NewsWhore
03-25-2010, 05:10 PM
Former Dominican ambassador in Washington and governor of the Central Bank, Bernardo Vega writes in Hoy on the investment carried out by Barrick Gold in Sanchez Ramirez province. He comments that this is the largest private investment carried out in the country, and that it is a large investment even on a global scale.
He comments that despite the scope, the government chose not to inform the country on the outcome of the negotiations once Barrick Gold sought changes to the original contract signed with Placer Dome.
Vega says that his extra-official sources indicate that on the board of Barrick Gold, that includes former President George Bush (father), Gustavo Cisneros would hire former US ambassador Hertell as lobbyist. The DR government would name two Dominican businessmen and use technical services suggested by the IDB and the firm of Julio Ortega Tous.
The agreement reached was then sent to Congress and discussions in Congress were very limited. When it was approved, the government did not give any explanations, writes Vega. Vega would like to hear the opinion of Tax Department director, Juan Hernandez on what this will mean for the state treasury, and from Environment Minister Jaime David Fernandez on the effects on the environment.
In his opinion, the government needs to give an explanation. He says that while he defends foreign investment, it is difficult to be in agreement with a contract that not even the government has been willing to give explanations on, even if this is the most important foreign investment ever made in the country.
"The government negotiated in secret. And if it now does not offer an explanation it is running the risk that demagogues investigate the tax and environment aspects. The contract has been negotiated and approved by Congress. Neither the President nor Congress can unilaterally modify it because elemental juridical issues would be violated. But the public opinion needs to continue to pressure so the details are made public" he writes in Hoy.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#10)
He comments that despite the scope, the government chose not to inform the country on the outcome of the negotiations once Barrick Gold sought changes to the original contract signed with Placer Dome.
Vega says that his extra-official sources indicate that on the board of Barrick Gold, that includes former President George Bush (father), Gustavo Cisneros would hire former US ambassador Hertell as lobbyist. The DR government would name two Dominican businessmen and use technical services suggested by the IDB and the firm of Julio Ortega Tous.
The agreement reached was then sent to Congress and discussions in Congress were very limited. When it was approved, the government did not give any explanations, writes Vega. Vega would like to hear the opinion of Tax Department director, Juan Hernandez on what this will mean for the state treasury, and from Environment Minister Jaime David Fernandez on the effects on the environment.
In his opinion, the government needs to give an explanation. He says that while he defends foreign investment, it is difficult to be in agreement with a contract that not even the government has been willing to give explanations on, even if this is the most important foreign investment ever made in the country.
"The government negotiated in secret. And if it now does not offer an explanation it is running the risk that demagogues investigate the tax and environment aspects. The contract has been negotiated and approved by Congress. Neither the President nor Congress can unilaterally modify it because elemental juridical issues would be violated. But the public opinion needs to continue to pressure so the details are made public" he writes in Hoy.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#10)