2014 – Page 67

The Executive Branch has authorized the sale of all of the government shares in La Tabacalera, currently 49.5%, via a decree that allows the Patrimonial Fund of Reformed Businesses (Fonper) to approve the offer in the next general shareholders’ meeting. The decree, issued on 15 September 2014, indicates that the sale is justified on the …

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The effects of the 2012 tax reform are still being felt as they are phased in. Come January 2015, there will be a 2% increase in the sales tax (ITBIS) on sugar, coffee, yoghurt, chocolate, margarine and oil, from 11% to 13%. These products have all been subject to a gradual increasing scale from 8% …

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In her editorial column today, Tuesday 7 October 2014, Diario Libre’s Ines Aizpun comments on the Dominican presidential tradition of changing the Constitution to suit the head of government. She says that since the current Constitution outlaws consecutive re-election, it would be logical for discussions to center on who the ruling PLD party candidate will …

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The Dr. Dario Contreras Trauma Hospital in Santo Domingo East will stop admitting inpatients on a temporary basis as of this week as the admissions area of the hospital will be demolished and rebuilt. New patients will be referred to the Francisco Moscoso Puello, Marcelino Velez Santana and Vinicio Calventi hospitals. Hospital director Dr. Manuel …

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A total of 11 children, including eight under the age of one, died over the weekend at the Robert Reid Cabral Children’s Hospital in Santo Domingo where they were patients. According to hospital staff, their deaths were caused by problems with the oxygen system. Authorities at the hospital say the children were all in a …

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Representatives of the Attorney General Office, the Ministry of Foreign Relations, the Legal Advisor to the Executive Branch and the United States Embassy will meet at the Ministry of Foreign Relations today, Tuesday 7 October 2014 to discuss modifications to the extradition treaty between the US and the DR, which dates back to 1909. According …

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The Italian government has announced that it will open an office at the European Union mission in the country that will be in charge of consular affairs, as reported in Diario Libre. According to the report, an unnamed source disclosed that all visa requests would be made through that office and sent to the Italian …

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Dominican bananas are competing with leading Latin American producers Costa Rica and Ecuador and are well known as one of the world’s sweetest varieties, says Ramon Fana of the Dominican Association of Producers of Bananas for Export (Asexbam), as reported in Fresh Plaza. According to Fana, association members will produce 380,000 boxes of first class …

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The US Coast Guard says that nearly 5,478 Haitians and 3,722 Cubans have been caught by US authorities in the Florida Straits, the Caribbean and the Atlantic, compared to 601 Dominicans over the 2014 US fiscal year. On Monday, 6 October 2014, El Dia reported that 65% of all arrested in illegal boat trips leaving …

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Minister of Interior and Police Jose Ramon Fadul signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Program yesterday, Monday 6 October 2014. It includes a US$122,000 donation for a telephone information line to improve services to foreigners seeking to regularize their status under the National Foreigner Legalization Plan. The Dominican government is offering free legalization …

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