2014 – Page 245

The editorial in Diario Libre today, Thursday 20 March highlights President Danilo Medina’s popularity and his very low rejection rate. It makes the point that Medina is seen as a reasonable, discreet and dedicated politician. Ines Aizpun writes that Medina is willing, listens, hears, and solves problems for previously ignored groups. “The man ‘without charisma’ …

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The sad fact is that nearly five thousand Dominicans and foreigners lost their lives last year. Some 4,992 people died in 2013 all over the country in murders, suicides, traffic accidents, drowning and electrocutions. This total is 292 fewer than in 2012 when 5,284 deaths were reported, a 5.5% reduction. Police statistics reveal that during …

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The Dominican authorities in charge of prosecuting money-laundering offenses are preparing cases against people who have been extradited from the United States after serving sentences for drug trafficking. According to German Miranda Villalona, the director of the anti-money laundering department at the Attorney General office, his people are taking the word of new US Ambassador …

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The driver of the freight truck that struck the 30-passenger bus from Santo Domingo head-on earlier this week and caused nine deaths and several injuries has admitted that he was driving in the wrong lane. Sources at the Metropolitan Transit Authority (AMET) said that Marcelo Aquino admitted that he was in the wrong lane at …

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An explosion at the Cocigas propane gas station in Santiago yesterday, Wednesday 19 March destroyed seven vehicles. One person was injured, as reported in the press. The fire happened around 10am at a propane station located on Duarte Highway in Arenoso, Canabacoa at the entrance to Santiago. Firefighting units from Moca and Santiago fought the …

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The National Farm and Livestock Fair, the Feria Nacional Agropecuaria, continues at the Ciudad Ganadera in Santo Domingo through Sunday, 23 March. This is the time to see the best of horse and livestock breeds and farm produce. Evening events. http://dr1.com/forums/living/141755-feria-ganadera-santo-domingo.html For more on upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

Minister of Economy Temistocles Montas said yesterday, Tuesday 18 March that the government would not be introducing new tax reforms or raising the electricity rates. A statement at the conclusion of last week’s visit by the International Monetary Fund mission recommended tax increases and the automatic adjustment mechanism for electricity rates. Montas, who has announced …

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A report from the Department of Ground Transport (DGTT) has found that of 1,800,434 driver licenses that were issued to 11 March 2014, only 839,000 have been renewed, as reported in Diario Libre. The renewal process is simple, and can be completed in much less than an hour. www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2014/03/19/i532081_milln-circula-con-licencias-vencidas-caducadas.html

The Ministry of Education reports that its Community Participation Department is helping 91,000 public school students who have not been able to complete their registration for lack of identity documents. As reported in Diario Libre, department director Bienvenido Flores Pichardo announced that in the next two months they would try to declare 80% (around 72,800) …

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Speaking yesterday, Tuesday 18 March, Minister of Defense Sigfrido Pared Perez said there has been what he described as “a stampede” of immigration from Haiti motivated by the special facilities the United States is granting Haitians who make it to US territory, as reported in Diario Libre. Rear Admiral Edwin Dominici said that in the …

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