NewsWhore
02-12-2010, 02:30 PM
The president of the CNTU transport union, Ramon Perez Figuereo has confirmed that the government plans to exonerate 50% of the tariffs and taxes on the Conatra-purchased yellow taxis and will provide 3-year financing for the remaining payments. According to Perez Figuereo, this is not a private business deal, as has been claimed in the media.
Speaking yesterday, Figuereo said that ambassador Angel Lockward has been the intermediary between President Fernandez and the Conatra transport union so that the tax facilities could be implemented.
These taxis are being imported as a start towards fulfilling the city council resolution that will require all taxis in the National District to be painted yellow within the next 18 months.
This decision was taken as a security measure both for passengers, who will be able to identify taxis quickly, and drivers, whose vehicles will be less likely to be carjacked.
However, Perez Figuereo said beneficiaries would also get reductions on the cost of the license plates and other facilities. He said that some drivers have even obtained credit from Banco de Reservas.
He said: "This is not a 100% private operation, it is a project that the government is backing to a large extent and that it wants to disguise as private operation in order to mislead the public and the transport unions.
He reminded reporters that Lockward tried to do this deal from Colombia but could not because there was no guarantor. He revealed that Lockward asked him to participate in the deal, but he rejected the idea because it was too much like the ill-fated Renove program and he did not want to get involved.
According to Hoy newspaper, Perez Figuereo said that "there has been privilege, and exclusion..."
Antonio Marte, president of the Conatra taxi union, in an interview with El Caribe, said that the vehicles will cost less than US$15,000, of which US$10,000 will be financed by commercial banks and taxi cooperative. The vehicles will have a GPS installed that will shut down the vehicle, when the owner is delinquent in making payments towards the financing, and in case of robbery. The first 700 of a shipment of 3,000 imported by Conatra have already arrived.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)
Speaking yesterday, Figuereo said that ambassador Angel Lockward has been the intermediary between President Fernandez and the Conatra transport union so that the tax facilities could be implemented.
These taxis are being imported as a start towards fulfilling the city council resolution that will require all taxis in the National District to be painted yellow within the next 18 months.
This decision was taken as a security measure both for passengers, who will be able to identify taxis quickly, and drivers, whose vehicles will be less likely to be carjacked.
However, Perez Figuereo said beneficiaries would also get reductions on the cost of the license plates and other facilities. He said that some drivers have even obtained credit from Banco de Reservas.
He said: "This is not a 100% private operation, it is a project that the government is backing to a large extent and that it wants to disguise as private operation in order to mislead the public and the transport unions.
He reminded reporters that Lockward tried to do this deal from Colombia but could not because there was no guarantor. He revealed that Lockward asked him to participate in the deal, but he rejected the idea because it was too much like the ill-fated Renove program and he did not want to get involved.
According to Hoy newspaper, Perez Figuereo said that "there has been privilege, and exclusion..."
Antonio Marte, president of the Conatra taxi union, in an interview with El Caribe, said that the vehicles will cost less than US$15,000, of which US$10,000 will be financed by commercial banks and taxi cooperative. The vehicles will have a GPS installed that will shut down the vehicle, when the owner is delinquent in making payments towards the financing, and in case of robbery. The first 700 of a shipment of 3,000 imported by Conatra have already arrived.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)