2010 – Page 303

Dominican companies are already perceiving an increase in local demand for goods and services, as a result of the extraordinary demand created by the international aid and reconstruction efforts in Haiti. Hoy newspaper reports that an increased number of Haitians showed up at the Dajabon marketplace, as reported by Osmar Benitez, executive vice president of …

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European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Karel De Gucht was at the Presidential Palace on Friday for a meeting with President Leonel Fernandez to discuss a plan for the reconstruction of Haiti, due for presentation at the 25 January summit in Montreal. As reported in Hoy, he said the EU has already disbursed EUR30 …

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Pop star Ricky Martin, of ‘Living la Vida Loca’ fame, visited President Leonel Fernandez last week, and over the weekend, US actor Vin Diesel and well known Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean were at the Presidential Palace to talk to President Leonel Fernandez about the situation in Haiti and aid and rebuilding efforts. As reported in …

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A contingent of 150 Dominican soldiers will work alongside the Minustah forces of the United Nations to reinforce the security of the humanitarian corridor open between Santo Domingo and Port-au-Prince. United Nations Spokesman Martin Nesirky said that President Rene Preval had given the go-ahead for the Dominican army to provide support. The Dominicans will work …

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A commission made up by Agripino Nunez Collado, rector of the PUCMM university; Priamo Rodriguez, rector of UTESA university; Ricardo Winter, president of the Dominican Association of Universities; Jose Ramon Holguin Brito, president of the Association of Non-Aligned Universities; Marcos Nunez, president of the Association of Medical School faculties; Angel Hernandez, president of the Dominican …

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More than 15,000 Haitians, injured during the catastrophic quake of 13 January have received medical care at Dominican hospitals, said Public health Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez. He said that a large percentage had suffered amputations when buildings collapsed on them. He said that a solution was found for homeless Haitian patients needing hospital care – …

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Civil Defense, the Dominican rescue corps that was the first to arrive to Haiti, reports that it has assisted in the rescue of more than 200 earthquake victims from rubble, recovered 600 corpses, and provided medical assistance to 1,600 people, in addition to transferring 250 injured to medical centers in the DR and Haiti. Over …

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General Juan Manuel Mendez says the country has a contingency plan for a major earthquake, but lacks the equipment for search and rescue operations, especially in the case of collapsed buildings. The plan was published in November 2008, after it was prepared together with the US Southern Command. He said that only the firefighters in …

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Honduran President Porfirio Lobo traveled to the DR and met with President Leonel Fernandez on Wednesday, 21 January. They signed an agreement for the political reconciliation in Honduras. With the signing of the agreement, President Leonel Fernandez recognizes the government of President-elect Lobo that takes office on 27 January. Previously, President Fernandez had been a …

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Shortly after the news of the visit of Honduran President-elect Porfirio Lobo to the DR and the negotiated agreement for ousted President Manuel Zelaya of Honduras, the country learned that Venezuela was turning down its option to buy the Dominican Petroleum Refinery. This was a US$131.5 million deal that was consigned in the 2010 National …

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