2005 – Page 139

The National Council of Business (CONEP) asked the government to slay the much-debated 13% exchange commission on all imports “right now.” The move would be seen as a countermeasure to the new tax reforms that will broaden the tax base for the VAT taxes. The Council also called for a five to seven year period …

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US Ambassador Hans Hertell said yesterday that the Dominican Congress should not wait for tax reform and compensations to productive and industrial sectors to pass before ratifying the Dominican Republic – Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) with the US, as reported in El Caribe. He confirmed that the US House of Representatives will probably …

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US President George W. Bush removed the prohibition of military aid to the DR after a bilateral agreement was signed whereby the DR relinquishes allowing the International Court of Criminal Justice to judge US personnel on Dominican territory, according to Hoy. Bush informed the State Department of his decision according to the law that protects …

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Armed Forces Minister, Sigfrido Pared Perez warned yesterday that the DR has logistic limitations that don’t allow it to intercept airplanes that use the air space to throw loads of drugs to sea, as reported in Diario Libre. However, it does have the necessary boats that can avoid that the drugs be collected on land. …

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At a moment when violence in Haiti is increasing, Dominican territory has started to be used as stopover by foreign troops that will form part of the international contingent there, according to a report in El Caribe. Hundreds of Spanish soldiers arrived yesterday morning at the Cibao International Airport, en route to the neighboring country …

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The three leading political parties need to concentrate on garnering supporters in nine provinces and the National District (Santo Domingo) in order to gain majority in the Chamber of Deputies. Congressional elections are set for 16 May 2006. At present, the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) has the most seats, but it does not have majority. …

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The Central Electoral Board announced it would not implement the Electoral Law provision that mandates preferential vote on a municipal level. While scheduled in the 2002 congressional and municipal election, at that time preferential vote was only put into effect to choose deputies. Only the PRSC, of the three leading political parties, supported going ahead …

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Retired Colonel Juan Pou, brother of former minister of the Armed Forces Joaquin Antonio Pou Castro, who was sentenced to 12 years in jail for the murder of journalist Orlando Martinez, told journalists yesterday that former minister of the Armed Forces, Ramon Emilio (Milo) Jimenez should be in jail for the crime. Pou said that …

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Clave Digital reports that members of the National Drug Control Department (DNCD) at the Punta Cana International Airport arrested a woman with 11 packages of cocaine with a total weight of 10 kilos, 640 grams, which she intended to take to Spain. The woman is 34-year-old Francisca Wilson, of Dominican and Dutch nationalities. She was …

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Showbusiness producer Guillermo Cordero has announced that Victor Victoria will open in the main hall of the National Theater in Santo Domingo on 4 August, as reported in El Caribe. The Broadway musical, which he has been working on for nine months, will present Freddy Beras Goico and Cecilia Garcia in the lead roles. Victor …

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