2007 – Page 128

Hacienda Minister Vicente Bengoa says that there is no reason for the country to sign another agreement with the IMF after the current stand-by arrangement expires at the end of January 2008. Bengoa is quoted in Diario Libre as saying that the government is up to date with payments on the public, external and internal …

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The Young Entrepreneurs Association (ANJE) says that the government hasn’t fulfilled its promise to reduce expenses and control public spending. ANJE president Joel Santos said that the government is not following law 497-06 on austerity and is defaulting on its promise to reduce spending by RD$17.5 billion this year. Santos, quoted in Clave Digital, says …

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Exports from June 2006-May 2007 show a 55.22% increase over the previous year, according to a report released by the Dominican Center for Export and Investment (CEI-RD). The most commonly exported products are minerals, mainly ferronickel, with an 88.86% increase, while non-traditional (agro-industrial, craft, etc.) products increased by 21.73%, putting them in second place. Ranked …

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According to the Central Bank the Dominican economy remained stable showing a 7.9% increase during the first six months of the year. The CB’s report provides details of agriculture (2.6%), mining (1.4%), local manufacturing (0.3%), free trade zones (-11.3%) construction (-0.3%), financial services (48.0%), communications (18.6%), commerce (14.0%), energy and water (9.8%), hotels, bars and …

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The DR’s market share of total clothing exports to the US decreased by 1.7% in the first semester of this year from 2.4% for the same period in 2006, as reported in Hoy. This reduction is due partly to the increase in Chinese, Indonesian and Vietnamese exports to the US. China increased its apparel exports …

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It pays to be a legislator, in the DR, anyway. Diario Libre writes that Dominican legislators have higher salaries than legislators in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico and compete with the salaries of legislators in Europe, who are among the world’s highest paid. Congressmen receive a basic wage of RD$125,000, RD$50,000 in expenses, RD$25,000 for …

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The new round of government appointments continued on Wednesday as President Leonel Fernandez appointed Major General Vinicio Adolfo Hernandez Mendez as director of Police internal affairs, replacing Major General Daysi Antonia Liriano Paulino. Retired Major General Raul Almonte Lluberes was appointed director of the National Police reserves, replacing Brigade General Guarionex Duval Feliz. He also …

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The most recent opinion poll results show that there will be a need for a second round in next year’s presidential election, as none of the candidates are showing a strong enough standing. The 9-13 August Gallup poll published in Hoy reveals that President Leonel Fernandez (PLD) would be the winner in the second round. …

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In an article in Clave Digital, former rector of INTEC University Rafael Toribio speculates that the recent changes in the cabinet, which he says most of the population received with surprise and indignation, are moves that could end up losing more votes than they would gain for President Leonel Fernandez, who seeks to be reelected …

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In the second and final public forum held in Congress, opponents and supporters of legalizing abortion have voiced their opinions. Of the 127 scheduled to speak, only 50 got the chance but there was no shortage of passion. Diario Libre writes that Jose Ricardo Taveras, who heads the committee that studied the proposal, had to …

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