2006 – Page 20

Former president of the National Council for Private Business (Conep) Celso Marranzini has criticized the governmental proposal to tax diesel fuel by an extra RD$5. He said that this would affect business competitiveness because of the widespread use of diesel to fuel power generators that compensate for deficiencies in the governmental electricity service. He spoke …

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The outgoing president of the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD) Yandra Portela says that the new proposal presented by President Leonel Fernandez makes it clear that the government has no intention of cutting its spending in 2007. She said that a preliminary analysis of the bill sent to Congress shows that the …

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Fifteen American surgeons have concluded their stay in the Dominican Republic. The doctors, from the Virginia-based organization Doctors for Peace, were in the country performing reconstructive surgery on 15 youngsters. Most of the injuries were burn-related. This is the third time doctors have come to the country on a mission of this type, and they …

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The National Drug Control Department (DNCD) has arrested two French citizens and a Dutch citizen who tried to exit the county with drugs. The three were apprehended at the Puerto Plata airport. Frenchman Arnaud Franck Remirez and Ana Isabel Judez Jimenez were caught with 10 packets of either heroin or cocaine in their suitcase, while …

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It wasn’t a televised ESPN event, but Daniel Arias Abad is still excited after his victory in the national spelling bee yesterday. Abad, from San Jose de Ocoa, won the contest that was televised on Antena Latina, Channel 7. The event was sponsored through the First Lady’s office, the Ministry of Education and the Banco …

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Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, in association with the Boston Red Sox, has donated US$200,000 to the Dominican Heart Care Foundation. The funds will help cover costs for underprivileged children who have had or need to have heart surgery. Ortiz met with about 50 children at the Center for Advanced Medicine and Telemedicine at …

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The Aguilas continued their winning ways over Licey with an 8-4 victory last night at Estadio Cibao. It seems as if Licey has no answer for the Aguilas, as this is the Aguilas’ seventh win in a row against Licey. The Gigantes experienced only their second loss in 16 games last night as they were …

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President Leonel Fernandez has inaugurated the remodeled Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, two housing projects, three schools, two aqueducts, and several other infrastructural projects in San Juan de la Maguana at a total cost of RD$394 million to the government. The President arrived at the ceremonies five minutes before 11am yesterday. The aqueducts will provide …

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The government has announced that this year’s Christmas bonuses add up to RD$4.5 billion. The government says it will start paying the bonus this Friday, revving up commerce. The private sector has already begun to pay out its bonuses, adding an estimated RD$6 billion to money in circulation. Most of the money should be in …

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The chorus of voices against President Leonel Fernandez’s fiscal reform, which aims to secure RD$17 billion to balance the budget, grows louder and louder by the day, and it now appears that his speech to the nation on Monday has not helped calm anyone down. PRD and PRSC legislators have vowed not to vote for …

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