2003 – Page 9

The European Union donated 290,000 euros (RD$13.34 million) for the reforestation of the Bahoruco Mountain Range. The National Office for the European Development Funds (ONFED) and the Environment Ministry signed the protocol that seeks to recover areas that were damaged by the bauxite mining activity of the Alcoa Exploration Company in the Pedernales province. The …

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Haitian ambassador to the Dominican Republic Guy Alexandre has announced his resignation. He visited President Hipolito Mejia yesterday and explained the reasons for his decision, saying it was a result of internal issues in Haiti and nothing to do with the relationship between his country and the Dominican Republic. Alexandre is said to have been …

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Only 16% of male inmates in the country’s prisons are aware that HIV-AIDS can be transmitted through sexual contact, according to a study by DIGECITTS, the body responsible for monitoring contagious diseases. A significant percentage believed that HIV-AIDS could be contracted from caring for or bathing someone with the disease. It also found that a …

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The Dominican Republic, ranked 14th in the world, is on a winning streak in the NORCECA Women’s Volleyball Olympic Qualifier Tournament. The DR has defeated Mexico, Canada and yesterday Puerto Rico. The team needs to win Cuba, though for a berth in the Athens Olympic Games. The match against Cuba is set for 8 pm …

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The National Development Council (CND) has approved the RD$120.93 billion 2004 National Budget, which represents increased spending of nearly RD$38 billion over the budget for 2003. El Caribe’s economic section dissects the financial plan and finds that debt payments will absorb 32% of the projected total, or RD$39 billion. This is a 52% increase over …

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The Listin Diario newspaper reports that the government and the IMF have agreed on a new economic stabilization program that reaffirms taxes in effect since mid-year, ups the tax on alcoholic beverages and tobacco to 30%, and new taxation on loans and savings borrowing. The report states that the IMF mission will return to Washington, …

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The very astute Pedro Silverio is one economist who does not believe everything he reads in the official documents. In his op-ed article in today’s El Caribe, Silverio looks at how the government puts a spin on its spending. Recently, Technical Secretary to the Presidency Carlos Despradel reported that there were indicators that pointed to …

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In another article in El Caribe, Elena Brineman, the head of the USAID office, said that everyone should pay for electricity. At the same time, she advocated a study to determine the real costs of electricity in order to obtain transparency in the market. Commenting on how 40% of the electricity is not paid for, …

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El Caribe newspaper reports that the National Emergency Commission (COE) has issued 700 permits for firework vendors this year – an unprecedented number. The COE last year reported 84 cases of second- and third-degree burns in children ranging 8 to 15 years old, due to accidents caused by the explosives over the holidays. The peak …

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A sad note in today’s news is El Caribe’s report that the Pearl F. Ort burn unit at the Luis Eduardo Aybar Hospital (formerly known as the Morgan) has not received its government subsidy for the past four months. According to sources at the hospital, at least 15 patients needing transfusions and medicines could have …

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