Despite popularity, Dominican Govt. faces protests nationwide

Santo Domingo.- Just two days after a Mexico-based pollster called president Danilo Medina the hemisphere’s most popular leader with a 90% percent approval, three organizations including air traffic controllers, Higuey community organizations and Dominicans of Haitian ancestry announced protests across the country.

Around 180 air traffic controllers threatened an indefinite walkout of the country’s airports staring 2pm Monday, although operations continue normal at Las Americas International Airport.

The air traffic controllers demand the reinstatement of 13 colleagues which had been fired by the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC) and "a halt to the repression and mistreatment by its director by officials."

After a meeting of their union (ADCA) the air traffic controllers warned the local and international air transport industry of “the danger and risks that could be generated in Dominican Republic’s airspace.”

Dominican-Haitians

Meanwhile the movement Dominican@s From Birthright on Monday announced a civic protest in front of the National Palace Tuesday morning to demand that the Presidency send a bill Congress to which recognizes and resolves the situation as descendants of Haitians affected by Constitutional Court ruling 168-13.

"The platform of organizations that form Dominican@s From Birthright invite citizens to support and join the civic protest at 9am tomorrow Tuesday outside the National Palace," the group said in a statement.

Also protesting are the Altagracia Province Neighborhoods Federation, which warns of a general strike in the province with the support of various labor unions.

They demand construction of several schools, and said the protest starts at 7:30am at the Provincial and Municipal office buildings in Higuey, for which he National Police has already sent additional agents to the site of the announced protest.