2005 – Page 70

President Leonel Fernandez met with hotel owners in Frank Rainieri’s house in Punta Cana and listened to their arguments as to why the sector should receive special treatment within the new tax proposals. ASONAHORES president Enrique de Marchena Karluche told reporters that the “meeting was productive and quite open.” Fernandez promised to study the tourism …

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An eleventh-hour promise that President Fernandez is to meet with the leadership of the Dominican Medical Association (CDM) by next Wednesday moved the CMD to hold off on the proposed work stoppage scheduled for today. The CMD leadership, headed by Dr. Waldo Suero met with the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Bautista Rojas Gomez, who …

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Minister of Education Alejandrina German admitted to reporters that there were at least 447 schools in the country in need of serious repairs or reconstruction. When reporters from Hoy asked her about the comments made by UNICEF representative Tad Palac, who said that as long as the educational system lacked furniture and adequate facilities, children …

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The world financial community is looking favorably at the Dominican Republic, judging by the support given to current monetary policies and the exchange rate over the last year. However, some people are questioning the fact that the exchange rate is creeping above the 29:1 ratio of the past few months. According to Hoy, the international …

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The Central Electoral Board has dismissed five of its employees from the Civil Registry offices that are part of the passport scandal. Hundreds of diplomatic passports were “sold” to phony family members, many of whom were “created” through false birth certificates, wedding certificates or divorce papers. The Central Electoral Board (JCE) fired the five Civil …

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The President’s plan to reduce fuel consumption by the fleet of small cars that serve the major metropolitan areas has been put on hold, according to General Jose Sigfrido Fernandez Fadul. The general told a group of reporters from El Caribe that AMET was postponing the move until 10 October in order to get more …

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Over the last 40 years the Dominican Republic has spent RD$20 billion on failed public transportation solutions. This sum does not include the US$250 million that was spent on Plan Renove by the Mejia administration. Reports show that since 1961, different governments have tried to come up with a viable solution to the issue of …

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The sheer size of the informal business sector has made it an important segment of the national economy. Numbers offered by sources close to the micro-business sector reveal that these small to medium businesses contribute as much as 23% of GDP and employ between 25% and 28% of the workforce. There are dozens of NGOs …

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Micro and small businesses were in strong evidence at the Expo Cibao this year. The trade fair that drew over 250 exhibitors also attracted dozens of these tiny businesses. Candy makers, bakeries, “pastelito” makers, hot-dog vendors, and sandwich makers were all out in force at the fair. Some observers called the Expo Cibao “the greatest …

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“Charamicos”, the charming figures woven with twigs and representing Nativity scenes are making their way back onto the streets of Santo Domingo. This is a sure sign that Christmas is approaching. The artisans’ workmanship varies from place to place but the use of these figures is becoming more and more prominent as Dominicans decorate their …

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