Truckers affiliated to the Fenatrado, the local truckers association, have been off work for the past three days to pressure the government to release members that caused a conflict with Malespin construction company in Montecristi. The men were arrested when blocking traffic in Montecristi in a conflict over Malespin construction company cargo.
Fenatrado seeks the business to honor the longstanding and unwritten deal that gives them a privileged share of all cargo leaving ports in the Dominican Republic. For years, Dominican authorities have looked the other way as the truckers have reaffirmed their monopoly on cargo.
When Malespin did not honor this agreement, the truckers did their stuff and by force blocked traffic. This time, the director of the Dominican Port Authority, Victor Gomez Casanova is adhering to Art. 46 of the Dominican Constitution that establishes the free right to transit and Law 70-70 on port security that says that ports are a matter of national security. For that reason, Gomez said he would not allow the truckers to block the entrances to the ports of the country.
Meanwhile, Ricardo de los Santos, president of Fenatrado, warned that the truckers in the country acted as one, even when the stoppage of activities affects the financials of their very own members.
Fenatrado seeks a negotiation with the government. Meanwhile, De los Santos asked for pardon from businessmen and the people for the inconveniences their work stoppage is causing, especially at this busy Christmas time of the year. An editorial in Diario Libre asks why does the government have to negotiate with those that break the law.
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
13 December 2017
