2006 – Page 299

Economist, historian and diplomat, Bernardo Vega delights in looking at things Dominican in the light of his vast knowledge of the local scene. In this week’s column in El Caribe, Vega points out that few people have noticed that recent economic indicators point to an optimistic outlook for the future. Exports increased in value by …

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The former director of the Commission to Reform Public Businesses (CREP), Felix Alcantara, was forced to put up RD$5.0 million in bail bond after the judge of instruction ruled against him. Judge Jose A. Garcia said that preventive custody was not needed in this case since he did not consider Alcantara to be a flight …

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According to government-owned Plaza de la Salud officials, the recently born sextuplets have cost RD$1.2 million so far. The expenses are for medicines and other treatments needed for premature and low weight babies. The funds have gone over the limit the hospital has budgeted for social expenditures. Well over RD$30,000 per day has been the …

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A bottle of wine has it. Many liquors, including Scotch whiskey, are proud of it. But if you look for a date of manufacture on a bottle of beer, forget it! For many beer manufacturers, this is a closely held secret. In Latin America, and especially in the Dominican Republic, beer consumption has grown by …

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President Leonel Fernandez presided over the graduation of 2,658 university students that participated in the English Immersion Program for Competitiveness sponsored by the Ministry of Superior Education, in coordiantion with 15 universities and higher studies institutes. During the commencement of this first group of graduates at the Palacio de los Deportes yesterday, Fernandez spoke of …

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Last night, Congress reached an agreement with government technicians whereby the 2006 Budget and Public Expense Bill would be approved substituting the exchange rate commission for a transitory 13% tariff to be applied to 40% of imported goods. According to Diario LIbre, 10% of the moneys collected by this tariff would go to municipal city …

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Diario Libre continues with its investigation into Aerodom operations at five national airports. He probe points out that contractually, Aerodom should have invested US$411 million in its first four years of operation, but barely has invested US$120 million in its five years of managing four Dominican airport terminals. The newspaper reports that Aerodom committed to …

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Labor Minister Jose Ramon Fadul said that Cubans, Spaniards, and Colombians are displacing Dominicans in jobs within several sectors, particularly in hotels, according to Hoy Newspaper. Fadul was interviewed yesterday on Uno+Uno television program. The Ministry of Labor will launch an inspection campaign in several production areas to take corrective action where needed. According to …

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The Director of the Jesuit Immigrant Refugee Service, Jose Nunez doesn’t believe the sugar industry would be affected if no more Haitians are allowed to join the workforce as there are enough Dominicans and Haitians in the country to do the job. According to a report by Listin Diario, the Jesuit priest said many sugar …

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The new Haitian ambassador, Fritz Cineas, has received instructions from his government to make every effort to improve relations between Haiti and the DR and restore these to a state of harmony, cooperation, good will and brotherhood. Diario Libre reports the diplomat spoke after presenting his credentials to President Leonel Fernandez at the Presidential Palace. …

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