SANTO DOMINGO. - The Minister of Hacienda (treasury) Friday denied that the sale of a 49 percent stake in the Dominican Refinery (Refidomsa) to Venezuela jeopardizes the country’s sovereignty and called the business leaders who oppose the deal "vultures" whom in his view are only interested in obtaining those shares to control and monopolize the market.

Vicente Bengoa said what would compromise the country’s sovereignty is a new agreement with the International Monetary Fund, as the industrialists seek.

"What they are in fact is some type of vultures circling about, which aren’t interested in 49 percent of the Refidomsa shares, but want the previous scheme with Shell to control and manage the Refinery, to then bankrupt and blame it on the State."

He said the business leaders want the 49 percent Refidomsa stake to return it to the old scheme with Shell, as took place with the Dominican Corporation of State-owned Companies (Corde)and want to create a private monopoly in crude derivatives, which the Constitution doesn’t allow and "would be placing the catholic church in the hands of Luther.”

"What an irony, those are the same who are asking, almost demanding that the Government sign with the International Monetary Fund and say they are concerned with an operation that is transparent and really beneficial for the country and which doesn’t imply any limitation on the national sovereignty," he said.

In a press conference, Bengoa said the sale of the shares in no way poses any danger to the country’s fuel supply. “No industrialist is going to acquire 49 percent of the shares, with the State as majority stakeholder and with Refinery’s management. That is not their interest. What they want is the scheme of Shell to bankrupt the company, as occurred with many which were part of Corde, and to create a private monopoly of crude derivatives."

Yesterday the National Business Council (Conep) warned that the sale of Refidomsa shares to Venezuela could constitute an error and expose the country to risks.