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REBUILDING LIVES
Reconstructing the Dominican Republic after Hurricane Georges
>> Rebuilding Lives Photo Exhibit >> Message from the Mission Director
A Message From Elena Brineman
Mission Director, USAID Dominican RepublicWelcome, everyone, to this exhibition of USAID's accomplishments in Hurricane Georges Reconstruction in the Dominican Republic, an effort that has helped over a million Dominicans recover from disaster and regain hope for the future. Similar USAID efforts have helped millions in other countries throughout Central America and the Caribbean in the wake of Hurricane Georges and Hurricane Mitch. These are impressive results, but USAID also is helping the Dominican Republic achieve sustained economic growth, reduce poverty, deepen democracy, and improve the health of vulnerable groups. I would like to share some of these other accomplishments and challenges with you.
Sustained USAID efforts over the last several years have helped Dominicans develop economic policies that have made their country one of the fastest growing economies in the hemisphere. USAID was also pleased to be able to assist the Dominican Republic adopt measures, like the new social security law, that will help assure a pension safety net and at least minimum universal health care, so that everyone benefits from the growing economy. USAID assistance in development and implementation of a national rural electrification plan will help open up economic opportunities for the 25 percent of the population that does not currently have electric power. Assistance to small business development will help create opportunities for the one-third of Dominicans living in poverty.
An island economy, particularly one dependent upon tourism, agribusiness and light industry, cannot sustain growth if it doesn't protect the environment. USAID has helped the Dominican Republic develop and pass a progressive new environmental law and is helping Dominicans develop environmental norms and standards, and systems for enforcing them. USAID is also helping us to develop a national parks system that will protect key natural and cultural resources the country's economy depends upon. And assistance in the education sector is improving education quality by involving communities and private enterprise in support of local public schools.
Over the past ten years USAID has worked with the Dominicans to ensure free and fair elections and to deepen citizen participation in democratic processes. Now we are assisting the country as the Dominican Congress becomes more representative of constituents through the introduction of electoral districts and direct voting for individual candidates, instead of party slates. USAID is also working with Dominicans to tackle the problem of making political parties more democratic. Impressive advances over the past five years in strengthening the Judiciary, improving the independence of the Courts from political and economic manipulation, and improving Court administration owe much to USAID assistance in judicial reform. Much remains to be done in this critical area and in tackling the problem of corruption. USAID is continuing to help brave Dominican leaders in the public sector and civil society address these thorny issues.
Dominicans are also marching down the path of fundamental reform of their health sector. This reform will ultimately move them to a mixed public/private, fee-for-service system, with universal coverage of a basic health package. USAID has helped the country develop and pass recent laws that established the general framework for the reform. USAID is now helping Dominicans explore ways to effectively implement their dream of an equitable health system. HIV/AIDS, with an incidence of over 2.5 percent in the general population, is a major challenge for the country. USAID's ongoing assistance is helping slow the growth of this epidemic. Years of USAID assistance have helped substantially reduce infant mortality in the country, and there is an urgent need to strengthen vaccination coverage to sustain these gains. USAID investments have improved reproductive health and family planning services in the Dominican Republic, but adolescent pregnancy and high maternal mortality remain major challenges. USAID is continuing to help Dominicans confront these problems.
As you can see, the American people are helping the Dominican Republic, through USAID, in a host of ways - helping build a better future for our Caribbean neighbors and for Dominican-American relations and helping assure that peace is sustained in this small corner of our great world.
Elena Brineman
Mission Director
USAID/Dominican Republic
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Last Updated on: March 11, 2002 |
