2006 – Page 22

A fault in a New World Network CxA underwater telephone cable is causing problems for telecommunications services in the DR and other countries. The Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) is working to fix the problem and says that once it was notified of the fault it got in touch with New World and asked where the …

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The number of children taken to the Dario Contreras hospital this year because of injuries sustained from stray bullets has decreased by 45%. This year nine youngsters have been taken to the hospital with such injuries, compared to 20 last year. Griselda Martinez, a consultant at the hospital, attributed the decrease in these injuries to …

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Uruguay and the Dominican Republic are the only countries in the region to have experienced an increase in poverty since 1998, according to the Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). These statistics come from a study called ‘Social Panorama of Latin America 2006.” The study compares statistics for the periods 1998-2002 and …

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Last night the Gigantes continued their winning ways by defeating Licey 5-1. The Gigantes keep their iron grip on first place in the Winter Baseball league pushing the Tigres two games back of first, and the Aguilas one and a half games back of the top spot. Last night’s game between Aguilas and Estrellas was …

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President Leonel Fernandez enacted the law for the Petition of Protection yesterday. This new law is designed to extend people’s legal recourses against any attack on their basic rights. The new law, 437-06, says that “every person has the right to simple recourse known as a Petition of Protection.” The first article of the law …

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All today’s newspapers carry headlines about just what the President’s new tax proposals are going to affect. El Caribe reports on the RD$5 tax on fuels and the fact that the PRD and PRSC parties continue to reject the proposals. The paper also reports that the CNTU transport companies union and the gasoline retailers association …

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The Dominican Republic Industrial Association (AIRD) has expressed its approval for the general tone of President Fernandez’s mix of government spending cuts and increased taxes to balance its budget, while reiterating its belief that the government must increase its austerity efforts. According to Listin Diario, the AIRD and the Santiago Chamber of Commerce and Production …

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As part of the Presidential plan to reduce public spending, the Central Electoral Board (JCE) will eliminate 1,000 jobs, equivalent to a RD$12 million reduction in its monthly payroll. The announcement was made yesterday by the chief magistrate of the JCE’s Administrative Chamber, Roberto Rosario. Rosario also revealed that the JCE was running on a …

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A report by the World Bank’s Caribbean Management Unit and the Ministry for Technical Affairs has recommended introducing some changes in both the tourism and free zone sectors. According to the report, while the linkages between the sectors were important, such as tourism and the construction industry or the free zones and the transport sector, …

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Using data from a 2006 UNDP study, the Catholic University of Santo Domingo reported that about 1.8 million Dominicans do not have access to potable water. This means that 465,000 families do not have mains water supplies in their houses. The study is part of the “World Report on Human Development 2006” by the United …

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