2008 – Page 292

In 2007 the Tax Department (DGII) collected RD$1.62 billion in vehicle registration taxes. Collections increased by 66% from 2006 and are 8% more than was estimated for 2007. Hoy reports that the registration fee is equivalent to 17% of the vehicle’s cost. In all, 199,067 cars were registered in 2007, up by 17,882 from 2006, …

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DR1 erroneously picked up an old news story published in Hoy. The brief covered statements supporting the governmental CDEEE by Andy Wolfe, Division Chief in the Western Hemisphere Department for the International Monetary Fund during his visit to the country last year, prior to the passing of the modifications to the Energy Law. Engineer Bernardo …

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Canada’s Barrick Gold Corporation and Goldcorp announced they would proceed with the US$2.7 billion gold mining project located in northeastern Cotui. The announcement comes at a time of record gold prices. The companies submitted a feasibility study and the project notice to the government in order to proceed with the Pueblo Viejo project. Construction is …

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Economist Arturo Martinez says that President Leonel Fernandez is mistaken in thinking that he can solve the country’s fuel problems with ethanol production. Martinez argues that land that is now being used to produce food will, in the future, be used to produce ethanol. He added that only 30 million tareas of land in the …

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Doctor Hector Maceo Quezada said that the reason doctors didn’t operate on an AIDS patient wasn’t because of the presence of the disease, but because the patient suffers from anemia. The doctor added that the Dario Contreras Hospital does not discriminate against patients because of HIV/AIDS. Maceo was referring to accusations made earlier this week …

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The DR1 daily news digest will not be published tomorrow, Wednesday, 27 February on the occasion of Dominican Independence Day, a national holiday. Major stores will be open, but many smaller shops will take a break. A compilation of the news for Wednesday will be included in Thursday’s edition. For 24/7 coverage and breaking news, …

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Yesterday President Leonel Fernandez met with John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and DEA Deputy Administrator Michelle Leonhart, who are in the DR on official visits. The meeting took place at 5:45 at the President’s office. They discussed the need to strengthen relationships between both countries and the importance fighting the …

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Argentina’s president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Evo Morales of Bolivia and Michelle Bachelet of Chile are among the regional heads of state who have confirmed their participation at the XX Summit of the Rio Group, which will be held in Santo Domingo next week. Felipe Calderon of Mexico, Bharat Jagdeo of Guyana, Daniel Ortega from …

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Spanish Transport Minister Manuel Lamela Fernandez and Madrid Metro director Idelfonso Matias have both given their thumbs up for President Leonel Fernandez to ride the Santo Domingo Metro on 27 February, as promised. Lamela, quoted in Listin Diario, said that the President could ride the train, along with his invited guests, without any risk. Lamela …

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The International Monetary Fund has voiced its support for the Dominican energy sector, saying that it had exceeded expectations set forth by the Stand-by Arrangement. The IMF’s comments, though positive, are contradicted by statements made by engineer Bernardo Castellanos, who mentioned that during the last four years the budget for the energy sector in the …

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