2000 – Page 37

The U.S. Deputy Trade Representative, Richard Fisher, visited with President Hipolito Mejia last night to discuss what Fisher regards as deficiencies in the Dominican law of Protection of Intellectual Property. The U.S. Ambassador, Charles Manatt, also attended the meeting, which took place in Mejia?s home. Fisher said that technical experts on intellectual property from both …

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The Unified Labor Council (CNUS) held a press conference during which it proposed a 35% salary increase in both the public and private sectors, including pensioners. At the same time, in separate press releases, two powerful business organizations – the National Businessmen?s Union (UNE) and the Herrera Industrial Association (AEIH) urged approval of a salary …

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Yesterday?s investigative article in the morning daily, El Siglo, provoked an unemotional, but biting, rebuttal from Education Minister Milagros Ortiz Bosch. In a two-page memorandum distributed yesterday afternoon, the minister declared that ?the school breakfast program is one of the largest commercial operations in the country. It?s a game with a price tag of almost …

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Not content with yesterday?s salvo against Education Ministry officials or with the exchange of accusations with the Minister published today, El Siglo this morning enlarged its campaign for an improved school breakfast, by presenting the results of its investigation of the program in Santiago. ?Hundreds of children receive no breakfast and dozens of schools have …

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The Director of Customs, Vicente Sanchez Baret, revealed that ?millions of pesos? in customs duties, taxes, storage charges and currency exchange fees remain unpaid. ?There?s nothing for the importers to do, but settle the accounts,? he said. The problem is a leftover from the Fernandez administration, according to Sanchez Baret, and must end because ?the …

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The Attorney General said that he will not bend to pressures, or be scared by demands, to act precipitously in cases of alleged corruption by officials of the previous government. Virgilio Bello Rosa stated that he remains ?undaunted by pressures? to jail those who are named in indictments for corruption. Nor will he be influenced, …

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Speaking at a conference in Miami titled ? Using Technology to Improve Latin America,? former President Leonel Fernandez lauded his own administration for ?having pushed the DR into the 21st century in the digital era.? Fernandez told the gathering, which had assembled to see him receive the ?Business Leader of the Year? award from the …

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Conflicts regarding the ownership and use of green areas in Santo Domingo have grown ?to alarming levels,? according to Citizenship Participation, a civic group, which claims to receive 50 to 60 complaints a day. They are hearing of threats, law suits, falsification of documents, paid involvement by public officials, and a disregard of existing law. …

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