Leonel Fernández, presidential candidate for the Fuerza del Pueblo party, hosted the first meeting of the 2024 Presidential Candidate Luncheon this Thursday, organized by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AMCHAMDR). In his remarks, Fernández outlined a comprehensive vision for the nation's future, highlighting current challenges and proposing concrete solutions.
During his presentation, Fernández highlighted the progress made in the Dominican Republic in recent decades, recognizing the persistent inequalities and shortcomings that still plague Dominican society. He emphasized the need to address key issues such as poverty reduction, access to basic services, and improving the quality of life for all citizens.
“Deficiencies and gaps persist in Dominican society, necessitating the implementation of public policies aimed at, among other things, reducing poverty, providing adequate food, access to drinking water, providing electricity, building decent housing, improving quality education, comprehensive healthcare, and ensuring citizen security. These are basic needs that must be met for the entire population in order to evolve toward a prosperous, just, and supportive society that guarantees well-being for all members of our society,” Fernández stated.
The leader of the Fuerza del Pueblo also addressed the technological revolution and its impact on the Dominican economy, highlighting the importance of adapting to changes and taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the digital age.
However, Fernández was not short on criticism of the current economic management, questioning the figures provided by the government and highlighting the need for comprehensive tax reform to ensure long-term economic sustainability.
Regarding the energy sector, Fernández proposed measures to improve the efficiency and diversification of the energy mix, with a focus on renewable energy and the modernization of electrical infrastructure.
In the areas of education and health, the presidential candidate of the Fuerza del Pueblo party outlined strategies to improve the quality and accessibility of these services, with an emphasis on human capital development and the expansion of health coverage.
Regarding social security, Fernández advocated for reforms to the Social Security Law to guarantee an equitable and supportive system that benefits the entire population.
According to Fernández, his proposal seeks to lay the foundations for a promising future, with a comprehensive focus on economic and social development. He proposes a strategy to increase revenue collection without raising taxes on citizens, promoting an equitable tax system and the formalization of informal sector businesses. He also pledged to build a more resilient, competitive, and inclusive economy, boosting key sectors such as agriculture, industry, free trade zones, and tourism, if elected in the May 2024 presidential elections.
For his part, when thanking Fernández for her participation in the AMCHAMDR 2024 Candidate Cycle, AMCHAMDR President Edwin De los Santos highlighted that: “The American Chamber celebrates the democratic and partisan vocation that the Dominican Republic enjoys, and we trust that this series of meetings sponsored by AMCHAMDR for all of Dominican society will contribute positively to the objective of promoting citizen participation in electoral processes, as well as to strengthening democracy and the mission of serving the collective well-being to which political parties are called, in line with the dictates of the Dominican Constitution.”
After her presentation, Fernández opened the door to a question-and-answer session led by the AMCHAMDR Executive Committee: Edwin De los Santos, president; María Waleska Álvarez and Francesca Rainieri, vice presidents; Steven Puig, treasurer; and Eduardo Cruz, secretary.
Leonel Fernández answered questions from the American Chamber of Commerce executives, focusing on priority topics for AMCHAMDR, Dominican business leaders, and the general public: Bilateral Relations; Tax Reform; Rule of Law; Sustainability and Resilience; Digital Strategy; and Urban Mobility.
AMCHAMDR traditionally holds the Luncheon with Candidates Series in an effort to foster a space for constructive dialogue and civic participation, seeking to strengthen the democratic commitment of Dominican society, allowing citizens to be better informed and actively participate in the selection of their political leaders for the electoral contest.
The AMCHAMDR Presidential Candidate Lunch Series will be made possible by brands belonging to our Elite Circle: Citi Bank, Grupo Rica, Squire Patton Boggs, Barrick Pueblo Viejo, Grupo Martí, Grupo Inicia, AES Dominicana, Grupo Humano, Hit Puerto Río Haina, Grupo SID, Cervecería Nacional Dominicana, Grupo Punta Cana, Altice Dominicana, Grupo Estrella, Grupo Viamar, and DP World.
We also thank CDN Channel 37, the official channel for the AMCHAMDR 2024 Presidential Candidate Luncheon Series.
You can access the broadcast via YouTube at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIgnbCeqGKw&ab_channel=CDN37
