1999 – Page 229

Yesterday the director of the transport union Fenatrano, Juan Hubieres, called a halt to the drivers’ strike in Santo Domingo after reaching an understanding with Metropolitan Transit Authority (AMET) head Hamlet Hermann. Although in its initial stages Fenatrano had targeted the strike in SD’s zones east of the Ozama River, today it was slated to …

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In a ceremony headed by President Leonel Fern?ndez and featuring full military honors, the remains of President Francisco Gregorio Billini y Aristy were added to the National Pantheon yesterday alongside other national leaders and heroes. The remains of the 19th century writer, teacher and President were exhumed last Monday from a private family tomb at …

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As part of its efforts to get everyone to pay for the electricity they consume, the Dominican Electricity Corporation (CDE) announced yesterday that poor families would be charged a nominal fee of RD$100-150 per month if they register their illegal connections. CDE estimates some 500,000 families currently receive electricity without paying for it, and claims …

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The Fourth National Games of the Special Olympics will open Thursday at Santo Domingo’s Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Complex. First in the U.S. 30 years ago, the Special Olympics is nonprofit program of sports training and competition for individuals with mental retardation or physical handicaps that seeks to improve the sense of self-worth of these …

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The Casandra Awards ceremony was held last night in a televised ceremony at the National Theater sponsored by Dominican National Brewery (CND), makers of Presidente beer. The Casandra awards are given to 47 categories of show business by the DR’s Asociaci?n de Cronistas de Arte (Association of Art Reporters — Arcoarte). They are the Dominican …

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Yesterday saw the start of two-day strikes called by three different organizations representing doctors, teachers and transport drivers. The tableau left many Dominicans scratching their heads and questioning the motives of the strikers. Tourists and most DR1 readers were for the most part not affected by the strike activities.The teachers’ strike, called by the Dominican …

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The news daily Listin Diario continues to trickle out the results of the wide-ranging poll it recently conducted with Sigma Dos of Dominicans claiming no affiliation to any political party. This group of Dominican voters are known to often determine the outcome of presidential elections in the DR.In the latest results released, 42% of the …

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American Airlines (AA) passengers seeking passage to the Dominican Republic continue facing re-routing and delays due to the AA pilot "sick out." AA flights 587, 588, 735 and 1728 on the SD-JFK route have all been canceled. AA has been rerouting passengers via Lacsa, Copa, Aeromar and Iberia airlines to Miami for a SD connection …

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The interagency National Trade Negotiations Committee (CNNC) has announced that the DR will demand more products be exempted from trade liberalization measures when trade talks resume with the Caribbean Common Market (CARICOM) next month. CNNC spokesman Frederic Em?m-Zad? said that the DR will expand its draft "negative list" of products to, among other things, bring …

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The Public Works Ministry has begun construction on the Diplomacy School on the grounds of the Foreign Ministry, located on the Malec?n near Ave. Lincoln. The 3,900 cubic meter structure will house a school for training diplomats as part of the Fern?ndez Government’s efforts to create a professional career foreign service for the DR. The …

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