2008 – Page 226

Dominican Ramon Mateo was awarded the title of Grandmaster, the highest title a chess player can attain, by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) in April 2008. It is a title that is awarded for performance in competition and is held for life. He is the first and only Dominican chess player to receive this title. …

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Legendary 72-year old Dominican ballplayer and manager Felipe Alou aspires at least to make it to the finals in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. During his official presentation as head of the Dominican team, he told the press: “We are going to do all we can to win the Classic.” He said that the DR …

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Nacional supermarkets are offering 40% off mangos, plus 20% off other fruits and vegetables. Ground coffee (Santo Domingo) is selling for RD$62.95lb. Super Pola is advertising 35% off fruits and vegetables. La Cadena is selling cabbage for RD$15.95ea, Tommy Adkins mangos for RD$9.95ea, red apples for RD$26.95lb, and more discounted fruits and vegetables. Plaza Lama …

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It is very unusual for the Catholic Church religious holiday of Corpus Christi to take place in May. Usually, it is a June holiday, coming right after school is off. But this year, Corpus Christi will be Thursday, 22 May. Since Dominicans are just recovering from the long election holiday of last weekend, it is …

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Public Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez says that any salary wage awarded to doctors will only happen once the government’s contractual structure with the doctors is reviewed. The ministry insists that wage increases be pegged to individual performance at specific jobs in public hospitals. Public hospital doctors have been engaged in an ongoing struggle with …

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Administrative Minister to the Presidency Luis Manuel Bonetti says the government would maintain food and fuel subsidies to keep prices stable. Meanwhile, Industry and Commerce Minister Melanio Paredes announced that the government’s economic team would meet on Thursday. He hinted that it was likely that fuel prices would be frozen until all the current speculation …

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The Central Bank April Consumer Price Index showed a 1.88% increase in prices for April, after a 1.71% price increase in March. The government would instate several new food and price subsidies in April and May in order to control rising prices. Accumulated inflation for January-April was 4.72%. See http://www.bancentral.gov.do/…

The rector of the Higher Agricultural Institute (ISA), located in La Herradura, Santiago, told Hoy reporter Jose Alfredo Espinal that the current prices of basic foodstuffs in the Dominican Republic is the result of a process that has developed over several years. Benito Ferreiras, the rector of the institute, said that the current crisis is …

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Representatives from several industrial groups agree that over the next four years the administration will have to apply an ironclad policy of savings, reduce expenditures and reduce subsidy programs. The presidents of the National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (ANJE), the Agro-Business Board (JAD), the Herrera Industries Association (AEIH) and the Trade and Business Federation, together …

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The Dominican Republic is a world leader in the export of organic bananas, cocoa, coffee and coconuts, as reported in Diario Libre. The DR leads in organic banana exports to Europe, shipping more than 90,000 boxes per week. Organic banana exports make up about 20% of the DR’s total banana exports. Banana exports increased by …

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