In his inaugural speech on 16 August 2020, President Luis Abinader acknowledged many in the private sector are just planning how to survive the present health and economic crisis. Instead, he said: “This government tells business that this is the time to invest in the Dominican Republic.”
He promised legal security, transparency and expedited government processes. He said he has ordered government departments to move to accelerate all investments that are kept back by red tape.
Coming from the business sector himself, Abinader said he is sure the Dominican Republic can meet the present challenges. He pointed to the “robust free zone manufacturing sector.” “These are the times to maximize our geographical location for creating enterprises and jobs.
He acknowledged the difficulties and challenges ahead, but was firm the government has the determination to work to overcome these. “This is one of the most difficult times in our history. There is no proven recipe. I pledge to work; there will be unlimited dialogue and systematic accountability,” he said.
He spoke of leaving behind “decades of lack of taking actions and bad policies.” “There is no time to lose,” he said.
He said the government will be taking decisive actions to combat the health crisis. He said his administration receives the present health crisis with Covid-19 cases on the rise. He announced RD$66 billion would be spent from now to December to stem the disease spread.
He promised to decentralize the Dominican health system to empower communities and focus on primary care to tackle this and any other health crisis in the future. “Our challenge is to make our health system one of the best in Latin America,” he said.
He reaffirmed his commitment that universal health coverage would be the standard with all citizens affiliated to government or private health plans by December 2020. Another 2 million people need to be affiliated.
He focused on the restoring of the economy. These are times when our savings are depleted, and when no one can tell when this nightmare will end,” he stated.
He criticized that in its final week in government, the Medina administration had taken on RD$25 billion in new debt. “Public debt before the epidemic had already reached imprudent levels,” said Abinader. “This is the scenario we are receiving,” he said.
“We are firmly committed to revert the situation, improving efficiency in spending and eradicating wasteful spending to improve the quality of life,” he stressed.
He announced the Fase, Quedate en Casa y Pa’ Ti relief programs would be continued through December 2020.
Yet he said the new government would be making RD$100 billion in loans available to small businesses. He said the government commercial bank, Banco de Reservas would be concentrating on lending to companies and industries that create jobs and exports. He announced the government would be lending RD$5 billion at zero interest for farming.
“This government will do what is necessary to rescue the economy and protect people and jobs,” he said.
He announced the government would be implementing the new Public-Private Alliance Law (APP). Under this modality, he announced the Ambar Highway construction that would link Santiago and Puerto Plata in 25 minutes, and Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo in a two-hour drive.
He said the government would be backing 3,000 hotel rooms in Pedernales in the southwest, and the construction of the Pedernales international airport.
He said the Public-Private Alliance law would also be used to develop the Manzanillo Port in the northwest.
Abinader thanked Dominican ex-pats for their continued support through remittances. Remittances sent home to family and relatives in June and July reached new record sums, despite the effects of the Covid-19 crisis abroad, too.
Abinader promised a turnaround to what he called the bloated and inefficient foreign service, to eliminate political patronage in the Dominican foreign service. “This will be a government at the service of the people abroad,” he said. He promised professional, modern foreign service.
With US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, New York US Representative Adriano Espaillat, and the foreign minister of Spain Arancha Gonzalez Laya in the National Assembly Hall for his inaugural speech, he promised to promote trade and investments. “We will strengthen relations with the United States, our main trading partner and where 2 million Dominicans live.
We will continue to work closely with the European Union, Spain, and efforts to transform democracy and Latin America, he said.
With President Jovenel Moise in the Assembly Hall, President Abinader spoke of the importance of bilateral relations with Haiti. “We are aware our success depends on both states,” he said. He spoke of strengthening the instruments that foster good neighbor relations between both countries, mentioning border security.
He urged Congress to act on important bills. “This congress has the compromise to break the practice that important bills last a decade going from one chamber to another. The country needs these bills,” he stated.
“The people gave an example to all defying the pandemic to vote for change,” he recalled. “The time for change has arrived,” he said.