2007 – Page 54

The Dominican women’s volleyball team is in Japan competing for one of three slots to participate in the Beijing Olympics open to 12 teams taking part in the FIVB Volley World Cup 2007 under way in the capital, Tokyo. The Dominican team played in the opening match against Japan. The Asian champions Japan delighted a …

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Puerto Plata and Santiago are hosting the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival this long weekend in its 8th edition. From 2-4 November 2007, the event will take place in Santiago and Cabarete venues. On Friday, 2 November, there will be a performance b y Prodigio (Dom Rep), Irakere with Chucho Valdez and nine musicians (Cuba) at …

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Dominican tourism destinations like Puerto Plata, Samana, Punta Cana, La Romana, Bayahibe and Jarabacoa suffered heavy rains that caused some excursions to be suspended, but that was about it. Airport operations have continued as normal. The weather is clearing up in the Dominican Republic today, as forecast by the Meteorological Office (ONAMET). Most private schools …

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While the capital city was gradually returning to normalcy, outside of flooded areas, President Leonel Fernandez toured Santo Domingo province yesterday to get a first hand impression of damages. The President said a full report on the situation would be forthcoming. “We are evaluating the damages to people, infrastructure, homes and agriculture to bring relief …

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In mid-September this year, the government approved a supplement to the National Budget, authorizing RD$2 billion for a fund for national disasters. The funds were set aside from a surplus in tax revenues generated by the tax reform implemented as of January 2007 that gave the government a windfall of resources. In addition to that …

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The ninth bulletin from the National Emergency Committee indicates that 56 people have died as a result of Noel, 27 are missing and a total of 58,328 people have been displaced. Of these displaced 17,895 have found refuge in government facilities while 40,433 are staying with families and friends. Also, 13,921 homes have been ruined, …

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The Mejia administration spent US$75 million on the purchase of 36 helicopters in 2001, supposedly for relief operations, but the passing of Tropical Storm Noel shows that this could have been yet another corruption scam. As reported on the Nuria & Huchi radio talk show, the US Eximbank-financed, Sun Land Corporation deal with the former …

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Bernardo Vega looks into the deal in his commentary in Clave newspaper today, mentioning that the Bush government has backed donations worth millions of dollars in equipment for Mexico and Colombia, but not for the DR that has instead resorted to financing these with commercial bank loans, backed by the guarantee of US export agency, …

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The Ministry of Public Health has ordered the immediate vaccination of people displaced by Tropical Storm Noel. The Ministry also urged people in heavily affected areas to save water, but to make sure that their water receptacles are clean in order to prevent water-borne diseases. Vaccinations for tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, smallpox and meningococcemia …

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A market decline in fresh food supplies is already apparent in Dominican supermarkets. Flooding affected major farming areas. Eggs, plantains, fruit, vegetables and chickens are in short supply because producers were not able to make their usual deliveries. The destruction of harvests and some roads that transporters use to bring the foods are expected to …

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