1999 – Page 215

The head of the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), Rear Admiral Luis Alberto Humeau Hidalgo, said yesterday that he has precise instructions from President Fern?ndez to do whatever it takes to ensure that the DR does not become a "bridge" for narcotics trafficking between South and North America.

Shortly after being sworn into office by President Fern?ndez, the new National Police (PN) Chief, Major General Pedro de Jes?s Candelier Tejada, declared that he was "fed up" with reports of PN patrols that seek money from drivers and he would take drastic steps to get rid of the practice. "We are fed up with …

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The District Attorney’s office has ordered an investigation to determine causes of the death of Moises Fernando Marchena Arredondo. Marchena was in jail for alleged fraud and expropriation of the much publicized case of the Bahia de las Aguilas park reserve lands, in coordination with former congressmen and Balaguer administration officers. His request to be …

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The XXI Bienal Nacional de Artes Visuales, the major national arts contest that is held every two years, opened on 27 February at the Museum of Modern Art in Plaza de la Cultura. Other new museums to visit are the Museo Candido Bid? in Bonao (less than one hour from Santo Domingo on the way …

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Cuba’s national cycling team won the Vuelta Cicl?stica Independencia Nacional, a more than 1,000 circuit around the Dominican Republic, that ended on Saturday 27 February with a closed circuit around Avenida Charles de Gaulle in Santo Domingo. Tomy Alcedo, from Venezuela, was the most outstanding individual cyclist. The Cubans completed the final round with three …

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Dominican boxer Julio Cesar Green returned to the DR a hero after recapturing the World Boxing Association medium weight crown on 20 February 1999. He defeated Australian Darren Obah in the ninth round. Other Dominicans who have won world titles are Teo Cruz, Juan Guzm?n, Leo Cruz, Eleoncio Mercedes, Francisco Quiroz, Cesar Polanco, and Julio …

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President Leonel Fern?ndez gave an inspirational state-of-the-address speech at the National Assembly on Saturday, 27 of February. In his two and a half hour talk he listed innumerable indicators on why he has no doubt that the DR is much better off today than six years ago. From The Economist’s forecast that the DR will …

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In the final third of his speech, President Fern?ndez stated that what has been described as a political crisis is not so. He said that what there has been is "strong competition among political parties that reflects in the government’s institutions and the entire society." The statesmen said that what is occurring is the nation’s …

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Minister of the Armed Forces: Major General Manuel de Jesus Florentino Armed Forces advisor to the President: Major General Ruben A. Paulino. Chief of the National Police: General Pedro de Jesus Candelier National Police advisor to the President: Major General Jose Anibal Sanz Jimini?n. Minister of Interior and Police: Norge Botello Chief of the Navy: …

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The appointment of Armed Forces General Pedro de Jesus Candelier as new chief of the National Police was interpreted by the local press as a message to delinquents that the government intends to reduce the surge in crime in recent years. Crime has increased, with slum areas reporting statitistics such as 84 victims in January-February …

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