2008 – Page 220

Turn on the radio today and it will be difficult to avoid a political message. For the first time in Dominican political history, political parties have invested heavily in using radio talk shows to get their message out to the Dominican people. Hoy newspaper reports that the ruling PLD party has 18 radio stations dedicated …

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The Central Electoral Board (JCE) has set out a series of regulations for Friday’s Presidential Election. The board issued three decrees outlining their stance: one prohibits any gatherings that are not peaceful; another prohibits carrying firearms or other weapons and bans the sale of alcoholic beverages on Election Day until three hours after the polls …

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The Central Electoral Board will have 42,000 troops and police on standby to maintain order across the Dominican Republic on Election Day. The chief of the Electoral Military Police, Brigadier General Pedro Caceres, told El Nuevo Diario that his team has organized a nationwide program to “guarantee that the elections go ahead in a secure …

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The Metropolitan Bus Service Office (OMSA) will provide free bus rides all day on Friday, to help people to get to their polling stations and back home. OMSA director Ignacio Ditren Flores told El Nuevo Diario that their fleet of buses would be available from 6am until their normal closing time. The service will be …

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Diario Libre Editor Adriano Miguel Tejada says that the Central Electoral Board (JCE) is claiming a kind of “Droit de Seigneur” when it comes to information on Election Day. Tejada, a noted author and lawyer, reminds readers of the medieval custom whereby the lord of the manor would take a vassal’s bride for the first …

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Although the Central Electoral Board (JCE) did not object to the taking of exit polls, they did say that the results of such polls could not be divulged before the JCE itself has released its first bulletin with vote counts. International pollsters such as Penn and Schoen, and Gallup DR have announced that they plan …

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The Association of Industries the Dominican Republic (AIRD) is concerned there may be a new “fiscal reform” after Friday’s elections. According to their statements in Listin Diario, the industrialists feel that such a move would represent a change in the rules and any added income would be used to plug some of the holes in …

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The superintendent of banks, Rafael Camilo, has told reporters that the government has put conversations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on its post-election agenda, with the idea of reaching a new accord. According to Hoy newspaper, Camilo explained that the agreement would not be the same as the most recent one. The “Stand-by” arrangement …

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Non-traditional exports rose to US$277 million in the first quarter of 2008, a delightful 31% increase from a year ago when non-traditional exports totaled US$211 million, the Center for Exports and Investment (CEI-RD) reports. Growth in the exports of avocados, organic bananas, organic cacao, re-bar, cement and rum have spearheaded the increase. The CEI-RD reveals …

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A newborn baby boy, who was rescued by C-section from his dead mother’s womb, is now safe in the arms of his grandmother and aunt. Doctors at the Elio Fiallo Public Hospital in Pedernales saved the baby after his mother was shot and killed by her husband, who then committed suicide. After only three days …

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