NewsWhore
02-01-2008, 03:30 PM
In true political fashion PLD officials answered a question with a question. At a press conference yesterday leading party members, including Senate president Reinado Pared Perez and Fernandez campaign manager Francisco Javier Garcia asked the PRD presidential candidate Miguel Vargas Maldonado to explain his connection with a money laundering and drug trafficking case currently being heard in the Miami courts.
On Wednesday, the PRD had challenged President Leonel Fernandez to explain his links with Nelson Solano Guzman, after a Supreme Court of Justice document authorizing Solano's extradition to the US on drug trafficking charges in 2006 linked him to several major construction projects in the DR.
During a press conference that was called to respond to PRD secretary general Orlando Jorge Mera's accusations, PLD party spokesmen vehemently denied that Fernandez had any ties to Solano or that the government had awarded the accused drug trafficker lucrative public works contracts.
Temistocles Montas, the Economic, Development and Planning Minister, who also acts as the PLD's strategy director, challenged Vargas to explain why his name appears in court papers in a money laundering and drug trafficking case in the US. He said that if Vargas didn't provide an explanation, then the PLD would reveal more information about this case.
Continually shifting the conversation, the PLD responded to pictures taken of Solano and Fernandez as being "fake and irresponsible." The PLD explained that President Fernandez was visiting the home of a Puerto Plata businessman, Juan Carlos Morales while Solano also happened to be there. The party officials explained that business proposals were made during meetings with the Puerto Plata businessmen, but nothing was ever awarded.
The ruling party also claims that Vargas is trying to divert attention from the way in which he turned RD$1 million into RD$900 million. PLD officials said that Fernandez had signed Solano's extradition papers as he had in the case of former military captain Quirino Ernesto Paulino, who was seen in photos with former President Hipolito Mejia.
The PLD says that Vargas is trying to draw attention to the fact that he hasn't been able to explain how he purchased the Hispaniola Hotel and the El Limon property, as well as building himself a lavish home in La Romana. Vargas is also being questioned about the Malaya-Marbella money laundering scandal in Spain. For background, see this Spanish TV report at http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=NX6OzWXknpU
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#9)
On Wednesday, the PRD had challenged President Leonel Fernandez to explain his links with Nelson Solano Guzman, after a Supreme Court of Justice document authorizing Solano's extradition to the US on drug trafficking charges in 2006 linked him to several major construction projects in the DR.
During a press conference that was called to respond to PRD secretary general Orlando Jorge Mera's accusations, PLD party spokesmen vehemently denied that Fernandez had any ties to Solano or that the government had awarded the accused drug trafficker lucrative public works contracts.
Temistocles Montas, the Economic, Development and Planning Minister, who also acts as the PLD's strategy director, challenged Vargas to explain why his name appears in court papers in a money laundering and drug trafficking case in the US. He said that if Vargas didn't provide an explanation, then the PLD would reveal more information about this case.
Continually shifting the conversation, the PLD responded to pictures taken of Solano and Fernandez as being "fake and irresponsible." The PLD explained that President Fernandez was visiting the home of a Puerto Plata businessman, Juan Carlos Morales while Solano also happened to be there. The party officials explained that business proposals were made during meetings with the Puerto Plata businessmen, but nothing was ever awarded.
The ruling party also claims that Vargas is trying to divert attention from the way in which he turned RD$1 million into RD$900 million. PLD officials said that Fernandez had signed Solano's extradition papers as he had in the case of former military captain Quirino Ernesto Paulino, who was seen in photos with former President Hipolito Mejia.
The PLD says that Vargas is trying to draw attention to the fact that he hasn't been able to explain how he purchased the Hispaniola Hotel and the El Limon property, as well as building himself a lavish home in La Romana. Vargas is also being questioned about the Malaya-Marbella money laundering scandal in Spain. For background, see this Spanish TV report at http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=NX6OzWXknpU
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#9)