1999 – Page 55

The government announced that from now to March some 360,000 kilowatts will be added to the electricity grid. Of the total, 240,000 will go on line this year. The new units are expected to bring relief from the blackouts that are affecting the country. The spokes people for the government say that an increase in …

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The Conferencia del Episcopado Dominicano, the ruling body of the Roman Catholic Church in the DR, denied it was behind the request of Pastoral Juvenil Catholic Church group that requested the Dominican government give Dominican birth certificates to hundreds of Haitians that are born in the DR to Haitian parents, most of which do not …

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Negotiators for the Dominican and Haitian governments made important advances during the most recent round of bilateral talks. The fourth round of meetings of the Bilateral Commission ended in Santo Domingo on Friday. Minister of Foreign Relations of Haiti Fritz Longchamp told the press that he is pleased with the progress. On Friday, agreements to …

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Vice President Jaime David Fernández traveled to Africa to meet with the statesmen of Gabon, Senegal, Kenya, Cameroon and Benin, and personally invite these to attend the Santo Domingo ACP Summit of Heads of State and Government. The event, slated for 25-26 November, is the most important international meeting ever held in Santo Domingo or …

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The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation donated US$20 million to the Municipality of Santo Domingo to finance low cost housing for dwellers of barrios of the capital that were affected by Hurricane Georges last year. City Mayor Juan de Dios Ventura Soriano said that the investment is enough …

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It took 43 years, but President Leonel Fernández is finally coming through for the Dominican state. 72 Japanese migrant families, or the descendants of those families, will receive land titles as promised back in 1956. The Japanese migrated to the DR after Dictator Rafael Trujillo offered them free land for a commitment to farm. He …

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The II Iberoamerican Theater Festival opens in Santo Domingo today, 11 October. The festival brings to Santo Domingo leading performers from Spain, Colombia, Cuba, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Chile, Haiti, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and New York City. The three halls of the National Theater and the nearby halls of the Museum of National History and …

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President Leonel Fernández announced an increase in fuel prices last night, ending weeks of expectations and speculations. The new prices, effective 6 am on 8 October, are: Premium gasoline: RD$32.50 (up 19% from RD$27.90) Regular gasoline: RD$27.90 (up 27% from RD$22) Premium Gasoil: RD$18.95 Gasoil: RD$16.95 (up 31% from RD$12.90) Industrial, vehicular, commercial propane gas: …

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Upon making the announcement, President Fernández had some consolation words for Dominicans. He said he would include in the 2000 National Budget wage increases for the military and the police. He also said he has given instructions so that the private electricity distributor companies do not charge supposed arrears they are billing their clients. He …

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The Monetary Junta "temporarily" increased the exchange rate commission applied to the purchase of foreign exchange in the local system by almost 300%. The increase brings the exchange rate commission from 1.75% to 5%. This will make imports cost more. Hoy newspaper says this will also represent a windfall of resources for the government. In …

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