Although he acknowledges that informal markets have been eliminated and that the spaces they occupied have been recovered in Santo Domingo East, the mayor of the municipality, Juan de los Santos, told reporters that it is “hard” to work in public space. He described plans for the formalization of the Los Mina Market, which he said would be converted into a “retailers market” since he plans to begin its construction during the course of this year. Speaking on the Dialogo Libre TV show, sponsored by Diario Libre, he said that the Fernandez administration had donated lands for establishing the new model markets. “Unfortunately they even sold the aisles, people don’t even have space to walk… then they demand so many things from the City Council that at times one feel powerless, because the disorder that has been created there makes it impossible for anyone to establish any sort of organized business,” he said, during a discussion about the market in Los Mina.
The mayor visualized as the most feasible solution, the construction of a new market “with clear rules”, in order to prevent any conflicts with third parties, since in his perception there is no planning in the current market. Describing the environment in which this market operates, he said: “Houses have even been built inside the market, businesses for selling alcohol, which have nothing to do with the activities that are carried out there, but the former city authorities authorized it all and we have had to live with it.” According to the mayor, himself a successful businessman, security, parking and illumination are the main problem areas in the Los Mina market. He also complained that traders were using the hallways and customers had no way of moving about. “This year we want to start the Santo Domingo East retailers market in order to eliminate the Los Mina market, because it is not functional,” declared the mayor.