1996 – Page 107

Precious metal brokers applauded when the price for gold went above US$400 per ounce, according to the Wall Street Journal Americas. The financial publication said that “for the first time since August 1993, gold has broken through the US$400 barrier.” Brokers from a New York bank, even opened a bottle of Champagne to celebrate the …

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The general manager of the Industria Nacional del Vidrio (FAVIDRIO), Mr. Rafael Hernandez, told the newspaper Nuevo Diario, that the State company is producing no more than 8,000 cases of bottles per day. But he added that “thanks to the efforts made by the new Director of CORDE, Mr. Pedro Breton, the company that I …

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The increase in unemployment will continue during 1996, according to Mr. Cesar Nicolas Penson, president of the Asociacion de Empresas Industriales de Herrera, who added that “the people will not protest because of hope for changes for the better brought about by the proximity of the presidential elections.”

In the last three months companies in the free zones have dismissed more than 8,000 employees. The figure was given to the newspaper El Caribe by Mr. Eddy Martinez, the executive director of the Asociacion Dominicana de Zonas Francas (ADOZONA). He added that 1995 was a good year for the free zones until September, when …

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Last year the D.R. exported 95 million cigars, and for 1996 it is planning to export 100 million. The announcement was made by the president of the Federacion Nacional de Productores de Tabaco, Mr. Alberto Garcia Hernandez. He requested RD$20 million from the Fondo Dominicano del Tabaco to finance producers.

The government should permit free imports of rice in order to lower prices and thus benefit consumers, said the president of the Asociacion de Comerciantes de Santo Domingo, Mr. Braudilio Eusebio. He said that consumers are being punished by the high prices for the locally produced rice.

The representative of the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB), Mr. Leonardo Da Silva, said that the bank cannot keep resources idle for a long time, as is happening with the US$150 million loan earmarked for the D.R.’s electricity industry. Mr. Da Silva added that Board of Directors of the IDB will not permit the disbursement of …

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The public prosecutor (procurador fiscal) for the Distrito Nacional says that she will be releasing from prison all those that do not have criminal records and especially those that are jailed because they have been unable to pay fines. Dr. Zoila Martínez de Medina said that she will admonish those people that have been imprisoned …

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Germania Castillo, jailed in Bogota for 27 months, after being accused of rebellion and association with guerrilla groups, returned to Santo Domingo on 29 December after being declared innocent by a Colombian court. Although she was allowed to leave, she still has a case pending against her in Ibague, involving the use of false documents, …

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A Listín Diario headline last week accused the Dominican state of negligence in not ratifying five international conventions and protocols that provide protection for natural resources and the environment. Geraldino Gonzalez, the newspaper’s ecology reporter, said the non-signing of these documents has prevented the country taking advantage of technical assistance and financial aid being offered …

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