2007 – Page 73

Wednesday’s presidential appointments were received with the usual criticism. Members of the opposition claim that the naming of musicians, transport businessmen and opposition party activists violates the Constitution and the Law of Austerity. Opposition party deputies Cristian Paredes, Carlos Martinez and Ramon Rogelio Genao accused the government of using the government payroll to buy votes. …

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Taiwan is asking the DR for advice on new labor reforms that that Asian country is undertaking. Vice President Rafael Alburquerque, himself a leading Dominican labor expert, said that Taiwan is willing to reciprocate in terms of training Dominican technicians in the areas of manufacturing and industry, both in Taiwan and the DR. The Vice …

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Though there have been no reported cases of avian influenza in the DR, officials at the Plaza de la Salud are getting a head start on the issue and implementing a contingency plan if the likes ever occur in the country. The program has the support of the United Nations system for prevention, health, patient …

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Health and Work Risk Superintendent (SISALRIL) Fernando Caamano said that yesterday 1,370 deceased people were removed from the social security program. He says that the detection of dead people in the registry is normal because it is a massive database with more that 2 million affiliates. He explained that UNIPAGO, the company that processes data …

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Historian Bernardo Vega said yesterday that forgiveness is a mutual thing and that both Dominicans and Haitians should ask for forgiveness from each other. Vega explained that Haitians should apologize for the 19th century massacres ordered by Jean Jacques Dessalines in Moca and Santiago and that Dominicans should apologize for the 1937 massacre ordered by …

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Moca original settlers were multiethnic and not entirely of Spanish descent as originally thought. The finding earlier this week of 18th century death certificates with Dutch, English, Spanish and even African names and skeletons and artifacts at a colonial style cemetery have townspeople looking into where their ancestors came from. Also, it proves the town …

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Dominican ambassador to Mexico Pablo Martinez said that economic relations between the DR and Mexico have grown to the point where the DR has become Mexico’s main trading partner in the Caribbean. Bilateral trade has now reached US$757.9 million. Mexican investment in the country has also increased to US$3.5 billion, making the DR the second …

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The presidents of the College of Dominican Engineers, Architects and Surveyors College (CODIA) and the Cibao Association of Promoters and Constructors (APROCOVICI) say that the increase in the price of cement is negatively impacting the construction industry in the Cibao region threatening jobs. The presidents said that given the low inflation and stability in the …

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The lack of an efficient information system for tourists who visit the DR has created an informal practice of charging tourists 25% more for gifts and artwork they buy in the country. Hoy is reporting that in the DR there are 5,000 stores and 2,500 producers dedicated to making and selling artwork and gifts to …

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Yesterday PRSC presidential candidate Amable Aristy Castro held a march in La Cienaga part of Santo Domingo and handed out RD$500, RD$100, RD$50 and RD$20 bills to those who attended. The candidate also gave away 5,000 frozen chickens to those who attended the rally and baskets with baby goods for pregnant mothers. Diario Libre reports …

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