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Daily News - 9 May 2000
JCE denies obligatory election broadcast
The Junta Central Electoral denied that television and radio stations will be obliged to join the official JCE election transmissions, as erroneously reported yesterday. La Voz de la Junta Central Electoral will be on the air 15, 16 and 17 May, transmitting preliminary results, and news on the election, but the local media is free to transmit its own news programs.
Hipólito promises government of national unity
PRD presidential candidate Hipólito Mejía, the man to beat in these elections, promised yesterday in a TV and radio broadcast that he would invite members of other political parties to join his government. He promised to combat corruption and carry out the "social and economic changes that most Dominicans want." He also emphasized that he would decentralize government, strengthening the municipal governments. Furthermore, he promised an increase in government funding of education and public health, and that he would build homes for the middle class and the poor.
He urged political organizations to show exemplary conduct at the close of the political campaign. He again said that he would give priority to free zone industries and tourism industry.
Hipólito Mejía has a comfortable (about 10 points) lead according to most polls regarding the 16 May election. But most polls also say that he does not have enough support to gain the presidency in the first round. In the DR, a candidate needs 50%+1 of the vote to win in a first round.
PLD shows video of suspect assassin
The PLD aired on television yesterday a video where a man identified by the PLD as PRD presidential candidate security guard Benedicto Rivas (Benero) is seen firing at Reformista activist Ramón Leonardo Rodríguez. Minutes earlier, Rodríguez had waved a package of grass at the PRD caravan on Saturday 29 April, making fun of the PRD candidate who rode in a caravan that passed through the northcentral city of Moca. The bullet injured Rodríguez and Carlos Manuel Reynoso, who was also watching the PRD caravan pass through Moca.
The PLD says that Rivas, shortly after murdered PLD activist Luis Terrero Gil, who was about 500 meters away from the first shooting incident shown by the video. Terrero Gil's son identified Rivas as the murderer of his father. According to the PLD, Rivas was a member of the security of Hipólito Mejía. The PLD said that Rivas had been deported from New York City. In the video, Rivas is seen facing backwards and sideways.
PRD acting president Tony Raful accused the PLD of trying to capitalize on the murder. He said that the PLD video seeks to confuse. He said that the shooting shown on the video has nothing to do with the murder case that occurred later.
The National Police said it would reveal today conclusions of its investigations into the murder of Terrero Gil and Rafael Antonio Peñaló. The PRD has criticized the Police for removing Moca Police Commander Rodríguez Florimón from the commission that is investigating the crime. Rodríguez rode in front of the caravan and witnessed what occurred. Police Chief Candelier explained Rodríguez Florimón's removal saying that he could not be investigator and participant in the incident.
The Police has promised to release its report on the case today.
Sigma Dos poll say run off election will be tight
Listin Diario-Sigma Dos poll shows Danilo Medina (with the support of the PRSC) losing the run off election by less than a point to Hipólito Mejía of the PRD. Most polls indicate that a second election will have to take place, as on the 16 May election no candidate will receive 50%+1 of the vote. The survey was carried out 3-4 May and 1,200 persons registered to vote were polled. The poll shows that on the 30 June run off election 43.2% would vote for the PRD, while 42.5% would vote for the PLD candidate Danilo Medina. According to the survey 67.7% of voters feel a second round will be necessary. The survey revealed indicators show that 76.5% of the PRSC voters would support the PLD in the second round.
Electoral statistics
The JCE says that 62,000 Dominicans will be employed in the 16 May 2000 presidential election exercise. The election will cost RD$167 million, of which RD$35 million will be used to pay the people that will staff the 11, 422 voting stations at 3,500 electoral centers. The breakdown of eligible voters by sex is as follows: 2,133,297 men and 2,117,921 women.
By breakdown by provinces is as follows:
Distrito Nacional: 1,365,554
Santiago: 469,209
San Cristóbal: 229,169
La Vega: 199,684
Duarte (San Francisco de Macorís): 159,578
Puerto Plata: 150,820
San Pedro de Macorís: 132,821
San Juan de la Maguana: 124,003
Peravia: 119,606
Espaillat (Moca): 119,162
La Romana: 100,665
Azua: 96,818
Monseñor Nouel (Bonao): 87,558
Monte Plata: 84,997
Barahona: 83,710
Sánchez Ramírez (Cotuí): 80,856
Valverde: 77,778
La Altagracia (Higuey): 73,761
María Trinidad Sánchez: 73,071
Salcedo: 62,377
Monte Cristi: 56,777
Bahoruco: 46,578
Samaná: 44,037
Hato Mayor: 43,919
El Seibo: 38,550
Santiago Rodríguez: 34,539
Dajabón: 33,654
Elías Piña: 28,699
Independencia: 23,306
Pedernales: 9,962
Pilot error said to have caused Santiago plane crash
The president of a board called to investigate the crash of a single engine Cessna 152 in Santiago said that the accident most likely occurred because the pilot, Richard Alba flew too low and one of the wings of the airplane got tangled with a steel telephone cable.
The accident occurred after the plane was in the air for barely 10 minutes.
Colonel Jacinto Mejía del Villar said that they believe the temerity of the pilot could have caused the accident. The final report on the accident, though, has yet to be released. One news report said that survivor Juan Vargas's only memory of the accident was listening to Alba comment, "ay coño!" The deceased pilot, Alba was campaign coordinator for the young PRD command of the PRD in the Cibao region. He died when distributing PRD promotional flyers during the party's closing congregation in Santiago.
He was a poultry producer in the Licey farming area. He had an eight-year-old daughter.
New buses able to transport 240 passengers
The Oficina Metropolitana de Servicios de Autobuses (OMSA), the government entity that operates the public bus transport system, announced that four Volvo buses with capacity for 240 passengers each will circulate on the corridors of 27 de Febrero and John F. Kennedy starting this week. The start of the megabus service could be either on Thursday or Friday, depending on President Fernández's schedule. President Fernández usually rides on the inaugural trek of OMSA new routes. The buses will operate only on peak hours, from 7 to 9 pm, and from 4:30 pm to 8 pm. Larger buses will also be used on Maximo Gomez and Independencia corridors.
Porters organized at Las Americas Airport
The new operators of the Las Americas, the Consorcio Empresarial Aerodom, have organized the Department of Porters of the Las Americas International Airport. Vancouver Airport Services is in charge of the Las Americas airport operation. The number of porters has been reduced from 1,000 to 300, according to a news release.
Los Toros Band at the National Theater
"El Merengue se Viste de Gala" is the name of the show Hector Acosta and his Los Toros Band will be presented at the National Theater of Santo Domingo. The Santo Domingo Philharmonic Orchestra in the 12-13 May presentations will accompany him. Joseito Mateo, Jose el Calvo, el Cieguito de Nagua and Miriam Cruz will be guest performers in the show. Amaury Sanchez is the director of the presentation. Los Toros Band leader, Hector Acosta said that this presentation is one of the biggest challenges his group has ever faced.
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