According to a report in Hoy newspaper, the Dominican air force is about to acquire 20 new aircraft, including planes and helicopters. There are also plans to build new airstrips, said the air force chief Virgilio Sierra Perez, who did not reveal the costs involved. Speaking at a parade at the San Isidro Air Base, he thanked President Hipolito Mejia for his support to the air force.
On the subject of the Mejia government’s continued support of the military, Hoy newspaper reports that the Executive Branch sent the Senate a bill requesting the approval of a US$47-million loan for the second phase of equipping the vocational schools of the Armed Forces. The Deutsche Bank and Sociedad Anonima Espanola commercial banks would provide the five-year funding.
Meanwhile, US envoy Roger Noriega announced that the Dominican military will remain in Iraq until August. President Hipolito Mejia had earlier this month suggested that the Dominican soldiers would be back in February.