2004 – Page 244

All of today’s papers refer in some way to the mess in Renove, the government plan to renovate the public transportation fleet. The government borrowed US$159 million from international banks to pay for the 5,648 vehicles. The Plan Renove was created by the government in September 2001 by Decree 949-01. It is now presided over …

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Diario Libre explains that the release of information on the national controller’s audit on the Plan Renove transportation unit replacement program is nothing but a smoke screen to divert the attentions of the Dominican people and redirect their focus away from the economic crisis affecting the country. Journalist Rafael Molina Morillo also writes in his …

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El Caribe reports that the free trade negotiators from the Dominican Republic are in San Juan, Puerto Rico for the second round of talks with the United States. The talks are a follow up to the first discussions that took place in Santo Domingo in January. The final round is scheduled for 12-15 March in …

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While the much-debated Ley de Lemas (or Ley de Voto Presidencial Preferencial) has given rise to several humorous stories, this week it enters a very decisive time period. With four days to go in the current legislative session, some politicians are urging that Congress put it on their foremost agenda and ratify the controversial electoral …

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Hoy newspaper reports that during a year in which imported material inputs rose by 50-100%, overall media advertising revenues have dropped from RD$7.7 billion in 2000 and 2001 to RD$7.4 billion in 2003. Print advertising is the biggest loser, with its sales declining from RD$2.2 billion in 2000 and RD$2.1 billion in 2002 to RD$1.9 …

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According to the Diario Libre, the Dominican Republic’s industrial free saw over US$60 million dollars in direct investments in January of this year. Textile manufacturing, security services, electronics, recycling and service industries were the major contributors. During January, the National Council of Free Zones (CNZF) approved the installation of 10 new operations which will generate …

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As was reported by many papers over the weekend and in today’s Diario Libre, worldwide air travel has declined as much as 50%. The 150 agencies belonging to IATA reported that sales fell by nearly RD$68 million from October to December of 2003. Ticket prices have nearly doubled in the same time period. Last November, …

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Efforts to separate Baby Rebeca Martinez from the conjoined head failed when the infant died due to hemorrhaging on Saturday at 6am, just hours after surgery. The 11-hour operation took place on Friday night and was led by Dr. Jorge Lazareff, top brain surgeon and director of pediatric neurosurgery at the University of California at …

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Dominican jazz great Michael Camilo won the Grammy last night for Best Latin Jazz Album for his work on “Live at the Blue Note”. He dedicated his first Grammy win as a solo artist to the Dominican Republic. In 1983, Camilo received a Grammy when Manhattan Transfer won with his composition “Why Not?”

The Dominican Republic was victorious at the 34th Caribbean Baseball Series finals on Friday, in an exciting game against Puerto Rico, who were defeated 4-3. With the win, the Dominican Republic became the single country to have won the most series championships, with 15 to its credit. Puerto Rico, with 14 series victories to its …

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