Santo Domingo. – President Luis Abinader led this Saturday the unveiling of a monument in honor of political leader José Francisco Peña Gómez, as well as the official designation of his name to the former Ecological Avenue.
The activity took place in a context marked by recent political tensions surrounding the naming of historical figures to public works. However, the president chose to focus his speech on the significance of Peña Gómez’s legacy.
“I am not going to mention the merits of Dr. Peña Gómez, because those merits are abundant and known by a large part of the people,” expressed Abinader.
The Head of State highlighted the importance of the road, considered one of the main entrances to the city of Santo Domingo, and valued that it bears the name of the historic leader. “Qué better than to have the name of Dr. José Francisco Peña Gómez”, he added.
The act included the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, in the month of the political leader’s birth, as part of an initiative that seeks to pay tribute to his life dedicated to the defense of democracy and civil rights.
Abinader affirmed that this recognition is also reflected in the Government’s public policies. “
We are honoring it every day with social attention, the reduction of poverty and the promotion of a country that not only grows, but also develops socially“, he said.
He also explained that the decision was made under a consensus criterion, avoiding confrontations between historical figures, and cited the legacy of Professor Juan Bosch as a reference.
The mayor of Santo Domingo Este, Dio Astacio, described the designation as an act of historical justice and highlighted the importance of integrating the name of Peña Gómez into the daily lives of citizens. In addition, he assumed the commitment to keep the avenue as one of the cleanest and most organized in the municipality.
For his part, Tony Peña Guaba, vice president of the José Francisco Peña Gómez Foundation, thanked the president for the initiative, considering it a significant gesture for the family, the foundation, and the leader’s followers.
The designation of the
avenue and the monument are part of an effort to preserve historical memory and bring the legacy of one of the most influential figures in Dominican democratic history closer to new generations.
