Lawmakers from the three main political parties represented in the Chamber of Deputies have agreed to ratify the Dominican Republic - Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) in today's session, but are recommending that the government present the tax reform and compensatory measures bills to Congress as soon as possible. The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco, said that the bill would not be sent to public hearings as it must be approved without modifications.
President Leonel Fernandez is traveling to Kingston, Jamaica today to attend a meeting of the Petro-Caribbean agreement member countries, and also to finalize details about petroleum supply with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The President, who will be back later today, will be accompanied by a small delegation composed of the Secretary of the Presidency, Danilo Medina, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Francisco Javier Castillo, and Minister without Portfolio, Miguel Mejia. The Presidential Press Department said there may be a private meeting between the two Presidents.
The Ministry of Foreign Relations is investigating the Dominican Ambassador to Haiti for having received a personal check from the government of Haiti for US$48,000 intended for the promotion of a private activity in the DR. However, the diplomat acknowledges receiving only US$25,000. He insisted that a foundation of which he is head, the Science and Art Foundation, recently held a meeting with a group of Haitian civil society leaders, and the money he received was to pay for the participants' accommodation. He admitted it was not the most adequate procedure but he accepted the personal check as there wasn't sufficient time to write it out in favor of the Foundation. Ambassador Jose Serrulle Ramia had accepted the check from the Prime Minister of Haiti, Gerard Latortue, the check to finance a meeting with political leaders and Haitian NGOs in San Francisco de Macoris. A Ministry official stated that if a diplomat received personal funds from a government other than his own, it is a violation of the Vienna Convention. Sources close to Serrulle said that the Ministry had been informed about the check and had not objected to its delivery.
Today the Federal Court of the Southern District of New York will continue the trial against former army captain Quirino Ernesto Paulino Castillo and his associates Luis Eduardo Rodriguez Cordero, Vladimir Garcia, Fatima Henriquez and five other people who face charges of conspiracy for drug trafficking and money laundering. The process includes twins Luis David and Jean Paul Ulloa, Juan Cruz Crisostomo, Richard Mejia Pena, and Jose Ortega de Leon (Chino). All except Fatima, Vladimir, and Eduardo were arrested in the DR and extradited either with their consent or by the order of the Supreme Court of Justice. They are being held in a maximum security prison on 150 Park Row, Manhattan, near Chinatown.
The government postponed yesterday the announcement of a series of measures within the plan to save fuel that is due to be implemented in the forthcoming days, until President Leonel Fernandez returns from Kingston, Jamaica, where he is attending a meeting with Latin American and Caribbean heads of state. Presidential Press Director Rafael Nunez announced that the measures would be re-evaluated after the President returns to the country, depending on the outcome of talks with Venezuelan officials, possibly including President Hugo Chavez. There is a rumor that the circulation restriction for vehicles according to the license plate number on Wednesdays and Thursdays that was announced by Minister of Industry and Commerce Francisco Javier Garcia, might be rethought.
Several members of the National Ethics Commission have sent a letter to President Leonel Fernandez asking for an explanation about the resignation of Gustavo Montalvo, who was the coordinator of that institution’s Technical Unit, as reported in Listin Diario. Dr. Octavio Lister, a member of the Technical Unit, said the decision had been made at a meeting held at the Presidential Palace, and in the letter sent to the President the Unit members expressed their concern about Montalvo’s resignation. Lister, who is the Director of the Corruption Prevention Department (DEPRECO) stated that the letter was signed by all the members of the Technical Unit who were present at the meeting and that they were waiting for the President’s reply.
The foreign exchange rate increased slightly at the beginning of this week as importers and exchange agents attribute this to the pressure placed by the tourism and free zone sectors for the devaluation of the Dominican peso. Listin Diario reports that yesterday the US currency was offered at a maximum rate of RD$30.50 and a minimum of RD$30.25, showing an increase of 25 and 50 points when compared to last Friday when it was being sold at RD$30 and RD$30.25. The purchase rate was between RD$29.50 and RD$30.10. The exchange rate continues to increase despite the government’s efforts to calm the economic agents and population assuring there are no monetary, fiscal or balance of payment reasons to justify the increase. The Central Bank announced that it is going to reduce circulating currency (M-1) by RD$8 billion to ensure the stability of the exchange rate.
Anti-narcotics agents have seized 26.5 kilos of cocaine and arrested eight people, among them two Dutch nationals, in operations performed at three airports in the country, officials said today. Diario Libre reports that the arrests were made at Las Americas, Punta Cana and Gregorio Luperon Airports. The detainees are Dominicans Candido Alberto Nunez, Mariela Estefany Garces, Mayra Luz Pena de Nunez, and her daughters Kenida and Leticia Nunez, and Jose Eduardo Pena. Also arrested were citizens of The Netherlands Arnold Dirk, and Siibran Jan Marinus.
The Minister of Public Health has fired the Director of Luis Eduardo Aybar Hospital, Cesar Jesurum, for negligence in the handling of the case of Joselito Hernandez, the boy who was hit by a stray bullet to his left eye last week, according to a report in Diario Libre. Reportedly, none of the hospital’s committee members want to direct the center because of its many management problems. Joselito Hernandez lost his sight after being hit by a stray bullet (see DR1 Daily News 23 August 2005). He had lost the sight in his right eye in an accident three years earlier.
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