The Customs Department seeks to collect arrears in duties due from importers for over RD$1,000 million. The Fernandez government, according to Customs director Vicente Sanchez Baret, granted importers credit and as a result the new authorities found considerable outstanding debt in the books. Much of the debt has been sent to legal procedures for its collection. Sanchez Baret says that Ivan de Jesus Garcia, president of the Federacion de Comerciantes, owes RD$17 million. Garcia made headlines recently when he urged merchant association members to not pay the 1.5% advance payment on sales instituted this January by the Mejia administration.
