2006 – Page 87

Manuel Gonzalez Perez was seized by a mob in Gaultier, a batey near Boca Chica, as he fled from accusations that he had started a fire in the Villa Nazaret neighborhood in Bayona, Santo Domingo. The fire left 29 families homeless and killed two children age 7 and 9. Police officials intercepted a mob of …

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As from 1 November, applications for non-immigrant visas to the United States will have to be made online. The US Consulate has announced that only the Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF) filled out on line will be accepted. The non-immigrant visa includes student visas, work visas and diplomatic and official visas. The form is the …

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According to the Director of the National Planning Department (ONAPLAN), Guarocuya Feliz, the national budget for next year could be 9% or 10% higher than this year’s, or approximately RD$238.5 billion. El Caribe reports that Feliz was speaking to journalists at the Presidential Palace after meeting with the Presidential Technical Minister Temistocles Montas and other …

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Foreign Relations Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso traveled to Africa to meet with his colleagues from South Africa, Botswana and Egypt, in the hope of securing support for the Dominican Republic’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Morales Troncoso is also looking to establish diplomatic relations with these nations. Guatemala and …

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The 0.4% tariff on the import of goods into the Dominican Republic should be removed because it is in violation of DR-CAFTA, according to a report in Diario Libre. The tariff is being considered by the Customs Department as a commission on the value of the goods entering the country, but in reality ends up …

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The Central Electoral Board (JCE) receives over 200 applications a day for Dominican ID cards (cedulas) from Haitian citizens using fake birth certificates. JCE investigators have not established who is behind the “mafia” that sells these birth certificates to Haitian nationals. The black market in illegal documents has become big business in the country, according …

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The week has started with an increase in the duration of blackouts, which according to the distribution companies Edesur and EdeEste are being caused by a damaged substation. Edesur said that it continues to program outages in Santo Domingo’s central residential areas, especially in middle and upper class neighborhoods, because the Haina and Itabo generating …

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The Dominican Industries Association (AIRD) is rejecting demands by Energy Superintendent Francisco Mendez to charge a tax to non-regulated consumers of energy, or companies with large consumption of energy. But AIRD president Yandra Portela responded to Mendez’s demands by saying that the Superintendent should be focused on making sure that companies comply with the law, …

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Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez is advising the public to drink a lot of liquids to prevent the flu that is common at this time of the year. He also said that people could alleviate symptoms by taking acetaminophen, and recommended avoiding antibiotics. He said that health centers have the medications and the necessary equipment …

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A shortage of fuel is affecting several parts of the country, including Santo Domingo, Santiago and San Cristobal, but the Ministry of Industry and Commerce says that the deficit will be resolved next Thursday with the arrival of two tankers carrying 415,000 barrels. Lopez admitted that the tankers were late in arriving. He explained that …

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