2005 – Page 197

The very influential Wall Street Journal came out in favor of the DR-CAFTA free trade agreement yesterday, and urged the US Congress to approve it. In two editorials published yesterday, the Journal defended the FTA as convenient for the USA and the entire region. The Journal also criticized the unions and the apparel and sugar …

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The requests for protection from the possible effects of the DR-CAFTA trade agreement have flooded the government offices and caught the bureaucrats unprepared for the onslaught. Industries and agricultural entities are seeking protection from the consequences of the free trade agreement. According to the El Caribe, the government officials had no idea of the magnitude …

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Oh yes, just RD$700 million more and they “say” it will be finished. On a 3.7 kilometer stretch there will be five footbridges, an underpass and a “micro-tunnel” will be built. Work on the highway that leads to the east from Santo Domingo will see workmen from the San Vicente de Paul Avenue to the …

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While the Ministry of Public Works is awaiting the report on the furnishing of the new Supreme Court building, the embattled deputy minister “Kalil” Michel promised to “clear up the rumors” today. The ministry does not know if the furniture that was seized from a warehouse belonging to Quirino Paulino Castillo, in jail in the …

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Guillermo Bonnelly, president of Bohenco, C. por A., the company that won in 1999 the tender for the furnishing of the Supreme Court of Justice, published a paid advertisement in the press today stressing that their contract is still effective. He says they were entrusted with the furniture, mobile panels and seating for the Supreme …

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Sam Goodson, one of the 14 people that were sent to court to face charges of cheating the government of millions of dollars, fled the Dominican Republic, in spite of a court order to the contrary, and managed to enter Haiti. The court has issued an arrest warrant for Goodson. The 14 will go on …

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The Committee of United Community Organizations from the Southern Zone of Santiago blasted the alleged negligence of the prosecutors and judges because they release delinquents that have been caught red-handed by the Police with such ease. They also want a crackdown on one-armed bandits and other electronic machines being used by minors. The group asked …

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The United States Coast Guard had witnessed 123 deaths of Dominican trying to get to Puerto Rico in 2004, according to commander Charlie Ray of the Coast Guard detachment in Puerto Rico. The officer was taking part in the second part of the campaign to slow down the number of people trying to make illegal …

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The president of the Chamber of Deputies and the spokespersons for several political parties put a halt to any motions to amend the Constitution, especially the proposal to join the presidential and the congressional elections in 2008. Such an amendment would, as it now stands, prolong the current terms in office to six years, and …

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The middle class of the Dominican Republic is paying close to 25% of their income for basic services: water, lights, telephone, garbage collection and cable TV. The Listin Diario gives the example of an employee that makes RD$45,000 per month and takes home nearly RD$41,000. Of this sum, over RD$10,000 go to services-RD$4,000 for electricity, …

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