2006 – Page 306

Dominican musicians Juan Luis Guerra and Michel Camilo, both of whom are Berklee School of Music graduates, are in Boston for the Three Score: The Berklee 60th Anniversary Concert at the Wang Center, Saturday, 28 January at 8 pm. They will be joining fellow superstars-including Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, Gloria Estefan, Gary Burton, Chiara Civello, …

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Yesterday, government technicians and Congress reached a preliminary agreement about the changes that would be introduced to the 2006 National Budget and Public Expense bill. According to a report by Diario Libre, among the issues discussed are the application of the exchange rate commission, the 5% discretional fund for the Presidency, and allocation of funds …

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Only 2 out of 5 companies invited to present bids for the construction of trains on the first line of the metro actually presented offers to the Office for the Reorganization of Transport (OPRET). Diario Libre reports that a third company-Siemens Railway Transport Division-was present at the public function but only presented a letter stating …

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Herreras Airport in Santo Domingo has been ordered closed by President Fernandez effective 23 February 2006 when operations will begin at Dr. Joaquin Balaguer International Airport. Until then, only domestic daytime flights will be allowed to operate at Herrera. The presidential decree ordering the closing of the airport states that the airport is not up …

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Yesterday, the new overpass at the intersection of Los Alcarrizos on Duarte Highway was formally inaugurated by President Leonel Fernandez. The public function was attended by Public Works Minister Freddy Perez, who was the main speaker. Also present was engineer Antonio Hernandez, representing Ingenieria Metalica, S.A., the company that built the project. The project cost …

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Higher Education Minister, Ligia Amada Melo, reached an agreement with President Fernandez whereby the government will provide the funds required for 498 Dominican students to continue their undergraduate and graduate studies abroad and to duplicate the number of beneficiaries in 2006. Diario Libre reports that funds are estimated at RD$1.5 billion and will be allocated …

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Higher Education Minister Ligia Amada Melo announced that this year 80 technicians will begin an evaluation process of the 43 universities in operation in the country. Melo sustained that Dominican higher education centers do not impart training that responds the society’s needs in terms of quality, as graduates show deficiencies in information technology and foreign …

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The government of France is interested in supporting part of the Ministry of Education’s initiative to strengthen the teaching of French in public schools of the DR. El Caribe reports that French cooperation will center specifically in the training of teachers. This was announced by French Ambassador Cecile Pozzo Borgo during a courtesy visit to …

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The process towards the congressional and municipal elections on 16 May 2006, officially begins today, in accordance with a proclamation made by the Central Electoral Board (JCE). In the election, 178 deputies, 32 senators and 2,228 mayors and council members will be chosen. The electoral law establishes that candidates must be registered no later than …

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A poll by Sigma Dos and Gallup International done in urban zones of Santo Domingo and Santiago revealed that 82% of Dominicans believes political leaders are dishonest whereas 48.9% believe the same of the nation’s economic leaders. Politicians are perceived by 55.9% as lacking capacity and competitiveness, and 35.7% say the same of the economic …

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