Juan Hubieres, spokesman for the Fenatrano passenger transport association on Wednesday, 10 October 2018, called a press conference at the Casa Nacional del Movimiento Rebelde to essentially set a deadline for the government to publicly state what they want to discuss and what they have to offer the country. He announced Fenatrano affiliates would continue to call unannounced work stoppages of their affiliated units. He said he would not sit down to discuss deals with the government. The mini-buses association claims exclusive rights to several key Dominican transport routes.
“We want to tell you that while the government may be negotiating with the other transporters, we do not have any business deals underway with the government,” said Hubieres. “First, they have not called us to talks. Second, I am not going to sit down to talks if there is not a pre-established agenda that is known to the members and the public in general, said Hubieres.
He said that the high fuel costs directly affect the Dominican people. He called on the government to explain the use to the overvaluation of the propane gas. He said the fuel prices in the Dominican Republic are the highest in the region and called for the creating of a commission for talks. He said he is giving the government 10 days to resolve the high price of fuel. He says if the government would abide with the Hydrocarbons Law 112-00, the prices of fuel would drop 30%.
Fenatrano have been stopping their units at peak hours, causing chaos in Greater Santo Domingo.
On Wednesday, 10 October, Industry & Commerce Minister Nelson Toca Simó said that the government is open to talks. He said both sides have good intentions, and solutions should be found. He expressed optimism that Hubieres would not call for another express work stoppage on next Monday, 15 October.
Read more in Spanish:
El Nuevo Diario
El Caribe
Noticias SIN
Diario Libre
El Dia
11 October 2018
