2006

DR1 will be taking a New Year’s holiday break and the news will not be updated on Friday, 29 December, Monday, 1 January and Tuesday, 2 January, on the occasion of the New Year holiday. The long weekend news summary will be published on Wednesday, 3 January. Readers can always check in to the 24/7 …

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President Leonel Fernandez has announced that 2007 will be known as the “Year of the Book and Reading.” Education Minister Alejandrina German applauded the decision, commenting that it would contribute to the strengthening of education in the country.

Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar had a special luncheon yesterday with President Leonel Fernandez. Aznar is in the country on a private visit and praised the county for its continued economic growth, although he did mention his concern about the increase in socialist governments in the region. The Presidential Press Secretary informed the …

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The Executive Branch is expected to send its 2007 RD$254 billion budget proposal to Congress for approval today, with the request that the budget be approved. The Technical Minister to the Presidency will deliver the proposal to Congress. If the proposal is not approved by this weekend it will have to wait for approval in …

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In consecutive readings last night, the Chamber of Deputies approved the fiscal reform, passing the much-debated tax plan. The bill now moves to the Presidency for signing into law. Although the PRSC and PRD representatives absented themselves in protest against the reform, 91 of the 93 PLD legislators voted in favor. Only Pelegrin Castillo and …

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Although the fiscal reform was passed into law yesterday, former International Monetary Fund consultant Emil Sunley is warning that the increased taxes on tobacco and alcohol will only increase the amount of contraband, and continued to argue for the removal of those taxes. Sunley says that alcohol should be taxed according to unit, because an …

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The bill allocating more money to the Santo Domingo Metro has been passed. The bill, which was introduced on 21 December, looked to transfer RD$6.6 billion from this year’s budget. The transfers will reduce the Education budget by $854 million, Public Health by RD$706.9 million, the Presidency by RD$2.3 billion, Finance by RD$1.37 billion and …

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The Interior and Police Ministry has decided to enforce the resolution issued this summer that makes it illegal for passengers and drivers to drink alcoholic beverages in their vehicles. The measure also calls for the transit authority (AMET) to use sobriety tests and breathalyzers to determine if a driver is under the influence of alcohol. …

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Although energy sector representatives have met 12 times this year to discuss the country’s power problems, there have been no concrete resolutions and the energy system continues in decay. Of those 12 meetings held this year President Leonel Fernandez was present at six, with no results to show at all. El Caribe newspaper reports that …

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The Dominican social security system that would provide coverage to most Dominicans has not yet been able to be implemented, but, as reported in Clave newspaper, the government chose to spend RD$140 million, including RD$100 million for remodeling and furnishing, on the new headquarters for the Seguro Nacional de Salud (Senasa) department. The newspaper points …

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