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Daily News - 3 February 2000
More electricity woes
El Siglo newspaper reports that the government will have to disburse RD$283 million a month to subsidize the electricity system. This is RD$80 million more than what was paid out prior to the privatization of the state electricity utility (CDE). Of the total sum, RD$50 million is assigned to the CDE that is picking up the difference in the price of the kilowatt sold to the private distributors for resale to consumers, and what it pays to the private generators. The CDE is honoring the above market prices negotiated by private generators that signed contracts during the Balaguer governments. An additional RD$80 million goes to pay for 42% of the increase in the indexing of the rates to consumers and RD$153 million is assigned to pay for government institution electricity bills. This means RD$3,336 million a year in electricity subsidies need to come out of the National Budget.
The government also announced it is negotiating an agreement over the US$102 million the CDE owes to private generators. The Banco de Reservas would be involved in the transaction.
Today, most of the blackouts are caused by the shutting off of private generators due to lack of payment on behalf of the government. El Siglo says that the government had expected some relief as new power plants went on line. For non-explained reasons, the operation of new plants has been delayed. These include Laesa (Pimentel, La Vega), Maxon (Barahona, Boca Chica), and Seaboard Santo Domingo for a combined additional 295 megawatts. The new power generators are expected to reduce costs for the government, as they are expected to sell power for less than the government is now paying to private producers that signed contracts during the Balaguer government.
Meanwhile, the deficit in online generation is resulting in long blackouts, at a time when power bills are increasing.
Lawyer David Lahoz, in an article in El Siglo defends the Fernández administration, saying that what has occurred is that while the opposition party-majority Congress passed the privatization law it did not pass the legislature that would have provided regulatory framework to defend consumers from abuses by the new companies. The Código de Ordenamiento de Mercado (marketing order code) and the Ley General de Electricidad (general electricity law bill) are still sitting in Congress. This has left the government with little maneuvering capacity to oversee what the private power distributors operations, despite the state retaining 50% ownership of these companies. Meanwhile, this month thousands of users have seen doubling of their electricity bills, despite the announcement by the Superintendent of Electricity that only a 9% increase had been authorized to go into effect as of February billing.
Puerto Plata sky lift to open in February?
Deputy Minister of Tourism for Puerto Plata, César José de los Santos announced that the Italian company that was paid a reportedly additional US$25,000 to install a new motor in the Puerto Plata skylift has promised to have this in place this month. He said the skylift to the top of Isabel de Torres Mt. could be operational by the end of this month. The skylift was closed due to mechanical failures in August 1996. The government invested reportedly RD$16 million in its repair. After President Fernández himself inaugurated it on a trip to Puerto Plata in July, it was not until November that it entered into operation, to last two days until it had to be shut down again.
The visit to the top of the mountain is well worth it. At the top, visitors can enjoy the lovely Botanical Gardens park as well as breath-taking panoramic views of the North Coast.
At present, a visit to the top can still be made, but a four-wheel vehicle is necessary given the bad road. The trip should also be avoided on a rainy day. To get there, turn South at the Brugal Motocross sign (about 10 minutes East of Puerto Plata city) and drive past Cupey town up to the Botanical Gardens. A guard at the entrance will charge RD$20 per adult for admission.
Tax collections up in January
Tax collections were up in January, according to a news item in the Listin Diario. The Dirección General de Impuestos Internos reports a record RD$1,703.7 million was collected in January. This is a 25% increase over the RD$1,367.3 million collected for the same period in 1999.
Maritime treaties need to be passed
President Leonel Fernández urged that Congress pass the many international maritime law treaties that the Dominican government has signed but are still pending congressional approval to go into effect. The Presidency says the passing of the treaties would enable the DR to exploit its maritime rights. Congress is in recess until 27 February.
These are:
United Nations Convention on Maritime Law. Signed by UN countries in Montego Bay, Jamaica in 1982.
Agreement for the Application of the 11th Part of the United Nations Convention on Maritime Law, regarding maritime zone resources. Signed by UN members in New York City in 1994.
Agreement for the Application of Dispositions of the Convention regarding Conservation and Ordering of the Transzonal Fish Populations and Highly Migratory Fish Populations. Signed by UN states in New York in 1995.
Agreement to Promote the Fulfillment of International Conservation and Ordering Measures by Boats that Fish in High Seas. Signed by the United Nations-FAO member states.
Isa Conde to take his story to the District Attorney
Narciso Isa Conde, of the Fuerza de la Revolución, a leftist organization, said he will not visit the National Police to discuss his denouncing of Police Mayor Gabriel Santos Melo as involved in the Vimenca values truck assault last September 1999. The assailants ran off with more than RD$3.5 million, in addition to shooting to death three custodians, and seriously injuring another.
Isa Conde denounced the policeman's involvement after the police denounced that a Fuerza de la Revolución professor had to do with the assault.
Isa Conde says that the police has covered up for Santos Melo. He wants the investigations to pass to the District Attorney's office. And he said he has requested an appointment to tell what he knows to District Attorney Francisco Domínguez.
After Isa Conde denounced Santos Melo, the police ordered Santos Melo come to Santo Domingo for questioning. The Police ordered a commission made up by Commander of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, General Rafael Bencosme Candelier; Inspector General Raul Almonte Lluberes, and legal consultant Nerys Matos Feliz question Santos Melo. They said they would present him to survivor Cristian Montero, to see if he recognizes him.
The Listín Diario report says that the Police has a video where Mayor Santos Melo appears on the scene of the crime together with Deputy Chief General José Sigfredo Fernández Fadul and Colonel Crescencio Jáquez Hernández. At the time, Mayor Santos Melo was assigned to the Secret Service department of the police.
Caribbean World Series opens today
Pedro Martínez threw a perfect strike to formally inaugurate the Caribbean World Series yesterday at the Quisqueya Ballpark. The series will last through 7 February and matches the winning teams of the winter leagues of Puerto Rico, Mexico, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic for the regional penchant.
The Dominican Republic (Aguilas Cibaeñas) squad won its first game against Mexico (Mayos de Navojoa) 10-7. In the first game of the series, at 4 pm, Puerto Rico (Cangrejeros de Santurce) defeated Venezuela (Aguilas de Zulia) 17-6. The DR team will match Venezuela tonight at 8 pm.
The Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico are the favorites to win the 30th Caribbean World Series that opens today at the Quisqueya Ballpark in Santo Domingo. The DR has won 12 series.
News coverage on the opening ceremony pointed out a major blooper of the organizers. When the national anthem of Puerto Rico was played, the Cuban flag was raised. Both flags are similar.

The schedule for the series is as follows:

Thursday, 3 February
4 pm Puerto Rico v Mexico
8 pm DR v Venezuela (DR pitcher Julián Tavárez)

Friday, 4 February
4 pm Mexico v Venezuela
8 pm DR v Puerto Rico

Saturday, 5 February
4 pm Venezuela v Puerto Rico
8 pm Mexico v DR

Sunday, 6 February
4 pm Mexico v Puerto Rico
8 pm Venezuela v DR

Monday, 7 February
4 pm Venezuela v Mexico
8 pm Puerto Rico v DR

Tickets are selling for RD$500 Palcos A, RD$350 Palcos AA, RD$250 preferencias, RD$40 bleachers. Cadena Microondas Nacionales will transmit by Channel 7, Antena Latina and by radio the games. Fox Sports World Español, a Spanish language all-sports network in the US, will be transmitting the series to select US cities.
For tickets, call 567-6371 or 540-5772. The series was last played in Santo Domingo in 1996.
Rock and Hispanic music at the Jaragua
"Men at Work," the popular Australian rock group will be playing at the Salon La Fiesta of the Hotel Jaragua 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. For ticket information, call the Jaragua ticket office at 221-1435 or Ticket Express at 535-5272.
Other performances slated for the Jaragua in February are:
Fausto Rey. Saturday, 12 February. (Those purchasing tickets before 8 February receive a free CD with 30 Fausto Rey hits.) Joaquin Sabina. Sunday, 20 February. 8:30 pm. RD$500.
Victor Manuel & Ana Belén. Thursday, 24 February. 8:30 pm. RD$500.
Costa Verde-Rio San Juan Carnival
The northeastern coastal region known as Costa Verde (María Trinidad Sánchez province east of Puerto Plata) is preparing for its Carnavarengue 2000 slated for 13-20 February. The event merges carnival and merengue festival celebrations. Events will take place in Nagua and María Trinidad Sánchez province.
National Symphony Season
The second half of the National Symphony Orchestra 1999-2000 season opens 16 February at the National Theater in Santo Domingo. The calendar for the presentations is as follows:

16 February. Julio de Windt, Conductor. Dairus Milhaud Concert for Percussion and Orchestra. Special performance by percussionist Miguel Angel Castro.
Cesar Franck Symphony.
Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture.

23 February. Francois Bahuaud, Conductor.
Jose de Jesus Ravelo's Scherzo All-antico.
Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 84, Surprise.
Villa-Lobos's La Bachiana Brasileira No. 5 with special performance by soprano Marianela Sánchez.
Edward Elgar's Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in E minor, with special performance by Russian violoncellist Suren Bagratuni, winner of the silver medal in the Moscow Tchaikovsky Contest.

1 March
Francois Bahuaud and Fernando Geraldes, Conductors.
Domenico Dragonetti's Concerto for bass and orchestra.
Brahms' Concert No. 1, with special performance by British pianist, Ashley Wass.
Edvarg Grieg's Suite Holberg.

March 8
Felix Carrasco, guest conductor visiting from Mexico.
Beethoven's Concert for Violin and Orchestra, with special performance by Austrian violinist Inge Kofler.
Beethoven Symphony No. 7
Contemporary Mexican composer Arturo Marquez's Danzon No. 2.

15 March
Night of Chamber Music.
Tchaikovsky, Chavez, Wagner and Bizet.

22 March. Julio de Windt.
Bienvenido Bustamante's Concert for Flute and Orchestra. Special performance by Luis Ruiz.
Franz Liszt's Concert No. 1 for Piano and Orchesta. Special performance by Italian pianist Enrico Pace.
Major cycling event
Organization is well advanced for the celebration of the XXIth National Independence Cycling Tour. The competition takes cyclists through most of the DR. It will take place 20-27 February.
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.
Benefit weekend in La Romana
Casa de Campo is inviting all to participate in the 3rd Annual Weekend to benefit the Hogar del Niño charity. The "weekend of fun and fundraising" will take place 25-27 February. As part of the weekend, participants will be taken to visit some of the mos beautiful villa homes and gardens of Casa de Campo, play golf on the resort's private La Romana Country Club course while inside discoverng a jewelry exhibition followed by dining and dancing under the Caribbean sky. All donations are US tax deductible. For more information, contact guest services at Casa de Campo at 809 523-3333 ext 3165 or 3166.
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