DECEMBER 2008

Funds for Metro and Cibao train

Funds for Metro and Cibao trainA freight and passenger line to Santiago

BREAKING NEWS :  The Transport Reorganization Office (OPRET), in charge of the Santo Domingo Metro construction, is going for its second line, and RD $337 million has been assigned to the project in the 2009 budget.

Also appearing in the 2009 national budget is an item for RD $371 million for the construction of a train line for freight and passengers from Haina to Santiago. The item says that the resources for this project will be borrowed abroad.

According to Hoy newspaper, the RD $329 billion budget legislation sent to Congress last Friday allocated a sum of RD $371 million for the freight and passenger line to Santiago.

President Leonel Fernandez first announced this project in New York City on 22 September. On that occasion, the mayor of Santiago said that the rail line was not a priority for the Cibao region or for the people of Santiago.

A RD $284 million project connected to the Santo Domingo Metro, an overpass at the intersection of Charles de Gaulle and Hermanas Mirabal Avenues also figures in the budget.

The OPRET budget assigns RD $284,197,500 to the construction of the overpass at the intersection of the two avenues.

The budget for the first rapid transit line in Santo Domingo is RD $2.07 billion. The budget does not state the amount that will be used as a subsidy for the first Metro line operation, which is due to start running this month.

DR1, 01.12.08

Disarmament of the civilians

Disarmament of the civiliansSecretariat of the Armed forces

BREAKING NEWS : SANTIAGO. - The secretary of the Armed forces, general lieutenant Rafael Peña Antonio, is in favour of the disarmament of the civil population, because much of citizens possess firearms and he also recognized the fail in reinforcing the monitoring at the border to prevent the illegal traffic of firearms

He indicated that one maintained a very strict monitoring at the border from Jimaní to Dajabón to prevent not only the weapons’ traffic, but also of goods and unfortunately of people. We must re-examine our society because there is much weapons on the hands of people who do not know the adequate handling of them, we must revise these measures which are very controversial, underlined the secretary of the Armed forces.

He said that disarmament should obtain the general support since its objective is very good. As for the monitoring at the border, he recognized that there were many things to improve.

At the time of a course which we recently carried out from Elías Piña to Dajabón, we saw that there are certain things to regulate, and we are working in this way, he underlined.

Peña Antonio said that there would be a reinforcement of the monitoring at the border, to prevent the drugs and firearms traffic.

The general took part in a social ceremony organized by the Directing Council of the Cibao International Airport.

He indicated that during the event, they spoke about the main subjects which are of topicality at the national level.

Listín Diario, by Pedro Jiménez, 05.12.08

The Dominican manufacturers complain about the Secretariat of Environment

The Dominican manufacturers complain about the Secretariat of EnvironmentAuthorizations on behalf of the Secretariat of the Environment and the Natural Resources

BREAKING NEWS: SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic. - The Association of the Promoters and the Manufacturers of Residences of Cibao (APROCOVICI), denounced that the slowness of the authorizations granted by the Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources delays the execution of the construction projects.

The president of APROCOVICI, Máximo Domínguez, said that the position assumed by the Environment paralysed tens of projects and increased the prices of materials, which could cause a possible financial bankruptcy of the real estate company managers of Santiago and of the Cibao. Domínguez, announced that these delays produce a spiral of the inflation and the paralysis of some constructions.

He affirms that it worsens the already difficult situation that they are undergoing because of the real and financial crisis on a world level.

He expresses that many promoters and manufacturers are close to the bankruptcy because after having invested big sums of money in the purchase and the delimitation of the lands, the development, the design of the projects, the requests for authorizations to the Town hall, Public Work and Environment, they are not able to start to built in waiting of the authorization of the Environmental Management.

He affirms that this produced financial expenses that they cannot recover any more, because the fixed prices to the purchasers cannot support these additional costs.

He explained that before beginning a real estate project, residences, apartments, or any other construction, it is necessary to obtain two authorizations on behalf of the Secretariat of the Environment and the Natural Resources.

The Association of the Promoters and the Manufacturers of Residences of Cibao, required to the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Jaime David Fernández Mirabal to solve the problem to contribute to instigate constructions.

They say being willing and able to collaborate with approaches and proposals which would contribute to the acceleration of the steps for the authorizations of environmental Management and which by consensus would determine the measures to be taken for the benefit of the people.

El Nuevo Diario, by Marcelo Peralta, 08.12.08

Indotel will benefit 5 thousand young bachelors in technology

Indotel will benefit 5 thousand young bachelors in technologyRamón Paulino

BREAKING NEWS: SANTIAGO. - The responsible for the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel), for the town of Santiago, Ramón Paulino, underlined the jointed creation with the Technological Institute of Americas (ITLA), of a new project which will make possible to train during two years, five thousand young people who will be able to open technological small shops in the 32 provinces of the country.

Paulino said that this new project will come to supplement the Funds of the Academic Excellence which, as he explained, has already in its centre 1.047 young people granted by Indotel in order that they study the development professions like the software engineering, electronics, graphic design etc….

He explained that the graduates will be divided in the Communities where the Centers of Qualification in Data processing (CCI) were developped by Indotel in 32 provinces.

Santiago Live, 10.12.08

To facilitate the traffic in Santiago during the Festive season

To facilitate the traffic in Santiago during the Festive seasonThe challenge of the AMET

BREAKING NEWS: SANTIAGO. – « Safe Christmas 2008 » was launched in an official way by the Metropolitan Authority of Transport (AMET), during a ceremony attended by the regional commanders of the Northern zone and the regional Commander of the Central Cibao of the National police force.

The Chief of the Regional Commando of the Central Cibao of the National police force, General Eduardo Then, was categorical regarding the achievement of the provisions of the Secretariat of Interior and Police force that the possession and the exhibition of firearms will be prohibited in the public places.

But, if someone has his arm in the glove compartment of hiss vehicle, at home or at his business, this is authorized, concluded the Regional Commander of the National police.

During this meeting which took place in historical San Luis Fortress, where the AMET of Santiago has its offices, the Supervisor for the Northern area, Orlando Pichardo, required of his subordinates to be strict with this provision and he explained the behaviour to adopt to face the population during this special period.

Pichardo required of his agents to fulfil the mandate of the Director, General Rafael Bencosme, to go in the streets and to act with equity, justice and respect, and to apply the law. Lieutenant colonel Jose Miguel de la Cruz, from AMET in Santiago also spoke, by expressing his confidence in all those who will have during this festive season to carry out this important task.

Santiago Live, 15.12.08

The Cibao International airport

The Cibao International airportAn office to change the passports

BREAKING NEWS: SANTIAGO. - The Regional Management of the Passports inaugurated a station inside the Cibao International Airport so that the Dominicans who were absent can change their passport for the new biometric system.

The regional authorities of the Passports explained that they put this station in the terminal of the Cibao Airport to offer the necessary information to carry out the change of passport and to avoid the falsification of this so important document, according to Clara de los Ángeles Cruz.
The civil servant supported that the biometric passport is a new method which guarantees a best and a greater safety, while she stressed that without this document, it will be impossible to travel to other countries.

Clara de los Ángeles Cruz said that the biometric passports have two forms of acquisition the VIP and the normal one.

The VIP for adults costs 2.238 pesos and for the children its price is of 2.438 pesos. While for the normal passport, the adults must pay 1,238 pesos and the children 1.438 pesos.

Santiago Live, 17.12.08

Improvement of the sales expected for the weekend

Improvement of the sales expected for the weekendAnd with the approach of the Christmas Eve

BREAKING NEWS :  SANTIAGO. - The president of the Association of the Storekeepers of the Historical Centre of Santiago, Carlos Lora, said to be trustful in the fact that more one will be close to the weekend and more the sales were going to be considerably increased.

The company manager, while being questioned on the evolution of the business during the days which will follow the 13h salaries delivered by the government and by the private sector, answered that until now, one is waiting that during the weekend the circumstances change and that an increase in the purchases will be noted.

Carlos Lora indicated that although the situation is not excellent this year, this one was going to exceed the level of sales reached in 2007, very difficult year for the sector at the same period, fruit of the catastrophes caused by the passage of the tropical storms Olga and Noel.

Santiago Live, 19.12.08

Leonel Fernández will have a dinner on December 24 with a family of Santiago

Leonel Fernández will have a dinner on December 24 with a family of SantiagoGreat operation to distribute Christmas baskets

REAKING NEWS :  SANTIAGO. - The President of the Republic, Leonel Fernández will take a walkabout on December 24 and will dine for the Christmas Eve with a modest family living in the south-western part of the city, communicated professor José Izquierdo.

The civil servant explained that the Agent made the same thing last year in the house of the Mrs Miguelina Camarena of the district La Jeringa of the southernmost province of San Cristóbal, and shared with her the meal considered as one of the dinners most mystical of the catholic world through the centuries of Christian beliefs.

The representative of the Executive Power also stated that during the December 24 day, President Fernández will deliver thousands of Christmas baskets to modest families of the most marginal districts of Santiago.

According to the Governor, the center of the operations of the President for the distribution will be in the historical San Luis Fortress.

The Executive will try to fulfil the food request for several of the inhabitants who unfortunately cannot buy the articles for the ritual Christmas dinner.

Santiago Live, 22.12.08