2005 – Page 211

The Miss Dominican Republic contest to choose the Dominican representative to Miss Universe 2005 will take place this Saturday, 9 April at the Palacio de los Deportes. 41 candidates are participating in the finals. There will be live performances by Gilberto Santa Rosa and Jose Alberto El Canario (salsa) and merengue performer El Jeffrey. Miss …

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President Leonel Fernandez announced that RD$500 million is available for lending to small and medium-sized business through the Promipyme government programs. Interest rate charges on these loans are 12% for industry and 14% for commerce. Mayra Jimenez, director of Promipyme, said that the money can be borrowed in terms of up to five years. She …

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Diario Libre reported that studies have shown that the RD$446 million overpass the Ministry of Public Works has started at the entrance to Los Alcarrizos will not resolve traffic problems in the area. Reportedly, during the past Fernandez administration a study showed the solution is to build a ring road (known in the DR as …

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President Leonel Fernandez sent to Congress three bills that seek to establish legal guidelines for governmental purchases, contracting of public works, services and concessions. The bills also look into norms for internal controls of the Controller General office and there is a bill to strengthen the National Treasury that would impede the unrestricted taking on …

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News reports say that the government will not pursue the Programa Eventual Minimo de Empleo (PEME) case of fraud against the state for RD$1.48 billion. The government announced yesterday that it has cancelled the power of attorney granted to five lawyers that were in charge of the case. The government announced that it has cancelled …

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District prosecutor Jose Manuel Hernandez requested the start of the case against 59 police officers, including generals and colonels, for irregular use of stolen vehicles that the police had recovered and not notified the recovery to the owners. Of the 59 officers, 42 are still active in the police. Named in the case is former …

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Political analyst Rosario Espinal writes in Hoy newspaper today that in the DR there are not the conditions for the emerging of a governance conflict. She says that a recent survey carried out by sociologist Ramon Tejada Holguin of Unibe university shows that President Leonel Fernandez retains the same high level of popularity he had …

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Tourism Minister Felix Jimenez offered tour operators selling beach destinations in the country to increase government support to their DR promotions if they include a visit to Santo Domingo in their packages. He announced an increase of 25% in financial support to wholesalers selling Dominican beach destinations if they include Santo Domingo during the opening …

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The president of the Association of Hotels of Santo Domingo, Roberto Henriquez feels the city should include in its packages visits to the beaches in Boca Chica and Juan Dolio, about half an hour from the city. This way, beach-seeking tourists could consider staying longer in Santo Domingo. Roberto Henriquez, interviewed by El Caribe newspaper …

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Welcome rains fell yesterday in Santo Domingo, Barahona and the central mountain range, among other areas nationwide. Weather service spokesmen say the rains will continue throughout the weekend in most of the nation. According to the weathermen, nevertheless, the drought is not over.