2000 – Page 51

President Hipólito Mejía has given green light for Unión Fenosa and Enron Dominicana to build a 500-megawatt natural gas plant and natural gas terminal in Punta Caucedo. News reports indicate that this would be a thermoelectric combined cycle plant that would use natural gas. The dual project calls for a US$550 million investment. The announcement …

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The National Police and the Attorney General office announced yesterday in a press conference that they seek two men that are suspect of participating in the kidnapping of 24-year old engineer Juan Manuel Jiménez Ulerio on 16 August in the northwestern city of San Francisco de Macorís. Jiménez’s family owns the largest exchange house in …

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The Coordinadora Nacional de Colegios Privados that groups private schools in the DR said it is finalizing the case the organization will present to the Supreme Court of Justice regarding government regulation of school tuition. Fauntly Garrido, executive director of the organization, says that the schools do not oppose there being an organization that regulates …

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President Hipólito Mejía signed into law the bill that regulates tuition at private schools. The National Council of Businesses (CONEP), the Catholic Church and the Foundation for Institutionality and Justice, Inc.. (FINJUS) among other institutions opposed the bill. Law 86-00 establishes that a Departamento de Colegios Privados, under the Ministry of Education, will establish tuition …

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The Central Bank reported that from January-September RD$1,033.6 million in petroleum tax money has entered the Treasury. This tax is 67% less than the RD$3,206.7 million received during the same period last year. El Siglo reports that Amaury Justo Duarte, president of the Dominican Petroleum Refinery, estimated the differential should reach around RD$3,389 million by …

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The Mejía administration is in favor of the creation of the Ministry of Foreign Trade. The idea is to provide the country with a unified front regarding international commerce and foreign investment. To this day, several government organizations carry the voice of the country on different trade and investment matters. Problems have arisen when the …

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El Siglo publishes a proposal for a change in work hours in order to reduce traffic bottlenecks, stress and make life easier for all. Arturo Matos Uribe, an economist and tax reform expert, suggests that day school schedules run from 8 am to 2 pm, government offices operate from 9 am to 3 or 4 …

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Police round-ups are making headlines again. Usually, they intensive following the occurrence of headline-making crimes. Minister of Interior and Police Rafael Suberví Bonilla, in an unusual move, sent the Chief of the Police a memorandum (with copy to President Hipólito Mejía) advising the latter to stop the massive arrests. In the round-ups, the Police enter …

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