2012 – Page 55

Four former Central Electoral Board (JCE) judges are requesting the suspension of their pensions while they occupy government positions. They are Julio Cesar Castanos Guzman, who was appointed to the Supreme Court of Justice, Mariano Rodriguez, president of the Supreme Electoral Court, justice Carmen Leyda Pina, judge at the Constitutional Court, and Roberto Rodriguez, legal …

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Minister of Economy, Planning and Development Temistocles Montas has confirmed that the government will not be authorizing the hiring of merengue bands for government Christmas parties. Bands are complaining that the decision by the Medina government is seriously detrimental to them because the government has been responsible for 50% of the Christmas party contracts they …

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The long-time chief of Bienes Nacionales, the government entity in charge of government property, has resigned, enraged at the publication of governmental Chamber of Accounts audits that show irregularities during his administration. Elias Wessin Chavez said he would dedicate himself to proving that the allegations were false. The irregular use of funds at the government …

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Representatives of several business organizations met with the PRD president Miguel Vargas and party deputies yesterday, Tuesday 23 October and asked them to oppose the legislative proposal for a fiscal reform in the National Congress to prevent the collapse of businesses and the increase of unemployment. The warning was issued by National Business Council (CONEP) …

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It cost taxpayers RD$1.8 billion and was inaugurated by former President Leonel Fernandez in July 2012, but classes have yet to begin. Listin Diario reports that the San Luis Community College, or Instituto Tecnologico Superior Comunitario (ITSC) runs the risk of ending up as a white elephant. The educational complex has 14 buildings and was …

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The Ministry of Public Health has launched its national dengue fever prevention campaign in the barrio of Los Militares, near the Cristo Redentor Cemetery in Santo Domingo. The campaign includes education as well as actions. The educational process according to Hoy newspaper, involves teaching people about the relationship between stagnant water and mosquitoes. The actions …

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Amnesty International (AI) is calling on the Dominican Congress to decriminalize abortion as it begins debating its reform of the Penal Code today, Wednesday 24 October. The human rights organization mentions article 90 of the Penal Code that provides punishment for women who abort pregnancies as well as for anyone assisting them in the process, …

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The National Police Chief, Major General Jose Armando Polanco Gomez, has told reporters from the nation’s newspapers that the country is too easy on foreigners who do not follow the rules or the good customs of the Dominican Republic. El Nuevo Diario says that the general gave the example of what he described as “the …

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Environmental Associations in La Romana-Bayahibe and Samana all agree that there is a need to provide incentives for the capture and consumption of the lionfish that has invaded the waters around the Dominican Republic. The Pacific fish, which has no natural predators, is a voracious eater of local fish and represents a real danger to …

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The Emergency Operations Center (COE) has declared a yellow alert for western provinces and a green alert for the rest of the country, and ordered preventive evacuations due to tropical storm Sandy that is threatening to become a hurricane. Although the path of the storm indicates that it will pass to the west of Cuba, …

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