2005 – Page 82

Pre-candidates for posts in the 2006 congressional and municipal elections will have to present certificates of good conduct and pass drug tests for their registration to be accepted by their respective parties. Diario Libre reports that the PRD and PRSC support the proposed drug test for all pre-candidates whereas the Secretary General of the PLD, …

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The Civil Aviation Department reports that 3,025,635 passengers arrived in and departed from the DR on regular flights during the first semester of this year, as reported by Diario Libre. Las America Airport was the busiest terminal with 1,322,817 of those passengers and 12,459 flights. According to the statistics office of the Civil Aviation Department, …

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The US dollar exchange rate opened without major variations this week compared to its closing last Friday. Listin Diario reports that the currency was being sold at between RD$30.50 and RD$31.00 as compared to RD$30.59 and RD$31.00 on Friday. The purchase rate was between RD$30.00 and RD$30.85, a 10 cent increase in some cases. The …

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Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly, President Leonel Fernandez outlined a plan aimed at exchanging the poor nations’ foreign debt of for development programs to allow them to meet the Millennium Objectives set out by the UN. Fernandez said that the Dominican Republic required between US$29 billion to US$30 billion over the next ten …

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After his appearance at the Forum on the Digital Solidarity Fund, held at the Millennium Hotel in New York, President Fernandez told reporters that the higher oil prices would force many countries to design more efficient mass transit systems. The President reconfirmed the Metro project and said that it has to be considered the “nation’s …

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After nine days in the United States, President Fernandez returned to the Dominican Republic to find things heating up, and perhaps even more complicated that when he left the country. The fuel saving plan that he instituted before leaving has not received much support from the transportation sector. In one of his first statements, the …

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As President Fernandez returned to the Dominican Republic, a struggle has emerged between Danilo Medina, one of the government ministers closest to the President, and Aristides Fernandez Zucco, the head of the Dominican Refinery (REFIDOMSA) over just how much oil to purchase from Venezuela. Medina is questioning the fact that, despite the “Petrocaribe” agreement signed …

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Sunday’s edition of the widely read column “Que se dice”(What’s being said) was a proverbial broadside. First on the columnist’s list was the “Parador del Mar”, the rest stop in the middle of the Las Americas Highway on the way to the airport. The columnist says that it was destined to end badly, and that …

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The Ministry of Public Works is testing a new toll paying system that would enable travelers to pre-pay road tolls and expedite their passage through toll booths. The system would also be used for security purposes as license plates would be read by the same system. There are four toll booths in the country – …

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Looking to make the best deal out of the current situation and preserving the Dominican talent for circumventing restrictions, dozens of “informal” gas stations opened up over the weekend. Many of these informal businesses were selling gasoline to the “motoconchistas” that service the local neighborhoods, and others were selling to motorists who could not get …

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