2004 – Page 186

The ousted president of the ruling PRD, Hatuey de Camps, revealed yesterday that the government plans to invest RD$130 million to purchase wood and other construction materials at the close of the election campaign to counteract any unpopularity that the Mejia candidacy may have among the population. Recent international independent polls show Mejia?s rejection rate …

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Political analyst Juan Bolivar Diaz wrote in Saturday?s Hoy to say the electoral vista in the DR is much clearer today that it was at the time of the 2000 Presidential election. ?Never before has the pre-electoral panorama been as defined as in the present process, when all recognized polls show Leonel Fernandez has the …

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The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco (PRD-National District), favors scaling down the boundaries of the national parks? limits so that these may be developed for tourism and mining projects. Pacheco supports the bill as approved by the Senate and says it will be studied as soon as it is forwarded to the …

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Elena Brineman, the director of USAID in the Dominican Republic, says that the organization would reconsider its assistance to Dominican environmental projects if Congress ratifies the changes to the environmental rulings that have already approved by the Senate. These changes would remove large extensions of lands from the National Parks protected status that they could …

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The British Embassy in Santo Domingo is inviting Dominicans to apply for the Chevening Scholarships for 2005-2006. The scholarships for postgraduate studies in all areas except medicine, the arts and languages in United Kingdon and Ireland universities. Those interested need be Dominican citizens, under 35 years old and with perfect knowledge of the English language. …

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Haitian Prime Minister Gerard Latortue arrived today in the DR?s capital city for an early morning meeting with President Hipolito Mejia at the Hotel Santo Domingo. The Haitian PM was received at the hotel instead of the Presidential Palace because the Dominican authorities have not formally recognized the new Haitian government. News reports say that …

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President Hipolito Mejia will help launch today?s National Day of Vaccinations. Children under five will be vaccinated against polio, measles and rubella (mumps) in both the DR and Haiti next weekend. This Hispaniola island immunization campaign is sponsored by the Pan-American Organization of the Health (OPS), the Fund of the United Nations for the Childhood …

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The VII Annual Book Fair opened to the public this morning. Called the biggest cultural party in the country, the fair includes more than 450 exhibitors from more than 20 countries. Books are being sold at discount prices and more than 500 activities are planned during the 10-day festival that closes on 2 May.

The president of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) and several fellow judges discarded allegations that the electoral process could be tainted by violence on 16 May. Dario de Jesus, the PRD delegate at the JCE, sent a letter whereby he forewarned the courts that the bloodshed that occurred in 1982 and 1986 could be repeated …

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Diario Libre reports today that President Hipolito Mejia, in his quest to improve his voting preference levels, offered financing of state lands to assist small businesses. This was put forward at a campaign event yesterday where food retailers had congregated. Mejia announced he would deliver soft-term financing to the small businesses worth RD$50 million and …

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