New York City’s Dominican diaspora thronged to Hostos Community College on Tuesday, September 24th to hear the President of the Dominican Republic speak about the accomplishments of his first term and his plans to press forward with the sweeping reforms he has initiated across the DR.  Having come to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, President Abinader took the opportunity to address his largest constituency outside of his homeland, appearing at three schools, culminating with his address at the Main Theatre in the Hostos Center for Arts and Culture. 



Dominican Consul General Jesús Vásquez Martínez on stage and with Hostos President Dr. Daisy Cocco De Filippis and SVP Esther Rodríguez-Chardavoyne

Jesús Vásquez Martínez, Consul General of the Dominican Republic in NY, fired up the crowd with a full-throated endorsement of President Abinader and his vision, followed by Dr. Rafael Lantigua, Professor of Medicine at Columbia University, who noted the contributions to the prosperity of Dominicans in NY of Hostos President Dr. Daisy Cocco De Filippis, who was there with Senior Vice President Esther Rodríguez-Chardavoyne and other members of her cabinet, faculty, SGA President Dainma Martínez and other students. Hostos has a student body that averages 65% Hispanic, with a large number of Dominicans, and President Cocco De Filippis is the first Dominican woman ever to run a CUNY college.

Interim Vice President of Student Development and Enrollment Management Dr. Althea Sterling, SGA VP Jasmin Sánchez, SGA President Dainma Martínez, President Cocco De Filippis, and SVP Rodriguez-Chardavoyne.

Dominican President Luis Abinader, who’s mother lived for years in Corona, Queens, said he was proud of the Dominican community in the U.S.

President Abinader spoke eloquently for 45 minutes, without notes or a teleprompter, touting the accomplishments of his administration's first 4 years. He spoke of how they had protected the country through the pandemic and were the first country in the world to return to pre-pandemic levels of tourism; how poverty in the DR had dropped markedly, and expansions of safety nets like medical and life insurance, and social security had helped the nation flourish again and have a robust middle class. Increases in police pay and benefits also improved morale and helped bring the homicide rate down to the second lowest in the region. 



He also promised constitutional reforms to protect democratic stability in the country, build new railways and hospitals, and to double the economy in the next four years. “The Dominican Republic is a country with a great present, and an even better future! Trust us. We know what we’re doing. The country is on the right path.” And with a nod to the people in attendance at the College, he said how proud he was of the Dominican community in the U.S. “We have so many young people who are prepared, so many Dominicans in the United States who will help us to lift up the country.”

Left to right: Consul General Jesús Vásquez Martínez, Dean of Community Relations Ana García Reyes, President Luis Abinader, SVP Esther Rodríguez-Chardavoyne, and Dr. Rafael Lantigua.

For her part, President Cocco De Filippis was proud to have hosted President Abinader’s address to New York’s Dominican community at Hostos. She is grateful for the recognition of her and the College’s contributions to the ongoing development of the DR and its people. “As a proud Dominican-born American, I am delighted that President Abinader recognized our commitment to the prosperity of Dominicans in our community. Our Dominican students are a part of the wonderfully diverse tapestry of national, ethnic, and religious backgrounds that makes Hostos such a welcoming place for all who strive for better futures, such as that described by President Abinader tonight.”