The Canadian Minister of National Revenue, Herb Dhaliwal, in an exclusive interview with the Listín Diario, said, that the leadership of the DR can contribute to internal political changes in Cuba. The Canadian tax minister said that the United States is already convinced that the trade blockade dating back to the 60s, has not worked in 30 years, and will not work in the future. The Minister told the newspaper that the opening of full diplomatic relations by the DR with Cuba is positive. He congratulated President Fernández for his initiative and said that the Canadian government believes that President Fernández can play an important role of leadership in this process that they hope will extend to all of the Americas. In his opinion, the blockade will not produce the desired results, and he said they trust that moves such as those made by the Dominican President, will be much more beneficial, and will eventually bring about the changes sought for Cuba. He said they are along the same lines of fostering talk, opening and exchange promoted by the Canadian government to secure more freedom and respect for human rights within Cuba. He emphasized that it is by opening up to Cuba, and creating bridges, not by lifting walls to enclose the nation, that changes will come about. During his stay in the Dominican Republic, from 15 July through 19 July, he met with President Leonel Fernández and with the Minister of Foreign Relations Eduardo Latorre. Herb Dhaliwal was in the Dominican Republic on occasion of the opening of the new offices of the Canadian Embassy at Capitán Eugenio de Marchena No. 39 (email: e.canada@codetel.net.do). The ambassador for the DR is based in Caracas, Venezuela. But it is expected that in the near future the Government of Canada will appoint an ambassador to be based in Santo Domingo. In recent years, the number of Canadian tourists to the DR has fluctuated from a low 125,000 to a high 200,000. In 1997, some 150,000 Canadian tourists visited. Canadian investments in the DR account to more than US$500 million, placing that nation as the third largest investor and the largest outside of free zones. In 1997, Canada exported more than US$80 million in merchandise to the DR and imported US$109 million in Dominican merchandise. DR is the fourth largest market in the Caribbean for Canadian goods. An estimated 5,000 Canadians live in the DR, and some 20,000 Dominicans live in Canada. Minister of Foreign Relations Eduardo Latorre met with the Minster of Foreign Relations of Canada Lloyd Axworthy in late May in Canada.
