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Daily News - 12 March 2001
Caricom FTA signed
President Hipolito Mejia signed into law the Free Trade Agreement between the DR and Caricom. Trade between the DR and the English-speaking Caribbean is primarily between Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica. The DR imports natural gas, propane and metal products from Trinidad. It exports industrial inputs for the chemical and plastics industries. Overall trade is US$50 million, of which the DR imports US$38 million and exports US$12 million.
News reports say that a mission of the government and businessmen travels today to Trinidad & Tobago, site of Caricom, to meet with Prime Minister Basdeo Panday and executives of Caricom to begin the implementation of the treaty.
Pending in the Senate is a Free Trade Agreement between the DR and Central America.
Report on visit of President Chavez
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez concluded a successful and very busy visit to the Dominican Republic. From the DR he flew to Cuba on Sunday afternoon where he would meet with President Fidel Castro. During his three-day visit, Chavez promoted on several occasions his intention to become the leader of Caribbean and Greater Colombia integration. For the purpose he is using the bait of petroleum supply with better prices and trade conditions. On his final day, he participated in a presentation with President Hipolito Mejia that was transmitted by Radio Television Dominicana in the DR and Venezuela. On the program, President Chavez said that the visit marked the start of a new era of Dominican-Venezuelan relations. He said that Venezuela could not continue with its back to the Caribbean and announced it would assist the region. Chavez alerted that the Caribbean, Central America and South America need to strengthen regional integration mechanisms before entering into a free trade zone with North America.
During his visit, he spoke of the possibility of installing a pipeline linking Venezuela, Trinidad & Tobago, with the eastern Caribbean islands, Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
He also spoke that a Venezuelan mission had come to carry out a feasibility study regarding the installation of two petroleum refineries, one in Monte Cristi, on the northwestern coast of the DR. This would be a US$2,000 million project and would have capacity to refine 200,000 barrels of petroleum a day for 15 years, reported the Listin Diario.
Chavez also expressed his support to the DR hosting the Pan American Games in 2003 and committed to expedite the disbursement of US$26.5 million soft loan for the construction and repair of sports venues necessary for the Games.
In a joint statement, both Presidents also agreed to promote cooperation between both countries to fight corruption and drug trafficking. The Venezuelan government announced the opening of a regional trade office in Santo Domingo.
Chavez was the losing pitcher, in the softball game that matched the Venezuelan President against Dominican President Hipolito Mejia. Both Presidents played one inning. The Dominican military won the game, defeating the Venezuelan military 13 to 3 runs.
Washington Post on DR ball playing
The Washington Post published an article on baseball and how it is part of Dominican culture in its Sunday, 11 March travel section. To prepare the article, the author visited several Dominican stadiums and Major League training centers during the past winter ball season. The article is online at http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33019-2001Mar7.html
Underdog leads vote for PLD secretary general
The Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) announced the first results of the vote for secretary general at 7:30 pm Sunday, 11 March. This showed Reynaldo Pared Perez led with 48.95% of the vote, followed by Alejandrina German with 30% and present secretary general, Jose Tomas Perez with 18%. 40% of the votes had been counted. The party announced results would be in today. A 50%+1 vote is needed to win in a first round. If this is not accomplished, the first two contenders will go to a second round.
Cable TV service affected
Telecable Nacional suspects the sabotage of four optic fiber lines located at the intersection of Abraham Lincoln Ave. and Jose Amato Soler street in Santo Domingo. The cutting of the lines affected service in Naco, Piantini, Paraiso, Julieta, Serallés, El Millón, eastern side of Santo Domingo. The failure of service occurred around 3:30 pm on Saturday, 10 March. Telecommunications service of Orange, Centennial, Turitel was affected, as well as that of several UHF channels.
Company technicians were working to restore service.
Firemen in good shape, at last
After years of indigence, the Santo Domingo fire corps now boasts 45 fire trucks, five 4,000-gallon water tankers, and even a modern truck with a computerized ladder that can reach 10 floors, among other equipment. General Luis Cos Garrido spoke at the 73rd anniversary of the corps, when the Jose Oliva Fire Station was reopened at John F. Kennedy Avenue. The firecorps new equipment was received in the past administration. Cos also expressed his appreciation for support from the municipal goverment of Santo Domingo.
No to constitutional reform, says El Caribe newspaper
El Caribe newspaper editorializes today on three reasons why Dominican society should reject the constitutional reform efforts of Congress. The newspaper states:
1) The bill to the effect violates the Constitution because it does not justify the need for the reform.
2) Among the articles up for reform are several that modify the term of congressmen. This makes it evident that the intention of the legislators is to remain in office when their terms end in 2002.
3) Senators and deputies of the PRD would ally with their colleagues of the PRSC and PLD to achieve the objective of extending their terms.
On the editorial page of today, the director of the Foundation of Institutionality and Justice, Francisco Dominguez Brito calls the constitution reform bill "a counter-reform." He says that it is a coup to democracy. He alerts it hides the intention of appointing a new Supreme Court of Justice and other judges so that the new judges respond to the political interest of the congressmen.
The bill has met with resistance because of its untimeliness. Most sectors feel that Congress should dedicate its attention to more pressing matters that are sitting in the legislature.
Monetary Junta to assume tender for Rosario Mining
President Hipolito Mejia has extended the date for the Rosario Mining sulphide concession to 31 July. Earlier, the date had been January, later postponed to March and now to July. Companies that have shown an interest so far are: Placer Dome Inc., MIM Holdings Limited, Goldfields Exploration, Inc., Newmont Gold Company, Mali Mining Company, Minera Mount ISA Panama, Compañia Minera Peñoles, S.A., Minera Hispaniola. The government announced that the Monetary Junta will assume a leading role in the implementation of the tender. The Central Bank is the majority owner of the shares of the mine. Its exploitation is a national priority due to the high level of contamination that is occurring in the Cotuí area due to the lack of activity. The Director of Mining Pedro Vasquez and the director of the Unidad Corporativa Minera Miguel Peña told El Siglo newspaper that companies will also be chosen to exploit other mining reserves located in Sanchez Ramirez, Dajabon, Elias Piña and Santiago Rodriguez provinces.
Toll booth money for road upkeep and construction?
President Mejia sent to the Senate a contract for the leading of the tollbooths at the North and Southern exits of Santo Domingo. The contract establishes that the firm Consorcio Vial Dominicano (reportedly owned by a Colombian) would build, repair and maintain the highways leading from San Cristobal, Haina and Duarte Highway. Contract establishes a commitment of US$11 million for 20 years.
Inflation at 0.14% in February
The Central Bank reported that February inflation was 0.14%, this is for a 2.64% inflation so far this year. The annualized inflation rate (February 2000 to February 2001) is 11.5%, according to the Department of National Accounts and Economic Statistics of the Central Bank.
Power distributors seek help of churches
El Siglo reports that the Spanish power distributors Edenorte and Edesur have approached the Catholic Church for support in establishing mechanisms to bill users in slum areas. Traditionally, residents in slum areas illegally connect themselves to power lines and have never paid for power. The companies are seeking support to increase their revenues.
Electronic cheat sheets
The Listin Diario newspaper carries a front page story on the electronic cheat sheets now in use in universities. Reportedly, students are using their electronic agendas, calculators, beepers and hands free mobile phones to improve their grades on tests.
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