The government ensures legal security, but questions big business

Santo Domingo.- Presidency Administrative minister José Ramón Peralta on Friday said the government ensures legal security, not only for Barrick Gold Corp., but any foreign company with investments in Dominican Republic.

The official’s statement comes just hours after the National Business Council (Conep) warned the Government against sending signals tht could harm the business climate, and the country’s image abroad.

The Conep reacted to president Danilo Medina’s ultimatum to the Barrick Gold to renegotiate the mining contract, or face the consequences of a bill that would tax the company’s windfall profits from mineral exports.

Peralta said he was ”puzzled” by the Conep’s attitude, when not even Canad ambassador Georges Boisse doubted it, when asked about legal security.

"I think that this is an administration which ensures legal security, which ensures transparency, which is a friend of private investment and protects all investments. But it’s also a government that guarantees the national assets and protects the heritage of the Dominicans."