It’s not a lack of money, it’s an excess of thieves,” protesters yell

Santo Domingo. – "With no one in jail progress can’t prevail.” "It’s not a lack of money, it’s an excess of thieves" and "The people united will never be defeated" are some of the slogans shouted by hundreds of protesters who came Sunday afternoon at the Puerta del Conde to oppose the tax reform.

The protesters want the government headed by Danilo Medina to repeal the new law and investigate the root of the fiscal deficit of RD$187.0 billion, and to prosecute those responsible.

Members of the middle class dressed in black started gathering at 2pm in a show of force which didn’t exclude sex or ages.

In another demonstration in the mounting protests, candles were lit at the site the student Florian William Ramirez was killed by a police agent last week at the Santo Domingo State University (UASD) while participating in a protest against the tax reform.

"Severed dialogue"

Ex vice president Milagros Ortiz Bosch said the government broke off the dialogue to listen to alternatives presented by several economic entities.

She said she regrets that the population still doesn’t have an explanation on the cause of the budget deficit that led to a tax reform. "There’s not one person in jail, there’s no accusation and we have yet begun to pay what it represents."