2005 – Page 134

A short rain shower last night was the only effect felt in Santo Domingo when Hurricane Emily passed mid-way between this island and the north coast of South America with Category 4 strength. The strong but compact hurricane was downgraded to Category 3 as it made its way further West. To follow weather in the …

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In a speech yesterday, President Leonel Fernandez condemned US magazine Foreign Policy’s report that classifies the DR as a “failed state”. He stated that he did not even want to speculate whether the report has the intention of creating conditions for any intervention in the country by the international community. “We would never allow the …

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The government’s 2005-2008 Strategic Plan on Ethics includes establishing a national system of transparent purchasing and contracting, setting up ethics committees in all government departments, and opening information access offices in its 18 ministries. The plan’s objectives and goals were outlined yesterday by Executive Branch legal consultant Cesar Pina Toribio, who stated that the National …

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Although it has not yet received certification and herons continue to flock to the surrounding area, La Isabela Airport north of Santo Domingo will begin to be occupied tomorrow, despite opposition from several airlines, which are demanding RD$100 million in compensation. Herrera Airport airline operators confirmed that they would begin the permanent relocation of their …

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President Leonel Fernandez will lead today’s opening of the 14th Meeting of Cariforum Ministers and the Joint Meeting with the European Union, as reported in Diario Libre. The event will take place at Caonabo Room of El Embajador Hotel and has the objective of identifying future plans for cooperation and development in the region, with …

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The DR and the Czech Republic have begun negotiations towards an Agreement for the Mutual Protection of Investments that would stimulate bilateral trade, as reported in Diario Libre. A joint communique was signed by Foreign Relations Ministers Carlos Morales Troncoso and Cyril Svoboda, during a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Relations. Both ministers said …

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Lawyers consulted on an anti-terrorism law initiative by Deputy Pelegrin Castillo believe that terrorism is not currently an issue for the DR, but that it should be punished by effective legislation, as reported in Diario Libre. Former FINJUS director Eduardo Jorge Prats gives his total support for the creation of a law that would confront …

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Leading business Leon Jimenes Group is planning to present an outline of what it understands should be an integral tax reform, aimed not only at filling a fiscal gap or at compensating resources for the elimination of the exchange rate commission, but also at contributing to a lasting re-structuring. Listin Diario reports that the group …

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The World Bank’s representative in the DR, Cristina Malmberg Calvo, wants the government to fight against discretionality, administrative corruption, and improve institutionalism, as challenges that must be faced after reaching promising macroeconomic results, as reported in Clave Digital. The multilateral organization’s official also recommended that the government take measures aimed at improving governance, a key …

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Central Bank reports indicate that last month inflation measured according to the Consumer Price Index in June was practically nil, reaching just 0.06%. Diario Libre reports that the accumulated index for the first semester of 2005 reached 0.82% and during the last 12 months was 0.98%. According to the Bank, this demonstrates that following the …

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