The welcoming remarks were given by Gustavo Tavares, President of AMCHAMDR, in which he referred to the fight against the lack of transparency and institutionality.

Santo Domingo, January 28, 2016.– Francisco Dominguez Brito, Attorney General of the Dominican Republic, was the speaker and guest of honor at the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic's January monthly luncheon. The luncheon, held in the Garden Tent of the Hotel El Embajador, welcomed prominent figures from the country's business sector.  

Prior to the Attorney General's speech, Gustavo Tavares, President of AMCHAMDR, welcomed those present and highlighted“One of the greatest external challenges we face in this 2016, which has just begun, is the ZIKA virus. The Ministry of Health has already recognized the presence of ZIKA among us. This fact reminds us once again that in this world of globalization, where global connectivity is a habit, the Dominican Republic is no longer an island nation. Diseases and pests respect no borders and arrive, like any of us, by plane immediately. Their effects reach us all equally and affect not only those who suffer them firsthand,” he indicated.

TO A lack of proven effective vaccines, education, and access to appropriate information for its management remain the most effective tools for mitigating the impact of ZIKA. Both require the direct involvement of the public and private sectors. "The challenge is everyone's, and we urge everyone to take this issue very seriously, especially the authorities, who need institutional strength to manage this and other problems not only when they are upon us, but before they manifest in our territory," he stated.

Tavares emphasized that this same institutional strength is also needed to combat another serious problem affecting our society: corruption, which flourishes where there is a lack of transparency and institutionality. The main institutions called upon to minimize it are the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Judiciary.