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Daily News - 13 January 2000
Presidential race officially opens today
The Junta Central Electoral announced that the four-month long presidential electoral campaign is now officially open. Nineteen political parties have the approval of the JCE, the body that organizes presidential, congressional and municipal elections in the DR, to participate in the race. Of the 19, three will garner more than 95% of the total votes. These are the Partido de la Liberación Dominicana, Partido Revolucionario Dominicano and the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano. The presidential election will take place 16 May. According to the JCE, 4,239,000 persons are eligible to vote.
La Romana National Sports Games postponed for April
The Minister of Public Works Diandino Peña announced the postponing of the La Romana National Games. The games will now be held 28 April to 6 May. Originally they had been scheduled for February. The Ministry is behind schedule in the repair of sports installations and construction of new facilities needed for the games. La Romana's sports installations suffered major damages when the eye of Hurricane Georges passed over that city last September 1998.
Building a provisional bridge over Ozama River
The Ministry of Public Works expects the provisional bridge going up besides Ramón Matías Mella bridge to be ready by the end of this month. Once the two barges are connected to two reinforced concrete ramps being built by Samuel Conde & Asociados, traffic will be discontinued over the 45-year old Juan Pablo Duarte Bridge in order to allow for major repairs. An estimated 60,000 cars pass over the four-lane Duarte bridge every day. Each barge will be 150 meters long by 25 meters wide, enough for three lanes in each direction.
Update on John F. Kennedy expressway
The Ministry of Public works explained that all overpasses and tunnels making up the John F. Kennedy Expressway should be completed by the end of the term of the Fernández administration in August. These include the Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Lope de Vega, Tiradentes (tunnel), Ortega Gasset, and Máximo Gómez overpasses. Engineer Claudia de los Santos, spokeswoman for the Ministry, said that two overpasses will remain to be built ­ those connecting Manoguayabo and Los Alcarrizos.
Update on negotiations of the Caribbean free trade treaty
The next round of deliberations of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the Dominican government is scheduled for Santo Domingo, 24-26 January. The Ministry of Foreign Relations reported that little progress was achieved during the 12th round of negotiations that took place in Kingston, Jamaica. The Ministry said that the DR maintains its position of finalizing an agreement that would benefit locally produced farm and industrial goods. Caricom has presented a list that exempts 48 products (making up 20% of the present exports to the Caricom member nations) from free trade treatment. The DR presented a negative list of only 19 items.
The negotiations focused on criteria of origin to be applied to the goods. Remaining to be discussed is the treatment of free zones within the free trade agreement, commerce of services, professional services, temporary entrance of businessmen and government purchases.
The Dominican delegation was head by Frederic Emam Zade, deputy Minister of Foreign Relations who is the coordinator of the National Commission for Trade Negotiations (CNNC).
Badly parked vehicles won't be towed anymore
The National Police announced it will discontinue the practice of towing away vehicles that are badly parked, abandoned or that have suffered damages. Those who unknowingly suffer the inconvenience of having their vehicle towed have had to pay RD$400-RD$500 in the past to get the vehicles back. The Police says that the system will be replaced with a procedure whereby police agents will leave tickets on the front windows of the vehicle, notifying the vehicle owner to drop by the Police to pay a fine.
AA travel agent ticket commission reduction is illegal
The Civil Aviation Board rejected the American Airlines' decision to reduce travel agents commissions in the DR. The organization ratified Resolution 96 of 1 June 1988 that fixes a 10% commission in favor of the travel agents. The president of the CAB, Armando Castillo Peña, said the CAB will be notifying all parties following taking the decision. AA notified travel agents in the DR that they would be only paying 6% on AA and American Eagle tickets sold in the DR as of 15 January.
Boca Chica triplets
Triplets born at the Instituto Dominicano de Seguros Sociales (IDSS) Manuel Emilio Perdomo Hospital in Santo Domingo are in stable health condition. Two boys and one girl ­ Elvin Fernando, Edward Eliseo and Estiese Iliane ­ were 37 weeks old at the time of the birth. Two of the babies were breast fed by the mother, 22-year old María Altagracia Ramírez, who is employed at the Las Americas Free Trade Zone. The father is 30-year old Fernando Ferreiras, who is employed at a Juan Dolio hotel. The couple lives with their five-year-old daughter in La Caleta, close to Las Americas International Airport and Boca Chica beach. They have requested the help of charitable persons.
Santo Domingo Stock Exchange leads in transactions
The Santo Domingo Stock Exchange registered RD$11,321.1 million in transactions from 1992 to December 1999. The Stock Exchange, which began operations on 12 December 1991, has brought major financial relief to many Dominican companies that are able to access lower cost funds. 97% of the stock exchange's transactions are commercial paper. According to Donald Cott, executive director of the exchange, the Santo Domingo bourse has the largest volume of transactions in the Caribbean, with US$220 million. Jamaica follows with US$140 million; Trinidad & Tobago with US$110 million and Barbados with US$85 million.
Suspect murderer could be extradited
The Ministry of Foreign Relations has requested the extradition of Ramón Victoria Molina, suspect murderer of Lourdes Mayerin Crespi. Mayerin Crespi was an innocent victim of the aggressive attitude of Victoria Molina. When Victoria Molina was denied access to the American Bar Friday in Naco neighborhood, he boarded his black Toyota Lexus and drove by the bar indiscriminately firing shots. One of these killed Mayerin Crespi who was at the bar with her husband. Victoria Molina was recently arrested in New York City where he fled to escape local police persecution. Judge Eduardo Sanchez, of the Juzgado de Instrucción de la Séptima Circunscripción del Distrito Nacional, was empowered with the case.
Mariasela and Jatnna to fill in for Punto Final TV show
Mariasela Alvarez and Jatnna Tavarez have joined forces to fill the 10 to 11 pm slot left by the popular late evening show, Freddy Beras Goico. Beras Goico has moved on the Channel 33. The program being put together by the two producers will air as of February. Nuria Piera had also been invited to participate, but she declined notifying that she is two months pregnant.
National Symphony and Choir slated for Higuey concert
The National Symphony Orchestra and the National Choir will delight those attending the Basilica Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia on Friday, 14 January. A 7 pm concert has been scheduled as part of Altagracia Day (21 January) commemorations. Admission to the concert is free, but seats are limited. Fernando Geraldes will concert the concert. The program features: Mozart's Symphony No. 41 in Do Mayor, Jupiter KV551; Wagner's Tannhuser Overture; and Borodin's Polovtsian Dances, from the Prince Igor opera.
Baseball playoffs
Playoffs (round robin) standings as of Wednesday, 12 January 2000
Aguilas 6-3 (.667)
Estrellas 5-4 (.556) ­1 game
Leones 4-5 (.444) ­2 games
Tigres 3-6 (.333) ­3 games

Remaining round robin games to choose the contenders for the finals are:

Thursday, 13 January at 8 pm: Santo Domingo: Escogido vs. Licey
Santiago: Estrellas vs. Aguilas

Friday, 14 January, 8 pm
Santo Domingo: Estrellas vs. Escogido
Santiago: Licey vs. Aguilas

Saturday, 15 January, 8 pm
Santo Domingo: Aguilas vs. Escogido
San Pedro de Macorís: Licey vs. Estrellas

Sunday, 16 January, 4 pm
Santo Domingo: Licey vs. Escogido
Santiago: Estrellas vs. Aguilas

Tuesday, 18 January, 8 pm
Santo Domingo: Aguilas vs. Licey
San Pedro de Macorís: Estrellas vs. Escogido

Wednesday, 19 January, 8 pm
Santo Domingo: Estrellas vs. Licey
Santiago: Escogido vs. Aguilas

Thursday, 20 January, 8 pm
Santo Domingo: Escogido vs. Licey
San Pedro: Aguilas vs. Estrellas
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