"They come here and give us a half-hearted treatment and then they get all worked up," he said, after stressing that he had made more than 200 calls to officials without receiving a response.
SANTO DOMINGO– The mayor of Higüey, Karina Aristy, strongly criticized the current situation in La Altagracia, asserting that the deteriorating roads and the lack of real solutions have brought the population to an unsustainable. Her statements came during a community meeting where she affirmed that in over 50 years of experience she had never spoken so frankly.
“This is my government, this is my president, and I’m not going to lie to my president. This province is not doing well,” Aristy stated, emphasizing that the reality of the region does not reflect the attention it deserves. He denounced the fact that the streets “can’t take any more”and that the repairs being done are merely superficial solutions that quickly fall apart.
The official asserted that there isn't a single passable street: "They come here and give us a quick fix, and it all falls apart. There isn't a street you can walk on two weekends in a row. Motorcycle racing is a nightmare." She indicated that the situation has worsened rather than improved.
Aristy stated that, before making his grievances public, he made over 200 calls to ministers, military personnel, and other officials in the relevant institutions, seeking solutions without success. He said his persistence was not a political issue, but rather a matter of responsibility to his community.
He also addressed the incident in La Ceiba, clarifying that while it doesn't fall directly under his jurisdiction, it is part of his province. That's why he decided to intervene, even though his presence was misinterpreted as a political act, despite the situation requiring immediate support.
The mayor questioned the delayed response to the family who lost two girls, one 16 years old and the other 4, amidst the ongoing problems in that community. "How can you tell a parent that it's a blessing the teams arrived after that?" she asked indignantly.
He recalled that the protest in the area could have been avoided if the 2.9 kilometers of road that had been neglected for years had been repaired. "A strike was organized, but that could have been avoided," Aristy insisted.
These statements were made during a meeting with authorities from the "Government with You" program, held last weekend in La Altagracia province.
