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Daily News - 2 February 2001
Senate passes Caricom free trade agreement
The Senate passed the Free Trade Agreement with the Caribbean (Caricom) and the protocol for the implementation of the agreement, in an extraordinary work session yesterday. The agreement now will pass on to the Chamber of Deputies as a formality, since free trade agreements only require senatorial approval. The treaty is expected to be signed by President Hipolito Mejia next week, going into effect immediately. The senators did not pass the Central American free trade agreement due to objections made by the Executive Branch, the Ministry of Foreign Relations and business sectors. The approval of the Central American Free Trade Agreement is postponed pending further discussion of protocols with Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Senate moves on social security and consumer protection bills
The Senate also approved the first reading of the Social Security and Consumer Protection bills. It also approved the condoning of part of the debts with farmers. It approved the new bill that replaces the consular invoice with a US$100 stamp and US$30 legalization by consuls. The Senate also passed a US$22.3 million loan signed between the state and the Interamerican Development Bank for the modernization of the National Congress and the Chamber of Accounts.
Former director of Customs denies he left major arrears
The former director of Customs, Miguel Cocco denied his department left arrears in collections of duties pending for imports already carried out. He said that at the end of his term at the head of Customs, on 16 August, he left pending for collecting only RD$220.7 million. He formally requested that Vicente Sanchez Baret, the present customs director, explain with details the more than RD$1,000 or RD$2,000 million in debts Sanchez has said there are pending for collection.
Meanwhile, according to a report in the Orlando Gil column of El Siglo, Ivan Garcia, president of the Federacion de Comerciantes, also denied the debt of RD$17 million the government says he has pending with Customs.
CDE seeks new parties for optic fiber tender
The Dominican Electricity Corporation extended through 16 February the period for presenting requests for terms of reference to participate in a tender for the supply, installation, operation and use of optic fiber cables on the new high tension lines that will be installed. Project director is engineer Horacio Perez. For more information, see http://www.cde.gov.do/aviso.htm
National Police in Boca Chica
Police Chief Mayor General Pedro de Jesus Candelier Tejada himself head the operation "A Day with the Barrio" in Boca Chica. Three hundred police agents worked in favor of the community with members of neighborhood boards, sports and educational groups, and associations of housewives. Some 70 Police medics gave free consultations at the Escuela Primaria Vitalina Mordan de la Cruz in Boca Chica, while the Police music band entertained those attending the operation. As part of the operation, medicines were given away to the needy, cats and dogs were vaccinated for rabies, and children's hair was cut. Inespre, another government department, brought a market day to Boca Chica with low cost food products for sale. Several streets were fumigated as part of the operation.
Recently Mayor of Santo Domingo Johnny Ventura criticized the Police picking up garbage in a neighborhood of the city, urged the Police to stick to its job of guaranteeing citizens safety. Candelier told the press that he was unbothered by the comments. He explained the operation was to create new links between the community and the Police.
Candelier alerted that any nightclub found employing minors would be closed.
Trade deficit with the US
El Siglo editor/journalist Victor Tejada explains that for the first time in 15 years, the DR has a trade deficit with the US. He says that the trade balance in 2000 was US$37.1 million in favor of the US. The deficit is attributed to the fast pace of the increase in Dominican imports due to the higher buying power of local consumers and the opening of markets. In 2000, imports were US$4,066.5 million.
The president of the American Chamber of Commerce, Andres Aybar said another major reason for the deficit is that as of yet there is no export culture in the DR.
Most exports from the DR are items manufactured at local free zones.
President says he is the government
President Hipolito Mejia replied to the opposition by businessmen to the government using a US$200 million IDB loan to finance social programs. "We are whom sets the priorities, we are the government," he said. Mejia told Hoy newspaper that the DR has capacity to borrow as his government has been making payments on loans with international organizations.
"I am cautious when taking out debt, one cannot play with that, because there are some forms of borrowing that are dangerous," he said.
What about the middle class?
Economist Jaime Aristy of the Fundación Economia y Desarrollo urged the government include the middle class in its social compensation plans. In an interview for El Siglo newspaper, he said that the middle brackets of the economy make up most of the population and are the ones most affected by the new taxes.
Furthermore, he criticized that the government had increased the valuations in customs, which has had the effect of annulling the benefits of the tariff reform. He said that instead of lower prices of imports, prices are now higher.
He suggested that the government promote an environment where competition foster lower prices to benefit all.
He suggested that the government not alter import values for the first six months as the population absorbs the effect of the new taxes.
He also said that the government should promote market opening of farm products that today are protected by high import taxes and whose prices have increased significantly due to local scarcities.
"I think there has to be talk for the middle class, one has to leave behind a bit of talking only to the poor and tell the middle class, yes, I am also thinking of you, I am governing for you, and this is my proposal for you," he said.
Ministry of Environment wants to recover El Morro
The Ministry of Environment is locking horns with the influential in the northwestern province of Monte Cristi. The Ministry initiated actions to evict businessmen, legislators, former ball players, and wealthy persons that have built around 50 costly homes on grounds of the Monte Cristi National Park. Deputy Minister for Protected Areas and Biodiversity Julio Cesar Ureña said the Ministry is taking legal measures to this end. "This process is being followed as per the law. The law will be applied and no one is above the law," said Ureña. He has called those affected to a meeting at the Ministry on Monday, 5 February. At the meeting, those invited need to present legal documents substantiating their rights to have built their homes where they did.
Among those affected are senator Bernardo Aleman (PRD-Monte Cristi) and deputy Jose Miguel Cabrera. Also, provincial Governor Lorenzo Rodriguez and Mayor Luis Tomas Mendez. Others whose homes would be affected are former ball player Tony Peña, Francisco Taveras, Jose Dionisio Núñez, Rafael Fañas, Pedro Ureña, Jose Luis Cabreja, Cesarion Morel, Jesus and Popo Jerez, Sucesion Socias, Enrique Carrion, Rafael A. Rivas, Oscar Heinsen y brothers Juan Julian and Jose Serrulle, among others.
Samana to become sanctuary for Dominican parrots
El Siglo reports that the Centro para Conservacion y Ecodesarrollo de la Bahia de Samana y su Entorno is developing a program for the study and protection of the Dominican parrot (Amazona ventralis). The effort integrates the communities of Palmarito, Agua Sabrosa, Aldimon and Portillo.
Idany Davila Mayeu, coordinator of the project, says that the parrots have spontaneously migrated to the mountainous area due to deforestation in other areas.
She said the project seeks to educate the communities to preserve the parrot as matter of pride of Samana.
She said in the past due to ignorance, community residents would hunt and capture the parrots to sell their young to tourists. In the process several nests were being destroyed.
Felipe Gonzalez favors better tax administration, not more taxes
Spanish head of government, Felipe Gonzalez considered that the government should have been more efficient about collecting taxes, rather than creating new taxes. In an interview with the Listin Diario, he said:
"This country has a tax management problem, like Spain had 20 years ago. The problem is not the kind of taxes, but rather how much of those taxes are collected," said the 14-year Spanish statesman.
Gonzalez said that the DR should invest more in education, health, communications, energy and basic infrastructure.
He said he did not agree with more taxes without having a clear, precise and timely investment goals so as to place the nation in tune with the needs of the new capitals of today's very competitive world. He said that for these a country that offers a skilled workforce is more attractive than one with abundant raw materials.
New TV program shows positive side of Dominicans abroad
Cecilia Garcia is promoting her 7:30 pm Monday one-hour show on Telecentro, Channel 13. Her show, "Dondequiera que estés" tells each week the story of a Dominican emigrant. She says that the idea is to present the human side of the individual, stressing that success does not necessarily mean having won fortune. She will be traveling throughout the world to interview Dominicans that are exemplary because of their stories of struggles, work and successes, without having to be rich or famous. She says they are seeking positive examples for Dominican youth, and the portraying of the idea that time is necessary to achieve goals. On this coming Monday, she will tell the story of a Dominican who illegally migrated to New York, and was able to make it in the Big Apple.
La Vega Carnival
Probably the nation's most colorful events of the year, the La Vega Carnival kicks off on Sunday, 4 February in the central city. Several of the main tour companies are offering excursions to watch the devil-like figures make mischief on the main city streets of La Vega for RD$350 including transport, refreshments, t-shirts and caps. The carnival continues every Sunday through the end of the month.
Marichal golf tournament
Pedro Martinez, Bob Feller, Gaylord Perry, Fergusson Jenkins and Vida Blue will be among the famous that are scheduled to participate in the XV Juan Marichal Golf Classic. Some 220 golfers have registered for the benefit at the Los Marlins Golf Course in Juan Dolio. The Metro Country Club will be host to the event organized by the Instituto Dominicano de Desarrollo Integral directed by David Luther.
Caribbean Baseball Series TV transmission
Channel 7, Antena Latina announces the transmission of the Caribbean Baseball Series.
The schedule of the games is as follows:
Friday, 2 February, 5 pm: DR vs. Puerto Rico
Saturday, 3 February, 3 pm: DR vs. Venezuela
Monday, 5 February, 3 pm: DR vs. Puerto Rico
Tuesday, 6 February, 7 pm: DR vs. Venezuela
Wednesday, 7 February, 10 pm: DR vs. Mexico
The Aguilas Cibaeñas team roster
The roster of the Aguilas Cibaeñas team that will represent the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Baseball Series that starts today in Culiacán, Mexico is as follows:
Manager: Felix Fermin
Pitchers: Miguel Batista, Robert Ellis, Micah Bowie, Julian Tavarez, Amaury Telemaco
Relief Pitchers: Jose Cabrera, Luis Vizcaino, Jose Garcia, Antonio Alfonseca, Benito Baez, Jesus Peña, Dario Veras
Fielders: Luis Polonia, Andy Barket, Mario Encarnacion, Dionis Cesar
Infielders: Tony Batista, Felix Martinez, Miguel Tejada, David Ortiz, Dionis Cesar, Mendy Lopez, Jose Ortiz, Alberto Castillo, Guillermo Garcia, Jimmy Gonzalez.
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