Minister of Tourism Ramon Alfredo Bordas continues to support hosting the Miss Universe Pageant in the DR in 2003. The project is promoted by Alberto del Pino, the President’s advisor on tourism affairs, and has the support of Donald Trump and Sammy Sosa. For the event to be held in the DR, the private sector needs to come up with the US$5 million franchise fee. Bordas said that it is not true that the private sector has discarded the idea. He said that a commission was formed to further study the proposal. (31 July 2001)
