2007 – Page 133

The PRD opposition party has served President Leonel Fernandez with papers expressing opposition to the signing of legislation that would grant government authorization for the issue of a US$30 million revolving letter of credit for the construction of two coal-fired power plants, as reported in Listin Diario. PRD president Ramon Alburquerque and party secretary Orlando …

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The National Drug Control department (DNCD) says that so far this year it has closed 16,000 drug sales points nationwide, as reported in Listin Diario. Major General Rafael Radhames Ramirez Ferreira said that drug trafficking transactions are at an all-time low. He said that there is a perception that trafficking is on the rise because …

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On Wednesday the New York Post published a list of 20 “Dominican Dynamos,” highlighting the work of 20 influential Dominicans in the Big Apple. The accolades keep on coming in. Earlier this week New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, at an event at his residence celebrating Dominican heritage, honored singer Milly Quezada, musician Michael Camilo, …

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President Leonel Fernandez leaves for Venezuela tomorrow to meet with President Hugo Chavez while attending the Third PetroCaribe Summit. The heads of state of Antigua, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Vincent, St. Lucia and Suriname will also take part in the event. Fernandez will be accompanied by Treasury Minister Vicente Bengoa, Economic, Planning …

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Aristides Fernandez Zucco, executive director of the National Energy Comission, has highlighted the importance of the enactment of the Renewable Energy Law 57-07. Speaking yesterday, he stressed that the law provides the framework and incentives for new investment in the sector. Zucco commended the efforts of Senate president Reinaldo Pared Perez and the president of …

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Vehicle license plate renewals begin on 15 August nationwide. The Tax Department (DGII) reports that 83% of vehicles in circulation are 10 years or older and will only pay RD$300 more than last year – RD$1,500 up from RD$1,200. 10% of vehicles in circulation are between one and nine years old. These, which used to …

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Today’s Diario Libre comments on the dismal reality of the Dominican public transport system. After 35 years of continuously throwing taxpayer money at the problem, no real progress has been made and there still seems to be no definitive policy in place to solve the mass transit chaos. Diario Libre’s report points out that negligence …

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According to Tax Department director Juan Hernandez, only 430 (4.3%) of the approximately 10,000 NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in the DR are fulfilling their fiscal responsibilities and reporting to the Tax Department (DGII), as established in Law 122-05. During a round table discussion on Transparency and Governance organized by the Institutionalism and Justice Foundation (Finjus) at …

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The director of the Alcohol and Drug Program at the Ministry of Public Health’s Mental Health Department has opposed moves to relax the time limits on the sale of alcoholic beverages, as reported in the Listin Diario. Elias Tejada, who heads the department, said that the decree shouldn’t be modified because it is a known …

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During an event at the Public Health Ministry, a group of 77 mothers breastfed their babies in the hope of encouraging Dominican mothers to breastfeed. The event was held as part of the celebrations of International Synchronized Breastfeeding Day. The record for simultaneously breast-fed babies in any country is held by Manila, Philippines that set …

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