2008 – Page 193

The Dominican Republic farming sector needs RD$31 billion each year to feed the local population and maintain current export levels. Unfortunately, the reality is that the sector only has access to RD$12 billion in credit within the local banking establishment and RD$7.5 billion through the Agricultural Bank, Banco Agricola. As a result of this situation, …

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The Dominican Republic Airline Association (ALA) has made a strong appeal for the elimination of all taxes on aviation fuel. The request was made to the government and to the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC). They are also calling for a revocation of the commission paid to travel agents on tickets sold, leaving up to …

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The advantages of time saved and safety provided by the newly opened Northeast Expressway that connects Santo Domingo with Samana are offset by the cost of the tolls. It costs more than RD$600 to travel to and from Samana on the Expressway by car and over RD$2,400 by truck. While drivers interviewed by Hoy newspaper …

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The Dominican Medical Association (CMD) has announced the continuation of its strike action in pursuit of higher salaries and an elimination of fees for patients in public hospitals. Their next work stoppage will affect the north of the country and will last for 24 hours. CMD president Waldo Ariel Suero announced the strike at a …

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The local beer companies have turned to light beer as a way of saving money without losing customers, according to an article in today’s Listin Diario. Esteban Delgado writes that the move to lighter beers with lower alcoholic content is also designed to attract new clients. As the reporter says, “it’s all business.” The Dominican …

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Economist Luis Vargas says that the DR’s trade deficit with the United States is up 92.1% to US$955.9 million, up from US$497.7 million for the same first quarter last year. As reported in Hoy, he says that the deficit is a combination of a 23.4% increase to US$2.27 billion in imports, plus a decline of …

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The Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior and Police are each trying to exert control over the growing private security business. According to Diario Libre, the ministries are fighting so intensely over final control of the sector that the process in the Dominican Congress that will actually produce a bill to oversee the …

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The chief of police in the Dominican Republic, Guillermo Guzman Fermin, told reporters and an audience of police officers that he was in Santiago to support the efforts of General Raudo Ramirez Comas in his work to tackle the ongoing crime wave in the region. The police chief had expressed some negative comments last weekend …

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Super Pola is promoting 35% reductions on fruits and vegetables. La Cadena is advertising squash for RD$3.95lb, Tommy Adkins mangos for RD$5.95ea, pears for RD$41.95lb, ripe plantains for RD$7.95ea, red onions for RD$7.95, and green beans for RD$15.95lb. Nacional supermarket is offering 40% off eggplant, and 20% off other fruits and vegetables. Also, Milex milk …

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President Leonel Fernandez is back in the DR after a 10-day overseas trip during which he attended the FAO World Food Summit in Rome and met with potential investors in Spain. Fernandez and First Lady Margarita Cedeno arrived on an Iberia flight from Madrid at 3:30pm yesterday. He was greeted at the airport by Vice …

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