Home  Message Archive  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001  2000  1999  1998  Premium News Service

Daily News - 17 April 2000
CBI parity bill advances in US Congress
News reports say that Senate and House conferees late on Thursday, 13 April broke their deadlock and reached an agreement in principle on the major textile provisions of bills to grant NAFTA-parity provisions to sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean.
The Washington Post released the story in their online edition on Friday, 14 April (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17920-2000Apr14.html)
Congressional reports say that the staff still needs to work out the details over the Easter Week recess, but the bill could be approved as early as May.
Caribbean Basin Initiative countries would be permitted to ship knit apparel made with regional fabric up to 250 million square meters equivalent. A separate cap in addition to that for knit apparel would apply for t-shirts made with regional fabric, sources told "Inside US Trade" publication.
In an article published by the Wall Street Journal, US Ambassador in the DR, Charles Manatt argued that passing the bill meant good business for both the US and the DR.
Manatt wrote:
"Last year the U.S. and the CBI region traded goods worth nearly $40 billion. That figure is sure to rise under the enhanced CBI legislation,which would give the Caribbean countries access to the U.S. apparel market similar to that Mexico and Canada already enjoy through the North American Free Trade Agreement. "Indeed, the American Apparel Manufacturers Association has endorsed this bill. One reason is that 85% of clothing manufactured in the Dominican Republic is made with U.S.-produced textiles. Without CBI, apparel production would inexorably shift to Asian factories, which would not use any U.S. textiles. On balance, then, passing CBI would likely save U.S. jobs -- especially since it would create more markets for U.S. goods. (In the Dominican Republic, 60% of all consumer goods sold are made in the U.S.)
Ministry of Tourism bans motorized beach sports
The Ministry of Tourism has banned the use of jet ski, wave runners and motorized boats, horses, motorcycles, motor vehicles and any equipment that could endanger the safety of visitors to the most popular Dominican beaches. Motorized sports are off limits in major beach areas from Wednesday, 19 April at 6 am to Monday, 24 April that marks the end of the Easter holiday. The beaches specifically mentioned in the Resolution are:
Boca Chica, Playa Caribe, Guayacanes, Juan Dolio, Isla Catalina, Bayahibe, Isla Saona, Punta Cana, Bavaro, Samana, Cayo Levantado, Las Galeras, Las Terrenas, Matanzas, Matancita, Los Gringos, El Caleton, Playa Grande, Cabarete, Sosua, Playa Dorada, Long Beach, Luperon, Punta Rucia, Los Patos, Monte Rio, Palmar de Ocoa, Salinas, and Palenque.
By Resolution 1/2000, the Ministry also orders that the law that establishes that all Dominican beaches are public be respected. The law establishes that access cannot be restricted at the 60 meter fringe of the beach. Last year, two Supreme Court judges were not allowed in to the Playa Dorada hotel and beach complex because they did not prove they were guests at a hotel in the area.
New bus route links Centro de los Héroes and Los Ríos
The Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET) inaugurated a new bus route over the weekend. This is the sixth bus route to be operated by AMET in Santo Domingo. The route will link the Centro de los Heroes in the south of Santo Domingo with Los Rios, in the Northwest. The route will pass by Jiménez Moya, Winston Churchill, Independencia and Núñez de Cáceres avenues. Also John F. Kennedy, Los Próceres, República de Colombia, Los Caciques and the rotunda of Km. 9 of the Duarte Highway. The director of planning of AMET, Mario Berges says they expected 17,000 persons to use the bus route.
Homero Luis Hernández proposed for No. 2 post at OAS
The Dominican Republic formally presented the candidacy of Dominican diplomat Homero Luis Hernandez Sánchez for the post of Adjunct Secretary General of the Organization of American States. The election will be held in June of this year at the 30th General Assembly meeting of the OAS.
Hernández has more than 30 years working in international relations. He has been permanent adjunct secretary of the Sistema Económico de Latinoamérica (SELA). At present, he holds a high ranking supervisory post in the United Nations based in the Geneva, Switzerland.
President bans extracting sand from San Cristóbal rivers
President Leonel Fernandez announced the definite suspension of the extraction of sand, gravel and construction materials from the Haina, Yubaso, Nizao and Nigua rivers. Government contractors have been accused of killing the rivers of this southern province. President Fernández, speaking in San Cristóbal, said that the problem dates back to the 70s and 80s when major construction works were started.
Last week, San Cristobal province inhabitants halted for 24 hours to protest the deteriorating condition of their rivers. Ecologists say that 120 of the rivers and streams have disappeared taking 30% of the country's vegetation cover with them.
High school parties prohibited in discos
The District Attorney's office and the National Commission for Public Shows announced that discos have been instructed to refrain from hosting parties of high school graduating classes until further notice. Roxana Reyes, assistant to the DA, said that recent raids on discotheques showed these were admitting minors, which is against the law. The cut off age is 18 years old.
New Taiwan ambassador
Mr. Adolf Sun is the newly appointed ambassador of Taiwan to the Dominican Republic. Previously, he was director of the department of foreign affairs of the Santo Domingo embassy. The Dominican Republic has traditionally been a strong supporter of Taiwan independence from China.
GDP grows 10.5% in first trimester 2000
President Leonel Fernández, on the campaign trail for PLD presidential candidate, Danilo Medina, said that the Dominican economy grew 10.5% during the first trimester of 2000. He said that inflation was 0.23% and that some 13,000 jobs were created primarily in apparel industries located in free zones. President Fernández also emphasized that the next government will benefit from RD$25,000 million in savings in free zone textile industries. Also pointed out that privatization of public enterprises will mean RD$25,000 million in savings for the next government.
JCE delivers final voting list
The Junta Central Electoral, the government body in charge of organizing the presidential, congressional and municipal elections in the DR, delivered to political parties on Saturday the final voting list that will be used in the 16 May presidential elections. 4,373,081 persons are listed with their photographs. Huascar Frías, spokesman for the JCE, said that 121,863 persons were excluded from the list for various reasons. The JCE said it is preparing 11,422 voting stations nationwide. The JCE extended to 30 April the deadline for citizens that have registered to obtain their new voting cards.
Hipólito slides three points, but still stands strongest
In the Sunday edition, Hoy newspaper publishes results of its 10-13 April presidential candidate poll. According to the Hoy-Hamilton poll, if the election were held today, Hipólito Mejía (PRD) would receive 40% of the vote, Danilo Medina (PLD) 26% and Joaquin Balaguer (PRSC) 25%. When compared to the March poll, Mejía declined three points, Medina and Balaguer increased one point. The poll also showed that 6% were undecided, and 3% said they would not vote. Some 1,200 potential voters were interviewed for the survey.
The results of this poll reaffirm that it is most likely a runoff election will be necessary. To win in the 16 May election, a candidate must receive 50%+1 of the vote. The way the system is set up, the minority party vote may decide who will be the next President.
The same survey showed 49% felt the Fernández government had been a bad government, while and 48% felt it has been a good government. The government's approval rate is down two points from the March survey.
Balaguer should not be running for President
Senator José González Espinosa said that former President Joaquin Balaguer, who is running for President on the PRSC ticket, is not in intellectual or physical conditions to manage even a kiosk, and much less a nation. 94-year old Balaguer has been barely able to make one to five minute presentations. He also rejected participating in the American Chamber of Commerce presidential candidate presentation round, alleging that everyone knew what he would do in government. Balaguer was elected President from 1966-1978, and from 1986-1996. Aníbal de Castro, editor of Rumbo Magazine, said on Triálogo commentary show that if Balaguer wins the election he would send his Vice President Jacinto Peynado to the servants quarters of the National Palace. De Castro says that the close circle of friends would rule.
Senator González is the presidential candidate for the Partido de los Trabajadores Dominicano, a minority political organization.
Carrefour: the new shop in town
City residents staying in Santo Domingo over the Easter holidays have a new place to go. It's the Carrefour, a large supermarket and department store complex located "a minute off Km 9 of the Duarte Highway." This is a French investment of US$38 million, according to general manager Jose Silverio. Carrefour is part of Plaza Duarte. Carrefour is a 9,500 square meter store, with a parking area of 40,000 square meters. The investors have set aside 60,000 square meters for future expansion.
Silverio explained to the Listín Diario that the shop features 10 kilometers of product alleys, and over 50,000 products, of which 70% are Dominican and 30% imported. It employs 750 people. Carrefour opened on Thursday, 6 April. Carrefour is reportedly only second to Wallmart as a major distribution outlet. The company has 710 million clients worldwide.
Grupo Bernard Hayot that is based in Martinique made the investment. The company promises to compete with the best prices, taking advantage of its global buying power that having 710 million clients worldwide provides. Company policy guarantees the best price in town, or your money back.
Travel trade fair slated for 3 May
Luís Felipe Aquino, organizer of the Bolsa Turistica del Caribe, announced the travel trade show will take place at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel convention hall 3-6 May. The show in its fourth year is expected to attract 2,000 travel agents, hotels and allied businesses. This year there will be presentations on investing in tourism and ecotourism. Tour operators and travel agents from Europe, the US, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America will be coming.
Pedro Martínez does it again
The victory was sweater as it was against Tim Hudson of the Oakland Athletics, the last pitcher to beat him in the 1999 season. Pedro Martínez, a man in a class of his own in Major League Baseball, captured his third straight victory on Saturday in Boston. He defeated the Oakland Athletics, 14-2 allowing two runs, five hits and striking out nine in seven innings.
Alex Rodríguez's dream game
"I've never had a game like this," Alex Rodríguez of the Seattle Mariners told the press after hitting three homers and driving in seven runs, both career highs, in the win against the Toronto Blue Jays 19-7 on Sunday. Rodríguez scored five times. He hit a solo home run in the first inning and a two-run homer in the fourth. His batting average is .405, with five home runs and 18 runs batted in so far.
Home  Message Archive  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001  2000  1999  1998  Premium News Service

The contents of this webpage are copyright © 1996-2008.  DR1. All Rights Reserved.