2005 – Page 258

The National Chief of Police, Manuel de Jesus Perez Sanchez, has expressed his determination to fight crime, and reminded the public that this was a commitment shared by everyone. Perez Sanchez said that “in comparison with what is happening in other countries, security levels here are good”. The police chief was interviewed in El Caribe, …

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Few tourists have heard of, let alone visited, the eastern province of Monte Plata. This morning Hoy newspaper reveals its scenic secrets. Monte Plata is in a perfect position to offer eco-tourism opportunities thanks to the natural beauty of its scenery and resources such as rivers and waterfalls. In addition, the area boasts historical sites …

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Dominican baseball superstar Sammy Sosa has moved from the Chicago Cubs to the Baltimore Orioles, it was officially announced yesterday. In a press conference at his new stadium, Camden Yard, the 36-year old Sosa declared: “I spent 13 years in Chicago, and they were some of the best years of my life. It was a …

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Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said today that it has lowered its long-term foreign currency sovereign credit ratings on the Dominican Republic to ‘SD’, or selective default, from ‘CC’. Standard & Poor’s also lowered its short-term foreign currency sovereign credit rating on the Dominican Republic to ‘SD’ from ‘C’. (‘SD’ is used if the issuer …

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Yes, RD$700 million is the total accumulated excess payments made by businesses to the Social Security Fund. Social Security does not know what to do with this substantial sum, so it is deposited in a local bank as savings certificates. The payments were made to finance labor accidents, and the money cannot be used for …

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On Monday, DR1 reported the seizure of over US$500,000 at Las Americas airport. Yesterday, Caribe Express, part of Caribe Tours, was revealed to be the business the funds coming from Puerto Rico and Saint Maarten were destined for. The company has now released a statement explaining where the funds came from, giving the reason for …

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Accused drug kingpin Quirino Paulino Castillo was transferred under heavy security to Najayo prison in San Cristobal by the director of prisons, Juan Ramon de la Cruz Martinez, who was acting on the orders of the Supreme Court. The Court also decided to postpone the hearings on the extradition request made by the United States …

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The champion Aguilas Cibaenas did not get the red carpet treatment as they tried to make it to Mazatlan, Mexico. Overbooking of the charter flight that was to take the team to the Caribbean World Series resulted in a long and uncomfortable wait for the DR’s finest. On Monday, the flight crew requested that over …

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The Chamber of Deputies has postponed the hearings on the three new bond issues that will generate RD$6.0 billion, and gave the special commission a new time-frame to study the proposals. The legislators did not take a vote because Marino Collante, the commission chairperson, told the floor that the Ministry of Finance has not given …

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Eight-hour blackouts affected much of the country’s population yesterday as important generation facilities went offline. According to the Listin Diario, Itabo II, AES-Andres and Los Minas V and VI are offline due to mechanical problems, administrative decisions (lack of money) or low fuel levels. AES Distribuidora del Este (EDE-Este) announced yesterday that they had lost …

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