The Ministry of Foreign Relations created a board to help the government present a proposal for the DR and Haiti to use bilateral debt with the US for frontier development. The Ministry will give form to the idea for the creation of the Hispaniolan International Fund, which would be funded by condoned DR and Haitian debt with the United States. Lawyer Luis Heredia Bonetti who has lobbied in Washington, D. C. for its passing promotes the fund. The proposal has the support of the US Ambassador in the DR, Charles Manatt. Heredia Bonetti said that contacts are being made with Haitian businessmen in order to present a joint proposal for the fund. The primary focus of the fund is to improve conditions for Haitians. Dominicans support the effort, because what helps Haiti means a reduction in Haitian demands on employment and social services in the DR and increases Haitian buyer power for Dominican goods. For background information on the fund, see http://www.dr1.com/daily/news092800.shtml http://www.dr1.com/daily/news072800.shtml
