Business groups are strongly opposed to the installation of X-ray systems to supervise freight by an independent company. The government through a closed arrangement selected the unknown company ICSI, S.A. to perform the service, according to a report in El Caribe newspaper, and the National Council of Businessmen, the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic, the Association of Exporters, the Association of Shippers and several other organizations have spoken against the obligation to use the services of the company, which they say will only increase the cost of exporting at a time when competitiveness is such an important issue. The newspaper points out that a better option would be to use the port services of the Business Anti-Smuggling Coalition (BASC), which are free and have the support of the US government and port authorities.
Gustavo Tavares, president of the Association of Shippers of the Dominican Republic, said that the concessionaires of X-ray systems, such as that which would be offered by ICSI, S.A., have no credibility before the US authorities, and thus the service would be worthless.
Investigative reporter Fausto Rosario Adames of El Caribe explains that the Ministry of Armed Forces suggested the use of the company?s services, arguing the need to fight drug trafficking, terrorism, weapons contraband, money laundering, and illegal migration. President Mej?a signed Decree 898-02 that contracts the services of ICSI, S.A. and the Ministry of Armed Forces signed the contract for the state on 18 July 2002 authorizing the Specialized Port Security Body (CESEP) to bill and charge on behalf of ICSI, S.A for the service, once the X-ray equipment has been installed.
The exact price will depend on the cargo. Vehicles will pay US$26.25, trucks US$42-63, and freight containers US$95.
President Mej?a then issued Decree 336-03 on 8 April 2003, stating that the use of the X-ray equipment will improve the credibility of the country abroad and result in an increase in trade. He established that the billing and collection would be the responsibility of the Dominican Port Authority.
The apparent technical support provider of the project, Cotecna Inspection, is listed on the Internet as having offered its services in Togo, Tanzania, Senegal, Peru, Nigeria, Niger, Kenia, Ghana, Ecuador, and Ivory Cost, among other under-developed countries. They do not list any first-world countries in their portfolio of clients.
The Financial Times published on 18 March 2003 that the company Smiths Helmann had received a purchase order for two Silhouette Scan Mobile 140s and three HCV Mobile 2.8 MeV on behalf of ICSA, S.A. of the Dominican Republic for the installation of the equipment in Haina Oriental and Occidental. See http://www.customs.ustreas.gov