2003 – Page 42

The economic section of the El Caribe reports that hotel occupation has averaged 72.8% through October, in spite of a slight decrease from the figures for September (61.5% against 63.4%). Occupancy is up 12.3% over the 2002 figures, and, according to the Hotel and Restaurant Association (ASONAHORES), only the area of Santo Domingo showed a …

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In what El Caribe feels is either a case of negligence or a careless mistake, an eight-month-old baby went to the San Lorenzo de Los Mina Maternity Hospital to be treated for a staphylococcal infection and ended up at the Dario Contreras, where his arm was amputated. The question being raised is whether the antibiotic …

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According to reports, Vladimir Guerrero is being pursued by the Baltimore Orioles and any contract offered will certainly be something to envy. The Montreal Expos slugger is one of the leading free agents in the Major League Baseball marketplace. Young shortstop Angel Berroa of the Kansas City Royals won the Rookie of the Year award …

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The IDB (Inter-American Development Bank) released US$100 million to facilitate social programs in the Dominican Republic. According to El Caribe, these funds will lessen the adjustments to be made by the lowest income groups in the face of the IMF agreements. As Technical Affairs Minister Carlos Despradel and Central Bank Governor Jose Lois Malkum made …

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In advance of today’s national protest, security forces carried out extensive vehicle checks over the weekend in search of weapons and other items like tires, traditionally burned in protests. The army claims to have confiscated 89 pistols, 18 revolvers, 12 rifles and 410 knives, as well as over 5,000 vehicle tires. Over 600 people have …

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Tuesday’s editorial writers call on the population to keep their protests peaceful. Diario Libre reels a long list of reasons for the protest and ends by saying: “That’s fine, but let it be done peacefully.” Miguel Guerrero in El Caribe writes that this strike will put the authorities to the test by acting as a …

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President Hipolito Mejia accused the PLD of bankrolling today’s scheduled protests – a charge they deny – and said that the opposition party could win next year’s Presidential election if they engaged in fraud. In a scathing attack on PLD leader Leonel Fernandez’ suggestions that the PRD would themselves engage in electoral fraud, Mejia said …

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President Hipolito Mejia warned the business community that he was not open to suggestions regarding the local economy. These statements came after the president of the National Council of Private Business (CONEP), Elena Viyella de Paliza, announced that her group felt the program of voluntary contributions to the government and the new exchange commission should …

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Late Friday night, on the eve of a long weekend, the authorities chose to break the news that senior Bancredito executives are being accused of a RD$20-billion fraud. Central Bank Governor Jose Lois Malkum announced that warrants were issued for the arrest of Arturo Pellerano of Bancredito and Felipe Mendoza of Grupo Financiero Nacional. Pellerano …

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The new judicial action surrounding the Bancredito case has given rise to differing and controversial opinions among government officials. Julio Cross, the Banking Superintendent, said in Hoy newspaper that the start of the judicial process would facilitate the signing of the IMF accords. Cross explained that the IMF frowns on perpetrators of this type of …

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