1999 – Page 169

The Dominican Republic is fighting proposals to remove a United Nations agency, the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), from its current location in Santo Domingo. INSTRAW, like much of the UN, is undergoing a financial crisis that threaten its continued functioning. One proposal floated within the UN to tackle …

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The organizers of the two-day general strike in Bonao, the Dignity Bloc of Monseñor Nouel Province (Bonao is the provincial capital, located northwest of Santo Domingo along the highway to Santiago), late last night called an end to the strike. The Bloc ended the strike after reaching a series of agreements with government officials; government …

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As requested by the Senate on Tuesday, the top pick to take up Amable Aristy Castro’s empty Senate seat representing Altagracia Province resigned his seat in the Chamber of Deputies. The Senate had notified the head of the PRSC, ex-President Dr. Joaquín Balaguer, that it would only consider his party’s list of three candidates for …

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The National Union of Nursing Services (UNASE) and the National Union of Dominican Nursing Services (UNASED) announced yesterday that they will launch a 72-hour strike beginning Monday morning. The strike will affect all public hospitals and clinics, but not private clinics. The nurses are demanding a minimum monthly pay level of RD$12,000 for professional nurses …

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Senate President Ramón Alburquerque yesterday called on President Fernández to cancel 300 subsecretary posts in his government and use the resulting salary savings to pay for the pay hike sought by doctors. He said that the doctors perform a vital service to the Dominican public and deserve a raise, whereas the 300 functionaries he proposes …

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Senator and presidential candidate José Rafael Abinader (PRD-Santiago) submitted yesterday to the Senate a bill to change the sequence of stanzas in the national hymn. The hymn is protected by Article 97 of the Constitution, which declares it to be "unchangeable, unique and eternal." Abinader proposes not changing any of the hymn’s wording, but rather …

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On Tuesday the Administrator of the state-owned Agriculture Bank (Banco Agrícola ­ "Bagrícola") announced that starting May 1st the costs of its loans will rise sharply. Presently bearing a favorable 12% interest rate, Bagrícola loans also will start carrying a 6% charge for "closing costs." Many agricultural producers have protested not only the rise in …

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The International Book Fair continues in Santo Domingo through Sunday, 2 May. The event, described as the most important cultural event of the year, is held on the grounds of the National Music Conservatory, at Alma Mater and Cesar Nicolas Penson streets. The fair is dedicated to Dominican national poet, Pedro Mir and to Mexico. …

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The ninth session of the political dialogue between the three major political parties ­ the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD, which controls the Congress), and the Reformist-Social Christian Party (PRSC) ­ is due to convene late this afternoon at the National Palace. The principal focus of today’s session is expected …

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The Senate yesterday approved in second reading a bill that would expand the JCE’s membership from five to seven members. The measure now awaits approval by the Chamber of Deputies.