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Daily News - 4 January 2000
Tax collections up 20%
The Fernández Administration has collected 20% more taxes this year than last. Tax collections went from RD$17,000 million in 1998 to RD$20,327 million in 1999, or RD$3,327 million more. Director General of the Dirección de Impuestos Internos, the local tax bureau, Juan Hernandez said that the largest increases were in the sales tax or the Impuesto sobre la Transferencia de Bienes Industralizados y Servicios (ITBIS) and the income tax, or Impuesto sobre la Renta. Based on tax collections, the DGII estimates stores sold over RD$56.6 million in 1999.
Government promises to repair Olympic Center by August
Minister of Sports Juan Marichal promised that before the end of this government's term, 16 August 2000, the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center will be completely repaired. He is promising to complete in seven months what hasn't been done in four years. Some repairs have been started but the 15-year old facility continues in a state of abandon. The center will be the principal site of the 2003 Pan American Games. "All installations of the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center looking as good as a 15-year old debutante, before I leave this Ministry," he said. The repairs have been delayed due to a consistent lack of funds.
Aura Celeste Fernández resigns from Prison Commission
Aura Celeste Fernández, a former well-reputed judge of the Junta Central Electoral, resigned from the Penitentiary Commission. She continues on as Commissioner for the Support to the Reform and Modernization of Justice. She motivated her resignation saying that the government did include in the National Budget the funds necessary to carry out significant improvements in Dominican jails. The commission had requested a budget of RD$34 million for the Penitentiary Police, of which only RD$3.5 were allotted.
Poll shows 2-1 of PRSC voters favor PLD
Sigma Dos-Listín Diario survey says that 32% of Partido Reformista Social Cristiano voters would cast their vote for Danilo Medina of the Partido de la Liberación Dominicana. 16% of the PRSC voters would favor Hipólito Mejía of the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano in a second round. A candidate needs 50%+1 of the vote to win in a first electoral round. The PRSC is the minority party, but its votes can make the difference in the second round.
Peynado rejects offer to be PLD vice president
Peynado rejected accepting to be vice presidential candidate on a PLD-PRSC alliance ticket. He said that he does not seek the vice presidency and will not be a candidate of any party other than his own, the PRSC. José Tomás Pérez, secretary general of the PLD proposed that Peynado be chosen the vice presidential candidate of the PLD. "Why can't it be the other way around," asked Peynado. "What is the political track record of Danilo Medina compared to that of Jacinto Peynado," he said. Nevertheless, he said he would accept Danilo Medina as his vice presidential candidate on a PRSC ticket in the May 2000 election.
46.6 million lbs. of ferronickel exported
Falconbridge Dominicana reported a production of 47.6 million pounds of nickel, of which it exported 46.6 million pounds. The ferronickel producer paid US$13.6 million in taxes and had profits of US$11.9 million.
Canadian hotelier found dead in Sosua
The body of 40-year old Anny Marie Marit, general manager and co-owner of the Hotel Nuevo Amanecer in Sosua, was found in the No. 10 room of the hotel where she resided. An employee of the hotel found the body. The corpse showed bruises, contusions and a neck wound. A guest of the hotel, fellow Canadian Pierre Danau, who resides in room No. 20, who spoke to her around 12 midnight, last saw Marit alive. At the time she was accompanied by a person she identified as Felix whom she told Danau she had just hired him as a night watchman. The so-called Felix has not been able to be located by the Police, and he is suspect as the murderer. The Homicide Department of the Police of Sosua arrested 12 persons for investigations, including several hotel employees. According to the police, the murder would have occurred at 12:30 am of yesterday.
Juan Luis Guerra proposed for Grammy
Juan Luis Guerra was nominated for a second time for a Grammy Award. "Ni es lo mismo, ni es igual" is competing against Ruben Blades' "Tiempos;" Maná's "Maná Unplugged;" Luis Miguel's "Amarte es un Placer;" and Jaci Velásquez's "Llegar a Tí" in the category of popular Latin music.
Jose Antonio Molina produces for leading Latin stars
El Siglo newspaper reports that Dominican musician José Antonio Molina, in association with Emilio Estefan, is producing music for CDs of several popular Latin music stars. CDs with music arranged by Molina are being produced for Alejandro Fernández, Gloria Estefan, Charlie Zaa, Armando Manzanero, Jose Feliciano, Cristian Castro, and Chichí Peralta. Molina achieved world fame for producing the Luciano Pavarotti and Friends concerts in Italy. He resides in Florida where he directs the Symphonic Orchestra of West Palm Beach.
Pedro Martínez to receive Cy Young this month
Pedro Martinez will travel to Boston on 11 January to receive the Cy Young Award, for being the best pitcher of the American League last season. This is the second time he receives the award. Last year he won the award while pitching for Montreal, of the National League.
Martínez spoke with reporters when attending the clinics organized by the Department of Drug Control at a Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Stadium on 4 January. Some 6,000 Dominican children received t-shirts and the clinics from 20 Major league baseball players that are in the DR for the holidays. These included Quilvio Veras, Ramón Martínez, Vladimir Guerrero, Wilton Guerrero, José Rijo, Deivis Cruz, Jose Offerman, Juan Guzmán, Pablo Ozuna, Miguel Batista, Mario Encarnación and Junior Noboa.
Pedro Martínez dominated in most major pitching categories last season. He struck out 313 batters; his 37 walks were the fewest ever for a pitcher with 300 strikeouts. He won 23 games and lost only four. His ERA of 2.07 was more than a full run better than that of his closest rival (David Cone's 3.44), in a year when the ERA for all pitchers in the American League was 4.86.
Martínez was the 1999 season's showman. He held his opponents to a .205 average and was best when the heat was on. In the September pennant race, he struck out 17 Yankees on his way to a one-hitter. As the American League starter in the All-Star Game, he struck out five of the six batters he faced, including Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.
And when his team most needed him, he delivered six innings of no-hit, eight-strikeout relief in the decisive game of the Division Series (despite a back injury).
Martínez also posted the Boston Red Sox's only victory in the championship game against the Yankees.
The major disappointment of the year was when two sports writers did not include him in the best of the year vote and he finished second to Texas catcher Iván Rodríguez in the MVP balloting.
Judo champ will train in Canada for Olympics
Dominican and Pan American champion judo competitor, Vicbart Geraldino will travel on Friday to Canada to continue his training en route to the Sydney, Australia Summer Olympics. He will train with some of the best North American athletes for two months in Canada. He qualified for the Olympics during the Panamerican Judo Championships held last year in Uruguay. He is one of a team of five Dominican judo competitors that won slots to travel to Australia for the Olympic Games.
Playoffs standings as of Tuesday, 4 January 2000
Aguilas 2-1 (.667)
Leones 2-1 (.667)
Tigres 1-2 (.333) ­1 game
Estrellas 1-2 (.333) ­1 game

Wednesday, 5 January 2000, 8 pm games
Santo Domingo: Escogido vs. Licey
San Pedro de Macorís: Estrellas vs. Aguilas
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