2005 – Page 270

The Dominican government is contemplating a freeze on the outstanding debt to the electric sector. Electricity Superintendent Francisco Mendez says the “government simply does not have the money” to pay old debts. He promised to pay the interest on the debt and pay the operating expenses of the electric system. Right now, according to El …

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The Minister for the Environment, Max Puig told reporters that the government is absolutely firm on the question of the disposal of the rockash dumped in Samana and Manzanillo during the last administration. He said that the material must be taken out of the country by the company called Trans Dominicana de Desarrollo”. This company …

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Presidential Decree 3-05 issued yesterday eliminates exemptions and administrative instructions for tax reductions that had been issued by the past government. As reported in the Listin Diario, the exemptions benefited professional associations, unions and companies with tax reductions and concessions. One of the exemptions reduced the taxes one company would pay from RD$60 million to …

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President Leonel Fernandez issued Decree 4-05 declaring the recovery of the power system of national interest. The President created a committee to seek solutions to the financial deficit affecting the sector, as reported in the Listin Diario. The decree is issued a day after the government agreed to make a US$65 million payment on arrears …

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The Dominican government announced that commercial banks have authorized a US$100 million credit line that will serve as a guarantee to cover any fiscal deficit for the duration of the IMF stand by arrangement, as reported in the Listin Diario. The IMF requested the guarantee after Congress passed a tax reform package with projections below …

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Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso addressed the United Nations Security Council yesterday to call on the international community to make a greater commitment to Haiti. He highlighted that the greatest commitment that is needed is that which will lead to the reconciliation of Haitian society, so that its leaders may move from confrontation to cooperation. …

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The Ministry of Labor has announced the launch of a unit to assist workers and employers. The Centro de Servicios Integrados de Informacion (CSII) offers guidance on labor matters and is located in the first floor of the ministry in the Centro de los Heroes. It can be reached by calling 809 535-4404 and 1-200-0944 …

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The initial reduction of payroll spending in September, one month after the change of government, was reversed in October and November, according to the most recent bulletin of the National Budget Office (Onapres), as reported in Diario Libre. In August, the government payroll stood at RD$2.432 billion. In September, this was reduced to RD$2.085 billion, …

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Six months after President Leonel Fernandez promised austerity in government in his inaugural speech, the reality appears to be different. El Caribe newspaper reveals that the consulate in Manhattan has 24 vice consuls, more than double the number staffing the Mexican consulate serving a comparable number of people in New York. The newspaper reports that …

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Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito says that his office received a formal request on Tuesday for the extradition of former army captain Quirino Ernesto Paulino Castillo, better known simply as Quirino, to the United States. He said yesterday that he is preparing the case that is to be sent to the Supreme Court of Justice. …

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