2004 – Page 78

The Central Bank managed to lower the interest rates on its investment certificates by two points yesterday, selling them at rates of 34.5% on total sales of RD$5.816 billion. Over the past two months, the Central Bank has managed to reduce the interest rates on new certificates by 25%. This latest auction represented a notable …

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A bill that had been submitted in 2002 was finally voted on by the Senate in the first step towards approval. The bill will allow the use of fuels that contain 22% alcohol derived from sugar cane. The 17 senators present at the session voted to approve the bill. Alcohol fuels are cleaner-burning than normal …

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A seminar titled “The Future of Economic Relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic” took place on Wednesday in Port-au-Prince, where experts spoke on the existing conditions between the two countries. Listin Diario reports that Pavel Isa, the director of the Center for Economic Investigation (CIECA) in the DR, stated that commerce between Haitian and …

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The effects of the new, lower exchange rate is now being seen on the new car lots of Santo Domingo, and prices have fallen as much as 20%. Used cars are also about 10% less in price. A 2000 Toyota Corolla that was once RD$450,000 is now RD$400,000, and a Mitsubishi Montero, 2004 model year, …

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The sale of 67% of the shares of the Dominican branch of Parmalat, the Italian food giant that went bankrupt last year, will have a positive impact on Dominican farmers and ranchers, as well as the dairy industry in general. The Milk Producers’ Association and the Farmers’ and Ranchers’ Association have issued a joint press …

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Police have announced that 50 of the recovered vehicles that were illicitly in the hands of officials of that institution are to be returned to their legitimate owners on Monday. These are vehicles, mostly cars and SUVs that were stolen and recovered by police agents, but then “loaned out” to high-ranking officials. Among the vehicles …

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The “must-read” column called “Que se dice” focuses today on possible internal tensions designed to frustrate the Attorney General. According to the columnist, the AG is not the only one who sees something “strange” in the recent attack on two young girls in their mother’s presence after they were kidnapped at gunpoint in front of …

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El Caribe reports on the latest from Azua, where Deivy Ramirez, aka “El Cojo,” turned himself in to the authorities yesterday. Ramirez was wanted in connection with Tuesday’s violent rampage that saw one journalist murdered and several injured. In the clash with law enforcement that sparked a convoluted quest for the gang members’ revenge, four …

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Tropical Storm Jeanne was upgraded to hurricane status overnight, making it the sixth of the season and the third to directly affect the Dominican Republic. Currently, the eye of the storm is looming over Cabo Engano, at the easternmost tip of Hispaniola. Hurricane advisories are in effect from Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata and schools …

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El Caribe reports on the continued tension and violence in the town of Azua yesterday, as most stores remained closed and little activity could be seen on the city’s streets. As authorities intensified their search for the members of the gang responsible for the slaying of journalist Juan Andujar, one man was shot to death …

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