News – Page 7340

The Senate yesterday unanimously approved in second reading the bill which allow the Government to issue debt bonds to cover RD$5 billion of its internal (i.e., domestic) debt, but not before making two important amendments. The bill now goes to the Chamber of Deputies. One amendment, offered by Finance Committee Chairman Dar?o G?mez (PRD-Santiago Rodr?guez), …

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The Chamber of Deputies yesterday approved in first reading a bill that would prohibit smoking in public places, prohibit the sale of tobacco products to minors, and require cigarette packs to carry health warnings. The bill now goes to the Health Committee for study before returning to the floor for amendments and a final vote. …

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The Tourism Ministry (SECTUR) yesterday imposed a number of restrictions on the use of most of the nation’s beaches during Holy Week, the busiest beach visit week in the year. SECTUR has outlawed the use of jet skis, launches and motor boats at beaches and bathing spots to avoid accidents during the high traffic period. …

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The chief of the European Union’s (EU) diplomatic delegation to the DR, Roger Leenders, said yesterday that the EU is donating 42 million European Currency Units (ECUs) – equivalent to about US$46 million or RD$736 million at current exchange rates – to help the DR modernize government administration and the nation’s health delivery system. The …

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The Legal Adviser for the Directorate-General of Customs, Dr. Daniel Jerez Rivera, revealed yesterday that his department has detected the importation into the DR in the last two years of over 2,000 cars stolen in the U.S. Most of the vehicles are sports utility vehicles ("jeepetas") or cars of the BMW, Mercedes Benz, Lexus, Honda …

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The Administrator of the Dominican Electricity Corporation (CDE), Radham?s Segura, assured Dominicans yesterday that CDE will not raise its tariffs because of the spike in international oil prices in recent days. While he acknowledged that higher world prices for crude will eventually affect CDE’s production costs, this will not be passed on to the Dominican …

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The Inter-American Press Society (SIP) released this week its latest report on freedom of the press in Latin America and the Caribbean. The section on the DR is very short, simply noting no complaints about limits on freedom of expression in the DR and no attacks or pressures on reporters. It does mention in passing …

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The turbulent strike in Licey del Medio was called off last night by its organizers after the intervention and mediation of Archbishop Juan Antonio Flores Santana. The National Police (PN) commander in the region agreed to release most of the people detained by police during the strike and to pull out the police cordon from …

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The rector of the Central University of the East (UCE), Senator Jos? Hazim Frappier (PRSC-San Pedro de Macor?s), offered reporters yesterday his explanations of why the UCE Board has decided to close its provincial extension campuses in El?as Pi?a, Las Matas de Farf?n, Monte Plata and Dajab?n. He attributed the move to (1) a lack …

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Foreign Minister Eduardo Latorre yesterday called for a strategic trade alliance between the DR, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the members of the Central American Community (CCA) to confront jointly emerging trade challenges. Latorre promoted the idea at the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of CARICOM, CCA and the DR being held this week in Georgetown, Guyana. …

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