2004 – Page 261

Given that Wednesday, 21 January is a national holiday, the DR1 Daily News will not be produced. News for Wednesday will be compiled in the Thursday, 22 January update. Tomorrow’s holiday celebrates the Dia de la Altagracia, which honors the Virgin of High Grace. Commemorative events will take place in Higuey at the Basilica La …

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The government is heavily in arrears with suppliers of the public school breakfast program. Several suppliers that have already accumulated millions in debt have suspended the dispatches, as reported in Hoy newspaper. Eduardo Hidalgo, a spokesman for the Dominican Teachers Association (ADP), denounced the massive debt owed to them by the Ministry of Education, which …

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Technical Secretary to the Presidency Carlos Despradel says that resuming the International Monetary Fund agreement will depend on the Chamber of Deputies’ approval of the systematic financial risk bill that had been previously approved by the Senate, but was not given priority in the lower house. The deputies have not reconvened since the move to …

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Former President Leonel Fernandez traveled to Washington, D.C. yesterday for consultations with the International Monetary Fund. Hoy newspaper reports that the presidential candidate of the PLD was accompanied by former Minister of Finance Daniel Toribio and former Governor of the Central Bank Hector Valdez Albizu. He would meet with officers of the IMF, the World …

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Franco Uccelli, who covers the Dominican Republic for the Bear Stearns brokerage firm, reports that the Dominican Republic’s next bond payment looms large, with a US$27-million payment due on Friday, January 23. “While we believe that the Dominican government has worked too hard and for too long to let its efforts go unsatisfied by allowing …

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According to the 16 January Country Outlook report prepared by The Economist Intelligence Unit, there could be relief ahead with a change of government. The Economist says that former President Leonel Fernandez is the favorite to win the 16 May presidential election. On this assumption, the publication states: “In 2005 we forecast a return to …

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The president of the Central Electoral Board (JCE), Judge Luis Arias announced the opening of the 2004 presidential campaign today. This is days earlier than Electoral Law 275-97 dictates. With Election Day slated for Sunday, 16 May, so far, the PLD and the PRSC have registered their candidates. The PRD held its primary on Sunday, …

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The Central Electoral Board (JCE) publishes a resolution today that sets 27 June as the date for a second round, if needed. Seeing as this date is three days earlier than what is established in the 1994 Constitution that instated the second round, the electoral process could be affected should any dispute arise. While this …

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El Caribe newspaper lists these key deadlines for the electoral process: 20 January: Opening of presidential election campaign. 26 January: Deadline for registration of expatriate voters abroad. The JCE hopes to register 30,000 Dominicans to vote in Canada, US, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Spain. 3 February: Meeting of the JCE to approve the final list …

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The JCE reports there are an estimated 5,067,000 registered voters, 134 electoral boards located nationwide and 12,500 polling stations. Some 62,500 individuals will be employed in the election day activity. The JCE also says it has registered 33,958 expatriate voters. Officially recognized parties so far number 22, with a dozen waiting for official recognition.