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Daily News - 9 February 2001
President honors his "if I'm wrong, I'll rectify"
President Hipolito Mejia, honoring his promise to rectify, if he is wrong, announced a change in the requirement for businesses to pay 1.5% advance tax on future sales. He said that that he is sending to Congress a modification that would allow that business with sales of up to RD$6 million is excluded from the provision. At present, the advance tax is applied to all businesses with sales of more than RD$2 million a year. Former President Joaquin Balaguer had criticized the new tax. Visiting former head of the Spanish government, Felipe Gonzalez, who is said to anonymously have heavy investments in the Dominican Republic, also criticized the tax during a recent visit to the Dominican Republic.
The Legal Advisor to the President, Guido Gomez Mazara announced the government would send the modification to Congress today.
Reach of the ITBIS in services and exemptions
The government published decrees 195-01 and 196-01 with the ruling for Law 147-00 of 27 December 2000. The decrees clarify the extent of the ITBIS that taxes products and services with 12%. The decree publishes with relative detail all the services that are covered and those that are exempt. The government paid for advertisements in local dailies to publish the content of the new requirements.
According to law 147-00, the ITBIS now covers rent, transport, construction, professional, advertising and communication, entertainment and recreation, storage, personal and corporate security, lodging, insurance, veterinarian services, medical insurance and fumigation. Exempt are rent of households, exported services (that is services provided in the DR to persons or companies abroad), services by government, export free zones, embassies, consulates and international organizations, and chambers of commerce. Also, educational and cultural services, health services, pension plans, financial services, ground transport of persons and cargo, electricity, water, and garbage collection services, personal care services, and funeral services.
Senators approve Electricity Bill
The Senators approved the General Bill of Electricity pending for several years in Congress. The bill is pending approval of the Chamber of Deputies and the President. The administrator of the Dominican Electricity Corporation is proud of a modification inserted by the senators that obliges electricity distribution companies to reimburse consumers with 150% of every black out hour they receive. Cesar Sanchez, of the CDE, said this is in defense of the people.
President honors 5,805 outstanding students
President Hipolito Mejia renewed the program to recognize outstanding public school students with a ceremony at the National Palace yesterday. During the event, 5,805 students from all around the country were honored. President Mejia also honored a group of merit worthy professors. The professors will receive a RD$10,000 award each.
Medical stoppage moves on to the Cibao
The Dominican Medical Association physicians extended to the Cibao provinces their work strike. The public hospital doctors are only attending intensive care patients and emergency patients. The medics protest the possible approval of the Social Security Bill, that has presidential support. The physicians do not agree with the bill that establishes that physicians will be paid per patients seen. At present, public hospital physicians are paid regardless of the number of patients they see.
The strike affected thousands of sick people that sought services at Dominican Institute of Social Services (IDSS) and Ministry of Public Health hospitals. Private hospitals and clinics operated as usual.
Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez criticized the physicians' attitude. He said that the physicians should drop the strike mechanism as a way to pressure the authorities. He urged them to work for the benefit of the community.
"You cannot be a pressure group to seek rights if you do not fulfill your obligations," said the Cardinal.
Alex Rodriguez named ambassador for DR
During his visit to President Hipolito Mejia, Alex Rodriguez, the best paid baseball player in the US (he recently signed a 10-year US$252 million contract with the Texas Rangers), spoke of his goal for next year. He said that his goal is to break Ernie Banks' homerun record of four seasons batting 40 or more home runs. President Mejia named Rodriguez ambassador for the Dominican Republic in the world.
PLD says social compensation plan is demagoguery and circus
The Partido de la Liberación Dominicana said in a document of its Political Committee that the social compensation plan announced by the Mejia administration is but a group of demagogic proposals without financial support and that primarily seek to entertain the people. He said the exception is the reduction of the price of propane gas.
Secretary general of the party, Jose Tomas Perez said that the speech had little regarding the struggle against poverty. He said there are many contradictions in the promises made as part of the compensation plan and the promises being made during the government councils held in the provinces. The President has said these programs and works will be carried out with the surpluses he expects the new taxes and tax increases will bring.
Lottery Mafia is today worse than before, says Mazourka
The Listin Diario sent Asela Maria Lamarche to Haiti to report on people in that country on occasion of the inaugural of Jean Bertrand Aristide. One of those she chose to interview was Haitian Frederick Mazourka, who lives among the wealthy of Haiti. Mazourka was questioned for his association to a group of Dominicans for corruption in the National Lottery during a Balaguer administration. Mazourka told the Listin that he left the country not because he wanted to evade justice, but because he was sent to escape so he wouldn't talk. He said he would be willing to return to the DR if President Hipolito Mejia would ensure him a fair trial. The Haitian is a telecommunication businessman who also owns a doors and windows factory in Haiti.
He told the Listin Diario that now the Mafia within the National Lottery is worse.
Manatt announces he's leaving, career diplomat to replace him
US Ambassador Charles Manatt announced he will be leaving the post effective 1 March. Manatt, a political appointee and former fund-raiser for former President Bill Clinton had arrived to the DR in December 1999. The DR had been several years without an ambassador when he arrived.
A similar situation will now be in place. Ms. Janice L. Jacobs, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy since July 2000 will be acting ambassador until the time when President Bush appoints, and the US Congress approves a new ambassador.
Prior to her Santo Domingo appointment, Jacobs was the Director of the Office of Field Support and Liaison in the State Department's Visa Office. From 1995-1998, she served as the Deputy Director in the Office of Cuban Affairs.
She has been with the Foreign Service since 1980 after years of overseas experience as a foreign service dependent. She grew up in Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Mexico, Nigeria and Thailand. She received a BA in French and Education from Southern Illinois University in 1968 and a Master's in National Security Strategy from the National War College in 1995.
Jacobs's other past assignments have included serving as a Senior Watch Officer in the State Department's Operations Center. Also as Principal Officer at the US Consulate in Matamoros, Mexico and as a consular office at various posts. While in Matamoros, Janice became involved in a number of cross-border community projects involving environmental groups from Mexico and the U.S.
Janice is married and has two sons, Eric and Kurt. Eric is a Foreign Service Officer (third generation) who recently completed a tour in Paramaribo, Suriname. Kurt is an aspiring actor living in New York City.
Her husband, Ken Friedman, is a senior civilian personnel specialist with the Department of Navy.
Jose Antonio Molina: alternate director with the three great tenors
Dominican orchestra director Jose Antonio Molina told El Siglo newspaper that he has signed a contract to be the alternate director at the concert Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras will present in Beijing, China. The concert is set for 23 July. The director is James Levine. Molina will share rehearsals and will conduct the orchestra in Levine's absence.
Molina has for several years now directed the concert "Pavarotti and Friends" in Italy. As a result, he has very good relations with Pavarotti who recommended him for the alternate director post. Molina will again conduct the Pavarotti and Friends concert on 27 May in Italy.
El Siglo also reported that Molina has made the arrangements for strings for two songs of a best of Ricky Martin CD that will be launched soon. The new CD will include Ricky Martin pieces from the days he started out as a teenager with Menudo.
Molina said he is working on producing a CD for Christian Castro and has just finished arranging a CD for Ednita Nazario.
In pop music, Molina has also worked for Gloria Estefan, Alejandro Fernandez, Charlie Zaa, Jose Feliciano and Alejandro Sanz.
Milagros German joins Freddy Beras Goico
TV producer Freddy Beras Goico announced the start of a TV variety show where Milagros German will be co-producer. The show, "Con Freddy y Milagros" will air Monday to Friday on Channel 13, Telecentro, from 7 to 9 pm. Beras Goico recently announced his switch from SuperCanal to Telecentro. He said his popular "El Gordo de la Semana" Sunday variety show will restart on Sunday, 18 February from 2 to 7 pm on Channel 13.
Milagros German is a former beauty queen who had already produced "Con Milagros" and "Tarde en la Noche."
She said that she is very happy to accept the new challenge of working with Beras Goico, considered the most success Dominican television producer.
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