2005 – Page 213

Bananas move about RD$110 million each week of the harvest season. The money goes to workers, transporters, merchants, exporters and suppliers. Luis Bonilla, the head of the Probanano Project and the vice-president of the Agrobusiness Board (JAD), Osmar Benitez, told reporters that the local banana industry has become stronger as it integrates marketers and clients. …

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President Leonel Fernandez was East yesterday for the symbolic start of construction of the Coral Highway, 70 kilometers four-lane expressway that will cut driving time to Punta Cana by half an hour or more. The La Romana-Higuey-Veron and Punta Cana highway calls for a US$255 million investment. A central lane will be left in place …

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In 1997 the first government of Leonel Fernandez awarded a US$17 million contract to Datocentro, a leading data company today gone bankrupt, to automate the civil registry. It didn’t happen. Now the Fernandez government seems to be willing to back the process all over again, even though no explanations have come forth as to what …

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The Executive Branch ordered up to 40% increases in the wages of police, Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET) and Tourism Police officers. The government equaled the wages of the forces, with differences only being for rank, location where they are assigned and performance. Monthly wages are now: Corporal – RD$2,800, Cabo – RD$3,080, sargeant – RD$3,600, …

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The Dominican Free Zone Association (Adozona) has asked for a postponing of a 10% wage increase due starting April. The increase would complete the 25% wage increase agreed upon earlier in the year. A first 15% wage increase was applied effective 3 January 2005. Adozona made the request arguing that its members are not competitive. …

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Cardinal Nicolas Lopez Rodriguez is expected to arrive in Rome this noon (Tuesday, 5 April). On Monday, 11 April, three days after the funeral of Pope John Paul II that is scheduled for Friday at 10 am at the Plaza San Pedro, the Cardinal will participate in the one to three-day, closed-door meeting of the …

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In Santo Domingo, Papal Nuncio Msgr. Timothy Broglio will say a special mass on Friday evening in the Columbus Park in front of the Santo Domingo Cathedral on occasion of the burial of Pope John Paul II. While in Rome when the Pope passed away, Msgr. Timothy Broglio has returned to Santo Domingo and will …

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Compania Cervecera AmBev Dominicana (CCAD) has begun an aggressive marketing campaign to introduce its Brahma beer to the Dominican market. The beer will be sold here in the second half of the year. The company last year bought shares majority into Embotelladora Dominicana, the Pepsi bottler, and has built a beer-bottling plant with capacity for …

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The Instituto de Estudios Caribenos (INEC) carried out a cultural survey in 22 provinces and Santo Domingo, on occasion of the celebration at the Centro Leon in Santiago of the International Music, Identity and Culture in the Caribbean Congress. Among the findings is that merengue is still king amongst Dominicans, despite the boom in popularity …

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Felix Sanchez, who won an Olympic gold medal for the Dominican Republic in the 400 meter hurdles, called for local support to the International Association Athletics Federation Grand Prix scheduled for 1-4 May at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center stadium. Jose Ludwig Rubio, president of the Dominican Athletics Federation, says there is the possibility …

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