2003 – Page 301

2,700 volunteers showed up to help prepare the biggest mangu (pur?e of plantain, similar to mashed potatoes) in the world last Sunday at the Moca multisports complex. Moca plantain farmers organized the event to receive a mention in the Guinness Book of Records. Moca is a northcentral city located near many fertile farms.  To beat …

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The world-renowned cataract and lens implant surgeon, Dr. James P. Gills, visited the Los Alcarrizos Dr. Elias Santana Eye Clinic last week. Dr. Gills helped fund the clinic, which had been an initiative of eye surgeon Juan Batlle, and was established in the low-income neighborhood in 1985. The medical facility has carried out more than …

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El Caribe reports that the government economic team, headed by Finance Minister Jose Lois Malkum, rejected the possibility of revoking its recently announced economic measures, whose main objective, he said, is to stabilize the exchange rate. The meeting took place yesterday, despite President Hipolito Mejia having said that the government would not meet with the …

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President Hipolito Mejia appointed a commission that will travel to the US to engage the services of a US law firm ?to defend the honor of former PRD party leader, Jose Francisco Pe?a Gomez.? Commission members are Attorney General Victor Cespedes; Legal Advisor of the Executive Branch Guido Gomez; Pe?a Gomez? widow, Peggy Cabral; Pe?a …

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The Oficina Tecnica de Transporte Terrestre (OTTT), which governs all transport rates, announced authorized price increases from RD$1 to RD$10 on urban and interurban routes. The measures are in effect as of today. OTTT director Antonio Reynoso met with union leaders to authorize the new rates and said that fares already costing more than RD$100 …

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Legal experts consulted by El Caribe newspaper feel that Colonel Pedro Julio (Pepe) Goico is legally ineligible for bail. Goico is under privileged detention at the Ministry of Armed Forces for his alleged involvement in a RD$40-million credit card fraud. Goico had been the security chief of President Mejia until the time of his arrest …

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Journalist John Collins reports that Puerto Rico?s trade with the Dominican Republic was down US$71.6 million. He says the decline of exports from Puerto to the Dominican Republic reflects the slow recovery from 9/11 and the continued US recession. The DR and Puerto Rico are the two biggest trading partners in the Caribbean, while the …

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The graduation of the first 45 students of the Casa de Campo Preparatory Institute by Johnson & Wales took place yesterday. The culinary and hospitality school based in Casa de Campo graduated those students trained in the fields of restaurant, bar, kitchen and housekeeping. The school opened last year following an alliance between Casa de …

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Public Works Minister Miguel Vargas says that by the end of March, construction work at La Isabela (AILI) International Airport, located north of Santo Domingo, will be completed. The plan is to transfer the operations of the Herrera International Airport to La Isabela. The Fernandez government began construction of AILI shortly after privatizing the operation …

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Don?t miss the Cabarete Sandcastle Building Contest this weekend of 14-15-16 February 2003 at the north coast destination.  On Saturday from 10:30am to 3pm, the children?s competition will be held for sandcastle builders of up to 14 years of age. There will be live music, art exhibits and theater on the beach, followed by a …

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