President Leonel Fernández, along with Vice President Rafael Alburquerque and the first lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, paid homage to the earthquake victims in Haiti during a ceremony on the steps of the National Palace, where they observed a minute of silence.

Was also present: many Dominicans ministers (Luis Manuel Bonetti, Juan Temistocles Montás) as well as officials and employees of the National Palace.

In the homage Leonel Fernández said that the Dominican Republic was the first country that offered aid, to sent hundreds of tons of food, of medical equipment and personnel for the rescue of victims and debris removal. That Dominican hospitals have received thousands of injured, that mobile kitchens for economic dinners were sent to deliver raw and cooked food to affected families. President Fernández also recalled that he was the first president to visit Haiti, to show solidarity of the Dominicans with the Haitian people and call on other nations of the world to collaborate in the reconstruction of the neighboring nation.

Previously, Fritz Cinéas, Ambassador of Haiti in Dominican Republic, accompanied by several officials of the delegation and leaders of the Haitian Student Association, had laid a wreath of flowers in front of the embassy, in Santo-Domingo. During this ceremony, he warmly thanked the Government, and welcomed the solidarity and the support of the Dominican people face the earthquake of January 12, 2010 that struck his country.

Several wreaths were laid front the embassy in memory of the 300,000 deaths from the earthquake. The ambassador said that" the Haitian tragedy had helped to unite the two nations of the island."

Floriales Nikerson, President of the Haitian Student Association in the country, accompanied of Ketl Milien James, Jeff and Julian Marckenson Desir, thanked the Dominicans who, from the first day of the earthquake, came to his country to help people affected and all other countries that have expressed their solidarity with the Haitian people.

Nikerson appealed to the leaders of Haiti, asking them to take responsibility for the reconstruction and promised, that after completing their studies in the country, they are ready to come and work for the development and the common good of Haiti "We want to emphasize that the reconstruction of Haiti cannot be left to others, but we must assume our responsibilities" concluded the President of the student association.

TB/ HaitiLibre