2001 – Page 107

Cesar Sanchez, administrator of the Dominican Electricity Corporation, told El Siglo newspaper that a single indexed price was established in contracts between the state and the generator companies for fuel used by power plants. He says that this index is based on the most expensive fuel used by the power plants, even if the companies …

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Outspoken economist Andres Dauhajre and Minister of Industry and Commerce Angel Lockward locked horns on a Friday morning talk show, Hola Matina, over the government’s authorization of a 20% increase in consumer power bills. While uninvited, Lockward surprisingly attended the program to dispute Dauhajre who was the scheduled guest. Dauhajre opposes the government decision to …

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Independent economist Jose Luis Aleman warned during a seminar on the sovereign bonds held at the Pontificia Universdad Catolica Madre y Maestra about the lack of tenders and controls on public works that would be built with money from the bond issue. The Jesuit priest who is director of the School of Economics of the …

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Senator Enrique Martinez of the PLD opposes the Senate passing the Sovereign Bonds. He called the mechanism very expensive and lacking transparency. Unlike World Bank and IDB funds, no tenders need to be held and the government can use the bond money to cover its deficit and excessive payroll. “If finally Congress passes the law …

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Jacinto Peynado suggests in an article in Listin Diario the government could gain the same benefits, such as improving the country’s risk rating, by issuing a manageable US$100 million in bonds for starters. The PRSC opposition leader criticizes the issuing of US$500 million bonds. He said that would represent 15% of the total accumulated public …

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Unless the government changes its mind, summer will bring two blows to the pockets of Dominican consumers. An El Caribe editorial points out the announced 20% increase in power bills for anyone who has an air conditioner at home and for businesses and industries that consume over RD$1,500 a month in electricity. In addition, the …

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Supreme Court president, Jorge Subero Isa, said that the courts could take legal action against the power distributors if power is cut to any courtroom. The Supreme Court and the Attorney General’s Office say they have paid RD$4 million for power consumed and maintain discrepancies with their assigned distributor over billing.

Elpidio Ortega, governor of the Columbus Lighthouse, said the monument’s beacon will only be turned on on weekends. He explained the lighthouse now pays RD$500,000 a month after an increase in its electricity bill. He said the lighthouse will be turned on for two hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Former President Joaquin Balaguer will convene an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Central Committee of the PRSC party tomorrow. Political analyst Orlando Gil of El Siglo speculates that behind this meeting could be the intent to make changes in the party’s board, replacing acting president Donald Reid Cabral with Luis Toral. The party could also …

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A small plane took off this morning at 6 am and will fly over the nation until 4 pm, anointing Dominicans with 370 gallons of blessed olive oil. The plane will follow the route from Santo Domingo, San Juan de la Maguana, Pedernales, Jimani, Elias Piña, Barahona, Santo Domingo, San Pedro de Macoris, La Romana, …

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