The Director of Customs, Vicente Sanchez Baret, said that he is concluding all public debate regarding the debts of importers left over from the administration of his predecessor, Miguel Cocco. Sanchez Baret had been critical of the previous administration for the millions of pesos of importers’ unpaid fees. Cocco had requested a list of indebted importers, to which Sanchez Baret responded with a paid announcement in the press documenting an unpaid debt of the National Price Stabilization Institute (INESPRE), a government institution, for RD$699 million. Cocco declared the argument as absurd as INESPRE had never paid import duties, and because the government cannot pay taxes to itself. Sanchez Baret said that the subject would be dropped.
