2008 – Page 130

The Presidential committee created to investigate the allegations made by Senator Wilton Guerrero of the authorities complicity in the drug trade interviewed representatives from 20 community organizations in Bani yesterday. The meeting was initially slated for 1pm, but was postponed to 5pm when Police Chief Rafael Guillermo Guzman and Lt. General Ramon Aquino Garcia arrived …

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Diario Libre is reporting that Scarlet Aristy Rojas, wife of Lt. Colonel Ricardo Guzman Perez, who had been stationed by the Navy in Salinas, Peravia province, stole the vehicle she was riding in Tuesday when she was apprehended with 8 kilos of cocaine in the car. Reports say she stole the car form Haitian national …

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According to anthropologist and social investigator Tahira Vargas present efforts to enhance security have not been efficient and don’t attack delinquency at its root. Vargas says efforts have not resolved the issue of complicity between police officials, criminals and the National Drug Control Department (DNCD). Vargas made her comments with regards to the disputed police …

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Celso Marranzini, former president of the National Business Council (CONEP) backs the dollarization of the Dominican economy. California-based Dominican economist Victor Canto is a strong advocate of dollarization. Marranzini says dollarization would limit the Monetary Board’s discretional control. “We would save a lot on the enormous salaries of the Monetary Board,” said Marranzini. Marranzini also …

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There are 130,000 Dominicans living in Spain, of which 80,000 are there legally, 30,000 are naturalized and only 20,000 are of illegal status, according to Dr. Bernarda Jimenez and Pedro Alvarez, directors at the Spanish Volunteer Mothers Group (VOMADE), as reported in Hoy. This year, Bernarda Jimenez recently was elected the first emigrant to become …

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The trade deficit between the US and the DR in the first semester of the year grew by 81.84% in comparison to the same period in 2007. According to Hoy the trade deficit went from US$726 million to US$1.32 billion due to an increase in imports, and the relatively-strong Dominican peso. Imports were up from …

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A fire in the Playa Dorada section of Puerto Plata burned down 58 small arts and crafts vendor shops causing an estimated RD$100 million in damages. An electric short circuit is being blamed for the fire, according to Hoy. The goods nor the stores were insured. Manuel Sanchez, president of the Playa Dorada Vendors Association …

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JetBlue Airways wants to attract more Dominican customers with a new cash payment plan with Western Union. Now passengers can book their JetBlue flights by phone or online and then walk to the nearest Western Union counter to pay for it, securing the online ticket price. Western Union is a popular remittance company used by …

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Dominican Week, the annual encounter between things Dominican and American organized by the Russin, Vecchi, Heredia Bonetti law firm and the Foundation Dominican American Assistance Fund (DAAF) is set for Monday 22 September through Friday, 26 September. Again, there will be academic, artistic, cultural and business communities organized in Washington, D.C. (22, 23, 24 September) …

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New York Governor David Paterson has ordered all flags raised half-mast in honor of Jose Ulloa, a Dominican soldier killed in Iraq last week. Ulloa was part of Company 515, based in Manheim, Germany. Gov. Paterson offered condolences to the Ulloa family telling the family that the sacrifice he made for the country would never …

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