Adriano Sánchez Roa reaffirms support for Gonzalo Castillo and questions the management of the agricultural sector
Former senator and agricultural expert, Adriano Sánchez Roa, gave a forceful interview where he reiterated his unconditional support for Gonzalo Castillo within the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). During his intervention, the political leader not only highlighted Castillo’s leadership qualities but also presented a critical analysis of the current situation of the Dominican countryside.
Sánchez Roa, with an extensive career in the congressional and union spheres, asserted that Gonzalo Castillo maintains a solid position within the PLD structure. According to his estimates, the former Minister of Public Works has the backing of more than 60% of the Central Committee, in addition to strong support in the intermediate committees and municipal directorates of the purple party.
Gonzalo became a political phenomenon; he is a pragmatic man who talks about the three meals and the need for medicines to be available to those who need them.
Adriano Sánchez Roa
Criticism of agricultural management
Leveraging his experience leading institutions such as the Agricultural Bank and FEDA, the former legislator denounced a setback in national production. Sánchez Roa questioned international statistics on the eradication of hunger, suggesting that the data provided by the Government to organizations such as the FAO do not reflect the reality experienced by Dominican households in the face of rising costs of the basic food basket.
The leader detailed several critical points that, in his view, affect the development of the sector:
- Massive imports: There is a flow of food imports of nearly 6 billion dollars annually, which displaces the local producer.
- Technical neglect: The cancellation of specialists has facilitated the spread of pests, including the mango worm and African swine fever.
- Unproductive land: It is estimated that there are nearly 5 million ‘tareas’ of land currently idle.
- Institutional crisis: He pointed out the demoralization of Agriculture employees, who have resorted to protests for salary improvements amidst a context of government spending in non-priority areas.
Political vision and aspirations
Regarding the PLD’s electoral strategy, Sánchez Roa was emphatic in pointing out that the main objective is to work under Danilo Medina’s guidelines to achieve victory in the first round. Faced with questions about Gonzalo Castillo’s absence from public debates, the former senator argued that whoever leads in the polls should not take risks in scenarios where they can only tie or lose ground.
Regarding the future of his province, Elías Piña, the politician highlighted that the region possesses significant potential in mountain tourism and agribusiness. As for his personal plans, Sánchez Roa confessed that he is consulting with the population about a possible candidacy for the Senate, admitting that current political activity has transformed into an extremely expensive and complex endeavor.
