2008 – Page 38

Issuing his first comments in response to the massacre of seven suspected drug traffickers in Paya, Bani in August, and other cases involving Navy officers and their affiliation to international drug rings, President Leonel Fernandez described the scandal as shameful, as reported in Hoy. Critics had found it odd that the President has failed to …

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Drivers only have nine days left to get their “marbete” required for driving a vehicle in the DR. The Department of Taxes (DGII) has made it easy to get the stickers (average time of 5 minutes), with several banks and government offices, and their website offering a fast track service. Those not renewing on time …

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The Senate has passed a bill that modifies the Dominican Social Security System so that up to 5% of pension funds can be used in technical and higher education programs. Hoy explains that the bill will stipulate that the National Social Security Council will make sure the Pension Fund Administrators (AFP) place 5% of their …

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Congress has passed the “14th salary” bill, which stipulates that government employees who make up to RD$30,000 per month will be paid an extra paycheck prior to the start of the school year. This payment is intended for the purchase of school supplies for their children. Public employees who only earn a minimum salary will …

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Yesterday saw the start of a 72-hour strike by public hospital UNASED union nurses. The Ministry of Public Health has not commented on the strike. Public Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez only said that he would present their request for wage increase to President Leonel Fernandez and Hacienda Minister Vicente Bengoa. He said that there …

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A Dominican government official mission is on a seven-day visit to the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea for the first time since diplomatic relations were established in September 2007. The agenda of Special Minister for Asia Miguel Mejia and Dominican ambassador to India, Cambodia and Vietnam Hans Dannenberg Castellanos includes a meeting with the minister …

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A study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) reveals that Dominicans are the least satisfied with their lives compared to other Latin American citizens. Only Haitians as less satisfied, according to analysis carried out for the 2008 Development in the Americas – Beyond Facts: Understanding Quality of Life report. The study revealed that Costa Ricans …

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PRD politician and former Samana senator Milton Ray Guevara has denounced the increasingly prevalent illegal practice of denying locals entry to beaches in some of the DR’s tourism areas. According to Guevara, tourism companies are restricting access to public areas in Samana on the grounds that they have to guarantee the safety and cleanliness of …

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Losses in revenue due to stolen or non-invoiced energy between January and August totaled RD$12.7 billion (US$371 million), which is three times the government subsidy for the Blackout Reduction Program (PRA). A study by the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development also revealed that 47 out of every 100 homes do not have an energy …

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The Cap Cana real estate development is experiencing difficult times. Recently Cap Cana announced they would lay off 1,500 workers and recent news released by the group is more troublesome. Diario Libre is reporting that talks with lenders of a US$100 million bridge loan arranged by Morgan Stanley and the Deutsche Bank have broken down. …

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