Santo Domingo.- The US$93.7 million loan for the eight Super Tucano combat planes the Chamber of Deputies approved yesterday will be paid from the US$20 each tourist pays upon entering the Dominican Republic, two lawmakers said Wednesday.
Ruling PLD party deputies Teodoro Reyes and Ramon Cabrera said president Leonel Fernández made that decision by decree almost two years ago and opened an account in the Reservas bank for that purpose.
They said that according to reports by Dominican Air Force chief Carlos Altuna Tezanos that account has enough funds to pay the loan installments in the first two years. Altuna met last week with PLD deputies and said Dominican Republic needs the combat aircraft.
The loan was approved despite allegations by PLD deputy Elso Segura Martinez, who said there were rumors that bribes were given in exchange for the approval.
Last year more than 3 million tourists came to the country, providing revenue estimated at more than US$60 million.
Written by: juanb, 12 Nov 2008 4:04 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Tucano loan approved
The Chamber of Deputies has voted in favor of a US$93.6 million loan for the purchase of eight Brazilian Super Tucano air fighters. Of the 128 legislators, 87 voted in favor, eleven voted against and 30 abstained. Eugenio Cedeno, vice president of the PRD block in Congress, said that PRD members had voted against the bill because of observations that the Tucanos are not the best planes for fighting drug trafficking. Cedeno added that in a country with so many problems the government should not spend US$93.6 million on planes when the money could be used to build 6,486 houses or 2,705 schools in rural communities.
There has been a great deal of controversy about the purchase of the planes. The deal was first announced in November 2007.
Written by: juanb, 12 Nov 2008 4:05 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Sounds pretty suspicious to me.
Does this mean that previously we had no need for this $60,000,000?
Will the same high ranking military personnel who are already involved in directing the drug business be directing the usage of these planes? If so, watch out American, Continental, and Delta.
Written by: juanb, 12 Nov 2008 4:05 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Critics have argued that the planes are outdated and not agile or fast enough to engage the state-of-the-art planes used by drug traffickers. Experts point out that most drug planes fly below radar, but the Tucanos planes aren't capable of doing that, making them obsolete for drug reconnaissance. In addition, the Dominican Air Force's lack of capacity to train its pilots in "dog fight" maneuvering, which is needed to chase down these plane, adds an extra challenge. Opponents have also questioned the lack of transparency surrounding the deal, and cited rumors that "incentives" had been paid to Congress members over the last few days to ensure their support for the project.
From: Dominican Republic
Let's hope some watchdog group does not leak it to the tourist industry that they, as tourists are supporting (suppling the money) for military aircraft authorized to shoot down civilian aircraft suspected (keyword) of drug trafficking. Even if this is true, I cannot imagine someone in the government so stupid as to not only admit it but advertise it to the public as well. Maybe I'm dreaming, maybe I'm not in Kansas anymore Toto, but some of this stuff is hard to believe!!!!!!!!!
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
'Curiouser and curiouser!' cried Alice.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
that is my third wife in the black bikini with glasses on head.....I divorced her because she refused to get the implants
Written by: BASTA, 12 Nov 2008 4:40 PM
From: Dominican Republic, SPM
Oh my she was my 1st wife
Written by: Jander, 12 Nov 2008 5:05 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Looks like the guy on the left with colorful shorts got the operation instead.
"What a drag it is getting old"
From: Dominican Republic, Santiago
Photo caption: That is $20.00 for each of you so we can see thee planes fly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: United States, Silt Colorado
Wow, at only $20 buck each thats only four million seven hundered thousand tourists. Assuming that that 20 was not spent or allocated on anything else, not pocketed or skimed etc. That loan could possibly be paid of in say uhmmmm 30 years at the fixed payment schedule as applied to the NGAAP (NOT generally acceptable accounting practices).
Written by: MrSloth, 12 Nov 2008 5:58 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Comes at a good time. The Haitains are about to migrate back to Haiti for Christmas. Get $ 20 from all them and the Planes are paid for.
To Jacirez - In D.R. - Fire Codes only exist if someone dies in a fire.
From: Dominican Republic, la Romana
Texasshoe , as of two weeks ago the tourist card for visitors was only $10 so unless it has very quietly been doubled that means it will require more than 9 million tourists ..who ever heard of money not going into consolidated revenue no matter what first may have been promised
Written by: josean, 12 Nov 2008 6:26 PM
From: United States
Gentlemen,
Have no fear with your melanin deprived former concubines, the lighter they are the more leathery they get.
josean has one non-negotiable rule, here I am as stubborn as Chauncey is right wing and extremist.
That rule is:
NO HIPS and NO LIPS josean SKIPS!
From: Dominican Republic
perfect...no roads to get tourists safely to their destination...just some planes to escort the drug planes to thier drop points!
Somedays...no....everyday I shake my head and wonder!
Written by: josean, 12 Nov 2008 6:32 PM
From: United States
PCM,
My brother it is amazing to me too!
Written by: Jander, 12 Nov 2008 6:41 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Now that is apears to be a reality I am finding that these planes are very popular in SA .
They seem to be used mainly for border patrol so that tells me there is more to this decsion then downing drug runners.
On January 11, 2006 Embraer had a potential sale of 36 units to Venezuela
which fell through since the USA Government denied the sale; the US Government has a say in the sale of any weapon system that has North American technology. In this case, the Super Tucano uses a Pratt & Whitney Canada Pratt & Whitney Canada Pratt & Whitney Canada is a Canadian [i] aircraft engine manufacturer engine , and many other components of North American
From: United States, Reality Check
What happens to this revenue model when the Cuban embargo is lifted? We will be able to get to Cuba in less than 30 mins. Even from NYC the flights to Havanna and other cuban resorts will not be much shorter than the RD.
Prez Elected Obama (unlike McLame) is a very logical, methodical thinker.... As soon as someone makes a good argument that it is the best interest of the American economy to eliminate the travel embargo with Cuba...then it will be lifted.
I would prefer to see more un-touched areas that are NOT over developed. Also, I am sure the cubanas will have may LIPS & HIPS (but I can only just look). I think Cuba would be much safer for tourist because they Gov has a handle on its country.
The RD may have to raise the entry fee again as tourism visitors decline (in order to meet revenue targets given lower volumes).
Written by: generoso, 12 Nov 2008 6:55 PM
From: United States, Santo Domingo, D.R.
Guys you are being fed a bunch of bull from somebody here.
By law I can't recall the number exactly the revenues for the tourist cards are divided to go to the promotion of tourism in the Secretaria de Turismo and the rest for airport fees, charges and infrastructure servicing and updating.
So the headline is just a bunch of smoke and some spin doctor either didn't get his facts straight or
wants to confuse us deliberately.
GC:
Your ex-wife is the old transvestite on the left. She-male left you because you were too cheap.
From: Dominican Republic, la Romana
Generoso ..I am sure that you are right
Written by: josean, 12 Nov 2008 7:19 PM
From: United States
jd,
"Prez Elected Obama (unlike McLame) is a very logical, methodical thinker.... As soon as someone makes a good argument that it is the best interest of the American economy to eliminate the travel embargo with Cuba...then it will be lifted."
Believe me, the American conservative republican farmers have already made that good argument for years as has John Deere, Cummings and Caterpillar just to mention a few.
But the loudest argument is being made by the American economy and the unemployed American worker right now.
What is the pragmatic phrase “no permanent friends or permanent enemies just permanent interests. The economy is too bad to maintain the stupid embargo!
The stranglehold of the Cuban Mafia on US policy towards Cuba has come to an end, Florida turned BLUE.
Mel Martinez the Balart Clowns and the “Cuban Sarah Palin” Ileana Ros-Lehtinen were irrelevant.
So pack your bags, Havana here we come, the Mojitos and Cohibas are one me!
Written by: generoso, 12 Nov 2008 7:37 PM
From: United States, Santo Domingo, D.R.
Cuban embargo should be lifted without pre-conditions. Why?
It has never worked, it has just brought more misery and travel restrictions to both sides in and out of the island.
It is bad for Cubans and bad for American business.
It's a old broken record that the socialist in power in the island prison always use as an excuse for their failure to produce wealth for all Cubans.
Contrary to what most people think when the US does lift he Cuban embargo it will benefit the DR
because it will improve instead of diminish tourism to the rest of the Caribbean.
And finally is about time that the Castro brothers exit Cuba and by inundating the island with American goods and services and the social contact with democratic persons will contribute more to the establishment of democracy than the stupid and outdated embargo ever accomplished in more than 40 years it has been in force.
Written by: josean, 12 Nov 2008 8:35 PM
From: United States
professor g,
Ac and Chauncey are going to go after you like a woman scorned.
"Hell has no fury like a woman scorned!"
In this case two, you Casanova you!
From: United States
josean, caterpillar is one of the only businesses that seem to have a future, what with the stimulus package of 600 billion by the chinese, and the fact that only a keynesian type stimulus can save the american economy. look for them to lobby for an end to the embargo, along with john deere and all the other heavy equipment manufacturers, not to mention the farmers. and guys, please do not fret so much over the press releases from the government; they are never intended to be truthful, anyway. they are not intended for consumption by people who graduate school, and have a calculator or PC. they are intended for the guys that Josean characterises as KOOL AID DRINKERS.
Written by: josean, 13 Nov 2008 6:06 PM
From: United States
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The Chamber of Deputies has voted in favor of a US$93.6 million loan for the purchase of eight Brazilian Super Tucano air fighters. Of the 128 legislators, 87 voted in favor, eleven voted against and 30 abstained. Eugenio Cedeno, vice president of the PRD block in Congress, said that PRD members had voted against the bill because of observations that the Tucanos are not the best planes for fighting drug trafficking. Cedeno added that in a country with so many problems the government should not spend US$93.6 million on planes when the money could be used to build 6,486 houses or 2,705 schools in rural communities.
There has been a great deal of controversy about the purchase of the planes. The deal was first announced in November 2007.
Does this mean that previously we had no need for this $60,000,000?
Will the same high ranking military personnel who are already involved in directing the drug business be directing the usage of these planes? If so, watch out American, Continental, and Delta.
"What a drag it is getting old"
To Jacirez - In D.R. - Fire Codes only exist if someone dies in a fire.
Have no fear with your melanin deprived former concubines, the lighter they are the more leathery they get.
josean has one non-negotiable rule, here I am as stubborn as Chauncey is right wing and extremist.
That rule is:
NO HIPS and NO LIPS josean SKIPS!
Somedays...no....everyday I shake my head and wonder!
My brother it is amazing to me too!
They seem to be used mainly for border patrol so that tells me there is more to this decsion then downing drug runners.
On January 11, 2006 Embraer had a potential sale of 36 units to Venezuela
which fell through since the USA Government denied the sale; the US Government has a say in the sale of any weapon system that has North American technology. In this case, the Super Tucano uses a Pratt & Whitney Canada Pratt & Whitney Canada Pratt & Whitney Canada is a Canadian [i] aircraft engine manufacturer engine , and many other components of North American
Prez Elected Obama (unlike McLame) is a very logical, methodical thinker.... As soon as someone makes a good argument that it is the best interest of the American economy to eliminate the travel embargo with Cuba...then it will be lifted.
I would prefer to see more un-touched areas that are NOT over developed. Also, I am sure the cubanas will have may LIPS & HIPS (but I can only just look). I think Cuba would be much safer for tourist because they Gov has a handle on its country.
The RD may have to raise the entry fee again as tourism visitors decline (in order to meet revenue targets given lower volumes).
By law I can't recall the number exactly the revenues for the tourist cards are divided to go to the promotion of tourism in the Secretaria de Turismo and the rest for airport fees, charges and infrastructure servicing and updating.
So the headline is just a bunch of smoke and some spin doctor either didn't get his facts straight or
wants to confuse us deliberately.
GC:
Your ex-wife is the old transvestite on the left. She-male left you because you were too cheap.
"Prez Elected Obama (unlike McLame) is a very logical, methodical thinker.... As soon as someone makes a good argument that it is the best interest of the American economy to eliminate the travel embargo with Cuba...then it will be lifted."
Believe me, the American conservative republican farmers have already made that good argument for years as has John Deere, Cummings and Caterpillar just to mention a few.
But the loudest argument is being made by the American economy and the unemployed American worker right now.
What is the pragmatic phrase “no permanent friends or permanent enemies just permanent interests. The economy is too bad to maintain the stupid embargo!
The stranglehold of the Cuban Mafia on US policy towards Cuba has come to an end, Florida turned BLUE.
Mel Martinez the Balart Clowns and the “Cuban Sarah Palin” Ileana Ros-Lehtinen were irrelevant.
So pack your bags, Havana here we come, the Mojitos and Cohibas are one me!
It has never worked, it has just brought more misery and travel restrictions to both sides in and out of the island.
It is bad for Cubans and bad for American business.
It's a old broken record that the socialist in power in the island prison always use as an excuse for their failure to produce wealth for all Cubans.
Contrary to what most people think when the US does lift he Cuban embargo it will benefit the DR
because it will improve instead of diminish tourism to the rest of the Caribbean.
And finally is about time that the Castro brothers exit Cuba and by inundating the island with American goods and services and the social contact with democratic persons will contribute more to the establishment of democracy than the stupid and outdated embargo ever accomplished in more than 40 years it has been in force.
Ac and Chauncey are going to go after you like a woman scorned.
"Hell has no fury like a woman scorned!"
In this case two, you Casanova you!
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