2008 – Page 120

Police Mayor General Jose Anibal Sanz was appointed director of the Migration yesterday and Vice Admiral Sigfrido Pared Perez, a former Armed Forces Minister, was named director general of the Dominican Port Authority.

The Ministry of Education canceled classes today in provinces that have been issued a red alert due to Hurricane Gustav. Red alerts have been emitted for Barahona, Pedernales, Independencia, Bahoruco, San Juan de la Maguana, Elias Pina, Dajabon, Peravia, Azua, San Cristobal, Santo Domingo, National District, San Jose de Ocoa and San Pedro de Macoris.

New Education Minister Melanio Paredes gave a press conference yesterday to announce new efforts to ensure that public schools are ready for the new school year. News reports have focused on several large schools being in a state of disrepair and in an unfit condition to receive students for the 2008-2009 school year that has …

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Fears for a potential economic downturn are motivating some investors to liquidate their Central Bank certificates of deposit. Listin Diario reports that this is one of the reasons why the US dollar has appreciated. The current dollar to peso exchange rate is on average RD$35.20 per US$1. For the first time since 2003 there has …

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The Blackout Reduction Program (PRA) will end next July and only the very poorest families in critical situations will qualify for the fixed rate electricity service. Listin Diario reports that by ending the PRA program, the government seeks to increase the efficiency of the CRI, or funds recovery index. No exact details on what would …

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The vehicle license plate stickers renewal period begins today. Tax Department director Juan Hernandez said prices for the license plate stickers (known as “marbetes”) will be the same as last year, RD$1,200 for cars made before 2003 and RD$2,200 for cars made after 2003. The Tax Department expects to collect RD$1.3 billion from the stickers. …

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Listin Diario is reporting that Swiss and US investors are interested in purchasing a majority stake in the Aeropuertos Dominicanos (Aerodom). Airport Department director Andres Van der Horst confirmed that negotiations are taking place between Aerodom and Grupo Aeropuerto del Pacifico (GAP), based in Mexico. However Van der Horst says that nothing has been formalized, …

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Four year-old Francesca Melzani has been allowed home from the hospital after spending a week recovering from injuries she sustained during the tragic bus crash on La Romana-Higuey highway on 15 August. Her mother, 40 year-old Maritza Liloni, is still in a critical but stable condition, according to Dashira Martinez, a spokeswoman for Plaza de …

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Today at 2:30 pm boxer Felix Diaz and taekwondo medalist Gabriel Mercedes will be arriving home to a hero’s welcome. They fly into Las Americas International Airport on American Airlines flight 1529. Sports Minister Felipe Jay Payano says that Aerodom, AMET and the Dominican Olympic Committee have organized the welcome ceremony at the airport and …

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Following the passage of Tropical Storm, now Hurricane Gustav, President Leonel Fernandez has declared a state of emergency in 20 communities and seven provinces, including the National District. Santo Domingo, San Cristobal, San Jose de Ocoa, Azua, San Juan, Pedernales, Elias Pina and the National District. The provinces of Montecristi, La Romana, Hato Mayor, El …

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