Diario Libre’s economic pages carry the sober reminder that the Dominican authorities have yet to renegotiate the terms of debt repayments with the Paris Club. If an extension is not reached, most of the funds entering the country from the International Monetary Fund will end up being used for debt obligations. Central Bank Governor Jose Lois Malkun is reportedly confident that the Paris Club will accept a postponement of US$321 million in 2004, while critics of the government’s economic policies believe he should be pressing for more. The government has the backing of the multilateral organizations, without which a rescheduling or postponement could not be considered. The authorities estimate that US$1 billion is needed for the country’s economic rescue package. US$600 million will come from organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank, and the rest out of savings from debt repayments. The harsh reality, however, is that the government is already facing a situation in which the figures do not add up, making it difficult for them to comply with the IMF agreement. According to Diario Libre, it looks as if a mission to seek new loans, possibly from the US treasury, is in the offing.