SANTO DOMINGO – “ There is a gap that several journalists and engineers have mentioned regarding the mandatory supervision of private construction projects, which is currently lacking,” President Luis Abinader responded yesterday, regarding the supervision processes in construction projects, in light of the tragedy that occurred on April 8 at the Jet Set nightclub and which to date has claimed the lives of 231 people.
He said that the government is working on public works and infrastructure and has avoided many problems in recent years.
He explained that the Ministry of Housing, Habitat, and Buildings (MIVHED) has been working on a bill for some time, which they hope to have ready as soon as possible, to fill this gap. “In any case, we will also be taking special measures regarding the bill, which must be declared an emergency, and we will also be undertaking other initiatives,” the president stated during the weekly press conference.
He reiterated that there is a gap in the law, which he believes "we have to fix.".
He will respect the investigation of the Public Prosecutor's Office
“We will respect that justice is done as it should be done. And we will respect that. And you will not find any kind of government interference in matters of justice,” Abinader stated.
He said he does not believe they have to wait three months for an investigation, as Onesvie has stated, who reported last week that reports on the collapse at the nightclub would be within that timeframe.
Antoliano Peralta, Legal Advisor to the Executive Branch, intervened to clarify that “If there is one government that has respected all legal processes, it is this government. No one can predict the course a judicial process will take. And much less so the Executive Branch,” he emphasized.
He explained that the course of a legal process often depends on the parties involved. “And justice itself sometimes seems delayed. This is because claimants are often not diligent in completing their files,” he stated.
He added that the justice system has its own dynamics and protocol that are separate from the Executive Branch.
Trust in Leonardo Reyes
President Luis Abinader called for trust in the National Office for Seismic Evaluation and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings (Onesvie), highlighting the qualities of its director, Leonardo Reyes.
“I invite you to investigate who Leonardo Reyes Madera is; he is a very professional person. And there are national and international commissions that will work with him to determine.”.
He emphasized that Reyes comes from the private sector and has worked on all the country's structural and seismic codes. "We're guaranteed that," the president assured.
He asked that the professionalism of Onesvie be respected. "What is absolutely necessary is to know what happened, why it happened, and how it happened. And that is what the public and the government also require.".
Cover photo: Listín Diario.
