The Dominican Federation of Merchants (FDC) has criticized the shortage of refined sugar that occurs every year at this time. Engineer Ivan de Jesus Garcia, president of the FDC, said this is due to a lack of preparation by the Dominican Sugar Institute (Inazucar), which he described as a government body manipulated by sugar producers. Garcia said that even importing 26,000 short tons of sugar will not resolve the scarcity. Intermediaries chosen by the sugar producers benefit from the higher prices at which sugar is sold during a shortage. The new director of Inazucar, Severo de Jesus Ovalle, has authorized producers to import 15,000 short tons, or 57.7% of the total. Merchant associations were authorized to import 7,000 short tons or 26% and the government marketing organization was authorized to bring in 4,000 tons or 15.4%. The association that represents the industrial users, Asodulce, had requested permission to import 10,000 short tons for the use of their members. “Why do industries have to pay an intermediary to get their raw materials?” asked executive director, Atahualpa Dominguez.
