In the wake of the passing of esteemed politician Vicente Sánchez Baret, President Luis Abinader declared this Saturday a day of official mourning. However, a notable deviation from protocol has sparked controversy: the flags at the Centro de los Héroes fountain were not lowered to half-mast, as mandated by Decree 608-25. This decree explicitly requires the National Flag to be flown at half-mast on military and public buildings across the nation during the mourning period. The oversight occurred as the coffin of the late senator was being transported from the National Congress, where President Abinader and congressional members paid their respects. The flags surrounding the fountain, a symbolic site in front of the National Congress, remained fully raised, directly contravening the executive order. Vicente Sánchez Baret, who served as senator for the Sánchez Ramírez province during three separate terms (1986-1990, 1994-1998, and 1998-2002), was widely revered for his unwavering commitment to honesty, transparency, democracy, and social justice. His legacy is particularly cherished in his home province, where he championed national development and equitable progress. Survived by his wife, Yadira Henríquez, former director of the Presidency’s Social Plan, and their three children—Flory, Yessika, and Vicente Sánchez Henríquez, the current representative for District 1 of the National District—Sánchez Baret’s contributions to public service remain a beacon of integrity and dedication.
Flags in front of the National Congress do not fly at half-mast despite national mourning
