NewsWhore
07-24-2008, 05:40 PM
The American Chamber of Commerce directors addressed the present conflicts of Chevron and Caribe Tours as recent examples of how governments have allowed mafias to control transport in the DR. Christopher Paniagua, president of AmCham criticized that a person or group take the law in their own hands, and said this sends a negative signal regarding the state of rule of law in the country. He said that the state needs to defend not only for foreign investors, but Dominicans in general. Furthermore, former president of the National Council of Business, Celso Marranzini Perez said, "Unionized mafias have taken over the country. These groups are capable of paralyzing the country to seek their individual profit, never for the general good." Marranzini mentioned that the groups demand concessions, tax exemptions and financing that they never pay back and violate the laws with the indifference of the authorities. He also criticized that the government has allowed them to distribute among themselves all the transport routes. He mentioned the recent known case of them attempting to blackmail a government minister. The conflict has surfaced because this time, the transporters have not met with full complacency from the Ministry of Industry & Commerce and because Chevron has stood up for its rights and taken the case to the courts.
In another similar case against freedom in the transport business sector, Caribe Tours, a leader in inter-urban service that after securing all permits to transport passengers on the Santo Domingo, Santiago, Cap Haitien route has seen politics intervene and their right to the route declined. The Governor of Dajabon reacted and pressured the Transport Office (OTTT) to rescind the permit bending to pressures from mini-buses that transport passengers on the route. The owners of the mini-buses are concerned that the competition would affect their business.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#8)
In another similar case against freedom in the transport business sector, Caribe Tours, a leader in inter-urban service that after securing all permits to transport passengers on the Santo Domingo, Santiago, Cap Haitien route has seen politics intervene and their right to the route declined. The Governor of Dajabon reacted and pressured the Transport Office (OTTT) to rescind the permit bending to pressures from mini-buses that transport passengers on the route. The owners of the mini-buses are concerned that the competition would affect their business.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#8)