Minister of Environment Frank Moya Pons says he does not know anything regarding the Mapet Foundation, which signed a US$40 million agreement for the planting of trees with the Ministry of Agriculture in December 2000. El Caribe newspaper says that when the Environment Ministry refused to sign the reforestation contract, the Minister of Agriculture, Eligio Jaquez, agreed to do so. The contract calls for a US$40 million investment in plant nurseries. According to the contract, MAPET would donate US$30 million, but the Dominican government would be responsible for US$10 million. MAPET would be able to draw on these moneys regardless of having done any work, says the newspaper. Likewise the contract commits the government to fund US$187,500 for a study to determine where the nurseries will be located. MAPET has committed to invest US$518 million to build four hospitals in the DR. In exchange for the investment, the Dominican government must donate 300,000 square meters of land and allow the duty free import of goods needed for the corporation’s operations in the DR. El Caribe newspaper is warning of irregularities in the deal. It states their investigations show that the MAPET Foundation is listed as an "inactive" corporation in Department of Florida registries. Technical Secretary of the Presidency Rafael Calderon defended the corporation as "serious."
