2004 – Page 260

There has been a noticeable increase in power outages over the last few days, and the reason is the government’s failure to pay its debts to the electricity companies. Yesterday’s deficit was estimated at 300mHw, and the government owes the electricity companies an estimated US$350 million. Power distribution companies Edenorte and Edesur have announced a …

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Yesterday, 21 January, was the day that Dominican Catholics (who make up the vast majority of the population) celebrate “El Dia de la Virgen de la Altagracia”, traditionally marked by a pilgrimage to the eastern city of Higuey, where there is a Basilica in the honor of the Virgin Mary. The statements of the two …

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Following several days of rumors, it was confirmed yesterday in El Caribe newspaper that the chief justice and head of the Supreme Court, Jorge Subero Isa, is under pressure, reportedly from the highest levels of government, to resign his post. According to some reports, he is being offered a plum diplomatic posting as compensation. Subero …

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Former Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito is paraphrased in the Listin Diario as saying that Subero Isa has made a great effort and has had to swim in many difficult waters and his resignation would be a blow to Dominican democracy. He said that were he to leave now, his departure would coincide with many …

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Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez celebrated mass at the Santo Domingo Cathedral yesterday, and made the Subero Isa affair a central part of his sermon. He said that the chief justice should resist pressure to resign and instead entrench himself in his post. Lopez Rodriguez said that the PPH had no business interfering in …

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Local press carries speculation on the reasons for Jorge Subero Isa’s threat to resign. Hoy newspaper’s “Coctelera” page 2 column commentary speculates that the President of the Supreme Court of Justice has always held major differences with his first substitute, Judge Rafael Luciano Pichardo. The columnist says that with all due respect, no one should …

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Former President Salvador Jorge Blanco has announced that the official designation of President Hipolito Mejia as the PRD Presidential candidate will take place on 31 January. He attributed the delay to a meeting of delegates scheduled for 25 January, denying that it was to allow time for some agreement that might permit other Presidential hopefuls …

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Wednesday’s papers indicated that those behind the proposed Ley de Lemas were asking that it now be postponed. Henry Sarraf, the PRD deputy and official architect of the controversial bill, also known as the Preferential Presidential Vote Bill, said yesterday that there is not enough time between now and the 2004 election date, 16 May, …

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Jacinto Peynado now says that if the Ley de Lemas goes through he will stand as a second PRSC candidate in the Presidential elections. Contradicting previous reports of his position on the issue several days ago, the former Vice-President and unsuccessful Presidential candidate said that he was “in total agreement” with the proposed law. Speaking …

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Vice President and pre-Presidential candidate hopeful Milagros Ortiz Bosch is warning that the current uncertainties surrounding the Central Electoral Board (JCE) could attract the attention of an international commission to scrutinize the elections as happened in 1986. Her statement came in reaction to the pronouncements by JCE president Luis Arias, who proclaimed the selection of …

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