August 6, 2022

At the request of the Dominican Government, under the direct coordination of President Luis Abinader; Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez and Ambassador to Canada Michelle Cohen, a Boeing C-17 Globemaster will land with more than 52,000 pounds of equipment in the next few hours at Las Américas Airport.

OTTAWA, Canada.- The Federal Government of Canada agreed to a request for help presented by the Dominican Republic to provide equipment and trained personnel to help the rescue of two men who have been trapped for a week in the underground mine of the Dominican Mining Corporation (CORMIDOM) in Cerro de Maimón.

By direct intervention of President Luis Abinader, Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez and the Dominican Ambassador to Canada Michelle Cohen, a Boeing C-17 Globemaster military aircraft will depart in the next few hours to the country loaded with a mining excavation system, made up of machines, tools, various rescue technologies with more than 52,000 lbs.

The equipment to be used in the rescue operation was provided - in a solidarity gesture of a humanitarian nature - by the company Machines Roger International, a mining company established in Val-d'Or, Canada. Canadian Foreign Minister Melaine Joly has been at the forefront of cooperation to achieve the goal in a short time.

Among the equipment carried by the aircraft -which would land at José Francisco Peña Gómez Las Américas International Airport- are a Cubex Model 6200 drill, which weighs more than 25,000 pounds with its mast, and a Booster R-110 Cubex, reinforcement of 8,500 pounds. Toolboxes, rod racks, transformers and miscellaneous material make up the rest of the equipment.

The aid to the Dominican Republic from Canada for the rescue of miners Gregory Alexander Méndez Torres and Carlos Yépez Ospina, is carried out in coordination with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense, the Canadian Armed Forces and their counterparts in the Dominican Republic.

CORMIDOM, which manages or operates an underground metal mine in Cerro Maimón, Monseñor Nouel province, is a Dominican company with Canadian capital and shareholders.

The aircraft will be taking off for the Dominican Republic this Sunday, August 7, 2022 from Val-d'Or Regional Airport, located five hours north of Ottawa, and landing at Las Américas International Airport in the afternoon of the same day.

The Dominican delegation has been in direct contact with Lieutenant General Carlos Luciano Díaz Morfa, Minister of Defense, Antonio Almonte Reynoso, Minister of Energy and Mines; Rolando Muñoz, General Director of Mining; Miguel de Peña, mining advisor to the Executive Branch, Christine Laberge, Canadian Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, and Elizabeth Mena, Vice President of CORMIDOM.

June 20, 2022

Santo Domingo.- The Cabinet for Children and Adolescents welcomed the approval this Wednesday of the Law that creates the National System of Comprehensive Care for Early Childhood and the National Institute of Comprehensive Care for Early Childhood (Inaipi), declared an emergency by the Chamber of Deputies.

The first lady Raquel Arbaje, president of the Cabinet , thanked the senators and deputies, especially the respective presidents of the Upper and Lower Chambers, Eduardo Estrella and Alfredo Pacheco, for approving this piece of legislation that will allow the network of childcare centers to be expanded , which currently receive 159,228 boys and girls, and respond to requests made from all provinces of the country.

“ We are very satisfied with this good news. In November 2021, together with Inaipi and the National Council for Children and Adolescents (Conani), we delivered the bill that seeks to guarantee comprehensive care for early childhood, a task that was supported by a highly committed technical team. and that today is a reality , ”said Arbaje.

Likewise, he thanked all the members of the Gender and Family Commission of the Senate of the Republic , chaired by Senator Melania Salvador; as well as the Permanent Commission for Children, Adolescents and the Family of the Chamber of Deputies , chaired by deputy Ysabel de la Cruz, for achieving the unanimous vote for the benefit of boys and girls.

The aforementioned law, which will go to the Executive Power for its enactment, guarantees comprehensive early childhood care through the ordering of the institutional framework, the mechanisms for inter-institutional and intersectoral coordination and articulation, provision of services, supervision and financing, in coherence with the current legal framework in the country.

June 30, 2022

The meeting, in follow-up to the Business Mission that visited the country last October, represents an important step in cooperation in security and defense matters for the country.

Mirabel, Quebec, Canada.- The Ambassador of the Dominican Republic in Canada, Michelle Cohen, visited the facilities of the company Bell Textron Canada, based in the city of Mirabel, near Montreal, with the aim of strengthening cooperation ties in security and defense for the benefit of the country.

The Dominican diplomat was received by Mr. Marc Bigaouette, director of the business organization, who highlighted the important significance for Bell Textron Canada of strengthening its relations with the government authorities of the Dominican Republic.

During this technical inspection visit to the facilities, Ambassador Michelle Cohen expressed her gratitude for Bell Textron interest's in the country and the willingness of the Dominican government to continue working hand in hand with Canada to build a safer region.

At the event, held as a follow-up to the High-Level Business Mission of Canadian public and private entities that visited the country last October, the representative of the Dominican State was accompanied by members of the Dominican diplomatic corps accredited in Canada.

Cohen was also accompanied by representatives of the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), which has an important relationship built with the Dominican Republic for almost a decade.

Bell Textron Canada is part of the Bell Textron business group, a subsidiary of the American multinational Textron, and is a company dedicated to the manufacture of aeronautical equipment, which manufactures both military and commercial helicopters, and for civil use, at its different headquarters.

The Canadian Government Programs of the Bell Textron division in Mirabel are directed by Mr. Marc Bigaouette, who joined Bell in 2017 after developing a 37-year career in the Canadian Air Force, piloting important aircraft and standing out for his leadership as an Officer. Commander of the Canadian Helicopter Force in Afghanistan.

May 7, 2022

Montréal, Canada. The Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Canada held the cultural conference "Rosa Duarte: Madre de la Patria", which was attended by various personalities from the Dominican diaspora as well as community leaders residing in that city.

The renowned Dominican writer and diplomat, Mrs. Chiqui Vicioso, imparted the conference to those present, highlighting the life and work of Rosa Protomártir Duarte y Díez, a woman dedicated to the patriotic cause and an active member of La Trinitaria society together with her brother Juan Pablo Duarte, Father of the Nation and founder of the Dominican Republic.

During her presentation, the diplomat took advantage of the historical journey of the brave independence fighter to also highlight the trajectory of important Dominican women who, thanks to their contributions to society, since the creation of our nation, contributed to the freedom and sovereignty of the Dominican people.

Mrs. Vicioso has a degree in Sociology and History of Latin America from The City University of New York (Brooklyn College), with a master's degree in Design of Educational Programs at Columbia University and studies in Administration of Cultural Projects at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, in Rio de Janeiro Brazil. She was Director of Education for Pro-Familia (1981-1985), Consultant for the UN Program for the Development of Women (1986-1987) and National Officer for Women's Programs at UNICEF.

The Dominican ambassador to Canada, Michelle Cohen, thanked the diaspora for attending the event, especially Mrs. Chiqui Vicioso, for providing the Dominican community with such valuable historical information at said conference and for her contributions as a writer and diplomat of our country.

April 21, 2022

The diplomat was accompanied by the Canadian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Michael Grant, and was received by the ambassadors José Julio Gómez, Vice Minister of Bilateral Foreign Policy; and Rubén Silié, Deputy Minister of Multilateral Foreign Policy, with whom they discussed tangential issues on the political and commercial agenda between both nations.

On behalf of Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez, Vice Minister Gómez gave the parliamentarian a commemorative gift to celebrate the 68th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Dominican Republic and Canada, which were established on April 22, 1954.

The Canadian official's visit was carried out under the coordination of Minister Álvarez, through Deputy Minister Gómez, together with the ambassadors, Dominican in Canada, Michelle Cohen; and the Canadian in the country, Christine Laberge, who also participated in the meeting.

The diplomat has on the agenda to meet with other senior officials of the Dominican Government and private sector entities.

About the diplomat and member of parliament

The Canadian Member of Parliament for Foreign Policy Affairs has held important positions within the Government of Canada, and currently holds his mandate attached to Chancellor Joly.

April 19, 2022

Ottawa, Canada.- Canadian businessmen from various sectors, government officials of this country, and representatives of the diplomatic corps participated in the reception conference “Benefits of investing in the Dominican Republic from the angle of foreign experience.”

The activity was defined by the Dominican Ambassador to Canada, Michelle Cohen, as the prelude to the organization of a second mixed (public-private) mission to the Dominican Republic to explore trade and investment opportunities.

The conference reception, hosted by the Dominican Embassy in Canada, was attended by Mrs. Robin Bernstein, former U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, as a special guest.

Bernstein stressed that he traveled to Ottawa to show the important relationship between the Caribbean country and the United States.

The diplomat highlighted the ease of doing business in the country and what the thriving tourism sector offers to foreign investors.

The Dominican Ambassador to Canada, Michelle Cohen, thanked those present, especially Mrs. Bernstein, for accepting the invitation to such an important meeting and for the work done in the country during her tenure as a diplomat.

She recalled that in the management as ambassador, Bernstein received a commercial mission from about 50 companies, ports, and commercial representatives of Florida, very interested in the Dominican Republic.

“In addition to the territorial proximity between the Dominican Republic and North America, the Dominican Republic has the advantage that the Dominican government offers a good level of confidence, political stability and solid incentives to investors for the trade, manufacturing, construction, agribusiness, hospitality and other sectors, so we invite Canadians to invest and do business with our country,” Cohen noted.

February 28, 2022

First open public event held at the Mayor's Office of the city of Ottawa, capital of Canada.

Ottawa, Canada.- The Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Canada carried out an emotional event of raising the National Flag at the Ottawa City Hall, in commemoration of the 178th Anniversary
of Dominican Independence.

Ambassador Michelle Cohen, who presided the ceremony, addressed a speech to the public gathered at the municipal headquarters of the city, highlighting the historical legacy left by the
Fathers of the Nation, the values ​​of la Dominicanidad and the commitment of the Dominican Republic to continue working to promote human rights, peace and the development of peoples.

The diplomat, who was accompanied at the ceremony by her father, Mr. Leonardo Cohen, a long-time ambassador attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Dominican consuls general in Canada,
as well as members of the embassy, ​​expressed her gratitude on behalf of the Dominican State and her own, the facility provided by the city of Ottawa, especially its mayor, Mr. Jim Watson, and all the
staff of that council, for the realization of this important event on such a special date for Dominicans.

The event was attended by ambassadors, high commissioners, colleagues from the accredited diplomatic corps in Canada, and leaders and members of the Dominican diaspora who traveled from
different Canadian provinces to the capital city, for the celebration of the Independence and honors to the National Flag.

February 16, 2022

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader announced to the country this Wednesday night that all the restrictive measures imposed by COVID-19 are suspended, and that from now on we will all have to take care of ourselves, responsibly, but without restrictions.   

“Measures such as the use of the mask, the need to present the vaccination card to access all places or the restrictions in public spaces today are the individual responsibility of each and every one of us. After this long battle, we began to recover our freedom," said the president.  

He said that the country deserves and needs an emotional recovery and to leave behind the measures that had to be imposed for a time that is already past. The head of state offered this information through a speech addressed to the entire nation broadcast by different media outlets in the country.

Notwithstanding this announcement, the president assured that the population will continue to be voluntarily invited to be vaccinated to complete the vaccination program and continue to guarantee full access to the vaccine for everyone and in any circumstance. 

“We will continue to monitor and observe the situation. The country can also be sure that, unlike in the past, today our health system is prepared to deal with any eventuality,” President Abinader assured.

During his speech, the president affirmed that the government did what it had to do to protect the people “and time has proven us right in our actions against the pandemic. We put ourselves at the forefront, we bet on contracting the widest variety of vaccines, we applied innovative treatments and we were among the first in the world to propose a third dose, despite the little faith of a few”.

The head of state thanked the doctors, the nurses and all the health personnel, the military and police, and the businessmen who provided human and economic resources for the cause.

“Thanks, above all, to the millions of Dominicans who complied with the measures and went to get vaccinated. Thanks to all this, we have overcome the worst of the pandemic: today the daily infections and those of the last four weeks are in sharp decline, we have one of the lowest mortality rates in the world and a very low hospital occupancy, ”said the president.

New contribution to tourism and business DR-Canada

First flight landed at AILA of new Toronto-Santo Domingo route

On Air Canada flight 1722, which marks the historic beginning of the route, the ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Canada, Michelle Cohen, arrived on board, with the support of the diplomatic legation and the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, worked towards this achievement.

December 16, 2021

Punta Caucedo, Las Américas Airport.- The Dominican embassy in Canada announced today the formal start of direct flights Toronto-Santo Domingo, a new route that will contribute to the dynamization of trade, business relations and tourism from that north country.

Air Canada Flight 1722, which marks the historic beginning of the route, departed this Thursday from Toronto Pearson International Airport and landed at 2:10 in the afternoon at Las Américas International Airport José Francisco Peña Gómez with Dominican ambassador Michelle Cohen on board.

Cohen, who formally communicated the event to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Álvarez, indicated that the event is the result of the efforts of the Dominican diplomatic mission in Canada, in the context of the reactivation of the flow of tourism and commercial exchange between both countries.

Expressed that the management was assumed following the guidelines of President Luis Abinader, Álvarez and the Minister of Tourism, David Collado.

The pilots of the plane are Captain Nagel Jackson and Cristopher Sephens, followed by the rest of the crew Lovleen Chowhan, Bianca Finucan, Erica Poirier and María Paula Peralta.

"Today begins a new stage for our tourism industry, further strengthening the ties between the Dominican Republic and Canada," said Cohen at the brief official flight reception ceremony.

Affirmed that fundamental parts "of the singular effort to connect two important metropolises" are the ministries of Foreign Relations, Tourism, the Dominican Embassy in Canada and Air Canada, which has shown extraordinary confidence in the Dominican Republic market.

Air Canada flight 1722 was received by Mónika Infante, General Director and CEO and Fabien Gourdon, Commercial Director of Aerodom, the company that manages Las Américas International Airport José Francisco José Francisco Peña Gómez.

“We are very excited to be able to offer this direct flight option to the Toronto airport, with which we will be able to receive more tourists from Canada, as well as the broad Dominican community in Toronto and frequent business travelers, who will be able to travel directly to Santo Domingo on Airbus A321 and benefit from the high level of service proposed by Air Canada”, highlighted Gourdon.

Recently, the embassy of the Dominican Republic in Canada coordinated a mission of businessmen and representatives of the Canadian government that developed a broad institutional, business and cooperation agenda in the country.

Trade, development, investment, industry, tourism, cooperation for environmental sanitation projects and other areas will be the topics of interest during interactions with different public and private sectors.

DR Embassy in Canada lights up Niagara Falls for elimination of violence against women

Project the orange color and the colors of the national flag to join millions of voices around the world who cry out for respect for the rights of women and girls.

November 26, 2021

Ottawa, Canada.- The Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Canada, on behalf of the Dominican Government, illuminated with the orange color and those of the national flag, Niagara Falls, among the most recognized natural resources in the world, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The information was offered by Ambassador Michelle Cohen, who pointed out that this is the first time that this initiative has been carried out. "We have chosen these beautiful tributaries as a symbol of spiritual purity and cleanliness, which nourishes our lands and reflects the life that every woman who inhabits our land should enjoy," the Dominican diplomatic legation highlighted in a statement.

She indicated that with the illumination of the falls, the Dominican Republic joins millions of voices around the world that cry out for respect for the rights of women and girls.

“This day, which crystallizes before the eyes of the world with the historic feat of our butterflies, Patria, Minerva and María Teresa, reminds us every year of the challenges we face to achieve equitable treatment between men and women and to put a stop to aggression and discrimination”, he proclaimed.

Cohen thanked the government of Canada and the Niagara Falls Illumination Board for facilitating the Dominican decision to send a message to the world from the iconic falls.

The Niagara Falls Illumination Council was established in 1925 and is integrated by the City of Niagara Falls, New York State in the United States, the City of Niagara Falls, Province Ontario in Canada, The Niagara Parks Commission, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historical Preservation, Ontario Power Generation, New York Power Authority.

November 8, 2021

Santo Domingo, D.N._ In keeping with one of the main axes of Dominican foreign policy, that of defending and promoting democracy and human right, the government rejects the electoral  simulation carried out by the Nicaraguan government this past Sunday, November 7.

This electoral process lacked the minimum guarantees necessary to qualify it as fair, free and competitive; since it was marked by the arrests of numerous and important leaders of the Nicaraguan opposition and social movements, the breakdown of institutions, as well as unjustified restrictions against the media and civil society.

According to Article 1 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, democracy is a consecrated right of the American peoples and an obligation of all States to promote and defend it. As stated in article 5: "The strengthening of parties and other political organizations is a priority for democracy."

The Dominican government cannot remain silent in the face of situations that threaten the basic pillars of democracy, whose raison d'être is precisely to ensure that political struggles take place within the framework of respect for the rule of law and the necessary guarantees for the validity of fundamental freedoms.

We urge the Nicaraguan government to release political prisoners and take appropriate actions to return to the path of democracy. We call on the authorities to put Nicaragua's interest first and work to guarantee the full observance of human rights.

The countries of the continent must adopt, within the framework of the standards of the organization of American States (OAS), all the necessary actions to protect Nicaraguan democracy, creating a space for political dialogue that all allows to return to democratic constitutionality.

October 21, 2021

Santo Domingo.- During a meeting with 25 companies and representatives of public entities of Canada, Biviana Riveiro Disla, executive director of the Center for Exportation and Investment of the Dominican Republic (ProDominicana), promoted investment opportunities in the tourism sectors, App projects, free zones and the reactivation of bilateral economic relations between both countries, adding that with the promotion and reopening of flights that will drive investments and exports, as well as the arrival of tourists.

In the meeting with the Dominican ambassador to Canada, Michelle Cohen, the companies explored the advantages of investing in the Dominican Republic. Riveiro pointed out that there are some 30 Canadian capital companies generating more than 9,000 direct jobs: "Between our economic and institutional stability, as well as our strategic location, we are a commercial partner that offers great opportunities to companies with investment projects," he added.

On her side, Cohen expressed her satisfaction with the work and effort made by the Dominican government in the search for more and better investments for the country and urged to continue fostering approaches for the creation of new business opportunities between public and private entities of Canada and the Dominican Republic. She emphasized that "there is a firm will to consolidate a cultural and commercial relationship that benefits both nations."

It is important to note that the commercial exchange between Canada and the Dominican Republic, in the period 2016 to September 2021, ascend to US $ 4,123.6 million. Of these, 74 percent correspond to Dominican exports. In general, the sectors in which we have the greatest presence of Canadian capital are mining, free zones and real estate.

-Presidency of the Dominican Republic

October 19, 2021

Santo Domingo de Guzmán, Dominican Republic._ Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez received a visit from a mission of Canadian businessmen interested in investing in the Dominican Republic in the areas of trade, development, investment, industry, tourism, cooperation for environmental sanitation projects and others.

Minister Álvarez explained that with this meeting the work agenda of these businessmen in the country began. “You are in a nation with an excellent investment climate, reinforced by the efforts of the Dominican Government to combat corruption and impunity. In addition, we have a free zone regime that generates investment facilities, and we have macroeconomic stability," added the foreign minister.

The arrival in the country of this high-level business mission was coordinated by the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Canada, and its ambassador Michelle Cohen, who also had the support of the Vice Ministry for Economic Affairs and International Cooperation. This mission represents the first of its kind to arrive since that nation opened its borders after the pandemic.

“The mixed multisectoral business mission seeks to reactivate bilateral relations between Canada and the Dominican Republic, an ideal space for the discussion of new joint strategies between Dominican and Canadian multisectoral entities for the reactivation and dynamization of tourism, the increase of trade flows and attract more investments," said Ambassador Cohen.

This visit is part of the efforts made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote axis number two of foreign policy: promoting exports and foreign direct investment to create jobs.

The Vice Minister for Economic Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Hugo Francisco Rivera Fernández, made a presentation on the opportunities we offer as a country to investors, also indicated that we are the logistics HUB in the region, being the 6th country with the highest connectivity in Latin America.

 Also present at the meeting were the Vice Minister of Bilateral Foreign Policy, José Julio Gómez; the Director of Trade Promotion and Investment, Mariana Ambrad; and the adviser for commercial affairs of the Ministry, Ariel Gautreaux.

The ambassador, general director for Central America and the Caribbean of Canada, Sylvia Cesaratto, and Christine Laberge, Canadian ambassador in the Dominican Republic, together with Cohen integrate the official bilateral staff that in Dominican territory will accompany the mission in its work agenda and meetings that ends on October 22.

These businessmen also plan to maintain interactions with the Presidency of the Dominican Republic, Senate, ministries of Defense, Industry and Commerce, Tourism, Environment, Energy and Mines and the Reserve Bank.

Furthermore, the Export and Investment Center of the Dominican Republic (Pro Dominicana), the General Directorate of Public-Private Partnerships, the National Institute of Potable Water and Sewerage (INAPA) and the Santo Domingo Aqueduct and Sewerage Corporation (CAASD).

As part of the mission activities, there will be a visit to the Guajimía gully by the representative of the Canadian Commercial Corporation and delegates from Global Affairs Canada. The latter entity will also hold a meeting with the Minister of the Interior and Police, Jesús Vásquez Martínez.

It will also make contacts with the National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP), the National Council of Free Zones (in a visit to the free zone Parque Industrial de las Américas) and the Dominican-Canadian Chamber.

The agenda will close on Friday October 22 with the seminar "How to export to Canada: business opportunities in the Canadian market, a market full of opportunities", in digital version.

-MIREX Communication Department

October 18, 2021

In order to promote trade, investment, industry, tourism, cooperation and exchange of an innovative and scientific nature, the mission marks the reactivation of relations between the Dominican Republic and Canada at the end of the border closure that had been imposed the COVID-19 pandemic

Santo Domingo Dominican Republic. - The embassy of the Dominican Republic in Canada coordinates a mission of businessmen and representatives of the Canadian government that develops in the country a broad institutional, business and cooperation agenda starting this Monday, October 18, within the framework of the reopening and the strengthening the bilateral relations of both nations.

The exchange activity, which is the first with the Dominican Republic since Canada reopened its borders, is coordinated by Ambassador Michelle Cohen and has the participation of a group of Canadian representatives, who have the objective of exploring market opportunities, investments, trade, tourism and different areas of cooperation.

"The mixed multisectoral business mission seeks to reactivate bilateral relations between Canada and the Dominican Republic, by identifying opportunities in investment, tourism, trade and exchange of an innovative and scientific nature," said Ambassador Cohen.

The diplomat indicated that it is an ideal space for the discussion of new joint strategies between Dominican and Canadian multisectoral entities for the reactivation and dynamization of tourism, the increase in trade flows and attract more investments.

The Ambassador General Director for Central America and the Caribbean of Canada, Sylvia Cesaratto, and Christine Laberge, Canadian ambassador in the Dominican Republic, together with Cohen integrate the official bilateral staff that in Dominican territory will accompany the mission in its work agenda and meetings that culminates on October 22.

Trade, development, investment, industry, tourism, cooperation for environmental sanitation projects and other areas will be the topics of interest during the interactions with the Presidency of the Dominican Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Senate, ministries of Defense, Industry and Commerce, Tourism, Environment, Energy and Mines and Banco de Reservas.

Furthermore, the Export and Investment Center of the Dominican Republic (Pro Dominicana), the General Directorate of Public-Private Partnerships, the National Institute of Potable Waters and Sewers (INAPA) and the Santo Domingo Aqueduct and Sewerage Corporation (CAASD).

As part of the mission's activities, a visit to the Guajimía gully is contemplated by the representative of the Canadian Commercial Corporation and delegates from Global Affairs Canada. The latter entity will also hold a meeting with the Minister of the Interior and Police, Jesús Vásquez Martínez.

The mixed multisectoral business mission was interested in making contacts with the National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP), the National Council of Free Zones (on a visit to the Free Zones Park of the Americas) and the Dominican-Canadian Chamber.

The activity will close on Friday October 22 with the seminar "How to export to Canada: business opportunities in the Canadian market, a market full of opportunities" in digital version.