President Leonel Fern?ndez will participate in the Central American summit meeting with US President Bill Clinton in Guatemala this coming 11 March. Dominicans and Central Americans are lobbying together to seek a freeze or reduction of the deportations of Dominicans who have been arrested for committing crimes in the US and are returned to the DR and Central America prior to fulfilling their sentences. Since they have nothing pending with the Dominican or Central American justice, these are left free and many use their acquired skills committing crimes in their home countries. It has been said that crime skills learned by these surpass the ability of local police authorities, which has been incidental in the increase in the crime rate in the DR and Central America. Another issue top on the agenda of the DR and Central American statesmen is textile parity with Mexico, which will allow the Caribbean and Central American to compete in equal conditions with Mexican apparel manufacturers.
