2009 – Page 327

Directors of the Plan Nacional Quisqueya Verde say that the DR’s forestation levels have increased from 27% in 1997 to 33% in 2008. This means the DR is on track to exceed its goal of 35% forestation by 2015. Technical director Elias Vargas said that new tree planting was proceeding at a faster rate than …

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The Tax Department (DGII) is reminding the public that the 15th and the 31st of January will be the last days to sign up for the Simplified Tax Process (PST), a new initiative that will ease the process of paying taxes for small and medium-sized businesses. The PST allows for businesses to declare taxes based …

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According to Listin Diario, RSM BEPAM, the company contracted to audit the business agreement between the Central Electoral Board (JCE) and the Modern Solutions Consortium (SOMO), has suggested that the JCE should privatize some of its services. RSM says there could be scope for privatizing some of the JCE’s services as a way of continuing …

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Education Minister Melanio Paredes says that parents need to do their bit if the “1,000 hour” education plan is to be a success. He added that the country could not develop if students only receive 400 hours of education each year. Paredes was critical of the fact that such a low number of students turned …

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Cyclecity (Ciclociudad) is trying to persuade Santo Domingo residents that the city would be more pleasant if more people used bicycles to get around. Huayna Jimenez and fellow supporters of the movement say that the city is perfectly doable by bicycle. According to Jimenez, people spend too much money using their cars, and often spend …

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Arturo Pichardo, president of the Dominican Engineers, Architects and Surveyors Association (CODIA) says that 85% of all construction jobs are now filled by Haitian laborers. Quoted in Hoy, Pichardo says that construction companies prefer to employ Haitian laborers, as it is considerably cheaper to Dominican labor. Pichardo claims that this influx of Haitian laborers has …

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The Duey water system is experiences difficulties after a 30-inch pipe was damaged on the 40th kilometer of the Duarte Highway. CAASD officials are advising residents in Pantoja, Los Alcarrizos, Los Girasoles, Arroyo Hondo III and surrounding areas to stock up on water while crews fix the damage. Hoy reports the system is in a …

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Dominican-American student Carolina Torres has received the invitation of a lifetime, according to Diario Libre. The daily is reporting that the Santiago-born resident of Queens, New York received an invitation to this month’s US presidential inauguration. Fifteen-year old Torres will spend five days in the nation’s capital and will be attending some special activities during …

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The story of Catherine Flete is quite inspiring. Flete lost her sight at the age of four and by the age of seven, after several operations, doctors said there was nothing else to be done. The young girl slumped into a deep depression to the point where she would not even lift her head. But …

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Juan Luis Guerra’s “La Travesia Tour” will reach Santo Domingo’s Olympic Stadium on Saturday, 14 February. Tickets are already on sale at Orange telecom offices and through Solo Tickets and Uepa ticket offices. General admission is RD$550, but there are ground tickets for sale for RD$1,500 and RD$2,000. Orange cell phone clients get a 10% …

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