SANTIAGO.- President Leonel Fernandez proposed yesterday in Santiago a strategic alliance between the public and private sectors to successfully confront the threat the world’s energy, economic and food crisis poses for the country.

After meeting with governmental officials and farm producers in the Superior Agricultura Institute (ISA), the chief executive said food price increases not only concern the consumers but also the rest of Dominican society.

Nevertheless, Fernandez said it’s a time to work, not for laments and go ahead with a plan agreed to by all the country’s sectors. "From my own experience I always know that when there’s a plan, either well articulated, or conceived, in this case agreed with an alliance between the public and private sector we have inevitably, unavoidably come out of it well in the confrontation of this crisis in the Dominican Republic."

In the event the Head of State also issued decree 243-08 to create the Food Security Council, made up of different government agencies, which Fernandez called a great step forward to confront the crisis.

Its objectives include to integrate and apply the public policies the country needs to produces enough good quality and economically viable food, and at reasonable prices for the population. It also aims to generate surpluses as reserves in the event of contingencies and exports and to bolster the system, to guarantee the right to eat for the poorest, and most vulnerable Dominicans, such as pregnant women and the aged.