The Executive Director of the Government Commission for the Millennial Change, Domingo Tav?rez, told reporters yesterday that technicians hope to have all electronic equipment in priority areas tested by July to verify that they are ready to handle the Y2K problem. For those who have somehow missed all the publicity about Y2K, experts warn that many computer systems may experience significant disruptions, and even possible shutdown, when the clock changes at midnight on December 31, 1999. Some hardware and software only uses two digits to denote the year, and can misinterpret "00" as 1900 instead of 2000.One of the areas of possible vulnerability mentioned by all computer experts is electricity generation and distribution. Hence the Government Commission is trying to test all the Dominican Electricity Corporation’s (CDE) systems now in order to detect any problems that need correcting long before year-end. He said that technicians have already inspected systems at the Haina I and IV plants, Itabo I and II, and the Jig?ey-Aguacate hydroelectric complex. He also noted that CDE is asking all its suppliers of electronic components to certify Y2K compliance.Tav?rez said that his Commission is also working with the authorities in charge of the nation’s airport and port facilities to ensure that they too will be Y2K compliant. Government offices undergoing testing include the Budget Office, the Directorate-General of Internal Revenue (DGII), Customs; Treasury; and the Attorney-General’s Office. For the project the Government has already received US$100,000 in aid from the World Bank, and may get another US$500,000 from the same source shortly. A major advantage of the Dominican government is that computerizing of government systems is of recent implementation.
