“…In response to the sustainable human development challenges being faced by the DR, the country's political leadership, led by President Leonel Fernandez, has implemented several sustainability-focused "enlightened, progressive, and effective" (Holmes, 2010, p. 625) policies and austere, neoliberal reform measures (Morgan, Hartlyn, & Espinal, 2011) aimed at identifying and implementing international trade partnerships and domestic investments (Business Monitor International, 2010) that promote social, environmental, and economic stability in the nation. Furthermore, the DR's international commitment to the United Nations Millennium Declaration (Gagain, 2006a), and subsequent selection as a Millennium Project pilot country (Gagain, 2006b), has prompted the nation to address domestic sustainable human development issues by prioritizing the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 (Achecar, 2010).…”