2003 – Page 3

The Mejia government has 835 inmates on its Christmas pardon list, all of whom were placed there by the Attorney General’s office on recommendations from its Pardons Commission. This represents the greatest number of inmates to be simultaneously pardoned by the government since this administration instated the practice of pardoning large groups of convicts. The …

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In the Dominican Republic 10-hour blackouts and monthly increases in power rates are the norm, as are the government’s regular complaints that it lacks the funds to make timely payments to the power generators. But for the governmental CDEEE, whose recent buyback of the Union Fenosa power distributors caused the suspension of the stand-by agreement …

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The medal winners of the past Pan American Games are still waiting for the government to honor the promises made to them by President Hipolito Mejia, of government apartments and cash awards, as reported in Hoy’s sports section today. The President offered any athletes who secured medals at the Games last August cash prizes of …

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Economist Frederic Emam Zade says that the DR will recover from the present crisis. In an interview with Hoy newspaper, Emam Zade explains that economic history shows no recession has lasted more than three years, and he says that in the past 50 years the country has suffered 10 recessions with only one lasting three …

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While the government insists on fixing the purchase price for dollars in the authorized exchange houses and commercial banks, the black market is flourishing. While the Central Bank posts a RD$34-US$1 reference rate, and a US$1=RD$35 sell rate, this is only available for a diminishing number of select bank and exchange house clients. Vimenca was …

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El Caribe explains that, according to the new proposed taxes, consumer items will see increases as soon as January. If the tax bill is approved by Congress as sent by the Executive Branch, the price of beer would contain a 32.5% tax, up from 25% previously and the price of rum and wine would include …

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Codetel announced that as of January, residential telephone service will be increased by 10% to 20%. The additional revenue will be spent on investments and projects that in 2004 will require US$220 million. The charges for the R1 service will increase from RD$275 to RD$330 per month. Codetel said that the devaluation of the peso …

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The Chamber of Disputes of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) annulled the PRD primary that took place on 7 December and which was won by the president of that party, Hatuey de Camps. The National Executive Committee (CEN) made the declaration on the basis that it did not meet the required quorum of members. During …

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El Caribe reports that Vice President Milagros Ortiz Bosch, Rafael Subervi and Enmanuel Esquea, the three top pre-candidates vying for the PRD Presidential nomination against President Hipolito Mejia, agreed to make use of an average two independent national polls to decide which of the them would make the best PRD candidate in the upcoming 16 …

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The Dominican Republic’s version of Time Magazine, Rumbo, announced it will no longer publish. Ana Mitila Lora renders a tribute to the magazine in her column in the Listin Diario, crediting Rumbo with having set a new standard for newswriting, barring only a few exceptions where the truth clashed with the interest of its owners …

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