2007 – Page 297

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has scheduled the fifth and sixth revisions of the Stand-by agreement with the DR for tomorrow. The monetary authorities have presented a plan for a growth rate of 6% of the GDP, an inflation rate of between 4% and 6% and a deficit of between 1.8% and 2.3%, all depending …

Read more…

As from March 1, 94 different types of medicines sold by the Essential Medicines Program (Promese) will be available at a reduced price. The reductions will be worth between 16% and 34%. Promese director Elena Fernandez made the announcement during a meeting with the Executive Commission for Health Sector Reform (CERSS) head Gustavo Rojas. During …

Read more…

External Affairs Minister of India, Anand Sharma is visiting the Dominican Republic this week as part of an official eight-day tour of the Caribbean, which begins with a 12-13 February stopover in Cuba. Sharma will be in the DR from 14-16 February, prior to his meetings in Jamaica. In the DR, he is scheduled to …

Read more…

Economic, Planning, and Development Secretary, Temistocles Montas, has signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Barcelona. Through the agreement, the prestigious Spanish University will support the design of a methodology that will help construct, analyze and monitor economic indicators as well as helping to construct an appropriate methodology for the creation of a consumer …

Read more…

Dominican officials are expressing their frustration about the fact that DR-CAFTA hasn’t come into effect. Industry and Commerce Minister Francisco Javier Garcia, quoted in Diario Libre, said that no unresolved issues that could impede the entrance of the free trade agreement are pending. Garcia said that the DR has done everything it’s had to do …

Read more…

Members of the opposition PRSC party are meeting with President Leonel Fernandez at the Presidential Palace today. The meeting with the PRSC is one of three the President will have with the three major Dominican political parties in order to discuss the proposed constitutional reform. The meeting has been scheduled for 5pm today and PRSC …

Read more…

Presidential pre-candidate Eduardo Estrella looks to be the early favorite to run on the opposition PRSC party’s ticket for the 2008 elections. According to a poll by Carlos Fara & Associates, 69.0% said they would vote for Estrella while only 26.1% would vote for Amable Aristy Castro and 1.5% would vote for Luis Toral.

Opposition PRSC party presidential pre-candidate and Dominican Municipal League (LMD) head Amable Aristy Castro has announced that following extensive investigations, the US government has reinstated his tourist visa. On 15 August 2006 the United States Embassy confirmed the cancellation of Aristy’s tourist visa (B1/B2). The US Embassy did not give any reasons for the decision, …

Read more…

In the last two years the dollar has appreciated to the Dominican peso by about RD$4.00 which translates into a devaluation of the peso of 12%. Free trade zone (FTZs) representatives believe that the local currency is still overvalued and estimate that the devaluation should be at around 16%, which would place the exchange rate …

Read more…

Business owners in Las Terrenas, Samana are asking authorities to provide flexibility in restaurant and bar closing hours in the area. Businesses in the region claim that their profits have been heavily affected by the alcohol sale limitations. Las Terrenas is a busy tourist area and is expected to become even busier with the opening …

Read more…