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View Full Version : [DR1] More debt for dubious purchases



NewsWhore
06-29-2006, 03:10 PM
A large part of the Dominican foreign debt added during former President Hipolito Mejia's administration can be traced back to facilities granted by foreign export agencies, of which US Eximbank has a large part, and which were generously approved by the Dominican Congress. Now, several of the same companies that benefited in the past seem to be at it again. Clave newspaper recalls that the Sun Land Group LLC that convinced the Executive Branch to submit a US$132.4 million loan for purchases of equipment to reportedly fight crime was also behind the purchase of helicopters during the previous government. The helicopter loan contract stipulated a clause that permitted the last government to increase its purchase from US$10 million to US$76 million. Clave points out that The Sun Land Group is based in Miami and is headed by lobbyist Daniel Mejia.


The newspaper also points out that Riogersa, a Spanish company created for the lucrative foreign borrowing with support of a Spanish export agency, was able to secure Congressional approval for a EUR8.5 million debt, reportedly for purchasing uniforms for the army. According to Clave, Spanish businessman, Mauricio Toledano lobbied President Fernandez to approve the debt and the money is to be paid back in 2007.

Link To Original Article (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#9)