The Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization is comparing the recent US government decision to apply the passport requirement to the Caribbean only in the case of air travel to "a category 6 hurricane". Yesterday, the US Congress approved an amendment that discriminates against hotel-based tourism in the Caribbean. The amendment delays the implementation of the new passport requirement for land crossings at the Mexican and Canadian borders until 1 June 2009, as well as the requirement for cruise passengers coming to the US from the Caribbean. However, all US citizens traveling by air to the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada or Bermuda must carry a passport by 8 January 2007.
Commenting on the decision, Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace said yesterday:
"Needless to say, the affected Caribbean nations are extremely disappointed with this outcome because the potential economic impact on their business could be catastrophic. We understand that some of those affected destinations will be making their own statements and taking some specific action on this matter.
"It is incomprehensible that the United States Government would approve an amendment that excludes air arrivals from the Caribbean and thereby grant an additional advantage to cruise lines in the Caribbean which already enjoy a significant competitive advantage, especially in light of the fact that the cruise lines supported the inclusion of air arrivals also. We know that all the affected governments made their own representation through several diplomatic channels as recently as last Wednesday prior to the final vote on this bill. Because of the potential far-ranging effect of this action, there is nothing potentially more devastating. This is a category 6 hurricane."
El Caribe newspaper reports that more that 50% of the gasoline stations in the city of Santo Domingo are without fuel. About 300 stations had to close. Long lines could be seen throughout the day yesterday in and around Santo Domingo as drivers tried to stock up on the remaining fuel supplies left. Due to these recent fuel shortages fuel suppliers are rationing the fuel sold in order to avoid a complete drought. President of the Dominican Oil Refinery Ruben Montas announced that the rationing system will stop tomorrow with the arrival of oil two tankers. One tank will deliver 9,240,000 gallons of diesel fuel, while the other one delivers 6,090,000 gallons or regular and 2,520,000 of premium gasoline.
According to the gasoline retailers association (ANADEGAS) the entire country is close to running dry. Sources from Verizon and Orange have told DR1 that at least half a dozen storage tanks for the generators that power the communication towers around the country had been raided by people looking for fuel. Ruben Montas, the head of the local refinery, told Listin Diario reporters that two tankers will be arriving from Venezuela on Thursday and as soon their cargo is unloaded the rationing will end and the market will be serviced.
Montas pointed to three factors that caused the shortage at the fuel pumps. One factor was a change in the suppliers' delivery schedule. A second factor was the withdrawal of Coastal from the diesel market and the resulting elimination of their imports of diesel fuel. The third factor was a transport strike against Texaco. When Texaco cancelled a contract with one of the unions, SACTPA, the drivers went on strike and allowed only gas and fuel oil to leave the refinery.
A statement of intent has been signed by Minister of Foreign Relations Carlos Morales Troncoso and South African Minister of Foreign Relations Nkosazama Clarice Diamini Zuma. The agreement was signed in Pretoria, the South African administrative capital. Though diplomatic ties between the two nations had been established in 2002, this agreement hopes to increase commercial, political, and technical collaboration efforts. Morales also announced the eventual opening of the offices for the permanent mission of the Dominican Republic in South Africa during a press conference following the signing of the agreement.
The Chamber of Deputies rejected the contract that would have conceded motor vehicle inspection services to a Spanish firm, Icasur. During the discussions, there was much questioning on the reasons Public Works Minister Freddy Perez had for resurrecting the agreement that had expired in the past administration. There is also questioning regarding why legal advisor to the President, Cesar Pina Toribio moved the slightly modified contract to Congress given the numerous clauses that clearly make it not in the interest of the nation. The full chamber accepted as valid the entire report from the special commission that was selected to study the controversial contract. The commission recommended that the contract be rejected because it was "harmful to the Dominican state."
A report in Clave Digital points out that engineer Miguel Vargas Maldonado, minister of Public Works under former President Hipolito Mejia had endorsed the contract, but during the Mejia administration the contract was only able to secure the approval of the Senate. Present Public Works Minister Freddy Perez dusted it off and it made its way back to Congress, but this time to the Chamber of Deputies.
Clave Digital points to some of the harmful clauses:
The contract establishes that the Dominican state would have to compensate Icasur with up to 60% of the prices established per year for non-revised vehicles. It also grants the company 20 years exclusive rights to inspect vehicles. In the case the state wanted to rescind the contract, it would have to compensate Icasur for what it would have charged the vehicles it would have inspected during this time frame. Icasur would collect RD$270 for each inspection and would pay the government RD$50. These prices would be adjusted.
True vehicle inspections are rare, and these primarily serve as an additional revenue-producer for the government.
Next Monday, President Leonel Fernandez, together with leaders of the Congress and the Judiciary will launch the consultation process that will lead to the Constitutional Reform promised for 2007. The ceremonies will begin with a speech at the UASD University's Aula Magna, and members of the diplomatic corps, political and union leaders; the media and high-ranking Church officials will be present. Several sectors of the population have asked for the Constitution to be changed via a Constitutional Assembly rather than the series of sessions that the President is now proposing. Among these groups is the Citizen Participation group that has released a document that asks for the Constitutional Assembly to be elected in 2008 during the 16 May Presidential elections. While groups such as MIUCA and the communist Workers Party prefer the consultations, other groups such as the National Private Enterprise Council (CONEP) and the Young Entrepreneurs Association (ANJE) among others are favoring the process involving a Constitutional Assembly. President Fernandez originally promised such a process, but now apparently has changed his stance. The process is being coordinated by the Economic, Social and Institutional Council, chaired by Monsignor Agripino Nunez Collado.
The Special Senate Committee starts interviewing candidates for seats on the Central Electoral Board (JCE) today. 243 have applied to sit on the board that will manage the next two upcoming elections. Senate president Reynaldo Pared Perez is chairing the committee. Pared will interview 21 candidates in the morning and 21 candidates in the afternoon. The process will continue in this format through Friday when the first phase of the selection process ends.
Nine of the proposed candidates have requested that their names be withdrawn from consideration. However, one new-old face has surfaced as an aspirant: former civil registry official Luis Felipe Rodriguez. Lawyer Rodriguez became a popular hero when he refused to charge people for copies of their official records such as birth certificates or divorce decrees. Rodriguez worked at the 12th Civil Registry Circumscription in the National District until he was fired for telling reporters that some civil registry officials were making money by charging for documents that were supposed to be free to the public. He told Hoy reporters that he has the backing of 160 religious, social, commercial and educational groups.
Veteran journalist and editor Rafael Molina Morillo has been elected president of the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA), in recognition of his fifty plus years in the print media. Currently, Molina Morillo is the editor in chef of El Dia, one of the free newspapers published in Santo Domingo, which is owned by the Corripio Communications Group. Molina spoke in front of 600 delegates from all over the Americas at the assembly held in Mexico City, he promised his maximum efforts towards assuring professionalism and ethics. Julio Munoz, executive director of SIP, explained that more than 1,300 journalists participated in the meetings, making it the largest assembly in history.
For many years, Molina Morillo founded Ahora! Magazine and El Nacional newspaper. The new SIP president spoke before the 600 delegates at the 62nd General Assembly of the Inter-American Press Society. He succeeds Diana Daniels of the Washington Post.
The current flu and dengue outbreaks have caused some local health facilities to postpone operations because of a shortage of beds. This information was given to Listin Diario by Rafael Mena, the president of the Private Clinic and Hospital Association (ANDECLIP). Meanwhile, two more deaths were attributed to dengue, bringing the total to 39. The latest figures released by the Epidemic Watch System reveal a total of 4,376 cases, an increase of 443 cases over the previous period.
The Dominican Academy of Medicine is disputing the government figures on dengue. According to Milena Cabrera, a pediatrician and gastroenterologist, the 2003 outbreak was more severe, but it did not receive the same level of media attention. Fabio A. Cabrera, an epidemiologist with more than 50 years experience in the field, told Listin Diario reporters that lower white cell and platelet counts do not automatically mean dengue. He said that hasty diagnosis could lead to inappropriate treatments. Most of the deaths are attributed to inappropriate and delayed treatment.
The Dominican Medical Association (CMD) is right to complain about the Cuban doctors practicing medicine in Maria Trinidad Sanchez province without the proper papers. However, reporters have found that at least one of the doctors does have his medical license and another is waiting for the paperwork to finish. Another five have begun the tedious process of accreditation. According to Diario Libre, the conflict includes accusations of malpractice made by CMD officials. As the case unravels, the local public health director, Freddy Alemany has distributed forms to all medical facilities in the province in order to obtain an accurate list of the people practicing medicine, with or without the proper paperwork. Diario Libre says that the people of Nagua are supporting the doctors, who provide much-needed services. The Dominican Medical Association is also requiring that the physicians be members of the organization.
Businessman Jose Perez Ferreras has accepted a plea bargain offered by federal prosecutors in New York, and is now the first person to be sentenced in the Quirino trial. Perez Ferreras will serve 18 months, pay US$10,000 and remain on probation for three years. Readers will remember the discovery of 1,387 kilograms of cocaine in a truck at one of former Army officer Ernesto Quirino Castillo's gasoline stations. Perez Ferreras was found guilty of money laundering. Perez was the last person extradited to the U.S. in the Quirino case, but the first one to receive his sentence. Perez Ferreras was the first to admit laundering millions of Dominican pesos and hundreds of thousands of dollars as part of the operation. Because of the large number of accused, 17, and the many motions and counter-motions, defense lawyers are saying that the trial could take as long as a year to come to a conclusion.
Manuel Gonzalez Perez was seized by a mob in Gaultier, a batey near Boca Chica, as he fled from accusations that he had started a fire in the Villa Nazaret neighborhood in Bayona, Santo Domingo. The fire left 29 families homeless and killed two children age 7 and 9. Police officials intercepted a mob of nearly 20 people as it was beating Gonzalez Perez, and he was taken to the local police station where he admitted starting the fire in revenge at the landlord who had removed the door to his rented room for non-payment of the rent. Gonzalez Perez also told the assistant District Attorney that he admitted starting the fire. The arsonist was sent to Santo Domingo for trial.
As from 1 November, applications for non-immigrant visas to the United States will have to be made online. The US Consulate has announced that only the Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF) filled out on line will be accepted. The non-immigrant visa includes student visas, work visas and diplomatic and official visas. The form is the same as previously used and all questions need be answered. Once the form is filled out online, the applicant needs to print out the three pages of the form and bring it to the interview at the consulate.
The required form can be found on the embassy's webpage at http://www.embajadausa.gov.do/Consular/nivforms-s.htm
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