E. León Jimenes announced that it will not sponsor the celebration of the year’s end traditional merengue music and fireworks bash (this would have been its 7th year) at the Avenida del Puerto. Earlier in the year, the company had announced its biggest party ever, but now is backing out. The manufacturer of Marlboro cigarettes and Presidente Beer says that it is incorporating self-regulation and will no longer promote smoking in events that can be attended by minors. The announcement comes at a time when Congress is studying a bill that would ban advertising of cigarettes. Company president Abel Waschmann says Marlboro will only sponsor events where the admission of minors is restricted. The E. León Jiménes extravaganza was to be the leading millennium celebration. Still in place is the Brugal rum-sponsored party on the Malecón and the Avenida del Puerto, as well as Expo Milenio (see http://www.expomilenio.com), a music and goods exhibition along the Malecón and other key Santo Domingo tourist attractions starting 1 December. News reports say that the company decided to also suspend the celebration of the Presidente Latin Music Festival in June 2000 because its targeted date coincides with the second round of the national elections. Likewise, the Olympic Stadium may be off limits because of remodeling underway to prepare it for the Pan American Sports Games in 2003. The highly successful Presidente Beer Latin Music Festival has brought to the DR leading Latin American performers including Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, Victor Manuel, Jerry Rivera, Ana Barbara, Juan Gabriel, Maná, DLG, Carlos Vives, Alejandro Fernandez, Niche, Azúcar Moreno, Tito Rojas , Thalia, Carlos Ponce, Chayanne, Nek among others.
