2001 – Page 134

The Chamber of Deputies approved changing the name of the Las Americas Highway to that of Dr. Jose Francisco Pe?a Gomez Highway in honor of the former leader of the government party. The Dr. Jose Francisco Pe?a Gomez Highway would run from Duarte Bridge to San Pedro de Macoris’s Higuamo Bridge. The deputies passed the …

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The Santo Domingo Court of Appeals annulled the case of corruption in office against former President Salvador Jorge Blanco (PRD-1982-1986). He had been sentenced in 1988 to 20 years in prison and fined RD$100 million. The court ordered a retrial in the case against him and his collaborators Leonel Almonte, retired General Manuel Antonio Cuervo …

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President Hipolito Mejia has decorated Noble prize winner, former Polish President, Lech Walesa and former President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica with the heraldic order of Christopher Columbus, rank of golden cross.  Walesa is scheduled to receive an honorary doctorate from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra today. Walesa and Arias are visiting for …

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The tender for the selection of a company to exploit the estimated US$2 billion gold and silver reserves of the Rosario Dominicana mine in northeastern Cotui will take place in July. This was confirmed by Mario Pe?a of the government mining unit. The tender has been postponed on numerous occasions.  Pe?a said companies that have …

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Finance Minister Fernando Alvarez Bogaert has revised the forecast for this year?s growth from 6.5% to 3-4%. This is a drop from the 7.8% posted last year. He forecasts an inflation rate of 7% for 2001.  The Minister attributed the drop in growth to high petroleum prices and the slow down of the US economy.  …

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An El Caribe editorial warns against the government?s borrowing spree from commercial banks. The editorial writer says what is worse is that the resources are being used to enlarge the public sector instead of reducing it, as was done with the privatization of public enterprises in the former government.  El Caribe says construction of highways …

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The Dominican Association of Professors called its teachers to go on strike on Thursday. The duration of the strike is indefinite. The union is demanding the government double the wages of public school teachers.  High tech hospitals to be studied carefully by Deputies The President of the Chamber of Deputies Rafaela Alburquerque promised that the …

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El Caribe reports that deposits made in dollar accounts in the Dominican Republic continue to increase at a fast pace. US$ deposits in commercial banks today make up 15.8% of the total deposits, up from 15% in December 2000. Baninter, BHD and Banco Popular attracted the most US$ deposits.  Local bank US$ currency loans also …

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