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

Daily News - 17 January 2001
Hispaniola Trail to be most important in Caribbean
Minister of Environment Frank Moya Pons announced in El Siglo newspaper rehabilitation work to prepare the 90-kilometer Hispaniola Trail. The trail is being carried out using the US Apalache Trail as model. The Hispaniola Trail will be attractive to adventure-seeking tourists. It will incorporate already existing trails in the Cordillera Central down to Rio Limpio, where a center for visitors will be built. Moya Pons says that signs will be placed to guide visitors. He said they will then promote the trial in adventure travel magazines around the world. "I assure you that this trial will be as visited as the Appalachian Trail in the US," he said. His goal is to turn the Hispaniola Trail into the most important eco-tourism attraction in the Caribbean.
Moya Pons told El Siglo newspaper that the only way to turn protected areas into national worth is to rehabilitate them so that they attract tourists and make money. The plan is for these areas to reimburse the government with 20% of income generated.
He said that all national parks and protected areas will be open to organized ecotourism activities. He said they will be working with non-governmental organizations to create more projects similar to the success stories of the Progressio and Quita Espuela foundations. Moya Pons announced that the first cave that will be prepared for visitors is the Cueva de la Maravilla in the outskirts of San Pedro de Macorís. This cave will be a new attraction for tourists visiting the Juan Dolio area hotels. It will also be attractive for tourists traveling to La Romana and Boca Chica hotels. Next on the list is the rehabilitation for visitors of the Cuevas del Pomier in southwestern San Cristóbal. Moya Pons says they will be executing a program with funds from the World Bank to create a visitor center at the Parque Jaragua near the Bahia de las Aguilas in the West.
New board to care for Mirador Park
Mirador del Sur Park, the most used park in the DR, will soon be entrusted to a board made up primarily by users of the park, including residents in the area. Minister of Environment Frank Moya Pons told El Siglo newspaper that either private or government boards will be created to manage city parks. He said that contrary to popular perception, the Cayetano Germosén, Litoral Sur (Malecón) and Eugenio María de Hostos Park are responsibility of the City of Santo Domingo, which whom the Ministry will be working closely. He suggested that the Parque Independencia, where the forefathers of the nation are located, pass to the Ministry of Culture.
Check points to reduce contraband of illegally cut trees
Minister of Environment Frank Moya Pons told El Siglo newspaper that his department has started to implement a program that requires that trucks transporting wood pass by fixed check points and exhibit an official stamp that authorizes the truck's circulation. The Ministry of Environment is working closely with the Armed Forces to establish the checkpoints. The trucks will only be able to circulate in the regions for which they are authorized.
National reforestation policy
Minister of Environment Frank Moya Pons explained to El Siglo newspaper editors that the new reforestation policy has three parts:
Reforestation of points where rivers originate, sources of water for aqueducts, populations, industry and agriculture.
Creation of model agroforestry plantations. Three species have been selected: rubber, bamboo and palm (low lands).
Order and recovery of forestry industry to produce wood in forests and low lands.
Water suspension in Santiago
The Santiago water department, Corporacion del Acueducto y Alcantarillado de Santiago announced the suspension of water service from noon to 5 pm on Wednesday, 17 January. The suspension is to carry out major repairs to the main pipes.
DR ambassador to Canada presents Letters of Credence
Dominican Ambassador to Canada, Eduardo Fernandez Pichardo presented his Letters of Credence as Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Governor General Adrienne Clarkson of Canada on Tuesday, 16 January. The event took place at the Citadelle in the city of Quebec. Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson carries out Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's duties in Canada on a daily basis and is Canada's de facto head of state.
Franklin Polanco honored by US government and Dominicans
Journalist and public relations expert Franklin Polanco was honored yesterday by the US Government and Dominicans for his contributions to the friendship of the US and Dominican Republic. On occasion of his retirement from public service, he received the Professional Achievement Award granted by the US State Department for his key role and exceptional service in building friendship and cooperation between the US and the DR over 35 years of service as Senior Information Specialist at the United States Information Agency. In his role he excelled at conciliating interests of the US with those of the DR, by helping individuals in each country understand the other.
"His dedication has been unceasing, whether it be placing the first videos from the United States government on local television, installing the first satellite dishes that made possible the regular transmission of Worldnet on the local news, facilitating the work of journalists, or looking for and piloting planes so that the Peace Corps could drop food from the air into zones isolated by Hurricane Georges. Recently Franklin convinced members of the yacht and airplane clubs to make up a volunteer rescue force which will prevent calamitous shipwrecks and loss of lives. He has been host, tour guide, and consultant to ambassadors, Secretaries of State, and Vice Presidents," added Ambassador Manatt.
Polanco worked temporarily in the Peace Corps in 1962, and three years later he began his permanent job in the Information Service of the United States Embassy, subsequently known as the Press and Programs Office.
US Ambassador Charles Manatt, calling Polanco "an exceptional human being," said that the award honors whom perhaps has been the best friend of Dominican-US relations.
Franklin Polanco's offices were located at USIA information center at Prolongacion Mexico No. 71. The offices will now be known as the Centro Franklin, in his honor. Large lettering to the effect were placed at the entrance of the office on his farewell day.
In the January 16 farewell ceremony, the German ambassador, Alexandra Countess Kendeffy, thanked Polanco for his indefatigable participation in the rescue of victims of an airplane which fell into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean after taking off from the Puerto Plata airport on February 6, 1996, with more than 200 passengers, mostly Germans.
In the reception offered by Ambassador Manatt, the well known public relations professional was accompanied by his wife, Patria de Polanco, who also worked in the United States Embassy for twenty-five years, and their children and grandchildren. The emotional ceremony was also attended by members of the diplomatic corps, high level officials of the government, editors of the local news media, national and foreign journalists, as well as representatives of the civil society, the military, and fellow workers.
Nani Martinez takes over Franklin's job
Ana (Nani) Martinez, formerly press director of the Ministry of Foreign Relations and ambassador in charge of public relations (1996-2000), is the new Information Specialist at USIA.
Ana E. Martínez (Nani) is a journalist of well-known experience in the Dominican and foreign news media. A specialist in Latin American studies and communications, a graduate of Hunter College in New York, she has worked for the Hoy, El Siglo, Listin Diario, and El Nuevo Diario newspapers. A press release from the USIA says that from 1984 to 1996 she was the official correspondent in the Dominican Republic for The New York Times, the Miami Herald, Time Magazine, and Business Week.
Only about 50% graduate from grade school
Minister of Education, Vice President Milagros Ortiz Bosch told Hoy newspaper that only 47% of students that enter the public school system finish grade school. An estimated 8% graduate from high school. Recently, a press report indicated that only 15% of those that enter the state university graduate. The UASD has an enrollment of about 100,000 a year.
Debate over on what to apply the 1.5% sales advance to
The government tax director, Quico Tabar and private consultants differ on the application of the new 1.5% advance payment on business income. Quico Tabar says that businesses should pay on sales totals that they usually present to the government department, regardless of whether these are credit or cash sales (devengado/percibido). Private sector consultants debate that 1.5% should only apply on income that has been cashed in by the companies. They say that if the government applies the advance on credit sales, this will be an additional burden to company finances.
Explosion injures four, destroys five cars
A big explosion last night at the Arroyo Hondo propane gas station, located at Avenida República de Colombia, seriously injured four persons. During the explosion five vehicles destroyed and there was much panic among the neighbors. The accident occurred when a pick up was being filled up with gas. Reportedly, the driver of the vehicle turned the vehicle on prior to the removing of the gas pump hose, which triggered a fire. A second later the explosion occurred. The driver of the pick up fled with his vehicle from the area. Eight firemen brigades struggled for an hour to put out the fire. They avoided that the fire reach two tanks of 5,000 gallons that are located near where the explosion took place.
Escogido qualifies for baseball finals
The Leones del Escogido qualified for the finals of the 2000-2001 Winter Professional Baseball Championship. The Escogido qualified in a game they defeated the Estrellas Orientales 11-0. For the game schedules, see http://www.dr1.com/daily/calendar.shtml
 TEAM  WON  LOST  PCT.  DIF.
 Escogido  11  2  .846  
 Aguilas  7  6  .538 4
 Azucareros  4  9  .308  7
 Estrellas  4  9  .308  7
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.