President Leonel Fernandez spoke at meetings in Philadelphia and Miami, pushing for investment in the Dominican Republic. He proclaimed that the Dominican Republic would become "the investment center for the Caribbean". In Philadelphia, Fernandez addressed the Hispanic-American chamber of Commerce, where he emphasized the development of the Dominican system of industrial free zones and the increasing number of accords signed with governments and universities. In Miami, the President described the Dominican Republic as a model for the Third World, transforming itself into a society with strong guarantees for investments. He also talked about the 5,000 companies currently located in the different free zones and the government's plan to reduce unemployment by 3%. Finally, he stressed the importance of the DR's geographic position and the advantages it offers to manufacturers anxious to get their products to market. At the Miami gathering, organized by the law office of Schwartz and Bowen, the President told his audience that the Dominican Republic had changed from a rural, agricultural society to a more modern, service-oriented society through its tourism industry and the free zones.
President Fernandez returned on Sunday after his 10-day sojourn for votes on the UN Security Council and investments for the DR.
On Saturday, September 23, Alfredo Rodriguez of the US National Supermarket Association made history when he won the election for an open seat on the national board of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, making him the first Dominican ever to win a board seat on the Chamber. The US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is the largest Hispanic business organization in the United States. Through collaboration between the Dominican-American Business Network, the Dominican-American Chamber of Commerce of NY, and the Dominican-American National Roundtable, an agreement was reached to unite the Dominican community behind one board candidate. Alfredo Rodriguez's victory was greeted with loud applause and high praise. "I plan to represent the interests not only of Dominicans, but also of all Latinos on the national board of the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce," said Rodriguez following his victory. The presence of Dominican President Leonel Fernandez, who addressed an audience of 1,200 at the USHCC Luncheon on Friday, 22 September, was also helpful in getting a strong Dominican turnout for the vote. As a result of Alfredo Rodriguez's strong candidacy and the presence of President Fernandez, the USHCC set a new conference attendance and sponsorship record.
According to the director general of the Department of Taxes (DGII), there are a lot of people out there who have yet to renew their vehicle license stickers. The DGII estimates say that as many as 67% have still not taken advantage of the different facilities offered by DGII: Internet, telephone, home delivery and drive-through spots all over the country.
So far 7,492 people have renewed over the Internet, 1,130 through call centers and the other 223,290 by more traditional means. You can do this by going to www.dgii.gov.do and clicking on "Marbete 2006", or by calling 809 730 2445 in Santo Domingo or 1 809 200 0136, toll-free, from anywhere else in the country. The last day is 10 October, after which there will be a RD$400 penalty. AMET agents will be stopping all vehicles without the sticker.
The Department of Taxes (DGII) is warning all that as of 1 January all bills need to have a new NCF number, or Fiscal Verification Number - Numero de Comprobante Fiscal. This was established in Decree No. 254-06. For expenses to be deductible for tax purposes, these need to be in the form of bills with this number from providers and suppliers.
The DGII reminds businesses that in order to obtain the NCF, businesses must complete and present a survey on the kind of billing they use and the inventory of bills in existence by entering the dgii.gov.do page or visiting any DGII office nationwide before 15 December. If computer billing systems are used, they must be amended to include the 19-digit NCF.
As of 16 October, companies need to request this number at the DGII offices across the country.
The government has a surplus of RD$4.7 billion in revenues, according to a report in Listin Diario's economic section. Nevertheless, journalist Hector Linares expresses concern about the fact that the pace of spending has been much faster than the pace of tax collecting. The spread during the first seven and a half months of the year was 12.7 points. Listin Diario reports that government revenues were up by 21%, while government spending was up by 33.7% as of mid August compared to the same period in 2005. The newspaper reports that as of 11 August, the government had received revenues for RD$109.4 billion, and spent RD$104.6 billion. The government received a bonanza of tax collections that would have served to compensate for tax reductions on the occasion of the implementation of DR-CAFTA in January 2006. The agreement is now scheduled for implementation in November 2006.
Even though income is one of the variables most difficult to calculate, it was growing at a rate above last year, although it was below the estimates made by the Ministry of Finance for the first three quarters. As of 11 August, with 59.25% of the year gone by, the government has spent 63.19% of the budget. Expressed in another set of figures, income grew by 21% but expenditures went up by 33.7% over the same timeframe. These figures are contained in a report from the Ministry of Finance Department of Economic Studies.
The Federation of Industry Associations (FAI) is proposing that the government reduce the number of "botellas" in government. "Botella" is Dominican slang for a job that is created for the sole purpose of rewarding political loyalty. The FAI says that the large number of these jobs is an "unimaginable obstacle" to the country's development. They form part of an unproductive government bureaucracy, they create unnecessary red tape, and divert resources from areas where they are truly needed, such as education and health, for the country to be competitive. In a press release, the FAI says that it is alarming that 60% of the jobs on the Ministry of Education payroll are for clerks, not teachers. It also expresses concern at the fact that the CDEEE maintains the same number of jobs that it had before it was privatized. "The government cannot continue to allow taxpayer money to be drained by these parasitical payrolls. We call on President Leonel Fernandez to fulfill the promise he made in his inaugural speech to adjust the government payroll to what is strictly necessary," it stresses.
No police violence or interference marred the opening of the "Other Fair", a university-inspired counter offer to the very elaborate government-sponsored fair that celebrated ten years of PLD party rule. There are plenty of small displays with photos, newspaper clippings and other exhibits showing what the students claim to be the "real" Dominican Republic. Most of the small stands belong to university student groups or the country's left wing parties. According to Milly Uribe, spokesperson for the organizers, the fair aims to present the nation's priorities in contrast to the vision presented by the government in last month's fair. Uribe pointedly said that the "Other Fair" was not an anti-government movement, but rather the way in which a group of university students wanted to express their views about the reality of life in the DR. Diario Libre says that lack of classrooms, medicines in hospitals, lack of potable water, blackouts, the high cost of living and a general rejection of the Santo Domingo Metro System were the main themes seen throughout the fair.
Leading industrial organizations publish a paid letter in today's papers, expressing their support for the Dominican pharmaceutical industry. The organizations urge the Dominican government to maintain its position on the pharmaceutical industry and the implementation of DR-CAFTA. As is understood, the strong US pharmaceutical industry has lobbied for changes to be made to the already-signed and ratified DR-CAFTA prior to its implementation. The DR Industrialists Association (AIRD), the Haina Industries Association (AIEHaina), the Dominican Textile Industries Association (ADITEX), the Dominican Footwear Association (ADOCALZA), the National Association of Sweets Manufacturers (ASODULCE), the Small and Medium-Sized Flour Manufacturers Union (UMPIG), the Soft Drink Producers Association (ASIBEGAS), the Federation of Industrial Associations (FAI), the Herrera Industries Association (AEIH), the Water Bottlers Association (ADEAGUA), the Dominican Graphic Industries Association (ADIGA), the Bonao Sweets Manufacturers Association (AFADULCE), the Furniture Manufacturers Association (ASONAIMCO), are standing strongly behind the Dominican Pharmaceutical Industries Association (INFADOMI) position. The impasse is one of the few obstacles to the implementation of DR-CAFTA, planned for November 2006.
Ice cream manufacturer Jesus Moreno has urged Central Romana, the country's leading sugar producer to accept a strategic alliance with fruit and sweet-producing manufacturers to strengthen these companies. The alternative would be for the government to be more flexible in allowing sugar imports.
In interviews with Hoy and Listin Diario, the businessman said that while the fixed price for sugar is at RD$1,070, companies need to buy this at black market prices of RD$1,700 that makes their products uncompetitive. The Sweets Manufacturers Association (ASODULCE) has advocated that the government should allow open sugar imports, to eliminate this obstacle to local production. Moreno described how the high costs of producing locally, including the high cost of electricity, and the high cost and frequent shortage of sugar, a main input, has resulted in the disappearance of local brands like Cremita, Napoli, Capri and Frigor. Bon has 50% of the market share and the local brands Nestle (30%), Manresa and Noris (10%).
Moreno, who is also the president of the Herrera Industries Association, said that the country needs to work on finding export market niches for fruit products, in addition to organic farm produce.
The Herrera Industrial Association (AEIH) says that the government could find a quicker solution to the energy crisis that is affecting the entire nation if the electricity distributors (EDEs) were to decide to collect on the bills of a series of easily identifiable wealthy customers who are excused because of their connections to powerful individuals. The statement, released on Sunday by the AEIH also pushes for the government to create the necessary conditions for the development of renewable energy sources that would use some of nature's nearly limitless resources. AEIH president Jesus Moreno asked the legislature to get rid of the roadblocks stalling the approval of the law aimed at protecting investments in alternative energy sources. According to Moreno, poor barrios that are the focus of much of the government's attention with regard to electricity theft are not the main problem, but rather the privileged sectors that are immune from collection. The AEIH estimated that only about 12% of the lost energy is from illegal connections in the poor barrios. The really big users who evade payments constitute the far greater quotient of non-payers. The AEIH statement says that these big users are easy to identify, and access to them is not immersed in the political and social problems associated with the barrios. The association also deplores the fact the cost of stealing energy was US$250 million a year, as announced by President Fernandez.
About 92% of Santo Domingo's water supply system is pumped using electricity. Therefore, when the lights go out, so does the water supply. According to Hoy newspaper, the director general of the system, CAASD, said that the corporation will have to look for the financial resources to provide stable electricity for the waterworks. Richard Martinez said that people should also use water more wisely and to ration their use and avoid waste. Martinez said that with the stand-by power that the CAASD currently uses, the corporation is not capable of supplying the public with sufficient water. The director did have some good news. The Haina-Manoguayabo connection that provides 72 million gallons for the system has been refurbished and one of the two treatment plants has been reconditioned. The reconditioning of a second treatment plant will be completed in the next 30 days.
Cid Wilson, president of the Dominican-American National Roundtable and Jose Ramon Bello, member of the Dominican-American Business Network disagree with President Leonel Fernandez's proposal that Dominicans abroad could vote for their own representative in the Dominican Congress on behalf of Dominicans abroad. On September 20, President Leonel Fernandez presented this position at City College in New York City before an estimated audience of 300 Dominican leaders from around the country. Wilson and Bello said that Dominican-Americans needed to focus on political empowerment where they live. At present, 26 Dominicans are serving in public office in the US, but a Dominican has yet to be elected to the United States Congress. "If Dominican-Americans looking to run for office in the US have to compete with Dominican-Americans running for office in the Dominican Republic, it will dilute our political power in the US and hurt our ability to have Dominican representation in the American political system," said Wilson. Cid Wilson also pointed out that over a million Dominicans live in the United States, of whom at least 300,000 are US-born Dominicans.
The renewed call for a transport strike by members of two of the nation's larger transport unions has caused a rift in their normally solid united front. Conatra, headed by Anthony Marte and Fenatrado, headed by Blas Peralta are calling for a strike this morning in protest at the Supreme Court's decision to jail the union leaders for their part in the Plan Renove eight billion-peso fraud case. Union leaders Ramon Perez Figuereo of the SNTU and Juan Hubieres of Fenetrano have asked their members not to go on strike. Antonio Marte was sentenced to three years in jail and was fined RD$4.0 million for his part in the Renove fraud.
So far this year, a total of 782 people have been caught at Las Americas International Airport with false visas to visit Spain. According to Diario Libre, this leads authorities to believe that there is a gang of counterfeiters at work. Most of the people apprehended presented themselves at the Air Europa counter and were detained by members of the SERVAIR security service. Nowadays, instead of trying to fly to the United States, people with counterfeit documents are trying for Europe. An average of three people a day are being detained for investigation regarding their fake visas. Officials are also on the lookout for documents purported to be from Venezuela. Because of travel agreements between Europe and Venezuela, there are fewer requirements and travel is easier. According to Diario Libre, the "mafia" behind this forgery is also duplicating fake Costa Rican Drivers Licenses in an attempt to permit travel to Europe.
David "Big Papi" Ortiz, the Boston Red Sox superstar, has matched Babe Ruth's American League record for homeruns hit on the road. He hit number 32 against the Toronto Blue Jays last night. Babe Ruth hit 32 in the classic 1927 season. Ortiz still has one more game to play on the road, tonight again in Toronto. Ortiz told the sports reporters: "If you can put your name up there, alongside Ruth, you must be on the right road."
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 1996-2008. DR1. All Rights Reserved.