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Daily News - 8 May 2001
RD$2,400 million for public transport
The government announced the start in the next 15-20 days of a plan whereby owners of transport vehicles that are affiliated to unions may purchase new vehicles. The Plan Renove is a RD$2,400 million financing for this sector. The plan will benefit the members of the powerful syndicates that will be given access to purchasing attractively priced vehicles at preferential interest rates. As announced, a first phase calls for the purchase of 435 buses, 1,500 minibuses and 3,500 microbuses, 100 mountain vehicles and 50 trucks. Onesimo Gonzalez, director of the Santo Domingo Metropolitan Transport Authority made the announcement after meeting with President Hipolito Mejia, as reported in El Siglo newspaper. 
Five public hospitals affected by construction delays
El Siglo reports that the expansion and reconstruction of five public hospitals has been paralyzed for a year, due to arrears in the payment to contractors of around RD$78 million. This puts at risk expensive equipment that is warehoused in the halls of the hospitals. The delays affect renovations at the Dario Contreras Luis Eduardo Aybar, Maternidad San Lorenzo de los Mina, Rodolfo de la Cruz Lora and the Herrera Hospital in Santo Domingo. President Hipolito Mejia had promised, shortly after being sowrn in on 16 August 2000, that he would finish these hospitals during the first 100 days of his government. 
Higuamo bridge construction advances
Romano Massei, of the contractor firm Consorcio Federici, Mera, Muñoz y Fondeur, said that the bridge over the Rio Higuamo would be completed on time by August 2002. He said that the RD$580 million bridge is 390 meters long, or about the same size as the Duarte Bridge over Rio Ozama in Santo Domingo. 
Power bills to go up 20% as of July
El Siglo newspaper says that those wo consume more than 1,500 kilowatts a month will see increases in their billings of around 20% as of their July bills. The government has authorized that the power distributors can make automatic rate adjustments to reflect the increases in the cost of fuel. El Siglo publishes a chart of the Superintendency of Electricity that estimates that per month users that run an air conditioner eight hours a day will pay for this about RD$600, operating of a refrigerator -24 hours a day costs RD$121, water heaterl-2 hours a day RD$121. 
Unlikelihood of 6.5% annual growth
El Siglo newspaper's Victor Manuel Tejada reports that it is almost impossible that the Dominican economy will meet the year's end forecast of 6.5% growth. Economists Andres Dauhajre, Isidoro Santana, alfonso Abreu Collado and Pedro Silverio now say that in the best of scenarios the GDP could increase between 4 and 5%. 
How the possible presidential candidates are doing
Hoy newspaper's Hamilton poll focuses on the leading presidential candidates for the 2004 election date and how their percentage of the April poll has varied in regards to how they placed in the earlier November 2000 poll. 
PRD: Vice President-Minister of Education Milagros Ortiz Bosch 32% (36%); Minister of Interior & Police Rafael Suberví 17% (17%); Hatuey de Camps 14% (17%); Emmanuel Esquea 14% (9%).
PLD: Former President Leonel Fernandez 35% (30%); Former Vice President Jaime David Fernandez 27% (33%), former PLD presidential candidate Danilo Medina 17% (15%). 
PRSC: Former Vice President Jacinto Peynado 47% (44%); former Vice President Carlos Morales 23% (27%), Quique Antun 17% (14%). 
The same poll showed that the PRD and the PRSC declined 6 and 5 points respectively in the preference of Dominicans, while the PLD increased four points. Dominicans of voting age 40% favor the PRD, 22% PLD and 20% favor the PRSC. 
Conde denies possible failures of Duarte Bridge
Samuel Conde of Consortium Conde-Mouchel, contractor of the Puente Juan Pablo Duarte, said that that structure offers no danger to those using it. He said the bridge has been duely repaired and the strengthening phase is completed 50%. Minister of Public Works Miguel Vargas said he had no comments to make on former Minister of Public Works Jaime Duran's alert that the bridge could collapse. Conde said that the delays in the completion of the project are due to the delays in the government making payments on the contracted works. 
Bails for builders of Palacio del Cine
The engineer and head of the construction, Horacio Alvarez and Hugo Castillo and Manuel Emilio Rosario of the Palacio del Cine in Santiago were released after posting RD$25 million and RD$5 million bails. The owner of the building, Gustavo Turull is excluded from the penal case. It is expected that he will face several civil suits, regarding his responsibility in the collapse of the building in which seven people died. 
Contraband affects whisky importers
The Association of Producers of Foreign Spirits (Aprobex) announced a 11% reduction on their prices to fight contraband that surged after the government increases taxes on imported spirits to 172% in January. The association said that a bottle of Scotch that was selling for RD$250 will now retail for RD$225. The association explained their sales had dropped 50% after the implementation of the new tax. 
Puerto Plata Jazz Festival announced
The organizing committee of the Third Puerto Plata Jazz Festival annouced the stars of the trumpets, saxophones, piano, bass and percussion show in a press conference yesterday. The Jazz Festival will take place 4, 5 and 6 October in Playa Dorada, Sosua and Cabarete tourism destinations in the province of Puerto Plata. 
The schedule for the festival is as follows:
Thursday, 8 pm, 4 October, Playa Dorada: Mann Oquendo & Libre, Rene Marie, and a Dominican band. 
Friday, 8 pm, 5 October, Amphitheatro Areito, Hotel Casa marina Reef Resort: Cuban trumpeteer Arturo Sandoval, 
Saturday, 4 pm, 6 October, Cabarete: Natti Love Joys from Jamaica, Weson from Jamaica and a Dominican band. 
Miss Dominican Republic is among favorites in Miss Universe
El Siglo newspaper reports that Miss Dominican Republic, Claudia Cruz could place among the 10 finalists of the Miss Unvierse pageant taking place in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Other favorites are the representatives of Puerto Rico, Spain, Greece, Chile, Venezuela, Mexico, Bolivia, US, Nigeria, South Africa, India and the Philippines. The jury is made up by singer Ednita Nazario, journalists Patricia de la Torre and Betty Cortina, Bruno del Ganado, Olga Liriano, Adam Glassman, Alex Lasky and Hank Cohen. 
For a photo of Miss Cruz, see http://www.elsiglo.net/vivir/8m/3.htm
The newspaper today also publishes an update on another Miss Dominican Republic pageant scheduled for 21 May at the National Theater. For photos of some of the contenders, see http://www.elsiglo.net/vivir/8m/2.htm
Athlete of the Year
Judo athlete Jose Miguel Boissar was chosen Athlete of the Year by the Dominican Olympic Committee. This was announced during the Dominican Olympic Committee dinner held yesterday at the Hotel Jaragua. Boissar, a native of San Cristobal, won the distinction for achieving 15 medals in international competitions. He received the distinction from President Hipolito Mejia. E. Leon Jimenes, the holding company of Presidente Beer and Marlboro cigarettes, awarded him a RD$50,000 check.
Other best athletes of the year in the different sports are: 
Chess: Ana Esther Garcia, Ramon Mateo. Francisco Rodriguez (coach).
Track & Field: Felix Sanchez, Mary Cedeño. Mariano Cedeño (coach)
Badminton: Jaime Jont and Yany Zorrilla. Fausto Jon Núñez (coach)
Basketball: Jack Michael Martinez, Teresa Duran. Virgilio Travieso (coach)
Handball: Antonio Sosa, Grisleydi Hernandez. Renan Randolfo Cuevas (coach)
Baseball: Pedro Reynoso. Freddy Torribio (coach).
Bowling: Rolando Antonio Sebelen, Aumy Guerra. Gregory Morin (coach)
Boxing: Geovanny Lorenzo. Victor Pascual (coach)
Cycling: Wendy Cruz, Juan Fernandez. Luis Lopez (coach)
Equestrian: Manuel Bancalari, Ivonne Losos de Muñîz. Imgard Despradel (coach)
Soccer: Carlos Reyes Contreras. Fortunato Quispe Mendoza (coach)
Gymnastics: Jonathan Feliz, Luisa Miliano. Soto Rodriguez (coach)
Judo: Jose Miguel Boissar, Jarely Suero. Juan E. Chalas (coach)
Karate: Sterling Felix, Katty Acevedo. Antonio Volquez (coach)
Wrestling: Camelier Coast Calcaño, Milen Decena. Onesimo Rufino Gomez (coach)
Swimming: Guillermo Cabrera, Yudelkis Ramirez. Maritza Creus de Rodriguez (coach)
Weightlifting: Playter Reyes, Wanda Rijo. Felix Francisco Ogando (coach)
Racquetball: Simon Perdomo, Claudine Garcia. Andres Marranzini (coach)
Softball: Heriberto Doñe, Luisa Núñez. Hector Aceedo (coach)
Tae Kwon Do: July Gabriel Mercedes, Dinayuris Furcal. Osvaldo Garcia de la Cruz (coach).
Tennis: Juan Berrido, Glenys Cepeda. Jose Ravelo (coach)
Table tennis: Roberto Brito, Olga Vila. Julio Cross (coach)
Shooting: Manuel Figuereo, Yuberkis Espinal. Manuel Figuereo Feliz (coach)
Skeet: Felix Orlando Hermida
Archery: Carlos Cordero, Barbara Hernandez. Enrique Rodriguez (coach)
Triathlon: Erlin Garcia, Melissa Duran. Jose Antonio Frometa (coach)
Volleyball: Elvis Contreras, Francia Jackson. Jorge Perez Ventos (coach)
Sailing: Gabriel Alonzo. Jorge Abreu (coach).
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