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Daily News - 3 May 2001
Negotiating payment terms to continue public works
Minister of Public Works Miguel Vargas Maldonado said RD$400 million are needed to finish the Autovia del Este, the express highway that will expedite traffic between Santo Domingo and the East. He said four months time is needed to complete it. As reported in the Listin Diario, RD$400 million is owed to the contractors for past work and work still pending. The Minister says his department is concluding payment agreements with the contractors so that the works can continue.
He said the new bridge parallel to Duarte Bridge in Santo Domingo will be finished by September. And the Avenida Circunvalacion through San Pedro de Macoris will be finished in three months. Likewise a solution is sought to enable the prompt completion of the new bridge over Rio Higuamo, in the East.
He also announced that the Santiago-Navarette highway expansion could be completed in October.
The Ministry announced the completion of the Cruce El Pintado-Higuey (28.4 Km.) in the East, the Rio Soco Bridge in El Seibo and the Rio Yonú Bridge at Km. 28 of the Higuey-Nisibon-Miches highway.
Jarabacoa groups will oppose dam construction
Minister of Environment Frank Moya Pons told El Caribe newspaper that construction cannot begin on the Manabao-Bejucal dam in the province of La Vega until the Environment Ministry grants a license to the builders, under Law 64-00. He said that his department has just received the environmental impact study carried out by the builders and will issue an opinion in due time.
President Hipolito Mejia had announced that the project would start this month. Community, environmental and ecotourism businesses in La Vega oppose the dam.
President Mejia himself had at first rejected the plan but changed his mind.
The project was rejected during the Balaguer administration in 1986 on grounds that it was economically and environmentally unsustainable.
Less than a month after taking office, President Mejia issued Decree 689-00 declaring the project of national interest.
The electricity producing dam is said to cost around RD$10,000 million and will affect 26 kilometers of virgin mountain terrain. For more on the dam, see http://www.dr1.com/daily/news050201.shtml
President Hipolito Mejia accepts survey results
Hoy newspaper reporters asked President Mejia his opinion on the negative perception of most Dominicans regarding his government (see http://www.dr1.com/daily/news050201.shtml). "Those are momentary attitudes which have to be respected," said the statesman. When asked what could be done to vary the negative perception, President Mejia responded, "Well, I hope you will change the government at the end of this period." By Constitution, President Mejia cannot run for re-election. His term continues for another 3+ years.
What Dominicans most want from government
The Hamilton-Beattie survey commissioned by Hoy newspaper shows that what Dominicans want most from government is jobs, a decline in the cost of essential products and increased government efforts to fight poverty. Other priorities are an improvement of the farming sector, hospitals and health services, reduced blackouts, better public schools, security, and intensifying the fight against drug addiction, as well as an improvement in the transport system.
Padre Billini hospital plight
Hoy newspaper's editorial takes the side of Padre Billini Hospital which has requested supplies from the state medical supply department, Promese. The hospital needs the supplies to treat 45 patients who undergo hemodialysis at the hospital. The newspaper highlights that Promese's capacity to provide the needed supplies was curtailed when the department increased its payroll, leaving it without enough funds to purchase normal levels of supplies and medicines for the public hospitals.
Dr. Eric Baez Ortiz criticized the situation in Hoy newspaper, urging a prompt solution. The newspaper today publishes that Dr. Baez quotes Dr. Francisco Benoit, director of Promese, telling him that he would not provide the supplies "even if all the patients die."
President Hipolito Mejia responds to Senator Helms
President Hipolito Mejia responded to a letter from US Senator Jesse Helms in which the latter defends the interests of his constituents and criticizes the new DR taxes, while questioning the investment climate in the DR. When journalists asked President Mejia for an opinion on the letter, he said that "the Dominican Republic makes decisions in its national interest, just as they (US lawmakers) make decisions based on their interests, that is why we are sovereign."
Helms is defending CSX World Terminals' interest in winning an extension on its contract to operate the western side of Haina Port until the Caucedo Port is completed.
The Dominican Port Authority recently awarded the concession to a group of competing shipping companies (HIT).
The Press Department of the National Palace issued a statement saying "the Dominican government has proven that it complies with its responsibilities within the attributes of the Constitution and Dominican laws. It also respects the international community's judicial norms."
Economist urges renegotiating excessive generator profits
Economist Andy Dauhajre insists that the government renegotiate contracts with the power generators instead of penalizing consumers for the excessive cost the government pays for this power. Dauhajre said there are generators that are billing the CDE at 17 and 18 cents to the dollar, when the norm in Latin America is 10 cents. The government has announced it will increase billing to consumers in order to be able to pay the power companies. "My suggestion is that the government sit down to talk with the generators with openness and transparency, but with independence and courage, and that those chosen to do the negotiating not have ties with the power companies," said the outspoken economist.
The abusive contracts with several private generators were negotiated during the Balaguer administration and were given to those who were successful at exercising political influence.
Opposition party takes 1.5% tax to court
The Partido de la Liberacion Dominicana (PLD) has filed a case in the Supreme Court against the government for violating the Constitution. The opposition political party says that the 1.5% minimum tax on business income of companies with revenues of more than RD$6 million a year violates the Constitution. Law 12-01 of 17 January 2001 establishes that businesses with revenues of RD$6 million or more a year need to make monthly payments of 1.5% on their income. The money will be deducted from their income tax payment at year's end. Nevertheless, if their tax payment is less than the 1.5% of gross income, the money will not be returned. Companies with revenues of less than RD$6 million a year are taxed at a lower percentage every three months, but are also obliged by the tax department to make the minimum payments regardless of whether they make a profit or not at year's end.
Dutch firms show an interest in port concession
Three Dutch firms have shown an interest in operating Haina Port: Curacao Ports Authority, Moerdijk International Port and Port of Rotterdam, as reported in the Listin Diario today. They have sent a letter to President Mejia requesting that their proposals be heard.
The Listin Diario also reports on the start of a major renovation project at Haina port, the country's leading sea port. Reportedy, the Dominican Port Authority granted a 10 year concession to Haina International Terminal that commits to invest RD$421 million in the port's renovation.
Air Jamaica Express links DR and Montego Bay
Air Jamaica began its operations to the DR yesterday with an inaugural flight from Montego Bay. Paul Monreira, president of the airline, announced the flight offers travelers connections to New York, Newark, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Miami, Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale. The airline also flies to Cuba, Gran Cayman, Nassau, Canada and Europe. Air Jamaica Express will fly daily (with the exception of Thursday) directly to Santo Domingo from the Air Jamaica hub in Montego Bay. The airline also has a strategic alliance with Delta Air Lines. Minister of Tourism Ramon Alfredo Bordas says the flight is part of the Mejia administration's open skies policy.
Delta studies DR market
A spokesperson for Delta Air Lines said that it is not true that the airline will fly to the Dominican Republic in November, as announced by Minister of Tourism Ramon Alfredo Bordas and reported in El Caribe yesterday. Christine Frias says that the airline continues to study the market.
Two French tourists stab themselves
French tourists Cathy Michiline Deunne and Renaud Jean Claude Dariel, 20 and 24 years old, lost their airline tickets and did not have money to return to France. El Caribe newspaper says they stabbed themselves in a bathroom at Las Americas International Airport on Tuesday to call attention to their plight. Reportedly, they were unsuccessful when they requested financial help from the Embassy of France and Air France. They are hospitalized in the Dario Contreras Hospital. Cathy Michiline Deunne is reportedly in intensive care.
Finally, Presidente Beer announces its Festival
Presidente Beer executives announced yesterday the Presidente Latin Music Festival will take place 1,2,3 June at the Olympic Stadium of the Juan Pablo Daurte Olympic Center. The stars of the show will be:
Friday, 1 June: Ciudad de Angeles, Ricardo Arjona, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Alejandro Sanz.
Saturday, 2 June: Azul Azul, Los Toros Band, Maná and Alejandro Fernandez.
Sunday, 3 June: Zacarias Ferreira, MDO, Eddy Herrera, Los Hermanos Rosario, Marc Anthony.
The MCs for the ceremony will be Tania Baez and impressionist Julio Sabala.
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