2006 – Page 345

Yesterday at noon, actors Robert De Niro and Matt Damon arrived at the Cibao International Airport, together with a group of technicians and assistants. Both are part of the team that will be filming scenes of the movie “The Good Shepherd” during one week in the DR. El Caribe reports that they arrived in Santiago …

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Yesterday, the government explained that the exemption of the 13% exchange rate commission that came into effect on 1 January 2006 was applied to 3,904 tariff items, among which are included 287 tariff lines that are also exempt from the 16% VAT (ITBIS) tax. According to Diario Libre, these include raw materials for the agribusiness …

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According to Ivan Garcia, president of the Dominican Federation of Merchants, the price increases are justified. He complained that the Customs Department is still charging the commission on more than 200 items. He said that while government officers are talking about the elimination of the 13% exchange commission on items that now pay a 16% …

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The PRD has asked lawmakers to modify the National Budget Bill and have the RD$7.7 billion the Presidency wants to use at its discretion transferred to education and health. It is also requesting that lawmakers eliminate the exchange rate commission and use the RD$1.8 billion allocated to the metro project to the benefit of children …

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By yesterday afternoon, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce had received 450 claims from vehicle owners affected by the adulterated gasoline that was supplied by the Dominican Petroleum Refinery (Refidomsa) on 22 December, as reported by Diario Libre. According to Listin Diario, the number of claims presented at the Ministry is over 500, but 150 …

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“Cowboy part II” is the name given to the National Army operation that began today on the Haitian border from Montecristi to Jimani. The operation aims to crack down on arms, drugs and merchandise smuggling, and the crossing of illegal immigrants. This information was confirmed by Armed Forces Minister, Admiral Sigfrido Pared Perez, as reported …

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The National Network of Digital Mail will begin operating next February, allowing users to send and receive digital letters and telegrams through the Dominican Postal Institute (INPOSDOM). Diario Libre reports that the new system will also be used to receive services from state institutions. A pilot program will provide a 24-hour passport renewal service by …

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The Director of the Passport Department, Maritza Ortiz, has told Diario Libre that the DR would be willing to have a common passport with some Central American countries. The idea has not yet been proposed formally but Ortiz has already discussed it with Foreign Relations Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso. Ortiz believes that the idea is …

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Former dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo’s vacation home in San Cristobal is being transformed into the National Penitentiary School, where training in penitentiary treatment will be given to prison wardens. As reported by Diario Libre, the once-luxurious property, known as the “Castle on the Hill”, is undergoing refurbishment by the government with an investment totaling RD$10 …

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Duarte Bridge in Santo Domingo will be closed to traffic from 23 January to 24 February to guarantee the precision and quality of engineering work being performed during its refurbishment, and to assure the security of passers-by. Due to the chaos that is expected in traffic between the western and eastern Santo Domingo during the …

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