2009 – Page 298

The government has reached an agreement with power generators to ensure improved reliability of the service. The press reported that the companies agreed to accept a US$250 million bond emission from the government to reduce arrears. The bonds will yield 10.6% and 8% if Congress passes a tax exemption. According to a news release appearing …

Read more…

Juan Hernandez, director of the Department of Taxes (DGII) reports that collections were RD$13.85 billion in January, which was RD$168 million more than budgeted. He said the DGII has met its goals for the month, attributing this to a major stemming of tax evasion. Nevertheless, he admitted that in general government tax collections are down …

Read more…

Jim Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, the user-driven online encyclopedia, was in Santo Domingo to speak at the Global Foundation, President Leonel Fernandez’s think tank. President Fernandez himself attended Wales’ conference, “Wikipedia, Wikia and the Culture of Free Access to Knowledge.” President Leonel Fernandez himself introduced Wales. Fernandez told Wales that he is his best …

Read more…

The case against the mayor of Bani, Nelson Camilo Landestoy, and six councilmen involved in the lease of 56,993 square meters of protected area within the Bani dunes has been closed, reports the Listin Diario. Judge Felix Maria Matos Acevedo, in charge of the first judicial procedures in the case, accepted a request from the …

Read more…

When money is tight, spending is cut and once again education and funds for local city governments are getting slashed, says Presidential Minister Cesar Pina Toribio. According to a report in Hoy, Pina Toribio explained that giving education and local government’s 4% and 10%, respectively, of the GDP, as is determined by law, is not …

Read more…

Rains have continued bringing mudslides and flooding. Tamboril, in the province of Santiago, has been among the worst affected areas. Reports indicate that the constant rains damaged 100 homes. Reportedly, the root of the problem in this area is a sand mine that resulted in an enormous hole that filled with water and caused a …

Read more…

Continuing efforts to reduce the amount of counterfeit pharmaceuticals on the market, the Ministry of Public Health burned medicines seized during operations in the province of Santo Domingo, the National District, Moca, Salcedo, San Pedro de Macoris, La Romana and Santiago. Five trucks carrying the merchandise arrived at the incinerators at Hato Nuevo. Recently, the …

Read more…

Later this month, anyone caught stealing energy or committing any type of energy fraud will be fined and could face jail time. The Superintendence of Energy has announced that beginning on 20 February, Law 186-07 on energy fraud will be applied. Energy Superintendent Francisco Mendez during a conference at the Hotel Santo Domingo explained that …

Read more…

The GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceutical company has announced that it will remove an ad campaign urging Canadian citizens to obtain Hepatitis A and B vaccinations before arriving in the DR. The company decided to end the campaign after the DR’s Tourism and Health officials, Francisco Javier Garcia and Bautista Rojas Gomez, criticized the campaign, calling it negative …

Read more…

Jose Octavio Bordon, speaking on behalf of the Organization of American States (OAS), says that Dominican institutions have been strengthened in recent years. Bordon made his comments upon receiving the OAS’s report on the 2008 presidential elections. He highlighted the participation of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) and the political parties in the elections. “I …

Read more…