Santo Domingo.- They are looking at us from the outside: the director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Rebecca Latorraca, affirmed, during a workshop on the “Institutional Strengthening and Transparency Program for the Transformation of the Police”, that civil society now observes in the National Police greater professionalism, transparency and legitimacy.
The workshop was sponsored by USAID and the International Criminal Investigation Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) in early October. The official cited, among the successes of the Police, the creation of the Network of Peaceful Coexistence Managers, which strengthens the collaboration of this institution with the community.
She promised that USAID will continue to support the Government and affirmed that from that institution:
“We have accompanied them in strengthening the Police; much has been achieved, but this process does not end. Today is a propitious moment to ratify our commitment to continue working together for a future free of violence”. Rebecca Latorraca (USAID Director)
The “Institutional Strengthening and Transparency Program for the Transformation of the Police” is a prevention and accompaniment program for the vulnerable population that aims to reach more than two million Dominicans, as part of the Integral Strategy for Citizen Security “My Safe Country” implemented by the Ministry of Interior and Police, to promote a culture of peace, explained the official.
The Minister of Interior and Police, Jesús Vásquez, thanked the collaboration of the U.S. Government, through USAID and ICITAP, and guaranteed that these initiatives will be continued, assuring that this program has allowed the police force to have an integral management system that includes models that make it possible to advance in institutional development and legitimacy.
“On behalf of the Government of the Dominican Republic, I reiterate once again that we are very grateful for all these contributions. We are aware and committed to maintain them and preserve their implementation, not only of the integral management system, but also of the contributions in the area of human resources of the National Police,” he said.
He explained that many of USAID’s contributions were included in the regulations for the application of the Organic Law of the National Police, while the director of the Police, Major General Eduardo Alberto Then, explained the progress made by the institution thanks to the support of that organization and assured that they show satisfactory results.
In addition, the director of the Western Hemisphere of ICITAP, Samuel Colón, emphasized that the achievements of the program also include the Integral Police Planning System and the Integral Strategy for the Attention of Women and Domestic Violence, and expressed his gratitude for the trust that the Government has placed in the organization.
The activity included dialogues on institutional development and the building of bonds of trust, with the participation of officers, enlisted men, youth and community leaders, and was attended by Deputy Ministers Mercedes Pérez, of Preventive Security in Vulnerable Sectors; Ángela Jáquez, of Preventive Security in Provincial Governments, and Fernando Nolberto, of Citizen Coexistence.
Also present were José Vila del Castillo, commissioner for Police Reform; Servio Tulio Castaños Guzmán, vice-president of the Institutionalism and Justice Foundation (FINJUS), and Víctor Benavides, director of the Ministerial Cabinet.
