2001 – Page 16

The National Police have delivered a document to the Chamber of Deputies which states their opposition to several points in the proposed Police Reform Bill, specifically the elimination of police trials and an end to police ranks. Yesterday, the President of the Chamber, Rafaela Alburquerque, dissolved the original committee that studied the police reform bill …

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In a gesture meant to “keep the country unified”, President Hipólito Mejía and ex- president Leonel Fernández decided to renew their “old friendship” and work together for the approval of various legislative iniciatives, among them the Financial and Monetary Code. The two met yesterday over lunch at the ex-president’s home. Hoy newspaper reports that Fernández …

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Last night, President Mejía approved the law creating the province of Santo Domingo, which will be made up of the four municipalities of Santo Domingo East, Santo Domingo West, Santo Domingo North and Boca Chica. The President finalized passage of the law in spite of opposition from various sectors who protested the division of the …

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A 10-year-old shoeshine boy was shot and killed when he got caught in the crossfire between rival gang members. Fray Luis Bruno was shot twice while shining shoes with a friend near the Bigote Colmado in the Capotillo neighborhood yesterday. A 23-year-old was also injured in the shooting. Capotillo is a poor Santo Domingo barrio …

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The Public Health Department is intervening today at the troubled Dario Contreras Hospital to take over its administration and to investigate doctors’ claims that the facility is in a state of emergency. In recent weeks, doctors at Dario Contreras have gone public with complaints about a lack of supplies and equipment which prevents them from …

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Dozens of teachers from the National District went to the Education Department yesterday to demand that 400 teachers be paid. They said teachers in Los Alcarrizos, Sabana Perdida, Herrera, Boca Chica, Pantoja, Villa Duarte, Los Mina and Villa Mella haven’t received a salary in 12 months. Flor María Báez told El Siglo “I have worked …

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The Navy has arrested 86 people, including four from Ecuador, accused of trying to travel illegally by boat to the US from various points along the DR coast. The head of the Navy, Vice Admiral Luis Alberto Humeau Hidalgo, said ten groups of illegal travelers have been detained in the last 72 hours. Listín Diario …

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World champion hurdler Felix Sánchez is proving that baseball isn’t the only way for Dominican athletes to get rich. He recently signed a deal with Nike shoes worth US$250,000 a year. Sánchez was crowned the king of the 400-meter hurdles in August at the World Athletic Games in Edmonton. In his first season, he won …

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Three judges from the National District are being investigated by the Supreme Court for corruption. El Siglo reports that the President of the Supreme Court, Dr. Jorge Subero Isa, says the three unidentified judges have been accused of taking bribes from certain groups, possibly drug traffickers, in exchange for favorable sentences. Subero Isa encouraged citizens …

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