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Daily News - 6 January 2000
Most Dominicans pleased with Fernández administration
The Listín Diario newspaper reports that a 15-20 December Sigma Dos survey shows that 53% of Dominicans approve of the Fernández Administration. Only 24% of those polled, rated the Fernández administration as "not satisfactory". Pollsters surveyed 1,200 Dominicans of voting age. The Fernández Administration, which ends 16 August 2000, is concluding with very high satisfaction rate by Dominican standards. Furthermore, the survey shows that 51.4% of Dominicans feel the general situation of the country has improved during the present government. 15.9% feel it has stayed the same.
Only 32.5% feel it has worsened.
RD$224 million for political campaigns
The political parties that the Junta Central Electoral grants the right to participate in the 2000 presidential election will share RD$224,231.95 million in campaign money from the central government. Most of the money will go to the nation's three majority parties, the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano, the Partido de la Liberación Dominicana and the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano. Taxpayers will be contributing RD$42 million more to the presidential election than what was distributed to the politicians during the congressional and municipal election held in May 1998.
More US tourists than Germans in 1999
Minister of Tourism Felix Jiménez told the DPA German press agency said that more US travelers will have visited this year than Germans. German tourists were the biggest group of Dominican tourists in the past. Jiménez said that more than 417,000 German tourists visited the DR from January to November 1999, and registers show that more than 484,000 US travelers came during the same period. He estimated travel to the DR in 1999 was 2,685,855 tourists, which contributed US$2,473 million to the national economy. In 1998, some 2,309,139 tourists visited, contributing US$2,142 million dollars. Jiménez said that the national hotel inventory is at 49,000 rooms, while another 6,000 rooms are under construction.
Jiménez says that the government is investing in expanding roads, aqueducts and sewage facilities at a cost of US$120 million to prepare for the increase in tourism. He also said that the principal airports of the country will be modernized with some US$400 million invested in improvements and expansions.
He forecast an increase in maritime visitors for this year. Maritime tourism declined 42.5% from January to September 1999, when compared with the same period last year. 393,070 passengers came by seaports during the first nine months of 1998. In 1999, maritime traffic declined to 226,062 due to problems in port areas.
Colonial monuments to become entertainment centers
Minister of Tourism Felix Jiménez said that the private sector will soon operate concessions at many principal national monuments, including the Fortaleza Ozama, the San Francisco Ruins, the Nicolas de Bari Hospital in Santo Domingo, and the San Felipe Fort in Puerto Plata. He said the government is studying offers made by six companies that seek to convert these monuments into bars, restaurants or nightclubs. Two years ago, the Ministry of Tourism signed an agreement with the Oficina de Patrimonio Cultural and the Oficina de Monumentos de Santo Domingo for the privatization of services. The idea is to liven up the colonial city areas.
Jaragua changes its reputation from liberal to conservative hotel
When Marriott took over the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel & Casino, general manager Craig Smith, son of US diplomats, was given the task of "restoring integrity" to the city hotel that has the best physical facilities. In an interview with El Siglo he explained that when his boss spoke about "integrity" he didn't get it at the time. After he arrived, he quickly caught on. On the first day on the job, he was approached by five prostitutes who asked him if he wanted to go out with them. He soon saw for himself, the Jaragua, a business hotel that is like a resort in a city, was a haven for the single tourist, especially those interested in meeting Dominican women.
"Before a guest could go up [to his room] with three girls, with which we supposedly gave the impression that we were liberals, that we did not represent the bishop, so that I came to be a bit excessive on the measures. I would hear comments of guests that were having breakfast, and there were people that didn't want to have breakfast with these girls here," Craig said in the interview.
Under him, the hotel did a turn around. For starters, he called in a new security chief, who is also the Regional Security of Marriott. Today, only persons who have registered at the time of the guest's first registration in the hotel can go up to the rooms. He said they lost restaurant sales, as this crowd took their business elsewhere. He explained the casino also implemented new security measures to improve general service.
In the interview, he also explained about the new US$10 million remodeling underway in interior and exterior areas throughout the past 17 months. All suites have been remodeled. The suites were a priority, as the hotel hosted several heads of state that came for the Summit of African, Caribbean and Asian heads of state and government in November of last year. This year, the remaining hotel rooms will be remodeled.
The spa underwent major renovations and new equipment was imported. The hotel has new restaurants, including the Quisqueya (Dominican food), Manjar Steak House, and next to open is the Champions Restaurant, the largest in the hotel. Champions will feature American food, sports museum with items signed by famous baseball players, 25 TV screens, and a giant TV screen.
Ilianov not expected to make it
El Siglo reports that Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center medics have given up on Ilianov de León Albino, the 14-year old Dominican whose parents launched a nationwide campaign to gather the US$425,000 needed for a bone marrow transplant to save their son. News reports from New York City indicate that the side effects of the radiotherapy to which he was submitted prior to the transplant caused neurological damages that are irreversible. Ironically, his body has assimilated well the bone marrow transplant. He has been in the hospital now for eight months. Sixty-one days have gone by since the bone marrow transplant. According to El Siglo, the medics gave their fatal diagnosis to Ilianov's parents yesterday. Ilianov is in coma.
Isha moves on to Channel 7
Children's program producer, Isabel Aracena (Isha) announced she is moving on to Antena Latina, Channel 7. She had produced children's TV programs for Channel 11 for five years now. She said Antena Latina offered her the opportunity to produce other television programs that she will soon announce. Furthermore, she said that the Channel is offering her more economic support to carry out her own programs. Recently, Isha divorced her husband and producer, Angel Puello. Puello will be returning to work with his and Isha's former boss, Rafael Corporán de los Santos, who it is said might move on to Channel 9 to fill the spot left open by Freddy Beras Goico who in turn is moving to the SuperCanal, a UHF station.
DR may compete in six sports in Sydney Olympics
The Dominican Republic aspires to compete in five sports in the Sydney, Australia Olympics to be held in September 2000. Dominican athletes in track and field, boxing and volleyball still need to qualify to participate, said Hector Duval, chief of the Dominican delegation to the Olympics. Dominican athletes have already classified in weightlifting and judo.
DR volleyball team gives US team a tough time
The Dominican Republic women's volleyball team put up a big fight when facing the US in the Pre-Olympic Volleyball Tournament taking place in Lakeland, Florida. The sets ended 25-20, 23-25, 22-25, 26-24 and 15-11. The US team came from behind 2-1 to defeat the Dominican team. Today the DR is scheduled to match Canada.
Triathlon popular in DR
The Listín Diario reports that triathlon is popular in the DR. It indicates that in 1999, 15 tournaments were held and Dominican athletes participated in a classifying round for the World Triathlon Cup. Julián Rodríguez, president of the Federación Dominicana de Triathlon said that they have received the support of the Programa de los Atletas de Alto Rendimiento, Nuevos Valores e Inmortales (PARNI), a program to support the nation's best athletes. Other members of the federation are Juan Luís Rodriguez and Sofia Torres, vice presidents; Ivonne Hernández, secretary general; Alexis Guzmán, treasurer; Amado Peña and Julián Vargas, members.
Baseball playoffs
Playoffs (round robin) standings as of Wednesday, 5 January 2000
Leones 3-1 (.750)
Aguilas 2-2 (.500) ­1 game
Estrellas 2-2 (.500) ­1 game
Tigres 1-3 (.250) ­2 game

The play offs resume on Friday, 7 January.
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