He will award medals to rescuers
SANTO DOMINGO. – President Luis Abinader delivered a message this Monday, marking one week since the Jet Set tragedy that has so far resulted in the death of 231 people and around 200 injured.
During his weekly interview with La Prensa, as he does every Monday, Abinader offered an emotional message to the families of the victims and to the Dominican people, highlighting that the catastrophe has generated a "strong emotional impact" for him, revealing that he lost 11 close people in it.
"I had many friends there, I was the godfather at Eduardo Estrella's wedding and we are family, distant family, third cousins, we are family. There were seven or eight people there, very close friends, with whom we had met two or three days before, I can mention eleven or twelve people," he added.
The president acknowledged the work of the statists, who attended Monday's meeting and whom he assured he would decorate, for which a decree will be issued.
“I have instructed the Legal Counsel of the Executive Branch to draft a Decree of decoration that highlights the patriotic and sacred work of the hundreds of people who with perseverance and courage joined the rescue efforts, who saved lives and who uplifted our spirit with their actions.”.
President Luis Abinader's message:
The last few days have touched our souls; what we have experienced hurts, it hurts as a country, it hurts as a community, it hurts deep down.
Abinader greeted all the rescuers who participated in the operation. (EXTERNAL SOURCE).
We have lost loved ones, family members, friends, acquaintances, good people, valuable people, people we miss today, but in the midst of the pain, the best of us has also emerged, the best of our people: solidarity, dedication, the sense of community that defines us so much as Dominicans.
To the families who are grieving today, who are experiencing anguish, or who are facing a process of recovery, I want to say one thing clearly: you are not alone, you are not alone. An entire country is with you, an entire country embraces you. The Dominican State is and will continue to be by your side with respect, solidarity, and compassion.
- I ask you to join me in honoring with a minute of silence those who are no longer with us today.
From the very first moment, from the very first second, our rescuers, our doctors, our volunteers, our public servants have been there, right where they were needed. They were there tirelessly, without hesitation.
Today, I have instructed the Legal Comptroller's Office of the Executive Branch to draft a decree of decoration that highlights the patriotic and dedicated work of the hundreds of people who with perseverance and courage joined the rescue efforts, who saved lives and who uplifted our spirit with their actions.
We are in contact with each of the institutions involved, and so as not to leave out any of the heroes who, in their various roles, made us proud during this difficult and painful time for the nation, we want to be fair and seek and give that distinction, that recognition, to each of those who worked in this painful tragedy.
Thank you all for reminding us that, even in the toughest, most difficult, most painful moments, the Dominican Republic rises up, rises up united, rises up strong, rises up bright.
Today is a day for reflection, for pausing, for breathing, for returning to what is essential: to life, to family, to faith and to peace.
