2020 – Page 57

President Luis Abinader addressed the nation on Friday, 16 October 2020 to say that he will be donating his wages to a social cause. This is RD$450,000 a month, or around RD$5,850,000 including the 13th Christmas wage. Abinader said he is also forgoing his expense account but did not detail the amount involved. Recently, the …

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President Luis Abinader’s proposal to ask Congress to cut 50% of the funds has not met with support from political parties outside of Eduardo Estrella’s Dominicans por el Cambio. The Electoral Law No. 275-97 and Political Parties Law 33-18 allots generous funding to politicians. In 2020, political parties received RD$3 billion in funds because it …

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Barrick Gold Corporation reports having paid US$108 million in taxes and royalties this month to the Dominican government. This includes advance payment of income tax, net profit interest and royalties, including an advance payment of the royalty for the year 2021 estimated at US$47 million. This is the fourth tax payment the mine has made …

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The Mayor’s Office of the National District says the pilot program to turn the Colonial City into a haven for those on foot and bicycle on weekends went well. The plan was first implemented this past weekend in coordination with government transit and tourism entities in a central area of the Colonial City – Mercedes, …

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Decree 554-20 extends the curfew for another 25 days, from 18 October to 11 November 2020. The curfew will continue to be in force from Monday to Friday from 9pm to 5am and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 7pm to 5am. Decree 553-20, also issued on Friday, 16 October 2020, extends the National Emergency …

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The Sierra de Bahoruco National Park is one of the most ecologically diverse places in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. It is supposed to be uninhabited. In recent years, though, persons with influence in government managed to operate an avocado plantation right in the park. Environment Minister Orlando Jorge Mera announced the ban on …

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New UK Ambassador Mockbul Ali has spent his first weeks holding in-person meetings with key Abinader administration officials to discuss new areas of investment, trade and cooperation between the two countries. He has a career of more than 20 years as a diplomat, but this is his first time in the Caribbean and his first …

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TV investigative journalist Nuria Piera did a follow-up segment and presented more evidence that the state prosecutors need to be looking into the rapidly growing fortune of new Youth Minister Kinsberly (Kimberly) Taveras. On Saturday, 17 October, Piera mentioned the close ties Taveras has with higher up officials in the ruling political party and in …

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A 4.6 earthquake shook Samaná peninsula on Monday, 19 October 2020 at 5am. The earthquake’s center was of 4.6 magnitude and was 13 km from Sánchez, a large town in the province. No significant damages have been reported. US Earthquakes 19 October 2020

The Ministry of Public Health’s Epidemiology Department Coronavirus Bulletin #213 reports 422 new PCR confirmed cases. 3,174 first PCR tests were carried out in time for the bulletin deadline. The 14-day average is 3,510 tests. The 24-hour positivity rate is at 13,30% and the 4-week positivity rate continues to decline and is at 12.32%. The …

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