During the 35 days between 1 January and 4 February, the government collected RD$22.74 billion from taxpayers, or an average of RD$650 million per day, according to the Ministry of Hacienda. This is 2.5% more than budgeted, and 9.1% more than what was collected in 2007, as reported in El Caribe. The amount does not include donations or loans, but does include US$20 million from the sale of Verizon. The Department of Taxes (DGII) collected 75.4% of the funds, or RD$14.8 billion. The Department of Customs (DGA) raised RD$5.4 billion.
Economy, Planning and Development Minister Temistocles Montas says that the government has started talks with the International Monetary Fund with a view to signing a new agreement. Montas said that a Dominican government commission would be visiting the IMF headquarters in Washington in the coming weeks. Montas said that President Leonel Fernandez would have the final word on what kind of agreement would be signed. The previous stand-by arrangement expired on 31 January 2008.
Speaking during a round table discussion on "Budget 2008, an Instrument for Development or Political Patronage?" organized by the Foundation for Institutionalism and Justice (FINJUS) yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Economy, Guarocuya Felix said that the National Budget serves as an instrument for development but also offers lots of scope for political patronage. Felix says that this happens at both central government and municipal level, as reported in Hoy. He commented on the appointment of party members to the government payroll, and said the budget serves as a tool to secure political loyalty. "It is now in fashion to appoint party members and supporting members from other parties to government," he said during yesterday's discussion.
He mentioned the attractive perk of financing for luxury vehicles for people on the government payroll. As reported in Diario Libre, Felix criticized a government program that finances up to 80% of the cost of luxury vehicles costing up to US$145,000 for government officials. Recently, the Central Electoral Board held a tender for the purchase of luxury Land Cruiser jeeps.
He also criticized the fact that of every RD$1 received by municipal councils, RD$0.90 is paid out in wages, as well as the fact that city councilors are better paid than any deputy ministers while having many fewer commitments. The central government needs to set the guidelines for the use of budget funds, he said.
"There is no other more effective political tool in government than the allocation of resources," he said.
"We see how every year the budget approval process leaves citizens feeling discouraged when the deadlines for the presentation of the budget are violated," he mentioned. This year the budget was sent to Congress in Christmas week and rushed through by the PLD majority Congress.
Round table moderator Servio Tulio Castanos Guzman, executive vice president of the Fundacion Institutionalidad y Justicia (Finjus), said that the budget needed to target social welfare and economic development, not political patronage.
Jose Rijo, another speaker during the event, said that the 2008 budget was prepared as it has always been: seeking to respond to circumstances, not the country's fundamental problems. He said that this is evidenced by the fact there are no increases in allocations for health and education. Rijo is coordinator of a United Nations Development Program project for the modernization and institutional strengthening of the Chamber of Deputies. He said that in 2007, the Ministry of Education received 11.3% of the budget, while this year it will only receive 10.4%. He said that in relation to the GDP, the education allocation is well below the 4% that is required by law.
Rijo said that most public resources are allocated to works that even though they may get started are not duly contracted. He said that their implementation depended on Presidential discretion, which fosters clientelism.
Miguel Cocco, director of the Customs Department says that Dominican society is permeated by corruption and impunity, which is halting development. During a press conference called to announce the coming III Marathon of Customs Confraternity, Cocco told the press that "those who have money buy justice, and get rich fast violating all rules, while a poor person finds it hard to make ends meet, unless he is the accomplice of a corrupt person."
Cocco criticized that there is corruption in the private and public sector. He criticized the fact that corruption in the private sector is not denounced. He said that many of the people who complain of corruption in the government are the leading corruptors of society and those that buy consciences. "The private sector buys government officials, and is thus an accomplice in corruption," he said.
A recent FAO report evaluated the actions taken by the Dominican government and set out what needs to be done next to prevent more cases of H5H2 avian flu virus. The virus has primarily affected cockfighting birds, but the FAO mission warns that further measures are needed to impede it from spreading. As reported in Listin Diario, so far 1,096 potential carriers have been culled and 10 cases of infected birds have been detected in La Vega, San Pedro de Macoris, Peravia, Barahona and San Juan de la Maguana.
FAO technicians visited the country from 18-28 January after cases were reported in cockfighting roosters in Higuey. Once these were known, the Department of Cattle-Ranching at the Ministry of Agriculture activated the emergency system and notified the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
FAO technicians say that the government needs to continue with the OIE procedures. The Presidency has yet to issue a decree that would empower the Department of Cattle-Ranching to execute measures aimed at controlling and eradicating the disease, namely quarantine, restriction of movement of birds and their culling. The decree would also grant autonomy to the Department of Cattle-Ranching for the application of the program. The FAO estimates that the DR will lose US$40 million due to the cases reported. The FAO also warned that procedures currently in place are not enough to control the virus in the country. The FAO mission also recommended the suspension of cockfighting for 30 days, with possible renewals of the ban while the problem persists.
The Civil Aviation Board issued its approval for the new airline, Air Dominicana to begin flights in May. The airline, an affiliate of Air Europa of Grupo Globalia in Spain, will initially fly to destinations in the US, Mexico and South America. In a second phase, the airline will fly to Europe and more South American destinations.
The Ministry of Higher Education is announcing the availability of full academic scholarships for Dominican citizens for masters programs at the Rochester Institute of Technology. The university programs are in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, manufacturing and mechanical systems integration, material science engineering, packaging science, telecommunications engineering technology, software engineering. An academic index of 3.2 or 85 points is required and completed undergraduate studies in related fields are required for the application. The deadline for application is 5 March 2008. Students need also a score of 550 on the TOEFL exam, which will be given on 6 March at 9am at the Ministry of Higher Education. For further information on requirements, contact the Department of International Scholarships at the Ministry of Higher Education.
The Transport Reorganization Office (OPRET) has announced that studies are advancing on the construction of what will be the second line of the Santo Domingo Metro. This would stretch from Los Alcarrizos to San Luis, as reported in Listin Diario. Leonel Carrasco of OPRET said that technicians from the Madrid Metro have designed the route that will cover 22.5 kilometers and have 24 underground stations. The second metro line would extend under the Duarte Highway, John F. Kennedy Avenue, Quinto Centenario Avenue, Padre Castellanos Street, San Vicente de Paul Street and Carretera Mella.
Carrasco announced that the first 14 km line of the Metro, going from Villa Mella (Av. Hermanas Mirabal) to the Centro de los Heroes would be in operation in June or July. Plans are for 57 subway cars to serve the route and fares of RD$20.
The metro will cover 60 kms, mostly underground and construction is envisioned to take 20 years. Other lines in planning are: Line 3, from Los Bajos de Haina to Ensanche Isabelita, Line 4 from Plaza de la Bandera to Km. 9 y Medio, Line 5 from Ensanche Isabelita to Megacentro, and Line 6 from Liceo Pablo Daurte to Colonial City.
La Cadena is advertising plantains for RD$7.95ea, beans RD$59.95-2lbs, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese RD$19.95ea
Super Pola supermarket has 16/20 size shrimp for RD$259lb, and other sales in its seafood and fish department, frozen chicken breasts for RD$84.95 and other sales in the meat department, 30% off a selection of whisky and rum and 35% off pineapples, papaya, red pepper, broccoli, and sweet potato.
Nacional supermarkets have sales in its seafood department from 15 to Friday to 21 February. Shrimps for RD$239.95 16/20lb, 12/15 for RD$269.95lb, and Black tiger shrimp tails 6/8 for RD$729.95
Bravo is advertising sales in its seafood department, with clams for RD$99.95lb, ground conch for RD$119.95, and dorado filet for RD$89.95lb.
Competitors from Mexico, Venezuela, Switzerland, Chile, Colombia, Cuba and the DR are registered to compete in the Independence Day Cycling Tour, the longest and most important in the Caribbean. The tour covers a 1,200km route nationwide, divided into nine stretches. It starts on 22 February. This is the XXIXth edition of the tournament.
The British Chamber of Commerce has announced the celebration of its annual golf tournament this coming 1 March at the Santo Domingo Golf Club. Roberto Herrera, president of the Chamber of Commerce made the announcement. The event is held under the auspices of the Dominican Golf Federation and will be played with the stroke play modality in men and women categories. Elsa Turull de Alma is coordinating the event for the chamber. Registration is RD$3,500.
www.britchamdr.com
Speed racing begins at the Cibao Racing Track on 2 March in the former Cibao airport in Santiago, announced Maurice Viau of the Club Dominicano de Corredores de Circuito (CCCC). The event is organized by the CCCC with the endorsement of the Dominican Automobile Racing Federation. In addition to competitions at the Cibao Racing Track, this year races are planned for the new Autodromo Mobil 1 (former Autodromo Las Americas).
For more events, see www.dr1.com/calendar
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