President Leonel Fernández promised in New York City that black outs would again be behind us in four months time. He said the private companies that have taken over the distribution of power have committed to have complete repairs to distribution lines in time for Christmas. After two years of relatively stable service, the first days of the privatization of power have brought eight hour blackouts to cities all over the nation as the companies repair the distribution lines. Two companies, Unión Fenosa (Spain) and AES (US) have taken over the distribution of power and collection of bills in the DR. In response to complaints about the privatization process, the Commission for the Reform of Public Enterprise (CREP), which has been in charge of the process, sent the contracts signed with the private firms to Congress. These include the contracts for the state flour mill, Molinos del Ozama, which has not been debated, and the now controversial contracts signed with the Distribuidora del Norte, Distribuidora del Sur (Unión Fenosa) and Distribuidora del Este (AES). Congress is also studying the contracts for the privatization of the two leading government-owned airports, Puerto Plata and Las Americas. Critics of the privatization of the airports say that while the foreign companies that make up the consortium that won the 30-year concessions are very reputable and prestigious companies, there is nothing in the contract that impedes the Dominican company that won the bid from rescinding its commitments with these companies and continuing on its own. In addition to Puerto Plata and Las Americas, the companies have also committed to make investments in the Barahona and Samaná international airports.
