2008 – Page 265

The Dominican motoconcho, the small motorbike taxis that weave dangerously in and out of city traffic, have a major impact on the Dominican economy, according to the Land Transport Office (OTTT). The OTTT estimates that motoconcho drivers make RD$325 million per day. There are some 1,350,000 motoconchos in operation around the DR.

For the second day running, the country’s public hospitals were almost completely paralyzed by the doctors’ strike. Doctors continued to treat patients in emergency rooms and intensive care units, but on the whole, doctors showed solidarity with the strike. The strike, despite being a strong demonstration by doctors in demand of a series of benefits, …

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Actually, Chamber of Deputies president Julio Cesar Valentin didn’t reveal anything new when he said that the PLD party was no stranger to the concept of clientelism, although he did defend his party by saying that the PRD and PRSC are the founding fathers of that practice. He added that it is unfortunate that those …

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A summit meeting between the DR’s main opposition parties yesterday ended in a joint call for the current administration to adhere to the 2008 National Budget and to cease political patronage payments. The party leaders also asked for any fiscal exemptions to be submitted to Congress for review. The four participating parties also called for …

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The ruling PLD party says that it will hold a large political rally on Sunday, 11 May to close its re-election campaign. The PRSC has announced that theirs will be held on Tuesday, 13 May and the PRD will hold their closing rally on Wednesday, 14 May. According to electoral law, the campaigns must close …

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Dominican basketball player Francisco Garcia will soon be joining an exclusive group. The Sacramento Kings forward will soon become the sixth Latino player in NBA history to score more than 100 three-point shots in an NBA season. He will also become the first Dominican player to do so. At the moment Garcia has 97 three-point …

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The cream of world archery competitors will be in Santo Domingo for the Meteksan Archery World Cup, being held on 1-5 April. The event is organized following International Archery Federation (FITA) rules and the World Cup-EMAU (Mediterranean and European Union) rules for 2008, in both divisions: recurve and compound. The event will take place at …

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Ferreteria Hache has its 25% off from 6 to 10pm, and 50% off one item from 9 to 10 pm. Jumbo is advertising anniversary sales throughout the entire store. Bravo is advertising plums for RD$64.95lb, apples for RD$89.95 (3lb bag), La Yogurt for RD$19.95 (6oz). Bravo supermarket has T-bone steaks for RD$129.95lb, angus churrasco for …

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Industry and Commerce Minister Melanio Paredes says that the country has benefited from the DR-CAFTA agreement, because capital goods, including machinery and raw materials can now be purchased at lower prices. During a speech at the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) luncheon Paredes cited a report by the Ministry of Hacienda that indicated that of …

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The de-facto ban on non-commercial flights to the DR has been lifted. Decree 169-08 removes the taxes that discouraged small private planes from flying to the DR. The exemption favors all planes that weigh under 30,000lbs with a maximum 12-passenger capacity. Jose Tomas Perez, director of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC) and Andres Van …

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