential candidate Eduardo Estrella said that this was a "cosmetic session" which sought to mask the frustrating situation that the Dominican people are experiencing.
Central Bank president Hector Valdez Albizu and National Private Business Council president and ex-president Lisandro Macarulla and Celso Marranzini both described Fernandez's words as positive. Macarulla and Marranzini said that Fernandez was sincere in his comments because the President had acknowledged that there is still much work to be done. Civil society also welcomed the President's speech. Both Participacion Ciudadana (PC) and the Foundation for Institutionalism and Justice (Finjus) also said that the speech was positive.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)