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Daily News - 04 December 1997
Hillary Rodham Clinton could visit D.R. in 1998
Hillary Rodham Clinton may visit the Dominican Republic soon, responding to an official invitation made by Lissy Campos de Fernández, wife of Vice President Jaime David Fernández Mirabal.
Lissy Campos, a physician, is the acting Dominican first lady since President Leonel Fernández is single.
Dr. Campos de Fernández represented the Dominican Republic as a delegate during the Seventh Conference of Wives of Chiefs of State and Governments of the Americas held in Panama this past October. There she met the U.S. First Lady and made the official invitation for Mrs. Clinton to visit the Dominican Republic.
President Leonel Fernández had met Mrs Clinton earlier during the Central American Chiefs of State Summit held in San José, Costa Rica in May, 1997.
Journalist Máximo Manuel Pérez of the Listin Diario says there is no official confirmation of the possible visit, nor a set date, but the rumor is gaining strength after two U. S. secret service agents were seen observing several of the areas of the National Palace with the head of the military corps of the Presidency, Major General Manuel de Jesús Florentino.
Also participating in the tour of the National Palace installations were the chief of the presidential guard, General Carlos Adolfo Soler Pereyra, the chief of operations of the National Department of Investigations, Julio Campos, and the security chief of the National Palace, Major Caonex.
Petrol agreement with Colombia
The Dominican Republic will sign an agreement with Colombia similar to the petroleum-import treaty, the Acuerdo de San José, maintained with Venezuela and Mexico. According to the pact, credits are accumulated that can later be used for development projects. Minister of Foreign Relations Eduardo de la Torre said President Ernesto Samper of Colombia confirmed the decision to the Dominican minister during the latter's visit to Colombia last week. During the visit, the foreign ministers of Dominican Republic and Colombia, Eduardo Latorre and Maria Emma Mejía, signed a joint declaration for the improvement of trade relations, and agreements to combat drug trafficking and against the interference of other states in domestic affairs, as well as for the exchange of prisoners.
The role of politicians
In an interview with the Listín Diario, Dr. José Francisco Peña Gómez, leader of the opposition party, Partido Revolucionario Dominicano, favors the government giving more importance to the role of politicians in Dominican society, as these are called upon to lead the changes that will transform Dominican society. Nevertheless, he was pessimistic about the results of the Diálogo Nacional called by President Fernández as a forum with the participation of politicians and the civic society. He criticized the present government's placing more importance on the civic society than on political groups. During the interview, Dr. Peña Gómez said he would accept the nomination for PRD senator for San Cristóbal as was proposed.
Businessmen want unified exchange rate
The president of the Consejo Nacional de la Empresa Privada, Celso Marranzini, urged the government's elimination of the official exchange rate system, whereby the exchange rate floats but is subject to Central Bank averages. He said that a market-determined exchange rate system is better for the nation. He favors the establishment of a sole, flexible and competitive exchange rate.
Industrial challenge
President Leonel Fernández inaugurated Expo Herrera International 97 last night. He said that the future of the Dominican Republic brings many opportunities for growth, wealth generation and creation of new jobs.In an improvised speech at the opening ceremony of the largest industrial exhibition held in the country, the President said that while the government does not have a defined industrial policy, it does have the conviction that former policies cannot continue. He urged Dominican businessmen not to fear the process of opening up the economy.
Budget talks
Budget talks have stagnated as government negotiators and congressmen discuss the inclusion of a chapter for the completion of the Plaza de la Salud medical center and additional funds for the payment of the domestic debt. Other issues that have brought about an impasse are the assignation of RD$5,000 million for the purchasing of expendable materials by government departments. Congressmen dispute that this allotment was RD$1,700 million in 1997. Another obstacle for the approval of the budget is the RD$85 million increase requested by the Chamber of Deputies to cover the expenditures generated by the 29 additional deputies that will be elected next May 1998 and will begin work in August 1998. PRD Senator for the National District, Milagros Ortiz Bosch, appeared optimistic that agreements would be reached so that the budget can be approved before the Christmas holiday. President of the Senate, Amable Aristy Castro also foresees the budget will be passed this year.
Del Orbe says he's the boss
Attorney General Abel Rodríguez del Orbe met in his office with District Attorney Francisco Domínguez on Wednesday to establish that it is he who sets the criminal prosecution policies of the state. Rodríguez said that the district attorney cannot go against any of his orders, such as that of discontinuing the prosecution of Luís Yépez Félix, Simón Bolívar Jiménez and Luís Nelson Fernández Mancebo, involved in the corruption case of Bahía de las Aguilas beach lands. Some 15 kilometers of valuable beach land were appropriated by persons of influence in the province, through mechanisms that involved the Dominican Agrarian Institute. On Tuesday, district attorney Domínguez Brito had said he would continue to seek these persons for questioning regarding the case. On the other hand, Aura Celeste Fernández, commissioner for the Reform and Modernization of Justice of the Dominican state (wife of former attorney general Guillermo Moreno), spoke about the importance of the independence of the judicial power and the sovereignty of the Ministerio Público, or judiciary representatives of the central government.Attorney General Abel Rodríguez affirms that persons returning their Bahia de Las Aguilas titles will not be prosecuted. Some 88 persons have returned their land titles. District Attorney Domínguez has sought to arrest these persons for questioning.Nevertheless, Rodríguez del Orbe left a door open for prosecution. He stated that in the end, the "instructional judges" are those who will determine who can and cannot be incriminated, even when dealing with persons who have returned their titles.
Reasons for low grades
The rector of the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Dr. Edylberto Cabral, said that the low academic performance of students at the UASD is due to their poor preparation in grade and high schools, not to the students intellectual capacity.
Corruption cases being abandoned?
Author Rafael R. Vásquez commented on the present government's handling of corruption cases in an article in the Listin Diario editorial page. He criticized that already there is a long list of corruption cases initiated in the judiciary but now it seems they will not be completed, but rather the "borrón y cuenta nueva," a clean slate, will be applied, meaning that the cases will be abandoned.Cases that have made headlines are:The accusations of a RD$90 million National Lottery fraudThe millionaire illegal appropriations of government lands in the Bahía de las Aguilas beach lands in Pedernales.The case of illegal appropriation of state lands in Macao Beach.The case of illegal appropriation of government beach lands in the Jaragua National Park in Pedernales.The case of illegal appropriation of government lands in Nisibon, in La Altagracia province.The case for the illegal appropiation of the government's tobacco-producing lands in Santiago.The case of illegal appropriation of potential tourism development lands in Monte Cristi.The case of the assassination of journalist Orlando Martínez.The case of the disappearance of university professor Narciso González.The case of the assassination of José Rafael Llenas Aybar, age 12.The case of the assassination of the youngster Zuleika Féliz.The case of the fraud at the Instituto Nacional de Recursos Hidráulicos presented by director Mario Germán against its former director.The case of the millionaire fraud presented by the Banco Agrícola's administration against the former director of that institution.The case of the fraud to the Dominican state presented against the former administrative secretary of the Presidency.The case of fraud against the state for RD$60 million with reference to the Hydro Quebec contract.The cases of corruption revealed by former controller Victor Grimaldi.The cases of corruption presented by Rafael Flores Estrella against officers of the past administration.The cases of corruption presented by lawyer Hugo Tolentino Dipp against the former director of the Corporación Dominicana de Empresas Estatales.
More on Senator Aristy case
Businessman Rafael Bilbao denied having a relation to the Mantenimientos y Servicios, S.A. company that has been linked to the scandal related to the Bahía de las Aguilas beach lands. He said his signature was falsified on the incorporation of the company, which is owned by senator Antonio Féliz Pérez, involved in the scandal whereby the valuable beach lands were illegally appropriated. Furthermore, in a front page story in the Listín he said he visited with a lawyer representing the president of the Senate, Amable Aristy Castro who requested US$2 dollars per meter to settle the case, and for the senator to negotiate with President Fernández so that the later may issue a decree disauthorizing the transfer of lands that affected Bilbao's property in Macao.
Gas station in flames
A large truck transporting beer lost control at 9 am yesterday while transiting from west to east near Km. 3-1/2 of the Prolongación Avenida 27 de Febrero. The chauffeur tried to avoid crashing into a construction roller in front. After swerving to the right, it crashed into a wall of the Shell Gasoline station, bounced and hit the roller that then hit a small Toyota minibus, which at the moment was picking up 38-year old lawyer Bautista Araujo, who was killed instantly. The gasoline station erupted in flames, and the consecuences were not worse due to the safety provision of the administration of the station that closed the gasoline valves. Some 18 units of the Fire Department participated in the operation to quickly extinguish the flames. General Hugo Adolfo Arriaga Félix, of the Fire Department, said the city of Santo Domingo does not have the capacity to handle two similar situations of this nature at the same time.
Baseball scores
Catcher César King of the Escogido Lions batted in the homerun, that ended a tough game between the Escogido and the Gigantes del Nordeste held in Santo Domingo last night. The game lasted through the 11th inning. The Escogido won 3-2. In Santiago, the Azucareros del Este put a stop to the winning streak of the Aguilas Cibaeñas, scoring 10-3 in Wednesday evening's match 10-3. It was an evening of excellent pitching by imports Dann Hubbs and Mark Herges. In San Pedro, the Estrellas Orientales defeated the Licey Tigers 6-5. Batting for the Estrellas were Julio César Franco, Manny Alexander and Félix José. Franco is the league's batting champion, averaging .476.
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