President Leonel Fernandez met with representatives from the Korean Hyundai Motor Company yesterday to discuss the possibility of Hyundai supplying vehicle parts for the Office of Metropolitan Bus Services (OMSA) buses. This move would allow buses to return to service. Hoy reports that during the meeting, the possibility of building a Hyundai factory in the country was discussed. Though there have been constant talks the government is waiting for Hyundai to make an offer and according to Hoy, the President will continue to push the issue.
It seems that no one is willing to budge on the issue of fiscal reform, but both sides are meeting to voice their opinions anyway. The IMF has urged the government to continue with the fiscal reform, saying it is necessary, much to the disapproval of most sectors in the country. The private sector, specifically the National Business Council (Conep), is saying that cuts in superfluous government spending would collect enough money and the government would not need to increase taxes. President of Conep Elena Viyella de Paliza, quoted in Diario Libre, said that both sides will meet next week. She said they would meet "to have a better understanding of the causes that they [government and the IMF] understand justify a new increase in taxes.
The president of the National Hotel Association (Asonahores), Luis Lopez warned that the government decision to impose new taxes on the hotel industry would force several hotels to operate only in the winter season (December to April). He forecast hotels would close, not for renovations, but because of the increase in operation costs, caused by the new taxes. He said this would cause 25,000 people to lose their jobs.
Lopez disputes the government's proposition to levy 5% increase in taxes on hotels. The industry representative argues that hotels are not able to pass on the increase to consumers because a majority operates predominantly on a prepaid contract base.
He complained that already the high cost of electricity is hurting the tourism sector. Lopez questioned how Dominican tourism could expect to compete with destinations that pay only 12 to 17 cents per kilowatt of energy while Dominican destinations pay 30 cents per kilowatt.
Though the implementation law clearing the way for the country's entry into DR-CAFTA has been passed by Congress and the Senate, American Chamber of Commerce executive director William Malamud, says that five laws still need to be approved for the country to enter the DR-CAFTA agreement. According to Diario Libre, Malamud explained that laws on bribery in commerce and investment, modification to the law on public contracts, the international agreement on obtaining vegetables, the law for the implementation of that agreement, and the Budapest agreement for the deposit of microorganisms for obtaining patents still remain on the docket. Malamud explained that the government also needs to finalize regulations for Customs service rates and the issue of permits for pharmaceutical products. US ambassador to the Dominican Republic Hans H. Hertell, who also addressed the American Chamber of Commerce yesterday, said that the DR's slow entrance into the DR-CAFTA trade block is creating disadvantages for Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala which have already entered the treaty.
US Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Hans H. Hertell announced at yesterday's American Chamber of Commerce that his term would be over in 2007, but his farewell words weren't all positive. The Ambassador, who has been in the country for five years, used the address to complain that in the five years he has been in the country little progress has been made on resolving several of the nation's biggest problems, especially the electricity issue. Hertell, quoted in Listin Diario, criticized the lack of respect for the legal and judicial system in the country. The Ambassador pointed the minimum wage work program (PEME) case as an example, saying that when he took on the position as ambassador two years ago three former officials from Leonel Fernandez's first administration were sent to prison, but to the surprise of some, or none, a ruling on the case was never handed out. He spoke of his frustrations about the country's delay in entering DR-CAFTA. On the positive side, he stated that US imports could cost 20% less once DR-CAFTA goes into effect. He attributed the delay to a lack of "political will," namely the passing of a government procurement bill.
Hertell also voiced concern about continuous procrastination in taking decisions in government. "If to achieve results there has to be total consensus, then the country and the political system run the risk of never getting anything done," he warned.
The Senate has ratified the International Agreement for the Repression of the Financing of Terrorism, which had been signed by the President in 2000, according to Diario Libre. The agreement which was approved unanimously, asserts that any signatory nation will sanction all persons who directly or indirectly give or collect funds with the intention of utilizing those funds to commit acts that would cause the death of people, intimidate the public, or force the government or any organization to do something they would otherwise not do. The Senators ratified the agreement, keeping in mind information provided by the commission on foreign relations that expresses that the Dominican Constitution recognizes the need for the protection of a citizen's human rights.
The new Junta Central Electoral (JCE) panel has met with approval of all the major and minor political parties in the country. The new judges would be sworn in at the Senate, at 4pm today. The PRD, PLD and PRSC as well as a collection of minor parties and other political entities have praised the selection of the new judges. But while the selections are being hailed as successful, Diario Libre reports that there is now a wave of jitters circling through the halls of the JCE. Diario Libre quoted an unnamed source that says that many employees at the JCE are worried that they will now find themselves out of a job, and that mass dismissals, to make way for new workers who are associates of the new judges, are imminent. The source explained that if you are not in a judge's good graces or have not been recommended by someone, you will not keep your job. He continued by saying that many people working at the JCE are there because of their connections to certain judges. Many of the outgoing JCE judges have already packed up and left and have returned their assigned luxury vehicles.
Diario Libre shares today brief bios on the newly elected Central Electoral Board (JCE) judges. In a first interview with the press, Castanos said he would give priority to the civil registry reorganization and would focus on reorganizing the municipal election boards to ensure an orderly presidential election in 2008.
Julio Cesar Castanos Guzman is a PUCMM law graduate. He practices law at the Castanos & Castanos firm. He has formerly held the government posts of JCE judge, deputy legal advisor to the President and state prosecutor.
Aura Celeste Fernandez is another PUCMM law graduate. A former JCE judge, coordinator of the Commission for the Reform and Modernization of the Judiciary, and former secretary general of the Commission for Penitentiary Policies, she is the current director of the National Prosecutors School.
Roberto Rosario Marquez. The only judge to be re-elected, Marquez was the ruling PLD party's representative at the JCE. He has worked as legal consultant to CORDE, the divested state enterprises corporation. He has his own law firm, Rosario Marquez and is an Associate Member of the Chamber of Accounts.
John Newton Guilliani is a UASD law graduate. He has his own law firm John Guilliani & Asociados. This is his first government appointment.
Eddy de Jesus Olivares Ortega is also a UASD law graduate. He served as prosecutor for Santo Domingo, secretary of the Santo Domingo city hall and legal advisor to the Mayor.
Mariano Rodriguez is also a UASD law graduate. He is a professor at the PUCMM law school and has served as president of the National District JCE since 1999.
Leyda Pina Medrano is an UNPHU law graduate, and works as professor of law at UNIBE. She worked on the Consumer Protection Code, and is a member of the commission that is preparing a constitutional reform project.
Cesar Francisco Feliz Feliz is a Law graduate. He has served as secretary of the justice of peace of Cabral, a judge, a deputy in Congress, is a member of the National Magistrates Council (the body that chooses judges) and congressional advisor.
Jose Angel Aquino Rodriguez is another UASD law graduate. He has monitored elections on behalf of Participacion Ciudadana.
Construction of the highway that campaigner Angel Sosa walked for is moving along swiftly and funds from the Office of Public Works are flowing steadily, according to engineer Jose Baez, who is in charge of the project. Readers may recall that Sosa began a 305km march from Dajabon to the Presidential Palace in Santo Domingo carrying a 30lb cross on 4 August 2006. Sosa's 11-day march was in protest against the government's failure to fulfill the promises it made for his province and the country's northeastern region. His demands included the reconstruction of the Loma de Cabrera to Dajabon highway. Initially his protest was related to his losing his job in government, but it subsequently evolved on to greater issues. Sosa is now monitoring the construction of the highway and told Diario Libre that he was happy with the way it was moving along. Sosa said that if the project isn't completed as promised he will walk with the cross once again from municipality of Restauracion to the provincial government center and that if that doesn't work he'll get into a car, head to the Presidential Palace and go on hunger strike.
Centennial Communications has announced the sale of its Dominican subsidiary All America Cables and Radio (Centennial Dominicana) to the American phone company Trilogy International Partners, according to Hoy newspaper. The sale, estimated at US$80 million, still needs to be approved by the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) and although details of the deal are still being negotiated, Listin Diario reports that the transactions will be concluded by the end of the first quarter of 2007. Hoy reports that Centennial Communications has 1.4 million mobile users and 371,500 access lines with service in six American states and services in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands. Trilogy International is based in Bellevue, Washington and has services in Bolivia and Haiti.
Santo Domingo Port Director Rodolfo Rijo says that 35,000 tourists will enter the country on 40 cruise ships this year and estimates that number to rise to about one million in 2007. Rijo's optimistic estimates come as a result of the US$400 million investment in the Sans Souci terminal, which is due to be finished by the end of December 2007, according to Listin Diario. The project includes an obelisk with a sports marina and a shopping center, as well as the regeneration of the surrounding areas. The project covers 3,500 square meters and has capacity for 2,100 passengers. Caribian, Royal Caribbean and other large cruise ships will begin docking at the port in 2007. There is also the remodeling of two parks, Ruben Dario and Cervantes, with an investment of RD$5 million
Junior Wander Ortega Rodriguez, Alexander Rojas Duran and Victor Manuel Herrera Disla were all arrested and charged for the 11 November robbery of the George jewelry store robbery located in the Piantini neighborhood of Santo Domingo. During the robbery the thieves entered the business in broad daylight dressed in military gear and managed to get away with US$748,000 worth of jewels and US$11,000 in cash. Diario Libre reports that Miguelito and Julio Timberland, who also took part in the robbery, are still on the run and according to police the Timberland brothers have military clothing and weapons at their disposal, and most of the stolen jewelry is still in their possession. When apprehended, the group was in possession of a Mitsubishi Montero Sport SUV vehicle, a folder, RD$60,000 in cash and a debit card with an RD$ balance of 80,000, money obtained during the robbery.
A group of armed thieves grabbed an estimated RD$10 million from an armored car at Vimenca, a wire transfer service, which was about to distribute the money to different Western Union outlets. The robbery occurred at Vimenca's San Vicente de Paul branch at 10am yesterday. Diario Libre reports that the driver and two watchmen have been placed under temporary arrest for questioning. Vimenca security chief General Jose de Jesus Candelier Tejada explained that the guards were in a vulnerable position and the thieves took advantage of the situation. The Police says that the guards had left the vehicle unguarded when the robbery occurred. Candelier also informed that it is believed that the thieves got away on a motorcycle model Honda c70 and then switched to a Mitsubishi Montero SUV before getting away. Diario Libre also reports that this theft comes as the 1999 robbery case of Vimenca was being closed. In that robbery US$73,000 and RD$1.5 million were stolen, and resulted in three guards being killed.
The Center for Emergency Operations (COE) has called for a code green emergency alert for most of the country as a result of the flooding caused by the heavy rain that has fallen over the last few days, and informs that the rains will continue for another 48 hours. The COE said that the rains could cause mudslides, rivers to rise, and flooding in low-lying areas. COE director Colonel Juan Manuel Mendez Garcia said that many homes in the capital's Los Alcarrizos and Herrera areas were affected by flooding as well as homes in San Cristobal. Hoy newspaper reports that Monte Plata, Peravia, Monsenor Nouel, Barahona, Independencia, Pedernales and San Juan are specific provinces that should heed the warning by COE.
The Listin Diario reports that the morning-after-pill is becoming a regular contraceptive, instead of an emergency pill. Gynecologist Lilliam Fondeur says that young people are over-using the readily-available pill that sells for as low as RD$100, and for which no prescription is required. The pill is known to be fairly effective at preventing pregnancy when taken up to 72 hours after intercourse. It gets its name because the earlier you take it the better; and it is known to work best if taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex. Failure rate is about 10 percent. It works principally by preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg, and by affecting the womb lining, so that a fertilized egg cannot embed itself there. It is regarded primarily as an emergency contraceptive and is used in the case of rape victims, couples whose condom breaks, and women who have been lured into having sex while under the influence of drink or drugs.
Dr. Fondeur says that she is seeing lots of cases of women with side effects from the abuse of the pill as a contraceptive. She explains that continued use can lead to nausea, vomiting, prolonged and irregular bleeding, and anemia in women.
International pop star Shakira will finish the last leg of her 2006 international tour with a stop right here in Santo Domingo, at the Olympic Stadium. Shakira, fresh from her triumph at the American Music Awards, will be performing her show on 19 December, and Verizon, which is the show's official sponsor, has announced that six Verizon customers will get the opportunity to meet the Colombian star. Tickets will cost RD$400, RD$600 and RD$1,800 for the VIP seats.
Listin Diario reports that the Central American and Caribbean Sporting Organization (ODECABE) has announced that the Dominican Republic's men's volleyball team will be awarded the bronze medal that was originally won by Cuba in the Central American and Caribbean Games at Cartegena, because of a doping violation by Cuban player Osmani Juantorrena, who tested positive for drugs. The DR finished in fourth place at the games, while Venezuela took third, Cuba second, and Puerto Rico won first place. Because of these results the DR has now qualified for a spot in the Pan-American Games set for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2007.
Things are really heating up in the Dominican Winter Baseball League as the improbable late surge by the Gigantes makes things interesting at the top. Last night the Gigantes won their seventh game in a row beating the Leones del Escogido 7-2 and fans of the lowly Azucareros got some good news as they beat the Aguilas Cibaenas 6-5. Due to the recent rains the game between the Tigres del Licey and Estrellas Orientales was postponed until next Monday at 7:30.
Standings
| Team | W-L | Avg. | Games Behind |
| Licey | 18 - 10 | .643 | - |
| Gigantes | 18 - 11 | .620 | 0.5 |
| Aguilas | 16 - 13 | .552 | 2.5 |
| Estrellas | 13 - 15 | .464 | 5.0 |
| Escogido | 11 - 18 | .379 | 7.5 |
| Azucareros | 10 - 19 | .345 | 8.5 |
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