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Daily News - 5 April 2000
UN agency commends efforts to eradicate poverty
In a well-timed counterpoint to the largely negative critique offered by the United Nations Development Agency (PNUD), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) has hailed the DR for its increased expenditures directed toward the eradication of poverty. CEPAL is also a UN dependency.
The PNUD report, published earlier the week, found that an insufficient percentage of GNP was being directed toward social welfare programs. Currently "6% or 7%" is being spent, while 14% would be optimal, according to the report. The DR was also criticized for its lavish pension programs for retired civil servants, and for allowing a disproportionate
amount of government spending to benefit the middle and upper classes.
The CEPAL document places the DR in a small group of hemisphere countries that have substantially increased social welfare spending in recent years. The DR also received high marks for reducing "the magnitude and severity of poverty." Together with Mexico,
Cuba and Central American nations, the DR has notably boosted GNP.
Eight families predominate in government service
High ranking posts in the administration of President Leonel Fernandez
have been disproportionately held by members of eight families.
These are;
1) The family of Alejandrina German, currently Secretary to the President;
formerly head of the Higher Education Commission (CONES). Her husband,
Jose Sosa, is Deputy Director of Immigration. Her brother, Mariano German,
is currently Director of the Agri-Business Development Bank, and also served as Director of the Water Resources Department, as well as Attorney General.
2) The family of Temistocles Montas, currently Technical Secretary to
the Presidency; formerly Administrator of the Dominican Electric Corporation,
His brother, Jose Montas, was Consul in Juana Mendez, Haiti, and now occupies
the same post in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Another brother, Ruben Montas,
directs the Dominican Technology Institute and was also Director of
Telecommunications.
3) The family of Rafael Serulle, who heads the state Budget Office and was formerly Vice-Minister of Public Works. His brother Julian Serulle, until recently served as Director of the Dominican Social Security Agency Another brother, Haffe Serulle works in the Public Health Ministry.
4) The family of Simon Lizardo, who serves as Presidential Chief of Staff, and formerly as Controller General. His sister, Cristina Lizardo, is a member of the Chamber of Deputies.
5) The family of Pedro Pablo Yermenos, currently Consul in Madrid, formerly Director of the Dominican Social Security Agency. Brother Carlos Yermenos manages the Presidential Palace.
6) The family of Sigfriedo Pared Perez, who directs the National Investigations Department, His brother Reinaldo Pared Perez holds a leadership position the PLD bloque in the Chamber of Deputies. Carlos Pared Perez is an assistant to PLD presidential candidate Danilo Medina.
7) The family of Vice-President Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal, including Minou Fernandez Mirabal, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. Nelson Gonzalez Mirabel, the Vice President's nephew, is also his assistant. Another nephew, Raul Gonzalez Mirabel, headed security in the Dominican Electricity Corporation.
8) The family of the President, including his father, who serves as Consul in Panama and previously headed the Port Authority; his uncle, Jose Luis Fernandez, who's in charge of the internet in the Presidential Palace; and his sister, Sonia Fernandez, who heads (CONANI).
Such things are not unknown in the DR. President Balaguer favored members of his own family, as well as the Marte, Bello, Martinez and Pichardo families.
Women to hold 33% of elective offices
President Fernandez promulgated a decree that makes it mandatory for political parties to nominate women to 33% of congressional and municipal elective posts. These include candidates for the senate, the chamber of deputies and the various city councils. The measure had previously ben passed by both houses of congress. The decree also charges the Central Elections Board and provincial elections boards to monitor and enforce the rule. The position of mayor and deputy mayor are exempt.
The current decree is an outgrowth of article 7 of the resolution adopted at the the Beijing Conference on the Status of Women, to which the DR subscribes. Another decree says that all parties must designate a women for either the position of mayor deputy mayor.
Humpback beached in Miches
An enormous humback whale, in advanced state of decomposition, has become an
attraction on the beach at Miches. The beach on the southern shore of the
Bay of Samana, has long been a favored lookout point to observe the behavior
of humpbacks, who call the bay home during the winter months.
The whale's head was first observed at high tide ten days ago by Miguel Gil,
a local fisherman. "The animal was, like, sad, and wasn't moving much. But we didn't approach it," said Gil, fearing that a sudden movement could swamp his rowboat. The behemoth measures 40 feet in length, and its girth is more than 6 feet. The flukes measure almost 20 feet.
Local environmental groups have expressed concern that seeping whale oil might damage the beach, which has long been a prime viewing area to observe the whales which make Samana Bay their winter playground. Those living nearby are beginning to catch a whiff of the tons of decomposing blubber. But the odor hasn't put off lots of local women who boldly approach, knife in hand, to slice off a piece of no-cost hair conditioner.
Tourism increase triples thus far in 2000
The RD has tripled it's the increase in tourist arrivals during the first quarter of the year. According to Minister of Tourism, Felix Jimenez, January, February and March have witnessed a 25% increase over the same period last year. Early 1999 tourism fell sharply in the aftermath of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Georges the previous September.
Jimenez predicted that by year's end, the total number of visitors would easily exceed 3 million, some 400,000 more than last year.
Ministry figures largely corroborate figures recently released by the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (ASONAHORES), which noted a 24.6% increase for the first two months of this year. Currently, the DR hotel capacity is in excess of 50,000 rooms, and hotels are enjoying a high occupancy rate.
Tourist-generated income would "probably exceed US$3 billion." the minister said. Tourism income is an essential component of the DR's economic strength. During 1999, 231,775 workers were directly employed in the industry.
State-owned paper factory to be privatized
The Reform Commission for Public Enterprises (CREP) announced that the state-owned pulp and paper mill will be sold to the highest bidder, Antonio Isa Conde, CREP chairman, said that the National Paper Industry (INDUSPAPEL), yet another of the state's inefficient businesses, has accepted offers from several interested parties.
INDUSPAPEL is capable of producing 17 different types of paper and cardboard, and its assets include warehouses, equipment, laboratories, and raw materials.
Pirate radio stations broadcast religion
The president of the Dominican Broadcasters Association (ADORA) denounced the expropriation of radio frequencies by religious groups. In an interview with Hoy, Omar Cepeda claimed that "illegal broadcasters are preaching the word of God in San Pedro de Macoris, Higuey, La Romana and other cities."
Due to "repeated frequencies and names" the precise figure of authorized broadcasters can't be fixed precisely, but the number hovers around 325.
To this number must be added around a 140 more that operate "in outright violation of existing law," said Cepeda.
Currently, a population of 8 million is being served by 450 radio stations. "In the eastern region, the illegals outnumber the legals," according to Cepeda. In the Province of San Pedro de Macoris, for example, 225,000 inhabitants are served by 16 broadcasters. The Province of Higuey, even smaller, has 20. Cepeda went on to complain that some of theillegal preaching stations are run by ADORA members who also maintain licensed frequencies, making a very awkward situation for the professional group to regulate. Cepeda is looking toward the newly created Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (INDOTEL) to step in right the situation. Association members who straddle the two worlds have justified the illegals by pointing to their morally uplifting purpose.
Hog imports banned, but garlic is politicized
Agriculture Minister Amilcar Romero has banned the importation of porcine products. He signed the decree as a final act before taking a leave to participate in the national political campaign. Romero is the vice-presidential candidate of the ruling PLD party.
Over-production of hogs has flooded the Dominican market with inexpensive pork and has brought producers to near bankruptcy As prices have plunged. Optimistic, if decidedly unmeasured, ideas about the local market sprang up in the wake of Hurricane Georges which severely hurt pig farming.
Garlic from abroad, however, continues to pour in, to the chagrin of local distributors. So says Apolinar Leiva Javier, President of the
National Small Business Federation (FRENAPECO), who condemned the government for not protecting garlic farmers. Javier noted that a ship laden with garlic from abroad is waiting to be unloaded at the Haina pier, while the garlic
harvest is in full swing in the cool elevations of the Valley of Constanza.
According to Javier, Dominican garlic is of excellent quality, and can be bought right now in markets at around DR$14 (US$0.87) per pound.
But today's Listen Diario quotes the head of the Constanza garlic producers
association as saying that "there's something else behind" the claim that imports are damaging local producers. Robustiano Leira affirmed that its advocates simply want to discredit Amilcar Romero, who "has stood beside us and helped us." Leira affirmed that the present political contest won't damage the spirit of "brotherhood and understanding" that has existed between garlic producers and the "fine stewardship" that Romero has shown as Agriculture Minister.
Big league SD starter "definite" probably
This morning, blazoned across a full page color picture of SD's Quisqueya Stadium, the sports section of Hoy used two-inch red type to declare "Approved: RD will be site of big league opening." But on page two it recounted how U.S. Baseball Commissioner, Bud Selig, just fell short of offering a guarantee.
Responding to insistent questions by Dominican reporters who crossed his path in Seattle, where they had accompanied President Leonel Fernandez, Selig said, "Your country is present in our plans and we are creating the conditions for this to happen." He went on to say that he is "almost certain" that the RD will host a big league opener in "the near future." In a survey conducted by CNN this past March 29th, 38% of the respondents selected the RD as the "best option"
for the site of next season's opener. The big league player rosters this year list players of 17 nationalities. With 66 players on regular rosters, the DR ranks second after the U.S. Seattle Mariners coach, Pat Gillick, who was also cornered by Dominican reporters, affirmed his support for a staging an opener in the RD " For a long time I've been aware of the talent of Dominican players," he said.
Dominican sluggers' pay again tops US$100 million
Big league baseball's Dominican contingent will earn US$130,985,777 during the current season, making this second consecutive year to have exceeded US$100 million. Pedro Martinez, Cy Young Award-winning pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, will top all the others with a salary of US$11.5 million, closely followed by home run record-breaker Sammy Sosa, at US$11 million even. The top 20 players will be compensated as follows;

Player Team Salary
Pedro Martinez Boston $11,500,000
Sammy Sosa Chicago $11,000.000
Raul Mondesi Toronto $10,000,000
Pedro Astacio Colorado $6,350,000
Ramon Martinez Boston $6,320,000
Juan Guzman Tampa Bay $6,000.000
Jose Offerman Boston $5,750,000
Carlos Perez Los Angeles $5,333,333
Moises Alou Houston $5,250,000
Jose Lima Houston $5,032,444
Henry Rodriguez Chicago $4,600,000
Alex Rodriguez Seattle $4,362,500
Manny Rodriguez Cleveland $4,250,000
Jose Mesa Seattle $3,950,000
Vladimir Guerrero Montreal $3,500,000
Jose Vizcaino Los Angeles $3,500,000
Armando Benitez N.Y. Mets $3,347,500
Quilvio Veras Atlanta $3,000,000
Neifi Perez Colorado $2,212,500
Deivi Cruz Detroit $1,975,000
Oscar Micheli Group in Casa de Teatro
Tomorrow night, the Casa de Teatro features a performance by the Oscar Micheli Group. The performers, led by Micheli on keyboard, describe themselves as "jazz fusionists," uniting rhythms from jazz a nd pop. Micheli is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music. Performance is scheduled for 8:30 and general admission is RD$100.
Errata
Yesterday's edition stated that the E. Leon Jimenez Group paid over RD$3,859 in taxes to the government. The figure should have been RD$3,859,000,000.
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