2008 – Page 89

Dominican biologist Daniel Perez-Gelabert of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. has compiled “Zootax, Arthropods of Hispaniola, a checklist and bibliography”, the first comprehensive listing of insects of the DR and Haiti. The inventory is published as a monograph in an international science journal and covers all known terrestrial and aquatic species of crustaceans, arachnids, …

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Police Chief Major General Rafael Guillermo Guzman Fermin has rejected claims that the report submitted by the Armed Forces, Police, and General Prosecutor’s Office commission on the killing of seven suspected drug dealers in Bani is incomplete. Senator Wilton Guerrero and Presidential Drug Advisor Marino Vinicio Castillo said the report fails to name the masterminds …

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The General Prosecutors Office has identified the bodies of the four men who died on board a small plane that crashed in southwestern Pedernales on 21 September, as reported in Diario Libre. Three of the bodies were severely burned. These are Colombians Rodolfo Sanchez Quintero, 52 years old, who was piloting the nine-passenger capacity Cessna …

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Speaking at a press conference, Senator Wilton Guerrero said that General Prosecutor Radhames Jimenez Pena was welcome to investigate the origins of his wealth. He said that Jimenez should ask his subordinates at the Department for the Prevention of Corruption (Depreco) to investigate his assets, saying that he has nothing to hide. Jimenez had questioned …

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According to President Leonel Fernandez, the recent financial crisis in the US has yet to negatively affect remittances to the DR. Fernandez says that in fact, remittances have increased. On average, 10% of the DR’s GDP is comprised of remittances. Speaking at a press conference at New York City’s Fordham University, Fernandez expressed the wish …

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Foreign Relations Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso made the most of his trip to attend the United Nation’s 63rd General Assembly to formalize diplomatic relations with Jordan, the Seychelles and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Enriquillo del Rosario of the DR’s UN delegation represented the country at the official ceremonies to recognize the newly established ties.

The Ministry of Education has announced a major drive to improve 342 public schools and 3,289 classrooms that do not meet minimum standards for the 2008-2009 school year, as reported in Hoy. Education Minister Melanio Paredes said RD$731 million would be spent, including RD$382 million on repairs that are due to be completed no later …

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Carlos Romero from the US Department of Labor says the DR is among the nations in the region with the best workers’ rights protection record. Romero made his comments during a two-day conference on workers’ rights held at the Hotel Santo Domingo. The conference informed workers about their rights and educated Ministry of Labor inspectors …

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Classes have been cancelled at public schools in the provinces of La Romana, El Seibo, La Altagracia and San Pedro de Macoris due to precarious weather conditions and flooding. According to the Emergency Operations Center (COE), the new highway that connects Santo Domingo to Samana is flooded, limiting transit. Meteorologists say that although weather conditions …

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UN country representative of the Food and Agricultural Program (FAO) Hector Mata says that a recent FAO report indicates that 29% of Dominicans are undernourished. He added that paradoxically, the DR produces 80% of the foods it consumes. Mata said that increasing food prices have placed many foods out of the reach of the poor. …

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