The Chamber of Deputies passed four loan bills for US$110 million yesterday. PLD deputies voted against the loans. Reportedly, PRSC party leader, former President Balaguer gave instructions to PRSC senators to vote against the bills, but the deputies abstained instead, giving the PRD and independent deputies sufficient quorum to pass the loans. The deputies passed US$49.4 million for the equipping and modernizing of military and police vocational schools (lent by the Deutsche Bank and the Sociedad Anonima Española); US$50 million for the construction of 10 hospitals of 50 beds each throughout the country (Jamco Medical Inc.); and US$11 million for the rehabilitation and construction of the San Cristobal-Autopista Duarte and Haina-Autopista Duarte highways (Consorcio Vial Dominicano). Deputy Pelegrín Castillo urged Congress not to approve any more loans until the government forms a commission of independent persons to analyze the country’s foreign debt. He said the government was being irresponsible. News analysts say the government plans to commit the DR to more than US$1 billion in new debt in its first year of government. The previous government came into office with the country US$3,807 million in debt, and left office with US$3,568 million in debt.
