Governor of Illinois Honors President Fernández

Governor of Illinois Honors President Fernández
Chicago, Illinois 05/10/2010

Dominican President Leonel Fernández was honored last Friday by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn “for his political, social and educational leadership in addition to his contribution to the integration and development of the people.”

The governor pointed to one of the projects that he, as governor, promoted which is the sisterhood of the Ozama River in Santo Domingo and the Chicago River which seeks to clean up the pollution and eventually make them both potable for humans.

At the event, held at the University of Chicago, Quinn pointed to the advances that have taken place in the Dominican Republic during the administrations of President Fernández, “in the areas of economics as well as aspects related to the quality of life of the country’s citizens,” according to the Presidential Office of Information, Press and Publicity.

The governor pointed to one of the projects that he, as governor, promoted which is the sisterhood of the Ozama River in Santo Domingo and the Chicago River which seeks to clean up the pollution and eventually make them both potable for humans. There is also the economic resurgence of the shores, using Chicago as a model city.

He also pointed out the common interests of the State of Illinois and the Dominican Republic beginning with their shared love of sports as well as their passion and effort to progress and move forward each day.
Fernández, in thanking the governor for the recognition, promised that his government will increase the participation of young Dominicans at the University of Chicago in addition to increasing the teacher exchanges from both countries as part of the process of academic transformation and global investment in the Dominican Republic.

The event was headed by Governor Pat Quinn, John Cullerton, President of the Senate; Paula Allen-Meares,  Vice Rector of the University of Illinois; Dominican First Lady, Margarita Cedeño de Fernández; Eddy Martínez, Secretary of State, Director of the Center for Export and Investment of the Dominican Republic and  Gisselle Castillo, Consul General of the Dominican Republic in Chicago.

Congress people, academics, business people and members of the Latin America diplomatic corps in Illinois were also at the ceremony.

Meeting with the Mayor

In the morning, President Fernández and the First Lady met with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and his wife Maggie Daley at the Mayor’s office in the center of Chicago.

Fernández and Daley spoke about, among other things, their mutual interest and the strong commercial, academic and cultural links between Chicago and the Dominican Republic.