The mobilization will also demand government responses regarding issues of access to land, public services, social security, and living conditions in that area of ​​the country, according to the organizers.

Dubbed “The Cry of the Excluded,” the march—joined by peasant, labor union, community, and environmental organizations—aims to bring together representatives from the provinces of La Altagracia, La Romana, El Seibo, Hato Mayor, and San Pedro de Macoris under the slogan “The Eastern Region Rises Up: We Can No Longer Tolerate Such Abuses.”

In a joint statement, they argue that the region’s development in tourism, real estate, agro-industry, and sugar production has not translated proportionally into better living conditions for large sectors of the population.

The movements point to deficiencies in the drinking water supply and demand better health and education services, as well as public policies that guarantee greater social protection for workers and vulnerable communities.

They also denounce evictions, land disputes, violence against women, and alleged labor abuses in certain economic sectors.

Furthermore, they question the actions of sugar, tourism, and real estate companies and hold state institutions accountable for the lack of response to problems they consider historic within the region’s communities.

The movements assert that President Luis Abinader has outstanding commitments to sugarcane workers, peasant communities in El Seibo, women, youth, and Dominicans of Haitian descent.

jdt/mar/mpv