2000 – Page 137

Hoy newspaper second page columnist observes today that by appointing his cabinet ministers almost three months in advance, President-elect Hipólito Mejía is placing these before public scrutiny. This is a first time that a President-elect announces members of his cabinet in advance. Regarding, the newspaper’s much read column reads: "it is a way so that …

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It is a norm of Dominicans to find humor in even misfortune. You may hear of a government official having caught SIDA, which is the Spanish translation for AIDS. He/she may call you and say, did you know I have SIDA. You will sympathize with the caller, to only hear the punch line next. SIDA …

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President-elect Hipólito Mejía announced that his government will increase city government allotments to 10% of the national budget. 94 of 115 city governments are managed by the PRD, which will rule the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch as of 16 August 2000. Mejía told El Siglo that he would gradually increase the allotment. He …

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President-elect Hipólito Mejía said he will carry out a complete restructuring of the diplomatic corps. He criticized that Dominican diplomats had not contributed to an increase investment to the DR. "Nothing has been exported here. I have traveled to all countries and I have not seen the case of one good diplomat," he told El …

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The first busses for the transport of 270 passengers entered into service yesterday. The 12 new units will be used for passenger transport during peak hours. They will operate on the 27 de Febrero and Máximo Gómez corridors. Ignacio Ditrén, director of the Oficina Metropolitana de Servicios de Autobuses, S.A. that operates the buses, said …

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Sports editors of several dailies have been lobbying on behalf of Wanda Rijo, the Dominican Republic’s two-time Athlete of the Year (Sports Writers Association and Dominican Olympic Committee). When Wanda Rijo won a gold medal in weight lifting in the Central American and Caribbean Games held in Venezuela, she thought one of her dreams would …

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Listin Diario reports that 6.5 cars are stolen per day in the DR. From January to May 2000, 974 car robberies were reported to the National Police. Colonel Mariano Made Ramirez, who is in charge of the Departamento de Recuperacion de Vehiculos, says that of these 605 vehicles were returned to the owners. He recommended …

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Sammy Sosa will fund the construction of a US$2 million children’s complex, the Listin Diario reported. The "Ciudad de la Niñez" will be built in three phases in an area of 50,000 meters located near the V Centenario Race Track and the new sports complex to be built for the 2003 Pan American Games on …

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Casa de Teatro announces it will celebrate its 26th anniversary by hosting the Festival de Jazz Heineken. From 15 June to 27 July, Casa de Teatro will be hosting jazz groups. Admission is RD$50 each night, and Grupo Tre will perform every evening. The program is as follows: 15 June- OFS and guitarist Juan Francisco …

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According to a story taken from the Miami Herald, the U.S. has suspended what would have been a US$1 million grant to the National Police (PN) due to an alleged failure to stop civil rights abuses. The notice was given to police informally last December, but an official communiqué from the Division of Training Assistance …

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