| The Dominican Sun |
| "Daily Dominican Republic News in English Since 2004" |
| Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 |
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Vendors take over pedestrian bridges
Story Text & Photos © 2012 by DR1 Jun 2 2012 12:00PM
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DR1 - According to Hoy newspaper, Dominicans and Haitians selling different types of merchandise have converted three out of eight pedestrian bridges on John F Kennedy Avenue in Santo Domingo into markets, to the apparent indifference of the authorities. However, they say that since the elections they have been threatened by the Municipal police and have been told to move.
The vendors say they pose no obstacle to people crossing the bridges, which are good places to sell due to the volume of foot traffic. They say they are prepared to pay to use the bridge, as they had paid RD$800 in the past.
They always leave space for people to pass and say they have no alternative to this work as otherwise they and their families would go hungry.
The variety of items on sale includes mangos, pineapple, clothes, shoes, perfume, body lotions, CDs, toothbrushes, and more.
Although the authorities are building kiosks for the vendors next to the bridge on kilometer 9, anyone not lucky enough to gain a spot in a kiosk is continuing to sell on the bridge itself. Read original at DR1.
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Former beauty queen wants quick divorce from mogul husband
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 22 2013 19:29PM
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 Dominican Today -
Santo Domingo- Former beauty queen Sandra Kurdas, who accused her husband, the businessman Frank Jorge Elías with assault, said she wants to conclude their divorce soon.
“I have hopes that the process will end soon,“ said Kurdish through on Twitter. “I am very concerned that he can manipulate things to hurt me from prison. I just want live in peace and enjoy my children. “
The former Miss Ohio posted photos showing bruises to her face and blames Jorge, her husband of 32 years.
The business leader is being held since Friday, when the National District Permanent Attention Court sent him to spend three months in custody at San Pedro while awaiting trial.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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Airports chief says strict security reigns over all air terminals
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 22 2013 18:59PM
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 Dominican Today -
Santo Domingo- Airports Dept. director Aristides Fernandez on Wednesday said security services of quality are provided at all aerodromes operated by the Government.
He said the air terminals, from where dozens of domestic flights to Haiti and the Caribbean islands operate daily, are equipped with modern and sophisticated security and video cameras, to control all air traffic.
The official said the strict controls applied at domestic airports prevent the terminals from being used for drug smuggling and other crimes.
“Our Armed Forces and Airports Department officials deployed in all aerodromes maintain absolute control of all aircraft movements and passengers,“ the official told reporters prior to a meeting with representatives from several agencies and the Airports Commission at the Las Americas International Airport.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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State bank announces 7. 5‰ rate for homes of up to US$97,500
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 22 2013 18:29PM
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 Dominican Today -
Santo Domingo. . - Dominican Republic’s State-owned bank (Ban-Reservas) on Wednesday announced a 7. 5% interest rate for low-cost homes of up to RD$4. 0 million (US$97,500).
Reservas administrator Vicente Bengoa said the rate, which stems from the Monetary Board’s release of bank reserves, will increase to 8% in the second year, and 8. 5% in six years.
He said industry can access loans with rates from 7 to 9%, from 7. 5 to 9% for the agro sector and 9% for consumer loans, all subject to a risk assessment on the applicant.
In a news conference held at Ban-Reservas headquarters on Churchill Av. , the official said the funds should be available by July.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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Government forks out US$135M to nix 30-year road toll contract
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 22 2013 17:29PM
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 Dominican Today -
Santo Domingo- The Dominican government and the Colombian company Dominican Roads Concession (DOVICON) on Monday agreed to terminate the 30-year contract to manage the tolls on the Duarte-Puerto Plata and 6 de Noviembre (southern) highways, with a US$135 million compensation.
The details of the contract termination will reportedly be announced in the coming days and includes a US$124 million loan from the State-owned Reservas bank.
The previous administration headed by Leonel Fernández signed the contract with DOVICON, which in addition to the Duarte, called for repairs and maintenance of the country’s major northern and southern roads.
The company had agreed to spend US$400 million to recover at least US$3. 7 billion in tolls.
The contract called for DOVICON to invest US$471. 9 million to complete the work of design, of finance and to maintain the Southern and Duarte highways, while the contractor charged a toll of RD$50 in various new and current stations on both highways.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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State bank announces 7. 5‰ rate for homes of up to US$975,000
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 22 2013 17:29PM
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Dominican Today -
Santo Domingo. . - Dominican Republic’s State-owned bank (Ban-Reservas) on Wednesday announced a 7. 5% interest rate for low-cost homes of up to RD$4. 0 million (US$975,000).
Reservas administrator Vicente Bengoa said the rate, which stems from the Monetary Board’s release of bank reserves, will increase to 8% in the second year, and 8. 5% in six years.
He said industry can access loans with rates from 7 to 9%, from 7. 5 to 9% for the agro sector and 9% for consumer loans, all subject to a risk assessment on the applicant.
In a news conference held at Ban-Reservas headquarters on Churchill Av. , the official said the funds should be available by July.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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Government measures spur Banesco bank to expand
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 22 2013 16:59PM
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 Dominican Today -
Santo Domingo- Banesco bank CEO Juan Carlos Escotet on Wednesday said the Monetary Board’s decisions and changes implemented point to the growth of financial intermediaries, prompting them to expand their business in the Dominican Republic.
Escotet, who met with president Danilo Medina in National Palace, said the bank will open three new branches this year, for a total of 14 nationwide.
He said Banesco’s Dominican bank assets exceed US$34. 0 billion in the seven countries it operates, with more than 7. 0 million clients.
Banesco executives and government officials also attended the meeting.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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Lunchtime Weather Report on this May 22, 2013
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by The Dominican Sun May 22 2013 16:29PM
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 The Dominican Sun - Across the Dominican Republic in the last 24 hours the highest observed temperature by DRSol was 88 at Santiago. The coolest reading came from La Isabella with an overnight low of 72. A few spotty light to moderate showers and thunderstorms were reported, and rain is being observed right now as well at Samana, Punta Cana, Las Americas and La Isabella. Skies were generally partly cloudy. Winds are averaging 11 mph from the SE, with a peak gust to 127 mph seen at 8PM last night at Punta Cana. By the Numbers DR cities reported rain 17% of the time, and thunderstorms 7%. Average reported rainfall intensity on a scale of 0 to 100 was 44. Cloud cover totaled 54%. Click above to view summaries for the last week or last month. Last updated at 12:28PM. Read original at The Dominican Sun.
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Trendy bar owners deny racism
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 22 2013 15:59PM
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 Dominican Today -
Santo Domingo- The owners of the trendy bar “La Chismosa“ (gossipy woman) on Thursday delivered documents to the National District Office of the Prosecutor, which hundreds of photos posted by customers that show no racial discrimination or denied entry on skin color, as denounced in several media last week.
La Chismosa’s owners delivered the documents Monday morning at the Prosecutor’s Human Rights Unit, where they were questioned about the lawsuit filed by a man who said he barred from entering the club because of his skin color
Accompanied by the lawyers Tomas Hernandez and Marisol Vicens, the club’s owners denied allegations they discriminate against people.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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Prosecutor says drug cartel plans to kill him
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 22 2013 15:59PM
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 Dominican Today -
Dominican Republic- La Romana province prosecutor José Polanco Ramírez said Monday drug traffickers and killers-for-hire plan attempts on his life and those of his family, for which he was assigned more bodyguards.
He said Justice minister Francisco Dominguez and Police chief Jose A. Polanco already provided increased protection for him and his family, from the threat by the so-called “Cartel of the East. “
“We decided to confront organized crime,“ the official said, who noted that the alleged threats were uncovered through third parties. “It has been determined by interrogation, according to police, that there’s a serious threat to my life and our family. The National Police has warned us. “
He said the intimidation increased after the arrest of “Cartel of the East“ members, linked to in heinous crimes in that on other eastern cities, such as the recent shooting death of two men and two others wounded in the Car Wash-Café Coton.
Polanco Ramirez said he’s aware of the job’s risks, but does it regardless fear, even if some authorities might be linked to organized crime.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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Government taps RD$154. 0M to fight coffee leaf rust
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 22 2013 15:59PM
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 Dominican Today -
Santo Domingo- The government yesterday said the control of coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix) on all farms in the country is of national interest, and named a commission to work to eradicate the disease that harms around 58% of the coffee bean crops.
Executive Order 101-13 3 sets aside RD$154. 0 million for programs to tackle the disease over the next eight months.
Agriculture minister Luis Ramon Rodriguez chairs the commission which also includes coffee mogul Rafael Perello, Jose Antonio Martinez, Jesus Portela and José Núñez Fermin.
In a National Palace press conference after meeting with president Danilo Medina, Rodriguez said the country has millions of hectares of coffee plantations, for which seeds of rust resistant plants will be brought from Brazil, Colombia and Costa Rica.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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