2006 – Page 2

Writing in Clave newspaper, sociologist Wilfredo Lozano observes that the language that prioritizes development has disappeared from the speeches of Dominican politicians and has been replaced by the hypocritical argument of the struggle against poverty that would imply precisely development, which is not covered. “The figure of the state as an axis of order and …

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The Chamber of Deputies has approved a legal package for foreign pensioners who choose to retire in the DR, with the hope of increasing the amount of foreign investment in the country. The package, Incentives for Overseas Renters and Pensioners, aims to give citizens who are living abroad the same benefits and exemptions as those …

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During 2006 the European Union repatriated a total of 2,700 individuals who had served sentences in various European nations. This works out at 225 monthly repatriations. In addition, 3,514 Dominicans were repatriated from the United States during 2006. This figure is up by 298 compared to 2005, even though the US government has tried to …

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Attorney General Radhames Jimenez says that the investigation into the assassination attempt on journalist Julio Martinez will move slowly and states that Martinez has yet to file a formal compliant against the person he claims tried to kill him. Martinez, quoted in Diario Libre, says that an unnamed government member had hired a man called …

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Hoy newspaper publishes an article which estimates that in 2006 alone more than 25,000 Dominicans risked their lives by taking trips in small boats, known as yolas, mainly to Puerto Rico, in search of a better life. The cost of one of these trips is between RD$35,000 and RD$50,000 and Hoy reports that passengers paid …

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The Civil and Commercial Court Second Chamber has ordered Datocentro to pay the Central Electoral Board (JCE) RD$50 million for failure to fulfill contractual obligations, and has also ordered that the contract, which was signed in 1997, should be rescinded. The court came to the decision even though Domingo Russo Pla, who was in charge …

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The post-season is under way in the Dominican Winter League and there is no telling what will happen next. In the match up between Licey and Gigantes, sparks flew and benches cleared in the fourth inning after pitcher Francis Lay Bueno whizzed a fast ball past Ronnie Belliard’s head. Benches cleared but luckily no punches …

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Some first class Dominican baseball is now under way as the four best of six teams start all over again and play the scheduled 36 games to choose the teams for the playoffs and then the champion team that will represent the DR in the San Juan, Puerto Rico 2-8 February Caribbean Series. The round …

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The Chamber of Deputies sent the new tax reform package yesterday to a special committee with instructions to report its findings the next day. The eleven-person committee includes members of the opposition. Ramon Cabrera, the committee chair said that it is possible that his group would not change the legislation, since the Senate had debated …

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The Dominican Senate has passed a bill that will limit salaries, reduce perks for officials and limit the size of automobiles as well as put a freeze on hiring. These cuts, nevertheless, would be deemed unnecessary if as expected, government revenues increase. Meanwhile, the bill establishes that official vehicles, with license plates beginning with O, …

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