2009 – Page 38

President Leonel Fernandez has held a meeting with Colombian business leaders interested in doing business in the DR. It was agreed that a Dominican government mission would travel to Colombia in January to study the feasibility of several projects. Eddy Martinez, of the Center for Exports and Investment (CEI-RD) said that the Colombians are interested …

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State-owned Electricity Companies (CDEEE) vice president Celso Marranzini says that the DR’s energy problems are “disappearing” and that the lights would be on during the holiday season. Quoted in Hoy, Marranzini said, “The problems are already disappearing, because short-term measures are being taken which are improving the system.” However, Marranzini’s promises are just that to …

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The Superintendence of Electricity has announced it has pressed electricity fraud charges against 40 individuals and companies, out of a list of 156 individuals and companies that was released to the press yesterday, as reported in Diario Libre. Superintendent Francisco Mendez says that fraud accounts for US$2.5 billion in losses. The Superintendence also acknowledged that …

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Public Works Minister Victor Diaz Rua has confirmed that the fenced soccer field built on the grounds of the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Stadium is indeed private. But he said that while it would be used by the employees of Brazilian company Construtora Norberto Odebrecht, once the overpass construction entrusted to the company is completed, …

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Although drivers were given at least four months to get their marbete stickers, as of 5pm Tuesday afternoon, 300,000 drivers, about 30% of the car-owning population, still hadn’t fulfilled the essential requirement for driving a vehicle in the DR. In previous years, extensions were given, but not this year. Long lines could be seen at …

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Economy, Planning and Development Minister Temistocles Montas has admitted that there are alarmingly high levels of corruption in the DR government. Montas’ admission followed the announcement that the DR is among the most corrupt countries in the world, ranked 99th on a list of 180 countries. Montas says the current administration has passed laws to …

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The writing was on the wall and Rafael Calderon, the PRD deputy for Azua and former administrative secretary during the Hipolito Mejia administration, had been preparing for the outcome. The PRD has agreed to expel Calderon from the party. It is now likely that Calderon will move to the ranks of the PLD. Veteran PRD …

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With no real leads on the whereabouts of fugitive drug trafficker Jose Figueroa Agosto or his lover/accomplice Sobeida Feliz, the police are turning their attention to Feliz’s ex-husband Eddy Antonio Brito Martinez as a key witness. Although police have said they have not found any direct connection between Brito and the case, they have no …

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The National Drug Control Department and Migration officers have arrested a Dutch pedophile. Named by the police as “Anne Krottje”, he is a fugitive from Dutch justice and will now be deported to Amsterdam. He is due to serve jail sentences on charges of pedophilia and drug trafficking. He was arrested in a parking lot …

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According to Omnicom Media Group’s first poll on sexual activity in the DR, 69% of those polled said they received no sex education from their parents but 45% did not receive sex education from either their parents or their school. The poll revealed that 31% of women and 51% of men had sexual relations before …

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