2001 – Page 17

The recently-created National Transportation Council has decided to renovate Plan Renove, the plan that was created to upgrade the country’s public transit vehicles. The council has reallocated the purchase orders for new vehicles, adding seven new suppliers and cutting in half the original amount assigned to Hyundai American Vehicle. Ever since the plan was created …

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The head of the Dominican Association of Exporters (Adoexpo) says he doubts whether the DR is really among the top Latin American export countries. Yesterday, the Interamerican Development Bank (BID) announced a study that showed the Dominican Republic second only to Mexico in export growth during the ‘90s, with exports increasing more than 15%. Horacio …

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In spite of reassurances from Jose Ovalles, the head of the Dominican Electric Company, that the next three months will be “months of light”, power blackouts continue across the country and so do the protests. Last night, four people were injured including three police officers during a protest against the blackouts in Palenque and Cambita …

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The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says the Dominican Republic has a high level of chronic and widespread malnutrition. Francisco Roberto Arias Camilla, an FAO representative, spoke last night at the opening of the Food and Nutrition Congress at the Hotel Lina. He said that in spite of the government’s efforts, “in the …

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Residents of the Santa Barbara neighborhood in the capital’s colonial zone protested in the streets yesterday over a power barge in the Ozama River they say is making them sick and deaf. The residents are demanding that the authorities move the Estrella del Norte plant which is causing health problems due to air pollution and …

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El Caribe newspaper reports that President Mejía’s official convoy has been involved in six accidents in the last 14 months since he took power. Some of the accidents led to injuries and even one death. The President usually travels with a large escort of support vehicles. The most recent incident was on Sunday, when the …

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The Santo Domingo Zoo has a brand new resident. A 22-year-old hippo named Juanita gave birth recently to her third child. The newcomer was born under water on October 8. Zoo officials say they don’t know much yet about the baby… its sex or weight… because the mother is extremely protective and the baby spends …

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The presidents of the DR?s five main universities united yesterday to warn senators and deputies in Congress about the consequences of making a sweeping reform of the constitution at this time. The presidents of Aut?noma de Santo Domingo, Pontificia Universidad Cat?lica Madre y Maestra, Nacional Pedro Henr?quez Ure?a, APEC, and Instituto Tecnol?gico de Santo Domingo …

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About 50 doctors at Dario Contreras Hospital declared their facility to be in a state of emergency due to a lack of medical equipment and supplies. Hospital Director Daniel Joseph showed El Siglo a letter from medical residents in which they ask for a solution to 30 problems, including improvements to the emergency room. Doctors …

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El Siglo reports new figures that show the Dominican Republic was second only to Mexico in growth of exports from all Latin American countries in the ?90s. The InterAmerican Development Bank (BID) looked at 24 Latin American nations and measured their export levels over the last ten years. The top five in order of percentage …

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