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Daily News - 28 January 2000
New tax-free salary level
The Dirección General de Impuestos Internos announced that it has increased the monthly salary level that is exempt from income taxes to RD$8,566. This is up from the RD$8,150 ceiling of last year. The level is adjusted annually for inflation. The measure is retroactive to 1 January 2000. Those making up to RD$102,792 a year now will not pay income taxes. Those making from RD$102,792.01 to RD$171,309 will pay 15% on the difference. Those making RD$171,309.01 to RD$256,957 pay RD$10,278 plus 20% of the difference over RD$171,309.01. Those making from RD$256,957.01 pay RD$27,408 plus 25% of the difference.
For more information, see that department's web page at
www.dgii.gov.do
Clinton urges Congress to pass textile parity bill
In his State of the Union Address of yesterday, his longest and his last, President Bill Clinton urged the United States "to move forward on trade". " open markets and rules-based trade are the best engines we know for raising living standards, reducing global poverty and environmental destruction, and assuring the free flow of ideas," he said.
He stressed the importance of being a good neighbor and trading partner. "We cannot build our future without helping others to build theirs," he said.
"And we must make developing economies our partners in prosperity ­ which is why I ask Congress to finalize our groundbreaking African and Caribbean Basin Trade initiatives."
He also advocated that "we must do our part in the global endeavor to reduce the debts of the poorest countries so they can invest in education, health and economic growth -- as the Pope and other religious leaders have urged. Last year, Congress made a down payment on America's share. And I ask for your continued support."
To read the actual text of the speech, see
http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/SOTU00/sotu-text.html
The above-mentioned CBI legislation would drop quotas and duties on U.S-bound apparel from both Africa and the Caribbean Basin, benefiting the DR. The US textile industry is supporting the bill, as the legislation's duty-free provisions would give them a much-needed competitive edge once global apparel and textile quotas are eliminated in 2005. The roadblock facing the passing of the legislation is the determination of whether only U.S. textiles are used in apparel receiving trade breaks, as per the Senate bill. The House version permits the use of textiles from anywhere.
Ecstasy, the new drug on the block
Dominican drug control authorities expressed their concern that the MDMA semi-synthetic pill, known as Ecstasy or Extasy, is being introduced into the DR. Rear Admiral Luis Alberto Humeau Hidalgo, president of the National Drug Control Department and Vinicio Marino Castillo, president of the National Drug Council, announced that a prevention campaign will soon start to avoid that this new drug, find a following amongst Dominicans. Recently, drug agents arrested at Las Americas International Airport a man identified as Cuban resident in the US Jovanny Chaple Chalita who had 9,970 pills adhered to his body.
Humeau and Castillo spoke at the incineration of 52 kilos of cocaine, 3,214 lbs. and 296 trees of marijuana, and 697 grams of heroine at the Astilleros Navales of the Dominican Navy.
Castillo said that more than the DR being used as a bridge, what local drug control authorities most fear is that drug traffickers set up labs to manufacture the pills here.
To read about this drug, see http://www.come.to/ecstasy
Chamber of Accounts alerts against passing CEA sales contracts
The Chamber of Accounts, as reported in Hoy newspaper, suggested that the Senate suspend the study of the State Sugar Council (CEA) land sale contracts until they complete an ongoing in-depth investigation. Newspaper reporters were told by congressional sectors that the Cámara de Cuentas has alerted congressmen that serious irregularities have been found in the real estate transactions that took place prior to the privatization of sugar mills and adjacent real estate. The request was contained in a letter by the president of the chamber, Dr. Hugo Arias Fabián to president of the Senate, engineer Ramón Alburquerque (PRD-Monte Plata).
Delay in government pay day
Several public employees did not collect on the 25th, the government pay day, a rare happening. The Treasury said that it had requested that government institutions send their payroll lists by the middle of the month, but that several institutions did not send these in on time. The government says that all checks have been issued. The delay in payment led to speculation in the press that there was a government deficit.
ID cards still being issued
The Junta Central Electoral announced that Dominicans that did not secure their voting/identification cards in time for the 15 January deadline may still get these. The document is necessary for legal transactions in the DR. Those that did not meet the deadline, nevertheless, are banned from voting in the 16 May presidential election. The cards for those that were late are being issued at the Centro Empresarial located at the Junta Electoral del Distrito and at the Juntas Electorales in Azua, La Romana and Santiago.
PLD wants JCE to invite electoral observers now
The ruling party, Partido de la Liberación Dominicana requested in a letter sent to the Junta Central Electoral, the government body in charge of organizing the presidential election, that that electoral court invite the Organization of American States, and its affiliate organization Centro de Asesoría y Promoción Electoral (CAPEL), the Carter Center and other international organizations to come now to observe preparatory procedures for the 2000 election.
The PLD denounced that there are "serious managerial problems and a showing of incapability by technicians employed in the computer center" and alerted that the Junta dedicate its attention to these.
The JCE president, Ramón Morel Cerda has rejected the suggestion that electoral observers come now, even if the PLD government is willing to pick up the bill.
The Junta Central Electoral, on its part, announced yesterday that it accepted the resignation of four technicians employed in its computer center. Morel Cerda did not disclose the reasons for the resignations to journalists. He just would volunteer that the technicians had sent long letters of resignation.
192,000 adults taught to read and write
The Ministry of Education said that 192,000 of 225,000 persons enrolled in the learn to read and write programs of the government are now literate. The Programa de Alfabetización y Educación Básica implemented by the Ministry with the cooperation of the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional has the support of 580 institutions, including schools, churches, clubs, universities, farming associations, women's groups and private companies. For instance, Pisano Timberland free zone employees have actively reached out to teach others to read and write. The Ministry expects to considerably reduce the nation's illiteracy rate, today at 17%, with the program. Expect to reduce the 17% illiteracy rate. The program is reaching out to some of the poorest in the DR, and jail inmates and residents in bateyes, the communities where sugar cane cutters live, have benefited.
Harsh jail sentences sought for boat trip organizers
Rear Admiral Victor García Alecont accused judges of handing out lenient judgments benefiting organizers of illegal boat trips. He said the organizers of the boat trips are criminals and should receive 20 year jail sentences. Hundreds of Dominicans have lost their lives when mechanical failures and bad weather have caused the capsizing of boats.
Dominicans to be part of Kosovo peace force
Thirty Dominican police men and women will participate in a Special Peace Maintenance Mission to Kosovo, Yugoslavia. This will be the first time Dominicans participate in a United Nations' peace- keeping force. Chief of the Police Candelier chose 60 members, from which 30 will be selected. Those that qualified needed to have a good command of English, have a driving license, be in good physical health and have police experience. The police will receive special training for the trip. The Kosovo experience will last a year.
More on the Olympic Village tender
Engineer Roque Napoleón Muñoz, a former president of the Dominican Olympic Committee, and a member of the committee that is organizing the tender to choose the builders of the Pan American Games Olympic Village, said that all three of the companies that qualified for the tender for the construction of the Olympic Village towers will receive government contracts. He spoke upon hosting US Olympic Committee Bill Hybl, who visited to learn about progress made towards the organizing of the 2003 Santo Domingo Pan American Games.
He explained that the company that presents the best offer with the lowest cost will win the construction of five towers. The second place winner, will get a contract to build two towers. The third place winner will be authorized to build one tower. The three Dominican-Spanish consortiums that are bidding are: OGL y Asociados-Grupo Alfa y Omega, Ferrovial-Agroman-Imbert Domínguez y Asociados and Neso-Marcos Tulio Pérez. The companies will build using their own funds. They will make their money by selling the 700 apartments once the Games are over.
Muñoz explained that the tender is being carried out with the utmost transparency. He said they have worked closely with the Cámara Dominicana de Construcción and the Colegio de Ingenieros, Arquitectos y Agrimensores (Codia), the two leading private sector construction associations.
The Olympic Village will go up on a government-owned lot that is diagonally across from the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center, where most Pan Am Games competitions will be held.
The project calls for the construction of eight towers of 23 floors each, and underground parking for 1,000 vehicles by May 2003, two months before the start of the Games.
The tender will be held 14 February, and winners will be announced shortly after.
US to seek site of 2007 Games for San Antonio, Texas
Hoy newspaper reports that José Joaquín Puello, president of the Dominican Olympic Committee, commented that his colleague Bill Hybl in turn told him that the US will seek the site of the 2007 Pan Am Games in Santo Domingo. He said the USOC would like to host those Games in San Antonio, Texas.
Training camp for Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners have plans to build a training camp in the DR. Ramón de los Santos, Seattle Mariners scout, said that Pat Gillick told him of the decision during his recent visit to the DR. Dominican Alex Rodríguez plays for the Mariners.
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 again defeated the Estrellas Orientales last night. Their 9-3 victory at the Estrellas' home stadium places them just one game from winning the Dominican Winter Baseball Series. The series now moves back to the Estadio Cibao, home stadium of the Aguilas Cibaeñas.
The games are being televised in the DR on Friday, Saturday and Sunday by Antena Latina (Channel 7). For more details on the games, see http://www.lapelota.com
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.
Luther College Jazz Band in the DR
The Luther College Jazz Band announced 8:30 pm presentations will be held Friday, 28 January at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música, Monday at the Instituto Cultural Dominico-Americano (Santo Domingo), Tuesday at the Teatro de La Vega, Wednesday at the Hotel Puerto Plata Beach and Thursday at Casa Marina Reef in Sosua. Dominican Tony Guzmán directs the group.
Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo at the National Theater
The National Theaters presents Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, one of the oldest dance companies of Europe. The group is visiting Santo Domingo as part of their 2000 tour of the Americas. The local performance is a benefit for Corazones Unidos. 52 dancers make up the Ballet De Montecarlo. They will stage "Romeo and Juliet," a ballet in three acts. Their version of the classic play is described as one of the most 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.
Gastronomy Festival in Sosua
The Sosua and Cabarete Hotel & Restaurant Association is holding its 4th Gastronomy Competition today. Some 160 food plates have been registered by chefs at hotels and restaurants in these beach communities. The event wil take place at the Salon Puerto Grande of the Hotel Qualton Club (former Sand Castle). Chefs have until 5 pm to bring in their competing dishes.
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