2001 – Page 153

Hoy newspaper reports that tax collections have fallen significantly below the government’s expectations. The government budgeted RD$65,177 million for this year, but analysts say that if the present pace of collections continues, they will fall short by RD$10,000 million. Hoy newspaper reveals that the government economists plan to meet the fiscal deficit by borrowing abroad. …

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Amidst denunciations made by the press of widespread corruption in Bienes Nacionales, the government department in charge of state property, the Mejia administration announced it would be stepping up investigations into corruption in the past administration. Cases of corruption in the Ministry of Public Works, Department of Civic Aeronautics and Dominican Social Security Institute and …

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Minister of Environment Frank Moya Pons says he does not know anything regarding the Mapet Foundation, which signed a US$40 million agreement for the planting of trees with the Ministry of Agriculture in December 2000. El Caribe newspaper says that when the Environment Ministry refused to sign the reforestation contract, the Minister of Agriculture, Eligio …

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The Ministry of Industry and Commerce announced a 25% increase in the price of propane gas, from RD$180 for the 100-lb. tank of gas to RD$225. The measure is part of what the government calls the gradual elimination of the subsidy on propane gas sales in the DR. Furthermore, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce …

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The Catholic Church had strong words against the government during the Easter Saturday sermons. Archbishop of Santo Domingo, Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez, was equally critical in his Sunday sermon at the Cathedral of Santo Domingo. The archbishop said that there are signs of great disatisfaction and great poverty and that those who have …

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Anibal Mejia, executive vice president of Edeste (AES), said that that company maintains excellent relations with the Dominican Electricity Corporation. CDE. He said the company has always found 150% support in Cesar Sanchez, the administrator, his economic advisor Edwin Cores and in George Reynoso, who is in charge of the electricity market. He did not …

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Senate technicians investigating alleged irregularities in the privatization of the Dominican Electricity Corporation had been contracted by Union Fenosa for an appraisal and were also the "comisario de cuentas", the appointed company officer on the board of Union Fenosa operations in the DR. (unclear) The Senate claimed that the auditing firm of Ortega y Asociados …

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The Dominican Republic One Daily News Service will not publish updates on Thursday, 12 April nor Friday, 13 April due to the Easter Week holiday. All news through to Monday will be compiled in the Monday, 16 April edition.