Dominica: Customs collections increased to 660 million pesos a day

The Director of Customs, Eduardo Sanz Lovatón affirmed that thanks to the trust created by President Luis Abinader in the country, collections have increased from 442 million pesos a day to more than 660 million pesos a day.

He said, the first steps of the Government of President Luis Abinader have generated an increase in foreign and national investment, and a climate of confidence in the Dominican Republic where there has been no shock and things are beginning to go well.

Sanz Lovatón said that this growth is due to different factors, since the economy is transformed by trust and the democratic transition that occurs in the country.

He considered that the placement of the bonds abroad generated an oversupply, but that due to the control that the Government has over the economic level, it helped to normalize the sector.

Normality returns to the Dominican Republic step by step, and that is reflected in the customs collections," declared Sanz Lovatón when participating in the program yesterday, broadcast by Color Vision, channel 9.

Supplementary Budget

It considered that the Supplementary Budget meets the projected goal, because it is met by 101%.

He said, in terms of collection right now, Customs is getting a good note. In August the average daily collection was 442 million pesos and now we are approaching 660 million pesos a day, which translates into a significant increase.

The official expressed his optimism as to what they can achieve at the level of technology and modernization of Customs processes.

Christmas grace of 3 thousand pesos.

He recalled that the Christmas Grace granted by the government this year is for three thousand dollars and that it comes into effect on December 1. The official indicated that grace is a way to make Dominicans who live abroad feel good, since they are a lung of the country's economy.

He said, we must find a way that Dominicans who arrive in the country feel welcome and welcomed so that everything is easier and more welcoming for them.

He stressed that the money that people pay in taxes is for citizens who have less resources, so they can climb the economic ladder.

He said, every peso we collect is needed by the Robert Read Cabral hospital, neighborhoods like Gualey, Guachupita and the Ministry of Public Works to pave the streets.

Convert RD to Loading Site

The Director General of Customs, Eduardo Sanz Lovatón said that their mission is to turn the country into a Logistics Hub or a place where the loads from the region meet. We must take advantage of the fact that we are at the turning point of the great economies of the world like the United States, Europe, South America. This can make us a freight bridge throughout the Caribbean region.

He stated that he understands that if the Logistics Hub is created and money is charged for the cargo that is not consumed in the Dominican Republic, but goes to the entire region, this can greatly increase the country's collections.

The technology

Regarding new technologies, he said that their goal is to leave the docks and airports of the country with scanner, x-ray and detection equipment when the present administration ends.

In his view, with determined political will and the support they have from the president, this will be achieved because it is a counter-sense that is currently being counted with the eyes, due to the little interest of the past authorities.

Smuggling at the border

He reported that to control customs at the border, they work hand in hand with the Ministry of Defense, the National Directorate of Drug Control (DNCD) and intelligence agencies. He said that they have a Working Table and that there is a Deputy Director of Customs who constantly works with the intelligence agencies.