2005 – Page 259

The “Descargas Musicales”(“Musical Volleys”) that have made history in Santiago and across the region since 1983 will resume this month. Rafaelito Mirabal will host the proceedings at the Casa de Arte in the historic town center. Jazz, blues, and the jam sessions that were begun by Victor Victor back in ’83 have seen musical greats …

Read more…

This morning’s papers lead with the much-anticipated announcement of the approval of the Stand-By agreement between the IMF and the Dominican government. The government and the Central Bank announced the news yesterday evening, heralding it as a “vote of confidence in the country’s economic recovery”. Presidential office technical secretary Juan Temistocles Montas said that the …

Read more…

The IMF also approved a special package aimed at compensating the DR for losses resulting from the entrance of Chinese textiles into the US market. This additional US$21.8 million, described as a commercial integration measure, is designed to offset the expected negative impact on apparel exports from DR Free Trade Zones to the US.

A statement from Frankfurt-based Commerzbank’s Emerging Markets Strategy team, released yesterday, provides detailed analysis of the IMF agreement. It informs about the approval, reported in today’s press, of the $670m program for the DR. The statement provides a summary of the DR Central Bank’s Letter of Intent, which in their words “does not contain any …

Read more…

President Leonel Fernandez admitted yesterday that the Dominican education system was “in deep crisis”. He made this statement during a speech to students and teachers yesterday at the launch of the “Forum for excellence in Dominican education”. The President said that the nation should aim for mandatory schooling until 10th grade, producing students capable of …

Read more…

Yesterday evening President Fernandez attended an awards ceremony at the National Theater honoring Dominicans who have provided services or examples to the nation’s youth. In his address, Fernandez described young people as “the backbone of the nation”. Olympic Gold medallist sprinter Felix Sanchez was awarded the “Grand National Prize” in the sporting category, which his …

Read more…

Supreme Court chief justice Jorge Subero Isa challenged the United States, civil society and others to show evidence that the Dominican justice system was not effective. He said that in his view, Dominican justice is the best in Latin America. “I challenge anybody to present proof of a better justice system anywhere else in Latin …

Read more…

The latest twist in the ongoing saga of former Dominican consul in Cap Haitien, Radhames “Chino” Garcia, accused of selling illicit DR visas to illegal immigrants from China, is carried in today’s papers. Garcia is still an elected deputy for the PRD, and under article 32 of the constitution he may be entitled to leave …

Read more…

Health authorities are expressing serious concerns about an apparent increase in childhood malnutrition levels. “I’ve never seen so many malnourished children,” said pediatrician Leonora D’Esposito, who works for the government’s Plan Social welfare program. Cases of acute malnutrition are up from 1.5% to 3.7% over the last five months, a worrying increase, according to Dr. …

Read more…

Today’s papers report that even the Cardinal has something to say about the behavior of the capital’s Lincoln Avenue revelers. Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez said that the obstruction of traffic, drinking, drug taking and much publicized sexual exhibitionism along the now notorious thoroughfare “has no place in a civilized society”. He called on …

Read more…