2009 – Page 18

According to economist Bernardo Vega, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is concerned about the DR’s high levels of debt, which he says are excessive. Vega said the problem isn’t just the level of debt as a percentage of the GDP, but also the type of debt that the DR is taking on. He said the …

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The Ministry of Environment has officially revoked the building permits for the cement plant at the Los Haitises National Park. This move officially brings to an end a process, which saw many Dominicans, both young and old, join in a fight against what could have been an ecologically disastrous construction. The Ministry heeded the advice …

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The International Civil Aviation Organization has given the DR’s Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC) a special license that will allow IDAC to train local and international technicians. The Trainair license system’s goals are to “improve safety and efficiency of air transport through the establishment and maintenance of high standards of training and competency for aviation personnel …

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Vice rector of the PUCMM University Radhames Mejia says that the doctoral degrees being offered in the DR are only adding to the number of people with doctorates in all disciplines. He said that these doctors rarely do any research and are not contributing to increase the knowledge base at the universities. He added that …

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The car market in the DR has taken a hit, and the used car market is feeling it hardest. El Caribe is reporting that used car sales have dropped by 60% in 2009. The hope is that a fair, scheduled for 17 December to 21 December, will boost end of the year sales. The best …

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The Presidential Council on HIV/AIDS (COPRESIDA) is launching a training program for 150 former sex workers and 52 transsexuals in technical and vocational skills as part of a new social development program. The program is being conducted in partnership with the Technical Training Institute (Infotep). Trainees will attend courses in the areas of beauty, bakery, …

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Diario Libre is reporting that 72% of inmates in the nation’s jails say they have a sex life behind bars. Prisoners in La Victoria jail have the highest percentage, with 82% of inmates saying they are sexually active. About 67% of inmates in Nagua jail say they have sex, while 65% of those in Salcedo …

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Dominican poet Mateo Morrison will travel to Spain to represent the DR at the VI edition of the Granada Poetry Festival 2010. The Festival takes place from 14 to 21 January and 116 poets from 77 countries are taking part in this event. Morrison will take the opportunity to discuss the development of Dominican poetry, …

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Dominican music legend Luis Dias passed away at the Plaza de la Salud in Santo Domingo this Tuesday morning. Dias suffered a heart attack on Sunday. He was undergoing detoxification treatment when he began feeling chest pains and experienced convulsions. According to a report in Hoy, Dias was also suffering from lung and liver problems. …

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Capital dwellers were greeted yesterday with heavy rains throughout the day, and meteorologists expect the rains to continue into today. The heavy rains caused flooding throughout Santo Domingo and made the rush hour commute more of a headache than usual. Meteorologists say that low-pressure fronts in the North Atlantic have been causing rains during the …

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