State Sugar Council (CEA) Director Oscar Santiago Batista told a press conference last night that President Fernández yesterday gave him the checks to pay off CEA debts to workers and plantation owners and make needed repairs to sugar mills. CEA received RD$100 million to pay back wages to sugar workers, some of whom have not been paid since early 1998. Sugar workers recently picketed the National Palace demanding their pay. RD$70 million was provided to pay off debt owed to sugar plantation owners. RD$30 million was given to pay for badly needed repairs to several sugar mills, such as the one in Barahona, so that they will be ready to process the current harvest.
