Carol King, Victor Manuel Baez,
Virtudes Berroa

On September 18, 2003, Victor Manuel Baez, Executive Director of the Dominican’s State Sugar Council — el Consejo Estatal del Azucar (CEA) and Maria Virtudes Berroa, Executive Director of the BRA Dominicana, signed a working agreement in Santo Domingo.

The Agreement called for BRA Dominicana to support the CEA in donations of medicines, vitamins and medical supplies for its health care internvention in the bateyes, while the CEA will support the BRA by providing funding, volunteers, logistics and customs clearance assistance for BRA’s projects in the country. “Our relationship with the CEA has proven to be firm and wise, and is based on mutual trust and respect,” said Carol King, President of the Batey Relief Alliance.

The CEA has already demonstrated its commitment to the agreement by allocating $40,000 towards the renovation of BRA’s medical center at Batey Cinco Casas in Monte Plata, and support our mobile health project at Batey Cojobal” said Virtudes Berroa.

“Our relationship with the CEA started in 1998 under then Director, Ignacio Chiappini. It continued with other Directors that followed, including Oscar Batista, Felix Alcantara and now Manuel Baez, “added Berroa.

The Agrement is renewable after 10 years. BRA entered into a similar agreement with the country’s Ministry of Health (SESPAS) in 2001.