2004 – Page 60

The Customs Department has given the Plaza Lama department store until Monday, 18 October to pay RD$252 million in import taxes that the government department says were evaded by smuggling merchandise into the country. Miguel Cocco, who oversaw Customs operations from 1996-2000 and is now back at the helm of the department, ordered the intervention …

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The Central Bank Governor met with several of the top Spanish investors in local tourism, where he promoted the new investment certificates being offered by the bank. Hector Valdez Albizu spoke of restored confidence, the reduction of the exchange rate’s volatility, lower interest rates, and the check on inflation. He also referred to an imminent …

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It didn’t happen quickly, but on Saturday, 16 October, a causeway was restored over the Chavon River, thereby easing the traffic problems in the eastern area of the DR. The bridge over the Chavon collapsed one month ago under the force of the excess waters delivered by Hurricane Jeanne. The restoration of the bridge enables …

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The ministries of tourism and environment appear to be divided on how to proceed with the development of the southwestern beach area of Bahia de las Aguilas, as reported in El Caribe newspaper Tourism Minister Felix Jimenez is backing the development of hotels in Bahia de las Aguilas, a formerly protected natural reserve area until …

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An electrical short circuit caused a major fire early Sunday morning, destroying one of the large barns located in the Ciudad Ganadera that is used on the Malecon. The short circuit occurred after power service resumed following a blackout. The barn was being used as a produce market for the location of food and produce-vending …

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On his TV program La Respuesta yesterday, lawyer Marino Vinicio (Vincho) Castillo revealed that the Mejia government paid RD$11,750,000 to the Fundacion Economia y Desarrollo (FED) and its representative, former presidential economic advisor Andy Dauhajre, for a US$120,000 two-month contract for professional services just four days after then-President Hipolito Mejia lost his bid for re-election, …

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The DR’s Pedro Martinez will be pitching tonight for the Boston Red Sox, marking his second appearance in the American League playoffs against the New York Yankees. The Red Sox are still alive thanks to a two-run slam at 1:22am by David Ortiz in the 12th inning of the third game last night at Fenway …

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In the first nine months of 2004, the Dominican government has paid out RD$21.3 billion in subsidies for propane gas and electricity. These subsidies accounted for 27% of all moneys spent by the government during this period, with total expenditures estimated at RD$79 billion. This year’s subsidy numbers are 184.4% higher when compared to the …

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The Ministry of Public Health and Assistance (SESPAS) ordered the recall of 17 medications that are available in local pharmacies and that contain Rofecoxib (better known as Vioxx). These medications are usually prescribed for muscular or arthritic pain, but the ingredient rofecoxib has been linked to cerebral and vascular problems. The head of the pharmacy …

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Deputy Ramon Agramonte (PRD-La Romana) announced that a team of legislators will begin work on a bill that will modify the newly-introduced Penal Code. In his statements to support his proposal to adapt the Penal Code less than one month after its formal introduction, Agramonte told the Chamber of Deputies, “It is a good code, …

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