2000 – Page 104

The state university authorities announced they have expelled 20 of the 70 students that have occupied the state university in alleged protest for the increase in the cost of the summer course credits from RD$15 to RD$40. Rector Miguel Rosado says that the university is in the process of identifying the other students in order …

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El Caribe reports that Central Bank statistics show there were 327,655 government employees as of March 2000. This is 4.2% more than the 314,305 employed in March 1999. The increases in persons employed are across the board, with 3.6% in the central government, 6.1% in the decentralized and autonomous institutions and 7.5% in the primarily …

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Sports fishermen and the Dominican Navy helped rescue eight survivors of a shipwrecked 12-foot yawl. The yawl had on board 24 passengers when it capsized off the eastern coast. One man died and 15 are missing. Reportedly the ship left on Friday for Puerto Rico from the Boca de Yuma coast, and capsized on Saturday …

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El Siglo newspaper reports that fuel consumption increased 24% during the first semester of the year, compared to 1999. According to the Dominican Petroleum Refinery, only the consumption of premium unleaded gasoline declined, reflecting a price increase in October 1999, and the start of sale of cheaper-priced regular unleaded gasoline. The Dominican Petroleum Refinery reports …

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News reports indicate that President Leonel Fernandez’s father continues in coma. On 20 June, he suffered a double heart attack in Panama, where he was serving as the nation’s general consul. He was brought back in coma to the DR on 6 July and remains in coma at the Plaza de la Salud hospital. He …

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Radhames Segura, general administrator of the state electricity utility (CDE), clarified that it is not true that the Smith Enron power plant corporation continues to charge as per installed capacity. He said that during his administration, the contract was renegotiated. He said that now the state only pays per generated electricity. Likewise, he said the …

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President-elect Hipólito Mejía has chosen Luis Gonzalez Fabra as press director. Luis González Fabra will be the new Director of Information and Press of the National Palace as of 16 August. Yesterday he visited the press facilities at the National Palace. González Fabra carried out similar work during the President Salvador Jorge Blanco government (1982-86). …

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The Dominican Republic is working closely with Haiti to reduce the incidence of malaria on the island. Guillermo Gonzálvez, director of the National Center for the Control of Tropical Diseases said that there have been 867 cases of malaria reported this year, down from 3,590 last year. Most of these cases have occurred in the …

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President Leonel Fernandez received the credentials of ambassadors Dag Mork Ulnes of Norway, Erika Liebenwein of Austria and Antonin Blazek of Checoslovakia yesterday at the National Palace.

President Leonel Fernández addressed the nation and afterwards gave a press conference. He spoke in the presence of his cabinet members. Following are some of the main topics addressed and summaries of the answers. INDOTEL President-elect Hipólito Mejía has said that even if he violates the Constitution he will replace President Fernández’s recently appointed Telecommunications …

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