Economist Eduardo Tejera, however, told Mario Mendez, the economic editor for Hoy, that the deal would violate the IMF standby arrangement and bring about a second rupture with the international financial organization. Tejera says that such a deal would be ?highly prejudicial? for the Dominican economy. The economist pointed out that the Central Bank already has US$1.5 billion (RD$67 billion) in outstanding certificates and has to pay out RD$30 billion a year in interest on them. In answer to the question, what will happen with another US$500 million, he explained that it would add an extra RD$10 billion to the quasi-fiscal costs of the Central Bank. Finally, Tejera said that such an operation would exceed the limits the IMF has placed on Dominican foreign debt and the fiscal deficit. He furthermore questioned the timing of the deal, just six weeks before the presidential elections and at a time when the risk qualification of the country has been lowered by most risk assessment companies around the world. He suggested that the Dominican authorities ask the Canadian banking authorities just what they know about the legitimacy of the company HE Capital, S.A. He says the offer brings to mind the much-publicized supposed investment of a group of Italian investors in the Ozama River improvement project, the construction of a train line and a new megaport in the Monte Cristi province, among other large-scale projects announced by this government.