President Leonel Fernandez, in the presence of Miami Governor Jeb Bush at the Biltmore Hotel in Miami, announced that the Dominican Republic would vote for Miami to be made the permanent secretariat of the Free Trade Area of the Americas. Fernandez’s predecessor Hipolito Mejia had committed the Dominican vote to Panama City. “The DR and President Fernandez have consistently been one of Florida’s strongest supporters in the region,” said the governor. “This commitment to Florida by President Fernandez will have tremendous impact on our ongoing campaign to bring the FTAA secretariat to Miami.” Bilateral trade between the DR and Florida represented $4.9 billion in 2003.
Miami, which is vying with Panama City, Port of Spain (Trinidad) and Atlanta to host the FTAA, has also received the support of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Uruguay. The Trinidadian capital has the most support, however, given the promise of the collective support of the 14 Caricom independent states and Venezuela as well, as reported by Caribbean Business journalist John Collins.
Collins says that a number of other countries have indicated they would support Miami if the selection process goes to a second round. On the other hand, he says, there are indications of some resistance to Miami’s candidacy in both Latin America and the Caribbean and support for Panama, as a result, appears to be growing.