2008 – Page 329

The Customs Department reports that it has registered irregularities in 220 shipment containers, amounting to attempted evasion estimated at RD$554.2 million. The irregularities were discovered when the declarations didn’t match the contents in the containers. There were cases where wheat was only paying 14% of the tariffs. According to Listin Diario, the DGA searches 63% …

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The Dominican government will buy a total of one million chickens as a way of averting a total collapse of the sector. The poultry sector has been in need of help ever since Haiti placed a ban on chicken and egg imports, causing chicken farmers to lose and estimated RD$600 million in revenues. Listin Diario …

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National District Mayor Roberto Salcedo has announced that drivers who park their cars in prohibited areas in the Colonial Zone would receive heavy fines and could risk having their cars towed away. The new Colonial Zone parking rules will be implemented from next week and will come as a welcome development for this heavily congested …

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Education Minister Alejandrina German’s response to enquiries by TV and radio investigative reporter Nuria Piera into a Jarabacoa villa that is under construction and that allegedly belongs to the minister has spurred controversy. When asked for her response to the revelation, German told journalists that the claim that she was building a summer vacation mansion …

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If you are taking the bus in and around Santo Domingo today or tomorrow, be forewarned and expect long lines. Hoy reports that Fenatrano will not be running 70% of its buses in the National District and the province of Santo Domingo because, according to union leader Juan Hubieres, his members are no longer receiving …

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PRD presidential candidate Miguel Vargas Maldonado is making accusations against President Leonel Fernandez, saying that Fernandez is using public money to fund his campaign and that government employees are using their work time and resources to campaign. Vargas expressed these accusations during a meeting with Jose Miguel Insulza, secretary general of Organization of American States …

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According to a report by Business News Americas, Dominican commercial banks reported a 21% increase in net profits in 2007, compared to 2006. The net profits, according to BNA were for RD$8.25 billion (US$253 million). BNA writes that the increase reflects a positive performance by the Dominican economy. Loans also increased by 20% to RD$247 …

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The number of private security companies has increased by 10% and now totals 150. These companies employ a total of 30,000 watchmen, according to Pedro Benoit, president of the Dominican Association of Private Security Companies. Benoit expressed his concern about the rise in crime and said that criminals were using increasingly sophisticated methods. He added …

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Juma, Bonao has found itself a new celebrity, Jumita. The chicken, owned by Jose Julio Guerrero, is said to lay normal sized greenish-blue eggs. Hoy writes that Jumita’s story was brought to light by artist and Bonao native Candido Bido, who provided Hoy with samples of Jumita’s green eggs. No reason for the green egg …

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Dominican singer/songwriter Juan Luis Guerra is once again sweeping up award nominations. This time he is the man to beat at the Billboard Latino Music Awards. It was impossible to think that Guerra would be able to top his performance at the Grammys, but he has been nominated seven times, including best composer and producer …

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