2008 – Page 216

The Customs Department (DGA) has signed an agreement with the US Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP). Under this agreement the US agency will donate modern inspection equipment to the DGA in order to guarantee transparency in customs declarations. The system, which is valued at US$1 million, has been in place at the Multimodal Caucedo …

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Minister of Public Works Victor Diaz Rua has announced that the authorities will be opening the new 106km highway to Samana from Km14 in Santo Domingo this Sunday, 1 June. The road cuts driving time from the current four hours to under two hours, a considerable saving with gasoline at around RD$200/gallon. Diaz estimates that …

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Many areas in the DR are still recovering from the effects of Tropical Storms Noel and Olga, yet the 2008 hurricane season is already upon us. Weather experts forecast that a dozen hurricanes will affect the Caribbean this year. Many in the DR hope that emergency officials have learned from last year’s mistakes. During a …

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The Chamber of Deputies has approved a set of loans from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for a total of US$80 million. The money will be used to repair roads and strengthen the nation’s emergency program and statistical system. The loan designated for the statistical system is valued at US$10 million while the loan for …

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Senate President Reinaldo Pared Perez (PLD-Santo Domingo) says that the findings of the United Nations Development Program’s report, released yesterday, can’t be attributed to the current administration, but to accumulated social debt. As he continued to pass the buck, Pared said that former President Hipolito Mejia should be held responsible for much of what the …

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The official report from the Organization of American States (OAS) Electoral Observers indicates that the constant electoral process in the DR is excessive. The report indicates that campaigning every two years also places an economic burden on citizens. The report was presented by OAS mission chief Jose Octavio Bordon who says there is a concern …

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According to a nationwide survey by the Center for Social and Demographic Studies (ENDESA), 7% of Dominicans suffer from hypertension, with people over the age of 45 showing the highest risk. An interesting detail of the report is that hypertension is more common among people with higher incomes. Ten percent of people who make at …

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Despite heavy demand, American Airlines has reduced its flight schedule to Santiago’s Cibao International airport to two, down from five, and this is creating serious inconveniences for passengers. The airline also eliminated Samana Airport from its route, as part of measures to compensate for the increase in fuel prices. Engineer Felix Garcia, president of Aeropuerto …

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CEPM, one of the leading energy providers in the eastern region, is moving into the Internet business, according to company president Rolando Gonzalez Bunster. This development means that access to the Internet in the east coast and Bayahibe will only get better. CEPM, a privately-owned energy consortium, chose ECI Telecom to enter the rapidly growing …

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Fenatrano public transport union leader Juan Hubieres was arrested yesterday after a violent incident involving two members of his bus union. Hoy reports that the incident was sparked off when union members Frank Sanchez and Pedro Segura got into an argument with another driver, from the Ruta 96 union, over control of the Tamarindo/UASD bus …

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