Diario Libre reports today that President Hipolito Mejia, in his quest to improve his voting preference levels, offered financing of state lands to assist small businesses. This was put forward at a campaign event yesterday where food retailers had congregated. Mejia announced he would deliver soft-term financing to the small businesses worth RD$50 million and motorcycles worth another RD$50 million for stores that have use for this type of vehicle. He also promised to build clubs and multi-purpose halls for the retailers, assuring that their businesses would not be taxed in the next fiscal revision. ?With the poor I do not fool around, because I was brought up in that environment,? he told his audience. Mejia said the retailers are those who pay the most taxes, and mentioned that ?those who do not pay are the others [in reference to big business].?
The statesman who seeks to be re-elected called on the colmado owners to turn their neighborhood stores into ?centros de corroteo?, where a favorable word of mouth on his candidacy may be spread.
Hoy newspaper?s ?Que se Dice? feature today highlights the fortune of the Club Social de los Billeteros, which has just received a RD$39.9-million payment on a 20-year-old debt owed to the family whose property was expropriated when the club was built. The columnist points out that the Education Ministry has not had the same luck, commenting on how because of a RD$20-million debt with the telephone company, Verizon cut the connections and left the schools incommunicado. It is perhaps worth noting here that Vice-President and Education Minister Milagros Ortiz Bosch contested President Mejia?s bid for re-election.