The head of the National Council of Business, Elena Viyella de Paliza, reaffirmed yesterday that an agreement with the IMF should bring issues of national interest and economic stability to the forefront. The business leader was attending a meeting with President Hip?lito Mej?a, and expressed her group?s support of the IMF accords as presented. The head of the Banco Popular Dominicano, Manuel Alejandro Grull?n, expressed his belief that the IMF proposals, as they had been explained in the meeting, would not adversely affect the neediest groups of people in the Dominican Republic.
The leftist side of the Dominican political spectrum has expressed a complete disagreement with any accord involving the IMF. Minority groups such as the Nueva Alternativa (New Alternative), the Communist Party, the Worker?s Socialist Party, UPA and the Popular Dominican Movement, staged a protest in front of the Central Bank and warned of ?dire? consequences resulting from any agreement. They promised to take to the streets should a deal with the IMF go through.