2007 – Page 120

Caribbean trade negotiator Richard Bernal praised Dominican-side negotiations leading into the Economic Partnership Agreement the Caribbean would sign with Europe. “The Dominican Republic is up to speed with its commitments, has participated fully and is not one of the countries that is still working on completing their tariff proposal,” said the director general of the …

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Yesterday the DR and the Central American countries supported Taiwan’s bid to re-enter the United Nations. Taiwan was kicked out of the UN in 1971 after continued pressure from China. Costa Rica was the only Central American country not present, as it has broken off ties with Taiwan and chosen to initiate ties with mainland …

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The DR has joined the Forum for East Asian-Latin American Cooperation (FEALAC), an interregional organization with the unanimous vote of 33 member countries in Brasilia. Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso represented the DR. Speaking about the role of FEALAC in boosting fledgling trade ties and building links between the far-flung regions, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro …

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The United States government has awarded Major General Hugo Rafael Gonzalez Borrell with the Legion of Merit medal, degree of Officer, for years of service (July 2003 to November 2006) as Dominican defense attache in Washington, D.C. Roland Bullen, acting US ambassador, gave Gonzalez the medal in a ceremony led by Minister of the Armed …

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Hoy continues to report the findings of the 9-13 August Gallup poll. Apparently, 47% of Dominicans feel that a fourth candidate could be attractive for voters. The so-called Cuarta Via (Fourth Way) candidate was proposed to consolidate runner-up candidates from the PLD, PRD and PRSC. PRSD president Hatuey Decamps made the proposal after a meeting …

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According to a Gallup-Hoy poll, 57% of Dominicans would leave the country to live and work elsewhere if they had the chance. This percentage increases to 60% in the southern and eastern parts of the DR. Only 45% of Dominicans feel they are better off than their parents, 23% feel they live in the same …

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The National Drug Control Department (DNCD) carried out surprise drug testing for about 1,000 of its own personnel yesterday, as reported in Hoy. DNCD head Major General Radhames Ramirez Ferreira says that regardless whether the DNCD employee is a civilian or a member of the armed forces, or from a high or low rank, if …

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President Leonel Fernandez has sent a bill to Congress that could considerably increase the cost of government. In an election year, President Fernandez is proposing that the government should pay severance when firing government employees. If passed by Congress, the proposed law would make it very expensive to dismiss any government workers. The number of …

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Newly appointed Environment Minister Omar Ramirez said he will enforce Resolution 16-007 that bans the extraction of construction materials like sand and gravel from Dominican rivers. Ramirez was deputy minister in charge of planning under his predecessor Max Puig who was appointed environmental advisor to the President. Ramirez said that he took part in the …

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The Mayor of Santo Domingo, Roberto Salcedo says that according to preliminary estimates, RD$30 million will be needed to repair the damage caused to the city’s seafront avenue, the Malecon, from the effects of Category 4 Hurricane Dean, that passed some 160 kms south of the coastline on the weekend. He said he is requesting …

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