2003 – Page 293

Judge Francisco Ortega Polanco of the First Penal Circuit, condemned Braudilio de la Rosa Castillo (Boli) to 30 years in prison and a fine of RD$500,000 pesos for the rapes and murders of three young children. The crimes took place in Chirino, Puerto Plata, and Monte Plata. During his questioning by the police, de la …

Read more…

A front-page story in the Diario Libre asserts that one member of the National Police has died every 6.2 days so far this year. The somber statistics include the deaths of one second lieutenant, three sergeants, one corporal and three privates, and makes note that two of the total nine deceased officers were killed by …

Read more…

US travel to the Dominican Republic was up from 2000 to 2002, according to a statistical analysis conducted by Roberto Despradel for El Caribe. The economist says that travel from North America ? the United States and Canada ? grew 16 percent, while travel from Europe was down 20 percent. German travel peaked in 2000 …

Read more…

The headlines in every Dominican newspaper proclaimed the same message: Anadegas (the association of retail petrol stations) and the government have reached a preliminary accord. For the general public, this brings hope of relief from long lines waiting to buy diesel or gasoline in some cities, including Santiago, where supplies were running out. According to …

Read more…

Yesterday?s announcement that the Dominican National Transportation Federation (Fenatrado) would increase rates for moving trailers around the country has caused serious concerns for many industrialists using their services. According to the Listin Diario, the Fenatrado decision will elevate haulage rates by as much as 100 percent. Ivan Garcia, of the Dominican Federation of Businessmen (FDC), …

Read more…

The National Council of Private Business (CONEP) told the press yesterday that the demonetization of RD$300 million pesos was a positive step towards lowering the exchange rate between the peso and the dollar. Nevertheless, the business group emphasized the need to accompany this measure with other ?prudent? monetary policies in order to normalize the exchange …

Read more…

The Superintendent of Power, Julio Cross told reporters yesterday that he felt some agreement would be reached in today?s meeting with the power generators and the electric distribution companies that aims to reduce the impact of a proposed 20-percent increase in electrical bills for March. Cross said that the government is doing everything possible to …

Read more…

The economic section of the El Caribe newspaper carries the story of the large increase in the prices of some of the most commonly used medicines in the Dominican Republic. Although there have been price increases of as much as 70 percent, the average increase is 10 percent over the past month. Vitamins, decongestants and …

Read more…

Pope John Paul II congratulated Dominican Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez on the 25th anniversary of his consecration as a Bishop in the Roman Catholic Church. The letter, published in today?s edition of the Listin Diario, includes the Pontiff?s blessing and his hope that the Cardinal would continue his work in the church. Referring …

Read more…

The United States of America has returned 17,289 convicted criminals to the Dominican Republic since the program began. Of this number, 12,964 were convicted in the US court system and serving sentences for drug-related crimes, says the story published in today?s Hoy newspaper. More alarmingly, however, is the fact that 442 of the expelled were …

Read more…