2003 – Page 77

The Customs Department reports that its collections increased 7% in September, reaching RD$2.1 billion, or RD$112 million more than in August. Tax collections from January to September of this year amounted to RD$16.2 billion, up from RD$14.8 billion for the same period last year. In 2002, imports were taxed at an approximate exchange of RD$16 …

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Hoy newspaper’s economic section reports that the reserves of the Central Bank have plummeted lower than they’ve been in recent years. The newspaper attributes these low levels to the capital flight that resulted from the lack of confidence in the government evident in the country today. The net reserves were down to US$152.7 million as …

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Eduardo Sanchez Ortiz, the judge presiding over the Baninter fraud case, has been cleared of accusations of irregularities in the performance of his duties over the last two years. The Supreme Court has been looking into his actions since last year, following several lawyers’ offices’ accusations that Sanchez Ortiz had committed disciplinary irregularities and suspect …

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Dominican justice is not blind and does not apply the law consistently, says a wide survey of civil society organizations reported in El Caribe. The areas of greatest concern are corruption, inequality, lack of prevention, the police force and the penal system, according to the poll conducted by the Citizenship and Justice project (Proyecto Justicia …

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Adriano Miguel Tejada writes the back-page commentary in this morning’s Diario Libre, saying that this month legislative action will travel eastward to the upmarket resorts of Casa de Campo and Punta Cana. The senators are packing their sun-screen lotion for a weekend of discussions at Casa de Campo on the subject of the changes to …

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Diario Libre carries a preview of its sister publication Rumbo’s study on the effects of the current economic crisis on the media. The peso devaluation and reduced advertising spending have affected all quarters without exception, according to the study. Advertising revenues have fallen sharply in all the daily newspapers, except for Diario Libre and banks, …

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In an attempt to mend the split in the ruling party, the PRD’s internal reconciliation committee, headed by former President Salvador Jorge Blanco, will host a meeting between the seven pre-candidates opposed to President Hipolito Mejia’s re-election and the PPH, the internal PRD campaign promoting the President’s re-election. Enmanuel Esquea Guerrero, Hatuey De Camps, Milagros …

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Speaking at an international press conference yesterday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez expressed hope that the dispute between his country and the Dominican Republic would be soon resolved. The Venezuelan authorities suspended oil sales to the Dominican Republic last month, following claims that the Venezuelan opposition was planning a coup against Chavez from Dominican soil. Chavez …

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The institute for co-operative development and credit and the Korean Dominican Fishery company are embarking on a US$35-million project aimed at training Dominican fishers. The yield would then be sold at a favorable price at government-subsidized INESPRE outlets and to the hotel sector. The project will include increasing the Sans Souci-based fishing fleet from two …

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Ambassador Adam Blackwell says Canadian companies could contribute to the restructuring of the Dominican power system. He recommends the formulation of a master plan for the development of the sector, reports Hoy newspaper. Blackwell says that before taking any further steps, the Dominican government needs to submit a diagnosis of the energy sector and then …

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