2007 – Page 54

Miguel Cocco, the director of the Customs Department, is fighting a battle against cancer, and is currently in a serious condition at the CEDIMAT medical center in Santo Domingo. First reports were that he entered the clinic with “indigestion”, but this was quickly diagnosed as being heart-related. The high-ranking PLD member was fitted with a …

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The Dominican Republic is the country in Latin America with the largest percentage of its population receiving remittances from abroad, according to research presented by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) at the XLI Annual Assembly of the Latin American Bank Federation in Miami. According to the IDB report, a total of 38% of the Dominican …

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The Second Joint Tribunal of the National District has declared Luis Inchausti, his sister Grecia Peguero and Leon Lopez Mata innocent of fraud charges in connection with the RD$1.44 billion PEME case. PEME was a Minimum Wage Program during the first Fernandez administration (1996-2000). The magistrates ordered a cease and desist of all prosecution and …

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The state university, Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) granted an honorary degree honoris causa to Bolivia President Evo Morales on Sunday, 4 November. Rector Roberto Reyna hosted the event. Speaking at the ceremony, President Morales said that he was grateful for the distinction in his name and that of Bolivia. He spoke of his …

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President Leonel Fernandez says that his government will not allow homes to be rebuilt in areas that are vulnerable to natural disasters. He announced a nationwide program to prevent the reconstruction of homes on unsafe land. “Let it be understood, we don’t want to repress or coerce these people, but it is for their own …

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Hoy is reporting that emergency rescue organizations in the DR lack the basic equipment needed to warn people living in vulnerable zones and prevent tragedies like Noel. These statements came from a Center for Emergency Operations official who wished to remain anonymous. The official said that if tomorrow a storm, causing the damage that Noel …

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According to the Center for Emergency Operations (COE) 18th bulletin, 137 communities are still isolated, 85 people are dead and 48 are still missing. A total of 47 bridges and roads have been affected, although seven temporary routes have been opened. The bulletin indicates that 34% of the 110 aqueduct systems have been restored and …

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The director of the UN’s Secretariat for Disaster Reduction, Silvano Briceno pinpointed land use planning as one of the key ways to avoid human and property losses in the context of natural disasters. Internationally, he has called for disaster preparedness in light of global warming that spells an increase in disasters. In today’s Diario Libre, …

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The town of San Jose de Ocoa will get re-connected to the national road network today, Public Works Minister Victor Diaz Rua told the press. He said that a new access road to Ocoa has had to be built, since the old road was not reparable. Diaz explained that three alternative roadways are being built, …

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The Administrative Council of the Dominican Petroleum Refinery (REFIDOMSA) said that they would donate RD$10 million to people who have been affected by Noel. Ruben Montas of REFIDOMSA said that the refinery is supporting all the Dominican families affected by the tragedy. Oxfam International has made its first donation to the victims of Noel. Oxfam …

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