President Mejia told a national television audience that he would not put an end to the thousands of small and medium-sized public works projects that benefit the poor and the needy. According to Hoy, the President ignored the suggestion from Central Bank Governor Jose Lois Malkum, who wanted the President to halt or at least slow down the project because of the current economic situation. Mejia emphasized that those with a capacity to pay must pay, and he reaffirmed his promise to put the squeeze on, if need be, in order for people to pay their taxes. President Mejia said that schools, medicines and rural roads were very important, and that the Dominican State would not bear the whole weight of paying for these programs. He implied a need to choose between rum and medicines, saying that medicines were the correct choice. The President renewed his claim that exporters and other people producing hard currencies had benefited to the tune of nearly RD$15 billion over the past few months and it was their turn to pay up.