2004 – Page 187

Political analyst Flavio Dario Espinal comments today in El Caribe on a modality in political clientelism being introduced by President Hipolito Mejia as part of his efforts to win votes. Espinal says that this time around, Mejia is directly conditioning the receipt of government funds or assets on his being re-elected. This practice, Espinal says, …

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The PRSC Executive Committee voted to expel several party leaders for not supporting the PRSC?s candidate, Eduardo Estrella. Jacinto Peynado, Carlos Morales Troncoso, Donald Reid Cabral and Fausto Madera were accused of denigrating the legitimate aspirations of the party?s official candidate with their support of PLD candidate Leonel Fernandez. The board sent nine others to …

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The 25th International Sugar Organization (ISO) Council Session will be held at the Coral Costa Caribe in Juan Dolio from 27-29 April to discuss the challenges of globalization and free trade agreements for the sugar industry. Among the topics to be tackled is the initiative to use cane alcohol in a mixture with gasoline to …

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Forty-five environmental defense and tourism industry organizations have requested that the Chamber of Deputies postpone until after the election the study of a bill passed in the Senate that tampers with the protected areas established by the Environment Ministry and Environmental Law 64-00. If ratified, the action would reduce the protected status of 30% of …

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Under the premise that you can only defend what you know about, the Association of Hotels of Bayahibe and La Romana, one of the most vocal opponents to the mutilation of the parks, is inviting the public to the presentation of a documentary on the environmental and cultural wealth of the National Park of the …

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Following the lead of Spain and Honduras, General Lieutenant Jose Miguel Soto Jimenez announced yesterday that the troops would be home in two weeks, or as soon as the logistics can be implemented to remove them from Iraq. Hoy newspaper quotes Soto Jimenez as saying that President Mejia?s wishes are the same as the army?s …

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Speaking to the American Chamber of Commerce yesterday, PLD Presidential candidate Leonel Fernandez outlined the key challenges his administration will face, if elected. Top on his list are the billions in savings certificates deposited at the Central Bank, the financial sustainability problems of the electric sector, the 100% increase in the nation?s foreign debt and …

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President Hipolito Mejia, campaigning on distributing state assets or at least promises of something for everyone, has gained popularity with the Dominican Republic?s poor, according to a comparison made in the most recent Gallup poll. Mejia has been delivering state land, promises of motorcycles and more. Some times these promises are conditioned to his being …

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The ruling PRD yesterday submitted a written warning to the Central Electoral Board (JCE) that said it might be subject to attacks during the May 16 elections, according to Hoy. The communique, which asked the electoral board to take measures to ensure that the violence of 1982 and 1986 is not repeated, was signed by …

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The Central Electoral Board (JCE) announced yesterday it will conduct a test run this weekend of the electoral computation systems for the 16 May elections. Judge Nelson Gomez, the president of the Administrative Chamber of the JCE, said that this test will prove that the informatics systems of the JCE are effective and safe from …

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