Letter sent to the President of Dominican Republic, Dr. Leonel Fernandez, concerning the death of more than 20 nationals and 4 Italians on the road of La Romana - Punta Cana-Bavaro on August 15 August 25, 2008

Excelentísimo Dr. Leonel Fernández, Presidente de la República Dominicana:

Having traveled extensively and invested in Dominican Republic, my wife and I have come to know your country and countrymen intimately and we have considered Dominican Republic as our second home. It was therefore a great sorrow to hear the tragic news of the accident that occurred on the road between La Romana and Higuey on August 15, where more than 20 Dominicans died including Italian tourists.

These two-lane rural roads are old, dilapidated and dangerous. They are not designed to run as highways. Yet these roads remain to be the only means to go eastward to accommodate the heavy daily traffic of trucks, public and commercial vehicles, and tourist buses. The eastern coast of the Dominican Republic is the largest and fastest growing tourist destination in the Caribbean.

With progress like this, traffic will only get worse and continue to increase. This situation demands the immediate finishing of the Autopista El Coral (The Coral Highway). The hype of the media before your third inauguration trumps promises of a finished East Highway. This highway is supposed to continue further east to ensure a more efficient and safer driving experience for both citizens and tourists alike traveling anywhere to and from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana.

The completion of Autopista El Coral is the least that the Dominican government can do for those who have died needlessly in this disaster, for the families that have lost their loved ones, and for those who survived the horrors of this tragedy.

The calamity of August 15 is not just another random accident but it is an inevitable event in part caused by the infrastructure and bad conditions of the old roads that are not equipped to handle such high traffic. This is a tragedy bound to repeat if nothing is going to be done. Turning away and hoping that the event will be forgotten is a crime. It is the responsibility of the government to keep their citizens safe and to promote security for visitors.

The government also holds a responsibility to those investors who have spent a tremendous amount of money in the development and progress of the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic that have created an increase in national employment and given a boost in tourism.

A completed highway would encourage continued growth to both the country and investors but most importantly it will minimize traffic accidents and unwarranted fatalities.

Should the completion of Autopista Del Este come to fruition, its presence will rightfully become a permanent memorial for the victims of August 15:

? Juan Rafael Francisco Santana, Age 21

? Ledys Victoria de la Rosa, Age 22

? Wange Mateo Aybar, Age 23

? Domingo Antonio Vásquez, Age 24

? Mártires Antonio de Salas Aquino, Age 28

? David Cristóbal Gil, Age 29

? Carlos Manuel Marreto de la Cruz, Age 29

? Héctor Claudio Castillo Romero, Age 35

? Nelson Tood

? José Dolores Pérez, Age 44

? Saturnino Peralta Medina, Age 57

? Alcibíades Escoto, Age 57

? Víctor Jiménez Varela, Age 62

And other victims whose names are still undisclosed

Be it in your conscience that this mission will take precedence and be executed with no more delays.

Sincerely,

Luis Fayad