2007 – Page 299

According to the much-read column in Hoy newspaper, “Que se dice” (What’s being said), Central Electoral Board (JCE) magistrate Aura Celeste Fernandez is no longer a lone voice. She has found company in her decision to reject, for legal reasons, the special largesse given to the magistrates of the JCE. Magistrate Mariano A. Rodriguez, the …

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The Chamber of Accounts has been asked to rule on whether JCE judges are correct in accepting an incentive that covers the income tax deductions they should be paying the government, as would apply to other citizens. Interestingly, as Diario Libre points out, a decision to the contrary would affect the remuneration of the Chamber …

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The government’s Chamber of Accounts has announced a move to audit the sworn statement of assets by all government officials and by anyone who manages public funds. Andres Terrero, the head of the accounting office said that the entire accounting tribunal was in agreement on this issue. This initiative comes in response to the fact …

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The director of the Department for the Prevention of Corruption (Depreco) under the current Fernandez administration has told Hoy newspaper that he has offered his resignation, because he is disappointed at the recent judicial decisions on corruption cases presented by his office. He said that the most recent sentences issued by the courts, including the …

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The director of the Energy Institute at the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo, the state university, considers that The Trust Capital of the West, which owns 50% of the EdeEste power distribution company’s shares, should be suing AES Dominicana for breach of contract, as opposed to the Dominican government. Jose Luis Moreno of the IE-UASD …

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Despite interest rates ranging from 3.5% to 7% per month, credit card use is still on the upswing. The interest rates charged for the use of “plastic” have not followed the downward trends of other credit facilities such as mortgages and personal loans, either. Mortgage loans are currently between 17% and 20.90% APR, with occasional …

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Most self-employed workers have higher incomes than salaried workers in the formal or informal sectors of the economy, according to a recent study on Poverty in the Dominican Republic released by the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. The report in Hoy says that this is true, despite the fact that the nature of …

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The chefs from Plaza Lama and Super Pola supermarkets got together over the weekend and prepared an enormous sancocho, the traditional festive Dominican dish. Three thousand people were able to enjoy the delicious meal, a part of the Seventh Dominican Fair at Multicentro La Sirena, a large Santo Domingo department store. According to Diario Libre, …

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Interior and Police Minister Franklin Almeyda called the Attorney General “imprudent” after the latter placed Puerto Plata on “Red Alert” following a series of violent crimes. The minister said that what Attorney General Radhames Jimenez had called an alert for the north coast “doesn’t make sense.” Almeyda made these comments in Santiago during an event …

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The Sports Writers Association (ACD) has published its list of the best athletes in the Dominican Republic. World Boxing champion Joan Guzman was honored with the Athlete of the Year title, in an event that is sponsored by the Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana, the Presidente Beer producers. Guzman is the world champion in the 122lb. division, …

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