2007 – Page 24

Minister of Public Works Victor Diaz Rua and Armin Garcia have signed the papers marking the start of construction of the second phase of the highway between Santo Domingo and Samana. The new route that covers the roadway between Nagua, Sanchez and Samana will cost US$103 million. It will also include a highway to Las …

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The Central Electoral Board (JCE) has submitted its budget for 2008, a presidential election year. The total of RD$7.73 billion does not include the funds for the political parties’ campaign activities, estimated at over RD$1 billion. Slightly more than 50% of the budget will go towards staging the May 2008 elections. Over RD$225 million will …

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The Minister of the Environment admitted on Friday that he has “great difficulty” implementing the Sectorial Law on Protected Areas due to the fact that some of these areas are not clearly defined. On the maps, some of the coordinates do not even exist. Meanwhile, a researcher from INTEC, Yolanda Leon, told Hoy reporters that …

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Electricity Superintendent Francisco Mendez has announced that the personnel who work for the power distributors will not pursue electricity thieves, for now. Although the 90-day grace period that was given in August has expired, according to Mendez, the authorities have decided to extend the grace period for another three months since the program to discourage …

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The government’s decision to subsidize diesel fuel for public transport and cargo vehicles has met with opposition from some quarters. The government’s move came in response to record diesel prices that threatened to force increases in bus fares and cargo costs. However, business groups called the measure “discriminatory”. The head of the National Gasoline Retailers …

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The “sacrifice” made by the government in accordance with Decree 677-07 will only be a little over RD$95 million pesos over the three-month period that officials have laid out for the subsidy program. Just RD$31.8 million each month will be lost in revenues. The price of diesel under the subsidy will be just RD$102 pesos …

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According to all today’s newspapers, the Auto Fair held in the Banco Popular parking lot in Santo Domingo was a major success. Over RD$850 million were financed at rates of 12.95% to 14.95% for one or two years. Twenty percent down was the rule. Nearly a thousand loans were processed by five o’clock on Sunday …

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The Sunday market that takes over the southern end of Luperon Avenue generates RD$40 million each week, according to a report in Hoy newspaper. About 6,900 people go there to sell stuff, and local authorities have had to put a freeze on new permits. The same thing has happened in Santiago where 10,000 newly unemployed …

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Marcos Baez Cocco, the former vice-president of Banco Intercontinental (Baninter), has been found guilty of violating Dominican Monetary and Finance Law. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, and ordered to pay 25% of what Ramon Baez Figueroa has to pay (RD$45.469 billion) to the Central Bank and RD$50,082,450 to the Superintendent of Banks. …

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Noted magistrate Esther Agelan headed a three-judge panel that handed out twenty-year jail terms to two men convicted of raping young girls. Both men were the stepfathers of the children involved. Jose Guron was convicted of raping his 15-year old stepdaughter in their house in Gualey. In the other case, Yoryi Quezada confessed to raping …

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