Busts of anti-Yanks signal Dominican Republic’s left turn

Santo Domingo.- Just over one decade since then president Leonel Fernandez defied the country’s conservatives and established diplomatic ties with Fidel Castro’s Cuba, the city of Santo Domingo East will build on the San Isidro highway a plaza and a bust in honor of the Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh, who doggedly fought the U.S occupation during the Vietnam War.

Vietnam’s government in turn will build in the Hanoi a plaza and a bust to honor ex president Juan Bosch, founder of the country’s ruling party PLD, and a staunch anti-American.

The announcement was made during a visit by a committee of Vietnam’s Communist Party to PLD General Secretary and Senate president Reinaldo Pared.

The delegation from Hanoi was led by Duong Minh, Vietnam Communist Party director for the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

Pared noted the great friendship between Juan Bosch and Ho Chi Minh, for which several PLD intermediate committees bear his name.