The state university, Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) has opened its new, state-of-the-art library, named after national poet Pedro Mir, during a public function attended by President Leonel Fernandez. According to a report in Listin Diario, the building was refurbished at a cost of RD$250 million and has US$20 million worth of equipment. The Executive Branch has promised a separate budget for the library, which will be used to keep it updated. The building has 800 computers in virtual classrooms and approximately 55,000 books of all areas of knowledge-science, arts, literature and culture. The ceremony was also attended by Vice President Rafael Alburquerque, Higher Education Minister Ligia Amada Melo, Armed Forces Minister Sigfrido Pared Perez, and the Chancellor of Pontificia Universidad Madre y Maestra Msgr. Agripino Nunez Collado. UASD Chancellor Roberto Reyna highlighted the importance of the new library which is meant to be of use not only to students and researchers, but also for the general public.
Diario Libre mentions that President Fernandez offered an additional budget to keep the center updated with literary output from the Hispanic and Anglo-Saxon worlds. The building covers 240,000 square feet, and is divided into four levels. The first floor includes an auditorium with the latest equipment including a digital sound system, lights, a high-definition screen controlled by an automatic wireless system, seven-language simultaneous translation system, video conference and real-time internet transmission.
El Caribe points out that the Ministry of Public Works completed the project, which had been started during President Fernandez's first term. Chancellor Reyna compared the center to the Library of Alexandria, saying that its purpose was to provide a center for intellectual conservation and development of international transcendence. A short power failure occurred when the President was touring the virtual classrooms during a video conference with the Watson Institute in Chicago.
The presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, Andres Bautista Garcia and Alfredo Pacheco, are in favor of a constitutional amendment to clarify the process for acquiring Dominican citizenship. According to Listin Diario, Pacheco believes that the basic problem is the inclusion of the 'jus soli" judicial precept and said the Constitution is not totally clear about this issue. He insists that the DR must protect its sovereignty. Bautista Garcia stated that the issue of Haitian migration is extremely important and the DR cannot relinquish its right to regulate the admission of foreigners to its territory. "We cannot depend on what international organizations want to be done with Haiti", he declared. PRSC and PLD senators have signed a bill asking for a constitutional amendment to establish the "jus sanguinis" as the only way of obtaining citizenship. In total, 19 senators have supported the bill for the amendment of Article 11 of the constitution.
Diario Libre indicates that the bill was presented by senator Juan Morales.
El Caribe reports that deputy Pelegrin Castillo, who is well-versed in Haitian issues, stated that the sentence which is being expected from the Supreme Court of Justice regarding "jus soli" is fundamental for the Dominican state. In the next few days, the SCJ is expected to set its position regarding the acquisition of Dominican citizenship in a process which includes interpreting the Constitution, international treaties and the Migration Law. The high court is studying two unconstitutionality suits against the Migration Law. The Dominican Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church has urged the SCJ to resolve the conflict between "jus soli" and "jus sanguinis".
Labor Minister Jose Ramon Fadul has said that his Ministry will indict companies that do not comply with the Labor Code's maximum quota of 20% foreign workers. Diario Libre reports that he specified that this does not just apply to Haitians, but includes other foreigners working in middle range positions in companies, especially Cubans, Colombians and Spaniards, who are displacing Dominicans. The ministry is collecting data from companies that are not abiding with the law so they can be indicted. This is aimed at preserving jobs for Dominican citizens.
El Caribe indicates that some companies have already been indicted, although no names were disclosed. Fadul stated that business associations and union centers have been warned about compliance with the Labor Code which establishes a maximum quota of 20% for foreign workers. The Ministry of Labor is performing a formal labor market census in the construction, agricultural, free zone and sugar cane sectors, to determine how many foreigners are in these segments of the labor market.
During an interview with Listin Diario, US Agency for International Development (USAID) Director Elena Brineman stated that corruption and the lack of transparency represented the greatest threat to the DR's democracy and social and economic development, and could hinder the benefits the country could derive from DR-CAFTA. She called for greater transparency and specifically mentioned the need to pass the bill that regulates government purchases. Brineman explained that economic development depends on the fight against corruption and that most problems are to be found in the institutional area, the business environment, the people's confidence in politicians, transparency, contracting security and judicial security. Another area of great concern is the power sector where the DR is in the 110th position out of a total of 117 countries analyzed. The US official also mentioned bribery in the Customs Department and for obtaining of all kinds of licenses, and said these factors affect competitiveness, democracy and the social aspect of the country. When asked why there was no greater US investment in the DR she said that bribery is illegal in her country and thus US companies are not going to risk their capital if bribes must be paid to be able to compete. According to Brineman, bribes are hidden taxes and as an example she cited the cost of medicine used to treat tuberculosis, which is being bought for US$120 and US$140 when it costs as little as US$10 or US$14. Other issues that must be worked on, according to Ms. Brineman, are intellectual property, the environment, rules of origin, customs and judicial security.
El Caribe opinion columnist Marisol Vicens Bello calls for moral sanctions against political impunity and says that although the electoral campaign officially begins on 16 February 2006, large-scale publicity resources are already in evidence, something that casts doubts as to the origin of the money used and the good intentions of the candidates. A large part of society is repelled by scandals of corruption, fraud and other crimes committed by officials called upon to enforce the law while these go on as if nothing had happened. Political parties do not worry that their candidates have been convicted or are being tried for felonies. She mentions the case of Radhames Ramos Garcia who is going to run again for deputy after having been convicted of a crime. Vicens states that this is a symptom of a sick society, contaminated by the cancer of corruption and that this is growing every day thanks to impunity. "We must employ moral sanctions to stop those who do not deserve to represent us and strive for better candidates to be elected", concluded Vicens.
Two Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) judges have addressed requests made from several quarters calling for the retirement of judges who have reached the age of 70, according to Listin Diario. The Judicial Career Law establishes that these judges should resign from their posts. The President of the Criminal Chamber of the SCJ, Hugo Alvarez Valencia, said that the request responds to the interest of having politicians appointed to the high court instead of independent judges. Judge Julio Ibarra Rios said the guarantee of an independent Judicial Branch depends upon the immobility of judges. Although he stated that he was not concerned about his own stay in the court, Ibarra Rios said the immobility of judges is a principle that has been supported by a long tradition of intellectuals, such as Eugenio Maria de Hostos, and also that it is a constitutional principle adopted in the 1994 reform. Recently, Fundacion Institucionalidad y Justicia warned that SCJ judge Pedro Romero turned 70 years old on 4 August 2005 and that according to the law, he should resign from his post. When referring to the issue, SCJ President Jorge Subero Isa stated that the court would be reviewing the status of some judges in January 2006, including Romero.
El Caribe reports that Hugo Alvarez Valencia claims that political sectors want him removed from the court because he does not accept pressure from anyone and acts only according to his conscience.
Diario Libre observes that Alvarez Valencia is 82 years old.
National Private Business Council (CONEP) president Elena Viyella de Paliza is calling for the quick approval of the tax reform so the government can focus on the solution of crucial problems affecting the country, such as the energy crisis, according to Diario Libre. "It is time for all sectors to concentrate on solutions for the electric energy problem as this is affecting the economy, competitiveness, health, education, quality of life and citizen security", said Viyella.
National Drug Control Department (DNCD) president Rear Admiral Ivan Pena Castillo reports that 4,000 kilos of cocaine, 250 kilos of heroin, 1,000 kilos of marijuana, and approximately 70,000 ecstasy pills have been seized during the 15 months he has been in charge. He emphasized that the department will continue to fight against drug trafficking and abuse because his personnel is trained to work for the benefit of the country. According to Listin Diario, he attributed the success of this administration to the incentives that the DNCD agents are receiving. He stated that his term is also working on the prevention of drug abuse.
One month after the inter-daily "publico" service was implemented, many transport system users are still complaining of difficulties in arriving at their destinations on time. Listin Diario reports that some drivers are complaining of reduced income though they admit that the streets are less congested, whereas the transport union leaders agree that the initiative has helped improve vehicular circulation.
El Caribe reports that the union leaders stated that there are still deficiencies that need to be addressed, one of them being the "pirate" cars, an issue which the Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET) has not yet tackled. They also pointed to a shortage of seats in the system as approximately 7,500 vehicles were withdrawn from the service by the authorities.
Juan Luis Guerra and 4-40 will become the first Latin band to share the stage with the legendary rock group The Rolling Stones next 11 February 2006 at the Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in Puerto Rico. According to El Caribe, Rolling Stones producer Larry Stein said during a press conference in Puerto Rico on Monday that the group's concerts always feature a special guest connected with the culture of the region where they perform, and that their guest in Puerto Rico would be Juan Luis Guerra and 4-40. Stein said that Guerra's international success was taken into account when he was selected, as well as the awards he has received and his two full-house concerts at the Coliseum. "This cannot be called an 'opening act' because he has filled the venue twice-they are definitely special guests", said Stein. Juan Luis Guerra, who is a rock music fan, said that he was pleased about the invitation, which comes shortly after his winning two Grammy awards. Listin Diario says that there has been some speculation about the possible controversy that could arise from the contrast between Guerra's religious themes-he is an evangelical Christian-and the usually irreverent lyrics of the Stones.
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