2004 – Page 230

Works being carried out to repair earthquake damage to the historic Fort San Luis in Santiago unearthed a cache of weapons dating back 150 to 200 years. The ongoing repairs of the fort’s north wall brought to light 38 firearms from the late 18th or early 19th century. The collection has been carefully handled by …

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President Hipolito Mejia turned his attention away from electoral matters yesterday, to instead engage in discussions with the US ambassador and business leaders on the possible impact of the ongoing Haitian crisis. The meeting, which included the participation of investors from the BHD banking group, also dealt with internal economic matters. The crisis in Haiti, …

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Foreign Minister Frank Guerrero Prats has reiterated his stance on the Dominican Republic’s capacity to receive refugees fleeing the violence in neighboring Haiti. He said that the government is advocating a peaceful settlement to Haiti’s internal problems: “The DR is in favor of any peaceful solution through harmonious dialogue for our sister republic, Haiti, to …

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Hoy’s main editorial says that recent images in the media of the rebel leaders raise some questions. The press has carried photos of the rebels celebrating their victories “over what is, for better or for worse, an elected government,” with cigars, rum and grins of delight. The political leadership of the insurgent forces, however, has …

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The newspapers are reporting on those people leaving Haiti via the Dominican Republic. These are not the refugees crossing the border on foot that have caused debate in recent days, but rather well-heeled air passengers, many of them expatriate workers in Haiti, who are leaving the country due to the escalating violence. Santo Domingo’s Herrera …

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Both Hoy newspaper, which broke the story over the weekend, and Diario Libre are giving further attention to a deal brokered in Samana, whereby 500,000 square meters of land have been leased as part of a concession for a period of 50 years to a previously unknown company registered in Panama with Dominican businessman Roberto …

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El Caribe reports that the fiscal authorities have collected only 77% of their target income, despite new measures introduced last January. The US$10 increase in the departure tax, the 2% levy on imports and the 5% surcharge on exports were projected to generate RD$490 million for the month of January 2004, but have only succeeded …

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The latest report from Bear Stearns suggests that the case for restructuring the Dominican Republic’s sovereign debt is very weak. The international investment and banking firm believes that the costs (reputational, legal and financial) will be high in relation to the need as measured by the financing gaps. For example, the balance of payments gap, …

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El Caribe newspaper today highlights that a long list of major public works has nothing but front-page headlines to show for it. The newspaper mentions that President Hipolito Mejia participated in the much-publicized, ground-breaking ceremonies for the US$5-billion megaport in Manzanillo in the Northwest that never happened and the renovations at the San Pedro de …

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Diario Libre reports today that the former legal advisor to the Central Bank, Jorge Luis Polanco, resigned his post on 12 January only to announce on 30 January that he would participate as part of the defense bar for those accused by the Central Bank of fraud and embezzlement in the cases of the Baninter …

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