1998 – Page 176

The Dominican Republic will sign a free trade agreement with Central American countries on 18 April. Only small details remain to be worked out. The final negotiations will take place in Santo Domingo 13-17 April. The heads of state of Central America will travel to Santo Domingo to sign the agreement on 18 April. Once …

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A fire affected the old buildings of Santiago’s historical and commercial district. Santiago is the nation’s second largest city. The fire caused thousands in losses in the Del Sol, Juan Antonio Alix, 30 de Marzo and General Cabrera street blocks. The fire is said to have been caused by a short circuit. Press reports indicate …

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President Leonel Fernandez shuffled his cabinet on Friday, 27 of February, a national holiday. Only hours earlier he had given his state of the nation address from the National Congress building. Most new appointments are contained in Decree 70-98. The appointments are:  APPOINTEE NEW POSITION FORMERLY AT  Temístocles Montás Technical Secretary of the Presidency General …

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The government froze the prices of three principal food staples – rice, milk, chicken and Portland-kind cement. Ministry of Industry and Commerce ruled that rice will have a maximum price of RD$5.50, liquid milk will sell for RD$15 and chicken, RD$12. Grey cement will sell for RD$68.60. The measure comes at a time when the …

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Minister of Tourism Felix Jiménez said that in 1998 the government will invest US$12 million in an advertising and promotional campaign in principal source markets. The government invested US$8 million last year. The monies will be spent in the United States, Spain, Italy, Germany, England and France. Minister Jiménez says that the national hotel inventory …

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The Consulate General of the Dominican Republic in Geneva, Switzerland, inaugurated an exhibit of the Dominican painter Iván Martínez y Villegas on 26 February at the Marche of Hotel Movenpick in Geneva. The exhibition was part of festivities held by the Dominican community in Switzerland on occasion of Independence Day. Martínez y Villegas attended the …

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The cycling team from Venezuela won the XIX Vuelta Ciclística Independencia Nacional, rated as the most important cycling tour in the Central American and Caribbean region. Some 120 cyclists from 15 countries participated in the 19th year of the competition that concluded in Santo Domingo on 27 of February, National Independence Day. The competition finished …

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The DR One daily news section will not be posted on 27 February, a national holiday. On 27 February 1844, Dominicans gained their independence from Haiti through the efforts of a group led by Juan Pablo Duarte, Francisco Rosario Sánchez and Ramón Matías Mella. News updates resume on Monday, 2 March.

The government retained the paychecks of 1,221 officers on 25 February, payday. The officers have not fulfilled their obligation to present their personal financial statements showing their assets and liabilities at the time of accepting their position in government. Law 82-79 obliges high-ranking government officers, judges, mayors and congressmen to declare their wealth. National Treasurer …

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Economists have expressed concern over the new subsidized food sales program being implemented by the Instituto de Estabilización de Precios. The program is said to be politically oriented. While it benefits consumers, it is seriously affecting the profitability of "colmados", small grocery shops, many of which have seen sales drop 30%. INESPRE recently purchased a …

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