2008 – Page 71

The DR and 12 other Caribbean island states signed the European Partnership Agreement with the European Union in Bridgetown, Barbados yesterday. Foreign Relations Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso and Industry & Commerce Minister Jose Ramon Fadul had traveled to Barbados for the signing. Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) Director General Henry Gill, who handled the trade …

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Hacienda Minster Vicente Bengoa says the government will disburse RD$300 million to the Ministry of Agriculture this month so that farmers can pay their debts. Bengoa said that RD$120 million would be paid to dairy producers, RD$100 million to onion farmers and RD$80 million to bean farmers. The Minister also announced that the government is …

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Education Minister Melanio Paredes has appointed educator Muling Sang Ben to head the Department of Student Welfare. Sang Ben, a psychologist, is a prominent academic who had worked with Paredes as deputy director at the National Institute of Vocational Training (Infotep). The department is responsible for the school breakfast program, among others. Paredes said the …

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Kirsis Jaquez, president of the Dominican Association of Pension Plan Companies (ADAFP) said that as of 30 September the Dominican pension plan fund totaled RD$62.3 billion. As reported by Jaquez, more than 1.7 million people are affiliated to the plan, of whom 81% are over 45 and 19% are under 45.

The heads of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies and Dominican Medical Association (CMD) representatives have formed a commission to discuss possible solutions to end the dispute between the CMD and the government. The commission will discuss a pay raise for doctors as well as an increase of RD$30,000 to their pension plan and an …

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Nelson Rodriguez Moreno, sub-director of Collective Health at the Ministry of Public Health, says that 45,000 cases of conjunctivitis were registered in the DR this year, most appearing during the last two months. Rodriguez described this as a national epidemic and said that patients often choose to self-medicate instead of going to see a doctor. …

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General Prosecutor Radhames Jimenez Pena has ordered that progress should be made towards reaching a conclusion of the case of the murder of the late Angel Christopher Martinez, who at the time of his death was a highly respected official at the Institute of Civil Aviation. In a meeting held with Eric Christopher, son of …

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Hoy newspaper focuses on General Prosecutor Radhames Jimenez Pena today. The El Personaje column points out that it is understandable that President Leonel Fernandez wants to help the general prosecutor, his personal friend, his former work colleague at his law firm, and his loyal collaborator. The efforts to mediate with those who oppose him are …

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Presidential drug advisor, lawyer Marino Vinicio Castillo says that the investigation into the drug-related massacre of seven men in Paya, Peravia needs to continue to the end. He said that despite government efforts to reconcile the differences between Senator Wilton Guerrero (PLD Peravia) and other government officials in the province, the case should not be …

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Senator Wilton Guerrero said that he would not reconcile with former Peravia police commander General Hilario Gonzalez nor with former Bani prosecutor Victor Cordero following statements he had made accusing the two of complicity with drug dealers in his province, in the aftermath of the seven-person massacre in Paya, Bani. “Moral principles cannot be compromised,” …

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