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Daily News - 14 January 2000
RD$1,000 million to complete public works
The Fernández administration announced it will complete 520 works in 29 provinces and the National District. More than RD$1,000 million will be invested in public works and programs through August 2000. The funds have been allotted as follows: National District (Santo Domingo) RD$333.7 million
San Cristóbal RD$108.3 million
La Vega RD$98.1 million
Santiago RD$90.4 million
Sánchez Ramírez (Cotuí) RD$52.9 million
Puerto Plata RD$49.6 million
Monte Plata RD$43.7 million
Monseñor Nouel (Bonao) RD$33.4 million
Duarte (San Francisco de Macorís) RD$31.2 million
San Pedro de Macorís RD$24.7 million
Santiago Rodríguez RD$23.6 million
Salcedo RD$18.7 million
San Juan de la Maguana RD$17.7 million
Peravia (Baní) RD$14.6 million
Dajabón RD$14.5 million
Espaillat RD$13.3 million
La Altagracia (Higuey) RD$12.1 million
Bahoruco RD$9.0 million
María Trinidad Sánchez RD$8.9 million
Monte Cristi RD$8.6 million
Valverde, Mao RD$8.5 million
Hato Mayor RD$8.5 million
El Seibo RD$8.4 million
Barahona RD$7.3 million
Samaná RD$6.5 million
Azua RD$5.5 million
La Romana RD$4.1 million
Pedernales RD$3.1 million
Independencia RD$1.5 million
Elías Piña RD$625.4 thousand
President to visit Singapore, Bangkok and Tokyo
President Leonel Fernández will be on tour in Asia as of mid Februar. Hoy newspaper National Palace correspondent Manuel Jiménez previews that the President will leave either 11 or 12 February, and is slated to return 21-23 February. He will visit Singapore, Bangkok and Tokyo. High on his agenda is the promotion of the newly announced Santo Domingo Cyberpark, a high tech industrial free zone.
This will be Fernández's 32nd trip abroad. President Fernández is renown for his aggressive international focus of his government that has done away with the previous isolationism of the DR. Fernández's travels have taken him to the following cities: October 1996 New York, USA
November 1996 Santiago, Chile
December 1996 Miami, USA
January 1997 Managua, Nicaragua
January 1997 Caracas, Venezuela
February 1997 Antigua
April 1997, Atlanta, USA
May 1997 San José, Costa Rica
July 1997 Montego Bay, Jamaica
July 1997 Panama
August 1997 Mexico
November 1997 Margarita, Venezuela
January 1998, Honduras
April 1998 Chile
June 1998 New York, USA
June 1998 Washington, USA
June 1998 Port au Prince, Haiti
August 1998 Dorado, Puerto Rico
December 1998 Miami, USA
January 1999 Spain
January 1999 France
January 1999 Italy
May 1999 El Salvador
June 1999 Río de Janeiro, Brazil
August 1999 Colombia
August 1999 Panama
September 1999 USA
September 1999 Taiwan
November 1999 Havana, Cuba
December 1999 Miami, USA
Student averages still low
The Ministry of Education said that while there was an improvement in the average grade of Dominican student grades, the low averages still show there is stagnation in educational levels. Of 37,055 students of 10th grade who took the Pruebas Nacionales rated below 70 points on the tests in the 1998-99 testing. Only 59.4 of the students scored above the 70 points passing grade. Minister of Education says that in comparison to 1997-98 scores, there has been an improvement. She said in the area of mathematics, students went from 44.73 in 1997-98 to 60.20 for 1998-99. Spanish and Social Sciences showed only a slight improvement, while the averages for Natural Sciences declined. The better grades are obtained in Santo Domingo (64.2), the lower in Azua (53.5).
Continental to fly from Newark to Puerto Plata
Continental Airlines announced that it would resume its Newark-Puerto Plata route daily flight. The flight resumes in June, to coincide with the summer season, the peak season of travel to the DR. The Continental flights would depart from Newark International Airport in New Jersey. Alex Santana, regional manager of Continental for the Caribbean area, said that last year the airline transported 115,420 passengers on the New York-Santo Domingo-New York route. Continental expects to transport more than 200,000 passengers to and from the DR in 2000 as a result of the new flight. Flights had a 86% load factor. He said that Continental is also offering the service of pre-check in of passengers traveling only with carry-on luggage. This permits the passenger upon arriving to the airport to go directly to Migration controls. Continental began its service to the DR ten years ago offering service on the Puerto Plata-New York frequency that later was suspended. Continental will use Boeing 737-300 equipment with capacity for 12 first class passengers, and 112 passengers in economy class. The flight will depart Newark at 8 am arriving to Puerto Plata's Internatonal Gregorio Luperón Airport at 11:45 am. The return flight will depart Puerto Plata at 12:40 pm, arriving to Newark at 4:30 pm.
DR joins international theater society
The DR joined the International Institute of Theater (ITI) of the UNESCO that has its headquarters in Paris. Angel Mejía, director of the Centro Coordinador de las Artes Escenicas and Basilio Nova, director of the Casa del Artista in the DR, traveled to Colombia to participate in a meeting of the Executive Committee of ITI-UENSCO for Latin American where the DR was admitted. The ITI gathers 90 centers for the promotion of theater in 90 countries. It works to promote theater exchanges, peace among countries, and to create an awareness of the need to boost art as an instrument that contributes to the development of society and the world.
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. The 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 conduct the concert. The program features: Mozart's Symphony No. 41 in Do Mayor, "Jupiter"; Wagner's Tannhäuser: Overture; and Borodin's operatic masterpiece "Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances".
American Ballet Theater in Santo Domingo
A select troupe from The American Ballet Theater has scheduled presentations on the 14th and 15th of January at the National Theater and the Gran Teatro del Cibao in a benefit for the state cancer institute, the Instituto Oncológico. Irina Dvorenko, Carmen Corella, Marcelo Gómez, Maxim Belotserkovsky, Giuseppe Picone Yan Chen and Angel Corella have been announced. Angel Corella is the lead dancer of the American Ballet Theater.
Ballet de Montecarlo at the National Theater
The National Theater will present the Ballet de Montecarlo, one of the oldest dance companies of Europe. The group will visit Santo Domingo as part of their 2000 tour of the Americas. The local performance is a benefit for Corazones Unidos. The Ballet de Montecarlo is made up by 52 dancers. They will stage "Romeo and Juliet," a ballet in three acts. Their version of the classic play is described as innovative and modern.
Rock of the 70s and 80s in Santo Domingo
"Men at Work," the popular Australian rock group is coming to the DR in February. They will present a concert at the Salon La Fiesta of the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel on 6 February. The group won the 1982 Grammy Award. They are known for their hits: "Who can it be now?" "Down under," Be good, Johnny," "Catch a Star, "Everything I need," "It's a Mistake," and others.
Costa Verde-Rio San Juan Carnival
The northeastern coastal region known as Costa Verde (María Trinidad Sánchez province east of Puerto Plata) is planning its Carnavarengue 2000 for 13-20 February. The event merges carnival and merengue festival celebrations. Events will take place in Nagua and María Trinidad Sánchez province.
Santo Domingo Movie Festival
The Second Santo Domingo International Movie Festival will take place 24 February through 5 March. The limelight this year will be on films from Belgium and Israel.
Santo Domingo book fair: 27 April ­ 7 May
The Third International Book Fair Santo Domingo 2000 will be held 27 April ­ 7 May in the Plaza del Conservatorio de Música. This year it will be dedicated to Juan Bosch, founder of the Partido de la Liberación Dominicana, the ruling party. This year the focus will be on France, which will have a special pavilion, and there will be many lectures from French authors and editorial houses. The participation of editorial houses from 25 countries is expected. The book fair is held annually to promote reading.
Baseball playoffs
Playoffs (round robin) standings as of Thursday, 13 January 2000
Aguilas 6-4 (.600)
Estrellas 6-4 (.600)
Leones 4-6 (.400) ­2 games
Tigres 4-6 (.400) ­2 games

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

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
Tickets for sale to the Caribbean Baseball Series
The Caribbean Baseball Championship, known as the Caribbean World Series, opens 2 February in Santo Domingo. It will last through 7 February. Games are slated for 4 pm and 8 pm at the Quisqueya Ballpark. The championship winners from Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the DR will vie for the regional title. The Aguilas of the Dominican Republic, are the regional champions. Tickets are selling for RD$550 Palcos A, RD$500 Palcos AA, RD$400 preferencias, RD$60 bleachers. Cadena Microondas Nacionales will transmit by Channel 7, Antena Latina and by radio the games. For tickets, call 567-6371. The series was last played in Santo Domingo in 1996.
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