Diario Libre asks the question on everybody’s lips: Why is it that the government can get away with owing millions, but does not tolerate non-payment of what is owed to them? This contradiction is illustrated by the distinct cases presented to the newspaper yesterday. In one instance, a woman received a water bill for RD$2, with the threat that the service would be disconnected should she fail to pay up. By contrast, however, the Public Health Ministry owes another woman RD$48,000 in unpaid rent. Mercedes Rodriguez had rented out her premises to the health authorities for use as a clinic in the Herrera district of Santo Domingo. Despite exhaustive legal efforts, she has not been able to wrest the payment from the governmental ministry since their decision to cease payments in May 2002 – nor has she managed to evict them from her property.