The powerful trucking union, Fenatrado announced a 30% increase in cargo fares. Fenatrado justifies the hike due to the diesel price increase in effect since last Saturday. Regular diesel increased from RD$22 to RD$24.79, or 12%. Fenatrado says the difference is to cover other increases in their costs. Fenatrado is a monopoly that has grown with the support of governments that have granted the organization privileges in order to retain their favor. The union has opposed any competition from non-union members. Celso Marranzini, president of the National Council of Business (CONEP) commenting in El Caribe newspaper said this does not come as a surprise. "We all know that Fenatrado is an organized mafia," he said. "Fenatrado is a mafia that now has support because they have Diógenes Castillo in government," said Marranzini. Castillo is a union leader who was known for promoting the use of violence to impose the way of the truckers. He was appointed director of the governmental public bus division, OMSA. He recently announced government buses were repaired at a cost of RD$20 million. Juan Hubieres of Fenatrano, another union that groups minibus passenger transporters justified the increase and said that his members would up prices 30% also as of Friday, 15 December. The increase would come prior to the peak of the year when families commute to spend Christmas with their relatives. El Caribe newspaper says that now to transport 50,000 plantains from Santiago to Santo Domingo will cost RD$5,850 up from RD$4,500, for the about 95 km trek. To transport 500 quintals of potatoes from Constanza to Santo Domingo will cost RD$8,450, up from RD$6,500, for the about 140 km. trek.
