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Daily News - 4 January 2001
To regular DR1 Daily News readers
For all those that follow the news on a daily basis, we apologize for the glitch in the news flow over the holidays. To catch up with the missed days of last week, see:
Tuesday, 26 December at http://www.dr1.com/daily/news122600.shtml
Wednesday, 27 December at
http://www.dr1.com/daily/news122700.shtml
Thursday, 28 December at
http://www.dr1.com/daily/news122800.shtml
Friday, 29 December at
http://www.dr1.com/daily/news122900.shtml
Readers may also note that the Tuesday, 2 January 2001 issue that went out by email to DR1 Daily News subscribers was a compilation of last week's news. The individual day web pages, though, will provide more details of the news over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
The latest congressional scandal
The DR1 erroneously reported as RD$196 million the contribution the Executive Branch agreed to make to organizations that have the support of legislators. The last minute contributions are said to have "convinced" the deputies to pass the tax and tariff reform bills presented by the President without modifications. The Listin Diario corrects the total saying the cost of passing the new taxes was RD$100,190,000 donation to legislators non-governmental organizations, not RD$196 million. The Listin Diario headlines that the budgetary allotments were submitted as an addendum to the National Budget.
More than 200 organizations are on the list sent by 11 deputies that apparently needed convincing. The document sent by the National Planning Office of the Technical Secretary of the Presidency lists the names of the deputies and the non-governmental organizations that will benefit. According to the Listín, the PRSC will receive RD$30,340,000 for 30 non-governmental organizations suggested by two PRSC legislators. The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Dr. Rafaela Alburquerque is down with organizations for RD$22,600,000. Of organizations recommended by PLD legislators, 47 obtained an allotment of RD$8,400,000. PRD deputies and minority party deputies recommended 57 Ongs, that will receive allotments of RD$390,000 and 750,000 each.
President Mejía, commenting on the donations, said his government would audit the use of government funds by the ONGS. The Listín Diario presents the list of the organizations that will benefit in its 4 January edition.
Proof of turning bus division into family business presented
Transport union leader Juan Hubieres presented to the governmental Department of Prevention of Corruption supposed proof that there are about 20 direct relatives of the director of the organization, Diógenes Castillo on the payroll of the organization. Hubieres has accused Castillo, a Fenatrado truckers union leader, of turning the governmental bus division into a family business for his own profit. Castillo has denied the allegations.
Hubieres also presented proof of his allegations that Castillo is buying from his own businesses, earning millions in profits given the volume of OMSA operations. He presented proof that Restaurant El Titanic, Camú, and El Camionero are owned by Castillo. They are major suppliers to the OMSA bus division. Hubieres accused Castillo of increasing the payroll of the organization from 2,778 to 5,000 persons.
He also has a list of names that benefit from several monthly checks from OMSA.
Record government collections
The December record tax collections should be an indication of the windfall of monies the government will be receiving. In December, the tax reform bill had not yet been passed. With its passing, collections, already at record levels, should hit new highs. Hoy newspaper reports that Teófilo Tabar, director of the Income Tax Bureau (DGII) says that December collections for 2000 were RD$470 million more than in December 1999, or RD$2,720 million.
Customs department director, Vicente Sánchez Baret also says his collections show a surplus. He said this year's collections are up RD$127.8 million regarding the 1999 level. This December's collections were RD$1,824,100,359, a new record.
2000 was good year for Air Santo Domingo
2000 was a good year for Air Santo Domingo, the domestic commuter that began flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico last year. Headquartered in Santo Domingo, Air Santo Domingo recorded dynamic growth in passengers carried, load factor, ASMs and RSMs, according to a company press release.
Air Santo Domingo is a member of the Dominican Republic-based SAP Group of air charter and airline companies.
The company was acquired in 1999 from Air Europa, and operates through a wetlease charter arrangement with SAP, Inc., a US., FAA-certified Part 135 carrier. The agreement permits the company to get around from the ban on Dominican airlines from flying to US territory.
According to the company the company carried out 5,575 flight operations in 2000, transporting 54,982 passengers. Its load factor was 53.7%. Its ASM was 11,467,466 and RSM was 6,252,880.
Air Santo Domingo utilizes the LET 410 turboprop on domestic services in the Dominican Republic and the Beechcraft 1900D on flights operated on its behalf, by SAP, Inc. to San Juan.
"We are pleased with our performance for Year 2000 and look forward to continued expansion in 2001. Look for us to add additional frequency on existing services and new routes,'' remarked Captain Alex Patin, president of SAP.
RD$400 million to improve slum areas
The Dominican representative for the Lome IV Convention announced the start of a program calling for an investment of RD$400.2 million to clean up barrios in Santo Domingo slum areas. The program, funded by a donation from the European Community, will remove solid wastes and bring potable water service to neighborhoods in Los Tres Brazos, Capotillo, La Zurza, Domingo Savio and Maria Auxiliadora in Santo Domingo. The program is to be known as Programa de Saneamiento de Barrios Marginados (Sabamar), as reported in El Siglo newspaper.
Manuel Cáceres Troncoso said that the Lomé IV project overall will provide RD$894 million this year in donations for various projects. In addition to the Sabamar project, funds will also serve to build and repair schools, rural roads, highways, dams and assist vocational training programs.
Clinics do not open due to architectural flaws
El Siglo reports that errors of architectural design have impeded the start of operation of three clinics in Santiago, built by the past government at a reported cost of RD$100 million. Deputy Minister of Health Plutarco Arias said that in one of the clinics, the kitchen was built beside the laboratory, in another the laundry was located on the third floor and in another, three transformers were located in the basement, while the surgery room faces the street where it is exposed to noise and dust.
Teaching to read and write along the frontier with Haiti
The Ministry of Education announced a program that seeks to teach to read and write 80% of the illiterate inhabitants in frontier provinces. The program will be reaching out to 95,000 inhabitants at a cost of RD$54 million. Provinces included in the program are Elías Piña, Jimaní, Bahoruco, Independencia, Santiago Rodríguez, Monte Cristi, Dajabón and Pedernales. Statistics show that 24% of the adult population in the frontier, the poorest region in the DR, can not read or write. The national illiteracy rate is 17%.
Wind power projects are targeted for Puerto Plata
Minister of Industry and Commerce, Angel Lockward said that companies from the US, Spain and Canada are interested in three projects that jointly would produce 510 megawatts. He said that the companies could invest US$400 million in the ventures. The first to invest in harness wind power would be an affiliate of Unión Fenosa, owner of Edenorte and Edesur, that have concessions for the distribution of most of the power in the DR. The company is planning to build a wind power park capable of generating 110 megawatts in El Cupey, said Lockward. Other projects would go up in Luperon and Sosua. Puerto Plata is the preferred destination for wind power projects because it is rarely affected by hurricanes.
Escogido takes the lead in baseball finals
The Escogido defeated the Aguilas to lead the semi-finals of the Dominican Winter Baseball League. The standing is as follows:
 TEAM  WON  LOST  PCT.  DIF.
 Escogido  2  0  .1000  
 Aguilas  1  1  .500  1
 Azucareros  1  1  .500  1
 Estrellas  0  2  .000  2

Round robin baseball schedule & rosters
Games are at 8 pm, with the exception of Saturday and Sunday, when they start at 4 pm. The calendar for the remaining games of the semifinals is:

Santo Domingo (Estadio Quisqueya): Friday, 5 January: Estrellas vs. Escogido
Sunday, 7 January: Azucareros vs. Escogido
Wednesday, 10 January: Aguilas vs. Escogido
Saturday, 13 January: Estrellas vs. Escogido
Sunday, 14 January: Aguilas vs. Escogido
Friday, 19 January: Azucareros vs. Escogido
Sunday, 21 January: Estrellas vs. Escogido
Monday, 22 January: Azucareros vs. Escogido

Santiago (Estadio Cibao):
Thursday, 4 January: Estrellas vs. Aguilas
Saturday, 6 January: Escogido vs. Aguilas
Tuesday, 9 January: Azucareros vs. Aguilas
Thursday, 11 January: Estrellas vs. Aguilas
Monday, 15 January: Estrellas vs. Aguilas
Tuesday, 16 January: Azucareros vs. Aguilas
Wednesday, 17 January: Escogido vs. Aguilas
Saturday, 20 January: Escogido vs. Aguilas

San Pedro de Macorís (Estadio Tetelo Vargas):
Sunday, 7 January: Aguilas vs. Estrellas
Tuesday, 9 January: Escogido vs. Estrellas
Wednesday, 10 January: Azucareros vs. Estrellas
Sunday, 14 January: Azucareros vs. Estrellas
Tuesday, 16 January: Escogido vs. Estrellas
Friday, 19 January: Aguilas vs. Estrellas
Monday, 22 January: Aguilas vs. Estrellas

La Romana (Estadio Francisco Micheli):
Thursday, 4 January: Escogido vs. Azucareros
Friday, 5 January: Aguilas vs. Azucareros
Saturday, 6 January: Estrellas vs. Azucareros
Thursday, 11 January: Escogido vs. Azucareros
Saturday, 13 January: Aguilas vs. Azucareros
Monday, 15 January: Escogido vs. Azucareros
Wednesday, 17 January: Estrellas vs. Azucareros
Saturday, 20 January: Estrellas vs. Azucareros
Sunday, 21 January: Aguilas vs. Azucareros
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