Dolores Vicioso – Page 6905

The Mejia administration has at least 52 inconditional deputies. A vote was called yesterday for the passing of a bill presented by the Executive Branch that would authorize the government to take on more debt — RD$5.1 billion in domestic bonds. The bill received 52 yes votes from the 118 deputies present (of a total …

Read more…

El Caribe reports on a joint study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Dominican government that urges improved preventive measures for natural disasters rather than regret after the event. The research comprises 2,000 natural disasters of major and minor proportions between 1966 and 2000. Most common are fires and floods, and most serious …

Read more…

Last month’s earthquake caused RD$160 million worth of material damage to public, private and commercial premises in the northern city of Santiago, and has left between 170 and 200 families homeless, according to Edwin Vargas of the northern branch of engineers’ association CODIA. The Red Cross has warned people not to stay in damaged houses, …

Read more…

In a study based on the US census of 2000, Dominicans are the fourth largest minority group of Latino origin in the country as a whole, and the second largest in New York City. Mexicans comprise by far the largest group, accounting for 58% of the total Hispanic population, followed by Puerto Ricans with 10% …

Read more…

All events scheduled for this week and next will have to compete with US Major League baseball for many people’s attentions. Wherever one is, from Monte Cristi to Higuey, it seems there is a radio or TV nearby, tuned in to see Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez, or David Ortiz as they make their star appearances …

Read more…

President Hipolito Mejia received four ships to be used to patrol the coastal waters of the Dominican Republic. The “Altair”, a GC-11, is brand new and just delivered from the Swiftships boatyard in Morgan City, Louisiana. The patrol boats “Bellatrix” GC-106, “Canopus” GC-107 and “Procion” GC-103 were all rebuilt at Swiftboats, a major military contractor …

Read more…

The Listin Diario reports that the government is studying the feasibility of an increase to the ITBIS tax, from the current 12% to 15%. According to a report from the Ministry of Finance, the tax reform is “indispensable” and it lists four possible scenarios. The first would be one in which 15% is applied to …

Read more…

Last night the Senate approved a first reading on the 2% tax to be levied on all imports. During the reading, the Senate modified the tax bill to extend its application until 31 December 2004. The senators also voted to legalize the increase of the exit tax from US$10 to US$20. A second reading, however, …

Read more…

The government, represented by Finance Minister Rafael Calderon, has conditioned any further payments to Cogentrix, the generation facility in San Pedro de Macoris, to the renegotiation of the current contract. According to non-official sources, the Listin Diario reports that the debt owed amounts to US$18 million. Meanwhile, the president of the Senate commission on energy, …

Read more…

This week’s column in El Caribe by leading economist Pedro Silverio refers to a business without a future. Silverio is talking about the government’s recent purchase of Edenorte and Edesur. He opens by saying that the wave of privatization of state-run enterprises began in the 80s, as a result of the mounting evidence then of …

Read more…