2008 – Page 296

President of the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) Jose Rafael Vargas says that television density in the DR has now reached 70%, which is “something you cannot say about that many countries.” This means that 70% of households have a television. Vargas added that the DR is one the developing countries with the most advanced telecommunications …

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New York based bachata band Aventura continue to go from strength to strength, this time snagging four awards at the 20th Annual ‘Premios Lo Nuestro’ celebration in Miami. The Dominican-American group, led by Anthony R. Santos, was nominated in five categories. Juan Luis Guerra continued his amazingly successful year by picking up two awards, adding …

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Yesterday, President Leonel Fernandez, together with thousands of Dominican students, celebrated Flag Day during a special celebration at Santo Domingo’s Independencia Park. The celebrations included a military parade, the singing of the Dominican National Anthem and a speech by Juan Daniel Balcacer, director of the Permanent Commission on Dominican Heritage. The first Dominican flag designed …

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According to US Ambassador in the DR Robert Fannin, the DR’s main economic sectors lack real competition. Fannin, speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon, believes that this lack of competition is a factor in the increase in the price of gasoline and other raw materials. The new ambassador attributed the stability of …

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The American Chamber of Commerce in the DR has come out against the idea of new fiscal reform, on the grounds that it would only bring higher taxes and an increase in prices, which would lead to reduced competitiveness. AmCham president Christopher Paniagua also questioned the government’s continued subsidies on propane gas (LGP) and the …

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The Dominican Medical Association (CMD) has announced that their proposed 24-hour strike will go on as scheduled. The CMD is holding the strike to put pressure on the government to increase doctors’ monthly salaries to RD$59,000, as well as other demands, including the elimination of the recovery quotas charged to hospital patients. Economy, Planning and …

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Hoy is reporting that the Banco Agricola and the Dominican Banana Producers Association (Adobanano) have agreed on a RD$400 million loan with a 6% interest rate for Association members. Banco Agricola administrator Paino Abreu and Adobanano President Eddy Cabrera discussed the commitment to make sure the loan process is successful. Adobanano promised that they would …

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The National District municipality (ADN) is claiming that if they pay the RD$509 million in debt accrued by the FENATRANO bus union, they will have to file for bankruptcy. The Banco de Reservas has given the ADN a 45-day period to make the payment. ADN secretary general Domingo Contreras and the Judicial Consultant explained that …

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According to the World Food Program, 85,970 children in the DR are suffering from chronic malnutrition, mainly in the country’s major cities. According to the report, “Food and Hunger Atlas,” released by the UN organization, 48.7% of all children with malnutrition live in 15 cities. Boca Chica has the highest rate with 4,165 malnourished children. …

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The director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Mirta Roses has announced a new malaria control and eradication program for the DR and Haiti. Roses said that the program would be implemented with the help of the Bi-national Commission, which is responsible for implementing health policies in both countries. Roses, quoted in Hoy, explained …

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