1999 – Page 195

The Public Health Ministry has announced plans for an aggressive dengue prevention campaign for 1999 in order to avoid the types of case numbers the DR has had in recent years. In 1998, reports SESPAS, there were 3,932 cases reported, 36 of which resulted in death having not received proper medical attention. There are two …

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The opening of the repaired "Telef?rico," the cable car that goes up Isabel de Torres Mountain to a park at the top offering a beautiful panorama of Puerto Plata, has been postponed. The opening was originally envisioned for today, in time for the traditionally heavy influx of tourists into PP. Its Administrator, Danilo Hiraldo, blamed …

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The transport strike in Santiago originally called for today and tomorrow has been called off in favor of talks with Santiago’s mayor, H?ctor Grull?n Moronta. Meanwhile, the strike in Nagua got ugly, leaving at least 20 people hurt (three of them police) and dozens arrested after confrontations between strike advocates and police. By all accounts, …

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The PN reported yesterday that a German man, Driedrich Dieter Ofkar-August Svttenlin, has been arrested for promoting a Cabarete hotel on the Internet as a hotel for homosexuals. Not only was he arrested, but his computer and discs were confiscated. The German Embassy has indicated that it will request his extradition to go to Germany, …

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The sixth session of the political dialogue is due to be convened at the National Palace this afternoon. Talks will focus yet again on the two thorniest political issues on the agenda, the composition of the Central Election Board (JCE) and who should be the Secretary-General (SG) of the Dominican Municipal League (LMD). The dialogue …

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Encountered an example of corruption in the Dominican Government? Now you can spark an investigation into it by filing a complaint via the Internet. The Corruption Prevention Department (DPC) of the Attorney-General’s Office now solicits complaints by e-mail at Procurador.Gral@codetel.net.do . The DPC also has created a new webpage — http://www.procuraduria.gov.do/indice.htm — that discusses the …

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The DR’s Ambassador to the U.S., Bernardo Vega, testified yesterday at a U.S. Congressional public hearing held in Washington on the textile parity bill. The hearing at the Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives featured numerous speakers in favor of the proposal, including officials from the Commerce and State Departments and …

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The Senate yesterday unanimously approved in second reading the bill which allow the Government to issue debt bonds to cover RD$5 billion of its internal (i.e., domestic) debt, but not before making two important amendments. The bill now goes to the Chamber of Deputies. One amendment, offered by Finance Committee Chairman Dar?o G?mez (PRD-Santiago Rodr?guez), …

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The Chamber of Deputies yesterday approved in first reading a bill that would prohibit smoking in public places, prohibit the sale of tobacco products to minors, and require cigarette packs to carry health warnings. The bill now goes to the Health Committee for study before returning to the floor for amendments and a final vote. …

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The Tourism Ministry (SECTUR) yesterday imposed a number of restrictions on the use of most of the nation’s beaches during Holy Week, the busiest beach visit week in the year. SECTUR has outlawed the use of jet skis, launches and motor boats at beaches and bathing spots to avoid accidents during the high traffic period. …

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