2013 – Page 289

The Dominican government has expressed its condolences to Venezuela on the death of president Hugo Chavez, who died yesterday, Tuesday 5 March, following a battle against cancer. President Danilo Medina sent a letter to the Vice President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, saying that the Dominican government lamented the death of Chavez, describing him as an …

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National political leaders have been expressing their sorrow at the news of the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias yesterday, Tuesday 5 March, and saying that the Dominican people would remember him as a man who served the whole of Latin America and especially the Dominican Republic, with whom he had a close relationship. …

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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s demise yesterday, Tuesday 5 March, opens up the debate on the future of PetroCaribe, the preferential oil deal through which the Venezuelan strongman supported countries in the Caribbean, mainly Cuba and the Dominican Republic with favorable financing conditions in the purchase of oil since 2005. The higher the price of oil, …

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President Danilo Medina and the Executive Branch have issued a decree, 68-13, which bestows the Medal of Merit on eleven Dominican women in recognition of their work in the fields of education, science and technology, the arts and community work. The women are Baldemira Reyes Vda. Abreu, Mercedes Jorge, Juana Venecia Alvarez de Vanderhorst, Milqueya …

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The Pedro Henriquez Urena National Library is open to the public. A ceremony headed by Minister of Culture Jose Antonio Rodriguez on Monday, 4 March marked the opening of the Plaza de la Cultura Juan Pablo Duarte facility. Director Diomedes Nunez Polanco announced the “Alexandria 2.0” system is being used. This is described as an …

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There is an impasse between the director of the Technical Office for Ground Transport (OTTT) and transport union leaders, because the OTTT has not authorized an increase in fares. The transporters have asked for an urgent meeting with President Danilo Medina. Arsenio Quevedo, from the National Transporters Union (Unatrafin) and Juan Marte, from the National …

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Workers in small businesses, the agricultural sector and domestic workers, who are beneficiaries of the program known as ‘Progress with Solidarity’, or who have social subsidies and receive money from the government, will now be incorporated into the Social Security Program, following an agreement signed by the Vice President of the Republic, Margarita Cedeno de …

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The judges at the Higher Electoral Court (TSE) say that they are unable to hear and decide on a case against the Central Electoral Board (JCE), which is challenging the closure of the JCE’s administrative service offices in the United States and Europe, apparently due to budget constraints. The court, chaired by Mariano Rodriguez Rijo, …

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The United Women’s Movement (MODEMU) has issued a complaint saying that several prostitutes have been physically abused and raped by police officers, taxi drivers and clients. According to director Jacqueline Montero, the women were abused after refusing to have sex with these men. Last month alone, 12 women were sexually abused in Haina and even …

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After seeing the appalling conditions at the Dario Contreras hospital, the Dominican Medical Association (CMD) called a seven-day strike, starting yesterday, Tuesday 5 March. The hospital is the country’s main trauma center, but it has all but collapsed. The operating rooms do not work, there is no intensive care, there are staff shortages, patients in …

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