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Daily News - 18 January 2000
Changes at NY, Madrid, Tokyo and Mayaguez consulates
The Fernández administration (Decree 12-2000) changed the consul generals in New York, Madrid, Tokyo and Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
Máximo Corcino was appointed consul general in New York. He is a resident in that city. He replaces Bienvenido Pérez, who was appointed chief of the Permanent Mission of the DR to the United Nations. He replaces Cristina Aguiar. Laureano Guerrero was appointed consul general in Madrid, replacing Pablo Yermenos Forastiere. Guerrero was the Dominican consul general in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. José Montás was named the new consul general in Mayaguez. Previously, he had been consul in Juana Méndez, a frontier town with Haiti. Andrés Fortuna Bocio replaced him at that consulate. Luis de León was appointed consul in Cap Haitien.
Miguel Andújar is the new consul general in Tokyo, Japan. He replaces Jaime Vargas.
The consular changes are being made less than seven months prior to the change of government.
Contractors to be paid with Herrera airport transaction
The Fernández administration announced it will be paying the government debt with contractors that rebuilt the Duarte Highway by way of a transaction of the 150,000 square meters where the Herrera International Airport is located, The government is at present building an alternate city airport in El Higueral, north of the city in order to move the Herrera airport. The debt with the contractors is RD$1,000 million. Unconfirmed rumors indicate that these lands have been negotiated with the Corripio Group, that will be building a large commercial center, and with the Baninter group, owners of the El Siglo newspaper that is located adjacent to the airport. The El Higueral Airport is expected to be completed prior to August 2000, when the Fernández term expires.
No permits for recruiting sugar cane cutters in Haiti
Minister of Labor Rafael Alburquerque said that the government will not issue permits for new workers to be recruited in Haiti to cut sugar cane in the DR. He said that the new owners of the state sugar mills and plantations will have to improve working conditions in order to attract Dominican workers or Haitians already living in the DR, most of whom originally came to cut sugar cane and then moved on to the better-paying construction jobs.
The Minister said that he is abiding by the law that establishes that only 20% of the employment of a company can be foreign. He said that the Ministry of Labor has penalized 300 companies for violating the measure. The companies prefer to pay the fine, which is not high, and continue to hire the Haitian workers. Undocumented Haitian workers accept less pay than Dominicans, work longer hours, demand little regarding their working conditions and are less likely to request fulfillment of labor legal benefits. Meanwhile, Senator for Pedernales, Angel Pérez y Pérez denounced that army trucks are being used to transport Haitians recruiting in Haiti to cut sugar in the DR.
Police accuses group of Vimenca assault
The National Police accused a group of persons from the Cibao region of carrying out the assault on the Vimenca-Western Union values transport pick-up truck. The alleged assailants according to the Police are Professor Juan de Dios Ortega Cotes of the state university UASD, who was director of the Departamento de Deportes del Centro Regional Universitario del Nordeste (Curne); Hector López Ureña; Juan Ramón Colón Agramonte; José Juan Gómez; and missing Rafael Almonte Honrado Badía; José Rafael Santiago Tejeda and another identified as Wellington.
The movie-style assault took place early on the morning of 14 September. The assailants shot to death security guards Benjamín Cuello Aracena, Luis Francisco Paulino and Ramón Carela Tolentino, injuring Christian Montero. They ran with more than RD$3 million pesos.
According to the Police, they are also suspect of having assaulted on 16 December a Vimenca branch in Villa Vásquez, making off with RD$1.7 million.
The accused were transferred from the Santiago police headquarters to the Santo Domingo police headquarters.
Earlier, the Police had suspect Murdo gang members.
The District Attorney Francisco Domínguez Brito urged the police to not find scapegoats, but the real culprits.
Balaguer appoints Toral as head of campaign
Former President Joaquín Balaguer appointed former governor of the Central Bank Luis Toral as chief of his campaign. Joaquín Ricardo, Federico Antún Batlle, Johnny Jones, Ramón Rogelio Genao, José Osvaldo Leger and Humberto Salazar were also entrusted with the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano presidential campaign.
Balaguer had not accepted the PRSC presidential nomination until Saturday, 15 January. This is the 9th time Balaguer runs for President in democratically-organized elections. He has been President of the Dominican Republic on eight occasions: in 1961 during the Trujillo Dictatorship. In 1962, during the transition government of the Consejo de Estado. And from 1966-70, 1970-74, 1974-78, 1986-90, 1990-94 and 1994-96. He lost the elections in 1978 and 1982. He was banned by a Constitutional revision from participating in the 1996 election.
Dozens die in shipwrecks over the weekend
News stories bring confusing reports on how many persons died over the weekend attempting to reach Puerto Rican shores by boat. The Listín Diario reports three ships left from Miches and Sabana de la Mar, on the eastern coast, one with 40, another with 46 and another with 63 travelers. The boat with 63 travelers made it to Puerto Rico. But nine cadavers have been found of the other two, 35 survivors were rescued and treated at Higuey hospitals, and the others are missing.
El Siglo newspaper reports that of 71 travelers on board a boat that left from Miches, 12 cadavers have been found, 32 persons are missing and the others rescued.
The Weather Department had alerted small ships from departing port due to the choppy seas and strong winds that affected the country over the weekend.
The travelers were said to have paid from RD$5,000 to RD$12,000 for the crossing. Most were natives of small towns in northeastern Duarte province.
LTU aborts jet takeoff, 15 require medical assistance
LTU flight commander aborted the takeoff of Flight LT447 at 7:41 pm after the fire alarm went off notifying engine drive problem. The fire extinguishing system of the airplane and the emergency breaks were used. The 285 passengers and 11 crews were rapidly evacuating and the fire in the left turbine was put out. Twelve persons suffered slight lesions, two minor fractures and one required medical assistance due to a nervous crisis. The persons were injured during the shuffle to leave the airplane using the Airbus 330 jet's eight tobogans. The injured received medical attention at Higuey medical centers. They spent the evening at the Punta Cana Beach Resort and left the next day on another LTU flight for Frankfurt, their original destination. Relatives awaiting them in Frankfurt were kept informed of the situation. This was the first emergency to occur at the Punta Cana International Airport that has been in operation for 14 years. There was praise for the LTU handling of the situation and for airport personnel.
Fuel consumption up 5% last year
Fuel consumption in the DR was up 5% last year, despite the October fuel increase price of about 30%. The DR imported upwards of US$900 million in fuel in 1999. In volume, imports increased from 42.9 million barrels to 45.1 million barrels. Of all categories of imported fuel, only premium unleaded declined, going from 1.84 million barrels in 1998 to 1.59 million barrels in 1999. This was the result of the increase in the price of premium unleaded fuel and the start of sale of the cheaper regular unleaded fuel. At present, distributors and transporters of fuel want the government to revise their profit margins. The Association of Transporters of fuel is threatening to interrupt distribution if their request for an increase in the price paid per gallon transported is not granted. They want RD$0.73 up from RD$0.49 they are receiving at present.
Centennial Cellular purchases 70% of All America
Centennial Cellular announced in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Monday, 17 January, the purchase of 70% of the shares of All America Cables and Radio in the DR. News reports say the shares were purchased for US$25 million. The remaining 30% is owned by a group of Dominican investors head by Abraham Selman.
Upon making the announcement, Kari Jordan of Centennial Puerto Rico said that the company has plans to establish services that will improve communication between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Michael Small, executive president of Centennial Cellular says that with the purchase Centennial triples the population it serves. The company serves upwards of 3.8 million persons in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
Ilianov de León passes away
After a titanic fight by himself and his parents to survive cancer, 14-year old Ilianov de Leon passed away yesterday in New York City. His story is one of accomplishing what seems impossible and of Dominican solidarity. Nine months ago, when Ilianov's parents were informed their son needed a bone marrow transparent for a chance at overcoming his leukemia, it seemed like a death sentence. University professors, where were they going to get the US$450,000 to fit the hospital bill? They accomplished the impossible, gathering the money by appealing to Dominican solidarity. A nationwide campaign was carried out and the US$450,000 were collected. The transplant was a success, but Ilianov's body did not resist the radiation therapy that preceded it, and he fell in a state of coma. His medics at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center finally decided to disconnect the life-giving connection. His body is slated to return on Thursday. He will be mourned at the Funeraria Blandino. The attention given to his case, and that of Deborah Gregory that preceded him, has moved the government to invest in a bone marrow transplant unit to enable these operations to be carried out in the DR. It is expected that once the unit is in operations it will be named in honor of Ilianov, whose smile and baldhead stole the hearts of all Dominicans.
Casandra Awards nominees announced
The Dominican Association of Show Business Chroniclers (Acroarte) has announced its list of nominees to the Casandra Awards. The awards ceremony will take place 7 February. The nominations are as follows:

Revelation of the year:
Kathyan, Swing Divino, Raymond and Carlos Silver.

Most outstanding performing group abroad:
Sergio Vargas, Toros Band, Ilegales, Hermanos Rosario,

Best grassroots music group of the year:
José el Calvo
Fefita la Grande

Best folklore ballet:
Ballet Folkórico Nacional, Areito, Sangre Mulata, Angeles de Santiago, Ballet Folklórico Cultural de Santiago, Ballet Folklórico de la UASD.

Best lyrics composer:
José Antonio Rodríguez, Alicia Baroni, Carlos Silver, Pedro Ramírez, Juan Luís Guerra.

Best male vocalist of the year:
Héctor Acosta, Sergio Vargas, Anthony Ríos, Eddy Herrera, Frank Ceara.

Best female vocalist:
Marcel, Edilí, Milly Quezada.

Best concert of the year:
"La vida," Manuel Jiménez; "Voz," Katherine Ross; "Yo fui por todas partes," Sonia Silvestre; "Reencuentro," Fernando Echavarría.

Best popular show choreographer:
Carlos Veitía ("A cuatro tiempos"); Miguel Fuertes, Salimé Pineda ("Grease"); Guillermo Cordero ("Piel con piel" y "Yo fuí por todas partes").

Best show of the year:
"Grease, the musical," Nuryn Sanlley; "Piel con piel", Kathyan; "Los Toros Band, pa Chavón, los Toros Band; "El Niágara en bicicleta," Juan Luís Guerra; "Donde manda el amor," Frank Ceara.

Best music group:
Toros Band, Toño Rosario, Raffy Matías, Rubby Pérez and Eddy Herrera.

Best orchestration and musical arranger:
Armando Olivero, José Antonio Molina, Manuel Tejada, Amaury Sánchez and Jorge Taveras

Best merengue of the year:
"Había una vez un merengue," Sergio Vargas; "El Niágara en bicicleta," Juan Luis Guerra; "Menos que nada," Toros Band; "Demasiado niña," Eddy Herrera; "Ando buscando un amor," Henry Jiménez.

Best rock group:
Tribu del Sol, Aljadaqui and JLS.

Most outstanding group resident abroad:
Jossie Esteban.

Most outstanding foreign group in DR:
Elvis Crespo, Jarabe de Palo, Grupo Niche, Maná.

Best bachata performer:
Raulín Rodríguez, Luis Vargas, Anthony Santos, Zacarías Ferreiras.

Best music CD:
"Piel con piel," Kathyan; "No hay problemas" Toros Band'; "Vuelve el merengue," Rubby Pérez; "No me dejes morir," Carlos Silver.

Best master of ceremony:
Jatnna Tavarez, Miguel de Jesús and Nestor Estévez.

Best radio commentator:
Bueno Torres, Eduardo Santana, Pablo Ross, Rubén Camilo.

Best news anchor:
Nestor Estevez, Pedro Julio Santana, Félix Victorino, Manuel Segura, Eduardo Guerra.

Best music presenter:
Fracis Molina, Ross Peña, Hector José Torres, D.J. Franchy

Best daily variety TV program:
"Punto Final", "Show del Mediodía", "Ustedes y Nosotros", "Super Tarde".

Best weekly variety TV program:
"Sábado de Corporán", "Sabadasso", "Sábado Lindo", "7 x 7 Roberto", "El Gordo de la Semana."

Best children's TV program:
"Club de Isha", "Vivan los Niños", "Topi Topi", "Sábado Chiquito", "Aldea Mágica".

Best investigative journalism show:
"Nuria en el 9" (Nuria Piera), "Somos Así, Así Somos" (Cornelia Margarita) and "A Tiempo" (Aridia Taveras).

Best specialized program:
"Jornada Extra", "Hola Gente", "Portafolio Extra", "Esta Noche Mariasela".

Best TV special:
"El Milagro de la Danza" (Julio Suárez), "El Futuro en Surco Ajeno" (Adalberto Grullón and Altagracia Salazar), and "Manolo" (Henriette Weise).

Best presenter:
Frederick Martínez, Jochy Santos, Domingo Bautista, Michael Miguel, Jose Fabián.

Best comedy show:
"La Opción de las 12" (Channel 5), "De Remate" (Telecentro, Channel 13).

Best videoclip:
"El Niágara en bicicleta," Juan Luis Guerra; "Sola," Mariela Mercado; "La hormiguita," Juan Luis Guerra, production Juan Basanta; "Palomita blanca," Juan Luis Guerra, production of Pegy Guzman; "Bomba 2000," Hermanos Rosario, Juan Basanta.

Best comedian:
Raymond Pozo, Miguel Cespedes.

Best classic ballerina:
Zenaida Terrero ("Pelilunio", "La Bella Durmiente", "Don Quixote"); Mary Loise Ventura ("Plenilunio", "Desequilibrio"); Silvia Crespo ("Cascanueces"); Soraya Franco ("Danzas Hindues"); Monika Despradel (Cartas).

Best classic/modern dancer:
Armando González (", "La Bella Durmiente", ("Plenilunio", Cartas); Víctor Ramírez (Cartas); Edwin Silva ("Cartas"); Raúl Valdez ("Cartas").

Best classic/modern choreographer:
Imgard Despradel ("Sueños de Volare"); Patricia Ascuasiati ("Plenilunio"); Carlos Veitía ("Aída" and "Carmen").

Best lyrical singer:
Ivonne Haza (multiple recitals), Marianela Sánchez (multiple recitals), Frank Lendorf (Opera Aida), Francisco Casanova (Opera Aida).

Most outstanding Dominican artist abroad:
Carlos Piantini, Francisco Casanova, Michael Camilo and José Antonio Molina.

Best classic musician:
María de Fátima Geraldes (pianist), Michael Camilo (pianist), Jorge Torres Sosa (clarinetist), Victor Mitrov (trumpetist), Frank Ureña (violinist).

Best classic music composer:
Michael Camilo ("Latino"), Amaury Sánchez ("Alicia en el país de las maravillas", "Estados de ánimo"), Francois Bahuad (multiple performances).

Best Chamber Group:
Ars Nova, Quinteto Internacional de Metales, Camerata Santo Domingo, Duo Concertante.

Best Classic Performance:
"Cartas" (Monika Despradel), "Cascanueces" (Ninoska Velázquez), "Aida" (Opera de las Americas), "Carmen" (Teatro Nacional), "La Bella Durmiente" (Zenaida Terrero).

Best Actor of the year:
Iván García ("Las alegres comadres de Windsor"), Ovaldo Añez ("La trinitaria blanca"), Pepito Guerra (La Chascona), Richard Douglas ("En casa de Romero, Julieta de palo").

Best Actress of the Year:
Lilyana Díaz ("La trinitaria blanca"/"Grease"), Lidia Ariza ("La Chascona", "Confesiones de mujeres"); Flor de Bethania Abreu ("La Chascona"), Edilí ("Confesiones de mujeres", "Estoy amando a mi suegra"); Yamilé Schecker ("Confesiones de mujeres"). Best Secondary actor or actress: Pepito Guerra ("La trinitaria blanca"), Monina Solá ("La trinitaria blanca"), Niurka Mota ("Las alegres comadres de Windsor").

Best theater director:
Enrique Chao ("Alicia en el país de las maravillas", "Confesiones de mujeres", "Liquidación total", " En casa de Romeo, Julieta de palo", "La trinitaria blanca"), Danilo Taveras ("Una taza de té para una mujer casada"), Bienvenido Miranda ("Las alegres comadres de Windsor"), Danilo Ginebra ("Gente").

Best drama:
"La trinitaria blanca" (Manuel Rueda), "Estoy amando a mi suegra" (Roberto Salcedo), "Gente" (Mario Veloz Maggiolo).

Best foreign drama:
"Las alegres comadres de Windsor" (Bienvenido Miranda, original of Shakespeare), "La Chascona" (Flor de Bethania Abreu, de Jorge Díaz, Chilean); "Señora, me presta su marido?" (Germana Quintana, de L. Stevens), "Una taza de té para una mujer casada", Danilo Taveras, by Cuban Eugenio Hernández); "Confesiones de mujeres" (Enrique Chao de Antonio de Oliveira).

Best children's play:
"Alicia en el pais de las maravillas" (Fidel Lopez/enrique Chao), La Bella Durmiente (Zenaida Terrero); "La Pinky y los tres mosquiteros" (Nuryn Sanlley).
Baseball playoffs
Playoffs (round robin) standings as of Monday, 17 January 2000
Aguilas 7-6 (.538)
Estrellas 7-6 (.538)
Leones 7-6 (.538)
Tigres 5-8 (.385) ­2 games

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

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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