2003 – Page 16

A report circulating this morning on the child sexual exploitation of children says that 65% of those who exploit minors in this way are Dominican, not foreigners. UNICEF says that although the perception is that tourists are the main culprits, it is mainly local people who exploit children for sexual purposes. Penalties for this offence …

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Margarita Cordero of the Diario Libre editorial team examines the case of abused wife Miriam Brito, whose case hit the headlines last week when she and her family appear to have plotted their tormenter’s demise. Cordero writes about the violence of Dominican life, which ranges from “institutional”, in that citizens are not treated equally, right …

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This morning’s papers lead with the news that the government is putting the finishing touches on a revised letter of intent to the International Monetary Fund, according to the Central Bank. This statement appears to come in reaction to intense speculation at the beginning of the week over whether the talks had run aground. Negotiations …

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The government is looking into the possibility of increasing the ITBIS (value-added tax) rate, according to a report in Diario Libre. Presidential Technical Secretary Carlos Despradel told interviewers yesterday on the TeleAntillas morning news magazine “Uno + Uno” that certain products could be subject to an increased levy, although he excluded the possibility that it …

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The LPG (liquid propane gas) shortage eased slightly yesterday, although there is still extensive scarcity with many depots closed and long queues at those that remain open. Gas wholesalers, who attribute the shortage to increased demand over recent weeks, estimate it will take about 15 days to normalize supplies. The government’s plan to change the …

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According to the Listin Diario, the Department of Customs has announced that starting today importers must deliver all receipts from the purchase of any dollars used to pay for goods being imported. The government now requires that imports be made with foreign exchange that is purchased from one of the agents authorized by the Monetary …

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It was not the military or regular police force, but rather the director of the Metropolitan Transport Authority, Major General Pedro de Jesus Candelier, who headed an operation yesterday in which several currency exchange houses in the Los Mina area of Santo Domingo were closed down for allegedly operating illegally. Candelier, who formerly headed the …

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As if by magic, says Pedro Silverio, the President has ordered the peso-dollar exchange down, and in a matter of days the task should be completed, following a 100% depreciation in the value of the peso over the last three years. Of course, explains the prominent economist writing in El Caribe, it is not that …

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Today should see the start of the Christmas bonus (13th salary) payments to government employees, which will inject RD$2 billion into circulation. Approximately 300,000 checks have already been issued and will be distributed as of today. It is now hoped the authorities will release the funds needed to pay government pensioners.

Former revolutionary and Marxist scholar Regis Debray paid a visit to President Hipolito Mejia at the National Palace yesterday, accompanied by the French ambassador to the Dominican Republic Jean Claude Moyret. Debray is en route to Haiti, having been commissioned by French President Jacques Chirac as a special envoy to carry out a study on …

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