The charge d’affairs of the United States Embassy in the DR, Linda Watts sent a letter to the president of the National Senate, Ramón Alburquerque and the Technical Secretary of the Presidency, Temístocles Montás requesting that the Dominican government hold a public tender for the purchase of 10 helicopters. The Dominican government has purchased helicopters from a French company and a Brazilian company. The Brazilian company purchase was very much criticized in the press, to the point the Ambassador of Brazil issued an explanatory note saying the Brazilian company was granted the order because it offered better payment terms. Mrs. Watts called for more transparency. Rumbo newsweekly carried an extensive report questioning why the government had chosen the relatively unknown Brazilian firm over the offer of Bell helicopters of the United States. Mrs. Watts would like a US firm to win the order for 10 helicopters that the government is considering placing soon.
