2005 – Page 189

Without really trying to, the IMF has given the Dominican Government a means by which it can “overvalue” the Budget and produce a surplus of billions of pesos that the Executive Branch can use by requesting certain appropriations from the Congress. As reported in the Listin Diario, the “stubbornness” of the IMF to fix the …

Read more…

Judge Roberto Rosario of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) said that the government should retain budgeted funds until that organization reduces its excessive payroll and superfluous spending. In his opinion, given that the country is undergoing an economic crisis, has signed a standby agreement with the IMF, the JCE needs to submit to austerity in …

Read more…

Participacion Ciudadana, the leading civic society organization, publishes an open letter to President Leonel Fernandez today expressing concern for the lack of transparency in government contracting and investments, questions the government’s priorities in investments and comments on morally questionable events involving government. “Eight months into your government, one where there were great expectations of renewal, …

Read more…

Of all of the alleged acts of corruption that have been sent to the Dominican courts for hearings, only three have actually received a verdict. Former President Salvador Jorge Blanco was sentenced to 20 years, appealed the case and was pardoned by President Hipolito Mejia. Former deputy Rafael Flores Estrella was accused of mishandling funds …

Read more…

In a nation where the unemployment rate has been set at a generous 18%, the Dominican Republic’s Summer Baseball League plays an important part in contributing to the economic, social and educational development of many Dominicans. Readers would be wrong if they thought that the Summer League is just a bunch of games between the …

Read more…

Visiting representatives of the International Monetary Fund, here to review the implementation of the 28-month stand-by arrangement, told the press that the quantitative goals have been met satisfactorily, but the approval of laws is still pending. Meanwhile, the IMF’s permanent representative in the country, Ousmene Jacques Mandeng stated that the tax reform is mandatory to …

Read more…

President Leonel Fernandez will travel to the United States on Monday, 9 May and will meet with President George Bush and his Central American counterparts in an effort to lobby the US Congress on the passing of the DR-CAFTA trade agreement with the United States. Fernandez will begin his tour in New York, where he …

Read more…

Customs revenues were up by 36% in April compared to April 2004. According to the Customs Department, in April 2005 collections totaled RD$4.67 billion, while in April 2004, the figure was RD$3.43 billion, a RD$1.2 billion increase, as reported in Diario Libre. The Customs Department says that the increase is extraordinary when taking into account …

Read more…

City government officials want building regulations changed so that Santo Domingo neighborhoods can sprout more, taller skyscrapers. Many neighborhood groups have opposed changes in zoning that would enable 15 families to live where previously one family resided. El Caribe newspaper today carries an interview with seismology expert, Juan Payero de Jesus, director of the Seismology …

Read more…

Engineer Pedro Delgado Malagon, contractor for the reconstruction of Avenida Jacobo Majluta said that the works that began in January will be completed in August. The avenue is an important west-east connector that runs north of Santo Domingo.