Actor Robert de Niro visited the Presidential Palace yesterday and signed several autographs, while visiting President Leonel Fernandez with whom he spoke about his plans to film the motion picture "The Good Shepherd", together with actress Angelina Jolie. The President met with de Niro for over one and a half hours. They spoke about the art of cinema. De Niro, who arrived in the DR Wednesday evening, said this was his first visit to the country, but that it would not be the last. Earlier he had remarked that the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo was "fantastic" during a meeting in the Foreign Relations Ministry with Deputy Minister Alejandra Liriano, during which he saw the building which will be one of the locations for "The Good Shepherd". During his visit to the Presidential Palace, normal work was partly paralyzed as many employees wanted to see, touch, greet or ask him for an autograph. President Fernandez joked: "De Niro and I are going to make a movie, and I will be the supporting actor." For 30 minutes, de Niro displaced the President as the main figure in the Palace. During his visit to the Ministry of Foreign Relations, de Niro met with sociologist Frank Marino Hernandez, advisor to Foreign Relations Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso and deputy minister Alejandra Liriano. He also visited the Colonial Zone where filming of scenes for the movie is due to take place. He will be here until Friday and will return for the October filming of the Good Shepherd. De Niro will play the role of the older Wilson, and Matt Damon will play the role of the younger James Wilson. The DR has become increasingly popular as a film-making destination over the past two years. Films have included Lovewrecked (Randal Kleiser), The Lost City (Andy Garcia), and The Feast of the Goat (Mario Vargas Llosa), among others. Miami Vice is another Universal Studio films slated for filming in the DR this year.
Three concrete proposals from foreign investors interested in building a new petroleum refinery in the Manzanillo Bay area have been received by the government, according to Listin Diario. The facility would require an investment of US$1.5 billion and would have the capacity for refining 300,000 barrels of oil per day, 20% of which would go to the local market, and the remaining 80% for export to the US. The refinery would be located in Manzanillo, Montecristi province, in the northwest of the country and would be built together with a 400-megawatt power generator. The Dominican Petroleum Refinery currently processes 33,000 barrels of crude oil daily, the same capacity it had when it was installed in 1973. Present demand is between 150,000 and 160,000 barrels per day depending on demand from the electricity generating system. The investment offers have come from the US, the Middle East, Europe and Israel and were submitted to the government commission headed by Aristides Fernandez Zucco, president of the Dominican Petroleum Refinery (Refidomsa) and the Industry and Commerce Minister Francisco Javier Castillo. Last month, President Fernandez ordered several cabinet officials to begin negotiations with petroleum companies in Asia and Europe that might be interested in installing refineries and deposit or storage centers in the DR for domestic use and export to the US.
The Dominican government plans to integrate religious groups, the civil society and organizations that defend Haitian immigrants into the work involved in the migratory census, as reported in El Caribe newspaper. While offering details about the census, government spokesman Roberto Rodriguez compared the situation of Haitians in the country to the migratory conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians. The government will use human rights advocates to locate all Haitians and ensure that their rights are respected. The census is expected to detect Haitians who have obtained Dominican ID cards and birth certificates illegally. At a press conference at the Presidential Palace, Rodriguez and the Police Department press officer, Rafael Nunez, assured there would not be massive expulsion of illegal Haitians. They said that the number of Haitians that will be returned to Haiti would be decided after the census. The census will also determine whether foreigners have committed crimes as well as where they work.
The Central Bank informed that seven renowned national and international companies have presented technical and economic proposals for the purchase and/or operation of the loan portfolios of failed banks, which would contribute to reducing the CB's quasi-fiscal deficit, according to a report in Hoy. Central Bank governor Hector Valdez Albizu stated that this is a very important process for the monetary and financial authorities of the DR, as it should decrease in a reasonable time the stock of participation certificates and will cause the quasi-fiscal deficit to be less significant in terms of the GDP. The bidding companies are from the US, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico and the DR and are part of the Registry of Eligible Companies created by the Asset Realization Policy Committee (COPRA) as a result of the public tender performed by the Central Bank on 28 February 2005 for the pre-qualification of bidders. The Central Bank will announce the tender results on 29 July 2005 at the latest.
Investigations and intelligence divisions of the Police Department are actively looking for former banker Leonel Almonte, whose bail has been revoked. Police Chief Manuel de Jesus Perez Sanchez said he would comply with Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito's order for Almonte's arrest. He stated that members of the Secret Service, as well as the Departments of Criminal Intelligence and Monetary Felonies have broadened the search for Almonte. Meanwhile, Victor Rodriguez Concepcion, who is accused together with Almonte in the same case, turned himself in yesterday at the Attorney General's office to be interrogated regarding fraud committed against the clients of bankrupt Banco Universal. Police spokesman Simon Diaz indicated that Almonte's home in Piantini had been "visited". He did not state whether an exit prohibition had been issued against Almonte. Diaz stated that lawyer Leida de los Santos Ledebul, who arranged to take Rodriguez Concepcion to the authorities, has offered to help find Almonte and get him to turn himself in. The former banker is accused of fraud for RD$145 million against thousands of clients who have not been able to recover the funds they had deposited in the bank.
Attorney General Francisco Domingo Brito has ordered the transfer of retired general Joaquin Pou Castro, who is serving 12 years for the murder of journalist Orlando Martinez, to Najayo prison. As reported in Diario Libre, Pou Castro had been held in a pavilion of the Armed Forces Ministry since his arrest in 1997 for the crime committed on 17 March 1975. The transfer order was directed to Prison Director Juan Ramon de la Cruz Martinez. The Supreme Court has not decided on an appeal by Pou Castro, together with former corporal Mariano Cabrera Duran and civilian Rafael Alfredo Lluberes Ricart. The latter two, also implied in the case, were sentenced to 15 years each.
Diario Libre reports that the Criminal Chamber of the National District Court of Appeals will begin to hear the appeal against the sentence that cleared Marino Vinicio Castillo of criminal responsibility but condemns him to pay RD$1 million in compensation to senator Hernani Salazar. Castillo will not be present at the proceedings as he is in the US where yesterday he underwent surgery. His son, attorney Vinicio Castillo Seman said it was a minor operation, which had gone well. Castillo Seman stated that they would request that the process be postponed. The prosecution has been informed.
Spanish ambassador Almudena Mazarrasa Alvear has assured that Spain never granted former Colonel Pedro Julio "Pepe" Goico Guerrero a visa, and said that if the Dominican justice system requires the assistance of the Justice departments in Spain for his extradition, this will be facilitated. Mazarrasa said that sometimes visas obtained in other countries are used to travel to Spain. On the question of Pepe Goico's entrance to Spain, she stated that there are many people living illegally in her country and that is because borders are not as impenetrable as they would like. District Attorney Juan Manuel Hernandez Peguero said that he was taking steps towards the judicial procedure to begin Pepe Goico's extradition process. Goico's lawyer says that the DA's position is not feasible as his client has not been allowed an open process in Dominican courts.
The local representative of the Government of Puerto Rico, Armando del Valle Munoz, has highlighted the measures being taken to improve its alliance with the DR, its second most important trade associate, to face the challenges presented by the DR-CAFTA agreement, particularly in the area of services. During a visit to Listin Diario, del Valle Munoz stated that bilateral trade reached a level of US$1.4 billion during the last year. He sustained that the trade balance between the two nations has been stable during the past years and that bilateral trade is expected to increase to more than RD$5 billion in the short term, when the FTA comes into effect. He said his government is most willing to offer all the technical collaboration required for the DR to face the challenges of the FTA.
During the first semester of this year, the DR received 7.26% more passengers by air, which represent 109,882 additional visitors compared to the same period in 2004, an increase similar to the previous year of 108,093 when compared to 2003. Listin Diario reports that the Executive Director of the Association for the Tourist Development of Juan Dolio and Guayacanes, Radhames Martinez Aponte, said that this growth is a result of the promotional work by the Ministry of Tourism. However, he pointed out that the lower sales prices during that period and the increase of taxes have contributed to making the industry less profitable. During this period, Punta Cana and Las Americas airports experienced 65% growth of visitors and 66% growth of total arrivals whereas figures from Puerto Plata airport showed a decrease of 0.27 during the same period. The US market has maintained its growth rate at 11.49%. A report shows that 50% of foreign visitors to the DR come from the US.
Standard & Poor's issued a 15-page comprehensive assessment of the B/Stable/B credit ratings of the DR on 20 July. Standard & Poor's states that the stable outlook balances improved economic prospects and moderate government debt levels with weak institutions and the large quasi-fiscal deficits of the Central Bank that constrain monetary policy. It comments that further improvements in governance, along with sustained economic growth and further fiscal measures to contain the fiscal deficits and tackle the quasi-fiscal deficits of the Central Bank, could lead to improved creditworthiness. However, it mentions that on the other hand, further political problems or policy reversals could lead to negative rating actions. The rating agency states that the ratings on the DR are constrained by a number of factors, including weak external indicators and government institutions along with diminished fiscal flexibility. It points out that the country's general government debt to GDP, at under 50% for 2005, is much lower than the 'B' median's 74% and tends to support the country's creditworthiness. Standard & Poor's also mentions what it defines as the country's weak external indicators. External liquidity as measured by its gross financing gap (current account position, plus errors and omissions, plus short-term external debt, plus long-term external amortization) to liquid international reserves is over 200%, indicating continued liquidity constraints despite a significant current account adjustment and a rise in international reserves. It also points out that the DR has historically had weak institutions and poor economic policy implementation.
According to Standard & Poor's, the Dominican Republic compares favorably to most 'B' credits, given the fact that its economy is relatively diversified. Tourism and other services are important. The Dominican Republic has a per capita income of US$2,837, well above the 'B' median's $1,045. As a result of the higher debt burden and the shift to more commercial debt, the government interest burden rose to over 20% of revenue in 2003 from just 7% of revenue in 2002, and will remain at this level in 2004-2005.
Diario Libre reports that the demolition of "Cristobal Colon" port terminal began yesterday as part of the Santo Domingo port renovation project, which is undergoing development by Inversiones Turisticas Sans Souci. The concrete building located on the western side of the port, where the ferryboat to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico used to dock is to be demolished. Employees of several government departments, such as the Dominican Port Authority, the Tax Department, the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as some private institutions were removing their belongings from the premises. Electric generators, air conditioners, furniture, doors, windows and other objects were being removed. The project's concession holders have stated they are investing US$28 million over the next three years. The remodeled port is expected to receive one million cruise ship passengers. During the first two years, 80 to 150 ships are expected, and 300 during the third year.
The Cinemateca is presenting a collection called "Jewels of European Cinema" from 21 to 27 July during which films of great artistic and technical quality, both classical and contemporary, are being shown. Among the films are "Electra" (1962) by Michael Cacoyannis, "Z" (1969) by Costa Gavras, and "Hey Babu Riba" (1986) by Jovan Acin. For a full listing of the films being shown each day visit: http://clavedigital.com/Cultura/Noticias.asp?Id_Articulo=36
Gypsies singing to God, or a Flamenco Mass will be presented at Plaza de Espana in front of the Columbus Alcazar in the Colonial City. Not to be missed, this is scheduled for the evening of Saturday, 23 July. This is one of the most applauded Spanish cultural events. It is a production of Fundacion Frontera Inc. 14 Spanish artists, plus a choir of 20 Dominican voices members of the National Choir will perform. Written by Tito Losada, the Misa Flamenca is described as a fusion of religious text with Spanish flamenco music, in an awakening of passion, love and drama. The event is backed by the City of Santo Domingo, the Cultural Center of Spain (CCE) and the Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional, and the Club de Lectores del Listin Diario. Admission is free.
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