Well, I'm afraid we don't qualify as gente, then. That was 6 million pesos, was it, you didn't put a comma instead of a full stop?!!!!! I would have thought the only people qualifying then might be the politicians and I don't see many of them driving school buses in their spare time... We certainly don't qualify on any of those counts.
Thanks for the suggestion, Acira, but if we take on the extra passengers it would be every day and if you have to start hiring vehicles it really doesn't pay at all.
I hope you are conscious of the fact that I posted the "
gente" remark JOKINGLY.
To get those rates, you have to have an above average employment here in the DR, with a known company. Have personal references, maybe family who has serviced similar loans satisfactorily and are thus of a similar "well to do" back ground.
It may seem unjust and giving only those who DO have money, access to even more money. But that's EVERYwhere... only that HERE, payment moral is traditionally even lower than where many of us come from and the ability to reach the debtor and take "something" often limited to the good ol' rut of breaking limbs.
But yes, it is usually very difficult for foreigners to get those rates. After all, it has become evident to many locals, that some expats are here exactly because they owe too much where they came from
. It is very difficult to establish a reputation and financial record of stability for expats too.
HOWEVER, as a member of a transport union, you may very well have unfettered access to subsidized programs made available to them, whether you are a foreigner or not.
... J-D.