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Daily News - 4 April 2000
President to meet with Bill Gates and AOL
President Leonel Fernández left today at 7:20 am to meet with Bill Gates of Microsoft in Seattle, Washington. President Fernández will also attend the Third Annual Conference of Heads of State organized by Microsoft. This is Fernández's 33rd trip abroad.
According to Hoy newspaper, President Fernández wants Microsoft to certify the Santo Domingo Cyberpark, the darling project of the visionary Dominican President. Fernández would also like Microsoft to open a Caribbean office at the high tech park that is slated to begin operations in August 2000. On the President's agenda is a visit to the Center for Internet Studies of the University of Washington.
After the Seattle commitments, Fernández will travel to Virginia, where he will meet with executives of PCI Net, Universal Systems, among other companies.
He will also be present at a reception at the Dominican Embassy in Washington, D.C. where he will meet businessmen that are also interested in investing in the DR.
President Fernández has also scheduled meetings with executives of American Online during this trip.
He returns Saturday, at 5 pm.
For more information, see http://www.dr1.com/daily/news040300.shtml
DR to save RD$5,500 million in first year of regional treaties
Deputy Minister of Foreign Relations Frederic Emam Zade highlighted the benefits the Central American and Caribbean free trade agreements will generate for the Dominican Republic. He said that the country will have savings of RD$5,500 million in taxes in the first year. He said that Dominicans will be able to sell and buy goods free of import duties. Emam Zade said Dominican companies will now have preferential access to a market fivefold the size of the present market, or 42 million persons in 19 countries. Emam Zadé spoke at the Expo Muebles furniture exhibition held over the weekend. The free trade agreement will permit situations such as Dominicans importing wood from Guyana, having it cut in Trinidad, and then manufacturing furniture in the DR for sale to Caribbean islands.
The Dominican Republic and Caricom are expected to sign the finalized free trade agreement in the National Palace on 19 April. When that happens, the DR will be the country of the Americas to have signed the most free trade agreement - six with Central America and 14 with Caribbean nations. DR negotiators are working on agreements with Chile and Cuba.
The agreements need to be passed by Congress to become effective.
Blackouts attributed to generation problems
Marcos Cochón, Superintendent of Electricity, said that the present blackouts are the result of eight power plants being out of service. He said the power deficit is at 350 megawatts. Cities in the central Cibao region are those most affected. These cities depend on power generated by the Smith Enron power plant that is located in Puerto Plata. That plant is only delivering 35 megawatts of its 185-megawatt capacity. This can result in power outages of up to 12 hours a day.
Since Saturday, 25 March, several power plants are out of service, including Haina I and IV that contribute 100 megawatts, Los Mina V that contributes 103 megawatts, and San Pedro I that produces 34 megawatts. Also, Itabo I and II that generate 120 megawatts, Santo Domingo I and Timbeque II that each contribute 16 megawatts. Demand is estimated at 1,550 megawatts at peak hours (around 8 pm). Supply fluctuated between 1,000 and 1,100 megawatts yesterday. Cochón said in the Listín Diario that the system is fragile, and will continue to be so for another two years while new plants come on line. He said that at an at least 20% reserve capacity is necessary to rid the country of power outages.
JCE reports on card verification exercise
The Junta Central Electoral, the body in charge of organizing the presidential election, announced that data contained in 92.82% of the voting cards of citizens that participated in the 25-26 March voting card verification exercise checked out. Some 1,630,730 persons, or 38.87% of the 4,195,000 citizens able to vote participated in the voluntary verification exercise.
3.37% showed errors in the photograph and 0.45% were missing from the list. The exercise also showed that 5.44% were registered to vote in a different table than that listed on their card. Participación Ciudadana, and the commissions Asesores de Informatica de la JCE and Seguimiento a los Acuerdos del Diálogo told the press that the problems detected in the verification exercise can be resolved.
The presidential election will be held 16 May 2000.
Haitian drug trafficker detained
Members of the Department of Drug Control (DNCD) arrested a 28-year old Haitian in possession of 31 kilos of cocaine. Reportedly, he planned to deliver the cocaine to buyers in Miami.
The man's Haitian passport identified him as Jean Marc Junior Adam. But he had on him a Florida driver's license, where he was Mario Durán.
DNCD agents were on his trail after being tipped off from a Miami source.
They observed as the Haitian received a package in a supermarket parking lot. When the Haitian observed he was being watched, he fled. A chase began. The reckless driver crashed into a vehicle at the intersection of Av. 27 de Febrero and Dr. Defilló, and ran down a passola at Calle Rafael Augusto Sánchez, where the DNCD agents finally arrested him.
His passport showed multiple entries to the DR by way of the frontier town of Jimaní. He was driving a rented car, according to the report in El Siglo newspaper.
Spokesperson for the DNCD Jacobo Mateo Moquete said that the drug had entered Haiti via Colombia.
Taiwan delivers 500 more computers
The Minister of Education, Ligia Amada Melo received 500 computers from the Government of Taiwan yesterday. The computers feature a 64 MB Ram memory, 6.4 GB hard disk, and 400 MHZ processor and 56k internal modems. The Government of Taiwan has already delivered 2,200 of a promised 5,000 that are being installed as part of the informatics program in public high schools.
Ambassador Kuo Kang represented the government of Taiwan when delivering the computers to the Ministry. Ambassador Kang said that each lot of computers is technologically superior to the previous one.
Minister Melo said that so far the computer programs have benefited 300,000 students all around the country. The Ministry has opened 170 computer labs, and another 130 will be ready before the end of the school year in June.
Government comes to the rescue of poultry producers.
The Fernández government will purchase the one million poultry surplus at RD$6.50 the pound, announced Miguel de Peña, president of the Consejo de Avicultores Veganos. Peña said that the purchase will bring relief to the market, where the surplus has depressed prices. Frozen chicken is selling in supermarkets for about RD$7.00 the pound. He explained that the surplus is due to bad planning on behalf of both poultry producers and the government.
Kidney operations at the Robert Reid Children's Hospital
Dr. Emilio Mena Castro said that a successful kidney transplant was carried out at the Robert Reid Cabral Children's Hospital last week. This is the second at the hospital. The first took place in 1993, but the operations were suspended because of lack of resources. In a private clinic the transplant would cost RD$200,000-RD$300,000. Ivelisse del Pozo donated a kidney to her 12-year old daughter. The hospital said that both mother and daughter are recovering satisfactorily. The head of the hospital said that he expects to carry out 12-15 kidney transplant operations per year.
Dominicans make up 7th largest group of US immigrants
According to an item in the Wall Street Journal based on US Census data, Dominicans make up 2.5% of the new arrivals to the United States. Dominicans are the 7th largest group of immigrants to the US.
The breakdown is as follows:
Mexico 27.2%, Philippines 4.4%, China and Hong Kong 4.3%, Cuba 3.5%, Vietnam 3%, India 2.9%, Dominican Republic 2.5%, El Salvador 2.4%, Great Britain 2.4% and Korea 2.3%.
World Bowling Tournament in DR
The Dominican Republic will host the World Juvenile Bowling Tournament. It will be held at the Sebelen Bowling Center in October or November. Delegations from 50 countries are expected, with teams made up of 14 athletes. The DR became the site to the important world tournament when several nations refused to travel to Colombia for the event, citing the increased violence in that country. The DR hosted the Pan American tournament in 1997, with the participation of 18 countries.
Week of the Colonial Monument
The Comisión Permanente para la Animación Cultural de la Ciudad Colonial, a commission to bring new life into the Colonial City is celebrating the Week of the Colonial Monument. Those visiting the Colonial City can listen in to evening concerts at the Parque Colón, facing the Cathedral of Santo Domingo. The Patronato de la Ciudad Colonial, Oficina de Patrimonio Cultura, Ayuntamiento de Santo Domingo, Secretaría de Turismo also sponsor the activities.
Tuesday, 4 April. National Police band playing at the Parque Colon. Talk on the Restauration of Casa de Italia. Concert of sugar cane instruments by Federico Smith.
Wednesday, 5 April. Concert by the Navy band.
Thursday, 6 April. Concert by the Universidad O&M band.
Friday, 7 April. Concert by the UASD band. Presentation of the Miriam Bello "Fantasía-Fantasía."
Saturday, 8 April. Puppet show at the Park. Presentation of "Historia de Pedrito y su amigo," Teatro del Sol.
Jewelry exhibition at the Hotel Santo Domingo
Saks Fifth Avenue will be exhibiting their jewelry on 6, 7 and 8 April as part of a benefit at the Salon Bohechio of the Hotel Santo Domingo. Pieces by Chanel, Ferragamo, Fendi, Gucci, Prado, Antonini, Bulgari, John Hardy, Lagos, David Yurman, Pasquale Bruni and Chopard will be exhibited. The pieces will also be for sale to the public from 10 am to 6 pm. Event promoted by the Promoción APEC de la Mujer (PROMAPEC).
Activities at the Boulevard 27 de Febrero
Festival de Rock. Kim Sánchez who has put together a group of the new names in Dominican Rock organizes Rock.do. Time to listen to: Uranio, Mister Klica, La Gente, Neutral, Bienes y Raices, Stupid Silence, Modem 5, Cherry Flavor and Ciencia Fusión. Every Friday in April, except Good Friday. 9 pm. Boulevard 27 de Febrero, Winston Churchill side.
Scheduled for the same Boulevard, but for Saturday, 15 April at 9 pm, "Fuego a la lata," a concert by innovative Dominican popular musician Luis Días, with Patricia Pereyra (Dominican blues singer) and Los Tambores de América.
Dominican rock awards ceremony
Thursday, 6 April is the Dominican Rock Awards Ceremony, III Lo Mejor del Rock, at the Centro de Eventos y Exposiciones de Santo Domingo on the Malecón. Awards for the best Dominican rock music groups.
The nominees are:
Performances of Tabutek, Tribu del Sol, JLS and Mambé. Production Tabutek, Toque Profundo, Aljadaqui, Tribu del Sol, Negro, Mambé and Mr. Clika. An Edwin Sanchez production. The nominees are:
Heavy Rock Band: Necro, Pseudo and JLS.
Alternative Band: Aljadaqui, Tabutek, Tribu del Sol,
Rock Fusion Band: Turbosexophonicos, Guaitio
Pop Rock Band: Mambe, La gente, Punchaucha
Video Clip: Mentirosa (Aljadaqui
Event or concert: 10 aniversario, Toque Profundo, Vigracion I con Tabutek, Aljadaqui y Mambe, Sintetik de Tabutek, Vibracion II con Tabutek, Guaitio, Mambe y Puntachauca
Best overall performance abroad: Al Jadaqui, Toque Profundo JLS
Rock Hit of the Year: El precio (Tabutek), Noche sin luna (Toque Profundo), Mentirosa (Aljadaqui), Chica beeper (Mambé)
Production of the Year: Cria curvos (Toque Profundo) Sintetik (Tabutek), Toma Uno (Aljadaqui)
New Group of the Year: Mr. Clika, Turbosexophonicos, Mambé
Best Live Performance: 10 aniversario (Toque Profundo), III Festival Presidente de la Musica Latina (Tribu del Sol) Boulevar de las Estrellas (Aljadaqui), Santiago (JLS).
Rock Group of the Year: Toque Profundo, Aljadaqui, Tabutek, Tribu del Sol.
Luis Terror Días Award for the Band of the Year: Toque Profundo, Al-Jadaqui, Tabutek, Tribu del Sol.
Tickets: RD$150. For sale at Ticket Express, Tel. 535-5272, Stereolab 4127378 or Graficad 616-1968.
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