2008 – Page 275

The United States Army has announced this year’s joint military exercises, called Operation Tradewind, which will take place in the Dominican Republic and continue until mid April. The news was reported on Nuria Piera and Huchi Lora’s CDN Radio show. An interesting facet of the announcement was the fact that it was made by Lt. …

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The ghosts of Tropical Storms Olga and Noel are still haunting the area around San Jose de Ocoa, and can be witnessed by all. There are still communities that are cut off from the main roads, the country roads are still damaged, the main highway is in a precarious condition, and the farmers are suffering …

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More than 5000 youngsters have volunteered for the Civil Defense Operation “Holy Week Reflection 2008” which begins this Thursday (20 March) and ends on Easter Sunday (23 March). The volunteers, mostly young people between the ages of 18 and 35 have to face many hardships in order to help people in need. The Civil Defense …

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President Leonel Fernandez received diplomatic credentials from five new ambassadors to the DR yesterday. The new Papal Nuncio, Monsignor Jozaf Weslowski, will represent the Vatican in the DR. Born in Poland in 1948, he has served in South Africa, Costa Rica, Japan, Switzerland, India and Scandinavia. He speaks Spanish. The new Taiwanese ambassador, Tsai Meng-Hung, …

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Some 31,000 men and women from first response units are being posted at highways and vacation destinations during Easter Week to help citizens in emergency situations. First responders will be ready beginning 20 March and the efforts include coordination between the National Police, members of the Armed Forces and volunteers at 2,125 stations around the …

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Tourism in 2008 could exceed 2007 figures, according to Tourism Minister Felix Jimenez. During the first two months of the year 725,238 visitors came to the DR. This is a 9.14% increase in travelers compared to the same period in 2007. He highlighted that Central Bank figures indicate that in February alone 372,002 visitors came …

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Central Electoral Board Judge (JCE) judge Aura Celeste Fernandez was the only judge to react to Participacion Ciudadana’s (PC) request that the PLD explain the CB scandal, for the party’s electoral campaign allocation to be withheld until an investigation into the scandal is complete and for the party to pay back the money that was …

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A report in Listin Diario gives the reasons why public works are not insured, despite the country’s vulnerability to hurricanes in the Caribbean. The reasons range from overvalued works, bad construction practices, cutting corners and a lack of guarantees on the quality of the materials. While none of the sources interviewed was willing to go …

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Five of the six men convicted in the Plan Renove public transport corruption case are in jail, three weeks after the order had initially been given. Hoy reports that yesterday afternoon the five were transported to Najayo jail in San Cristobal where they will serve their sentences. Antonio Marte has been sentenced to three years …

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International oil prices have reached the all-time high of US$110 per barrel on the NY commodities market and US$106 on the London commodities market. Add to this the slight decrease in the strength of the US dollar (EU1 = US$1.56) and concerns of a recession in the US economy and the economic outlook for many …

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