2004 – Page 235

The Central Electoral Board (JCE) said it believes that no citizen will be able to vote more than once, even when that person appears more then once on the voter registration rolls. Dr. Juan Carolos Sanchez, the JCE’s director of cedulas (the national ID and Voter Registration card), told the press yesterday that the case …

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As reported in the Listin Diario, Danilo Medina, strategic coordinator of the PLD’s electoral campaign, considered the spread between the voters’ preference for Leonel Fernandez over Hipolito Mejia is so wide that it will make any attempt at fraud in the May election difficult. A recent Penn Schoen poll showed Fernandez winning in a first …

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Black Enterprise magazine this month looks into the advances Dominicans in the United States have been making to build bridges between blacks and Hispanic communities. Cid Wilson, who is president of the Dominican American Round Table and board member of Dominicans on Wall Street (DOWS) is one of those forging ahead these new political alliances. …

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Foreign Relations Minister Frank Guerrero Prats is concerned that the aggravation of the political crisis in Haiti could affect the entire Caribbean region. The minister urged the international community, multilateral credit organizations and friendly governments to act urgently to assist Haiti. According to Guerrero Prats, the Dominican Republic is a firm believer in the resolution …

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Meanwhile, border trade with Haiti has been halted, adversely affecting the economy of the frontier communities and lessening food sources for Haiti. Dozens of cargo-trucks laden with poultry, eggs, plantain and other produce were prohibited from traveling into Haiti. The Dominican Association of Exporters expressed its concern for the Haitian crisis, which has affected Dominican …

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Grupo M free zone manufacturing company explained that operations at its manufacturing plant in Guanaminthe, Haiti are normal, and reported only 1% absenteeism during the escalating violence. Grupo M opened a textile plant in Haiti to gain access to cheaper labor than that available in the Dominican Republic and at the same time take advantage …

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Controller General Federico Lalane Jose is standing by the findings of his auditors, despite scorn from the highest levels. President Hipolito Mejia disputed the audit’s findings from the campaign trail on Saturday in Dajabon. President Mejia was a guest on the “El Gobierno de la Manana” radio talk show and called the findings “garbage and …

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The CODIA (Association of Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors) has recommended the closing of the Duarte Bridge. The leading association of engineers and architects delivered a report to the Public Works Ministry warning that even though only one lane of the bridge is being used, it is unfit for any kind of load. The report …

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Diario Libre focuses today on the US$16-million loan being negotiated with the Israeli Bank Hapoalim BM for the purchase of two Super Dvora Mk2 speedboats and three radars for the Dominican Navy. The loan contract reportedly includes a clause that contemplates a third loan for US$1.2 million to insure the country risk. The contract approved …

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El Caribe reports today that the government has agreed to increase taxes on food and medicines to compensate for less customs revenues once the Free Trade Agreement with the United States goes into effect. The loss of revenue is estimated at RD$500 million. While the agreement is slated to go into effect in 2005, there …

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