2007 – Page 13

Tropical Storm Olga caused one death in Puerto Rico and killed 22 in the DR, has now weakened considerably as it moves its way to Cuba. Meteorological Office (ONAMET) director Gloria Ceballos said that flood warnings are still in effect for La Romana, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo, the National District, Santiago, Bani, Valverde …

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The province of San Cristobal has been heavily affected by the second tropical storm in less than two months. Listin Diario writes that four communities in SC have been cut off from the national road system as a result of mudslides and collapsed bridges. Provincial governor Orlando Espinosa said that Los Cacaos, Calderon, Los Jibaros …

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President Leonel Fernandez visited Santiago yesterday and promised to rebuild all the houses damaged by TS Olga. The President said the deaths and material losses were a great tragedy and added that Olga demonstrates the effects of global warming and climate change. Fernandez said that he visited Santiago to ensure that victims were receiving aid …

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According to some engineers, the tragedy caused by TS Olga could have been prevented. Geologist Osiris de Leon and Engineer Petra Moreta, former director of Civil Works maintenance, both agree that the Tavera dam was opened too late. De Leon says that the gates should have been opened when the dam was receiving 500 to …

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The Ministry of Public Health is warning families to avoid bathing in waters that may have been contaminated by the flooding and to boil water and treat drinking water with chlorine. The warning was issued by Public Health Minister Bautista Rojas during a visit to Santiago. Health ministry officials distributed meningitis and flu vaccines to …

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Central Electoral Board (JCE) administrative president Roberto Rosario says that the damage caused by TS Noel and TS Olga should not affect the funding the government has designated for the JCE because according to him the country “must continue to exist.” Rosario says that the 2008 presidential elections are a national priority and feels that …

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Economic, Planning and Development Minister Temistocles Montas has revealed that the external debt and the subsidy for the energy sector will take up RD$91 billion of the 2008 budget. The energy sector alone has an RD$21 billion subsidy. Montas added that at the end of this four-year presidential period a total of RD$110 billion will …

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The National Gasoline Retailers Association (ANADEGAS) has filed charges of unconstitutionality against a decree passed by President Leonel Fernandez that provides a three-month subsidy for freight and passenger transport to selected transporters. ANADEGAS president Juan Ignacio Espaillat and his lawyer Robert Valdez say that Decree 677-07 violate articles 4, 37, 45, 46, 47, 55 and …

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Frederic Debord, president of Orange Dominicana, says that his company, a subsidiary of France Telecom, has invested US$700 million in its seven years of service in the DR. Debord says that in 2007 alone Orange invested US$120 million in its Dominican infrastructure. The money has been spent on developing its phone network and setting up …

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Dominican music stars Aventura and Juan Luis Guerra have been nominated for five Lo Nuestro Awards. Also, the bachata group Xtreme 4, made up of Dominicans from New York, was nominated four times, Ilegales and Monchy & Alexandra were nominated twice and Tono Rosario received one nomination. Guerra has been nominated for Album of the …

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