SANTO DOMINGO. - The president of the Dominican Industries Association (AIRD) today called president Leonel Fernandez’s speech before Congress disappointing, because it didn’t delve into important topics such as government corruption, education, citizen security and the lack of institutionalism.

Ignacio Mendez said he doesn’t understand why Fernandez didn’t treat in depth such timely issues agreed to in the recent national dialogue, including the crusade to enforce the laws.

The business leader said on the fight against corruption the chief executive spoke only of the Ethics Commission, an entity he said hasn’t functioned in the last five years. "For us it was a deception in the sense that we expected it to be much more precise on the topics agreed to in the Summit, but we’re left with the hope that the Follow Commission’s mandate will be enforced."

Aside from disappointing, Mendez said Fernandez’s speech wasn’t encouraging for industrialists, but expects that the proposals announced will be accepted.

The AIRD president, interviewed on Diario Libre AM, also criticized that while the government officials’ salaries are “exaggerated,” the police agents earn an “insignificant” one.