Yesterday, President Leonel Fernandez, together with thousands of Dominican students, celebrated Flag Day during a special celebration at Santo Domingo's Independencia Park. The celebrations included a military parade, the singing of the Dominican National Anthem and a speech by Juan Daniel Balcacer, director of the Permanent Commission on Dominican Heritage. The first Dominican flag designed was similar to the Haitian flag and was used by the underground movement "La Trinitaria," but that version was modified and an original variation of today's flag first flew over the DR on 27 February, 1844.
According to US Ambassador in the DR Robert Fannin, the DR's main economic sectors lack real competition. Fannin, speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce's monthly luncheon, believes that this lack of competition is a factor in the increase in the price of gasoline and other raw materials. The new ambassador attributed the stability of some product prices to DR-CAFTA, saying that the free trade agreement has developed as was promised and has consolidated and increased already existing benefits, non-traditional exports have increased, especially in agriculture, and the cost of importing has also decreased. Fannin also commented on the need to invest in people and highlighted the importance of education as a means of helping the country to compete in a global economy. The Ambassador also urged business leaders to make contact with the US Embassy in Santo Domingo in order to make the most of the opportunities on offer. During his speech Fannin also warned local businesspeople to stay away from businesses that might have connections to drug trafficking. Fannin praised the efforts made by Dominican drug officials in fighting drug trafficking in the country and commented on the success of drug policy in the DR.
The American Chamber of Commerce in the DR has come out against the idea of new fiscal reform, on the grounds that it would only bring higher taxes and an increase in prices, which would lead to reduced competitiveness. AmCham president Christopher Paniagua also questioned the government's continued subsidies on propane gas (LGP) and the energy sector. According to Paniagua, another fiscal reform would impede growth and the level of employment. Quoted in Hoy, Paniagua called for improved allocation of public funds, which in itself would represent a real restructuring of public finance.
The Dominican Medical Association (CMD) has announced that their proposed 24-hour strike will go on as scheduled. The CMD is holding the strike to put pressure on the government to increase doctors' monthly salaries to RD$59,000, as well as other demands, including the elimination of the recovery quotas charged to hospital patients. Economy, Planning and Development Minister Temistocles Montas described the strike as political. The strike was announced by CMD president Waldo Ariel Suero, who confirmed that as of 6am today 14,000 doctors in 172 hospitals around the country would stop working. Only patients in emergency situations or in critical condition will be treated. Suero says that the CMD feels betrayed by Public Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez, while adding that he was still open to dialogue aimed at reaching a resolution.
Hoy is reporting that the Banco Agricola and the Dominican Banana Producers Association (Adobanano) have agreed on a RD$400 million loan with a 6% interest rate for Association members. Banco Agricola administrator Paino Abreu and Adobanano President Eddy Cabrera discussed the commitment to make sure the loan process is successful. Adobanano promised that they would pay back all loans and that members would pay for any loans they accrued separately. Abreu, quoted in Hoy, said that the loan would help banana producers to begin the recovery process months after Tropical Storms Noel and Olga and enable them to continue competing on the international markets.
The National District municipality (ADN) is claiming that if they pay the RD$509 million in debt accrued by the FENATRANO bus union, they will have to file for bankruptcy. The Banco de Reservas has given the ADN a 45-day period to make the payment. ADN secretary general Domingo Contreras and the Judicial Consultant explained that BanReservas general administrator Daniel Toribio notified the union that the payment of the debt could not be extended. Contreras, legal consultant Joaquin Lopez and Desiderio Arias, director of the Defense and Use of Public Spaces Office are all urging FENATRANO director Juan Hubieres to pay the loan as he had promised. Contreras said that if the ADN pays the loan on behalf of FENATRANO they would have to sacrifice infrastructural projects.
According to the World Food Program, 85,970 children in the DR are suffering from chronic malnutrition, mainly in the country's major cities. According to the report, "Food and Hunger Atlas," released by the UN organization, 48.7% of all children with malnutrition live in 15 cities. Boca Chica has the highest rate with 4,165 malnourished children. Santo Domingo, the National District, La Vega, Santiago, San Juan de la Maguana and San Cristobal have 43,652 malnourished children. The National District represents 6.3% of the national total with 5,434 children. The province of Santo Domingo has a total of 21,634 malnourished children and when this is added, the total for the National District equals 27,068 or 25.2%. In Santiago there are 7,118 "chronically" malnourished children, 5,905 in San Cristobal, 4,283 in La Vega and 3,114 in San Juan de la Maguana. Factors for the increase in child malnutrition include lack of general health, drinking polluted water, lack of preventive health measures, infections, parasites, illnesses and inconsistent food consumption. An interesting fact highlighted by the report is that households headed by women have a lower rate of malnutrition than households headed by men, and that malnutrition is more common among Dominican boys than girls. In reaction to the report, Economy, Planning and Development Minister Temistocles Montas said the country would use all resources available in order to reduce malnutrition levels in the DR.
The director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Mirta Roses has announced a new malaria control and eradication program for the DR and Haiti. Roses said that the program would be implemented with the help of the Bi-national Commission, which is responsible for implementing health policies in both countries. Roses, quoted in Hoy, explained that the hope is to eradicate the disease, but this will only be achieved through cooperation from both countries. She highlighted the fact that both the DR and Haiti have taken steps to reduce malaria rates. Roses continued by saying that the National Center for the Control of Tropical Diseases (CENCET) and the National Malaria Program are experienced in managing the disease in the DR. In the last five years 1,500 malaria cases were reported annually, with most cases appearing in Monte Cristi, Dajabon, Higuey and some parts of the Cibao. PAHO consultant Miguel Machuca explains that the mortality rate has been low recently because of the quick action taken after the disease has been identified.
From March 2007 until November 2007 the Central Electoral Board (JCE) received RD$198,454,188 in revenue from the nation's civil registries. The 15 registries classified as first class collected RD$114,679,445, the 17 designated as second category collected RD$43,275,000 and the 129 classified as third category collected RD$40,499,743. During that same period the JCE spent RD$69,107,855 on the development of mobile registration centers, remodeling civil registry buildings, communication and information equipment, inverters and other essential equipment. The JCE has become more efficient in recent years, which has resulted in the increase in revenue. Civil registry officials are now paid a fixed salary of RD$50,000, RD$40,000 and RD$25,000 for services plus a percentage fee for marriages performed off the premises.
Sports Minister Felipe Payano has assured the nation's cockfighting sector that the government will continue to support the sport. Payano made his comments during a meeting with cockfighting owners and delegates at the Estadio Olimpico. Payano took the time to highlight President Leonel Fernandez's efforts to strengthen the cockfighting sector in the DR. Despite being illegal and looked down upon in the US and Europe, cockfighting is legal and considered part of the DR's cultural heritage. In recent weeks, Dominican baseball stars Pedro Martinez and Aramis Ramirez have come under fire for taking part in cockfighting. A video of Martinez at the Santo Domingo Cockfighting Coliseum has been circulating on the net, provoking outrage from animal rights groups.
The numbers of crimes committed with the use of high-speed motorcycles is on the rise. According to Listin Diario, small bikes like the Yamaha RX115 are used because of their high speed and mobility. Most motorcycle thieves have the same modus operandi, where they surprise victims with a gun or knife, demand their valuables and speed off, becoming almost impossible to catch as they disappear into the heavy traffic. From 16 August 2007 until February 2008, 494 "motorbike thefts" have been reported. During the same five-month period, 238 homicides were reported and blamed on "motorbike criminals". The cases reported also included 51 hijackings, 20 armed robberies, 17 robberies that resulted in injuries and 14 attempted robberies. Thirty-three motorbike crimes took place in the National District, 26 in Santo Domingo East, 17 in Santo Domingo West, 22 in North Santo Domingo, 5 in Azua, 3 in Bani, 9 in Barahona, 3 in Bonao, 6 in Cotui, 2 in El Seibo, 4 in Hato Mayor, 4 in Higuey, 14 in La Romana, 3 in Mao, 3 in Nagua, 11 in Puerto Plata, 1 in Samana, 1 in San Cristobal, 14 in San Francisco de Macoris, 7 in San Juan de La Maguana, 13 in San Pedro de Macoris, 16 in Santiago and 12 in La Vega. A month by month breakdown reveals that in August 52 motorbike crimes were committed, 70 in September, 106 in October, 43 in November, 93 in December, 96 in January and 34 in February. As for the crime schedule, most of the crimes, 176, occurred between 12 midday and 6pm, while 125 of the crimes occurred between 6pm and midnight. Sixty-two crimes occurred between midnight and 6am and 105 crimes occurred between 6am and 11am.
Former United States President George H. Bush, his wife Barbara and several family members are vacationing at the residence of Gustavo Cisneros in the luxurious Casa de Campo vacation complex in the eastern Dominican Republic. The Bush family has frequented the DR in years as a favorite vacationing spot. Reports indicate that George Bush divides his time between enjoying the country's natural beauty and playing his favorite sport, golf.
For many lucky eyes last night was a memorable occasion. A total eclipse of the moon began to form around 9:43pm and was best visible at 11:00. The duration of the total eclipse was 50 minutes. Wagner Lorenzo, from the National Meteorological Office (ONAMET) explained that lunar eclipses occur when the earth is located in between the Sun and the moon. Astronomers say that this is one of two lunar eclipses for 2008 and the next total lunar eclipse is expected on 21 December 2010.
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