An El Caribe editorial warns against the government?s borrowing spree from commercial banks. The editorial writer says what is worse is that the resources are being used to enlarge the public sector instead of reducing it, as was done with the privatization of public enterprises in the former government. El Caribe says construction of highways and a railroad is good as long as the projects are tendered. The government has not announced the first tender for these works. “What scares us the most is the decision of the government to take out a credit of US$150 million to create a new version of the “pollitos” of the PLD [referring to the yellow taxis funded by the past administration]. The experience of the past government was that the chauffeurs do not repay their loans, even if they borrow from private banks,” says the editorial writer. According to the contracts, the government would be the guarantor of the loans. If the chauffeurs do not pay, tax payers are responsible. Recently, two transport union leaders complained that the 1,500 vehicles were being distributed to those with influence in the governing party. Furthermore, El Caribe issued a red alert against the government borrowing US$86.2 million to become involved in the operation of cold storage facilities, slaughterhouses, nurseries and farm produce markets.
