On Saturday, 26 January, Dominicans celebrate the 195th anniversary of Juan Pablo Duarte's birth. Duarte was one of the DR's three founding fathers who together with Francisco del Rosario Sanchez and Ramon Matias Mella, formed the La Trinitaria underground movement, which led to Dominican independence from Haitian rule. The date is a holiday in the Dominican Republic. Although Duarte himself was exiled to Venezuela shortly before Dominican independence was declared in 1844, he was asked to take the presidency, a position he refused on basic principle. He died in exile in 1876 and his body was returned to the DR in 1884. The Justicia Global y el Movimiento Restaurador Duartiano social-political group will be marching in honor of the national hero. Government sponsored events will begin at 8am with full military processions and singing of the National Anthem.
From 1992 until 2007 Dominicans paid a total of RD$125 billion in taxes on gasoline. Hoy writes that from 1992 onwards each government has justified these increases with the argument that fuel tax revenue would be used for the payment of services, interest and capital of the external debt. According to figures provided by the Ministry of Hacienda, Dominicans paid RD$14.7 billion in taxes on fuels between 1992 and 1996 and RD$16.6 billion between 1997 and 2000. The figures also indicate that between 2001 and 2004 increases were greater as Dominicans paid RD$27.5 billion in taxes. Although international oil prices continued on a steady rise, the DR experienced its largest boom in fuel taxes between 2005 and 2007, paying out RD$65.5 billion. At times, economists, monetary experts and spokesmen for business groups consider fuel taxes burdensome since they are passed on to consumers and are usually a contradictory practice at a time when oil prices are at record highs. Still government continues to increase fuel taxes as an easy way of getting more revenue. The DR consumes approximately 50 million barrels of petroleum per year, or 4.2 million barrels per month.
While quick to challenge any controversy pointing in his direction, Senate leader Reinaldo Pared Perez has decided to stay relatively mum in reaction to Hoy's publication just how much senators cost the country. Yesterday, the Senate leader was asked to comment on reports that each senator costs the state roughly RD$2 million per month and Pared said that it's not far from the truth. Hoy writes that the Senate leader was visibly angry with questions from reporters, although in a failing effort to deflect attention from the conversation Pared told reporters that what was most disappointing was that the newspapers didn't highlight the work that legislators had done in 2007 when Congress passed more than 2,000 bills. He did not detail what the bills were about, and it is known that a large percentage of bills are for sale of state property at below market prices, often benefiting individuals.
Meanwhile, PRSC Deputy Mario Jose Fernandez Savinon said yesterday that deputies have so many other expenses to deal with that living solely on a legislators' salary did not pay enough to go by. He added that deputies needed to have another income to make ends meet. Meanwhile, his colleague Carlos Martinez claimed that the incentives they get, like the Social Fund, valued at RD$50,000, are minimal things that legislators donate to churches and other institutions. Deputies make roughly RD$350,000, not including other benefits. Martinez argued that Dominican legislators are among the lowest-paid in the region. Fernandez continued by saying that anyone who lives on a deputy's salary would probably never be a deputy again because the pressure is too intense. He did admit, however, that since legislative salaries are higher now than they were during the Balaguer years, more people want to work in Congress, while stating that deputy's salaries are nothing compared to the salaries of high-ranking officials.
Dominican imports for 2007 increased by US$2.7 billion for a total of RD$10,353,955,609. This is 35% more than in 2006, according to figures released by the Customs Department (DGA). The DGA report says that the increase in exports highlights the dynamism of the Dominican economy in 2007. In 2003 the DR imported US$4.38 billion, and US$4.77 billion in 2004, for a 9% increase. In 2005 the total imported volume equaled US$7.24 million and in 2006 imports increased only slightly, totaling US$7.67 billion.
Dominican ports move about 20 million metric tons of varied goods each year. Experts project that this could increase by 10% to 12% this year due to extended hours and the increased ease of working with the Dominican Port Authority (APORDOM). Those goods were shipped on roughly 6,000 ships. Luis Taveras Andujar, president of APORDOM's board said that Dominican ports have enhanced security and this had led to confidence and an increased level of investment. Taveras said that as part of plans to improve service, APORDOM would introduce two shifts, one that ends at 3:30pm and one that ends at 8pm. Cross-institutional cooperation is another part of APORDOM's plan to increase efficiency, including cooperation with the Customs Department and the Organization of American States (OAS). There is also talk of extending things to the university level with a possible career option at UNAPEC and PUCCM.
Dominican authorities are looking to exporting eggs to Venezuela as a possible solution to a developing problem with surplus eggs in the country. The egg surplus came about as a result of a ban by Haitian officials on Dominican eggs and poultry products. The ban was implemented following the discovery of isolated avian flu cases in fighting cocks two weeks ago. Although Puerto Rico promptly lifted their ban, Haiti has not, leading to an egg surplus because about 15% of the local production has been exported to Haiti. Agriculture Minister Salvador Jimenez said that the possibility exists of exporting other products to Venezuela, like rice and legumes.
The legal advisor to the Mayor of Santo Domingo Roberto Salcedo has denied that advertising company Impacto Urbano has seized the mayor's personal accounts. The consultant added that lawyers for the Argentinean company are engaged in a reckless campaign since they never issued a payment order. Salcedo's lawyer Joaquin Lopez and municipality spokesman Domingo Contreras informed that they would appeal the decision issued by the First Civil and Commercial Chamber of the National District Court of Appeals. They claim the court had based its decision on a photocopy.
The Taiwanese Embassy has given the Dominican Republic Center for Imports and Investment (CEI-RD) a final donation for the completion of new Cyber Park. The last installment is for US$10 million and the total donation equaled US$50 million. It is part of a cooperation agreement signed between Foreign Relations Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso and his Taiwanese counterpart James Huang in 2006. Taiwanese Ambassador Eduardo Chen presented the donation to Jose Manuel Trullols and Eddy Perez who received the donation on behalf of the DR. Perez, who heads CEI-RD, is also on the Cyber Park's board. Martinez said that Taiwan's donations will guarantee the construction of the Park's ecosystem and will develop more than 1,000 jobs and a first class academic system. Perez added that the donations represent a positive impact on the Dominican economy. Chen said that his government is willing to donate funds and resources to the DR in order to strengthen relations between the two countries.
Members of the Dominican Medical Association (CMD) voted yesterday to give the CMD the authority to call for work stoppages, strikes and marches and other forms of protest. Public hospital doctors are seeking a salary increase and dignified pension plans from the government. With this vote of support, CMD president Waldo Ariel Suero announced that a planned work stoppage for 30 January would go on as scheduled. Suero said that even though Law 147-07 was approved by the Health and Labor Risk Superintendence (SISARIL), the resolution hasn't been implemented because an appeal was filed by the National Social Security Council (CNSS) and the National Unity Council Union (CNUS). These are the reasons the strike is called for later this month. Suero continued by saying that he was glad that 2008 has been declared the Year of Health by the President because it highlights the cause, but said that if you look at the national budget only 1.8% of the country's GDP goes towards health, one of the lowest rates in Latin America. During the meeting the doctors spoke on issues and compared their salaries, between RD$15,000 and RD$23,000, to those of senators and deputies, who earn between RD$350,000 and RD$2 million a month.
Companies are paying more, but their employees are getting much less since the country adopted the SFS, the nationwide health plan. The companies that manage the plan are paying doctors and hospitals less for services provided now under the SFS, and as a result employees or companies now have to pay extra for complementary plans or make higher supplementary payments to doctors to receive the previous levels of service. The National Business Council (CONEP) met yesterday and said that the SFS is but a burden to companies because they pay for a service and their employees do not receive what was promised in services or quality of service. The president of CONEP, Lisandro Macarulla said that the business group has been patient, giving the government time to sort out the initial problems, but that if the situation of lack of fulfillment of health plan services is not resolved soon, they will resort to other measures to demand their rights and those of their employees.
A study done by the Father Juan Montalvo Social Center (BIDESCO) questions the efficiency of the Barrio Seguro security program, put in place in some of Santo Domingo's most dangerous neighborhoods. Jenny Torres, a member of the center's research team, says that the study reveals higher murder rates and criminal activity than presented by the police. Torres says that if you calculate the homicide rate in 2007, including murders committed by the police, the rate is 22.5%, higher than before Barrio Seguro was implemented. She added that the police are interested in presenting figures without acknowledging the murders committed by their own officers. Torres says that a survey of 450 people aged between 16 and 65 was conducted in La Cienaga, Los Guandules, Guachupita and 27 de Febrero neighborhoods. Of these, 73% were female and 23% were male. The survey revealed that even though new police stations have been built and there was an increased police presence in the neighborhoods, 27% of those interviewed didn't even know where the police stations were and only 14.25% knew that new schools had been built. Of the 450 interviewed, only 25.39% thought that safety had improved since the implementation of the program and 4.68% knew that tech centers existed in their neighborhoods.
Ferreteria Hache is advertising its 25% off sale from 6 to 10pm and 50% off one item purchased from 9 to 10pm.
Ferreteria Americana has a weekend sale ongoing in its stores since 17 January.
XL Plus clothing store has a 50-70% off sale on sizes 10-30. Located at Plaza Central, 2nd floor.
SuperPola supermarket has sales in their fish department.
Santiago's Monumento a los Heroes de la Restauracion has reopened to visitors. The Monument had been temporarily closed for structural and garden maintenance. Monument governor Tony Saint-Hilaire said that because of the high volume of visitors in November the maintenance work had to be postponed for the Christmas vacation.
On the occasion of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Caribbean Series in Santiago de los Caballeros, the country's second largest city, the Ministry of Interior and Police has announced the lifting of the curfew on alcohol beverage sales. Colmados will also be allowed to sell alcohol past the normal time during the tournament. Minister Franklin Almeyda said that there would be no limits on the sale of alcohol in Santiago from 1 - 7 of February, when the series will take place. He emphasized however, that restrictions would only be relaxed in Santiago and that measures would be instituted to control drunk driving. Almeyda said there would also be controls to ensure that "colmadones" keep the volume down at night. He announced that 36 Harley Davidson motorcycles would patrol traffic on Duarte Highway to prevent accidents during the event. He said that 10 more of these patrol motorcycles would be on duty on the Autovia del Este and another 10 on the main highway leading to the southwest.
"The Caribbean Series will be a sports party for the city of Santiago and the country, and we need to be good hosts," said the Interior and Police Minister, explaining the reasons for the lifting of the alcohol sale restrictions. The tournament will be held between 2 February and 7 February and a large tourist influx is expected.
The Tigres del Licey were on the verge of elimination last night and they played like it. With a courageous 5-4 victory against the Aguilas, the Tigres kept their playoff hopes alive. Licey is now only two games away from capturing another championship trophy. Tigres catcher Matt Tupman and shortstop Erick Aybar both drove in two runs each, and closer Carlos Marmol held on for the victory in the ninth. Licey won 5-4. With last night's victory and the Aguilas inability to close out the series, it seems as if momentum has finally shifted the Tigres' way. The Aguilas lead the series 4-3 and after three blowout victories in the first three games, non-believers wrote off any chance for the Tigres. The Tigres have gone on to win three of the last four games and a continued surge could prove imperative if the Tigres look to take home the post-season crown.
Regardless of who wins the finals, both the Licey and the Aguilas will be in the Caribbean Series matches against Venezuela and Mexico to take place the first week of February in Santiago de los Caballeros. The team to win the championship will wear the Dominican Republic uniform. The runner up team will wear the uniform of their own franchise, whether it be the Licey or Aguilas.
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 1996-2008. DR1. All Rights Reserved.