2008 – Page 32

Education Minister Melanio Paredes has announced the ambitious goal of reducing illiteracy in the DR to 0% by 2015. Paredes said that the only thing that frees people is the ability to overcome ignorance. Hoy reports that the DR’s illiteracy rate currently stands at 11%. Paredes did not provide concrete details about how this goal …

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Hacienda Minister Vicente Bengoa has reaffirmed the government’s stance that new taxes or increases in taxes would be counterproductive during the present global economic slowdown. Bengoa was reacting to rumors that the government has been discussing a “fiscal adjustment” with the IMF. Bengoa has also spoken of a significant reduction in sub-sectorial subsidies. The minister …

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Dominican Repubic Association of Industries (AIRD) president Manuel Diez Cabral has asked the IMF to hold its applause for the DR’s fiscal policies, saying that they have created a “forced stability” that has damaged the productive sector, punished exports and increased interest rates. Diez Cabral also said that the private productive sector has found it …

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The Executive Branch has sent a bill to the Senate proposing a RD$10.8 billion increased financing for the 2008 budget. This increased financing will be directed towards the State-run Electricity Companies (CDEEE) to “cover the budget deficit in the national electric sector.” Blackouts in the DR are attributed to government financial constraints. The Executive Branch …

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Though the DR economy has yet to feel the full impact of the global financial crisis, the tourism sector is slowly feeling the effects of the lack of free flowing cash. Listin Diario reports that while tourism was up 6% during the first half of the year, since July both foreign and non-resident Dominican arrivals …

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Employees at the Central Electoral Board (JCE) are angry that only members of the JCE’s presidential and administrative chambers have received a substantial salary increase, of between RD$8,000 and RD$23,000. Most other employees received only salary adjustments of around RD$100 in some cases. Employees are also complaining that one of JCE president Julio Cesar Castanos …

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Avenida Caracas, near Avenue Duarte has been dubbed “Reader’s Walkway,” during a ceremony led by National District Mayor Roberto Salcedo. The Readers Walkway will be the site of the first New and Used Book Fair comprising 70 book vendors and lasting until 30 November. Book lovers can expect to find some bargains at this fair. …

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First Lady Margarita Cedeno de Fernandez will receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Brasilia today for her work on social issues. The University announced that it wanted to make the most of the First Lady’s visit to present her with the award. She is in Rio de Janeiro for a world conference on …

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Colmadones and gas stations, the neighborhood grocery stores turned into outdoor pubs and beer parlors, are not on the list of businesses allowed to sell alcoholic beverage for extended hours during the Christmas holidays. Interior & Police Minister Franklin Almeyda Rancier said that Police and Metropolitan Transport Authorities (AMET) and ministry inspectors will be enforcing …

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The Federation of European Chambers of Commerce in the Dominican Republic, the European Commission Delegation and the Center for Exports & Investments in the DR (CEI-RD) are holding a workshop to explain the full scope of the European Partnership Agreement passed by Congress on October 27. The agreement creates a reciprocal trading block between Cariforum …

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