2001 – Page 199

This morning’s El Caribe newspaper focuses on the question of whether the Mejia Administration has really made education a priority. It points out that this year’s education budget is the same as last year’s, 16%, and equal to 2.5% of the Gross Domestic Product. International organizations have established 4% of GNP as the standard. More …

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The Parish priest of Cristo Rey, Fr. Rogelio Cruz, told El Siglo yesterday that the proposed social welfare measures announced by President Hipolito Mejia can not succeed because the government is not organized to implement them. He also foresaw failure due to the confusion of overlapping agencies, each with its own bureaucracy and paper work. …

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The Direccion General de Impuestos Internos stated that until Congress approves the modification of the 1.5% gross sales pre-payment tax, it will continue to collect the monthly 1.5% tax from businesses with sales under RD$2 million. The government announced last week that it was sending to Congress a proposal that would modify the existing law …

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The Director of Customs, Vicente Sanchez Baret, said that he is concluding all public debate regarding the debts of importers left over from the administration of his predecessor, Miguel Cocco. Sanchez Baret had been critical of the previous administration for the millions of pesos of importers’ unpaid fees. Cocco had requested a list of indebted …

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The National Zoo Director, Alfonso Ferreira, interviewed by El Siglo, said that the Zoo is danger of closing because of the reproductive problems of the animals it exhibits. Newborn animals die within hours due to the consanguinity of their parents. If measures are not taken to assure their safe reproduction, the animals will all die …

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President Hipolito Mejia, honoring his promise to rectify, if he is wrong, announced a change in the requirement for businesses to pay 1.5% advance tax on future sales. He said that that he is sending to Congress a modification that would allow that business with sales of up to RD$6 million is excluded from the …

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The government published decrees 195-01 and 196-01 with the ruling for Law 147-00 of 27 December 2000. The decrees clarify the extent of the ITBIS that taxes products and services with 12%. The decree publishes with relative detail all the services that are covered and those that are exempt. The government paid for advertisements in …

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The Senators approved the General Bill of Electricity pending for several years in Congress. The bill is pending approval of the Chamber of Deputies and the President. The administrator of the Dominican Electricity Corporation is proud of a modification inserted by the senators that obliges electricity distribution companies to reimburse consumers with 150% of every …

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President Hipolito Mejia renewed the program to recognize outstanding public school students with a ceremony at the National Palace yesterday. During the event, 5,805 students from all around the country were honored. President Mejia also honored a group of merit worthy professors. The professors will receive a RD$10,000 award each.