2003 – Page 240

Hoy newspaper editor, Bienvenido Alvarez Vega, focuses on the Baninter case and asks where were the authorities of the Central Bank, the members of the Monetary Board, the authorities of the Superintendence of Banks, or the security bodies of the state that render periodic reports to the President, when rumors about the Baninter bank were …

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The New York Times has focused on the Baninter banking embezzlement case in its 16 May edition. See http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/16/business/worldbusiness/ The New York Times has also covered the spreading of AIDS in the Dominican Republic, primarily because of Haitian migration. The article says that there are about half a million people with HIV in the Caribbean, …

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OMSA, the public bus transport system run by the government, announced an increase in fares from RD$3 to RD$5. The difference is expected to cover the increasing costs of the operation, run by union director Di?genes Castillo. 

Judge Salvador Ramos of the Central Electoral Board estimated that 20,000 Dominicans could vote abroad during the 2004 presidential elections. He said that so far 7,664 Dominicans who live abroad have registered to vote. He said that to increase the number of Dominicans able to vote, they will be offering cedula (ID and voter registration …

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The organizer of the Sancocho and the Son Festivals, TV producer and journalist Raul (Bacho) Perez Pe?a announced he will run for president in May 2004. He has been a journalist with the Listin for many years and writes a daily column for the newspaper. He announced the formation of the Partido por la Autentica …

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The people of the northeastern city of San Francisco de Macoris made a formal statement yesterday for increased national awareness about the environment. The city organized the first car-free day when most people left their cars and motorcycles at home ? ?Aire Limpio y Vida Sana? or ?Clean Air, Healthy Living?.  The event was organized …

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The White House has confirmed that US President George W. Bush will receive President Hip?lito Mej?a in a formal visit this coming Tuesday, 20 May. The items for discussion will include potential for cooperation in areas such as trade, security, human rights and good governance. The White House communiqu? states that the US President “values …

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The Executive Branch sent to Congress yesterday a request for authorization to issue ?infrastructure notes? in international capital markets for US$255 million, to be used to build the El Coral highway that would link La Romana to Hig?ey and B?varo. The authorization request (in the style of the sovereign bonds) was sent to the Chamber …

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Standard & Poor’s rating services department said today that it has placed its ‘BB-‘ long-term ratings on the Dominican Republic on CreditWatch with negative implications. The CreditWatch placement reflects the risk that the ratings will be lowered if the emerging problems at Baninter further weaken political institutions, the external reserve position, and economic policy flexibility. …

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District Attorney M?ximo Aristy Caraballo presented charges to Baninter president Ram?n B?ez Figueroa, and vice presidents Marcos B?ez Cocco and Vivian Lubrano de Castillo today. The three are accused of asset laundering, falsification of public records, presenting bad checks and abuse of trust.  B?ez Figueroa and his colleagues were visited at the Palacio de Justicia …

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