1998 – Page 174

The new Minister of Public Works Diandino Peña announced that all government works will be executed by private contractors. Under the previous Minister of Public Works Jimmy Durán, several major works were being executed by the Ministry itself. Engineer Peña designated the private contractors that will carry out the works, including the 27 de Febrero …

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President Leonel Fernández said during the National Dialogue meetings in La Romana that politics is no longer a priority of the Dominican people. He said that the Dominican people are more interested in the construction of important infrastructure works, the development of their communities, the conservation of the environment and the improvement of their standard …

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Hoy newspaper reported that Colombian drug cartels using this country as a bridge from Colombia to the United States (via Puerto Rico) are paying their Dominican counterparts in heroine and not in hard currency. The newspaper alerts that these dealers must sell the drug in the Dominican Republic as they are not allowed to compete …

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Foreign currency is now fetching more pesos. According to press reports, the dollar has been sold for up to RD$15 pesos on the street market, a new record. Thus the peso has lost 5% of its value since December 1997. According to Hoy newspaper, the exchange rate used by Dominican industries for bank transfers to …

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Press reports indicated there is a shortage of avjet fuel of 100 to 130 octanes which is affecting the flights of domestic airlines and small planes. Las Americas, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana and Herrera were said to be out of fuel reserves. The shortage is attributed to problems in importing and difficulties between the two …

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The Dominican Republic will host presidents and heads of state from the English-speaking Caribbean at the end of August. Vice President Jaime David Fernández Mirabal invited the 13 statesmen from Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries to Santo Domingo when participating in the 9th Caricom Heads of State Summit held from 1-3 March in St. George, Grenada. …

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The Listín Diario announced that the United States will eliminate quota restrictions on underwear imports from the Dominican Republic as of 26 March. The State Department responded to a request from the National Free Zone Council, through the Ministry of Foreign Relations, on the need to eliminate the quota to category 352-652 for cotton and …

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The Ministry of Tourism regulated the visits to El Limón Waterfall in Samaná. The Ecotourism and Environment Department of the Ministry prohibited reaching the waterfalls by vehicle or bicycles. One will only be able to get there by horse or mule or on foot. Also being prohibited are canyoning (a combination of swimming, climbing, cascading …

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The National Hotel & Restaurant Association reports that the average hotel occupancy in the country of larger hotels was 76.2%, up from 7.8% in 1996. Puerto Plata registered the highest occupancy rates, with an 83.4%. The peak months of tourism were March, July and August. Juan Dolio-Boca Chica was second with 79.7%, with January, February …

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The Fernández administration plans to invest RD$330 million to remodel the Justice of Peace courts throughout the country. Some 19 courts will be remodeled and another 95 built this year. The restructuring of the judiciary in the Dominican Republic is seen as one of the major achievements of the Fernández government. Architect Luis Despradel Dájer …

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