2009 – Page 80

One month after finding US$4.6 million in an armored SUV in the parking lot of a luxury high-rise in Santo Domingo, the authorities have still not located Jose Figueroa Agosto, the Puerto Rican fugitive and alleged owner of the millions among other expensive properties. The National Drug Control Department (DNCD) and local prosecutors continue to …

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An anti-drug officer, a captain responsible for the safekeeping of highly confidential files on cases involving drug traffickers, has been dishonorably discharged as a “traitor to the country” after it was uncovered that he supplied a much sought-after drug trafficking financial chief with his complete case file. Captain Damian Lopez Devers belonged to the intelligence …

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Judge Felipe Molina Abreu of the Second Chamber of the Penal Chamber of the Court of First Instance in the National District has annulled the transfer to other jails of three of the suspects in the Paya case, involving the murder of 6 foreign nationals in Paya, Bani, Peravia province in August 2008. The transfers …

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During the January-August period, the DR saw 67,000 fewer tourists than the year before, a 2.2% decrease. The main reason for the low numbers was a 1.1% decline in visitors during August. Yet, despite these shortcomings, predictions six months ago were far worse. According to Diario Libre, tourist arrivals from the United States, Canada, Russia, …

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The cost of fuel has gone down by between RD$5.20 and RD$1.15 according to the latest price bulletin from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Both types of gasoline and diesel fuel went down in price as well as LPG for household and vehicular use. LPG went down by RD$1.15 and is now RD$66.86 a …

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It what will be remembered in the Dominican Republic as the season that was not, the official Hurricane Season will end in less than 60 days. With much less activity than last year, the peak month of the season entered its final days with only two storms reaching hurricane strength (Bill and Fred), and none …

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Argentina’s Mercedes Sosa, a multi-winner of Latin Grammys, passed away on Sunday after being hospitalized for two weeks with pulmonary and heart problems. She was known as the “Voice of Latin America”, challenging dictatorships and their attempts to silence her protests, and she sang until her last days. Sosa sang for nearly fifty years and …

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President Leonel Fernandez handed out the keys to two housing projects in San Jose de Ocoa and Sabana Larga, built at a cost of more than RD$111 million. The 160 units were given to victims of tropical storms Noel and Olga in 2007. National Housing Institute (INVI) director Alba Fernandez made the opening speech. She …

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The Presidency’s Social Policies Coordination Cabinet will receive US$70 million from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) over a period of 18 months. The Social Cabinet programs are managed from Vice President Rafael Alburquerque’s office. Hacienda Minister Vicente Bengoa announced the signing of the 25-year loan agreement with the IDB. The program provides health, education and …

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Education Minister Melanio Paredes discarded his department could overrule Resolution 1-2009-2010 that establishes that tuition need to be paid in advance. He said that his department could not rule the schools’ economic affairs. However, he said the Ministry would call a meeting to discuss what measures could be taken to reduce the impact of the …

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