2010 – Page 283

President Leonel Fernandez hosted a visit by the Superintendent of Police in Puerto Rico, Jose Figueroa Sancha, at the Presidential Palace yesterday. Figueroa Sancha said that fugitive Puerto Rican drug trafficker Jose Figueroa Agosto’s days on the run were numbered. As reported in Diario Libre, he said after meeting with the President: “We have all …

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The Customs Department (DGA) has confiscated copper wiring suspected of having been stolen from telecommunications companies. Customs, the Police and officers of the Prosecutor General Office with a judicial search warrant made a surprise visit to a scrap metal business located in the Cienfuegos slum area in Santiago. They found several bags packed with copper …

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The Second Collegiate Court of Samana has sentenced four men to 30 years in jail, the maximum possible sentence. The men were found guilty of attempting to smuggle 435.28 kilos of cocaine into the DR via the coasts of Montecristi. News commentator Claudio Acosta described the judgment as “historic.” He wonders whether the judges were …

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The Dominican Davis Cup team, Group I of the Americas will play Uruguay from 5 to 7 March at the courts of the Parque del Este. Team captain Rafael Moreno said that he was optimistic that the team is ready for the challenge. The team members are Victor Estrella, Johnson Garcia, Jose Hernandez and Jesus …

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During his state of the nation address to mark Dominican Independence Day on Saturday 27 February, President Leonel Fernandez shared his satisfaction with the performance of the economy. He stressed that the economy had grown 3.5% in 2009. The country’s foreign debt is 18.2% of the GDP, which he says is below the level of …

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During his state of the nation address on 27 February, President Leonel Fernandez announced that the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development is preparing the nation’s long term development strategy. He said that as of this month, several sectors would be consulted once again to prepare a proposal that will evolve into a National Development …

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In today’s Diario Libre economist Gustavo Volmar comments on what the President left out of his 27 February address. He makes the point that after being in power to make 10 state of the nation speeches on 27 February – it is difficult to make a speech that generates great expectations of change, especially when …

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Former Ministers of the Armed Forces Vice Admiral Sigfrido Pared Perez (2004-2006) and retired Major General Jose Miguel Soto Jimenez (2000-2004) said yesterday that they were in agreement with President Fernandez’s proposal to restructure the military branches, including a reduction in the number of generals. During his speech on Saturday, Fernandez announced that the he …

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The government treasury collected RD$19.25 billion in January 2010, not counting income from financial sources. This was 1.3% more than the income for January 2009, but 8.4% less than the income for the same month in 2008. Minister of Hacienda Vicente Bengoa said that tax revenues made up 98.6% of the income and these were …

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The government plans to borrow funds from South America to build 18,000 housing units. The financing will come from the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) and the Colombian Export Bank (BanColdex), according to President Leonel Fernandez. Fernandez made the announcement during his address to the National Assembly on Saturday. The CAF had already announced the approval …

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