1999 – Page 4

El Siglo newspaper reports that RD$195 million (about US$12 million) have been invested in expansion and remodeling works at the Punta Cana International Airport along the East Coast. The airport was severely damaged by Hurricane Georges, but provided services a day after. The Punta Cana International Airport is privately-owned and operated by the Corporación Aeroportuaria …

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The president of the Association of Commercial Banks, José Manuel López Valdez, told the El Siglo newspaper that he forecasts that the present favorable macroeconomic conditions will be sustained in 2000. He forecasts that the exchange rate will maintain its present stability and interest rates will drop slightly next year. He believes that 2000 will …

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According to Teresa Rojas Fernández, most of the adoptions that occur in the DR are the result of the voluntary release of children by their living parents. Rojas is the director of the Organismo Rector de Proteccion de Niños, Niñas and Adolescentes, that supervises adoptions in the DR. She expressed her concern over the intermediaries …

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"Navidad 99" is the celebration of Christmas organized by the Ayuntamiento de Santo Domingo (city municipality), Secretaría de Turismo (ministry of tourism), Comisión de Monumentos (historic monuments commission), Oficina de Patrimonio Cultural (office of cultural heritage), and the Patronato de la Ciudad Colonial (board of the colonial city). Activities start today, Wednesday, 1 December and …

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President Leonel Fernández passed the new traffic law that establishes stronger penalties for drivers responsible for car crashes. Law 114-99, modifies Law 241, and establishes fines of RD$2,000-RD$8,000 and jail sentences of two to five years for those responsible for causing the death of another in a car crash. Jail penalties are contemplated for those …

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The Central Bank announced it will open sales of lots of what was the Montellano Sugar Mill in Puerto Plata next year. The announcement was made by Vice Governor Luis Manuel Piantini, and reported in El Caribe newspaper. The development is located in one of the main tourism zones of the country. The State Sugar …

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The Ministry of Public Health announced a house-by-house vaccination blitz in the Cienfuegos and Gurabo slum areas in Santiago province, where there recently was a diphtheria outbreak. The Ministry had been vaccinating for measles in the area, and will now vaccinate children with a second dose of the DPT vaccine. Dr. Melchor Figuereo, provincial director …

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The Fernández Administration is organizing an aid mission to Venezuela. Torrential rains that have caused mudslides recently affected Venezuela. Some 20,000 persons are estimated to have died in the mudslides, making it the worst natural disaster in Venezuela in this century. The Ministry of Public Health will be sending a commission of 25 physicians to …

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David de Ferranti, World Bank vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean praised the Dominican economy yesterday. He said that the Dominican economy is "an excellent example for others in the region." He spoke with reporters after visiting with President Leonel Fernandez for about an hour at the National Palace. He said that the …

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The Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, the largest private university in the DR, released yesterday the conclusions of talks that took place for six months at the university among representatives of the leading political parties and civic society organizations. The talks covered topics that are considered top priority for the development of the DR. …

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