Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Wednesday, February 17, 1999

Release #053-99

Contact: Colleen Roche/Samantha I. Lugo (212) 788-2958


MAYOR GIULIANI SALUTES THE DOMINICAN COMMUNITY ON THE 155th ANNIVERSARY OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC INDEPENDENCE

Recognizes City Agencies Deployed to the Dominican Republic After Hurricane Georges

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today proclaimed the month of January 26 to February 27 as Dominican Heritage Month in commemoration of the 155th anniversary of the Dominican Republic's Independence at a City Hall proclamation ceremony and reception. Joining the Mayor were Deputy Mayor Ninfa Segarra and the Consul General of the Dominican Republic Bienvenido Pérez.

"More than 110,000 Dominican immigrants came to New York City in the first half of this decade alone, making the Dominican community the fastest growing immigrant community in the city as we approach the millennium," Mayor Giuliani said.

"The Dominican community successfully shares our values of family, faith and hard work. Their growth and prosperity have influenced all areas of our society and helped revive and rejuvenate neighborhoods throughout the City. I invite all New Yorkers to celebrate the contributions and traditions of the Dominican community, an important part of life in New York City."

The Mayor also recognized the City emergency workers who were deployed to the Dominican Republic to reconstruct the Dr. Carl Th. Georg Hospital in San Pedro de Macoris after Hurricane Georges. The departments of Buildings, Design and Construction, Environmental Protection, Fire, Health, Parks and Recreation, Police, Sanitation and Transportation, the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management, and the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, with the cooperation of ConEdison, provided manpower, tactical assistance, field operations and supplies to complete the reconstruction.

"The generosity and dedication of our City workers allowed us to fulfill a promise and to bring hope and aid to a region devastated by tragedy. The hospital that you helped rebuild will be a source of life and comfort for those in need for generations to come. I want to thank everyone involved in the reconstruction of the Carl Th. Georg Hospital for their efforts and accomplishments. This is an example of how effective we can be when we work together," the Mayor added.

In recognition its independence, the Dominican community has sponsored a series of concerts, conferences, exhibits, lectures and other events throughout the City to celebrate its history and culture.

The campaign for the independence of the Dominican Republic began in 1831 under the leadership of Juan Pablo Duarte, who formed a secret society named The Trinity. Thirteen years later, he succeeded in commanding a decisive uprising, which resulted in independence for the Dominican Republic. After the long and hard campaign for freedom had ended, a ceremonial musket shot fired on February 27, 1844 marked the Dominican Republic's first official Independence Day.

The event was sponsored by the Chase Manhattan Bank, Ad Infinitum, the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York, Heineken USA, Salsa Caterers, Sony Discos, Suprema, TG Productions and Victory Foods.

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