2012 – Page 131

The president of the National Commercial Business Association (ONEC) that represents larger malls, Antonio Ramos, and the director general of the Industrial Development and Competitiveness Center (Proindustria), Alexandra Izquierdo, share the opinion that tax exemptions should be eliminated as part of a comprehensive tax reform program. According to Hoy newspaper, such a step would increase …

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The president of the National Union of Transporters and Allies (Unatrafin), Arsenio Quevedo, will visit the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to complain about the constant increases in the price of natural gas. He told Hoy reporter Anbareli Espinoza that the increase in the price of natural gas did not seem fair since this gas …

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The average cost of books and school supplies for a family with children in private, middle-class schools is between RD$10,000 and RD$25,000 per child. In the case of school texts, the prices vary according to the publisher, the number of books and the grade. Looking at several book lists that are handed out by these …

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A suggestion made by a Haitian sociologist that the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti should be an open frontier has been soundly rejected by diverse sectors. The suggestion made by Paul Joseph Batiste follows one made by the representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Valerie Julliand, who suggested an amnesty for …

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Officials, intellectuals, journalists, relatives and friends all stressed the contributions of the outstanding writer and journalist Francisco Comarazamy, who passed away on Sunday, 5 August at the age of 103. His remains are being mourned at the Blandino Funeral Home on Abraham Lincoln Avenue, in Santo Domingo, and the burial is expected to take place …

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The family of Casandra Damiron, after whom the local show business Oscar-type awards are named, has requested their mother’s name be withdrawn from the awards. In a published document, the family says that in recent years the awards have distanced themselves from the guidelines in matters of content and essence. They pointed to the absence …

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Frank Ceara, one of the best vocalists in the Dominican Republic, is booked to perform at the Merengue Bar of Santo Domingo’s Hotel Jaragua, next to the Casino. Next to perform at the Merengue Bar is Carlos Franco, famous for his imitations of popular performers. Wednesday, 22 August. Free admission. 9pm. For more on upcoming …

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Continuing his series of inaugurations prior to leaving office on 16 August, President Leonel Fernandez led the official christening of the new administrative building of the Centro de Formacion Integral Juventud y Familia (CEFIJUFA), a training center run by the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo. The facility also includes a cafeteria and computer hall. The government …

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Writing in today’s Hoy newspaper, journalist Juan Bolivar Diaz chronicles the achievements and failures of President Leonel Fernandez as he leaves office for the second time after two consecutive terms. Diaz describes the 2004-2012 period as one of stability and economic growth, with a major legacy of public works, while pointing out that they were …

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The National Judicial Council (CNM) chose career judge Francisco Ortega Polanco to the vacant 17th Supreme Court of Justice position on Friday, 3 August. The choice has been met with good reviews, on the grounds that Ortega is a career judge. Listin Diario reports that he is seen as an honest and qualified judge who …

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