2008 – Page 330

Councilors in Bani have revoked the lease contract for 56,987 square meters of land after an investigation revealed that it was located within a protected area and scientific reserve known as the Dunes. The municipality had previously authorized the Ciramar International company to use the area. Listin Diario investigative reports exposed the case, and an …

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The Dominican Republic is the country with the lowest labor flexibility in the region. This ranks the DR among the worst in the world, according to the 2008 “Doing Business” report, released by the World Bank. The report places the DR in 32nd place on a list of 100 countries on the employment rigidity scale. …

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Interest rates on Dominican deposits are at around 7-8%, but with the Central Bank announcing a year-end inflation rate of 8.8%, Dominicans are barely keeping the value of their deposits, as reported in Diario Libre. Central Bank reports indicate that the average rate paid for 30-day certificates was 6.26%, for 60-day certificates 6.62%, and 6.98% …

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According to National Statistics Office director, Pablo Tactuk, there are 9.7 million registered Dominicans and this number should reach 10 million by 2010. Tactuk added that this figure did not include the number of Haitians in the country. Projections indicate that there could be 11.2 million Dominicans by 2020. He explained that the slow growth …

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PRSC presidential candidate Amable Aristy Castro has challenged President Leonel Fernandez and PRD presidential candidate Miguel Vargas Maldonado to a debate where all three would discuss the 10 main issues affecting the country. Aristy explained that among the topics on his agenda are poverty, cost of living, unemployment, safety, crime, the energy crisis, education and …

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Dominican residents in Spain will now be able to renew as well as driving with their Dominican driver’s licenses there, thanks to a new agreement signed between the DR and Spain, as reported in Listin Diario. So far 14,000 Dominicans have benefited from this agreement. In order to make this possible, the Dominican Public Works …

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The motorbike taxi, or ‘motoconcho’ is the leading transportation method in the country, according to Marino del Rosario Caraballo, director of the National Motoconcho Office (Onam). The three-month old office is affiliated to the Land Transport Office (OTTT). According to del Rosario, 632,000 people are registered as motoconcho taxi operators. He estimates that another 400,000 …

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If you’re visiting the Dominican mountain town of Constanza this winter, be sure to bring a warm coat. According to reports, temperatures are just a few degrees above freezing in the morning. This means, if you would like to make a contribution to the town, bring down your out-of-fashion coats. The people of Constanza will …

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Ten people are still missing after the boat they used in an attempt to make an illegal crossing to Puerto Rico capsized on Monday, reportedly near the beaches of Uvero Alto and Macao on the east coast. The Dominican Navy and US Coast Guard crews took part in the rescue operation. So far five people …

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A replica of Leonardo Da Vinci’s La Gioconda (Mona Lisa) painting, which was part of a collection of replicas of Louvre masterpieces on display in an open space gallery around the Gran Cibao Theater in Santiago, is missing. The exhibition is sponsored by the French Embassy and features a collection of high-quality photographic reproductions of …

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