While debt service payments will consume US$1 billion in 2005, Finance Minister Vicente Bengoa announced that the Dominican Republic is up to date on its payments to its creditors. In four months the Ministry of Finance has paid out US$362 million, and it seems that the US$200-million bridge foreign loan that was being discussed will no longer be necessary. Speaking to El Caribe, Bengoa said that the exchange rate’s stability and increased collections at the tax offices were the determining factors for this good news. The finance minister also said that before the year is out the government will pay the US$65 million owed to the Paris Club. He said that a deal for US$45 million with the DR’s Reserve Bank will be used to “complete” the necessary funding. Bengoa was delighted to point out that the US$65-million payment was due in December of 2003 and that when the current administration took over the government they discovered deferred payments and arrears totaling US$200 million.