2017 – Page 109

As the current tropical hurricane season enters into its peak period, when more and more storms head for the Caribbean, the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) updated their forecast for the season, predicting above normal hurricane activity. “The season has the potential to be very active and could be the most active …

Read more…

A recent article in Fresh Plaza online, points to the connection between tourism and the fresh fruits and vegetables for the North American and European markets. Fresh Plaza makes the point that the Dominican Republic received 6.1 million air tourists in 2016, of which the US sent the most with 2.1 million, Canada sent 772,000, …

Read more…

The country profile for the Dominican Republic in the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report shows corruption (18.8) is the most problematic factor for doing business in the Dominican Republic. Next follows tax rates (16.4), inefficient government bureaucracy (12), and inadequately educated workforce (11.8), access to financing (8), tax regulations (7), and crime and theft …

Read more…

The people of Moca, the northcentral city, marched on the 16 August public holiday to protest impunity and government corruption in the Dominican Republic. Families from all social levels marched on the main streets of the city starting at 10am at the intersection of Ramón Cáceres highway with Sabana Larga and ending at the rotunda …

Read more…

Social media is sharing videos on motorcycle speed races within the Las Americas Expressway tunnel in Santo Domingo. The Metropolitan Transport Authority says the number of incidences of the illegal and dangerous races has been reduced, but the videos show they continue to occur. Read more in Spanish: Listin Diario 17 August 2017

The Migration Agency (DGM) announced it has seized 142 authentic National Foreigner Status Legalization Plan (PNRE) cards that were held by persons other than those who they had been issued for. The DGM also seized several cards that have been forged in actions taken from July to the first week of August 2017. The director …

Read more…

As he was sworn in on 15 August 2017, the new president of the Chamber of Deputies, Ruben Maldonado, said that he would carry out a work schedule that was “open, transparent and participative,” and would focus on establishing much stronger ties between civil society and the legislative body. Maldonado will serve a year as …

Read more…

The International Monetary Fund is circulating a summary of the March 2017 economic consultation with the government. The IMF remarks that the economy continues to grow rapidly, buoyed by low energy prices, strengthening labor markets, dynamic investment and the economic recovery in the United States. In addition, lower oil prices have balanced the effects of …

Read more…

According to the National Statistics Office (ONE) the index of general poverty fell from 41% in 2012 to 30.5% in 2016, a reduction of 10.5 points over the last five years. Alexandra Izquierdo, the director of ONE, said that in the case of extreme poverty, this too fell from 10.5% in 2012 to 6.5% in …

Read more…

The Dominican Free Zone Association (Adozona) announced its opposition to changing Law 139-97 that rotates public holidays creating long weekends. Manuel Torres, executive vice president of Adozona, said when public holidays fall within the week they interrupt the flow of work more than moving them to create the long weekends. He said the law as …

Read more…