The transport strike in Santiago originally called for today and tomorrow has been called off in favor of talks with Santiago’s mayor, H?ctor Grull?n Moronta. Meanwhile, the strike in Nagua got ugly, leaving at least 20 people hurt (three of them police) and dozens arrested after confrontations between strike advocates and police. By all accounts, the strike still has all schools and most businesses closed and public transport halted in that city. Strike leaders continue to insist that no matter what the pressure on them from police, the strike will continue until populist leaders imprisoned on Monday are released. The Senator for that region, Jes?s V?zquez, has denounced police actions in Nagua and called upon PN chief Pedro de Jes?s Candelier to honor a verbal promise to release the imprisoned strike leaders.In a related story, President Fern?ndez yesterday ordered the Public Works Ministry to begin immediate fixing and repaving of the Puerto Plata-R?o San Juan Highway, especially the stretch involving Sos?a and Cabarete. The measure was taken to satisfy a key demand of organizers of a strike there held earlier this week, and thereby avoid any further disturbances in that tourism zone.
