2006 – Page 96

The government has a surplus of RD$4.7 billion in revenues, according to a report in Listin Diario’s economic section. Nevertheless, journalist Hector Linares expresses concern about the fact that the pace of spending has been much faster than the pace of tax collecting. The spread during the first seven and a half months of the …

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The Federation of Industry Associations (FAI) is proposing that the government reduce the number of “botellas” in government. “Botella” is Dominican slang for a job that is created for the sole purpose of rewarding political loyalty. The FAI says that the large number of these jobs is an “unimaginable obstacle” to the country’s development. They …

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No police violence or interference marred the opening of the “Other Fair”, a university-inspired counter offer to the very elaborate government-sponsored fair that celebrated ten years of PLD party rule. There are plenty of small displays with photos, newspaper clippings and other exhibits showing what the students claim to be the “real” Dominican Republic. Most …

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Leading industrial organizations publish a paid letter in today’s papers, expressing their support for the Dominican pharmaceutical industry. The organizations urge the Dominican government to maintain its position on the pharmaceutical industry and the implementation of DR-CAFTA. As is understood, the strong US pharmaceutical industry has lobbied for changes to be made to the already-signed …

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Ice cream manufacturer Jesus Moreno has urged Central Romana, the country’s leading sugar producer to accept a strategic alliance with fruit and sweet-producing manufacturers to strengthen these companies. The alternative would be for the government to be more flexible in allowing sugar imports. In interviews with Hoy and Listin Diario, the businessman said that while …

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The Herrera Industrial Association (AEIH) says that the government could find a quicker solution to the energy crisis that is affecting the entire nation if the electricity distributors (EDEs) were to decide to collect on the bills of a series of easily identifiable wealthy customers who are excused because of their connections to powerful individuals. …

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About 92% of Santo Domingo’s water supply system is pumped using electricity. Therefore, when the lights go out, so does the water supply. According to Hoy newspaper, the director general of the system, CAASD, said that the corporation will have to look for the financial resources to provide stable electricity for the waterworks. Richard Martinez …

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Cid Wilson, president of the Dominican-American National Roundtable and Jose Ramon Bello, member of the Dominican-American Business Network disagree with President Leonel Fernandez’s proposal that Dominicans abroad could vote for their own representative in the Dominican Congress on behalf of Dominicans abroad. On September 20, President Leonel Fernandez presented this position at City College in …

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The renewed call for a transport strike by members of two of the nation’s larger transport unions has caused a rift in their normally solid united front. Conatra, headed by Anthony Marte and Fenatrado, headed by Blas Peralta are calling for a strike this morning in protest at the Supreme Court’s decision to jail the …

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So far this year, a total of 782 people have been caught at Las Americas International Airport with false visas to visit Spain. According to Diario Libre, this leads authorities to believe that there is a gang of counterfeiters at work. Most of the people apprehended presented themselves at the Air Europa counter and were …

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