Just six days remain before Dominicans are scheduled to turn their clocks back by one hour, but ?differences and confusions among citizens and sectors? are sufficiently pronounced to justify the lead headline in today?s Listin Diario. The daylight savings measure, promulgated by President Hipolito Mejia last September 26, is scheduled to take effect next Sunday night. Proponents of the measure had argued that the integration of another hour of daylight in the workday would be good way to conserve electrical energy. It was also argued that the measure would make commercial contacts between the DR and the U.S. more congruent. Opponents of the measure have expressed skepticism as to the efficacy of the measure. One critic, Norberto Quezada, is quoted as saying that the only benefit will be to afford delinquents an extra hour for criminal activity. Ordinary citizens are said to be confused as to how the new clock will affect their jobs, commutation to work, and children?s schooling.
