DR1 - Daily News 12 May 2000

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Daily News - 12 May 2000

NAFTA parity bill passed by US Senate
Promoting Japanese vaccines
Penn, Schoen & Berland poll shows Balaguer leads Medina
The presidential candidates
Public shows banned 15-16 May
Streets and avenues to avoid
Traffic through Punta Cana International Airport up
Miss Universe on Channel 5 at 9 pm today
Los Toros Band at the National Theater
Learn to make paper airplanes

NAFTA parity bill passed by US Senate
The US Senate passed the Trade and Development Act 2000, 77 votes in favor and 19 against yesterday. The House of Representatives had already passed the bill on 4 May with 309-110 vote count.
The bill grants Dominican textile exports quota-free conditions, such as Mexican exports to the US have. The quota requirement caused many apparel contractors to move their operations to Mexico. The bill conditions duty-free apparel exports to those made from American materials. It will be effective for eight years time. Only pending is the signature of President Bill Clinton, one of the bill's strongest supporters in the US. The bill would be effective 1 October 2000.
President Leonel Fernández expects the bill to spur a new wave of US investments in the DR, especially in free zone industries. He called its passing "an extraordinary opportunity for the Dominican Republic."
Fernando Capellán, president of the Dominican Free Zone Association estimated that the bill would result in around 30,000 new jobs in apparel industries, or 20% more than at the present time. He commented that now the country needs to make efforts to be competitive regarding other Central American countries that have been benefited by the new legislation. He said that wage and energy costs are higher in the DR.
To read more about the bill, see http://brief.tradecompass.com/index.asp?page=today&briefDate=20000512#topstory

Promoting Japanese vaccines
The Japanese government will be donating US$21 millions in the Pentavalente vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B and hemophilus influenzae B. The vaccine will be applied in a program nationwide starting 1 January 2001. Children two years and less will be inoculated. The Ministry of Health commits to continue the program making gradual higher contributions to the cost of the vaccine in subsequent years.
In 2002, the Dominican state will cover 20% of the cost of the vaccine. In 2003, 40%; in 2004, 60%, in 2005, 80%, and in 2006, 100%.
The multi-vaccine will reduce to three from nine the number of times children need to be vaccinated.
The program has the support of Zacarías Garip, director of the Ministry of Health's Expanded Vaccination Program (PAI) and of Rafael Schiffino, National Health Director.

Penn, Schoen & Berland poll shows Balaguer leads Medina
The most recent Siglo/Penn, Schoen & Berland poll shows voters preferences into the 16 May election are:
46% Hipólito Mejía (PRD), 27% Joaquín Balaguer (PRSC) and 26% Danilo Medina (PLD).
The poll showed that party affiliations in the DR are divided as 46% PRD, 26% PRSC and 25% PLD.
The survey was carried out 6-9 May with 1,400 citizens interviewed nationwide.

Public shows banned 15-16 May
The Junta Central Electoral, the body in charge of organizing the elections in the DR, published today a reminder that Electoral Law 275/97 bans public shows 24 hours before the election and on election day, 16 May. The idea is to give citizens time to reflect on whom they will vote for, without the noise of political campaigning.
The JCE also notified citizens that alcohol beverage sales are banned at supermarkets, bars and restaurants for 24 hours prior to the election and three hours after the closing of the vote, that is up to 9 pm on Tuesday, 16 May.
In the DR, election day is a day for friends and family to gather at home and await the results. Streets and avenues to avoid# Since Santo Domingo voters make up a third of the electoral vote in the Dominican Republic, political parties will be holding their campaign closings in the capital city. This means that special care should be taken to avoid certain capital city avenues and intersections that will suffer from major congestion. Promoters expect to attract 300,000 to 500,000 people to the closing congregations.
Because school was called off on 15, 16 and 17 May, the campaign long weekend is also a good time to vacation at Dominican beach or mountain resorts.
Whatever, unless you are covering the election for the media or would like to see how campaigning at its peak in the DR, avoid the following capital city streets:
Friday, 12 May. Malecón (George Washington Avenue) and Máximo Gómez avenues. The PRSC will hold its closing activity today starting at 1 pm. Show with Kinito Méndez, Ricarena and Yarumba, three of the leading merengue bands.
Saturday, 13 May. PLD closing congregation at John F. Kennedy with Máximo Gómez, starting at 3 pm.
Sunday, 14 May. PRD congregation in Santo Domingo, starting at 10 am at the head of the Francisco del Rosario Sánchez bridge.
Sunday, 14 May. PRSC big merengue party with Fernando Villalona along the Malecón.
Sunday, 14 May. PLD closing in Santiago.

Traffic through Punta Cana International Airport up
Traffic increased 43.3% in the first three months of the year through the Punta Cana International Airport according to Hoy newspaper. Airport statistics show 268,710 arrivals, 83,832 more than last year for the same period.
In January there were 89,966 arrivals; February 90,614 arrivals; March 60,718 arrivals.
Of the total arrivals, 23.52% were Germans, 18.18% Canadians and 16.60% were Americans.
The Bavaro-Punta Cana area has more than 30 hotels and around 15,000 hotel rooms.

Miss Universe on Channel 5 at 9 pm today
The Miss Universe pageant can be seen tonight on television on Channel 5, Telemicro. The show airs at 9 pm. This is the 49th Miss Universe pageant. Gilda Jovine is representing the DR in the beauty contest.

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.

Learn to make paper airplanes
Thesaurus Book Store, located at Sarasota with Abraham Lincoln, is offering an origami workshop with Tío José (Jose Rafael Sosa) on Saturday, 13 May at 5 pm. This is an excellent afternoon activity for parents and children. Those attending will be taught how to make paper airplanes. For more information, call Tel. 508-1114. Or email thesaurus@codetel.net.do

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