2008 – Page 255

The Tax Department (DGII) will receive financing worth US$10.5 million from the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) for an institutional strengthening program. Hacienda Minister Vicente Bengoa and IDB president Luis Alberto Moreno signed the agreement.

President Leonel Fernandez has widened his lead, according to the most recent Greenberg-Diario Libre poll. The poll found that 53% of voters would vote for the President, four points up from last month’s poll. This would give Fernandez enough of the vote to win in a first round, where 50%+1 of the vote is required. …

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Economy and Planning Minister Temistocles Montas has urged the Chamber of Deputies to re-examine the proposal for the creation of the National Institute for Development of Tourism (Indetur). Tourism Minister Felix Jimenez and former President Hipolito Mejia have actively campaigned for its approval as sent from the Presidency. Montas told Diario Libre that the bill …

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Agriculture Minister Salvador Jimenez says that the high prices of some food products are unjustified considering that some of those foods are abundant in the DR and are of good quality. He said that eggs, chicken, rice, potatoes, onions and meats are produced here in the DR and there is no reason for their prices …

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During the first four months of the year the energy subsidy sucked US$105.8 million, which is US$15.8 million more than was assigned during the same period in 2006 and 2007. Listin Diario writes that this demonstrates the effect the “freezing” of the energy bill has had during the last two months, and during the last …

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It’s been months since government officials have commented on the Sun Land case controversy, while citizens continue to lobby the Supreme Court for a verdict in the US$130 million loan scandal. Yesterday, social activist groups, alongside other organizations like the Dominican Lawyers Association (CARD) and the Alternative Social Forum (FSA) took up the baton to …

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The UASD University has suspended classes for the next three days after rioting broke out around the campus and because the Social Alternative Forum plans a 24-hour strike beginning on Wednesday. Listin Diario writes that student groups started altercations with National Police officers yesterday as a “warm up” for tomorrow’s strike. The Fenatrado bus union …

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The Alternative Social Forum (FSA) has called for a 24-hour national strike beginning at 6am on Wednesday. The FSA is calling the strike to put pressure on the government into giving workers a 40% wage increase, reductions in food, medicine and energy prices, as well as a modification of fuel legislation. The FSA is also …

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The Central Electoral Board (JCE) is ordering the removal of eight TV advertisements from Dominican airwaves on the grounds that they could cause “unnecessary confusion during the electoral process.” Listin Diario writes that the ads were sponsored by public ministries and highlighted the work of President Leonel Fernandez, who is running for a second consecutive …

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Taiwanese Ambassador to the DR Isaac Tsai says that his main objective as a diplomat is to present Dominicans with the modern technologies that Taiwan has available in order to help in the development of the agricultural sector and thus increase its level of production. The goal is also to increase the relationships with small …

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