A national protest day has been called for Tuesday, 19 June. The Colectivo de Organizaciones Populares, a self-appointed group of unions and neighborhood representatives, proposes that everyone take the day off tomorrow to protest the government’s economic measures. The announced 20% increase in electricity spurred the protest day movement. The Colectivo de Organizaciones Populares had fallen into discredit when almost everyone ignored their past calls to protest. The membership has been under much criticism for being in the protest business to pressure for personal gains. Likewise, strikes called in the past have gained little for the general population. Now disatisfaction with the increasing cost of living in the DR has given the Colectivo another chance to make headlines with its call for a day of protest tomorrow. Given past experiences, those who don’t have to go to work or to school on Tuesday, won’t. That will slow down the city of Santo Domingo to 70% of normal activity and in the towns to 50%. Strike days are usually peaceful, and most businesses and private universities will operate as usual, while the state university is likely to take the day off. With the exception of skirmishes between police and protesters in slum areas, it will probably be like a normal Saturday. Tourists rarely notice anything different since life goes on as usual in the hotel areas. The Colectivo is demanding the government not implement the 20% increase in power costs, that it reduce blackouts, that contracts with power distributors and generators be rescinded, that the price of fuel be reduced, that the government step up programs to improve water supply in the barrios, improve medicine supplies at the public hospitals, that the chief of the Police be fired, and that the government abandon its plan for US$500 million in bonds.
