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Daily News - 26 January 2000
Northwest Aqueduct loan sent to commission
The Senate sent to a study commission the loan project for the Northwest Aqueduct. The commission was instructed to call a session for the discussion of the project by the general public. The decision was approved by 18 of the 21 senators present. The PLD senators abandoned the session, as they had demanded that the project be either approved or rejected.
Social security bill expected to be passed
Business, labor and congressional sectors signed a preliminary agreement for the passing of the social security bill. This bill would provide for retirement funds for workers in the DR. Employers would provide 70% of the cost of the fund, with employees contributing the remaining 30%. The bill will be sent to Congress for approval in the next legislature that starts 27 February 2000. The bill establishes an initial cost of 17.2% of the salary of employees, increasing to 21.2% in a five-year term will be dedicated to the fund to ensure social security benefits to workers, regardless of their salary.
Trade negotiations advance
A new round of negotiations was programmed to take place 9, 10, 11 and 12 February in Trinidad & Tobago to conclude negotiations towards the Caricom-DR free trade agreement. This would be the 14th round of negotiations between Dominicans and English-speaking Caribbean negotiators. Dominican negotiations are head by Frederic Emam Zade. Edwin Carrington, secretary general of Caricom, heads negotiations for that bloc.
Emam Zade said that next week the Dominican government will begin negotiations towards a free trade agreement, covering goods and services, with Chile. At the start of February talks with Cuba on the same subject will begin.
Peynado to accompany President Fernández to Japan
Former Vice President Jacinto Peynado, who ran for President on the PRSC ticket in the 1996 elections, met with President Leonel Fernández yesterday. Upon leaving the President's office, he told journalists their talks revolved around the President's upcoming visit to Japan. Peynado presides the Toyota dealership in the Dominican Republic. He confirmed he would accompany President Fernández on the trip to Japan. The President is set to leave on 12 February. Peynado said they spoke of the possibilities of attracting Japanese investors to the DR.
Less rains, but cooler temperatures forecast
The Dominican Weather Department says that the heavy rains that have fallen in the DR will soon be a matter of the past. But partly cloudy skies and cool temperatures will replace them. A cold front is expected to move over the DR, causing lows of 18-21 degrees along most of the coastal plains. Noontime maximums of 28-30 degrees are forecast.
Isha quits her TV programs
Isha, the children program conductor, made the front page of the Listín Diario today upon announcing she was leaving TV. She said she needed more time for herself and her daughter, Alanna Michel born in 1997. She said she now wants to be Isabel Aracena, and that "Isha" was a stage in her life. Isha said she is thinking of creating a talent school or opening a store. She made the announcement at a press conference she called at Restaurant La Mezquita to which she invited show business chroniclers.
Isha had just signed a year contract with Antena Latina (Channel 7) to produce a TV program. She had described that contract as the best offer she ever received.
Last year, Isha also made headlines when she divorced her husband-producer Angel Puello. Shortly after the divorce, Puello returned to work for their former boss, Rafael Corporán de los Santos. Isha was a child phenomenon. She began her career on TV as a Corporette (dancer), passing on to become the lead presenter of "Sábado Chiquito," a children's program, also a Corporán production. There she met who was to be her husband, Angel Puello, whom she married on 31 December 1992 at the home of Corporán de los Santos.
Her popularity peaked in 1993, when 70,000 persons, mainly children, filled the Olympic Stadium to watch an Isha production, a record for that stadium.
Because of differences between Puello and Corporán, the couple left "Sábado de Corporán" program to create their own shows. Together they produced "El Club de Isha", "Sazonando" and "El Reto Semanal". When they separated, Isha stayed with El Club de Isha and Sazonando. Shortly after, Puello dropped El Reto Semanal to return to work with his former boss.
In a separate interview, her husband Angel Puello said that her decision surprised him, and that he was not consulted. Corporán de los Santos, in turn, commented in an interview in the Listín Diario, that it is possible that Puello and Aracena will get together again. Puello and Corporán are working on a new show to be telecast by Color Visión, Channel 9.
Victor Villegas wins prestigious literary award
Victor Villegas was chosen winner of the National Literature Award 2000. The award, funded by the Fundación Corripio, has a RD$300,000 prize. Villegas was unanimously elected by the jury made up by representatives of leading national universities and the Ministry of Education.
Casa de Campo benefit
Casa de Campo will be the site of a weekend of fun and fundraising 25-27 February during the 3rd Annual Weekend to benefit the Hogar del Niño charity. Organizers of the event say that participants will be able to visit some of the most beautiful villa homes and gardens of Casa de Campo, play golf on the resort's private La Romana Country Club course while inside discover a fabulous jewelry exhibition followed by dining and dancing under the Caribbean sky. All donations are US tax deductible. For information contact Guest Services at Casa de Campo: 809-523-3333, ext. 3165 or 3166.
USOC president visits
William Hybl (http://www.usoc.org/inside/in_1_1_3_1.html), president of the United States Olympic Committee, is visiting. He arrived yesterday to get a first hand impression of how the USOC can best assist Dominicans to prepare for the XIV Pan American Games to be held in summer 2003 in Santo Domingo. He flew down accompanied by his wife, Kathleen and they were received at Las Americas International Airport by the president of the Dominican Olympic Committee, Dr. Jose Joaquin Puello. During Hybl's touring of local facilities and his meetings in Santo Domingo, he will be accompanied by Roland Betts, liaison of the US Olympic Committee and the Organizing Committee of the Pan Am 2003 Games. They are scheduled to tour the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center and will meet with Minister of Sports Juan Marichal.
Pedro Martínez and Sammy Sosa at Juan Dolio golf classic
The Juan Marichal Golf Classic is scheduled to take place this weekend, 29-30 January, at the Los Marlins-Metro Country Club in Juan Dolio. The benefit will be dedicated to Boston Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martínez. Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa and Pedro Martínez have confirmed their attendance. Registrations are open to all through Friday, 28 January at 4 pm. Call 685-7949, 685-3895 (Santo Domingo), and 526-3315, 526-3515 (Juan Dolio).
Baseball final series
The Aguilas Cibaeñas defeated the Estrellas Orientales 4-2 in their home stadium (Estadio Cibao) in Santiago last night, to again lead the Winter Baseball Championship. The Aguilas have won two games, and the Estrellas one. The series now moves back to San Pedro de Macorís (near Juan Dolio), home town of the Estrellas.
The remaining games are:
Friday, 28 January, Estrellas vs. Aguilas (Santiago), 8 pm
Saturday, 29 January, Aguilas vs. Estrellas (San Pedro de Macorís), 8 pm
Sunday, 30 January, Estrellas vs. Aguilas (Santiago), 4 pm
The games are being televised in the DR on Friday, Saturday and Sunday by Antena Latina (Channel 7).
The first team to win four games wins the series.
The Aguilas Cibaeñas team is the favorite to win the championship. The Aguilas have won 14 championship titles, the Estrellas one. The winner of the Dominican Winter Baseball Championship goes on to play the best teams of Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Mexico in the Caribbean Baseball Championship that is slated to open in Santo Domingo, 2 February.
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