The Listin Diario reports that the government has set up a negotiating committee, led by army chief Jose Miguel Soto Jimenez and AMET chief Pedro de Jesus Candelier, “to investigate the reasons for the power companies withholding electricity due to disputed debts the government knows nothing about.” For example, the government claims it owes just US$15 million to Ege Haina, while the company is demanding US$40 million in unpaid debts. The government similarly disputes AES’s claim that US$30 million is owed, there is no debt due. The committee also includes Finance Minister Rafael Calderon, electricity superintendent George Reynoso, CDEEE president Cesar Sanchez and Rafael Montilla, the president of the commission for public sector reform.
Recent military intervention in civilian matters has yet to produce the desired results. In December, the government called in the military to participate in the plan to push the exchange rate to RD$30-US$1. A month later, the exchange rate had increased to new record highs.