Dolores Vicioso – Page 7288

The Court of Appeals of Santo Domingo yesterday absolved former President Salvador Jorge Blanco (PRD 1982-86) and his government collaborators of all criminal responsibility. The judges cleared the former statesman and collaborators Retired General Manuel Antonio Cuervo Gomez, Leonel Amonte, and Juan Tomas Peña Valentin of all charges of corruption in office.

El Caribe reports that government income was 22.9% more in the first trimester of this year compared to the same period in 2000. However, the government had hoped for a 29.6% increase in revenues, as established in the 2001 National Budget. To cover the deficit, the government borrowed RD$800 million from private banks to be …

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The government expects to generate RD$100 million a month by increasing residential, industrial and commercial electricity bills by 20-40%. The increases will affect all who pay more than RD$1,500 a month. The Minister of Industry and Commerce Angel Lockward announced that the measure will go into effect next month and will show up on July …

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In a press release published in daily newspapers, EGE Haina accuses the Dominican government of favoring the distributor companies over the generators, the government and consumers. EGE Haina says this is taking the country from a power surplus to a power deficit and an increase in blackouts. The company explains that the Ministry of Industry …

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Hoy newspaper reports that the parents of one of the workers who died in the toppling of the Palacio del Cine under construction in Santiago have presented a legal claim for RD$50 million in damages to the builder and the owner. Their 20 year old son, laborer Paulino Martinez Toribio and six other persons died …

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The vice president of the Chamber of Construction, Cristian Maluf, explained the 40% wage increase for construction workers. He said that for a long time construction workers have been paid 35% more than the minimum wage. He said by increasing the wage to 40%, in reality the laborers will only receive a 5% increase. He …

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An amateur video camera taped a recent pep talk that the President?s legal advisor Guido Gomez Mazara made to PRD party members in Samana. Hoy newspaper gives the story front page coverage today. The video was given to a news show on Channel 23 and one on Channel 13. It?s controversial because it shows the …

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Public Works Minister Miguel Vargas justified the construction of ten 50-bed “smart hospitals” by a Florida based company on grounds that it is easier to build new hospitals than to repair the old. The health care centers have a minimal cost of almost US$50 million. Vargas said the Ministry does not have the budget to …

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The president of the Presidential Electricity Advisory Committee, Hugo Guiliani Cury, warns that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce?s proposal to reduce the government subsidy on power would have an immediate inflationary effect in the economy. The measure would take effect in the July electricity bills. Guiliani says the reduction of the subsidy would spur …

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The Executive Branch has sent to Congress plans for the creation of another ministry. The Overseas Ministry would be dedicated to the affairs of Dominican communities abroad.