14 August, 2004
July 15, 2004
Dr. Leonel Fernández Reina
President of the Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Distinguished Doctor Fernández,
It is with pleasure that we extend our congratulations to you and your political party for the success accomplished during the recent presidential elections.
We also take this opportunity to express to you our concern vis-à-vis the adverse socio-economic conditions experienced by the inhabitants of the bateyes, to whom we have been providing humanitarian assistance in their struggle for economic and social re-integration.
According to a 1999 State Sugar Council (CEA) — CEA?s Bateyes Sugar Mills survey, done by the Reform Commission of the Public Firm (CREP), the bateyes lodge 43,154 families with approximately 200,000 habitants, representing 2% of the Dominican Republic?s total population. 66 percent of mothers identified their nationality and that of their children as Dominican; 6 percent as Haitian; and 14 percent as Haitian-Dominican. Most of these families do not enjoy adequate living conditions needed for the development of a dignified human life. Food, clean water and sanitation facilities are scarce. Access to basic education is limited while that to health services and essential drugs is almost non-existent. Unemployment rate is at its highest.
It is because of the situation stated above that we hope the national agenda to be set by your new government, beginning on August 16 of this year, will include programs that target the improvement of these communities already living in extreme poverty.
The Batey Relief Alliance (BRA), through its sister organization, BRA Dominicana, and its 12 non-governmental Dominican-based member organizations continue to implement important projects in the provinces of Monte Plata, Santo Domingo, Barahona, San Pedro de Macoris, areas of the eastern and northern regions, and the border zones with Haiti. Since 1998, the BRA has invested close to RD $100 million in humanitarian health assistance and education for the development of various impoverished communities . BRA Dominicana has also established close and fruitful working relationships with the Ministry of Public Health (SESPAS), CEA, as well as a number of well-established international, health, academic and faith-based institutions.
BRA operates a 30-foot fully equipped mobile health clinic currently providing permanent medical attention with medicines and vitamins to the inhabitants of over 35 bateyes and rural communities in Sábana Grande de Boyá. We are completing the construction of a medical center at batey Cinco Casas (Municipal District of Don Juan) that will provide, starting 2005, sustainable health services and preventive health education to more than 30 bateyes and rural communities in Monte Plata.
BRA also implements programs that include the prevention of blindness, training of promoters in health crisis prevention techniques, and donations of medicines, vitamins, food and medical supplies to local member organizations and government partner agencies, raising their capacity to adequately serve their respective needy populations. Additionally, we provide emergency aid to victims of natural disasters, and organize annually several medical and eye care missions inside batey and other impoverished urban and rural communities bringing volunteer Haitian, Canadian, American and French health care specialists to work alongside local Dominican providers who are committed to the economic and social progress of the living poor. BRA also raises public awareness by hosting annual international conferences in the United States, providing a unique opportunity for government officials, scholars and students from the Dominican Republic and Haiti to exchange views on bilateral issues affecting their societies.
Our humanitarian effort has helped improve living conditions of families and save thousands of lives inside the Dominican Republic without regards to race, sex, creed, religion, national origin or political affiliations. But we can do much more ? together. This is why, Dr. Leonel Fernandez, we are urging you to keep the plight of the bateyes at the top of the list of priorities in your new administration?s agenda. We are ready and willing to continue to offer our support to the Dominican Republic for the solution of this human tragedy, just as we have done for the past seven years.
Please know that in BRA Dominicana, the Batey Relief Alliance and the member organizations, you are assured firm and sincere partners who are committed to work for the benefit of all of the inhabitants of the bateyes, rural and urban communities and border regions of the Dominican Republic.
Respectfully yours,
Lic. Nexcy D? León
President, BRA Dominicana
Ulrick Gaillard, J.D.
Executive Director, Batey Relief Alliance
Member and partner organizations to the Batey Relief Alliance
· Lic. Virtudes Berroa
Executive Director, BRA Dominicana
· Lic. Lorenzo Mota King
Executive Director, SSID (Servicio Social de Iglesias Dominicanas), Member
· Lic. Gerald Monfleury
Executive Director, Pastoral Haitiana Distrito Nacional, Member
· Lic. Zunilda Chevalier Nova
Executive Director, ASOMADE (Asociación de Mujeres en Acción y Desarrollo), Member
· Lic. Fermina Garcia
Executive Director, COSALUP (Colectivo de Salud Popular), Member
· Lic. Elizardo Puello
Executive Director, CASCO (Coordinadora de Animación Socio Cultural), Member
· Lic. Marcelino Santos
Executive Director, FUDERSA (Fundación de Desarrollo Rural y Salud), Member
· Dra. Maritza Jiménez Polanco
President, FUNTOSALUD (Fundación Todo Por la Salud), Member
· Lic. Neslie Julien
Executive Director, ALAS DE IGUALDAD, Member
· Lic. Rafael Carvajal
Executive Director, Pro-Caribe, Member
· Lic. Carolina Muñoz
Executive Director, FUNSODE (Fundación Solidaridad y Desarrollo), Member
· Lic. Miguel A. Puente Hernández
President, Club de Leones Santo Domingo Arroyo Hondo, Partner
· Johnny Wray
Administrator Director, Week of Compassion, US, Partner
· George Johnson
Executive Director, New Jersey Eyeglass Recycling Center, US, Partner
