Taking part in the El Caribe newspaper publishers Multimedios del Caribe Weekly Media Luncheon held yesterday, Tuesday 28 May, the president of the Santiago Chamber of Commerce and Production, Maria Victoria Menicucci, told editors and reporters that the city and province have spent a long time waiting for a fair share of the state’s investments. She said that the province’s industrial sector wants to take part in the nation’s development and that there are several points relating to the local infrastructure that deserve the government’s attention. She noted that for years the north of the country has been semi-abandoned by successive administrations that have ignored the need for infrastructures that would assist small and medium companies. Her call was for the government to “return what Santiago deserves,” since the city and province provide a substantial part of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).
She pointed out issues such as the 18-year wait for the completion of the North Beltway, the construction of four lanes to Puerto Plata, the urgent need for road repairs and expansion all over the Cibao, and the repairs to the Luperon Tourist Highway, all of which would greatly benefit the entire region. She said that the Santiago community often feels that it had been tricked, since several groundbreaking ceremonies have been held for the North Beltway and yet the roadway is still incomplete.