2008 – Page 221

In a lightening fast response to the robbery and murder of a guard at the Cibao Savings and Loan Association office on Juan Pablo Duarte Avenue in Santiago, the police have arrested Robinson Alberto Bautista Mercedes, 27, originally from the town of La Vega and who resided in Licey al Medio. He was a former …

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Former radio announcer and journalist Otilio Antonio Castro went to sleep dreaming of picking up a little “extra”, and he woke up to a RD$21 million lottery bonanza. Yesterday he picked up his check from the Leidsa office, surrounded by his very happy wife, his children and his grandchildren, who all arrived in a limousine. …

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A new Broadway production providing a snapshot about Latino families in New York’s Dominican enclave Washington Heights topped the Tony Award nominations with 13, including two for Puerto Rican Lin-Manuel Miranda, the musical’s 28-year old composer and star. “In the Heights” has gotten very good reviews for its cast, dancing and for its tale of …

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La Sirena is advertising its usual Wednesday 35% off fruits and vegetables, with cantaloupes for R$16.95ea, Bugalu tomatoes for RD$6.95lb, celery for RD$2.95lb, Blue Bonnet margarine for RD$39.95/4bars, Linda tomato paste for RD$49.95/kg, Langers Cranberry juice for RD$79.95/64oz, and double liter Pepsi for RD$31.95. La Cadena advertises Bugalu tomatoes for RD$8.95lb, papaya for RD$6.95lb, cherry …

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The Greenberg Quinlan Rosner-Diario Libre poll shows President Leonel Fernandez of the ruling PLD party winning this Friday’s presidential election in the first round with 55% of the vote. The PRD’s Miguel Vargas is second with 37% and the PRSC’s Amable Aristy is third with 6%. The polling company asked prospective Fernandez voters to give …

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The ruling PLD party closed its 2008 Presidential campaign with a massive rally on Av. Padre Castellanos and Francisco del Rosario Sanchez Bridge yesterday. PLD politicians called on voters to give President Leonel Fernandez four more years. During the rally PLD members and high-ranking government officials, Santo Domingo Mayor Roberto Salcedo, Santo Domingo Senator Cristina …

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Following a four-hour meeting, the Central Electoral Board decided not to schedule a time to announce the first election results bulletin. JCE president Julio Cesar Castanos Guzman said only that the first bulletin would be broadcast “as early as possible”. As for the complaints lobbied by the PRD about a possible selection of voting precincts …

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State schools and the UASD University will be closing their doors as of Wednesday, 14 May because classrooms will be used as voting centers for the 16 May presidential election. Schools will re-open on 19 May. Hoy reports that for the first time in the university’s history, some professors at the UASD will act as …

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As the end of the electoral period nears, Diario Libre publishes an analysis by Tania Molina of headline-making issues that have fallen by the wayside and have been almost forgotten. She says that the financing of the Santo Domingo Metro, Social Security, Constitutional reform, and the Central Electoral Board’s contract for the SOMO project to …

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The president of the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD), Manuel Diez Cabral is calling on the government to control what he describes as “disproportionate” spending. He told El Caribe that government spending was up 35% in the first three months of the year, compared to last year’s figures. Business leaders are concerned …

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