According to Diario Libre, the government will not modify its economic policies. Finance Minister Rafael Calder?n told the press he rejected any notion that the current crisis is the result of poor management by the government?s economic team. Calder?n opted to lay blame on the collapse of Baninter instead. While he admitted that the economic policies of the government may have had certain deficiencies, he held that the Baninter case singularly multiplied the fiscal deficit by four and duplicated the debt of the public sector.
Calder?n rejected suggestions made by the leadership of the National Business Council (CONEP), which asked for a clear shift in the government handling of issues such as public expenditures and taxes. CONEP asked that the government concentrate on economic matters, giving less attention to political issues.
Meanwhile, Fernando Garc?a, president of the National Organization of Commercial Businesses (ONEC) that groups large shopping malls and stores urged that the government heed the recommendations made by the CONEP. Garc?a said, ?We have for too long time been talking about tax reform packages and surcharges. There is a need to revert government policy to instead focus on creating wealth. Only convincing businessmen and Dominicans with savings will the hole be covered and not with promises of patriotism,? he said yesterday in a press conference. He expressed the support of ONEC to the statement by the National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (ANJE) that urged the Chamber of Deputies to put a hold on the proposed new tax reform package recently approved by the Senate. Garc?a said the main problem that needs to be addressed is the one of lack of confidence.