2008 – Page 217

Dominican commuters trying to get home yesterday during the late afternoon rush hour were greeted with a terrible surprise: a shortage of buses running their normal routes. The bus shortage, caused by an impromptu drivers’ strike, made home commutes long and unbearable. DR1 News correspondent Lu Olivero reports that the situation was frustrating for many. …

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On this day in 1961, the bloody 30-year regime of dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo came to an end. Marking the 47th anniversary, Antonio Imbert Barrera, the last surviving participant in Trujillo’s assassination recalls the events of the night when he and a group of men ambushed Trujillo’s vehicle on Santo Domingo’s Malecon seafront boulevard. Imbert …

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La Isla department store on Ave. Tiradentes in Naco is offering 50% off selected household items. La Cadena supermarket is selling six pack Brahma beer for RD$119.95, brown sugar for RD$8.95lb, tomatoes for RD$14.95lb, Italian eggplant for RD$11.95lb, goat meat for stews at RD$79.95lb, and mangos for RD$8.95ea. Pola is advertising their Friday seafood sales …

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President Leonel Fernandez and Vice President Rafael Alburquerque received their election certificates yesterday during a ceremony at the Central Electoral Board (JCE). The certificates declare them the official winners of the 16 May presidential election, in which Fernandez obtained 53.83% of the vote. Fernandez commented that his win is proof of the existence of democracy …

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Key executives, investors and supporters of Barrick Gold, the largest pure gold mining company in the world, met President Leonel Fernandez at the Presidential Palace yesterday. The Toronto-based Canadian company has the concession to exploit the gold mine in Pueblo Viejo, Cotui. Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Venezuelan businessman Gustavo Cisneros, former advisor to …

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The Dominican Republic is taking additional steps to abolish child labor. Vice President Rafael Albuerquerque, renowned for his work in the labor sector, signed an agreement with the International Labor Union (ILO) under which the DR would receive advice and help in reducing child labor. Virgilio Levaggi signed for ILO while Labor Minister Jose Ramon …

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Once again Dominican Medical Association (CMD) president Waldo Ariel Suero is warning that doctors will not give the government any more breaks. He told reporters that they feel the government has deceived them. Doctors are going on strike at public hospitals in the eastern region today. Another strike is planned for 5 June. Doctors have …

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The United Nations Human Development Report 2008, under the title ‘Human Development, It’s a Matter of Power’, was saved for release until after the presidential elections and accuses Dominican politicians of perpetuating the lack of equity that restricts human development in the DR. The effort features examples of best practices in attaining equity at the …

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The Center for Social and Demographic Studies for Social and Demographic Studies (ENDESA) presented the results of the nationwide social survey indicating problem areas where major efforts need to be focused. The survey results reveal that 36% of Dominican Republic residents above the age of 18 do not have ID cards (cedulas). Approximately 5% of …

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The Women and Health Collective and the Women’s Forum for Constitutional Reform are proposing that women’s reproductive rights should be included in the next constitutional reform. This is a sensitive issue in the DR with religious groups and social conservatives wanting to limit reproductive rights. The proposals by the women’s groups, which also include to …

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