SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The Dominican Republic says it cannot provide any kind of financial assistance to organizers of the Miss Universe contest scheduled to be held in the Caribbean country.
Presidential Administrative Minister Jose Ramon Peralta says the government does not have the $6 million that organizers have requested. He says they should seek help from the private sector.
A Wednesday statement from the Miss Universe Organization says that it already has received what it calls overwhelming support from the private sector and that the project is still alive.
The contest is scheduled for December. Officials have not announced the exact location but have said they are considering the popular tourist city of Punta Cana.
