2004 – Page 27

Six public institutions and six city governments agreed yesterday to participate in a technical and functional evaluation of the Duquesa garbage dump. The dump would be converted into a sanitary landfill with adequate management. The plan is to cover an area of a million square meters that is currently an open-air garbage dump within 60 …

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In addition to addressing the Duquesa garbage dump, the agreement signed yesterday between various government institutions and six municipal officials also entails a step forward for the opening of the Joaquin Balaguer International Airport (formerly named the Higuero and Isabela airports). The agreement establishes that once the landfill has been completed, the Herrera terminal operations …

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The National Hotel & Restaurant Association does not support the creation of a new tax on airfares to the Dominican Republic. In response to Tourism Minister Felix Jimenez’ announcement while in Spain of a new US$5 surcharge on airfares in order to fund infrastructure works in Dominican tourism destinations, Asonahores issued a written note withholding …

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The Association of Small and Medium Sized Hotels of Santo Domingo alerted that if the dollar continues its present trend they would have to increase their rates. Mario Torroni, the vice-president of the association, says that it is difficult for them to tell a tourist who paid US$30 last year that they must now fork …

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The National Council of Business has re-elected Elena Viyella de Paliza to remain at the helm of its organization. The board for 2005 will be: Elena Viyella as president; vice-presidents Fernando Armenteros, Mauricio Hache and Carlos Guillermo Leon. Other members are Rafael Blanco Canto, Jose Clase, Rafael del Toro, Irving Redondo, Yandra Portela, Francisco Garcia, …

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The government of the United States has revoked the B1 and B2 visas of former Mejia government officials and businessmen accused of defrauding the state of more than RD$1 billion through the Plan Renove transport program. The government contracted a US$159-million loan to finance the purchase of vehicles ostensibly to enhance the DR’s public transport …

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Appearing on TV yesterday, District Attorney Manuel Hernandez Peguero criticized the fact that a dozen high-ranking PRD party members were present in the court room as Judge Victor Martinez reviewed the Plan Renove case. The DA also was critical of Senator Hernani Salazar, who passed a piece of paper to the judge while he was …

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The United Nations office reports that a recent study showed that more than 50% of Dominican men of ages 15 to 29 are using condoms when having sex with someone other than their spouses. ONUSIDA, the HIV-AIDS division of the United Nations, says that the disease is widespread in the DR, but the prevalence is …

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President Leonel Fernandez, First Lady Margarita Cedeno and Vice-President Rafael Alburquerque were in the front row to attend the lecture of David Osborne titled “Reinventing Government” that took place last night at the Barcelo Gran Hotel Lina. While the event was open to the general public, the hotel’s Salon de la Mancha was packed with …

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Bill and Hillary Clinton visited Punta Cana for a short vacation over the weekend The Clintons have been frequent travelers to Punta Cana since making it their first vacation destination abroad following the end of the Clinton presidency. President Leonel Fernandez and First Lady Margarita Cedeno traveled to the East Coast resort town yesterday to …

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