Dr Félix Antonio Cruz Jiminián said that “thousands” of fundamental rights violations were committed every day, and that was his main reason for aspiring to become the new Ombudsman.
Cruz Jiminián, who is recognized for the social work he does through his private clinic, said that what he does least at his institution is “examine people” and prioritize going out where there is a social problem to try to it solves it.
“I know there are many questions that worry people about what will happen to the poor who visit my clinic and I can tell you that I am the doctor or maybe the worker, who sees more people a day in the history of the Dominican Republic, but out of 100 people I see, 90 or 95 come with a social problem, “the doctor said during his interview with the Chamber of Deputies commission that is working on the shortlist for the Ombudsman and his deputies.
For Cruz Jiminián, “there is a law that does not apply” to those citizens whose rights have been violated and consider the ombudsman in a place where they can go.
“The Ombudsman does not have the power to imprison people, but to denounce them and bring them to justice. That is why I decided to accept to aspire to this position “, he underlined.
Measures to be implemented
If elected, the doctor agreed with previous applicants who were interviewed that the foundation of the institution should be the culture and education of the population about their fundamental rights.
Similarly, it would be applied as a measure to reach the entire national territory and places such as prisons where, according to the doctor, “there are abuses and cruelties unimaginable.”
“The ombudsman has a very large field, but the first step I would take is to put a suggestion box in every prison to find out what’s going on there. The second, at no cost to the ombudsman, would be to visit all the provinces and municipalities and in each school I will set up a moral and civic school and present a bill so that every public and private employee has a certificate. of morality and civility to access a job ”.
Vaccine
In other words, when asked if he would recommend the population to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the doctor was clear.
“In our country there is a general lack of culture. Here everyone talks on networks. I saw someone telling people not to get vaccinated, if we weren’t vaccinated for polio, we would all be dead or all with disabilities. The vaccine is the same small disease, but it is able to develop defenses. I have a high defense at the moment, but if it arrives at this time I am the first to be vaccinated, vaccines are needed and everyone does it, in the United States, Germany, Russia, I get them, if everyone gives, the third will not do it “, he asked.
The Ombudsman Commission interviewed 20 candidates for the post of Head of the Ombudsman, as well as a Member of Parliament.