2007 – Page 282

The Ministry of Higher Education (SEESCYT) handed out 1,131 debit cards to scholarship students from the state university UASD yesterday to help with the payment of the RD$3,000 they receive each month. Higher Education Minister Ligia Amada Melo said that the cards, which are issued by the Banco de Reservas, are to help students receive …

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As from today 98 types of medicines that are sold at the Farmacias del Pueblo (People’s Pharmacies), and which are part of the Essential Drugs Program (PROMESE), will be sold at a reduced price. Some products will be about 90% cheaper as a result. The prices for 74 other products will remain the same.

Engineer Hamlet Hermann is quoted in Diario Libre as saying that the Santo Domingo Metro will not be ready for operations in February 2008 as has been announced. Hermann based his opinion on his 50 years of experience and said that he doesn’t believe that the public works project would be ready in one year, …

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Thirty government officials and employees at the Central Electoral Board (JCE) have been fired as part of a drive to break up a mafia, responsible for issuing fraudulent “cedulas” or identity cards. The firings have cleaned out the civil registry department and new personnel were put in charge. This is one of the first moves …

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The ongoing discussion between labor representatives and employers continues at the National Salary Commission today, but labor spokesmen say they won’t be taking part in today’s discussions. The wage increase negotiations have ended in an impasse, with neither side willing to budge. Labor representatives want a 25% wage increase for all employees earning under RD$30,000 …

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The creation of an auxiliary police is causing a stir among critics who view this entity as something that will cost millions of pesos with no end result. Critics say that there is no need for this new group since the National Police is already responsible for public safety. Lawyer Joaquin Benezario says that the …

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Diario Libre points out that many citizens are not aware that a passenger in a vehicle could be fined, jailed and have the car towed away if they are caught drinking alcoholic beverages while in the vehicle. This detail is part of resolution 03-06 passed 27 December 2006. Diario Libre questioned some citizens who feel …

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In an interview with Hoy, the president of the Puerto Plata Tourism & Culture Cluster, Dr. Jose Natalio Redondo Galan, says that tourism in the western part of Puerto Plata city is affected by pollution from the power generating stations that operate around the bay. Redondo praised the Ministry of Environment’s decision to stop Cementos …

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The Dominican delegation that will be traveling to the XV Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will have the costs of their airfares and accommodation at the Olympic village covered by the Brazilian government. Hoy newspaper explains that in their bid to win the Pan Am games, the Brazilian government made a host …

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Yesterday’s traditional Presidential Independence Day address to Congress was a mixture of multimedia hype and promises, according to detractors, and a message of hope and a strengthened democracy according to his supporters. President Leonel Fernandez offered new housing projects, billions of pesos for the industrial free zones and increased pensions for thousands of elderly citizens. …

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