2005 – Page 143

Diario Libre reports that the Coalition of Support for the DR-CAFTA requested Congress to consider that the approval of the agreement in the US legislative branch as almost certain and that local reforms must be rushed to make productive sectors competitive. Jorge Ivan Ramirez and Hugo Rivera, promoters of the DR-CAFTA, said that the agreement …

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British Ambassador, Andy Ashcroft, asked the Public Works Minister Manuel de Jesus (Freddy) Perez for explanations regarding the assignment of the contract to Dekolor for the making of the new driver’s licenses, as reported in El Nacional. In a letter dated 15 June 2005, the diplomat stated that he is acting upon request of De …

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The local representative of the UN Development Program (UNPD), Niky Fabiancic, and the Executive Director of the Fundacion Institucionalidad y Justicia (FINJUS), Servio Tulio Castanos, denied that the DR is a “failed State” and said it was a barbarism for US magazine Foreign Policy to include it in a list of 20 countries under this …

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The Ministry of Foreign Relations explained that only citizens of Argentina, Chile, South Korea, Ecuador, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Peru, Liechtenstein, and Uruguay, may enter the DR without a visa nor a tourist card, as reported in Diario Libre. Deputy Minister of Consular Affairs, Rosario Graciano, said that agreements have been signed with the DR that …

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El Caribe reports that a high-level government official, whose name was withheld by both the Attorney General and the Director of the Anti-Corruption Department (DEPRECO) is being investigated for corruption. The official allegedly incurred in bribery related to his position. AG Francisco Dominguez Brito said he had no details to offer regarding the case as …

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Several individuals wanted in extradition are being sought by the National Drug Control Department (DNCD) in relation to the Quirino case. The information was provided by the president of the DNCD, Ivan Pena Castillo who explained that 20 Dominicans involved in drug trafficking have already been sent to the US recently but there are still …

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On 18 December 2004, when authorities were about to seize the 1,387 kilos of cocaine that would be shipped by a drug trafficking network directed by Quirino Ernesto Paulino Castillo, people involved in the investigation warned him that he had been uncovered by the National Drug Control Department (DNCD), according to Listin Diario. District Attorney …

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Rain, rough seas, wind gusts, thunder and lightning are forecast in the country over the next 120 hours due to a tropical wave located in the Mona Passage, as reported in Listin Diario. Meteorologist Martin Mata is forecasting heavy rain and thunderstorms until Sunday in different parts of the country, which will come with strong …

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Fourteen out of 16 Caribbean countries supported the creation of Petro-Caribbean during the region’s first Heads of State Energy Summit. Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados excused their refusal to sign by saying they needed more time to study the initiative with their countries’ legislative branches. The final declaration was signed by Venezuela, Antigua and Barbuda, …

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President Leonel Fernandez was able to get Venezuela to disburse US$106 million of the San Jose Agreement funds, which will be used for the construction of the aqueduct in Higuey, as reported in Diario Libre. The Venezuelan government immediately authorized the disbursement of US$31 million to begin construction. President Fernandez said that another US$27 million …

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