The President of the American Chamber of Commerce’s Legal Committee, Mary Fernandez, explained that several bills must be passed in Congress before DR-CAFTA comes into effect, in order for the country to benefit from the agreement. Diario Libre reports that the bills aim to achieve the most transparent commercial exchange between the nations for the benefit of all participants. Among the bills that AmCham would like to see ratified are several international treaties which have been signed by the DR, the approval of the commercial arbitration law, and the modification of law 173-66 on protection of importers of commodities and products. AmCham President Kevin Manning, who is also the President of ITABO electric generating company, said that the sector is willing to discuss the renegotiation of IPP contracts with the government (see DR1 Daily News 12 October 2005), but that there were elements that needed to be clarified such as the US$400 million the government owes the generating companies. Manning favors the promotion of alternative energy sources, such as hydroelectric and wind generators, as a way of reducing costs.
El Caribe reports that Manning spoke to the press after visiting the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco, together with AmCham Vice President William Malamud, and Mary Fernandez.