2004 – Page 23

President Leonel Fernandez spoke out against the Law of Primaries yesterday, saying it was pushed through Congress and approved without the consensus of the political parties, reports Diario Libre. On the other hand, PLD political mastermind and Presidential Secretary Danilo Medina supports its application. He told newspaper reporters that he is “totally in favor” of …

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The Executive Branch has announced it will send Congress a budget that entails a record 71% increase over the previous year’s amount. Despite the appreciation of the peso on exchange markets, which reduces government expenses, as well as expectations for reduced inflation and presidential announcements of government austerity, the authorities chose to budget RD$207 billion …

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Bear Stearns issued a report today on the Dominican Republic’s economic performance, using the Central Bank’s recently published third-quarter report as a basis. Franco Uccelli, who follows the Dominican Republic for the firm’s emerging markets sovereign research department, focuses on such positive aspects as the GDP’s 1.4% expansion from January to September; inflation’s downward trend; …

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Jose Luis de Ramon of Grant Thornton told his audience speaking at an American Chamber of Commerce breakfast event that the main reason for the peso’s recent appreciation is that the supply of dollars is up at a time when the demand for dollars is low in the Dominican Republic. He explained that monetary emissions …

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The government announced it would pay its 13th Christmas salary to government employees from 9 to 12 December. This means an additional RD$2.7 to RD$2.8 billion will be circulating on behalf of the government. The private sector is expected to disburse its Christmas bonus paychecks on or around 15 December.

The Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET) and the city government of Santo Domingo (ADN) made almost RD$700,000 in 54 days by fining people whose vehicles were parked illegally. As reported in El Caribe, AMET tow-trucks removed 519 vehicles from 28 September to 22 November and imposed fines worth RD$686,800. Of the total, AMET received RD$450,900 and …

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A court of appeals released Juan Julio (Johnny) Morales, who is accused by the government prosecutors of coauthoring a RD$1-billion fraud against the government through the Plan Renove transport program. The four judges of the Court of Appeals revoked the decision of Judge Victor Daniel Martinez Guerrero, who had ordered domiciliary arrest for Morales. Morales …

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The Police say the two men who were suspect of having robbed a group of tourists in Punta Rucia, Puerto Plata died in a shootout with police yesterday at 5:40am in the Los Camarones, Bayacanes area of La Vega province, as reported in El Nacional newspaper. One of the dead was identified as Manuel Siri, …

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Hoy newspaper’s Que se Dice column alerts that there have been confirmed reports of people being pick-pocketed in local supermarkets. The columnist urges shoppers to watch their handbags, especially on those days when the stores have their super-sales. A special warning is given to watch for anyone getting too close, as that person could have …

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In his address to the nation on the occasion of his first 100 days in government, President Leonel Fernandez said that the energy crisis and increased crime were the two prime challenges his government must confront. He said that the government has made available RD$3 billion in payments to improve the power service. Fernandez said …

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