2001 – Page 135

A committee from the province of La Vega visited the embassy and consulate of Norway to ask that country not to grant the Dominican government a US$264 million loan to build the Manabao-Bejucal-Tavera dam. The dam is contested on the grounds of its high cost and potential environmental damage. The promoters site the benefits of …

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The government announced the start in the next 15-20 days of a plan whereby owners of transport vehicles that are affiliated to unions may purchase new vehicles. The Plan Renove is a RD$2,400 million financing for this sector. The plan will benefit the members of the powerful syndicates that will be given access to purchasing …

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El Siglo reports that the expansion and reconstruction of five public hospitals has been paralyzed for a year, due to arrears in the payment to contractors of around RD$78 million. This puts at risk expensive equipment that is warehoused in the halls of the hospitals. The delays affect renovations at the Dario Contreras Luis Eduardo …

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Romano Massei, of the contractor firm Consorcio Federici, Mera, Mu?oz y Fondeur, said that the bridge over the Rio Higuamo would be completed on time by August 2002. He said that the RD$580 million bridge is 390 meters long, or about the same size as the Duarte Bridge over Rio Ozama in Santo Domingo. 

El Siglo newspaper says that those wo consume more than 1,500 kilowatts a month will see increases in their billings of around 20% as of their July bills. The government has authorized that the power distributors can make automatic rate adjustments to reflect the increases in the cost of fuel. El Siglo publishes a chart …

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El Siglo newspaper’s Victor Manuel Tejada reports that it is almost impossible that the Dominican economy will meet the year’s end forecast of 6.5% growth. Economists Andres Dauhajre, Isidoro Santana, alfonso Abreu Collado and Pedro Silverio now say that in the best of scenarios the GDP could increase between 4 and 5%. 

Hoy newspaper’s Hamilton poll focuses on the leading presidential candidates for the 2004 election date and how their percentage of the April poll has varied in regards to how they placed in the earlier November 2000 poll.  PRD: Vice President-Minister of Education Milagros Ortiz Bosch 32% (36%); Minister of Interior & Police Rafael Suberv? 17% …

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Samuel Conde of Consortium Conde-Mouchel, contractor of the Puente Juan Pablo Duarte, said that that structure offers no danger to those using it. He said the bridge has been duely repaired and the strengthening phase is completed 50%. Minister of Public Works Miguel Vargas said he had no comments to make on former Minister of …

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The engineer and head of the construction, Horacio Alvarez and Hugo Castillo and Manuel Emilio Rosario of the Palacio del Cine in Santiago were released after posting RD$25 million and RD$5 million bails. The owner of the building, Gustavo Turull is excluded from the penal case. It is expected that he will face several civil …

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The Association of Producers of Foreign Spirits (Aprobex) announced a 11% reduction on their prices to fight contraband that surged after the government increases taxes on imported spirits to 172% in January. The association said that a bottle of Scotch that was selling for RD$250 will now retail for RD$225. The association explained their sales …

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