Dolores Vicioso – Page 7132

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has assigned its ‘BB-‘ as a long-term foreign-currency senior unsecured debt rating to the projected US$600-million 10-year bond due January 2013. This is three notches into speculative territory.  “The stable outlook balances the country’s relatively high-growth and debt-to-GDP ratio with its low external liquidity and relatively weak government institutions,” said …

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Economist Jose Aleman reaffirmed yesterday that he believes the government is technically broke and on a path to uncertainty. ?They don?t have money to pay their debts and they don?t know where they are going to get it from. The only way [for them] to pay debt is by borrowing money,? said Aleman who has …

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The Direcci?n General de Normas de Calidad (DIGENOR) announced the closing of seven water-bottling plants that do not meet the accepted standards. The government department in charge of industrial norms and quality said the water the companies have been bottling is unfit for human consumption. DIGENOR tests of the ?purified? water indicated the presence of …

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Diario Libre reports that as of yesterday, information is circulating on a RD$180,714 check issued by the Air Force to the order of former presidential security chief, Colonel Pedro Julio (Pepe) Goico for the purchase of food rations. The newspaper explains that the check was issued for Goico?s titled position as head of the Circulo …

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Anything can still happen in the baseball tourney. Last night at Estadio Quisqueya, where the President himself was in attendance sporting an Aguilas hat, the Aguilas made their move to secure a spot in the finals scoring a resounding 7-1 victory over the Leones del Escogido. Julian Tavarez continued his post-season dominance with six and …

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There seems to be a difference of opinions on the current fuel situation. Some say there is plenty of propane, but there is little kerosene; there is or there isn’t enough Avgas, and the situation is affecting tourism. Representatives of the National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP), the Industrial Association, the Gasoline Retailers Association, the …

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Industry & Commerce Minister Sonia Guzman says the supply of fuel is a serious problem for the Dominican Republic. While Guzman blames the scarcity on the situation in Venezuela and the threat of war in Iraq, she also called for a program of rationing in both the public and private sectors. She pointed out that …

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The National Association of Hotels and Restaurants voices it concern over a potential shortage of airplane fuel, reports Hoy newspaper, however sources close to the refinery say that these concerns are unfounded. Carlos Alvarez Guzman, the director of the Airport Department, told the Listin Diario newspaper that there was enough Avgas to supply the needs …

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President Hipolito Mejia signed two decrees to bolster Law 72-02, which oversees the laundering of property proceeding from the trafficking of controlled substances and drugs. Decree 19-03 establishes the Office for the Care and Administration of Seized and Forfeited Property and was signed into effect at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in the presence …

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Upon leaving the Santo Domingo Country Club, where he helped honor civil engineers for services rendered to the nation, President Mejia addressed concerns over the future of the national postal service. Mejia announced that he intends to make sure that the current financial problems affecting the Dominican Postal Institute (INPOSDOM) are resolved by the end …

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