President Leonel Fernandez said yesterday that the DR is willing to help "to calm the rhetorical confrontation that exists between the US and Venezuelan governments". Listin Diario reports that Fernandez referred to this when asked about the Dominican Republic's relationship with the US and Venezuela, in a conference of the Council of The Americas held on the occasion of his presence in the UN World Summit. The President said that the DR shares the DR-CAFTA agreement with the US and the Petro-Caribbean agreement with Venezuela and stated that both treaties are beneficial for the DR so "we will not get involved in the differences existing among our friends".
The US government said yesterday that the DR, together with Colombia, has made significant progress in the fight against drug trafficking in the region. A report sent to lawmakers previously authorized by President George W. Bush, includes Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, the DR and Ecuador in the list of countries that produce or serve as bridges for drugs en route to the US. Venezuela and Burma are two countries that have "failed demonstrably" to comply with their international obligations and the US laws against drug trafficking. This is outlined in the State Department annual report sent to Congress which also includes approximately 20 countries as main drug production and transit centers.
The Administrative Undersecretary of the Presidency, Rafael Perez Modesto, announced yesterday that the Presidential Palace's fuel allocation has been reduced by 20%. A report in Diario Libre states that he explained that the measure is part of the Energy and Fuel Saving Plan developed by the government, and recommended that other state institutions should emulate the example of austerity. He reminded that a memorandum signed by Presidency Secretary Danilo Medina says that official Palace vehicles are to remain in the parking lot during weekends or holidays, and that only those required for essential duties will be allowed to circulate.
Congress is to implement an energy and fuel savings plan as of next Monday, informed Alfredo Pacheco, President of the Chamber of Deputies. He said that he met with Senate President Andres Bautista Garcia to evaluate the possibilities of saving energy. They will announce a series of measures next week.
The Ministry of Education delivered checks for RD$39.2 million to 30 engineers selected as contractors for the remodeling of an equal number of schools in different parts of the country. These funds include advance payments for the initial work and others are installments for construction work already in progress. The Ministry has designed a national plan for the construction and rehabilitation of school infrastructure that will cover 7,580 classrooms over the next 18 months. Minister Alejandrina German informed that her department is building 184 new schools (3,558 classrooms) and repairing 3,722 classrooms in 470 schools across the country. She explained that the total budget for this is RD$2.3 billion which will be provided by government and international cooperation funding.
The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is asking for collaboration and support from Central America and the DR against the pressure that it claims is exerted by the People's Republic of China (mainland) for the abolition of diplomatic and trade relations between Central America and the DR and Taiwan, according to Listin Diario. The complaint was presented by the Taiwanese Minister of Foreign Relations, Chan Tan-sun, who said that during President Shui-bian's forthcoming trip to the DR and Central America, he will try to convince their allies in the region of the lack of sincerity of Communist China's intentions to come nearer to them and that it's final goal is to isolate Taiwan from its friendly nations. Tan-sun warned that the objective is not to help to improve Taiwan's allies' economic development, but rather the political objective of undermining the Taiwanese State.
The DR does not have the tri-dimensional radar system required for the monitoring of illegal activities or unauthorized incursions into Dominican air space, and this facilitates illegal air operations such as the plane that landed on the road near La Romana last 18 August (see DR1 Daily News 19 August 2005), according to Diario Libre. "Once we had tri-dimensional radars, such as the ones in Cabo Rojo, in the Las Calderas base, and one in Puerto Plata. These radars can detect an object in the vertical and horizontal planes", explained Santiago Rosa, Technical Assistant Director of the Civil Aviation Department. He stated that the radar system in the DR is for the surveillance and protection of commercial operation of civil aviation, not for military use.
The Army has arrested a couple at the Haitian border for possession of nine packs with 83 pounds of marijuana camouflaged in a shipment of green bananas. Diario Libre reports that Jose Gregorio Martinez and Onesima Martinez were arrested by officers and agents at the El Copey checkpoint in Montecristi, while transporting the drug in a pickup truck. The narcotics were brought into the DR near Dajabon. Army chief, major general Jose Ricardo Estrella Fernandez, informed through his spokesman that the institution is broadening its presence in the area to tackle illegal smuggling. During the last months the Army has seized hundreds of pounds of marijuana and commodities smuggled in from Haiti and dozens of drivers have been arrested for smuggling illegal Haitians.
Judge Antonio Sanchez Mejia rejected a preventive habeas corpus petition by former Colonel Pedro Julio "Pepe" Goico Guerrero, as he has not proved the existence of threat or persecution by the District Attorney, Jose Manuel Hernandez Peguero. Goico was seeking to stop the judicial process against him but the judge considers that the actions of the Justice Department are legitimate. The Justice Department is investigating Pepe Goico for his alleged association in the laundering of assets related to the Quirino Erneste Paulino Castillo case, in violation of Law 72-02, and not as a simple witness. The law stipulates arrest warrants in his case. Paulino Castillo is in custody in the US where he is accused of drug trafficking and money laundering in relation to the seizure of 1,387 kilos of cocaine in Santo Domingo last December. Goico has been living in Spain where he is studying at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid.
The country's second largest telecommunications provider, Tricom, is preparing to be sold, according to Debt Wire, a subscription website on economic and financial intelligence information. Clave Digital reports that the information is based on sources close to the company and mentions an approximate figure of US$325 million when referring to the potential sale offer which has a moratorium of US$400 million, out of which US$200 million is expressed in bonds. The report states that the company's board of directors, including its main members, Arturo Pellerano and Hector Castro Noboa, have had conversations with possible buyers. These two executives were sent to a criminal court last Wednesday, together with Raisa Gil de Fondeur and Juan Felipe Mendoza for their involvement in lawsuits filed by owners of commercial papers purchased at collapsed Bancredito where they were top executives (see DR1 Daily News 15 September 2005). Tricom was founded in 1988 as a commercial enterprise and was authorized to offer complete telecommunications services in the country in 1990. In 1998 it placed 5.7 million shares valued at US$74.1 million becoming the first Dominican company registered on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
The prices of most basic foodstuffs have registered significant increases in supermarkets and stores around the country. A report in Listin Diario indicates that the increases, which began two weeks ago, are attributed to the increase in the foreign exchange rate and the high cost of petroleum on the international market. For example, the price of chicken has risen from RD$22 in July to RD$32 now. Other basic foodstuffs used by Dominicans that have registered increases of up to 22% in price include rice, cod, herring, eggs and plantains.The continuous increase in the cost of transporting these products from the countryside to the distribution centers in the cities is considered to be one of the causes of the increase.
The Attorney General, Francisco Dominguez Brito, estimates that violence has diminished by 10%, as there were 206 violent deaths in August compared to July when there were 250. He attributes the decline to the efforts currently being made by different government departments through the Plan for Democratic Security. Dominguez stated he trusts that the current trend will continue until peace is achieved and citizens' rights prevail in the Dominican society.
The tickets for the Presidente Latin Music Festival scheduled for 14, 15 and 16 October at the Olympic Stadium went on sale yesterday at ten locations in Santo Domingo and Santiago. One is at the Olympic Center, on Ortega y Gasset Avenue next to the Police Station and another is located at the Feria Ganadera. A third location is at the Centro Leon in Santiago. Other centers are located at Almacenes Sema on Luperon Avenue, in the offices of UEPA.com (Bella Vista Mall), Bakkus Wine and Spirits (Sarasota and Churchill avenues), Gameworks (Megacentro), Plaza Lama (27 de Febrero and Churchill avenues), Hiper Ole (San Isidro) and the Verizon Club in Evaristo Morales. Ticket prices are RD$350 and RD$550 per day. (See also DR1 Daily News 24 June 2005).
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