SANTIAGO.- During the expanded Cabinet meeting held yesterday, president Leonel Fernandez announced an strategic alliance between the Government and the city councils to start a plan to pave streets, and build sidewalks and gutters nationwide.

The chief executive said he’ll meet with all of the country’s mayors after Easter to discuss how the plan will unfold. He said despite that street paving and the repairs of sidewalks and gutters is the responsibility of the City councils, the Government agreed to carry out those works.

"I believe that in that manner the country can feel the response from their institutions before the legitimate and valid demands which we’re going to satisfy fully."

Fernandez said Dominican Republic must remain calm to guarantee economic stability and to reactivate growth. “If we can sell ourselves as a safe place for foreign investment, the situation of an international crisis can become an opportunity for the Dominican Republic."

The Head of State said that faced with the international financial crisis that affects the world’s major economic powers, his Government works to bolster national unity. "That’s what we’re doing with the popular measures of the Summit, dialogues, and the daily work."

He said the country seeks financing from the Inter-American Development Bank, from the Andean Promotion Corporation and the World Bank to be able to close the gap between the projected income and government expenses. He also said the measures to lower bank interest rates will contribute to stimulate production and national productivity, guaranteeing food security.

Cabinet Reports

During the Cabinet meeting the governmental officials rendered their respective reports on adherence to the agreements reached in the first stage of the Summit of National Unity against the Global Economic Crisis.

Santiago street car

Fernandez also announced the visit by an official commission to study the viability of a street car for Santiago, announced by the City Council.  

In that regard Santiago mayor Jose Enrique Sued, who participated in the meeting, asked Fernandez for a tax exemption for the equipment that would be used for the railway project which seeks to improve the city’s rapid transit system.