Deputy Tourism Minister Radhames Martinez said that a government task force is working on finding a solution to the convention segment for the city of Santo Domingo. “There is a task force, and a tender will be issued to reach a final decision for the construction of the convention center. “The private sector needs to understand this and must be willing to participate because governments should not handle convention and fair grounds,” he said. He said the government would build the center, but the private sector would be the operator. He announced that the government plans to issue a decree creating the commission that will study all the documentation. In the past, the Ministry of Tourism had hired Messe Berlin (operator of the ITB travel fair) to carry out the study and their recommendations are again being considered. He said that Sans Souci Group has also proposed the construction of a convention center in eastern Santo Domingo. “The center will be completed before the end of this administration,” he announced.