President Leonel Fernandez is traveling to Argentina today where he will take part in the IV Summit of the Americas to be held in Mar de Plata on the 4th and 5th of November. According to a release on the President's web site release, he is traveling with his Chief Military Aide, major general Ramon Aquino Garcia, the Presidential Press Director, Rafael Nunez, and his personal assistant, Danilo Perez. In the course of his visit, President Fernandez is expected to meet with US President George W. Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox. The Summit opens on Friday at 4:30 pm.
See http://www.presidencia.gov.do/frontend/articulo.php?id=2665
Last night, President Leonel Fernandez appointed economist Hugo Guiliani Cury as Dominican ambassador to Qatar. Guiliani Cury was governor of the Central Bank during one of the Balaguer administrations. Listin Diario informs that Qatar is a country where Arabic is the official language although English is in common usage. Its system of government is a traditional monarchy and 95% of its population is Muslim.
President Fernandez also awarded distinctions to the newly-appointed Dominican ambassador to Chile, Cesar Medina, and outgoing French ambassador to the DR, Jean Claude Moyret. They were both decorated with the Great Silver Cross of the Duarte, Sanchez and Mella Order of Merit.
Yesterday, Migration Director Carlos Amarante Baret warned sugar producers that if they want to hire foreign workers, especially Haitians, to work their fields, they must comply rigorously with the law, or face the consequences, as reported in Listin Diario. He stated that a commission assembled by his department, the Ministries of Labor, Public Health, and the Armed Forces are coordinating all that has to do with the hiring of Haitian sugar cane cutters for the next harvest. The commission will be meeting sugar producers next week to inform them of the government's decision to ensure that things are done according to the law.
El Caribe reports that Amarante made these comments during the launch of a training workshop about Migration Law which was organized by the Migration Department's Haitian Affairs section. Sugar producers must request the requisite visas for their foreign personnel at the DR's consulate in Haiti. He pointed out that throughout history, the country's ruling classes have profited from Dominican-Haitian relations which have been lacking a national migratory policy.
Interior and Police Minister Franklin Almeyda informed that community leaders from twelve barrios from the northern part of the National District will select 600 high school graduates or university students to study police sciences. Diario Libre reports that the Minister has met with executives from several universities seeking an agreement for the implementation of careers connected with policing skills. The Police have an agreement with John Jay College from New York to train personnel and establish police sciences in Dominican universities.
The PLD has voiced its support for the pastoral letter issued by the Dominican Episcopal Conference-the highest directive body of the Catholic Church-regarding the situation of Haitian migration in the DR. As reported in Listin Diario, Secretary General Reinaldo Pared Perez declared, however, that the bishops should have referred to priests Pedro Ruquoy, Christopher Hartley, and Vigny Bellerive, who have been found to have falsely registered Haitian children as Dominicans. Meanwhile, Armed Forces Minister, Admiral Sigfrido Pared Perez said the bishop's message was excellent and called upon the Church to collaborate on the border with Haiti to detect cases of abusive treatment of deportees and to stop the influx of illegal Haitians to Dominican territory. He said that the Armed Froces are taking into account all the issues presented by the bishops in the letter and that instructions have been issued for the army personnel taking part in the repatriation of illegal Haitians to respect the deportees- rights and dignity.
Diario Libre reports that Migration Director Carlos Amarante Baret described the letter as "an important contribution". According to Amarante, Dominican intellectuals, politicians, religious people and businessmen have been ignoring the migratory problem for 40 years. Dominican ambassador to Haiti, Jose Serrulle Ramia, supported the Church's call to tackle the disorder that characterizes Haitian immigration to the DR.
El Caribe considers the document to have conceptual and historical transcendence and has thus published the entire 18-page document on their website.
It can be read in Spanish at http://www.elcaribecdn.com/images/banners/carta.htm
Cardinal Nicolas Lopez Rodriguez, speaking at the Maximo Gomez Cemetery church on occasion of All Saints Day, criticized the campaign that foreign priests maintain abroad that focuses on Haitians being mistreated in the DR. He also criticized the practice that foreign priests secure Dominican nationality papers for Haitian nationals, as reported in Diario Libre. "Lots of work has been needed to forge the Dominican Republic ahead after its separation from Haiti in 1844, so that an inconsiderate person may come to mock our society," said the Cardinal. "This country needs to be respected, and he who comes to work here cannot go to Costa Rica nor Miami to talk gibberish against the Dominican Republic," he said. "We already have enough problems ourselves," he said.
The Cardinal criticized the ongoing campaign he said is spurred by foreign-based non-governmental organizations that lash out at the DR when looking the other way to situations in their own countries. "Those same priests should go to Spain and Belgium and defend the African immigrants, he said.
Recently foreign priests have been in the press for taking actions that incite violence of Haitains against Dominicans and discriminate against Dominicans and may serve to encourage tensions between Dominicans and Haitians, such as the notable case of father Christopher Hartley.
Cardinal Lopez Rodriguez spoke up yesterday against priests that have posed as fathers to declare Haitians as their sons, such as Belgian priest Pierre Ruquoy and Haitian priest Vigny Bellerive. The priests did not request their nationality for the children, rather sought collaboration to illegally secure paperwork to declare these as Dominican nationals. The Central Electoral Board acknowledged that there is proof of the unlawfulness in the proceedings, but desisted in proceeding against the priests given their religious status. The Cardinal also mentioned that in their legislation of the church, there is no sanction for this violation of the law.
The Cardinal urged that the Supreme Court act on the request of the Episcopal Letter that calls for a decision on jus solis and jus sanguinis principles for granting nationality.
The leader of the Masonic Grand Lodge of the Dominican Republic suggested that the DR help Haiti recover its ecology so that it can become economically habitable, as reported in Listin Diario. Grand Master Felipe de Castro said that everyone is aware that Haiti's territory will become a desert in a few years, that its rivers have dried out and they do not have land for agricultural production, placing their inhabitants in extreme poverty. He stated that everyone has the right to happiness and that "we must help Haitians achieve theirs". De Castro said that Haiti would become the first nation where democracy would fail despite it being the first slave nation to have become independent and the first black nation to attain its sovereignty. He considered that the grave problems being faced by Dominicans do not make the massive immigration of Haitians feasible as it would de-stabilize our economy. Grand Master Felipe de Castro was speaking during a press conference together with Deputy Grand Master Rene Baez Robiou, Grand Secretary Rafael Antonio Perez y Perez and Grand Master of Ceremonies Freddy Santana. The Grand Lodge is the oldest civil organization in the Dominican Republic with 147 years of active existence and participation in historical moments of the DR.
The foreign exchange rate began to rise again yesterday. Listin Diario reports increases of 80 and 85 cents for the US dollar which closed at RD$34.50 as compared to the closing on Tuesday which was between RD$33.65 and RD$33.70 for sale. Exchange agents were selling the dollar at RD$34.30 and RD$34.50 and were purchasing at RD$33.90. Commercial banks were selling at RD$33.63 and up to RD$33.70 per one US dollar and were purchasing between RD$33.46 and RD$33.80 to one. The increase has been explained as the result of an extraordinary increase in demand and a reduction in the offer of the currency. Last October, the currency remained within the range of RD$32.00 and RD$33.00. The Euro was being sold yesterday between RD$40.25 and RD$41.00 and being purchased at RD$38.25 and RD$38.50 at exchange agents.
El Caribe reports that the trend towards an increase began last Tuesday and agrees it is due to an increase in demand and a decline of the offer. According to the Central Bank's International Department, the average price of the US currency in commercial banks was RD$34.12 for sale and RD$33.92 for purchasing. From January to October the currency has averaged between RD$29.83 and RD$32.78, according to the Central Bank. Monetary authorities continue to insist that there are no real reasons for an increase in the foreign exchange rate.
Clave Digital informs that according to the Central Bank poll that is held every day between 10:30 am and 12:00 noon, the pondered average of the selling price was RD$34.13 to US$1.00 in commercial banks whereas it was RD$33.92 at the exchange agents. These selling prices reported by the Central Bank are the highest since 30 September 2004, which indicates that yesterday's were record rates for the past 14 months.
Yesterday, the Citibank DR branch and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) awarded the International Micro-Business Awards designed to encourage low-income individuals to start their own businesses and promote the establishment of better practices. Listin Diario reports that ten winners were chosen whose work as small producers has not only helped them finance their families but who have also had a positive influence in their communities. Categories considered for the prizes are trade, production, services, and food & beverages. First, second and third prizes totaling RD$273,000 were awarded for business spirit, growth, impact on the family and environment, and innovation. These awards are also presented in 30 other countries around the world. The winners include Altagracia Sarah de Jesus Silverio, Ubaldo Hernandez Caba, Ignacia Valerio, Fausto Carela and Milagros Rodriguez Duran. The ceremony-which took place at Hotel Melia in Santo Domingo-was presided by Citibank's Vice President of Human Resources and Public Relations, Faride Guerrero; the Executive Director of CAMPE-INTEC, Claudio Adams; and UNDP communications officer Luis Rubio Sanchez.
The National Association of Information Technology Companies (Aneinfo) has requested that computers be kept free of the 16% VAT (ITBIS) as they have been exempt from this tax since 1998. As reported in Diario Libre, applying the tax would hinder access to technology of low income individuals as well as small and medium businesses. According to Abel Alegria, president of Aneinfo, only 25 out of every 1,000 inhabitants in the DR own a computer.
The National Drug Control Department (DNCD) has seized 128.8 kilos of cocaine in a consignment of sportswear that was going to be shipped from Puerto Plata to the Bronx Terminal Market in New York. According to Diario Libre, Colonel Radhames Antigua said the shipment was being sent by a "non-traditional exporter", Juan Danilo de Jesus, who also appeared as consignee in the US. De Jesus, who is from Moca, has not been arrested yet although a warrant has been issued. Searches have been performed in Santiago, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo. The cocaine was 100% pure and was packed in different colored wrappers, which seems to indicate that it was destined for different people in the US.
Listin Diario says that the drug was distributed in 116 packages within 10,000 sports pants in a container to be shipped from Puerto Plata to New York. Responsibility is attributed to 42-year-old De Jesus, from Moca. The pants had been purchased at a free zone. The drug was detected inside an Antillean Line container which was consigned to a company called Joe Anne Dominicana, owned by De Jesus. The DNCD canine unit participated in the detection of the cocaine. The search was performed by Puerto Plata Appeals Court Prosecutor, Felix Alvarez Rivera; District Attorney Elvis Garcia, and Customs official Juan Almonte, as well as officials from several Armed Forces security organizations.
False council member Ramon Alberto Cabral de la Cruz has been the first of the 39 being sought by the Attorney General's Department to be arrested for his connection to the official passport fraud that was uncovered several weeks ago. According to Diario Libre, he was posing as a PRD council member from Jima Abajo. Cabral was taken to the prison at the District Attorney department after being questioned by assistant AG Frank Soto, and a hearing is scheduled tomorrow for a decision regarding his preventive custody. Cabral is from Bonao and allegedly married a woman from Azua. He is the brother of Ramon Antonio Cabral de la Cruz who is currently being sought by the AG department.
The PRD has expelled senators Tonty Rutinel Dominguez and Ramiro Espino as well as the mayor of the municipality of Guaymate, La Romana, Estela Ozuna. Listin Diario reports that Rutinel Dominguez was expelled several hours after he submitted his resignation to the PRD and renounced his seat in the Senate whereas Espino and Ozuna have moved to the Revolutionary Social-Democrat Party, led by Hatuey De Camps.
Former PRSC presidential candidate, Eduardo Estrella urged his fellow party members to dedicate their time to comb the country to support the party's own candidates in the 2006 congressional and municipal election rather than negotiating an electoral pact with fellow opposition party, the PRD. As reported in Diario Libre, he commented that while it is important for the party to win senate, deputy, mayor and city councilman posts, it is also important that the party preserve its identy.
The best horseback riders in the country will take part in the VI Copa Federacion Equestrian Festival to be held from the 4th to the 13th of this month at the Palmarejo complex. Listin Diario reports that more than 500 horsemen will be riding horses trained to jump, train, endurance, reining, and indoor polo. The competition will begin on Friday at the facilities that were built for the 2003 Pan-American Games. The opening ceremony will be attended by the country's leading sports authorities and people from the world of equestrian sports.
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