2001 – Page 57

As expected, following negotiations between the PRD and the PRSC, Rafaela Alburquerque has been confirmed in the Chamber of Deputies. One hundred thirty-nine deputies voted for Alburquerque (PRSC-San Pedro de Macoris) to continue in her post as president of the Chamber of Deputies. She will continue on until 16 August 2002. Upon being sworn in …

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Andres Bautista, senator for the province of Espaillat (Moca), was unanimously chosen president of the Senate by his 29 colleagues in the election held yesterday. He had challenged fellow PRD party member, Ramon Alburquerque, who headed the Senate for the past three years. Bautista said at the top of his agenda is constitutional reform, the …

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El Siglo newspaper questions how Kia Motors and its Kiamaster vehicles got to be included in the government’s Plan Renove which initially was created to modernize city transit. The Plan was later revised to include cargo equipment such as lifts and a variety of trucks. El Siglo questions a Kiamaster company announcement in a Bloomberg …

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The political clout of the transportation union leaders is in the headlines again this week, as Oneximo Gonzalez, director of the Metropolitan Transport Authority, lashes out at union leaders. El Caribe carried a report today that President Hipolito Mejia authorized a RD$49.9 million payment to unions that handed in rickety buses and received leases for …

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An El Caribe editorial says the World Bank has offered to lend the government US$200 million so it can pay its debt to electricity providers. El Caribe says the World Bank has offered the long-term loan on the condition that the government modify the Electricity Law to eliminate the monopoly granted to distributors. El Caribe …

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El Siglo newspaper says that with four and a half months to go before the end of the year, the government has not been saving for the Christmas bonus. The government will need RD$1,500 million to pay its employees the traditional 13th salary. Secretary of the Presidency Sergio Grullo shrugged off the gravity of the …

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Participacion Ciudadana, an outspoken civic group, issued a statement today on its opinion of the Mejia government’s first year. Its conclusions are: “An adequate management of macroeconomic policy, translated into stability, is the most important achievement of the present administration at its first year point. “Among the positive aspects, we mention certain levels of openness …

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Tropical Storm Chantal was downgraded Thursday evening to a tropical wave. By 11 am today (Friday, 17 August), US weather forecasters said it had reformed itself and turned into Tropical Depression Chantal. The storm is located about 365 miles (590 kilometers) south of San Juan, Puerto Rico. If it continues on its westward path it …

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The Pan American Games will take place from 1-17 August 2003. The date was confirmed during the meeting of the Panamerican Sports Organization (PASO) being held in Santo Domingo until Saturday. The assembly approved ceiling fans for the athletes’ apartments instead of air conditioners. Mario Vasquez Raña, president of PASO, said the Games will cost …

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Santo Domingo Mayor, Johnny Ventura, has announced the resurrection of the very successful musical talent show from 15 years ago, “Cuanto Vale el Show.” It will air on Sundays from 1 to 2 pm starting 19 August. Returning with Ventura are three members of the jury that made the show a success on Channel 7 …

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