1998 – Page 15

Last night the Senate approved the National Budget after four hours of sometimes angry debate. Despite their criticism of the RD$44.671 billion budget compromise package worked out between a bicameral committee and budget officials of the Fernández Government. All but one member of the Santo Domingo Accord (ASD) bloc voted in favor of the budget. …

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Dominican home run king and the National League’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Sammy Sosa met last night with President Bill Clinton. Sosa and his wife Sonia met with President Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton briefly. They then joined other honored guests for the annual ceremony where the nation’s official Christmas Tree is lit …

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The head of the Directorate-General for Internal Revenue (DGII), Juan Hernández, issued yesterday a new regulation to change how DGII collects the US$10 departure tax imposed on airline passengers starting January 1, 1999. The tax is currently collected by DGII at the airport, with passengers forced to have US$10 cash handy, in exchange for which …

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In Tuesday’s national merit awards ceremony at the National Palace, one of the 400 recipients caused a sensation by interrupting President Fernández’s televised speech about the modernization of the Dominican school system. Clarissa Carmona Ramíez, a 17-year old high school student from Baní said: "Excuse me, Mr. President, I understand perfectly what you have said …

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The Fernández Government is due to send to Congress today the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) it recently concluded with Central American nations. The treaty setting the framework for the FTA was signed in Santo Domingo last April by the DR and five Central American nations: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Recently concluded …

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President Leonel Fernández travels to Miami today, where he is due to received the "Golden Star of the Caribbean" award from the private group Caribbean and Latin American Action (CLAA). CLAA is giving Fernández the award in recognition of his efforts to promote regional integration. Since coming to office the President proposed and achieved FTAs …

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The Reformista Party (PRSC) has decided to take its opposition to the current composition of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) to a new level in the hopes of garnering international pressure to change the Board. The PRSC has firmly opposed the new JCE since its appointment this past summer by a PRD-controlled Congress, arguing that …

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The Public Health Ministry (SESPAS) yesterday launched a new campaign to prevent traffic accidents to realize the objectives of the National Plan for the Reduction of Deaths by Traffic Accidents (PLANREMAT). Public Health Minister Altagracia Guzmán Marcelino said that while the 1998 campaign managed to reduce traffic accidents by about 40%, much still needs to …

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The Licey Tigers destroyed the Northeast Giants 8-1 at Santo Domingo’s Quisqueya Stadium last night. The Tiger offense took off in the fourth inning and never looked back. Meanwhile, the Escogido Lions edged out the Cibao Eagles 2-1 at Santiago’s Cibao Stadium last night. Both teams played tough defensively and offensively. As a result of …

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Dissension within the ranks of the Santo Domingo Accord (ASD) bloc yesterday delayed yet again approval of the 1999 national budget. The ASD is the coalition between the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) and a collection of small parties. Yesterday closed-door negotiations were held for four hours in the offices of Senate President Ramón Alburquerque to …

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