President Leonel Fernández returned last night from his three-day official visit to Panama and Colombia. On his way back, he made a stopover in Miami to again spend time with his friend, Director of Customs Miguel Cocco who is interned in a Miami hospital for kidney trouble. Cocco was also found to have pre-cancerous cells. President Fernández had to cut short his presence at the inaugural of Panama President Mireya Moscoso, the 53-year old widow of three-time President of Panama Arnulfo Arias. Her inaugural was delayed by almost four hours due to discussions over who would preside the two congressional chambers. President Fernández arrived at 10:30 am at the stadium where the event was to take place, and left at 2:10 pm. The ceremony eventually took place an hour and a half after he had left. Mrs. Moscoso’s inaugural was attended by the President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, the President of Costa Rica Miguel Angel Rodríguez and the heir of the Spanish thrown, Prince Felipe de Borbón. Upon his return to Santo Domingo, President Fernández explained that the major achievements of his trip was the signing of two loans. A US$25 million credit will be used to build low cost housing as part of the Resure program to rescue the west bank of the Ozama River, where hundreds of families need to be dislodged and relocated. President Fernández said this project will start with the La Ciénaga slum area as soon as the construction of the new bridge parallel to the Duarte Bridge over the Ozama River is completed. A US$18 million loan, also signed with the government of Colombia, will be used for irrigation projects in central farm areas. Prior to returning to Santo Domingo, President Fernández told journalists covering his trip that he would lobby so that Congress pass the free trade agreement with Central America, regardless of delays with the passing of the tariffs and income tax bills.
