2003 – Page 72

Technical Secretary of the Presidency Carlos Despradel will present the RD$120-billion 2004 National Budget to the National Development Council at the Presidential Palace. According to reports, the budget will be sent tomorrow to Congress, where it must be approved before the Christmas break. The government is purportedly counting on resources from a 5% tax on …

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With foreign debt obligations having doubled during the first three years of the Mejia government, economist and former director of the National Planning Office during the Leonel Fernandez government Rafael Camilo said that the government next year will need RD$40 billion to pay foreign debt, reported Hoy newspaper. Camilo said the government will need to …

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The Executive Branch needs congressional approval for a US$200-million emergency loan from the Interamerican Development Bank. The government says these funds would be used to make payments due to the power generation companies and to support social programs of the Education and Public Health ministries. The disbursement of the loan is pending the resumption of …

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Pope John Paul II, during the accreditation ceremony for the new Dominican ambassador to the Vatican, Carlos Rafael Conrado Marion Landais, mentioned the worsening standard of living of the Dominican population, as reported in El Caribe newspaper. “Internal and external causes have produced a serious deterioration and certain decline in the quality of life of …

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In a 15 December country briefing, The Economist says those protesting the economic hardships in the Dominican Republic should not blame the IMF for their plight. Describing the Mejia administration as “an incompetent government”, the magazine’s news analysis adds, “They should blame Mr. Mejia.” According to The Economist, “Mr. Mejia’s mind is on politics.” The …

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Moises Pineda, representative of the Interamerican Development Bank in the Dominican Republic, announced the signing of a US$5.5-million loan to contribute to the increase of Dominican exports. Foreign Relations Minister Francisco Guerrero Prats signed on behalf of the Dominican Republic with Pineda. Also present at the ceremony was Industry & Commerce Minister Sonia Guzman and …

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Diario Libre reports today there are indications that certain names of individuals linked to the PLD political party but officially registered as members of the PRD on the voting list for the aborted 14 December primary were submitted by the PPH faction of the PRD. In addition to the PLD members, there are also indications …

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The PRD Presidential pre-candidates met yesterday for 50 minutes with President Hipolito Mejia to discuss preparations for their upcoming primary. The press speculated that pre-candidates Milagros Ortiz Bosch, Rafael Subervi and Enmanuel Esquea could still decide not to participate in the convention that has been rescheduled for this Sunday, 21 December, given the widespread irregularities …

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Speaking on the “Hoy Mismo” TV show on Channel 9, PRD party president Hatuey de Camps said that Milagros Ortiz Bosch, Rafael Subervi and Enmanuel Esquea would be entering not a primary but rather “a massacre and gas chamber” regarding the PRD party convention set for Sunday, 21 December. De Camps said the government has …

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The Public Works Ministry announced the closing of the 27 de Febrero and Maximo Gomez intersection for the installation of a pedestrian crossing. The crossway will be closed from 10pm Tuesday night until 6am on Wednesday.