2003 – Page 252

Two Venezuelan dissidents who sought asylum in the Dominican Republic last week have had their applications granted by the Ministry of Foreign Relations. Retired army captains Alfredo David and Ricardo Arturo Salaz?r Bohorquez are accused of complicity in the April 2002 failed coup against the Chavez government. The Dominican Embassy in Caracas has asked that …

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The press today continues its focus on the plight of Dominican women who migrate to Europe and other areas only to suffer exploitation and abuse. Studies show that an estimated 30,000 women from the DR have traveled to Europe using the connections of people-traffickers. 70% are under the age of 25, and many work in …

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Following complaints from the export sector, the government has reduced the charge per container leaving the country from US$95 to US$20, according to Andres Van Der Horst Alvarez of the National Competitiveness Council. Exporters are opposed to the charge, which is being introduced to cover the cost of using X-ray equipment to examine containers as …

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Hoy’s financial section leads with the story that today, 1 May, also known as May Day or International Workers’ Day, is being celebrated at a time of heavy job losses. Trade unions are estimating the number of jobs lost since August 2000 at 600,000. May Day this year marks a difficult time for Dominican workers, …

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El Caribe newspaper focuses today on the contract signed by the Dominican government with the Canadian company Placer Dome for the exploitation of sulfide deposits in the Pueblo Viejo gold mine in northcentral region. The newspaper highlights that the DR will receive US$3.20 for every US$100-sale made by the company. El Caribe says that within …

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Leaders of the ruling PRD party and candidates for the presidency have come out strongly against Hip?lito Mej?a and his re-election statements. Both Hatuey Decamps, the party?s president, and Enmanuel Esquea Guerrero have accused Mej?a of tarnishing the history of the party. Decamps, in a televised speech, used party documents, resolutions, statutes and former political …

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President Hip?lito Mej?a sent to the Senate two new loan contracts with commercial banks totaling US$151.8 million. One for US$138 million will be used to build overpasses for highways and will be implemented by the Ministry of Public Works. By closed bidding arrangement the contract for the construction was granted to Mabey Bridge & Shore …

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Diario Libre reports that the controversial member of the lower house of the Dominican Congress, deputy Radham?s (Chino) Ramos Garc?a (PRD-La Vega), announced that he will give up his parliamentary immunity and face the charges of sponsoring the illegal entry of at least 16 Chinese citizens to the Dominican Republic. Ramos Garc?a has yet to …

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In a story carried by the Diario Libre and echoed in the List?n Diario, the ambassador for the European Union has gone to bat for one of its own. Ambassador Miguel Amado called the government ?irresponsible? for not honoring contracts signed with foreign investors for public services and cited the case of the Spanish firm …

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Caterpillar Group president Richard Thompson was in the Dominican Republic yesterday for the official start of the Monte Rio Power plant, a 100 MW merchant plant (13 x 9CM43 engines, fuel ? 2% HFO) located in Azua, in the Southwest. Speaking at the event, he said, ?We are very impressed with the professionalism and leadership …

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