2004 – Page 254

Hundreds of Dominicans in the Washington Heights area of New York City assembled and marched in sub-zero temperatures to support the two-day strike in their home country. The protestors shouted slogans critical of the IMF agreement, and called for President Hipolito Mejia’s resignation.

President Hipolito Mejia and Public Works Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado went through the ceremony of inaugurating La Isabela International Airport, now named Joaquin Balaguer International Airport. Likewise, the government christened the Avenida Presidente Antonio Guzman Fernandez, the access road to the airport that is located in northern Santo Domingo. The airport cost the government RD$1 …

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The Education Ministry announced it had received two important budget allotments – one for $RD130 million corresponding to January and another for the missing RD$23 million due from December. Administrative Deputy Minister Julio Cordero said that by Monday, payments would be made to suppliers and he expected the school breakfast program to resume shortly. He …

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All but 2 of the 15 Supreme Court judges have come out publicly behind Chief Justice Jorge Subero Isa, who has been in the media’s spotlight since he revealed that he had been under pressure from unnamed sources to resign his post last week. The 13 judges signed a letter of support, addressed to the …

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According to former JCE president Cesar Estrella Sadhala, the proposed “Ley de Lemas” would make electoral fraud easier because a party fielding several candidates would have several delegates representing each candidate at each voting station. Estrella Sadhala said that the proposed law, also known as the Preferential Presidential Vote, could mean multiple voting for all …

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The shortage of fuel in the electricity generating sector meant repeated and prolonged power interruptions yesterday, despite a sharp decrease in demand due to the strike. Yesterday’s deficit is estimated to have been 450mw, which amounts to just over one-third of total capacity. El Caribe reports that the new wave of power cuts has forced …

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In a press briefing at their Washington headquarters yesterday, the International Monetary Fund’s Thomas Dawson, director of the External Relations Department, commented on the current status of the agreement with the Dominican authorities. Dawson said the IMF management had recommended they proceed with a first review of the accord. “The revised program is designed to …

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Since the announcement of the resumption of the floundering agreement with the International Monetary Fund just one week ago, the US dollar rate has fallen from a high of RD$55 to the present rate of around RD$45 as posted by commercial banks. There continues to be a scarcity of dollars available for sale at the …

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Franco Uccelli, who covers the Dominican Republic for the Bear Stearns Wall Street brokerage firm, is optimistic that the DR will make payment on the interests due before the 30-day grace period expires on 23 February. “We have received official assurances that the payment will indeed be made as soon as the Central Bank is …

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Representatives of the Dominican government in the current negotiations of a free trade agreement with the United States are finding it increasingly tough to resist US efforts to remove restrictions on the importation of key products. Rice, beans and chicken are produced and consumed domestically, and provide the daily staple dish for most Dominicans, better …

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