2008 – Page 137

Former Central Bank governor Bernardo Vega looks back to 2001-2002 when he was director of El Caribe, to remind readers that the newspaper investigated the now infamous CODACSA contract and warned about the pitfalls it contained. Prior to it being signed by then Minister of Public Works, former PRD presidential candidate Miguel Vargas, El Caribe …

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This week’s shooting of eight suspected drug traffickers has exposed deep-rooted concerns, especially among citizens and officials in Bani. Of the eight, only one person survived the massacre, after playing dead. According to Peravia Senator Wilton Guerrero, for years the National Police, the National Drug Control Department (DNCD) and state prosecutors (Public Ministry) have all …

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Dominican housekeeper Mercedes Carvajal, who witnessed the shooting in Bani, told Diario Libre that the claim that drug enforcement authorities were involved in the murders is not far off. Carvajal says that around 10pm on Tuesday night, seven unknown men arrived at the home in Paya. The men were dressed in Drug Control Department (DNCD) …

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The surviving 30-year old victim of the Bani drug-related massacre is now in stable condition and is currently at the Armed Forces Hospital under police protection. Horin Gomez Haifari, from Nicaragua, saved his own life by playing dead. His seven partners weren’t as lucky. Dr. Alberto Lafontaine says that Gomez needed surgery for abdominal wounds, …

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Prices of schoolbooks are up 15% to 20% compared to last year’s prices. Bookstore owners say that sales have yet to peak, but could eventually go up as the first day of school nears. Bookstore owner Luisa de Povedano says this is normal and that each year prices increase by 15% to 20%. School starts …

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National District DA Jose Manuel Hernandez Peguero denies traveling to New York City to meet former military captain and accused drug trafficker Quirino Paulino. Media outlets reported that Hernandez traveled to New York with Paulino’s lawyer Felix Damian in order to negotiate a deal for Quirino’s family members who have been charged with laundering RD$400 …

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Ten people were arrested after violent confrontations with SWAT police who were escorting a Caribe Tours bus on the new Santo Domingo-Cap-Haitien route. The confrontation took place in Navarrete when transport cartel members from Santiago, Navarrete, Mao, Montecristi and other cities blocked the streets to protest against the Santo Domingo-based carrier serving the route. Police …

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Community activist Father Rogelio Cruz has now taken on the cause of Bonao province residents who are protesting against mining company Falconbridge’s failure to install adequate filters. The Catholic priest and other citizens from Bonao, under the Pre-Committee for the Defense of the Environment, expressed their concern about the fact that the Falconbridge chimneys are …

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Dominicans Manny Ramirez and Albert Pujols put on a show for fans last night. Pujols, who is having somewhat of a resurgence after an injury-riddled 2007 campaign, hit a grand slam in the fourth inning to push his Cardinals past the Los Angeles Dodgers. Not to be outdone, Los Angeles’ new acquisition, Ramirez, hit his …

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NBA star Al Horford has been tapped by Telemundo to be a color commentator for this year’s basketball tournament at the Beijing Olympics. Horford will provide his commentary in Spanish. The young Horford, whose mother Arelis Reynoso was a journalist in the DR, is no stranger to journalism. Horford also studied the subject at the …

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