2006 – Page 283

Geologist Osiris de Leon, coordinator of the Academy of Sciences natural sciences and environment committee has said that the unexpected presence of subterranean waters that have held up construction of the columns for the Santo Domingo metro system are evidence that the necessary geological studies were not carried out. De Leon has been demanding that …

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The Santo Domingo Water and Sewer Corporation (CAASD) has started cleaning up the Guajimia Creek and its tributaries, thanks to a US$83 million loan from the Canadian government. The funds will also be used to construct 208 apartments for the residents of the Guajimia watershed. For more than 30 years the residents of the area …

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Lawyer Julio Cesar Castanos Guzman says that the continuing increases in the use of taxpayer money for political campaigning is turning political parties into profit-making businesses. The political parties have received RD$593.7 million of taxpayer money for the 2006 congressional and municipal party campaigns and are requesting more. So much money could even harm the …

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Public Works Minister Manuel de Jesus (Freddy) Perez has blasted the way that the cities are spending their money. He said that it was a sad day when the people have to choose mayors and council members that will then use monies destined for important infrastructure projects in political campaigns. He lamented the fact that …

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TV producer Julio Hazim had RD$4.26 billion in an account in his name in the collapsed Baninter bank, but has not paid a cent of this, according to a report in Clave Digital. As the online news service points out today, Hazim was not included in the Baninter prosecutor’s list of accused. The report says …

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* The case against a former Police chief and 34 other high-ranking officials re-opens tomorrow. This is the case involving the illegal use of stolen vehicles that had been recovered by the police, but then assigned to generals and other high ranked officers. * In Bonao, Margarito Jesus Adames died after receiving ten gunshot wounds …

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In a report released by Dr. Felix Pena, the medical director for HIV patients at the 20-30 Club Health Center in Santo Domingo, 15% of people who live in the settlements surrounding the sugar mills (called “bateyes” in the DR) are testing positive for the HIV virus. Bateyes residents are primarily of Haitian origin, as …

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A Ministry of Environment brigade has saved a whale measuring approximately 35 feet, which was beached on the Popa beach in Monte Cristi province. The whale was on its way to the warm waters of Samana Bay, but got too close to shore and when the tide receded, it got stuck on land. The whale …

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Speaking to the press at the Presidential Palace, Minister of Environment Max Puig announced that the government has RD$2.3 billion available for environmental conservation, as reported in Hoy newspaper. He highlighted that government programs include the conservation of river basins, reforestation and solving the problems of the communities that have been evicted from the Haitises …

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2,000 brigade workers from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce have begun distribution of low-wattage fluorescent bulbs to 500,000 low-income households, to replace the incandescent bulbs normally in use nationwide. The government has invested US$2 million in the purchase of the lower-consumption bulbs. The plan is to reach out to 500 barrios in the capital …

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