2008 – Page 184

World famous Spanish tenor Placido Domingo is in the DR and ready for his performance at Altos de Chavon tonight. The tenor will be performing tracks from his new CD Pasion Espanola, which is dedicated to Spanish ‘coplas’. Arrangements have also been made to include a short selection of Dominican songs at the Altos de …

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Twenty-three year old Marianne Cruz, the Dominican Republic’s representative at the Miss Universe 2008 contest taking place at the Crown Convention Center, Diamond Bay Resort, Nha Trang in Vietnam arrived in Vietnam this week for her almost month-long participation in the contest. Miss Dominican Republic is 5’11” and has brown eyes and brown hair. She …

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Government revenues continue to increase over what was estimated for the year. The government is reporting revenues of RD$108.8 billion for the first five months of the year, up from RD$99.38 billion in 2007. The revenues are 43.6% of the estimate for the entire year, and the pace of collections is greater than projected. Nevertheless, …

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Economy, Planning and Development Minister Temistocles Montas says that high fuel prices are having a strong impact on poverty. He adds that in the last six months the fuel crunch has made it difficult for 131,000 people to get out of poverty. The Minister says that during this period food prices increased by 13%, which …

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Every day more details surface about the inner workings of the Chamber of Accounts, which has recently come under fire for suspected misappropriation of funds. Chamber of Accounts members increased personal services costs by RD$113 million. Personal service costs are now at RD$275.3 million. Diario Libre reports that a recording exists of a member of …

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National Private Business Council president Lisandro Macarulla disagrees with Jose Luis Machinea who said that the DR has some of the lowest taxes in the region. Machinea, the executive minister for the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) says that the DR has some of the lowest taxes and that a new …

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The Bicameral Commission for the Transfer of Funds at the National Congress wants to stop funding non-governmental organizations (NGOs) run by high-ranking politicians. The Commission describes 389 of these organizations as “ghost NGOs”. El Caribe reports that the Commission met on Wednesday to discuss the issue and would only transfer RD$162 million to the NGOs …

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The tobacco industry has exported US$1.13 billion worth of goods in the last four years, according to Tobacco Institute director Adalberto Rosa. The director says that tobacco exports have been climbing steadily over the last four years. Rosa says that annual exports are registered at about 550 million units with a total of 2.3 billion …

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Yesterday, some public transport drivers began charging higher fares to the dismay of passengers. Reports indicate that the increases were between RD$3 and RD$20, depending on the route, the driver and the union the driver is affiliated to. Hoy writes that beginning today more bus drivers will increase their prices. Union leaders argue that keeping …

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As a result of the impromptu fare increase the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has ordered the Department of Hydrocarbons to remove the fuel subsidy to the bus unions who unilaterally increased bus fares. The government had been threatening to remove the subsidy as a way of keeping fares down. Industry and Commerce Minister Melanio …

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