Washington trims aid for the country’s war on drugs, crime

NEW YORK.- Dominican Republic received US$49 million in U.S. aid in fiscal year 2010, for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative’s (CBSI) war on drug trafficking and crime, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee announced Tuesday, but notes that the figure means a cut of US$6.5 million.

Committee chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), Representative of a district formed mostly by Cuban-Americans, disclosed the report that says Dominican Republic is Washington’s “most important key” in the Caribbean basin.

It said the United States is one of Dominican Republic’s biggest bilateral donors, and seeks to help its Government fight drug trafficking, crime, and in quality medical assistance, education, improve governance and put the Free Trade Agreement with the U.S. and Central America into practice.

The report adds that president Barack Obama asked Congress for US$42.5 million for Dominican Republic in fiscal year 2011, a cut of US$6.5 million.