DR: Borrowing spree

El Caribe newspaper reports that in the past two months the government has sent Congress requests for financing worth US$550.9 million. The newspaper explains that 58% of the loans have been deposited in the past three days (from 6-8 January). The funds would be used to expand the communications system of the Armed Forces, implement a produce project in the southwest and supply asphalt for street paving. The loans are for a five-year duration. The newspaper highlights the incongruity in that many of the loan requests bear the signature of Finance Minister Rafael Calderon, when they should be signed by the head of the Technical Secretariat of the Presidency, Carlos Despradel. For more details, see http://www.elcaribe.com.do/periodico_impreso/...