President Praises Dominican Society for Work Done in Aiding Haiti in its Time of Catastrophe Following Earthquake

E The President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernández, praised Dominican citizens, organizations and institutions, saying that “through their tireless effort, help and cooperation they demonstrated to the world the most noble feelings that the Dominican people are capable of towards their Haitian neighbors.”

“In the face of this tragic situation, feelings of solidarity and humanitarian spirit on the part of the Dominican people have been expressed generously and authentically…

 Speaking at the celebration of the new Constitution, President Fernández said, “In the face of this tragic situation, feelings of solidarity and humanitarian spirit on the part of the Dominican people have been expressed generously and authentically. And, because of this, I wish to express my most profound recognition to all Dominicans – in the public and private sectors – who, through their tireless effort, help and cooperation displayed noble feelings toward our neighboring Haitians.”

Along these lines, the President pointed out the paradox of destiny that the Dominican Republic proclaimed its independence, not in a struggle against a European colonial power, but rather against its neighbor Haiti, according to the President’s Office of Information, Press and Publicity.

President Fernández noted that this event led the Dominicans into a war that lasted seventeen years and has been the cause of one of the most profound and remote disagreements and misunderstandings between two nations in history.

On the other hand, the President also congratulated the Senators, Congress people and members of the National Review Assembly for the ardent, enthusiastic and patriotic way they took up the discussion, debate and approval of the new constitution.

The Dominican President reiterated his appreciation for the high level and professional work done by a group of national jurists who provided the best of their talents to design the new constitutional text whose technical quality is comparable to the best of its kind on an international level.

He called attention to the following jurists: César Pina Toribio, Eduardo Jorge Prats, Flavio Darío Espinal, Milton Ray Guevara, Aura Celeste Fernández, Adriano Miguel Tejada, José Darío Suárez, Julio César Castaños Guzmán, Leyda Piña, Licelotte Marte, Pelegrín Castillo, Raymundo Amaro Guzmán and Luis Gómez Pérez.