Industry and Commerce Minister Melanio Paredes says that the country has benefited from the DR-CAFTA agreement, because capital goods, including machinery and raw materials can now be purchased at lower prices. During a speech at the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) luncheon Paredes cited a report by the Ministry of Hacienda that indicated that of the US$982 million in untaxed imports to the DR, 23% was made up of capital goods, 54.7% represented raw materials and 22.3% represented consumer goods. Paredes also said that during the last 15 years, foreign direct investment in the DR has shown considerable growth, going from US$916.8 million in 2002 to US$1.7 billion in 2007. Foreign direct investment grew by US$238.7 million between 2006 and 2007. Paredes says that investment has been fortified by the confidence brought on by DR-CAFTA.
Although there have been many benefits from DR-CAFTA, Paredes did acknowledge that Dominican exports have decreased from 52.4% in 2005 to 43.3% in 2007. The Minister attributed this to the increased strength of the Chinese economy and the removal of textile quotas by the US.
Paredes said that total DR-CAFTA imports and exports, for all countries, went from US$32 billion in 2003 to US$41.2 billion in 2007, which represents a 28.9% increase. The minister also spoke of the way in which the agreement has strengthened competition, adding that DR-CAFTA is very important for the Dominican economy's future development.
He also commented that DR-CAFTA strengthens Dominican institutions, contributes to the efficient development of the economy and strengthens the judicial system. Other benefits include the integration of the country into the world economy.
The de-facto ban on non-commercial flights to the DR has been lifted. Decree 169-08 removes the taxes that discouraged small private planes from flying to the DR. The exemption favors all planes that weigh under 30,000lbs with a maximum 12-passenger capacity. Jose Tomas Perez, director of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC) and Andres Van der Horst from the Airport Department say the move is aimed at strengthening aviation tourism.
Tourism Minister Felix Jimenez now wants the government to extend the tax cuts to commercial aircraft. Jimenez says he has made the point with his colleague, Economy & Planning Minister Temistocles Montas. Jimenez says the move would stimulate an increase in flights to the DR. The DR is the Caribbean island with the most international airports, putting tourists an hour or so away from their final destination.
In 2007 there were an estimated 100,000 non-commercial small planes flights in the Caribbean, of which the DR only attracted 4,000. And of these, only 1,000 originated from abroad, as reported in Listin Diario.
The president of the Free Trade Zone Association (ADOZONA) Fernando Capellan has expressed his support for a free trade agreement with Haiti due to the proximity of these two countries. Quoted in Hoy, he said that many opportunities could be maximized, and added that the only way to reduce poverty and social exclusion is to work together. Haiti is one of the DR's main trading partners, but no free trade agreement exists between the two neighbors, making much of the trade informal and subject to arbitrary decisions at the border.
Recently the need for an agreement has become more evident as exporters have complained of price gauging and inconsistent tax regulations at the Haitian border.
President Leonel Fernandez has attended the inauguration of the Caribbean Regional Customs Training Center, named in honor of Professor Juan Bosch. The project was constructed at a cost of RD$425 million by the Customs Department (DGA) and is located on the 17th kilometer of Las Americas Highway. During the ceremony, Fernandez congratulated Customs director Miguel Cocco. Cocco spoke about the Center, saying that it was built without being a burden to the state. He said that the DGA is no longer a place for opportunistic people who want to become wealthy overnight. Cocco says that the World Customs Organization (WCA) is supporting the Center, which will provide training for customs employees and high-ranking officials from around the hemisphere.
Traveling to Isla Saona and need to check your e-mail? Well now you can, after the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (INDOTEL) and the Environmental and Tourism Ministries opened an internet center on the island with 10 computers, wi-fi technology, wireless phone service, public phones and a solar energy system. The computer center is equipped with printers and an energy inverter and the computers include the latest computer software and children's educational programs.
Public Health officials have announced that they will begin vaccinating different sectors of the Dominican population, with the aim of controlling the spread of several infectious diseases. Dr. Zacarias Garib Arbaje, director of the Expanded Immunization Program said that beginning in April that they would be doing their best to complete the vaccination program. He added that they would be targeting babies, children and adults who require some sort of vaccine.
Santo Domingo Water Works (CAASD) president Mariano German is calling on the public to control water consumption amidst fears of a possible drought. German said that the flow of the Haina-Manoguayabo River - one of Santo Domingo's main water sources - has been reduced by 65%. The river is normally able to provide 95 million gallons of water to the province of Santo Domingo and the National District. German says that in order to fulfill water needs, water trucks will be distributing water to citizens in an equal way. "We ask the public to understand the situation about the drought we are starting to experience. It is a natural phenomenon, during which we are having to apply water supply ration programs, some of which will include changing the frequency of drinking water supplies in the barrios and residential areas of Santo Domingo and the National District."
Public hospital doctors went on strike yesterday, as promised. This is the third strike in the last three months by doctors who are demanding that the government increase their wages and provide other benefits. The government has been unwilling to budge and has even described the strikes as politically motivated, making the current administration even less unwilling to get to the negotiation table. According to Hoy there was an almost complete absence of doctors in the hospitals yesterday, and campaign groups like the Alternative Social Forum have come out in support of the striking doctors. Dominican Medical Association (CMD) president Waldo Ariel Suero says that the strike has been successful and says that the fact that the CMD offices were filled with government officials was proof of this. Suero says that of all the strikes this one has generated the most solidarity. Doctors are demanding salaries of RD$59,000 per month, elimination of the recovery quota and 1,600 residency positions for doctors.
Interviewed in Hoy newspaper, Public Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez supported the proposal that doctors should be paid according to the hours worked. He asked why a doctor who works all week now earns the same as a specialist who only works two or three days in a week. Although doctors are asking for more money, Rojas says that doctors have already received pay raises worth more than 60%. He also insisted the strike is just a way of hurting President Leonel Fernandez's re-election bid.
In related news, nurses are saying that they will not do the work of the absent doctors. The National Nurses Union (UNASED) has told its members to do just their jobs, and no one else's. UNASED president Minerva Magdaleno said that UNASED supports the doctors' strike 100% and called on Public Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez to come to the negotiating table to help resolve the dispute.
The PLD says it will end its Comite de Base (CB) program that put party members on the government payroll after the Central Electoral Board ruled for a stop to the payments yesterday. Listin Diario quotes judicial advisor to the President, Cesar Pina Toribio saying that the government regrets that many poor citizens won't be receiving money as a consequence of political murmuring. Listin Diario quotes Pina Toribio as saying that the JCE's ruling is illegal and says that the program has been in effect since 2005.
Diario Libre newspaper writes that documents given to the JCE by the PLD refer to a report by the Comptroller General that certifies there is no extra payroll, as is being alleged. According to the government's report, the public payroll in question defines the "employees" as 111 fixed employees, 112 pensioned, 121 contracted workers, 135 specialists, 137 security workers, 144 daily workers, 151, professionals and 152 who are being paid for special services.
As promised, the opposition PRD and PRSC parties have handed the Organization of American States (OAS) proof about the CB scandal. The evidence includes documents and video supporting the PRD's claims, including the documentary by journalist Nuria Piera that broke the story. PRD presidential candidate Miguel Vargas Maldonado gave the information to OAS mission chief Jose Octavio Bordon at PRD headquarters, while PRSC presidential candidate Amable Aristy Castro did the same during a meeting at his Arroyo Hondo home.
Bordon said that the OAS might release a report about the information provided, but that he would not comment on the allegations for the time being. He added that if and when the OAS releases a statement, it would be sure to respect the democracy, the sovereignty and rights of the Dominican public. Bordon has promised objectivity when evaluating the information.
In related news, Vargas Maldonado said that he would press charges against the people responsible for the CB scandal. Vargas expressed his approval for the Central Electoral Board ruling on the scandal, while saying that it is not sufficient unless guilt and responsibility are established, and punishment handed down.
Federal Express has announced the launch of its new personalized service, FedEx Transportation Solutions, which allows customers to send one or more freight packages to the US in three to six working days. Transport Solutions allows exporters to ship products to multiple destinations in the US at a lower cost, for one low fare, regardless of the final destination. Listin Diario writes that this new service works in cooperation with US customs services and FedEx delivery services in the US, and will also allow packages to be tracked, in real time, with delivery guarantees. This will make Transport Solutions a viable shipping alternative to existing freight carrier services. Mike Murkowski, VP of marketing for FedEx's Latin American division, says that FedEx understands the needs of Dominican businesses and the importance of flexibility in order to offer the best transport solutions in the global market.
For more info on FedEx in the DR click: www.fedex.com/us/international/...
Singer/songwriter Juan Luis Guerra and Drug Control Department (DNCD) Captain Raysa de la Cruz have been named 2007 Man and Woman of the year by Diario Libre. DL director Adriano Miguel Tejada said that the purpose of the award was to make symbols out of two Dominicans whose work promoted Dominican values. The ceremony took place at the Hotel Embajador last night, and Vice President Rafael Alburquerque and Omnimedia president Manuel Arturo Pellerano presented the awards. The 10 finalists for the award received silver platters in recognition of their work, including rescue worker Jose Altagracia Capellan, composer Darwin Aquino, Dr. Pedro Urena, Jatna Tavarez, Alicia Ortega, philanthropist Maria Magdalena Rosario and weightlifter Yudelkis Contreras. Contreras will represent the DR in the 2008 Olympics in China.
This year alone Juan Luis Guerra has the achievement of having won six categories in the Latin Grammy Awards, the Grammy Awards, El Pais newspaper excellence award, and several others. Raysa de la Cruz Olivares is an army captain who has the extremely high-risk task of commanding of the Drug Control Department's eastern division.
Once again Manny Ramirez is proving he still has some gas in his tank. During the second game in the Red Sox series against the Oakland Athletics in Japan, Ramirez smashed a homerun deep into the Tokyo Dome lights, to the delight of Japanese fans. The dinger was Ramirez's 491st career bomb and leaves the Dominican sluggers only nine homeruns away from the very exclusive 500-homerun club, which has only 24 members. The slugger is entering his 15th career in the Majors, after playing with the Cleveland Indians and now the BoSox. At times Ramirez has been criticized for his lackadaisical play, but his offensive prowess has never been in question. At this rate we could see Ramirez joining Sammy Sosa and Alex Rodriguez in that club, and who knows, maybe as part of the ultimately exclusive Cooperstown Club. However, Ramirez's power wasn't enough to help the Sox as they lost 5-1 to the A's.
This Saturday, 29 March, a free performance by a selection of the best Dominican dancers living in the country and abroad will take place at the main hall of the National Theater at 8:30pm. This is part of a series of events for the Month of Dance, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture.
Also scheduled is a performance by the National Classical Ballet at the National Music Conservatory's Sala Manuel Rueda (Cesar Nicolas Penson Ave) on Friday, 4 April at 10:30am and 5pm, and Saturday 5 April at 8:30pm, and another performance on Monday, 7 April at 10:30am. On Friday, 11 April, the XVI Dominican Folklore Festival will take place at the Sala Manuel Rueda at 8pm. And on Saturday, 12 April, The Best of Young Talent in Dance will take place at the Sala Manuel Rueda at 7pm. The National Folklore Ballet will perform on Friday, 25 April at the Gran Teatro del Cibao (Santiago) at 10am. On Tuesday, 29 April, there will be a Dance Gala at the National Theater's main hall at 8:30pm, as part of the National Book Fair events. Coming for the April Dance Month are: Vesna Lantigua and Roberto Lopez (residing in Puerto Rico), Edwin Silfa (New York), Tancredo Tavarez (Switzerland), Orlando Schecker (Mexico), Soraya Franco (India) and Stephanie Bauger (Argentina). For the DR, Elizabeth Crooke, Mercedes Morales, Victor Ramirez, Wanda Camilo, Gregorio Rodriguez, Elvis Guzman, Pastora Delgado and Armando Gonzalez.
For more on coming events, see http://www.dr1.com/calendar
La Cadena supermarket is advertising sales in its meat and seafood departments. Fresh pork chops are selling for RD$69.95lb, smoked pork ribs for RD$68.95lb, ground beef for RD$47.95, and frozen chicken liver for RD$10.95lb.
Pola supermarket has 20% off in its meat department.
La Nacional furniture store has a 50% sale in its Piantini (Gustavo Mejia Ricart 105) and Av. Duarte stores.
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