2008 – Page 92

The tropical wave that affected the DR earlier this week caused major flooding in La Romana, San Pedro de Macoris and La Altagracia provinces. Several residential areas were flooded. Excursions for tourists staying in the Punta Cana area were suspended due to the intense rains on Tuesday and Wednesday. Flooding affected traffic along the La …

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Tomorrow, Wednesday 24 September is a holiday in the Dominican Republic. It commemorates The Day of our Lady of Mercedes, the patron of the Dominican Republic. The Virgin is honored for her role in protecting Spanish soldiers in a battle against Indians in La Vega.

While the White House has asked the US Congress for US$700 billion to ride out the present financial crisis, described as the biggest bailout package since the Great Depression, President Leonel Fernandez took advantage of his visit to New York to speak at the UN General Assembly to announce plans were advanced for the contracting …

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Central Bank Governor Hector Valdez Albizu said yesterday when interviewed on Channel 11’s Telematutino that Dominican expatriates and Dominicans with deposits in US banks have begun to transfer their money to Dominican banks. Years back, Dominicans had transferred their savings to the US banks, not trusting the local financial market. But now the reverse is …

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The Dominican community abroad sent back an estimated RD$59.7 billion to the DR during the first half of 2008, or 8% of the nation’s GDP. US$1.56 billion came as direct remittances and RD$1.76 billion in tourism expenditures. They report remittances were up US$81.9 million compared to 2007. These figures are according to economists Frank Valenzuela …

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The CAFTA-DR Secretariat for Environmental Matters (SEM) is channeling a request from the Humane Society International of the United States whereby the Dominican Republic government has failed to effectively enforce domestic laws intended to protect endangered sea turtles. The Society criticizes lack of fulfillment of Environment Law 64-00) and Decree 752-01 relative to the protection …

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President Leonel Fernandez has named 170 new people to public office. Decree 601-08 creates the National Council for the Climate Change and Mechanism for Clean Development, under former Environment Minister Omar Ramriez. Meanwhile Cesar Dargam has been named director of Foreign Trade and Trade Agreement Administration (DICOEX) at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Fernandez …

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Supreme Court president Jorge Subero Isa announced he has had to implement a series of reforms and wage reductions given the RD$40 million monthly deficit of the Judicial Branch. Subero says the pensions of 241 former employees had to be readjusted to deal with the crisis. Subero explained the measures would take effect on 1 …

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An interesting comment in today’s Diario Libre points out how easily a law loses its authority when those charged with upholding it don’t uphold the law. With the commentary there is the picture of a small motorbike with three passengers on board, none wearing helmets, about to drive through a tunnel, all of which is …

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The town of Savona, Italy and the DR have signed a cooperation agreement for sustainable development on Isla Saona, part of the National Park of the East. Luis Simo, Deputy Minister for International Affairs at the Ministry of Tourism and Savona mayor Federico Berruti signed. Also, Italian Ambassador Enrico Guiciardi announced the donation of a …

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