2016 – Page 34

The president of the Dominican Medical Association (CMD) Waldo Ariel Suero has denied reports that the government is proposing a 68% increase in wages for health workers including nurses, lab technicians and psychologists and 39% for doctors at public hospitals. He said the best offer the government has made to the doctors is a 15% …

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The Ministry of Public Works (MOPC) has announced the opening of a booth selling rapid passes (Paso Rapido) at the Las Americas Expressway for automatic passage through tollbooth gates. The passes, which reduce the time spent moving through tolls, can be purchased on the Las Americas, Duarte, Sanchez and 6 de Noviembre highways from each …

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Chamber of Deputies president Abel Martinez has turned down a request from dozens of legislators who were asking for money for the Mother’s Day celebrations, which took place on the last Sunday in May. Martinez says Mother’s Day has passed, as well as the elections, so there will be no extra money forthcoming. Speaking to …

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Political parties in the Dominican Republic have received RD$11.4 billion from Dominican taxpayers since 1998 when the public funding of political parties law went into effect. Just three organizations – the PRD, the PLD and the PRSC – have received RD$9.2 billion, or 80.88% of the amount over the past 19 years, out of a …

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The Central Electoral Board (JCE) has confirmed it has borrowed RD$175 million against the employees retirement fund to make the monthly payroll. As reported in Diario Libre, the JCE owes 40% of the cost of the electronic equipment used to count the votes, a controversial purchase of US$39 million. As reported, the JCE also owes …

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In an interview on El Dia on Channel 11 yesterday, Monday 6 June 2016, National District Electoral Board president Santiago Sosa said that between 25% and 30% of the electoral colleges had not used the scanners that they were supposed to use in the 15 May elections. The scanners cost taxpayers US$39 million. He said …

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Yesterday afternoon, Monday 6 June 2016, the atmosphere in the area surrounding the municipal court in Santo Domingo North was tense. Military personnel were deployed to guard the area in anticipation of a protest by the followers of the mayor, Francisco Fernandez. All traffic was diverted near the court and at the same time several …

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Two former candidates for mayor in Santo Domingo East, Dio Astacio and Rafael Rosso, along with former candidate for deputy, Claudio Caamano, who have been on hunger strike to protest what they describe as a massive fraud in the municipality during the elections have given up their hunger strike, saying that they would continue to …

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A Dominican company, Cesar Iglesias S.A. recently opened its first instant Ramen-type soup factory in the country as part of its process of growth and diversification in the food product lines it offers. During a press conference the company announced that the soup, called Sopas Kinsu, would consist of a block of pre-cooked flour noodles …

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The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) has arrested two suspected drug traffickers with 221 packages of what is thought to be cocaine or heroin. The arrests were made in the southeastern town of Bayahibe and the men are Santiago Reyna Ogando and Wander Castillo. According to the DNCD, the men were driving with the drugs …

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