1998News

Energy for animal cemeteries

The National Dialogue plenary approved the energy problem as the national priority to be tackled by the state, Congress and the Dominican society. The final conclusions of the event, written up in a document entitled "La Voluntad de la Nación" (the will of the nation) was dedicated to Dominican women, particularly to singles who head families. Among the conclusions is a proposal to modify the Constitution in order to allow a consecutive re-election of President. The delegates approved that a request be made to the Junta Central Electoral, the election organization, to place ballot boxes during the next 16 May municipal and congressional election, to enable voters to cast their opinion on the desirability of reforming the constitution to allow a re-election of the president. The proposal had been rejected by President Fernández, but his opinion was overridden by those attending. The talks brought forth over 3,000 proposals, many important, but others strange, such as the need for the construction of a cemetery for street animals with provision for their cremation, the construction of a 380 km. electrical fence along the Haitian border; obligation for AIDS victims to wear a sticker on their private parts, and a proposal declaring the game domino as a national sport.