2005 – Page 180

Interior & Police Minister Franklin Almeyda Rancier said that the government has negotiated a US$125 million loan with the support of US export agency, Eximbank to equip the National Police. The plan is to purchase 2,000 vehicles, 1,000 motorcycles, laptops and new uniforms for the agents. Also to install laboratories for police research.

The city government of Santiago has authorized studies that would look into building a metro for Santiago, the country’s second largest city. The city hall authorized Consulting ADP Dominicana to present a first project with feasibility studies of the underground system within 45 days. A spokesman for the city hall said that the metro would …

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Economist Eduardo Garcia Michel yesterday had praise for the economic achievements of the government but at the same time warned that the stabilization program is not sustainable in the medium term. The president of the Fundacion Siglo 21 research center mentioned that the achievements are based on the appreciation of the peso that has been …

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Former President Hipolito Mejia sent a 22-page letter to Judge Esther Agelan Casasnovas arguing reasons why he refuses to sit for questioning of the judge in the libel case of his Presidential Public Works Supervisor Hernani Salazar against lawyer Marino Vinicio (Vincho) Castillo. In the letter he insists that that his appearance is improcedente and …

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After winning two bronze medals in the 40-44 age category in the World Masters Swimming Championships held last year in Italy, Dominican swimmer Danilo Vicioso is in Miami to participate in the X World Masters Swimming Championship this weekend (19-22 May). The event is a preparatory meet leading into the World Masters Swimming Championship set …

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President Leonel Fernandez accepted a proposal to postpone the construction of an underground rail system for Santo Domingo. The proposal came from the government’s Economic, Social and Institutional Council that met with the President last night. Other options available to solve the problems related to public transport have been suggested, and the meeting agreed the …

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The Chamber of Deputies modified the Law 28-01 that was designed to bring industry to the seven poorest provinces on the Dominican Republic by offering very extensive tax privileges. After prolonged debates, public hearings and plenty of lobbying, the deputies modified Article 2 of the law, introducing VAT taxes (ITBIS), selective luxury taxes on alcohol …

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In an ironic twist of fate, the Chamber of Deputies yesterday gave away thousands of meters of prime tourist lands in exchange for a worthless piece of property. According to El Caribe, the chamber approves the exchange of 7,000 “tareas”, approximately 440.25 hectares, in favor of Isabel Marinas Country Club, for 381.5 “tareas” or 24 …

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Legal advisor to the President, Cesar Pina Toribio announced that the government would be willing to revise the recently passed ruling regarding the Comision Nacional de Espectaculos Publicos that rules TV and radio operations after organizations such as the InterAmerican Press Association (IAPA) and The Foundation for Institutionality and Justice (Finjus) deemed this a return …

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The foreign ministers of Haiti and the Dominican Republic agreed to halt the mass deportations that were occurring in the Cibao Valley and elsewhere and the re-opening of the Haitian Frontier at Juana Mendez-Dajabon. Carlos Morales Troncoso of the DR and Herald Abrahams of Haiti held a press conference at which they told Listin Diario …

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