As of midnight tonight, the prices of fuel in the DR will reach the highest levels in history after a considerable increase that will be applied by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Minister Francisco Javier Castillo did not disclose what the new prices would be but asked the population for understanding in this case. Prices of fuel in the DR are revised every Friday and become effective at midnight. The cost of crude oil on the international market and the foreign exchange rate are the factors considered to establish the retail price of regular and premium gasoline, diesel, and LPG.
A strict energy saving plan, which includes restrictions on the circulation of vehicles, will come into effect next Monday and will be severe due to the catastrophic situation caused worldwide by the increase in the price of petroleum, as announced yesterday by the National Commission on Energy. A report in Diario Libre says that the plan includes the regulation of vehicular circulation, both public and private, according to license plate numbers. Wednesdays, circulation will be limited to vehicles ending in even numbers whereas Thursdays it will be limited to those ending in odd numbers. Several days ago it was announced that public "concho" cars would be working inter-daily. Details of vehicles excluded from this measure and other information will be informed on Monday during a press conference. The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Francisco Javier Catillo, said that some vehicles, such as buses, will be excluded. El Caribe reports that President Leonel Fernandez will meet with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Jamaica next week to discuss the application of the Petro-Caribbean agreement and within a month with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, with the intention of finding a solution to the fuel crisis. Javier Castillo informed that the circulation restriction according to the number of the vehicle's license plate is applicable to all types of vehicles and exceptions will be announced on Monday. It is meant to save fuel and foreign exchange. Listin Diario reports that the institutions that will be responsible for the application of the new regulation will be disclosed on Monday. Javier Castillo spoke in the company of the Executive Director of the National Energy Commission, Ruben Montas, and the government spokesman, Roberto Rodriguez Marchena. He warned that authorities will close down gas stations that incur in dishonest or discriminatory practices to speculate with fuel. He also said that the crisis in the US in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina will cause the prices of petroleum derivates to reach historic heights in the DR.
According to Central Bank statistics, the average exchange rates for the purchase and sale of US dollars has decreased over 61% and 60% respectively, during the past 15 months, since May 2004. A report in El Caribe states that at the end of the election month last year, the average rates of the US currency at commercial banks were RD$47.20 for purchase and RD$47.94 for sale whereas at the end of August 2005 they were RD$29.01 and RD$29.19, representing a drop in the purchase rate of RD$18.19 (61.46%) and in the sales rate of RD$18.75 (60.88%). The average rates for purchase and sale at exchange agents were RD$47.44 and RD$47.92 whereas at the end of August 2005 they were RD$29.07 and RD$29.14, representing a drop in the purchase and sales rates of RD$18.37 (61.28%) and RD$18.78 (60.18%), respectively. Yesterday, the Press Director of the Presidential Palace, Rafael Nunez, said that the exchange rate would not change due to unrest of the exchange market and stated that President Fernandez's economic policy is towards stability and the maintenance of the value of the Dominican currency with regards to the US dollar. For the past 15 months the stability of the exchange rate has kept variations at less than RD$1.00. Listin Diario reports that yesterday commercial banks continued to offer the US dollar at RD$30 to US$1.00, whereas some exchange agents were selling at RD$29.85. Last week the exchange rate crossed the RD$29.00 barrier after a period of stability of several months. The unrest generated by the unexpected increase in the exchange rate caused the government to guarantee its stability. According to Clave Digital, Central Bank authorities are ready to send a considerable amount of the US currency to the exchange market in case it continues to increase in price. Rafael Nunez assured economic sectors that they should not worry.
The Dominican consul in New Orleans, Joaquin Balaguer, informed that he is constantly in contact with the Federal Emergency Administration in the US to obtain information about Dominicans residing in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, estimated at 600 persons. Clave Digital reports that the diplomat has established a temporary seat of the consulate in Houston as the area where the consulate was located in New Orleans was affected by the storm. The phone number at the temporary location is 281-759-0008 for the use of relatives of Dominicans living in New Orleans and the victims themselves. The General Consulate in New Orleans has express instructions of the Minister of Foreign Relations, Carlos Morales Troncoso, to aid Dominicans affected by the storm if they require it.
A trade mission from South Africa will be visiting from 12 to 15 September. The mission seeks to explore the possibilities of doing business here. The mission of 26 businessmen is head by Sandile Nogxina, director of the Department of Energy and Mines, and Louis Peinaar, counselor of the South African embassy for the Dominican Republic. Coming on the mission are businessmen of the mining, energy, shipping, farming, wine producing and financial sectors of South Africa. The visit is organized by the Roundtable of Commonwealth Countries in the Dominican Republic.
For more information, write to cwrd@correo.tricom.net
The Chiefs of Police of the DR and Haiti, Bernardo Santana Paez and Mario Anderson, met yesterday in Jimani where they talked about crime in both nations. According to Diario Libre, they agreed to look for criminals that are wanted by each country that may have escaped by crossing the border. They also agreed to cooperate in preventing the smuggling of drugs, weapons, commodities and stolen vehicles through the border. Also present in the meeting, which was coordinated by the Dominican Consul in Port-au-Prince Carlos Castillo, were the Haitian Minister of Public Security, David Vacile and Rafael Ramirez Ferrera of the J-2 Department of the Dominican Armed Forces.
The US government decided to continue with its plan to require passports, or other secure documents, of travelers from Canada, Mexico and other ally nations, in order to enter the country. The Departments of State and Homeland Security said they expect to officially adopt the new policy - which has generated complaints of travelers from the affected countries, and even from President George W. Bush - before the end of the year. The Department of Homeland Security explains in its website www.dhs.gov that it is exploring the use of biometric technology to create an alternative identification system for travelers and the government of Canada is collaborating with Washington in developing a new document of massive use that could be used on both sides of their common border.
The government of South Korea is interested in implementing important cooperation and investment projects in the DR and other Latin American countries, mainly in the field of information technology, where this nation has reached extraordinary advancement. Listin Diario reports that this was informed by the general director of the Latin American and Caribbean Department in South Korea, Hwang Eui-Seung, who called upon the governments of those nations to become interested in the projects. He said the resources are available and that the purpose of his country is to diversify investment of companies located in Central America, as well as to cooperate with non-traditional sectors. He stated there are South Korean companies established in Central America, and the Dominican Republic, and they want those governments to support the activities of the Korean companies. He complained that many Korean businessmen have to go through a lot of red tape that slows down their investments.
The Executive Director of Pro-Reforma and Technical Coordinator of the National Commission for Ethics and Prevention of Corruption, presented his resignation yesterday, based on disagreements with presidential decisions that he considers affect "institutionalism and non-negotiable principles". Dr. Gustavo Montalvo, a PLD leader since the times of Juan Bosch, also resigned as National Coordinator of the Project for the Modernization and Reform of the Presidency and Liaison of the Technical Secretariat with the National Competitiveness Council. In his resignation letter he asks his fellow workers to continue struggling for "a better country, where institutionalism, principles, and democratic values reign". His withdrawal from the government is considered a hard blow for officials committed to the fight against corruption. Clave Digital found out that the contradiction between Montalvo and the government has to do with public tenders held to choose service providers to the government which were not done with the transparency required by Montalvo.
The National Competitiveness Council resolved to strengthen the national strategy and create a diagnosis to improve the business climate. According to Diario Libre, the strategy will also strengthen competitiveness of the productive sector, tackle the challenges of the commercial opening and execute Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) projects.
International performers scheduled for the 2005 Presidente Latin Music Festival are Julieta Venegas, Diego Torres, Marc Anthony, David Bisbal, Chayanne, Franco De Vita and Daddy Yankee whereas local performers include Negros, Frank Reyes, Eddy Herrera, Krisspy and a special combined performance by Sergio Vargas, Los Rosario, Los Toros Band and Rubby. El Caribe reports that this line-up is considered a good sample of the best of latin music. But there will be other surprises. Unconfirmed is the possible presence onstage of JLo accompanying her husband Marc Anthony. Venegas, Torres, De Vita, Bisbal and Daddy Yankee are first-timers in the Festival. So are Negros, Reyes, Krisspy and Rubby. Presenters will be Tania Baez, Jochy Santos, Luis Manuel Aguilo and Milagros German. Presentations are scheduled for 14 to 16 October beginning at 6:00 pm each night at the Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo.
The Brazilian team erased the Dominican team's dream of going to the 2006 World Basketball Championship after beating them 80-72. According to El Caribe, the DR will have to wait another four years to try to make it to a World Championship it has not participated in since 1978. In other results, Panama beat Puerto Rico 74-55, US beat Uruguay 91-77, and Argentina beat Venezuela 78-60. Argentina is the only country in the Americas that has classified for the World Championship.
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