1999 – Page 51

The National Planning Office director, Rafael Camilo said that the government has budgeted RD$8,000 million (about US$500 million) to complete public works initiated during the Fernández administration. The government completes its term in August 2000. Camilo also said the government will be submitting a RD$50,000 million budget bill to Congress in mid November. Of the …

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El Siglo newspaper reports that the Central Electoral Junta (JCE) is still behind in its plan to provide new voting and identification documents to Dominicans by December 1999. Dominicans need the new documents to vote in the 16 May 2000 election. According to the item, the JCE has not been able to issue the cards …

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The Listin Diario newspaper reports that 20% of the children under 14 years of age in the mountain valley farming communities of Constanza have not been officially declared. Pro-Joven coordinator Karen Ovalles said that when carrying out a program to combat child labor they counted 3,895 undeclared children. She said that most of the children …

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Sammy Sosa is organizing a big birthday party. He will be 31 on 12 November and has invited President Bill Clinton, Mark McGwire of the St. Louis and star basketball player Michael Jordan to his party in Santo Domingo. Where the party will be held has yet to be announced. He made the announcement when …

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His reputation is that he’s the best pitcher in baseball today. And Pedro Martínez did not let the full house gathered at Boston Red Sox’s Fenway Park think differently on Saturday. He led his team to a 13-1 victory over the New York Yankees, defeating none less than former Red Sox great Roger Clemens, winner …

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Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD) presidential candidate Hipólito Mejía and Partido de la Liberación Dominicana (PLD) presidential candidate Danilo Medina were speakers at the annual dinner of the Dominican Association of Exporters last night. It was the first time the two met publicly after their being chosen presidential candidates. Of course, their photos in an embrace …

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The Governor of Puerto Plata Juan Pablo Plácido told the press that President Leonel Fernández has postponed his visit to Puerto Plata. The President was slated to travel to Puerto Plata yesterday to attend the inauguration of the Costa Dorada Iberostar hotel. The new 516 room hotel is located at Marapicá Beach, next door to …

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The National Office of Statistics (ONE) reports that by year 2000 there will be 8.5 million people living in the DR. This is 200,000 more people than in 1999. According to ONE, the National District (Santo Domingo and environs) will have a population of 2,599,000 people by year 2000. Population statistics for year 2000 for …

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Listín Diario newspaper reports on the diversification of the Dominican industrial free zones. After more than 30 years of dominance of textile assembly plants, now the growth pace of these has diminished, while the rate of installation of non-apparel plants is growing. From January to October 1999, the National Council of Export Free Zones authorized …

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President Leonel Fernández announced yesterday at the Latin American Travel Press Conference that he has plans to send a bill that would incorporate a fixed tax on petroleum product sales in the DR to Congress next week. This way, the increase of the prices of petroleum products would stop having political and social implications, he …

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