2007 – Page 335

The Vanessa Foundation, set up by the parents of Vanessa Ramirez Fana after the 18-year old was killed by a young man who was trying to steal her cell phone, has announced that it plans to foster thirty-three young orphan girls at the Sister Petra Mariana Grullon shelter in the Las Colinas sector of Santiago …

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Pope Benedict XVI has called on the Dominican bishops to visit him this summer in a meeting called “ad limina”, which means simply “a trip to the Holy See.” These trips are organized, in general, every five years, but Pope John Paul II’s failing health prevented the last trip from taking place. The Dominican bishops …

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The National Livestock Office (DIGEGA) says that unusually low demand for poultry has created a chicken surplus for January and February. A series of meetings are scheduled to take place between poultry producers’ representatives and the Minister of Agriculture, Salvador Jimenez, to discuss the situation. The surplus could lead to a ten-peso fall in prices …

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The Dominican Republic’s main farm and agribusiness exhibition, AgroAlimentaria 2007, is scheduled for 21-24 February at Santo Domingo’s Dominican Fiesta Hotel. The DR is a leading supplier of food products, beverages and cigars, and this international fair seeks to showcase the industry. Processed goods as well as fresh produce will be on exhibition. The fair …

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The Semi-Final phase of the Dominican Winter League reached the halfway point over the weekend and the Aguilas Cibaenas managed to climb into first place. On Friday night, the Aguilas visited the Gigantes in the Julian Javier Stadium over in San Francisco de Macoris. The Aguilas won the game 7-2, with Melky Cabrera, Luis Polonia …

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With a vote of 22 to 7 the nation’s 2007 budget plan was passed in the Senate yesterday, after two consecutive readings. The budget included an addendum the Executive Branch sent the Senate only a few hours earlier. Increases in budgeted amounts approved by the Senate include: RD$300 million more for the Chamber of Deputies; …

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President Leonel Fernandez will fly to Managua next week to attend Daniel Ortega’s investiture as president of Nicaragua. The ceremony is scheduled for 10 January and The Venezuelan, Bolivian, Mexican, Brazilian and Panamanian presidents have all confirmed their attendance.

Santo Domingo Mayor Roberto Salcedo has announced a beautification plan for Santo Domingo’s Malecon seafront boulevard. The Malecon, which runs along the capital’s George Washington Avenue, will be completely illuminated. Salcedo says that beach volleyball courts will also be built as well as a heliport. Salcedo says that all the preliminary details have been worked …

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The director of the Presidential Council on AIDS (CopreSida) Humberto Salazar has informed the public that 500,000 tests for HIV/AIDS will be provided free of charge in 2007. Salazar said that it was an ambitious project and that 50,000 tests would be administered every month. Salazar also used the opportunity to deny claims that the …

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The Central Electoral Board (JCE) has announced the rules for political parties’ meetings, conventions and primaries. These regulations determine spending limits for the primaries and control the political parties’ pre-electoral campaigns. The rules allow the JCE to obtain information about the parties’ spending on primaries and conventions and the budgets for the candidates, which should …

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