2003 – Page 260

The Senate approve the amendment of Article 19 of the Mining Bill in order to legalize the resumption of operations at the Pueblo Viejo gold mine in central Cotu?, reports Diario Libre. The modifications, which obtained the votes of 20 of the 21 senators present, allow for special contracts to be approved by Congress under …

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Hatuey De Camps, president of the ruling PRD party, said yesterday in a press conference that re-election is not admissible in the statutes of the PRD. As reported by Hoy newspaper, De Camps discarded the notion that President Hip?lito Mej?a would be chosen as the party?s presidential candidate in the upcoming 2004 presidential elections. Yesterday, …

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The International Monetary Fund warned the Dominican Republic that if it continues to spend without having funds on hand, it could jeopardize its fiscal stability, reports the List?n Diario.  Oscar Melhado, an economist for the IMF, said that public finances should be administered with caution to maintain stability. He said that based on the present …

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The economic section of the El Caribe newspaper provides some interesting reading today. According to the lead article, retail sales in Santo Domingo have fallen 25-35% in recent weeks, due to the government?s tightening of the economy. The 10% surcharge on imports, the high interest rates for credit and the general lack of liquidity in …

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The economic editor for the List?n Diario, Hector Linares, says that the financial market in the Dominican Republic is good for depositors and bad for those with loans to pay. The cost of money in the financial marketplace is creating ?extremes?, according to Linares, who says that these are good times for depositors and savers, …

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The Horticultural Association of the Valley of Constanza and the Garlic Producers Association of San Jos? de Ocoa told reporters from El Caribe that there will be no need to import garlic this year. The organization says that the harvests of 120,000 quintals (hundredweights) of the savory bulb are expected over the next few weeks …

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According to Johnny Bernal, president of the National Hotel and Restaurant Association (Asonahores), hoteliers made 285,000 new bookings during the Fourth World Exchange of Dominican Tourism (Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange), as reported in Diario Libre. The DATE annual convention this year was held in Barcel?-B?varo, Punta Cana. Bernal explained that the event brought 60 tour …

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After a three-month trial under the accusations of sexual misconduct with his two daughters, now ages 21 and 15, Jacobo M?ndez Garc?a was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Testimony heard during the trial, often very explicit and disturbing, coupled with psychiatric and medical records, allowed Judge Dario G?mez Herrera to apply the …

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A Dominican soldier assigned to the third batallion of the US Marines died during combat operations against enemy forces in northeast Baghdad, El Caribe newspaper reported.  The Dominican communities in New York City and Santiago de los Caballeros were especially saddened by the loss. Sgt. Riayan Tejeda, 26, leaves two daughters, ages 4 and 7.  …

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Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chr?tien arrived on Sunday 13 April for an 11-day stay, to include three days of official visits and several days off for a family Easter vacation. Chr?tien with his wife Aline and will be joined by other family members for the holiday part of his stay. On the official agenda are …

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