2007 – Page 6

It took a shot from Joel Guzman to keep the Estrellas tied in fourth place during this year’s final push towards the playoffs. Guzman hit a grand slam in the sixth inning yesterday to help the Estrellas to an 11-5 victory over the Azucareros. In other baseball news, the Gigantes kept their tight grip on …

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President Leonel Fernandez’s main objective as he heads to the PetroCaribe summit in Cienfuegos, Cuba is to ratify the PetroCaribe agreement with Venezuela. He is traveling to Cuba today, to attend the 15-nation PetroCaribe summit. The ratification of the agreement would prevent what Fernandez called “the other storm,” referring to the skyrocketing prices of petroleum …

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President Leonel Fernandez made the ceremonial shoveling gesture, officially starting the construction of 330 new homes for families affected by Tropical Storms Olga and Noel in Bonao. Of the 330 homes, 202 will be built in Bonao while 80 will be built in Piedra Blanca and 50 in Maimon. Fernandez said that the government would …

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Education Minister Alejandrina German is not optimistic that her budget allocation will be increased. She is lobbying for a total of RD$33 billion. Hacienda Minister Vicente Bengoa is blaming the International Monetary Fund for the education budget restrictions. The Ministry of Education was allocated RD$31.5 billion in the 2008 budget, up from its 2007 budget …

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The first round of trade negotiations with Canada took place with officials discussing an increase in cooperation between both countries and the increase in Canadian aid in the area of private sector development. As reported in Listin Diario, Foreign Relations Minster Carlos Morales Troncoso and chief negotiator Juan Guiliani Cury explained that the FTA would …

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The Central Electoral Board (JCE) has ordered the preparation of 5,200 Christmas gift baskets at a cost of RD$23 million, according to a report in Diario Libre. At the same time, the JCE is requesting that the government increase its budgetary allocation. The JCE chose three companies for the preparation of the baskets that usually …

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Foreigners holding up-to-date passports and visas issued by the United States, Canada, European Union or the United Kingdom will now be able to enter the DR with the purchase of a tourist card and not a visa as previously required, according to Decree 690-07 issued this week by President Leonel Fernandez. The measure comes at …

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The Association for Foreign Business Investment (ASIEX) and the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) are in favor of the country maintaining its Stand-by arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). ASIEX says that the IMF has helped the private and public sector restore stability in the Dominican economy and this is why the country should …

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The Supreme Court of Justice has added another 10 years to retired General Joaquin Antonio Pou’s jail sentence after finding him guilty of complicity in the 17 May 1975 murder of journalist Orlando Martinez Howley. The Supreme Court revoked the sentence handed down last May by the Penal Chamber of the Court of Appeals at …

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The traditional Dominican Christmas bread named “telera” has experienced an RD$10 to RD$20 price hike attributed to the rise in international wheat prices, the rise of local flour prices and the overall increase of petroleum prices on the international market. Officials said that there is no bread shortage but that this holiday season the bread …

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