In the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo, last Saturday, the figures of Santiago Matías and Patrick, a Belgian entrepreneur, crossed paths during a signature-gathering day that ended in an exchange that became viral on social media.
The moment originated when Matías, with the intention of greeting, threw a bottle towards Patrick, who recoiled and stepped back a bit, citing differences in personal space and greeting manners in his country. Patrick explained that, in many European countries, physical closeness with strangers is not common and that he prefers to maintain a certain distance when interacting with people he doesn’t know.
Patrick’s Explanation
During an interview on the “Panorama de la mañana” program, the entrepreneur stated that his reaction was not motivated by disdain towards Matías, but by the feeling of invasion of his territorial intimacy. “If a gentleman arrives at your personal space, at your territorial intimacy that I believe exists on the street, you always have to look at who is in front of you”, he stated.
Additionally, Patrick recalled his trajectory in the Dominican Republic, from his first visit in 2019 to his investment in a hotel project in the Colonial Zone in 2023.
Reactions and Apologies
The incident sparked a wave of comments on social media. Matías publicly acknowledged that his reaction was incorrect and apologized, assuring that he will continue working to not fail his family and the people who trust him.
Patrick indicated that his company is legally operational in the country and that he has no intention of suing Matías. Additionally, he mentioned that he is in contact with his lawyer and that a person from Matías’ team approached to apologize.
The entrepreneur also pointed out that the situation is not due to Matías’ aggression, but to the way he approached him, which he considered impolite.
Credits: diarioaldia.com
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