The National Energy Commission has decided to allow the sale of fuel until noon next Saturday, even though it is a public holiday. Saturday, 24 September commemorates the Day of Our Lady of Mercedes, patron saint of the Dominican Republic. The Commission met with President Leonel Fernandez last night and evaluated the application of fuel saving measures. Present at the meeting were the Minister of the Presidency Danilo Medina, Administrative Secretary of the President Luis Manuel Bonetti, Minister of Industry and Commerce Francisco Javier Garcia, and the Director of the Energy Commission Ruben Montas, among others. Another meeting is scheduled for Wednesday for the definition of mechanisms to apply the Petro-Caribbean agreement in the next few days. After the meeting, Medina said that they would be able to evaluate the percentage of reduction in fuel consumption since the application of the measures established by the government in two weeks.
The Administrative Secretary of the Presidency Luis Manuel Bonetti said yesterday that the government could prohibit the sale of fuel in containers to avoid the trafficking that was evident at gasoline stations during the weekend. According to Diario Libre, Bonetti promised to discuss this issue with Minister of Industry and Commerce Francisco Javier Garcia, with the aim of finding a solution to the problem. When evaluating the saving measures he stated that it is difficult for people to get used to them in the first days but in the long run they will have to for the best interest of the country. El Caribe reports that the government will forbid the sale of fuel in containers and warned that gasoline stations remain militarized to ensure compliance with saving measures and to avoid speculation with fuel in a parallel market. Bonetti stated that the saving measures have been applied at the Presidential Palace for approximately 70 days and he warned that officials who do not comply with the measures established by President Fernandez would be severely penalized. He also reported that the Presidency has been receiving warnings from the Fire Department and the Civil Defense about the danger of storing fuel in inadequate containers.
Meanwhile, today's editorial in the Listin Diario points out the difficulties in controlling illegal fuel sales. It points out that thousands need to purchase and store fuel for their power plants anyway. "To know the use of the fuel that is purchased in containers is not easy. Thus, if rationing or controlled sales days, many will be tempted to participate in a side market," states the editorial writer. He recommends that the government examine in depth all the inconveniences of its fuel savings plan to resolve them.
The Dominican Petroleum Refinery (Refidomsa) announced that it is rationing the sale of gasoline and diesel to service stations since yesterday, as Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. has suspended shipments due to a shortage of refined fuels, according to a report in Listin Diario. Yesterday morning, the National Association of Gasoline Detailers (Anadegas), had complained that Refidomsa was offering gasoline stations only 1,000 gallons of diesel and 2,000 gallons of gasoline, when the usual amounts are 10,000 of each. The manager of Refidomsa, Alfredo Nara, said that the sale of regular diesel would be kept under this quota system according to the purchase record of each gasoline station until next Thursday, whereas regular gasoline will be kept under quota until next week. This morning some gas stations in Santo Domingo already had a scarcity of regular gasoline.
Armed Forces Minister Admiral Sigfrido Pared Perez said yesterday that military personnel will remain posted at fuel stations until the sale of fuel within the time limits established by government becomes a normal practice, as reported in Diario Libre. He also warned that the authorities would take measures against people who are storing fuel to sell it after the time limit. Pared Perez said that one cannot be too radical in the enforcement of the selling time schedule as at noon last Saturday there were vehicles in line that had not been serviced.
The Customs Department (DGA) has decided to apply Decree No. 402-05 which establishes strict controls on the import ant export operations of companies grouped in the Dominican Association of Courier-Electronic Mail Companies (Asodec). According to a report in Diario Libre, Customs director Miguel Cocco said that these companies do not only transport commodities but also undervalue and sell them. Yesterday, Asodec published a communique in which it apologized to its clients for the late delivery of merchandise caused by the retentions made by the Customs Department. Customs decided that as of next Friday these companies would only be allowed to operate at Las Americas International Airport once the new control system designed by the department at a cost of US$35 million is in operation. The new system establishes a random verification of merchandise, a ban on contact between Customs employees with the companies, the mandatory photographing of imported and exported merchandise for immediate entry into their computer system. Also, the importer must make a sworn statement that the declared value is real. Cocco said Asodec was informed of the new system six months ago but their members never responded even though they had until 15 September to make suggestions.
El Caribe reports that it froze the import and export operations of courier companies that had been evading taxes and incurring in irregularities in the management of merchandise that enters the country. Cocco said that none of these companies would be able to import or export merchandise through the different terminals until next Friday when operations would be concentrated at the Las Americas International Airport. This will later be extended to other airports. He informed that the 16 largest courier companies in the country are being audited by a team of 64 customs auditors. He declared that these companies had become disloyal competitors with importers who pay all their taxes. Yesterday, the different companies published a letter informing their clients that international express transport services were paralyzed due to work being done by the Customs Department. The letter was signed by Aeromensajeria, Aeropap, Business Mail, CPS, DHL, EPS, FEDEX, IBC, Jet Pack, P.O. Box Internacional, Quisqueyana Express, RD Multiservices, Rell Express, Taino Express, Translogic, UPS and Vimenpaq.
According to Listin Diario, Cocco explained that only companies that make their customs declarations transparent would be allowed to operate and that is why he has concentrated all operations at Las Americas International Airport as from next Friday. He said that the situation was so serious that there were 300 private couriers operating illegally in the different ports and airports in the country.
Before the scandal about the tender for the installation of the government website became public, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) had warned the government of the irregularities in the operations and existence of the Presidential Office of Information Technology and Communications (OPTIC). Yesterday, Presidential Palace sources confirmed that Microsoft had begun to implement the "Electronic Government" project in February, before the public tender was announced, as was informed by Clave Digital. The tender was meant to ease a series of questions that had arisen within the government because of the manner in which OPTIC contracted the project. A report presented by IDB consultant, Rafael Anta, entitled "Diagnosis and Analysis of the Current Situation of OPTIC" points out that OPTIC's weaknesses include a lack of legitimacy before the rest of the State institutions and the absence of a formal budget. The report also determines that the OPTIC team was divided between two separate and distant offices, limiting the communication between team members, and especially with the General Director. The report adds that OPTIC does not have regular coordination mechanisms with public institutions for teamwork in a continuous manner. The IDB's comments can be found on Pro-Reforma's website at the following location: http://www.pro-reforma.gov.do. The manner in which OPTIC Director Domingo Tavarez hired Microsoft Dominicana for the Dominican Government website project has provoked mixed reactions. While the President of the National Ethics Commission, Dr. Jose Joaquin Bido Medina, the Technical Secretary of the Presidency, Juan Temistocles Montas, and the Director of the Corruption Prevention Department, Dr. Octavio Lister have expressed concern about the manner in which the negotiation was performed by OPTIC, the Presidency has not issued its official position. The Secretary General of the PLD, Reinaldo Pared Perez dismissed the issue, saying that the practice of contracting without tender was justified in projects that could be considered emergencies by the government.
Environment Minister Max Puig wants the gravel extraction companies operating in the Nizao River bed to comply with environmental rules and regulations. The gravel companies responded by paralyzing the extraction of materials. Puig says this is their way of pressurizing the authorities to turn a blind eye to their continued operation in violation of the rules and regulations, according to a news story in Listin Diario. The companies say these rules do not exist, while Puig insists there is a legal framework. Listin Diario reported that the ministry is in possession of information that suggests that some companies are operating at levels that affect the supply of potable water. Puig rejected the notion that the companies' stoppage of gravel extraction from the Nizao River area could paralyze construction work in the country, claiming that there are other sites where construction material is available for extraction.
Pre-candidates for posts in the 2006 congressional and municipal elections will have to present certificates of good conduct and pass drug tests for their registration to be accepted by their respective parties. Diario Libre reports that the PRD and PRSC support the proposed drug test for all pre-candidates whereas the Secretary General of the PLD, Reinaldo Pared Perez, said he is in favor of the project but that it needs to be discussed by the party's political leadership. The PRD President, Ramon Alburquerque said that his organization would demand certificates of good conduct from the National Police, the National Drug Control Department (DNCD), and the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) from pre-candidates. They will also be required to pass drug tests. The Organization Secretary of the PRSC, Sergia Elena de Seliman, said that the measure is already being implemented and the hiring of a clinical laboratory was announced for the testing of all pre-candidates for congressional and municipal posts in the 2006 elections.
The Civil Aviation Department reports that 3,025,635 passengers arrived in and departed from the DR on regular flights during the first semester of this year, as reported by Diario Libre. Las America Airport was the busiest terminal with 1,322,817 of those passengers and 12,459 flights. According to the statistics office of the Civil Aviation Department, the second busiest terminal was Punta Cana International Airport, with 863,900 passengers in 6,543 flights. Most of these passengers were tourists from Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, US, Asia, and South America. Other international terminals in the country are the Gregorio Luperon International Airport in Puerto Plata, the Cibao Airport in Santiago, the La Romana International Airport and Herrera in Santo Domingo.
The US dollar exchange rate opened without major variations this week compared to its closing last Friday. Listin Diario reports that the currency was being sold at between RD$30.50 and RD$31.00 as compared to RD$30.59 and RD$31.00 on Friday. The purchase rate was between RD$30.00 and RD$30.85, a 10 cent increase in some cases. The exchange rate began to decrease last Thursday when the Banco de Reservas announced it would have a fixed rate of RD$30.59.
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