2008 – Page 66

Extended blackouts are once again being reported throughout the country. Though the reasons aren’t clear, a lack of fuel, the government’s inability to pay debts and technical difficulties are being blamed for the blackouts. However, Hoy reports these are just stock phrases wheeled out in order to appease frustrated citizens. The energy deficit totaled 1,000 …

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Car sales have fallen for a sixth straight month, forcing vehicle importers and dealers association ACOFAVE to ask banks to lower interest rates in order to stimulate sales. Acofave director Enrique Fernandez says interest rates have doubled since May 2008, registering about 30% per year. Fernandez says that car sales will total about 22,180 by …

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Protests are becoming routine in several towns and cities in the Cibao region. Two people including a police officer were injured during street protests. Diario Libre reports that 16 people have been detained and that police officers shot 17-year old Israel Polanco Santos while he was playing basketball during the protests in San Francisco de …

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Ophthalmologist Juan Francisco Batlle is advising the public not to resort to home remedies if they are infected with conjunctivitis (a.k.a. “pink eye”). Batlle says that these remedies are useless and could be dangerous, increasing the spread of other eye ailments. Some of the most common home remedies include applying honey, berry juice, and soaping …

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Supporters of Humberto Pepin Taveras are asking President Leonel Fernandez to help them in their campaign to prevent Pepin being put to death in the US after he was found guilty of two murders in 1992. After the murders Pepin dismembered the two men, an associate and a rival, saying he used his professional skills …

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Critics have voiced concerns about the quiet nature of the Tigres del Licey in the early part of this baseball season, but Licey took care of that quickly last night. The Tigres thumped their rivals, Aguilas Cibaenas, in an embarrassing fashion, 21-6. Listin Diario is already calling this a historic game, “the 21 October Massacre.” …

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Central Bank president Hector Valdez Albizu says that the DR has managed the international financial crisis well so far, adding that he is optimistic about the nation’s economic future. Although the crisis has affected many countries, the DR has managed to maintain a level of macroeconomic stability. According to Valdez, the inflation rate for the …

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Chamber of Deputies president Julio Cesar Valentin says that effective immediately the Chamber will withhold payments to any Deputy who hasn’t submitted an asset declaration, as required by Law 82-79. Valentin says that the names of those Deputies would be posted on the CD’s website. Valentin says he was surprised at the fact that only …

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Yesterday the Environment Ministry closed down three sand and gravel extraction companies and posted military personnel on their premises. Agregados Consolidados, Agregados AG and Mon-Braca failed to comply with Law 16-07, which states that companies cannot work within 150 meters of the rivers or extract sand and gravel. The Environmental Ministry said there would be …

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The Navy has pressed charges against six former officers for their involvement in the 4 August drug-related massacre in Bani. Captain Jesus Sanchez Pina, Captain Miguel Pena Figuereo and Major Jose Arias Fernandez are now in preventive custody. To date, the Navy has identified and expelled ten officials from its ranks in connection with the …

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