2001 – Page 144

The Senate passed yesterday the Social Security Bill with the modifications sent by the Chamber of Deputies. For the bill to become law it needs to be signed by President Hipolito Mejia. Sources say the President will sign the bill on 10 May to commemorate the passing away of PRD leader Jose Francisco Peña Gomez.

El Caribe newspaper reports that the Senate passed yesterday two loans signed by the state and international banks. One of these is for US$49 million for the construction of 10 hospitals in San Cristobal, Neyba and Hato Mayor, among other communities. A Spanish company, Jamco Medical will be responsible for this project. Another loan for …

Read more…

Residences and businesses making payments of more than RD$1,498 a month should expect considerable bill increases in their June bills. Jose Ovalle, Superintendent of Electricity, announced that the government has authorized the gradual reduction of the government subsidy on consumption of more than 725 kilowatts/hour per month. The first cuts in the subsidy are effective …

Read more…

The Listin Diario interviewed Pedro Vasquez Chavez, general director of Mining, who announced that foreign companies have committed to invest RD$391.5 million in mining projects. He said that his department and the Corporate Mining Unit are hard at work to reactivate mining in the DR attracting foreign investment. He said that Grupo Carmelo S.A. will …

Read more…

El Siglo reports that the state-owned Bagricola borrowed RD$200 million from the also state-owned Banco de Reservas. The curious detail about the loan is that the money was borrowed at 27% for the state farming bank to lend out to rice producers at 18%. Bagricola administrator Radhames Rodriguez confirmed the operation. He said they originally …

Read more…

The National Police militarized the northern Barrio Capotillo, after neighbors denounced that gangs were imposing terror in the neighborhood. The neighbors said that the gangs dispute several corners where drugs are sold. The neighbors complained that the gangs defend their rights to the corners using guns and machetes to the indifferent look of the Police …

Read more…

Nine persons accused of participating in the irregular sale of government property were sent to the Najayo and Victoria jails yesterday. The former director of Bienes Nacionales, Victor Tio Fernandez, and other department officers, Jorge Encarnacion Matos and Freddy Vargas were sent to Najayo. Eladio Emilio Alonzo, Jose Manuel de Jesus Villaman, Lorenzo Rodriguez, Sandino …

Read more…

The executive director of the National Free Zone Council, Jeanette Dominguez as reported by Hoy newspaper that 14 new companies, creating 16,000 jobs had been approved by her organization. She said the CNZFE approved a new free zone park in Santiago and another in San Cristobal. She confirmed that the firings in the sector had …

Read more…

Everyone seems to agree that the Dominican police needs to be reformed. The Chief of the Police and the President-appointed reform commission and the Foundation Justice and Institutionality all have different opinions of how to go about this. The top ranks of the Police and the Presidential Commission for the Reform of the Armed Forces …

Read more…