The National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (Asonahores) has reached an agreement with the government, aimed at fostering the development of tourism. President Leonel Fernandez said the agreement not only benefits the tourism sector but also the country's economic and social development. According to El Caribe, the document, as read by Asonahores president Enrique de Marchena Kaluche, states that tourism is the productive activity with the broadest economic repercussions. The agreement includes a different VAT (ITBIS) rate for hotel rooms, which cannot be higher than 10%. It also allows for a once a year tax-free rate for "the replacement of equipment necessary to maintain and optimum quality of service".
Diario Libre indicates that the government and Asonahores agree to follow a common agenda to work on the sector's problems and promote a quick and safe development of tourism in the country.
A 20% increase in the basic tariff for port services was ordered by a Presidential decree as a result of discussions between government officials and the business sector, which took place over the past six months. Listin Diario reports that the new measure was adopted after the industrial sector complained publicly about the increases that were going to be applied by the Dominican Port Authority, which they considered unjust as they were close to 300%. The users position, including the industrial, imports and shipping sectors, initiated the meetings to discuss a new tariff based on an adjustment for inflation.
US ambassador Hans Hertell said that the increasing use of Dominican territory by drug traffickers is a cause for great concern. Listin Diario reports that he compared the situation to bombings from another country, only that instead of bombs, a chemical weapon is being used - cocaine. He said the drug poisons everything it touches - institutions, families, children and society - all of which are under attack.
El Caribe reports that according to the diplomat, drug shipments are dropped into Dominican territory.
An expert in criminal psychology from the US said yesterday that large drug cartels from Europe, North and South America are penetrating into the DR without the authorities realizing it. Acording to Listin Diario, Danilo Lugo said that these people make large investments in the DR and other parts of the world, and that the country must be prepared to face situations like those in Colombia, Mexico and Brazil where criminals use terrorism and kidnapping. Any country in the world is vulnerable to the large drug cartels but the DR's geographical and political conditions make it ideal for use as a bridge for the trafficking of illegal substances. The DR is a great place to invest illegal money because there are not sufficient controls from competent authorities. The money gets invested in large construction projects, businesses, banking, industry and agribusiness.
Diario Libre adds that Lugo, who is currently visiting the DR, delivered a conference to Prison Department staff yesterday.
During the PLD and PRD administrations over the last seven years, 118 Dominicans have been extradited to the US whereas only two have been extradited from the US at the request of Dominican authorities. Diario Libre points out that no Dominicans were extradited during the PRSC administrations due to former President Joaquin Balaguer's opposition. This year alone, 28 people have been handed over to the US authorities, most of whom are connected to the Quirino Ernesto Paulino Castillo drug trafficking and money laundering case being tried in a court in New York. The extradition of Lidrio Arturo Nin Terrero and Tirso Cuevas Nin in connection to the same case is imminent. Dominican authorities have asked for the extradition of Shlomo Ben Tov (aka Sam Goodson) who is considered at-large after being named in connection with the Plan Renove corruption case. Goodson is the first ever US citizen to have been requested for extradition by the DR. US ambassador Hans Hertell has said action is being taken to bring him to the DR.
Fundacion Institucionalidad y Justicia (FINJUS) Director Servio Tulio Castanos is insisting that judge Pedro Romero Confesor must comply with Judicial Career law and present his resignation. He stated that if the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) decides otherwise it would affect the high court's public image (see DR1 Daily News 10 November 2005). In 1997, the SCJ determined that the only judges protected by life immobility were those appointed by the National Council of Justice, a situation that does not apply to Romero Confesor as he was appointed after the passing of the Judicial Career law in 1998. Listin Diario indicates that the law establishes the facultative retirement of judges at the age of 70 and obligatory retirement at the age of 75. Romero Confesor turned 70 on 4 August 2005.
Yesterday, the president of the National Drug Council (CND), Major General Jose Anibal Sanz Jiminian, proposed that candidates for elected posts in Congress and municipalities should be tested for the drug use so as to prevent drug abusers to represent the people, as reported in Listin Diario. According to Sanz Jiminian, if his suggestion were to be accepted, the majority of aspirants to elective posts - council members, mayors, deputies and senators - would not qualify. He also stated that authorities should follow up on certain candidates who spend a lot of money on campaigning and other activities without providing convincing arguments that the money does not come from illegal activities.
The foreign exchange rate continued its downward trend this week. This was reflected in the RD$1.00 drop in the quotation of the US dollar. According to Listin Diario, yesterday banks were offering the US currency at selling prices of RD$33.80 to RD$34.20 and were purchasing it at RD$33.15 and RD$33.50. Exchange agents were selling at RD$34.00 to RD$34.20 and buying at an average RD$33.50. The Euro has lost strength due to the conflicts in Europe over the past week and also decreased in the Dominican exchange market. The average selling price for the Euro was RD$39.25 and the purchasing price was RD$38.75.
The City Council session at the National District City Hall yesterday ended abruptly when members of PRD demanded replies to their questions from Office of Transport Reorganization (OPRET) Director Diandino Pena, who was escorted out of the session hall by Gabriel Castro who had called for a five-minute break in the middle of the disturbance created. As reported in El Caribe, instead of reconvening the session, the Metro project was sent to a special commission - not the urban planning commission, which has to do with the proposal. Castro said that the names of the commission members would be disclosed today and that it would be presided by Andres Martinez. Pena left the session without answering questions from Nelson Gomez, Amadeo Lorenzo, Luis Rivera, and Ney Arias Lora about who would manage the project, the financial aspect, how persons affected would be handled, if it was a capitalized project and whether he was aware of the lack of continuity in state public works.
The Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Corporation is willing to participate in a public tender to design and build a public transport system in the DR. According to Diario Libre, the proposal consists of a four-wagon train with a capacity of 100 passengers per wagon using diesel and electric technology, or both. The train's speed is 80 kilometers per hour and it costs one-third of the cost of similar vehicles in Europe according to Li Depu, the general manager of the company, which produces 300 units per year. Several tramways of this kind have been built by Dalian with subsidies from the Chinese government at a cost of US$3 million each. The proposal was presented through Minister without Portfolio Miguel Mejia, who is in mainland China seeking stronger trade and cultural ties with the country.
Cinema critic and Assistant Director of the National Cinema Department Felix Manuel Lora will present a full-length documentary called "A roll in the sand, vision and illusion of Dominican cinema" as his contribution to the understanding of the current film production process in the DR. Listin Diario reports the documentary will be shown tonight at 7:00 pm at the Cinemateca Nacional. It contains opinions from the most important figures in DR film, as well as movie critics, who analyze what has happened in the country. Lora stated that there is still a long road ahead. The documentary summarizes the development of Dominican cinema from the 1920's until 2005.
Dominican group "Negros" will be taking part in the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publicists (ASCAP) awards next Tuesday, 15 November 2005, in the Joe's Pub Public Theater in New York. They will also participate in interviews on Univision Channel 41's "Al Despertar" program and at Amor radio station. The members of the group - Wason, Kevin, Tommy and Joel - said it is always pleasant to travel to New York because they have developed an excellent rapport with young people from the city's Hispanic community.
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