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Daily News - 22 March 2000
Traffic opened over Lincoln overpass
The Ministry of Public Works is allowing traffic on the newly built Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy avenues overpass. The overpass is one of many underway to convert the J. F. Kennedy Avenue into a speedway to cross Santo Domingo East-West/West-East. The Ministry explained that the overpass work is not finished, but traffic is being allowed to relieve congestion below the overpass where works have yet to be completed.
Simulacrum to check elections
The Junta Central Electoral, the government body in charge of organizing presidential elections in the DR, announces it will be holding an electoral simulacrum on Saturday, 25 March and Sunday, 26 March. Political campaigning is banned while the exercise lasts. The idea is to assist voters to determine where they are assigned to vote, and so that these may verify their data and photographs contained on the new electoral lists.
The JCE says that more than 3.8 million Dominicans are eligible to vote in the upcoming 16 May 2000 presidential election.
Home delivery for cedulas
The Junta Central Electoral announced that starting on Monday it will begin home delivery of cedulas, the voting and identification cards, that have not been picked up by citizens that are eligible to vote. Some 256,066 cedulas still remain to be picked up at JCE offices.
Child mortality declines
Child mortality has significantly declined in the DR in the past four years, according to Public Health authorities. In 1996 child mortality was 42.4/1,000 births. It was reduced to 25/1,000 in 1999 and an estimated 22.9/1,000 births by the end of this year. National Health Director, Rafael Schiffino said that the most outstanding reductions have occurred in the post-natal stage, that is babies more than 28 days old whose deaths declined 70%.
Vehicles in circulation up 150% in four years
Hoy newspaper story reports that the number of vehicles in circulation in the DR has increased 150% in the past four years. Dr. Nazaret Hasbún said the increase in vehicles is the cause of the accidents and traffic bottlenecks that affect Dominican cities today.
Deputy Minister of Public Health and coordinator of the Natonal Plan for the Reduction of Deaths for Traffic Accidents (Plan-Remat), Dr. Hasbún said in the DR there are 30 vehicles per highway kilometer. This compares to 25/highway kilometer in the US.
He said lack of drivers education is also to blame for many of the traffic accidents. He said that most of the persons purchasing vehicles in the past four years come from population segments with lower incomes and less education. Many of these persons have not made the effort to become thoroughly familiar with traffic rules, even traffic signals. He said there is a lack of courtesy on the road and a general attitude regarding each driver's responsibilities on the road.
In the DR in 1999 there were 3,014 deaths in traffic accidents, and an estimated 50,000 persons suffered injuries. This is up from 1,253 deaths in 1990.
San José de Ocoa, the 30th province?
The Senate, in a first reading, passed a bill that would convert San José de Ocoa into a province. The bill now passes to a study commission. If eventually passed by the Senate in a second reading, it could be effective as of 1 January 2001. This would convert this southwestern mountainous region into the country's 30th province. San José de Ocoa, while a prime farming region, is a very poor area of the country.
Where did the money allotted to Puerto Plata go?
Puerto Plata Senator Ginette Bournigal de Jimenez (Puerto Plata-UD) wants to know where the RD$100 million allotted to Puerto Plata public works have gone. The moneys were assigned and disbursed on paper but the project contractors did not receive them nor have the works been completed in the measure of the allotted funds, complains the legislator. Deputies Cesar Peralta, Enrique Rivera, Juan Jose Ortiz and Rafael Castro also want to know where the moneys went. They want Congress to request the presence of Minister of Public Works Diandino Peña so that he may explain where the moneys went. Senator Bournigal says that the paralyzed works are: the Guananico-Imbert highway, remodeling of the skylift, remodeling of the Malecón, San Marcos-El Naranjal highway. Also the construction works of the Maimon-Cambiaso, La Gran Parada-El Copey, Altamira-Escalera and La Isabela-La Jaiba roads.
Balaguer says he loves Hipólito, but not in an electoral way
PRSC presidential candidate Joaquín Balaguer confirmed that he has "amores escondidos" with engineer Hipólito Mejía, presidential candidate of the PRD. Engineer Hipólito Mejía said while on campaign in Puerto Rico last week that he and Balaguer were having a hidden love affair.
When asked about Mejía's comment, Balaguer said, "Yes, those are "amores escondidos," but we are taking certain licenses, and they are seen with good intentions, we let them be because they are inspired on good intentions."
Hoy newspaper points out that Balaguer said that Mejía and himself have always been friends and will continue being friends. Nevertheless, Balaguer said, "Right now we don't have electoral ties with anyone, except with ourselves." Balaguer urged his followers to vote for the PRSC, a party that he said has demonstrated that it works for the country, and not for itself.
Both Danilo Medina and Hipólito Mejía covet PRSC voters. Balaguer's endorsement of PLD candidate Leonel Fernández in 1996 catapulted Fernández to the presidency.
PRD and PRSC candidates turn down presidential debate
The Asociación Nacional de Jóvenes Empresarios, an organization that groups young businesspeople in the DR, announced it has failed in all its efforts to organize a US election style televised debate.
While the two leading presidential candidates, Hipólito Mejía and Danilo Medina have accepted to answer questions separately by the same TV producers, it has not been possible to get them together.
According to news reports, PRD presidential candidate Hipólito Mejía rejected the debate with Danilo Medina saying that he was 20 points ahead of Medina, who he says is too far away to make it to the presidency. He said that given this situation, he has nothing to discuss with the PLD presidential candidate. The Listín Diario reports that ANJE was not able to arrange the candidates debate because the PRD required that all questions be sent to the candidates 15 days in advance. The party also requested that all candidates recognized by the Junta participate in the debate.
PLD candidate, Danilo Medina, rejected both conditions.
The third-ranked candidate, 94-year old Joaquín Balaguer has not shown an interest in the debates.
Parity bill draft could be ready by next week
US House of Rpresentatives Ways & Means Chairman Phil Archer and US Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott are optimistic that they will come up with a final unified draft of the bill that would grant parity (eliminating duties and quotas on footwear and apparel) to Caribbean imports as early as next week, according to news reports. The legislators would like the compromised bill to be drafted prior to the congressional decision of whether the US should stay in the World Trade Organization and a vote on China permanent normal trade relations comes on the agenda. The main difference revolves around whether to grant Caribbean apparel makers a duty break only if they sew with US materials. Furthermore, US retailors want the legislation to contain a broad regional fabric origin rule. According to news reports, retailers in general would prefer to make goods in the Caribbean because of its proximity and ability to better serve the U.S. market.
After a deal is struck, the package must be voted on by the House and Senate.
The Trade and Development Act of 1999 passed by the Senate and the African Growth and Opportunity Act passed by the House seek to lower trade and investment barriers to countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and the Senate version would extend these policies to the Caribbean Basin.
If passed by the US Congress, it would be the first single trade agreement of significance approved by the US since the completion in 1994 of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
Today, Caribbean nations, the Dominican Republic included, that had benefited from the CBI trade initiative, have to compete at a disadvantage with Mexico, which as a North American Free Trade signatory has preferential access to US markets.
The Dominican Republic has made a case that there is a direct relation between its prosperity and the amount it imports from the US.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer (R-Texas) recently took over from Senator Crane, on medical leave, as the leading champion of the House version of CBI Enhancement, which makes greater allowances for the use of fabric produced in the CBI countries in apparel exports to the United States than does the Senate version. On the positive side, Chairman Archer is committed to the passage of CBI Enhancement. Since he is not running for re-election this year, the fact that he is serving his final term in the House of Representatives appears to have strengthened his determination to leave a strong legacy. He is one of Congress's leading proponents of free trade.
Pan Am marketing commission arrives
Executives from the Meridian firm that has been announced will be assisting the organizers of the Santo Domingo Pan American Games in its marketing efforts, arrived yesterday. This firm participated in the marketing of the Winnipeg Games. The Meridian team arrived to be present when the organizing committee meets with the marketing commission of the Panamerican Sports Organization (ODEPA). Coming for ODEPA are American Richard Schultz, Canadian Austin Woods and Mexican Mario Ramírez. They will be here through Saturday, 25 March.
The Organizing Committee announced next week it will be holding talks with Anthoni Camin and Joseph Roca who were responsible for the opening and closing shows of the Barcelona Olympic Games.
Isha will return to show business
Child TV star Isha (Isabel Aracena) announced that she will soon return to show business. Last year she announced she would be taking a break. Earlier in the year she had divorced her husband and producer, Angel Puello. They have a daughter. Now that she says she has reconciled her relations with her husband, she said she is considering returning to starring in TV shows. When she announced she was leaving TV, she had signed a contract with Antena Latina, Channel 7. She told El Siglo newspaper that she is considering offers from Antena Latina; Telemicro, Channel 5; and may even consider returning to work for Rafael Corporán (Color Visión, Channel 9), with whom she started her successful career.
When Isha divorced her husband, they both set up shop separately. Eventually, her husband desisted from producing his shows without her, and returned to work for his former boss, Rafael Corporán. Shortly after, Isha, tired of being TV star and producer at the same time, announced she was quitting.
National Symphony Orchestra concert
The second half of the National Symphony Orchestra 1999-2000 season continues at the National Theater in Santo Domingo.
Tonight's presentations is as follows:

Wednesday, 22 March.
Julio de Windt, Conductor.
Reynaldo Han. Overture of the Mozart opera.
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.
Sergio Vargas tours to tell the story of merengue
Sergio Vargas, "Había una vez un merengue," the story of merengue music on tour, sponsored by Baninter.
22 March. Parque Piedras Vivas. San Cristobal.
24 March. Parque Estadio Julián Javier. San Francisco de Macorís.
25 March. Parque Duarte. La Vega.
26 March. Parque Municipal Altagracia. Villa Altagracia.
Beauty pageant, Patricia Pereira and Fausto Rey
Shows to look forward to this weekend are:
The selection of the Dominican candidates to the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants. Friday, 24 March at 8:30 pm at the Teatro La Fiesta of the Hotel Jaragua. Participation of 21 candidates from throughout the DR.
Patricia Pereira in concert ("Plenilunio") this Friday, 24 March and Saturday, 25 at Casa de Teatro, 9 pm. Accompanying her, Tisana Azul.
Fausto Rey in concert, a replay of his successful comeback show on Saturday, 25 March. Teatro La Fiesta, Hotel Jaragua, 9 pm. Tel. 221-1435, 412-4610
Cattle, farm and industrial fair opens at Feria Ganadera
The nation's leading exhibition of cattle ranching, farming and industrial production is scheduled to open this Saturday, 25 March at the Feria Ganadera on the Malecón. The Feria Nacional Agropecuaria, Industrial, Educativa y Ecológica 2000 is a sale-exhibition of local produce.
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