2009 – Page 322

Major deficiencies in students’ grammar skills, spelling mistakes, low reading comprehension and other problems are raising concerns among university professors around the country. Teachers are also concerned that lack of concrete ability to develop ideas as well as an inability to reference historical events greatly affects the nation’s high school students. “Serbesa” (cerveza), “ospital” (hospital), …

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Between November and December 2008 the trade deficit between the DR and US increased to US$2.5 billion, up from a US$1.6 billion deficit for the same period in 2007. This reflects an absolute change of US$910 million, or 57.49%. According to Hoy economist Luis H. Vargas, the drastic change in the trade deficit is due …

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A total of 56 containers carrying potatoes from Holland have been rejected by the Dominican authorities, on the grounds that they did not meet international sanitation laws. The decision was announced by Customs (DGA) and Agricultural authorities. A committee has been created to find out who had allowed the potatoes to unloaded in the DR, …

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The dust never seems to settle on the Paya drug massacre and connections with other cases continue to emerge. Hoy is reporting that police have arrested the suspected murderer of Spanish national Adolfo Justo Cervantes Arellano, a.k.a. Waiikiki. The paper writes that one of the men involved is Pedro Alejandro Castillo Paniagua (Rafy). Police spokesman …

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Assistant state prosecutor Alejandro Moscoso Segarra of the National District reports that the case against Belkis Elizabeth Ubri Medrano, wife of Quirino Ernesto Paulino Castillo who is standing trial in New York for drug trafficking has been postponed. Earlier news reports had indicated that following an agreement between the US and DR judicial authorities, 18 …

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National Drug Control Department agents have confiscated a small airplane that was abandoned around noon yesterday in a cane field near Batey San German in the municipality of Higuey, in the east of the country. DNCD spokesman Roberto Lebron says the single-engine two-seater airplane had no markings or registration number. As reported in El Caribe, …

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Instead of boredom at the hands of the disastrous post-season play by the Aguilas, Winter League fans should be excited about the race thats heating up for the final spots in the post-season championships. Yesterday, Licey beat up on the Aguilas and with the victory guaranteed that at the very least they would be in …

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Several social organizations say they will not be taking part in the summit convened by President Leonel Fernandez unless the President delays the legislative proposals leading up to a constitutional reform, sets up a reformulation of this year’s budget and begins to obey the laws relating to sectors, such as those on education and the …

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“Wasted, manipulated, unfulfilled, dialoguing is not exactly a value on the rise. Moreso, it is lacking, but few believe in it. To hold talks? Why? Because the problems are starting to scare us all, including those who thought they were in control. What for? That is the million dollar question,” writes Ines Aizpun in Diario …

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It now costs more to travel to Samana. The new tolls are RD$347 for each way of the Santo Domingo-Rincon de Molinillos trip. Last year, the tolls were RD$325. Armin Garcia Acuna says that the increase is part of the concession construction contract that stimulates annual increases in the toll. The highway cuts the driving …

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