2013 – Page 219

Art of Living in Santo Domingo is holding an afternoon of guided meditation open to the general public at the Plaza de Espana. The event also has the sponsorship of the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism. It will take place on Sunday, 26 May, Mother’s Day in the Dominican Republic, as of 5pm at …

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President Danilo Medina decorated outgoing United States Ambassador Raul Humberto Yzaguirre with the order of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella in the Great Cross of Silver at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Santo Domingo yesterday, Thursday 16 May. Ambassador Yzaguirre resigned the post for health reasons on 7 April, and will be leaving at …

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President Danilo Medina sent a bill on the framework for the National Police to the Senate on Thursday, 16 May. The bill sent by the Executive Branch establishes the scope and reach of the police and the guiding principles for its performance in line with the Constitution. The bill is being sent as part of …

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The Department of Taxes (DGII) reports an increase of 21.7% in tax collections during the first quarter of this year. This means the government has received an additional RD$17.4 billion compared to the same period last year. While in April 2012 revenue totaled RD$80.1 billion, it was reported at RD$97.5 billion in April 2013. The …

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Minister of Industry and Commerce Jose del Castillo has announced the opening of a new government office dedicated to promoting quality production. The Dominican Institute for Quality (Indocal) replaces the former Department of Standards and Quality Systems (Digenor). Indocal was created in Law 166-12 and will be responsible for regulating quality in the production of …

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The Dominican government debt to Venezuela for petrol purchases under the PetroCaribe agreement makes up 23.3% of the country’s foreign debt of US$13.97 billion as of April 2013, according to a report in Listin Diario. The country owes Venezuela, the country’s main bilateral debtor US$3.3 billion, of which PetroCaribe debt makes up more than 98%. …

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The Ministry of Public Health is studying the damage to public health and the environment caused by the operations of the Barrick Pueblo Viejo mine. Roberto Berroa, who is in charge of environmental public health at the Ministry of Public Health said that studies are being conducted in four communities in the province of Sanchez …

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The Dominican Republic Academy of Sciences says that the proposed mining of Loma Miranda in La Vega is unviable. Academy representatives rejected Xstrata Falcondo’s pledge to protect the environment and reforest the area afterwards in the proposed mining area. The Academy referred to the company’s track record of failing to recover other areas that had …

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Constructora Bisono has announced plans to build 5,000 housing units for lower-income middle class families in San Isidro, Santo Domingo East, near the Dominican Air Force base. Rafael Vitelio Bisono (Tato) representing the Bisono construction company made the announcement after a meeting with Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo. The government will be contributing the land where …

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The governments of the United States and Haiti and the International Organization for Migration together with the Dominican authorities took part in a crackdown operation yesterday, Thursday 16 May, which rescued 58 Haitian children and teenagers, trafficking victims who were being held in barrios in Los Alcarrizos and western Santo Domingo. Twenty-two raids were carried …

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