Dolores Vicioso – Page 8107

The National Council of Magistrates (CNM), the body that will select judges for a new Supreme Court, met for the first time on 18 September, more than two years after its creation was authorized under the constitutional reforms of August, 1994. One of main topics of discussion at its first session, said President Leonel Fernandez, …

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The National Attorney General, Abel Rodriguez del Orbe, called on the high-ranking members of government departments and institutions to present their financial statements, as dictated under law No. 82. The 30-day grace period has expired for most of those named on 16 August or shortly after. He said that only 27 have presented their statements, …

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President Leonel Fernandez, via decree No. 444-96, raised the pensions of retired members of the Armed Forces and National Police by between 20-40%. The measure assures that no pensioner will receive less than RD$1,014 per month, the same minimum as civil servants, who received a similar raise just three weeks earlier.

More than 100 mayors, including the mayor of Santo Domingo, called on a greater financial contribution from the central Government for their budgets during a meeting of the Liga Municipal Dominicana (LMD), headed by its Secretary General Julio Marinez. The LMD also resolved to support a bill in the Senate sponsored by the Acuerdo de …

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After President Leonel Fernandez received families from the impoverished areas known as Los Guandules and La Cienaga, and promised to improve their living conditions, the National Palace and its surroundings have turned into a place of protest for others in similar predicaments. Two days after the families from La Cienaga and Los Guandules were received, …

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The National Comptroller’s Office is currently conducting an audit of the Consejo Estatal del Azucar (CEA), whose new director Antonio Isa Conde says there could be “terrible things” found in the records under previous directors. He commented that many people “have abused the CEA”, referring to former administrators and employees. He told the hosts of …

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Early last week the Monetary and Financial Bill was approved. The bill was passed after 40 amendments were made to the original document. Among the amendments was one reducing the terms in office for the Central Bank governor and members of the Monetary Board from six to four years.

The creation of new free zone companies has decreased by 35%, because of the absence of a textile parity arrangement between the Dominican Republic and the United States. According to Eddy Martinez, executive director of the Asociación Dominicana de Zonas Francas (ADOZONA), only 25 free zone companies have been started during the first 8 months …

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By the second half of November, the Bank for Small Enterprise will open its doors, with RD$38 million in start-up capital. The bank has RD$14 million from the private sector and RD$16 million from the Fondo para el Financiamiento de la Microempresa, Inc. (FONDOMICRO) and the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB). The announcement was made by …

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According to a report by the economic consulting firm Despradel y Asociados (DASA), the imports of vehicles, electric appliances, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, and other non-essential products totaled US$551 million in 1995. Imports of materials required for agriculture, cultural goods, and medicines were valued at US$170 million during the same period.