Dolores Vicioso – Page 6922

Following intense speculation, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has confirmed that the recent suspension of petroleum exports to the Dominican Republic was brought about by accusations that conspirators are using the DR as a base for the planning of a coup against him. Chavez told foreign reporters that exports would be suspended “until the matter was …

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The papers are reporting on the prolonged power cuts in Santo Domingo in recent days, some of which lasted as long as 24 hours in certain areas. These outages are a direct result of the current financial crisis, as Cogentrix withdrew its service because it has not been paid for July and August, amounting to …

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El Caribe reports that the power generation companies are expressing their concerns that the Union Fenosa transfer contract does not specify the amount owed to them by the two beleaguered power distribution companies, EdeNorte and EdeSur, leading to fears that they may never receive their due. The newspaper quotes various estimates of money owed by …

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Hoy newspaper’s “Coctelera” column suggests that a mini-court of the Supreme Court of Justice should review the contracts signed by the government that create obligations to the state. The writer questions the impunity of those negotiating the contentious contracts, often with foreign companies that later submit to major disputes revealing irregularities with the terms contracted. …

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Despite the government party being majority in the Senate, the Senate Finance Committee has come out against the levy of a 5% tax on exports being implemented by the government since 1 August. The Senate says the government needs to consider alternatives to raise RD$2.8 billion through taxation, as report today’s newspapers. The controversial supposedly …

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Listin Diario quotes the economist Frederic Emam-Zade, who expressed his concern that the government has not carried out assessment studies on the possible impact of a Free Trade Agreement with the United States on local production. Hugo Rivera Fernandez, who heads the newly-formed Trade and Investment Committee on the FTA with the US, has said …

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The maneuverings regarding the thorny question of who will be the next PRD Presidential candidate continue. Rafael Subervi Bonilla, one of the seven pre-candidates besides Mejia, is said to be engaged in negotiations with the PPH (Proyecto Presidencial Hipolito – internal PRD campaign promoting the President’s re-election). Speaking on the CDN news channel’s “120 Minutos” …

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Breaking news on CDN says that Jacinto Peynado, recovering from surgery in Miami, has stated he will never support Estrella’s candidacy. Peynado also spoke up against Rafael Bello Andino “and his gang” remaining at the helm of the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC). He said he would return at the end of the month.

Emilio Lapayese, the acerbic columnist for Hoy newspaper, wrote yesterday about the political parties, noting that it was the last day to officially register a political party for the 2004 elections. Don Emilio pointed out that the Central Electoral Board (JCE) requires political parties to register their “principles, aims, and tendencies”, according to their “particular …

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The Civil and Commercial Chamber of the Court of Appeals in Santo Domingo has overturned a decision pronounced in May by Judge Samuel Arias Arzeno, which ordered the Attorney General’s office to return the confiscated Listin Diario newspaper to its former owner, Ramon Baez Romano. Baez Romano is the father of Baninter’s president, Ramon Baez …

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