Spanish
The meeting, scheduled for 4:00 PM in the Juan Bosch Auditorium of the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National Library, has as its central focus the situation in Haiti and its repercussions for the Dominican Republic.
At the summit on May 14th, which brought together the head of state and the three former presidents for the first time, with the Haitian situation as the main topic, it was agreed to convene a broader dialogue at the CES to include the voices of representatives of civil society, the business sector, and other authorities. Thus, today's meeting marks the continuation of that commitment, with the intention of generating concrete proposals to address the migratory, commercial, and security challenges arising from the crisis in Haiti.
In addition to Abinader, Fernández, Mejía, and Medina, the permanent members of the CES will attend the meeting: representatives from the union, business, academic, and non-governmental organization sectors. According to sources from the organization, the agenda will focus on six priority areas defined during the first summit: migration, bilateral trade, development of border communities, national security, international relations, and labor issues.
CES spokespersons have highlighted that, by convening the former presidents again along with the president, the aim is to capitalize on the experience of previous governments and achieve a broad consensus.
“What was agreed on May 14th was just the starting point. Today, in this new scenario, all the actors who can influence the design of public policies with a great impact on the border and the region will be present,” explained a member of the council.
Following the inauguration of the dialogue, the CES authorities are expected to present a work schedule for the coming weeks. This calendar will include thematic tables in which specialists in migration issues, foreign trade, and security will participate, as well as delegates from the Haitian Government invited to present their perspective. Similarly, the participation of multilateral organizations will be sought to enrich the analysis and propose mechanisms for binational cooperation.
For the business sector, which will be represented in the CES, Abinader's return to the table with the former presidents is a sign of the political will to seek joint solutions beyond the merely governmental sphere. "The summit of May 14th laid the foundations for an intergenerational dialogue. Today we confirm that cooperation between the current administration and past ones is essential for the stability of the region," said a spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce and Production of Santo Domingo.
For their part, civil society groups have positively valued the continuation of the commitment made in May. Organizations linked to the protection of human rights, community development, and migration emphasize that the inclusion of their representatives in the CES will allow for a more balanced debate. Meanwhile, labor and academic sectors will also make their voices heard to ensure that the recommendations include training and employment programs in border areas.
At the end of the inaugural session, the CES will announce the next steps of the process, which include the creation of a joint committee to follow up on the proposals and coordinate actions with State entities.
