2020 – Page 16

The Ministry of Hacienda announced the renegotiating of the payment of the nation’s debt service. The renegotiation reduces the obligations by US$1.23 billion for the period 2021-2025. The government negotiated a reduction in interest payments and extended the payment terms for its portfolio of bonds in international markets. The operation is giving the government a …

Read more…

Judge Jose Alejandro Vargas made history on Tuesday, 8 December 2020 in the concluding statements during the opening of the first trial regarding corruption in government filed by the new Justice Department team . He presented a clear summary of why he was imposing criminal coercive measures or not on the 11 government officials, contractors …

Read more…

Judge Jose Alejandro Vargas decided he will hear the opposition to the definite filing in favor of eight involved in the US$92 million Odebrecht bribes case. Former Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez and Narciso José Escaño Martínez, interim head of the Specialized Prosecution for Administrative Corruption (Pepca) closed the case before leaving office. The definite …

Read more…

Germany ambassador Volker Pellet delivered 100,000 PCR test kits to the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, 8 December 2020. Vice President Raquel Peña, who heads the health cabinet of the Abinader administration, received the donation. A delegation of health experts from the Charité Institute of Virology of the University of Berlin and an epidemiology specialist from …

Read more…

The Justice Department presented charges against drug kingpin Cesar Emilio Peralta (The Abuser). The indictment also includes 43 other individuals linked to the criminal network. Peralta had been on the run since August 2019. He was arrested in December 2019 in Colombia. The National District Attorney’s Office and the Specialized Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing …

Read more…

The Alianza País Party (PAP) criticized the decision taken by the city councilors to increase the housing density in district number one of the capital city. The party calls for the revoking of the measure. Franiel Genao, spokesman for the political party in a press conference said that the measure will further reduce the quality …

Read more…

Monsignor Jesus Castro Marte of the Our Lady of Altagracia Diocese in Higuey announced that the traditional 19, 20 and 21 January religious celebrations are canceled this year due to Covid-19. The bishop said that the large number of people that congregate for the religious festivities put thousands at risk of becoming infected with Covid-19. …

Read more…

Capital city mayor Carolina Mejía becomes the newest of high-profile government officials to test positive with the coronavirus. She announced on social media about catching the virus. Her parents, former President Hipólito Mejía and former First Lady Rosa Gómez had announced on 30 November 2020 that they had tested positive for Covid-19.  The mayor says …

Read more…

The Ministry of Public Health’s Epidemiology Department Coronavirus Bulletin #264 reports 492 new PCR confirmed cases. The 7-day nationwide average for PCR confirmed cases is 761. No deaths were reported for the 7 December 2020 deadline. Labs carried out 3,969 first PCR tests in time for the Monday, 7 December 2020 report deadline. The 14-day …

Read more…

The recovery of tourism in the Dominican Republic depends on the restoration of normalcy in source markets of the Dominican Republic. With the exception of Canada, the country’s main tourism markets are greatly affected by Covid-19 outbreaks. Yet, thousands of tourists, nevertheless, have decided to travel and get away from it all. This is reflected …

Read more…