2009 – Page 277

Economy, Planning and Development Minister Temistocles Montas says that there will be a 3% decrease (currently 19% of GDP) in public spending in the DR in 2009 due to a reduction in access to credit and a decrease in tax collections. Montas was speaking during a conference organized by the General Secretariat of the Ibero-American …

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According to Hoy, there is a chance that the DR could access an extra US$360 million in loans from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Currently the DR has access to as much as US$640 million in loans. Negotiations between both sides have commenced with discussions centering round liquidity, emergency relief funds and the effects of …

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The Dominican Passport Department (DGP) says that by March 2010 all Dominicans who plan to travel abroad will need a new biometric passport. DGP director Flavia Garcia said the DR is abiding by regulations set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Listin Diario writes that the passport will cost RD$2,238 for three-hour VIP express …

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According to Hoy, an estimated 30% of students entering the UASD state university this semester have failed their admission tests. A total of 5,135 out of 17,433 students who took the tests will be required to take courses in the university “catch up” program. According UASD admissions director Gloria Madera, 70% of students in the …

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The most important farm and agribusiness event of the year, Agroalimentaria 09 opens today, Wednesday 4 March at Santo Domingo’s Dominican Fiesta Convention Center. The event continues through Saturday, 7 March and provides a marketplace for local producers to connect with buyers from around the world. A total of 70 buyers have confirmed their attendance, …

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The Viva telecommunications company has announced plans to invest US$250 million in service development during the 2009 calendar year. During a press conference at the Hotel Embajador, Viva CEO Jean Carlos Sandy said that Viva would continue to develop its GSM and CDMA networks while introducing EVDO high-speed technology to better serve the company’s more …

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According to a 2008 human rights report released by the United States State Department, an estimated 1 million unregistered and stateless Haitian nationals are living in the DR. The report says that although these people technically “exist” they are not registered in any books. The report indicates that these people of Haitian descent who live …

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The Dominican Embassy celebrated its 10 years of formal diplomatic relations with India last week. “The government of President Leonel Fernandez opened the embassy in New Delhi three years ago to strengthen links with that country, and expand the horizons of our ties with Asia,” said Ambassador Hans Dannenberg Castellanos at the event. Dannenberg is …

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Transport unions have embarked on a 24-hour bus strike affecting eastern provinces, beginning today. Drivers are striking as a way of exerting pressure on the government to fix the roads and highways in the eastern provinces, which they say are in a constant state of deterioration. An estimated 15 transport unions from La Romana, El …

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Listin Diario reports that six more arrests have been made in the 16 February Parmalat robbery case. Police spokesman Nelson Rosario says that one person is still on the run and that police apprehended the six latest suspects based on their nicknames alone. No names have so far been released. Santo Domingo Attorney General Perfecto …

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