2009 – Page 282

Private sector borrowing in February was down, despite a reduction in interest rates ordered by Central Bank authorities. However, loans to public sector entities are increasing at an unusually high rate. Hoy newspaper says that according to official figures, bank loans to the private sector decreased by more than RD$2 billion during the first 16 …

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Writing in today’s Diario Libre, economist Alejandro Fernandez comments on the contradictions between what the government requires of the private sector and the leeway it allows itself. As example of how while the private sector has had to tighten its belt in contrast with the public sector, he points out that as of October 2008, …

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Several leading business organizations are urging the Puerto Plata municipality to give priority to supporting the development of a modern port for the city. The Puerto Plata Tourism & Cultural Cluster says that the city of Puerto Plata has repeatedly asked for the land to be used to build a Tourist and Cargo Port, which …

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A report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reveals that 62,000 AIDS cases were registered in the Dominican Republic at the end of 2007. Moreover, their “State of the World’s Children 2009” report indicates that more men are having protected sex. The study found that 44% of Dominican women protect themselves during sex with …

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The report on Human Rights 2008 for the Dominican Republic published by the United States Department of State indicates that serious problems persist with the human rights situation in the country because illegal killings, beatings of suspects, limited access to justice, corruption and violence against women and minors continues. The broad report tells of an …

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The First Court of Instruction in Santiago has ordered preventative custody for 11 people accused of fraud worth more than US$100 million against the United States Treasury Department. Three of the accused were sent to jail while the rest are under house arrest and banned from traveling. Among those subject to coercive measures were Elvin …

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The National Police reports that a suspected assailant or accomplice in the raid on the Parmalat milk processing facility turned himself in at police headquarters on Wednesday. So far, the Parmalat case has led to four arrests: a former military officer, a former sergeant and two civilians. The new detainee is Isidro Valdez Pascual, who …

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Two robberies took place yesterday at the Plaza de Salud and at the Dominican Savings & Loan Association on Hermanas Mirabal Avenue (Villa Mella). In the latter the guard, Domingo Mateo Rodriguez, was killed. Dashira Martinez, public relations manager at the Plaza de Salud hospital complex said that yesterday morning, unknown persons removed “more than …

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The General Prosecutor’s office is denying reports that three district prosecutors from Puerto Plata (Grimilda Disla, Wilfredo Martinez and Ramon Nunez Liriano) have been arrested. Assistant prosecutor general Ramon Aristides Madera Arias said that the three were interviewed so they can provide details on several Puerto Plata court cases, as reported in Listin Diario. He …

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On Sunday, 1 March the National Carnival Parade will take place along Santo Domingo’s Malecon seafront boulevard. The top carnival troupes from all round the country will march in the four-hour long parade, which begins at 3pm and usually lasts until shortly after sunset. Ramon Lachapelle, in charge of the carnival parade organization for the …

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