2004 – Page 255

Hoy newspaper contributor Fabio Herrera-Minino writes today that “sooner or later, putting aside demagoguery, the authorities and rice producers will have to diligently study the notion of gradually reducing the production of rice in lands that, if farmed with other produce, would be much more profitable for the nation,” he says. He recalls a time …

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Diario Libre reports on Santo Domingo District Attorney Maximo Aristy Caraballo’s statement ratifying last week’s declaration regarding the Bancredito executives. Unlike the Baninter case, the DA is of the belief that there were no legal irregularities in the contract of sale between Banco Profesional and Bancredito, which was eventually taken over by the Leon Jimenes …

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The news is confirmed. As first reported for Dominican readers on the DR1 Airline Forum, Delta Airlines has just announced it will start direct flights to the Dominican Republic from John F. Kennedy International in New York. The decision to fly to Las Americas International in Santo Domingo comes at a time the airline announces …

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The government-intervened Listin Diario carries the headline this morning that the current nationwide strike will cost the country RD$3 billion. In his speech last night, President Mejia called the national protest “dangerous to the social peace of the country.” The chief executive called the strike leaders “clumsy” and “insensitive,” pointing out the little time remaining …

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The Dominican Council of Bishops urged people to avoid violence and provocations during today’s strike. In a message titled “Please say something” (“Por favor digan algo”), the bishops counsel the strike supporters to stay in their homes where they can reflect on the situation and pray. The bishops advised, “Let us not add more useless …

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DR1 reports from around the country indicate overall support for the strike in major cities, while business is being conducted as usual in the tourist areas. Dominicans in the major cities have been maintaining the nationwide strike since early this morning. Many employees reported to work, and those who use public transport informed that they …

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The opinion page of El Caribe carries three pieces on the strike and the President today, with the main perspective justifying the need for the strike and enforcing the hope that at the end of the 48 hours the government will have received a vote of censure that takes effect. What is unwanted are violence …

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The deputy minister for administrative affairs at the Education Ministry, Julio Cordero, told Hoy newspaper that they do not know the whereabouts of RD$23 million that appears as having been paid from the National Treasury to his ministry, but says it was never received. The money corresponds to a budgeted allotment for December 2003. Cordero …

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The Listin Diario reports that the strike called by the Dominican College of Doctors (CMD) left patients without care at the public hospitals or the social security hospitals, which were all but shut down by the work stoppage yesterday. The physicians supposedly resumed work today, but this could be affected by the nationwide work stoppage …

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The Internal Revenue Department (DGII) included telecommunications in the applications of the SCT (the transitory joint contributions, a government euphemism for a short-term tax). These monies will be used to complete the resources needed to fulfill the demands of the IMF accords. Towards the end of last year, the monetary authorities came to an agreement …

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