2008 – Page 13

The Navy says it will prosecute the two survivors of a recent illegal boat trip to Puerto Rico, where some 49 people who are believed to have paid up to US$10,000 for the trip are missing, feared dead. Diomito Rodriguez and Reynaldo Ramirez were rescued off the coast of the southwestern province of Pedernales and …

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The new owners of Las Americas International Airport have hiked the price of parking at Santo Domingo’s main airport. While leaving the car at the airport for a week used to cost RD$610, the rate is now RD$10,080. The new rate is equivalent to RD$1 per minute. This means that leaving the car overnight will …

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The National Meteorological Office (ONAMET) is forecasting light rains and unusually strong wave action along the Atlantic Coast, Samana Bay and the Mona Passage early this week. The cool temperatures are set to continue. According to ONAMET, the flow of winds from the east/northeast is continuing across the country, bringing humidity and continuing rains to …

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On Friday night the Gigantes del Cibao ensured themselves a place in the playoffs by defeating the Leones del Escogido 8-2 in the Quisqueya Stadium in Santo Domingo. In San Pedro de Macoris, the Tigres del Licey defeated the pesky Estrella Orientales 7-4 in the Tetelo Vargas Stadium. In Santiago, the Toros del Este came …

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In an unexpected move, President Leonel Fernandez was in Bonao yesterday to offer support to 900 workers who recently lost their jobs with the Falconbridge mining company. Fernandez announced that the government would help them find new jobs, and that 90 workers over the age of 55 would be awarded government pensions. The President also …

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Yesterday, President Leonel Fernandez and Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garcia attended the launch of the new Vista Cana Resort and Country Club in the Punta Cana area. The Venezuelan tourism project will include the construction of 6,000 rooms, a commercial center with 100 stores, a 27-hole golf course and an artificial 180,000 square meter lake …

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Foreign direct investment more than doubled in 2008, but real estate investment declined, according to statistics from the Center for Exports and Investment (CEI-RD). Investment in 2008 totaled US$2.35 billion, for a 55.1% growth from 2007. Real estate investment was down to US$576.4 million, compared to US$1.33 billion in 2007. Eddy Martinez, director of CEI-RD …

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Seven political parties and the Central Electoral Board (JCE) have signed a cross-party agreement, with the aim of cultivating trust in the DR’s political party system. Representatives from the PLD, PRD, PRSC, PRSD, APD, PRI and PPC met at the Spanish Embassy to discuss and sign the agreement. Miguel Angel Encimas from the Spanish International …

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Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garcia has said that bus drivers who use violence or cause disruption to services in tourist zones would have their licenses cancelled. He made this statement after bus drivers from two unions that shuttle workers to and from Higuey blocked the flow of traffic outside the city on Tuesday. The bus …

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Interior and Police Minister Franklin Almeyda Rancier said that if drivers or transport leaders in Santo Domingo continue to cause trouble, they will be arrested. Police stopped a march by protestors from reaching the Presidential Palace yesterday and transport union leader Juan Hubieres is still on hunger strike. Hubieres and the bus drivers are campaigning …

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