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Daily News - 28 February 2000
Highlights of the President's State of the Nation speech
President Leonel Fernández spoke for two hours at the National Congress yesterday, National Independence Day. In his speech he reviewed achievements of his government in sectors as diverse as power supply, education, health, industry, transport, trade and investment promotion. He urged the nation to forge onward and see globalization not as the plague, but as new opportunities. He said that he would like to be remembered for modernizing the country, and urged the nation to continue to make investments in the education of Dominicans, especially in preparing new generations to work with the new technologies. Fernández said that the goal of the DR should be to convert the DR into the "intelligent republic of the Caribbean." such as Singapore is in Asia. He ended his speech addressing skeptics. He expressed his belief that the modern leader is he who has his head in the clouds and his feet on the ground. "It is he who has the vision, passion and the will to convert the impossible into realities." Excerpts, summary and quotes of the President's speech.
Hipólito on the speech
When interviewed in San Pedro de Macorís, PRD presidential candidate Hipólito Mejía said that the speech of President Fernández did not contribute anything because the President limited himself to present a country in economic bonanza that clashes with the reality that most Dominicans live, characterized by a significant increase in poverty.
"President Fernández, like he did in his previous speeches before the National Assembly, again presented the DR as the rich country that only exists in his mind and is different from the reality most Dominicans live," said Mejía. Mejía said that the President's constant travels abroad have disconnected the statesmen from the bankrupt reality of the national productive sector. He said that the DR is the only country in the world where a gold mine has gone bankrupt (Rosario Mining).
He lamented that the President did not refer to the RD$26,000 million internal debt the government maintains with contractors, suppliers, private generators and farm producers that has resulted in the suicide of 18 engineers.
Hipólito Mejía is the candidate to beat according to the leading polls. He is regarded as the anti-thesis of President Leonel Fernández where vision of where the country is at and should be headed is concerned. He has repeatedly said that President Fernández is dreaming and that his plans for a Santo Domingo Cyberpark are nothing but utopic.
Use campaign money to develop government programs
Monsignor Francisco José Arnáiz, regarded as one of the thinkers of the Catholic Church in the DR, said that the mega expenditures made by political parties in their campaigns are an insult to the country. Arnáiz criticized that the parties spend enormous sums of money to organize caravans instead of investing these in preparing a good government program. "They spend on childish things, on emotions, the campaign is but a substitute carnival, what we see here are things we see in carnivals, flags, caravaning, that's the way things go," he said. He said it is time that the political parties and the citizenry show signs of maturity. He said that the political parties should take their candidates to the TV to clearly explain their projects and how they will combat poverty. He said if there is an opposition to debating, like in the US, then the candidates should present their programs in an individual manner on TV so all could see.
Arnáiz spoke on the Sunday program Fe y Acontecer of the Catholic Church TV Station.
Haiti and the DR agree on reciprocal development program
The Dominican government is spearheading an effort to receive from international organizations funding for major frontier development programs. The program seeks to improve investment and living conditions along the frontier. The DR will especially benefit by improvement in Haitian standards of living with a decrease in migration of indigent Haitians while at the same time an increase in potential Haitian buyers of Dominican products. Technical Secretary of the Presidency Temístocles Montás head the talks on behalf of the Dominican government, and Minister of Planning of Haiti, Anthony Dessources did so for Haiti.
The program calls for the investment of US$280 million in apiculture, environment, transportation, communication, power supply, potable water, sewage, health, education, sports and pre-investment funds. During a ceremony at the Government Council Sessions Room of the National Palace, the program was presented by officers of both governments to international organization representatives. Temístocles Montás, Technical Secretary of the Presidency, said, "The distribution of the investments, on one or the other side of the frontier, far from being the results of a mathematical exercise, is based on an objective analysis of needs."
He said that the strategy of investment of the Program for the Development of the Frontier Zone is based on the new focus of Haiti-DR bilateral relations begun in 1996. The new focus seeks to establish effective cooperation to jointly resolve common problems of the island and prepare for the challenges of an interdependent world.
Present at the meeting among others were:
Ambassador David Ward of Great Britain
Ambassador of Spain Jose Manuel Lopez Barron
Ambassador Stefano Alberto Canaversio, Italy
Ambassador Bruno Picard, Canada
Roger Leenders, delegate of the European Union
Leopoldo Garza, deputy director USAID
Marco Mantovanelli, representative World Bank
Stephen McGaughey, IDB
Paolo Oberti, UN
Jean Marie Cherestal, Lomé-Haiti
Max Puig, Lomé-DR
US to help DR products increase US market share
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture August Schumacher said that the US government will increase technical and economic cooperation to assist Dominicans in recuperating their lost farm produce market share in US markets. Schumacher said that the USDA will also assist Dominicans in improving the product distribution systems. He said that as a result of their efforts, they expect Dominican market share to increase 10% in 2000.
During his stay in the DR last weekend, Schumacher visited Constanza and the farmers produce market in San Francisco de Macorís, that was built with RD$800,000 donation by USAID, and citrus plantations in Villa Altagracia.
The DR farm produce trade with the US is US$1,000 million of which the DR exports US$400 million to the US and imports US$600 million.
Community of Santiago helps their Police
Leading Santiago de los Caballeros business, religious and neighborhood groups formed a board to support the work of the Cibao Central Police Command. The new board is presided by Alberto Yunen, who is also president of the Association of Industries of the Northern Region (AIREN). The board will seek funds to assist the police in its fight against delinquency.
Power plant for Puerto Plata police
Smith Enron donated a power plant to the Northwest Regional Command of the National Police. Kevin Manning, general manager of the Smith Enron power generator (installed capacity 185 megawatts) that is located in Puerto Plata handed the 27 kilo plant Kevin Manning to zonal regional police chief Vinicio Hernandez. He stressed that the contribution will help the police carry out their work 24 hours a day.
New uniforms of the National Police
Police agents modeled the new National Police uniforms that were designed by Oscar de la Renta. Police Chief Pedro Jesus Candelier on a trip to New York City made the request directly to the famous designer. Oscar de la Renta replaced with blue hues and white the police uniforms that dated back to 1936. Privates will wear navy blue colord pants and aqua blue shirts, low ranking officers will wear the same pants but with French blue shirts. And superior officers will wear navy blue suit with white shirt and black tie. The design also encompassed changes in the kepis that the police use. Some 25,000 police will receive the new uniforms when their annual uniform change is due.
Oscar de la Renta, who was present during the presentation of the uniforms, reminisced that 20 years ago the US government had requested his assistance to redesign the boy scouts uniform. The Police hopes that the change of colors will reflect the changes in the Police as efforts are carried out to make it modern and professional.
Prostitution ring head arrested
The National Police arrested the Dutchman who is accused of being the head of a major European-Dominican prostitution operation. Francisco Antonio Maas (Otti Maas) had been filmed by a Spanish news operation, El Mundo, when negotiating women in Santo Domingo with whom he thought was a potential buyer (but were really undercover journalists). The evidence lead to the arrest of his Dominican military partner, Silvino Medina Cuevas, and to a search in which the Armed Forces, Police and District Attorney offices participated. Police spokesman Nelson Rosario said that Maas was arrested in his residence culminating several weeks of search. The women that were recruited in the DR were taken to Spain, Italy and France.
Separated Siamese twins return
The separated Siamese twins Jasmin and Nasmil Campusano Frías returned to DR last week after successful operation in the St. Joseph Hospital in New Jersey. The girls were born 25 May 1999 in San Cristóbal, joined at the abdomen and sharing a liver. The operation to separate them lasted five hours and cost US$1 million, cost which was assumed by the hospital. Bolivian doctor, Victor Valda, chief of Pediatrics of the hospital, carried out the operation. The St. Joseph connection was made through the Corazones Unidos program in the DR, and its Healing the Children connection in the US.
Independence Boxing Cup
Boxers from 13 countries are participating in the Copa Independencia de Boxeo that opens 28 February at the Palacio de Deportes of Santiago de los Caballeros. President of the organizing committee, Marino Collante said that boxers have arrived from Brazil, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Colombia, for the event. The event will last through 3 March and will serve as preparatory event for important international competitions, such as the Olympic Games.
Update on the Independencia Bicycling Race
Venezuelan cyclist Hussein Monsalve won the 6th stage of the Vuelta Ciclística Independencia Nacional, a major cycling event in the Caribbean. He finished first on the 160 kms. Santiago-La Cumbre-Puerto Plata-Imbert-Navarrete-Mao distance. On Saturday, Wendy Cruz won the 7th stage circling the Monumento a los Héroes in Santiago. On Sunday, Gustavo Carrillo, of the Asociación de Nueva York, won the last round.
The grueling competition is taking cyclists through most of the DR (1,145.4 kilometers) from 20-27 February. It is an officially sanctioned International Cycling Union race.
International teams came from St. Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Curaçao, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Panama, Honduras and several US states (New York, Florida, Illinois and Texas). Fourteen DR-based teams participated, for more than 200 cyclists.
Venezuela won the team trophy, followed by Mauricio Báez (Dom) and Montecarlo (Dom).
The race schedule was as follows:
Sunday, 20 February: 11 am. Closed circuit around Mirador del Sur Park (144 kms). Winner: Wendy Cruz (Alico-Dom)
Monday, 21 February: 10 am. Santo Domingo-Boca Chica-San Pedro de Macorís-La Romana (116 kms). Point of departure: Ministry of the Armed Forces-Plaza de la Bandera. Winner: Wendy Cruz (Alico-Dom)
Tuesday, 22 February: 9:30 am. La Romana-San Pedro de Macorís-Santo Domingo (120 kms). Point of departure: Parque Duarte in La Romana. Winner: Chris Frederick (Miami)
Wednesday, 23 February: 9:30 am. Santo Domingo-Bonao (89 kms). Winner: Abraham Emile (Asoduci-NY). 3 pm. La Vega-Santo Cerro-Jarabacoa (75 kms). Winner: Alexis Mendez (Ven)
Thursday, 24 February: 9:30 am. La Vega-Bonao-Piedra Blanca-Cotuí-Pimentel-San Francisco de Macorís (150 kms). Winner: Rafael Díaz (Montecarlo-Dom)
Friday, 25 February: 9:30 am. Santiago-La Cumbre-Puerto Plata-Imbert-Navarrete-Mao (160 kms) Winner: Hussein Monsalve (Ven)
Saturday, 26 February: 9:30 am. Closed circuit Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración in Santiago (120 kms). Winner: Wendy Cruz
Sunday, 27 February: 9:30 am. Santiago-
Bonao-Villa Altagracia-Santo Domingo (158 kms.) Winner: Gustavo Carrillo (Asociación de NY)

Teams:
Venezuela 76:42:41
Mauricio Báez-Dom 76:50:35
Montecarlo-Dom 77:01.52
Bolivia 77:22.12
Jaimis Columbus-Miami 77:22.47

General classification after stage 7b:
Alexis Mendez (Ven) 25:50.11
José Ibañez (Bol) 25:51.19
Julio Rangel (Col) 25:51.22
Chris Frederick (Miami) 25:52.30
Manuel Medina (Ven) 25:52:57

Sprints:
Chris Frederick (Miami) 27
Romanosky Medina (Pinturas Popular-Dom) 19
Carlos de León (Alico-Dom)16
Abraham Emile (Asoduci-NY) 16
Milton Ramos (Honduras) 13

Points:
Wendy Cruz (Alico-Dom) 33
Alexis Mendez (Ven) 29
Hussein Monsalve (Ven) 27
Steven Mluyeak (Miami) 22
Donny Lopez (NY-Dom) 18

Mountains:
Alexis Mendez (Ven) 37
Hussein Monsalve (Ven) 26
José Ibáñez (Bolivia) 24
Julio Rangel (Colombia) 18
Guillermo Chaparro (Honduras) 11
Santo Domingo Movie Festival
The Second Santo Domingo International Movie Showing continues at the Hollywood Diamond Plaza mall. It will last through 5 March. The limelight this year is on films from Europe, Latin America and Israel. It is an excellent opportunity to see films that otherwise would not come to the DR, where 90% of the films are US films.
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