The Chamber of Deputies yesterday passed a bill which incorporates the Santiago province district Baitoa as a municipality, culminating a process of almost two centuries since the first settlers cleared the lands of La Sierra to make way for agriculture.

The deputies approved the legislation by declaring the piece ¨urgent¨ and  in ¨two consecutive roll calls,¨ political jargon to say they are making good on their campaign promises.

Those kept promises mean that even with the rational push to trim the country´s morass of jurisdictions, the measure will instill on the Baitoeros the sense of belonging which only two centuries marked by struggle and exodus of its townfolk can nurture.

Baitoa was perhaps the first town whose natives headed to New York City, one as early as 1911, long before the massive immigration of Dominicans in the 1970s.

That 200 year long connection with the United States is one of the important factors which makes us a nation today.

And as reporters say, "the President (whose father is a Baitoero) is expected to sign it into Law."

jorge.pineda@dominicantoday.com