NewsWhore
03-23-2011, 04:20 PM
The Association of Industries of the DR (AIRD) has criticised the negotiations between the government and the unionized transporters. AIRD president Ligia Bonetti de Valiente,said that this just whets the transport leaders' appetites for more perks and privileges from the government, without any commitment from them that will benefit passenger or cargo transport. For many years now, the business group has been calling for the right to choose who transports company cargo.
"We cannot forget that less than two months ago Fenatrado [the cargo monopoly] increased transport costs by around 30% on all routes nationwide, placing our cargo transportation costs above those of our competitors, and the productive sectors do not have the choice to lower our costs because we are not allowed to contract the service of transport outside the so-called transport unions," said Bonetti.
"We asked for the right for free contracting of transport freight services, and what was done was to create more facilities for the transport unions," AIRD vice president Circe Almanzar, as reported in Diario Libre.
Industry & Commerce Minister Manuel Garcia Arevalo responded by clarifying that unionized transporters would not receive a subsidy. As reported in Hoy, he said that what will be done is to exchange the bono-gas subsidy received by around 20,000 drivers for financial assistance so they can convert their vehicles to run on natural gas. He said that although the conversion costs about US$700-US$800 it will result in RD$7,000-RD$8,000 a month savings for the transporters because natural gas costs less. The bono-gas program would be eliminated.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)
"We cannot forget that less than two months ago Fenatrado [the cargo monopoly] increased transport costs by around 30% on all routes nationwide, placing our cargo transportation costs above those of our competitors, and the productive sectors do not have the choice to lower our costs because we are not allowed to contract the service of transport outside the so-called transport unions," said Bonetti.
"We asked for the right for free contracting of transport freight services, and what was done was to create more facilities for the transport unions," AIRD vice president Circe Almanzar, as reported in Diario Libre.
Industry & Commerce Minister Manuel Garcia Arevalo responded by clarifying that unionized transporters would not receive a subsidy. As reported in Hoy, he said that what will be done is to exchange the bono-gas subsidy received by around 20,000 drivers for financial assistance so they can convert their vehicles to run on natural gas. He said that although the conversion costs about US$700-US$800 it will result in RD$7,000-RD$8,000 a month savings for the transporters because natural gas costs less. The bono-gas program would be eliminated.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)