NYC Councilman: My Five-Day Visit to the Dominican Republic

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

By Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz

District 18 Bronx County, New York

You should know that I just returned from a trip of five days to the Dominican Republic. On Monday, April 2, we arrived at Santo Domingo accompanied by the Rev. Dr. Jose Martinez the newly elected president of Radio Vision Cristiana Internacional, his wife Ana Martinez, Dr. Kittim Silva Bermúdez the Vice-President of Radio Vision Cristiana Internacional and Bishop Nicolas Angustia from the Mennonite Church who also serves as the presidential liaison between the New York Hispanic Ministers. That same night we were welcomed with a tremendous dinner, which consisted of succulent typical Dominican cuisine at the Criselio Sánchez (FUNCRIS) Foundation chaired by Minister Felicia Valera Sanchez.

On Tuesday April 3rd we were greeted at the National Palace for a private meeting with the President of The Dominican Republic the honorable Danilo Medina. That afternoon the Rev. Jose Martinez invited us to his condo where we played dominoes, and feasted on dinner prepared by Sister. Ana Martinez.

On the following day, Wednesday we met with the Hon. Ruben Maldonado Diaz the President of the Chamber of Deputies. There we were treated to a hearty lunch accompanied with other deputies.

Thereafter, we headed to the Chancellery where we were greeted by the Hon. Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado and Ms. Peggy Cabral de Peña the widow of Peña Gómez. From the Chancellery we were greeted at the television studio as guests of program "Punto y Coma" directed by my friend Juan Cruz Trifolio via T.V. station “Super Canal Caribe”. Our events ended on Wednesday with an evening at The "Todos Unidos" Foundation directed by Ms. Dinamarca Reynoso de Pastrano. We were very impressed with Foundation staff and humanitarian work to benefit the poor and needy of the country.

Thursday, April 5th, we were up early to attend a television interview at the home of  Ms. Peggy Cabral by 8:00 a.m. From the home of Ms. Cabral we headed to San Cristobal to the estate of former President Hipolito Mejia’s who invited us to feast on a meal where he personally and graciously served us a Dominican Dish (Asopao) that would raise the dead.

From the home of former President Mejia’s we headed towards the (FUNGLOBE) Foundation to meet with former President Leonel Fernandez, who welcomed shared pleasantries with us. Our final day Friday, April 6th,  we returned to New York City to retake the reins of our responsibilities.

I want to thank Lic. Hector Mojica the Director of (OMSA) The Metropolitan Bus Services Office, Lic. Pedro Aguiar, Dinamarca Reynoso, Caonabo Muñoz, Pedro Sanchez, Gersan Sánchez and Mr. Geraldo Rosario for all their support, services and courtesy bestowed upon us during our visit to D.R.. 

The express purpose of our meeting with the diverse leaders of D.R., the interviews, and dialogues, where Mr. Antonio Cabrera President of the New York Taxi Federation, and Ms. Bertha Almonte and Ms. Felicia Valera were in attendance, was for the purpose of addressing the problems confronted by the Dominican Diaspora, exclusively the problems which affect the taxi industry and its drivers.  I explained the great participation and the creation of the industry leaders known as " The Group of 25".

It is important that you know that we intend to continue these dialogues with those leaders upon their visits to New York City in the future.

I am Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz, and this is what you should know.