2008 – Page 237

Economist Bernardo Vega speculates that there has been a fiscal deficit in the first months of the year due to an increase in government subsidies, public employee payroll and social spending in the run-up to the 16 May election, as reported in Hoy. Vega was addressing a workshop on “Prospects for the Dominican Economy 2008” …

Read more…

For the fifth time this year public hospital doctors will go on strike seeking a pay raise and other benefits. Government officials have refused to go back to the negotiation table, calling the doctors’ tactics harsh, and reiterating that they were not prepared to negotiate with the doctors until after the 16 May presidential elections. …

Read more…

The Emergency Operations Center (COE) is reporting that 30 homes were flooded and 155 people have been evacuated in the central province of Sanchez Ramirez (Cotui). The COE has maintained a yellow alert for La Vega, which is still recovering from last week’s tornado, and a green level alert for the East and Cibao regions …

Read more…

Venezuelan Ambassador to the DR Francisco Belisario Landis says that Venezuela is open to the idea of renegotiating some of the terms of the PetroCaribe oil agreement. The ambassador said that now more than ever, the agreement has become very important to member nations. Belisario Landis said that a renegotiation of the agreement could help …

Read more…

Locally produced rice is being shipped to Haiti as contraband. International rice prices have skyrocketed, almost doubling in three months, and this has led even US retailers like Costco and Wal-Mart to limit the amount of rice sold to consumers. Rice is now selling internationally for US$1,034 per ton, up from US$480 in October 2007. …

Read more…

Beginning this year the country will once again export cassava (yuca) to the US. The cassava will be sold through the National Supermarket Association, which is made up of 400 Dominican small businesses. Oscar Hernandez from the Second Agro Export Platform says that the DR has a great opportunity to increase its fruit and vegetable …

Read more…

It might sound like an April Fool’s Day prank three weeks too late, but Listin Diario is reporting of plans that would link Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico via a railway system. The plan is being suggested by the Regional Development Council (CRD), and it proposes to unite the countries in order to …

Read more…

The average income of Dominicans living in the US has grown by 18% in a six-year period. The average Dominican now earns US$33,837 compared to US$28,729 in 2000. These statistics were provided by the Quisqueya Foundation, based on data from the National Census Bureau. Though positive in one respect, Dominican incomes are 57.8% lower than …

Read more…

The new baggage restrictions will not affect the Dominican Republic – for the time being, anyway. The US$25 surcharge on a second item of luggage so far only applies to US domestic flights starting 5 May 2008. Luggage allowances for several major airlines flying non-stop to the DR remains the same: American Airlines: two items …

Read more…

The Boston Red Sox David Ortiz jersey dug up at the new Yankee Stadium earlier this month has been auctioned for a whopping US$175,000. The jersey has been the subject of much lore and talk. In all, 282 people bid on the jersey, but it was all worth it in the end, as the money …

Read more…