Santiago Riverón announces his move to the deputation after concluding his term as mayor of Dajabón
The current mayor of Dajabón, Santiago Riverón Arias, has made official his intention to change the course of his political career. After a trajectory that began as a councilman and continued in the municipal administration under the ranks of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), Riverón has decided that it is time to seek a seat in the Chamber of Deputies.
During a recent appearance on the show Esto No es Radio, the official explained that his time leading the local government has come to an end. According to Riverón, his goal now is to move up to the National Congress to manage larger-scale projects.
We have already exhausted that cycle of the mayor’s office. Now we are going to aspire to the deputation, because I like to take things slowly. In the Lower House, I understand that I can do a job at a national level, work for the country.
Santiago Riverón, mayor of Dajabón
Criticism of municipal management and budgetary challenges
The mayor did not miss the opportunity to point out the difficulties faced by local administrations in the Dominican Republic. Riverón described mayors as “managers of misery,” arguing that municipal governments are under high pressure from social demand, but operate with limited resources. He recalled that, although the law establishes the allocation of 10% of national revenues, in practice, city halls receive barely 3%.
Border security and immigration policy
Known in the area as the “border sentinel,” Riverón was emphatic when addressing the migration crisis and national security. The official warned about the vulnerability at the border line and made an alarming comparison regarding the risks of unprovoked incursions.
- He proposed the creation of a massive detention center with the capacity to house between 40,000 and 50,000 people.
- He suggested implementing penalties of up to two years in prison for those migrants who reoffend in illegality after having been deported.
- He denounced the acquisition of large tracts of land on the border by foreign businessmen and supports a draft bill to prohibit the sale of land in this area for national security reasons.
Finally, the mayor of Dajabón questioned current policies and unilateral trade restrictions imposed from the neighboring country, urging a deep review of the migration strategy to guarantee the sovereignty and security of the Dominican territory.
