1996 – Page 33

As student protests continue on the grounds of the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo (UASD), the rectors of UASD and the Instituto Tecnológico (INTEC) agreed to organize a summit of unversity deans and rectors to discuss the controversial presidential decree No. 259-96 which regulates higher education. Edylberto Cabral of UASD and Rafael Toribio of INTEC …

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The Dominican Navy, together with the National Directorate of Drug Control (DNCD), has recovered 630 kilograms of cocaine dropped on the south coast of the D.R. between 11 and 14 August. Most of the drug was discovered on the coast near Azua, where 500 kilos were confiscated by the navy on 11 August. On the …

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The Spanish news agency EFE has published an interesting article about the popular Dominican belief that the mention of the name “Cristobal Colon” (Christopher Columbus) will bring a “fucu”, or wave of bad luck. The belief that the name “Colon” will bring bad luck has prompted Dominicans to refer to him as “the Admiral” in …

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Carmen Quidello de Bosch, the wife of former President, Juan Bosch, was taken to the Corazones Unidos clinic on Tuesday, 13 August, apparently suffering from pneumonia. On Thursday, 15 August, Mrs. Quidello de Bosch was reported to be recovering satisfactorily.

Dr. Leonel Fernández was sworn in as President of the Dominican Republic on 16 August after winning the presidential run-off on 30 June. In his speech before a joint session of Congress, together with other key political figures and dignitaries of more than 80 nations, President Fernández pledged to preside over an aggressive central government that would …

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Beginning their four-year term, President Fernández and his Vice-President Jaime David Fernández Mirabal face the challenge of keeping their campaign promise of change and forming a “new path” for the D.R. One of the most present themes in candidate Fernández’s speeches during the campaign was the fight against corruption, which has been a constant issue …

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Leonel Fernández was born on 26 December, 1953 in a small house in the San Carlos area of Santo Domingo, the son of a former Army mayor Jose Antonio Fernández and Yolanda Reyna. At the age of 9, Leonel moved to New York with his parents, where he finished elementary school and began high school. …

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Jaime David Fernández Mirabal was born on 15 October, 1956 in the province of Salcedo, part of the Cibao region, son of Jaime Fernández and Dede Mirabal. Dr. Fernández Mirabal’s aunts, Patria, Maria Teresa and Minerva were all killed during the family’s struggle against the Trujillo dictatorship. His father, Jaime Fernández was the appointed governor …

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The last days as President for Dr. Joaquín Balaguer were characterized by the many openings of newly constructed buildings and other government works, and by protests from those who were not given apartments in the new buildings. On 15 August, hundreds of people who claimed to have been promised apartments by the government, plus employees …

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Both houses of Congress elected their respective presidents for the new legislative term beginning 16 August. As had been agreed upon in a previous accord, the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano (PRSC) and the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD) supported each other to divide control of the Congress and form the opposition to newly sworn in President …

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