Small and medium-sized businesses in the Colonial Zone say that they are going bankrupt due to the work being carried out to remodel the area. The president of the Colonial Zone Business Association, Jorge Caridad and spokesman Carlos Fernandez have asked President Medina to intervene and help them financially until the works are over.
They have asked the work to stop during the month of December so that they might make money over the Christmas period when more tourists and locals are expected to visit the area. They said that streets like Isabel la Catolica and Arzobispo Merino are closed and visitors go to other areas. The business owners are asking to be excluded from paying taxes, permits and operating licenses, and are requesting access to low-interest loans and the creation of a compensation fund.
The businesses affected include sweet shops, exchange houses, gift shops, restaurants, bars and hotels.
www.elcaribe.com.do/2013/11/26/comerciantes-zona-colonial-temen-quebrar-por-lentitud-obra