On February 27, 2019, the Dominican country and its sons and daughters residing abroad, celebrated 175 years of independence after the nation was under Haitian rule for 22 years and the leaders of the Republic in 1844 declared the country free and independent of any foreign power.
After the efforts made by Dominican patriots to make the country independent from Haitian rule, several military actions took place between 1844 and 1856 and ended up consolidating the republic as a new state. Haitians tried several times to dominate the newly created republic with failed results until in 1867 Haiti recognized Dominican independence.
After departing somewhat from our usual theme, Lawrence, we want to congratulate the Dominican diaspora in general and in particular those who have made Lawrence their home. Today’s Dominicans should not be congratulated only for the independence of their country, but for its independent and enterprising spirit, which has led them to excel in the arts, sports, especially baseball, banking, commerce and politics, very especially these last two areas in the local environment.
In Lawrence, it is very difficult to enter a commercial establishment, and not find a Dominican in front of it. In terms of politics, we are confident without fear of being wrong that for the short time they have been in this country they have achieved what other ethnic groups have spent twice as much, or perhaps they never tried. They have been able to place their best in leadership positions, call them board members as well as elected positions such as councilors, state representatives and mayors.
To the Dominican of yesterday, we only need to express as Cubans, our eternal gratitude for having lent us that great titan, Generalísimo Máximo Gómez, who taught our Mambises to wield the machete and charge against the well-armed Spanish troops until evicted from Cuban territory.
¡Congratulations to all our Dominican friends!
