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Daily News - 9 March 2000
Hipólito 43%, Danilo 25%, Balaguer 24%
Hoy newspaper/Hamilton Beattie & Staff poll confirmed the findings of the recent Rumbo magazine/Gallup poll that Danilo Medina, of the PLD is the least attractive of candidates. Despite being the ruling party candidate, Medina's candidacy hasn't caught on. Despite 50% of the population considering the present PLD administration a good or excellent government, the PLD presidential candidate is only showing 25% of the preference of the voters, versus 24% of 94-year old former statesman Joaquín Balaguer, and 43% of leading candidate, Hipólito Mejía of the PRD. Medina was Secretary of the Presidency during the first three years of the Fernández administration. As such, he maneuvered to win the vote of the majority of the 3,000 PLD delegates that were in charge of choosing the party's next presidential candidate. His tactics paid off, and he was elected the party's candidate, defeating the more charismatic Vice President Jaime David Fernández whom nationwide polls indicated was a more sellable candidate.
The most recent Hamilton poll (1-5 March) shows Balaguer increasing his popularity 4 points, from the earlier end of January poll, while Medina lost two points, and Mejía lost one point. Balaguer was the last of the three candidates to announce he would run in the presidential election. He did so in January. The poll continues to show that Hipólito Mejía of the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano is the man to beat. But it also shows that he doesn't have enough support to win in a first round.
Only 4% of voters polled say they are undecided, and 4% say they will vote for none of the candidates.
Wait and see, or increase gas prices now?
The president of the Senate, Ramón Alburquerque (PRD-Monte Plata) said that the increase in the prices of petroleum is a problem that should concern all. He urged that the government implement an austerity plan and make necessary cuts to avoid a fiscal deficit. "Nobody should be rubbing their hands pleased that this places the government in difficulties, because this is a serious problem for the economy," said the congressional opposition leader. He suggested the government eliminate the 350 deputy ministers that he said absorb about RD$1,000 million of the state's budget.
He said the powerful nations of the world could make the price drop if these used their strategic reserves. He said that the producers know that too high prices work against them, because alternative energy sources will become attractive.
Secretary of the Presidency Alejandrina Germán said that if in April petroleum prices do not drop, the government will consider increasing the price of fuel. With fuel costing US$25 the barrel on world markets, the government upped prices in October 1999.
Economist Arturo Martínez Moya advocates an immediate increase in the price of fuel; he believes prices will continue high for another two months. Former governor of the Central Bank Hugo Guilliani Cury says that the high prices are transitory. Both believe, nevertheless, that the government should implement austerity. They both say that there should be mechanisms in place so that fuel prices fluctuate depending on international market prices.
President Fernández to France-Cariforum summit
President Leonel Fernández will travel to Guadeloupe on Friday, 10 March to attend a Caribbean Summit of Heads of State and Government. The President of France, Jacques Chirac will be present at the meeting where discussions will cover natural catastrophes, drug trafficking cooperation, development of agrochemical research, and cultural and sports exchanges.
President Fernández will join other Caribbean members that are all signatories of the Lomé Convention.
He is scheduled to return Saturday afternoon.
He will travel with Minister of Foreign Relations Eduardo Latorre, Administrative Secretary Simón Lizardo, head of the National Drug Council Marino Vinicio Castillo, and the representative of Lomé in the DR, Max Puig.
Howard Wiarda to give talks on US-DR relations
The Ministry of Foreign Relations and the Diplomatic and Consular School of the Dominican Republic are inviting to the talks:
Domestic fundaments of US foreign policy and the US
Latin America and the Caribbean, International Relations in the 21st Century
Dr. Howard Wiarda, specialist of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) of Washington, D.C. is the guest speaker (http://www.csis.org/html/4wiarda.html)
The talks will be 9 and 10 March at 7 pm at the principal hall of the Diplomacy and Consular School. To attend, call 535-6280 ext. 2303 and 2371.
Wiarda published an article on the Dominican Republic last year that can be read at
http://www.csis.org/americas/pubs/hemvii4.html
Political appointees had taken over the CEA
El Siglo newspaper highlights the welfare character of the State Sugar Council, the bankrupt government conglomerate. Quoting from the Commission for the Reform of Public Enterprise (CREP) report, the newspaper points out the lack of a direct relation between persons employed at the mills and the production.
Statistics show that for the 1997-98 harvest, in which 175,883 tons of sugar was harvested, the CEA had a payroll of 22,405 employees. For the 1998-99 harvest, the payroll had increased to 25,336, despite production dropping to 60,304 tons. By the time, privatization took place, there were 29,336 "workers" on the payroll, with production almost null. Severance payments for those employees cost the state over RD$1,200 million.
President Leonel Fernández in his 27 February speech highlighted that the privatization of state enterprises eliminated the system of political patronage that corroded Dominican institutions at the expense of taxpayers.
Ten of the state sugar mills were privatized under Law 141-97. Following the liquidation, the CEA now has a payroll of about 640 persons at its headquarters and different divisions.
Government honors distinguished Dominican women
To celebrate the International Women's Day, President Fernández honored 20 Dominican women. These were:
Abigail Mejía Soliere (1895-1941), writer and feminist.
Evangelina Rodriguez Perozo (1879-1947), first Dominican physician.
Delia Weber (1900-1982), writer and feminist.
Martha Maria Lamarche (1900-1954), writer and feminist.
Emma Tavárez Justo (1940-2000), role in society.
Graciela Gratereaux, community work and role in society.
Dorka Barcácel de Bencosme, educator.
Magaly Pineda, political and social role.
Bélgica Mirabal (Dede), political and social role.
Aura Marina del Rosario Ceballos, music.
Marianela Jiménez, art.
Maria Herminia Ornes Coiscou (Maricusa), drama.
Rosa del Carmen Lebron de Anico, literature.
Jesus maria de Paula (Enriqueta), farm leader.
Librada Dionisio Nivar, farm leader.
Altagracia Guzmán Marcelino, health.
Rossina de la Cruz de Alvarado, Miriam German, judiciary.
Maria Teresa Quidiello, support to education.
Magda Corbett, founder of the National Classic Ballet and 50 uninterrupted years teaching ballet.
Giant tent will be Pan Am Games dining area
The organizing committee of the XV Pan American Games said it will be contracting a giant tent to serve as dining area for the Santo Domingo sports games of 2003. The tent will be able to accommodate 3,000 athletes at the same time. It will be located in the center of the Olympic Villa. The Villa will be built diagonally across from the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center, where most of the sports competitions will take place. The Organizing Committee also said that small cafeterias may be habilitated on the last floors of the eight 23-floor towers the government will build to house the athletes and coaches.
Balaguer doubts there is a plan to kill him
Rumors of a plan to assassinate former President Joaquín Balaguer made the front pages of local newspapers. Balaguer discarded that persons near him would want to murder him. He said that those around him are of his utmost trust. He said that he has been taking Dormicum drug for over 20 years, and that the pills are furnished to him by the same persons.
Commenting on Balaguer's health, his physician Dr. Huberto Bogaert told El Siglo newspaper that political campaigning works in Balaguer's favor. "He needs to keep moving, doing some kind of exercise, this is very beneficial for Balaguer," he said. "Of course, his 94 years are not the 55 years of Hipolito Mejía, nor the something more than 40 years of Danilo Medina."
El Siglo published an interesting photo of the former statesman, who is again in the limelight, and whom for decades has dominated Dominican politics at http://www.elsiglord.com/portada.htm
Boat trip to PR ends in tragedy
Rescue corps had found 11 corpses of Dominicans who drowned when their boat capsized less than a mile from the Puerto Rican western coast. The boat eventually was washed ashore near Playa Postillo, Isabela, considered one of the least desirable choices for illegal boat trip landing. Survivor Laura Pichardo García said that the boat capsized when swept by a wave. The captain of the boat had veered the boat to rescue a woman who had fallen overboard. Some 25 passengers are missing. News reports say that some 70 persons attempted the crossing, after paying RD$12,000 for the trip.
Travel agents battle AA over their commissions
Travel agents and American Airlines are at war in the DR. The airline that operates most of the flights between the DR and the United States, wants to reduce travel agent commissions from 10% at present, to 6%. The travel agents commission is frozen by a ruling by the Civil Aviation Board. AA says that deregulation and reduction of travel agent commisions is a worldwide measure implemented to guarantee competitiveness of the airlines. The airline argues that the travel agents need to depend less on airline commissions and more on sources such commissions for cruise lines, excursions and hotel packages. Local travel agent associations point out that travel agents in Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile and Panama have successfully contested the AA intent to reduce commissions. The Dominican travel agents say that the AA argument is not valid in the DR, which they say is the most profitable route for AA.
"Story of merengue" staged in PP on Saturday
"Había una vez un merengue", the very successful rendering by merengue star Sergio Vargas, will be staged this Saturday, 11 March in Puerto Plata. The presentation is scheduled for the Fortaleza San Felipe at 8 pm. The merengue performance, that tells the story of the evolution of merengue in the Dominican Republic, is touring the Dominican Republic, sponsored by Baninter. After its successful opening at the National Theater in Santo Domingo, the spectacle has been presented in San Juan de la Maguana, Baní, San Pedro de Macorís, Santaigo de los Caballeros, and Moca. Following the Puerto Plata showing, the show will tour Villa Altagracia, San Francisco de Macorís, Santiago and then a final presentation in Santo Domingo.
"The Talented Mr. Ripley" opens in Santo Domingo
"The Talented Mr. Ripley" opens in Santo Domingo cinemas today, 9 March. The thriller has been nominated to five Oscar awards. These are: Art Direction, Actor in Supporting Role (Jude Law), Costume Design, Original Score, and Screenplay Adaptation of the novel by Patricia Highsmith. See http://www.oscar.com
The film is directed by Anthony Minghella, of "The English Patient" fame, and like that film has stunning photography. The film stars Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law and Cate Blanchett. It is rated R.
It is showing at Palacio, Cineplex, Lumiere, Hollywood, Broadway, Manzana and Issfapol theaters.
"American Beauty", nominated to eight Oscar nominations is also currently showing in Santo Domingo theaters. Starring Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening, this film was nominated to the Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role, Actress in a Leading Role, Cinematography, Directing, Film Editing, Original Score, Director of the Year. American Beauty is showing at the Palacio, Cinemplex, Hollywood and Manzana Theater.
"Stuart Little", nominated to Best Special Effects is showing at the Palcio, Cinemplex, Hollywood, Broadway and Cinema theaters.
Cuban music legends at National Theater
Raul Pérez Peña has organized the Tercer Festival Caribeño del Son, honoring the classic Cuban music. Do not miss the 10 March Gala Night at the National Theater. Here for the gala are several legends from Cuba such as Orquesta América with Pio Leyba and Caridad Hierrezuelo of the Buena Vista Social Club-fame. Tickets RD$300. From the DR, Grupo Maniel will be performing.
Pedro Martínez to open SD game for Boston
Pedro Martinez will open for the Boston Red Sox versus the Houston Astros on Saturday, 11 March. This will be the first day of a two-day spring training exhibition series slated for Santo Domingo's Quisqueya Ball Park.
This is a chance to see Dominicans Pedro Martínez, Ramón Martínez, José Offerman, Wilton Veras, Manny Alexander, Israel Alcantara, Julio Santana and Juan Peña that are scheduled to play for Boston. As well as Nomar Garciaparra, Troy O'Leary, Carl Everett.
Dominicans José Lima, Octavio Dotel, Moisés Alou, Tony Eusebio, José Cabrera and Julio Lugo, Nelson Samboy and Omar Ramírez are scheduled to play for Houston. And Billy Wagner, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Ken Caminiti that will also play for Houston.
Tickets are for sale at the Quisqueya Ball Park. Ticket prices are: RD$1,000-RD$600 (box seats), RD$350 preferences, and RD$50 bleacher.
The games will be transmitted by radio and by Antena Latina, Channel 7 in the DR. In the US and Latin America the games may be seen by Univisión and Galavisión.
Prior to the games, the Major League ball players will give baseball clinics in the parking lot in front of the adjacent Teo Cruz Boxing Colliseum.
Carnival Millennium 2000 continues in Puerto Plata
Carnival ended in Santo Domingo on Sunday, but it now moves on to new interior towns. The Ministry of Tourism and the Cervecería Nacional Dominicana (Presidente Beer) announce presentations in Bonao (Park), Puerto Plata (Malecón) and Mao (Calle Duarte) on Sunday, 12 March at 3 pm.
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