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Daily News - 20 March 2001
Successful performance of the Dominican economy
Notwithstanding the rise in oil prices and restrictive monetary policy, economic activity in the DR grew 7.8% last year, reports the Central Bank. Thus the DR economy continues to be the fastest growing in the region. The Central Bank reports that year-end's inflation was 9.02%, primarily due to the higher cost of fuel. According to the report, the economy was buoyed primarily by growth in Communications (15.7%), Tourism (15.7%), Mining (9.2%), Manufacturing (9%), Construction (5.2%), Farming (5%), Government (4.3%), Finances (3.2%), Housing (2.3%. The Dominican economy has sustained an impressive growth rate in the past five years, reporting since 1996 levels of more than 7.2% as the cover of the report highlights. Growth rates in the past have been 1996 (7.2%), 1997 (8.3%), 1998 (7.3%), 1999 (8%), and 2000 (7.8%). The Central Bank has forecast a 6.5% growth rate for 2001. This forecasted reduced growth rate, still the highest in Latin America, is attributed to the local interest rates, burden of new taxes, depleting international reserves due to the high cost of oil, and government expenditures, and to the effects of the slowdown in the US economy. The US is the DR's main trading partner.
For more on the report, see
http://www.bancentral.gov.do/pubeco.html#anual
President Mejia rejects official intolerance to the press
President Hipolito Mejia is without doubt the most accessible to the press President the Dominican Republic has ever had. Indeed, the President is so accessible, it is rare that his cabinet ministers speak to the press so as not to be contradicted by the President. The President is also known for his spontaneous but cutting and many times insulting comments of which the press has gotten its share. Commenting on the "official intolerance" to the press in the DR, as reported by Rafael Molina Morillo, president of the Freedom of the Press Committee of the Interamerican Press Association during the mid-year meeting in Fortaleza, Brazil, President Mejia denied the charge. Instead, he described Molina Morillo as suffering from the "syndrome of the Trujillo Era." "I have been surprised, and now its only missing that you (the journalists) will want to govern me," he said as published in the Listin Diario. The IAPA denounced 14 cases of abuse to Dominican journalists, most on behalf of the security force of the President.
Drought to continue
The Weather Department reports that the drought that is affecting the country will continue. It alerted this situation will lead to more wildfires in the Cordillera Central mountain range.
Meanwhile, Institute of Potable Water (INAPA) and Santo Domingo Corporation of Water (CAASD) officials urged the population to not waste water. Engineer Julio Suero Marranzini says that the water supply in Santo Domingo has dropped 30%, from 400 million gallons a day to 280 million gallons. He said that studies have shown residents waste 58% of the water supply. The CAASD is about to install meters in order to make residents more aware of not leaving faucets turned on, leaking or wasting water in other ways.
Petroleum purchases to free exchange market
The Listin Diario newspaper reports that the Monetary Board would meet today to study no longer using Central Bank dollars for the purchase of petroleum and by products. This decision would have a major upward temporary impact on the free exchange market. The measure is seen as part of the monetary program of the Bank and would be implemented due to the low international reserves of the Central Bank. These have declined in the past two months to the point that the Central Bank had to appeal to a pool of private banks for a loan of US$130 million to meet interest and capital payments on the foreign debt.
Vertical integration of power a negative for consumer prices
El Caribe newspaper points out that the vertical integration of the generation and distribution of power in the DR is bad news for Dominican consumers. Energy Superintendent, Jose Ovalles says that the trend is for power distributors to continue to build generators so they can buy from home company affiliates. Alleging that they are not the same companies, Union Fenosa (Spain) and AES (US) companies are installing generators to produce power. Ovalles pointed out that this vertical integration is happening in violation to contractual commitments by the distributors. The contractual commitment established a 15% ceiling to their authorized generation capacity. Ovalles said that if the trend continues, nothing will stop the companies from reaching agreements among themselves and selling the kilowatt expensively at 14 cents, for example. He said that at present, the distributors are to blame for 66% of the blackouts that occur. Most of the blackouts are due to financial reasons affecting the profitability of the distributors, he explained. He said only 16% occur for generation problems and 18% due to transmission problems.
Koreans want to ensemble TVs here
Ambassador Jim Bae of South Korea announced that Korean investors are interested in assembling TVs and other appliances in the DR for export to Central America and the Caribbean. The Koreans seek to take advantage of the free trade agreements soon to go into effect. During the announcement of Expo Korea to open this Thursday, March 22 at the Museum of Dominican Man, the director of the Trade Office of South Korea in the DR, Kook Bo Yang told the press that growing economy and the investment climate are attractive to Korean investors. He commented that bilateral trade is now at US$200 million, with US$155 million of Korean merchandise imported in 2000, and US$45 million of Dominican exports to Korea. Two Korean brands are popular here, LG and Samsung. Expo Korea will last through Sunday, 25 March.
Tragedy of Dominican boat people
The local press has been full of front-page headlines on the tragic ending of two boat trips with travelers clandestinely headed for US territory. One boat departed from La Romana along the southeast coast, and sunk off the coast of Haiti with 60 persons on board, among Haitians and Dominicans. Another sunk off the coast of St. Martin.
Only two Dominicans survived each of the trips.
News reports say the survivor, Carlos Pinales told Cuban physicians that assisted him at a Cuban doctor-run clinic in northern Haiti that the survivors ate human flesh in their desperation. Most of those who died off the coast of Haiti were buried there given the state of decomposition of the bodies.
Press reports also reveal that the delays in bringing the corpses back from St. Martin is that several of these have not been identified as of Dominican nationality. Alejandro Ayuso, deputy minister of the Ministry of Foreign Relations in charge of consular affairs, said that the nationality must be established prior to transporting a dead body.
Between the two trips, some 64 Dominicans are reported missing or dead.
Commenting on the plight of the Dominicans, President Mejia admitted that pessimism over economic improvements at home be the main reason behind the risk ventures. This motivates them to want to join relatives and friends that are living abroad. He said he is optimistic notable short and medium term economic and social improvements are forthcoming.
Protest for murder of Haitian merchants impedes market day
A tense situation prevailed at the frontier between Quanaminthe, Haiti and Dajabon in the DR. Haitians protested the murder of a Haitian merchant by a Dominican military and the Haitian police impeded Haitians from traveling to Dajabon for market day. The Haitians demanded that the arrested military accused of the death of Elies Jean Batiste be subject to civil court and not a military court.
The circumstances of his death have not been explained. Dominican authorities head by Dajabon province Governor Caciano Lora and Fourth Brigade of the Army General Cesar Soto Nicasio met to analyze the situation. Both Governor Caciano Lora and General Soto Nicasio ensured that there would be justice. General Soto said that his superior, Minister of the Armed Forces Major General Jose Miguel Soto Jimenez gave precise instructions to take the investigations to the end so that justice prevail.
Tender for Pan Am Games sports venues
The Ministry of Public Works is inviting companies to participate in the tender to be held for the construction of the weightlifting, tennis, table tennis, badminton, hockey, handball, gymnastics, archery, soccer, equestrian, sailing, rowing, shooting venues to be built for the Games. Those interested in participating need to purchase the tender documents available at the Ministry. For more information contact the Ministry at 565-2811 Ext. 5069. The deadlines range from 22 March to 19 April.
Dolphins unlikely to play pro ball this year
Manuel Antun, president of the Estrellas Orientales, one of the teams that play in the Dominican Professional Winter Ball Baseball Championship, said that it is not true that the Dominican Professional Baseball League has accepted the Puerto Plata Dolphins team to play in this year's championship that starts in October. He says no new team can be admitted without a feasibility study, and this has not been carried out.
Daniel Aquino, spokesman for the Escogido, said that the press misinterpreted Minister of Sports Cesar Cedeño's comments. He said that for the Dolphins to be admitted, an eighth team needs to be admitted. It is speculated that this could be the Cafetaleros of Baní, a possible southwestern franchise. News commentator Rafael Calderon of El Siglo, says, "I think it would be easier to thread a needle with an elephant than for the Dolphins and the Cafetaleros to play in the 2001-2002 season."
Best athletes of the year
Hoy newspaper publishes the list of Best Athletes of the Year as voted by sports writer members of the Asociación de Cronistas Deportivos de Santo Domingo. The athletes were honored in a ceremony sponsored last night at the Hotel Jaragua by Cerveza Presidente beer. Pedro Martinez was voted the Professional Athlete of the Year and hurdler Felix Sanchez was voted the Amateur Athlete of the Year.
The list of best athletes is the following:
Chess: Ramon Mateo, Ana Esther Garcia.
Track & Field: Felix Sanchez, Mary Mercedes
Archery: Carlos Jose Cordero, Barbara Hernandez
Car Racing: Tony Canahuate
Basketball: Jack Michael martinez, Teresa Duran
Handball: Antonio Sosa, Grisleydi Hernandez
Baseball Major League: Pedro Martinez
Baseball Professional Dominican League: Miguel Tejada
Amateur Baseball: Pedro Reynoso
Amateur Boxing: Yovanny Lorenzo
Professional Boxing: Agapito Sanchez
Bowling: Rolando Sebelen, Aumi Guerra
Cycling: Wendy Cruz, Juana Fernandez
Equestrian: Manuel Bancalari
Soccer: Carlos Reyes, Angela Liriano
Gymnastics: Johnathan Vargas, Luisa Miliano
Golf: Francisco Santoni, Fionna Wood
Horse racing (Jockey of the Year): Anisette de Leon
Judo: Jose Miguel Boissard, Yarelys Suero
Karate: Sterling Felix, Katty Acevedo
Weightlifting: Playter Reyes, Wanda Rijo
Amateur Wrestling: Angelo Brea, Camalier Coats, Maylen Decena
Motorcycling: Aris Azcona
Motorcross: Franklin Nogueras
Swimming: Guillermo Cabrera, Yubelkis Ramirez
Polo: Engelberto Maldonado
Tae Kwon Do: Kichel Arias, Dinangelis Fulcar
Table Tennis: Roberto Brito, Olga Vila
Trap shooting: Felix Hermida
Precision Shooting: Manuel Feliz, Yubelkis Espinal
Triathlon: Erlin Garcia, Melissa Duran
Softball: Heriberto Doñe, Luisa Núñez
Volleyball: Elvis Contreras, Francia Jackson
Sailing: Gabriel Alonzo
Tennis: Johnny Berrido, Glennys Cepeda
Racquetball: Simon Perdomo, Claudine Garcia
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