AUGUST 2008

Three major parties agree on vote for city councils

Agreement signed

Dominican Republic’s three major parties today agreeed to vote for the City Council president that each mayor proposes for their municipalities, so in Santiago for example, where the mayor is of the PRSC, the PLD and PRD councilmembers will vote for the candidate he submits.

The agreement was signed by the general secretaries of the PLD Reinaldo Pared, of the PRD, Orlando Jorge and of the PRSC Victor Gomez, who described the pact as a step forward and respect for the institutions.

Dominican Today, 01.08.08

Strike in Navarrete

Hundreds of public and private drivers could not enter in the commune

SANTIAGO. - Hundreds of public and private drivers could not penetrate in the commune of Navarrete due to the fact that its main entrance is completely blocked with trunks, old tires, stones, trees branches and refuse.

Information coming from Navarrete indicates that the « Frente de Lucha Popular Jesús Diplán » emitted a 24 hours strike call in complaint for the repair of the road of la Lomota, the suspension of power cuts, the reduction of the prices of the first need articles and for drinking water.

Policemen went on the spot of the street protests and arrested four people, of whom the identities were not revealed.

Public colmados, stores and some offices could not work normally this morning.

In the middle of the morning, the situation was strained in Navarrete, the police surveillance was reinforced with specialized agents of Swats and Linces.

Between demonstrators and policemen, no confrontation was deferred for the time beeing.

El Libelo, 04.08.08

Projects of residential residences for Real Banreservas

An investment of 84 million pesos

SANTIAGO. - With an investment of 84 million pesos, Real Estate Banreservas presented the projects of residences Erick I and Erick II, which will have a considerable impact on the urban and economic development of the zone.

Ramón Rodriguez, managing director of Real Estate Banreservas ensured that it is the adequate moment for the company to celebrate together with the Community the announcement of the beginning of the building work of two new residential projects.

Real Estate Banreservas carries out this program of investment while being convinced that the conditions of uncertainty prevalent today on the market could be exceeded in the short and middle term by the positive development of the international markets.

And also, following the provision shown by the official authorities to face the problems, with the macro-economic measures focused towards significant sectors of the population.

The projects, Erick I and Erick II, located in the localities of Gurabo and Sabaneta de Las Palomas come to contribute to the sustainable improvement of housing conditions of the population of Santiago and to increase the offers of residences the company places at the disposal of the market.

Rodriguez explained that this project will be developed in 2 phases, the first with buildings 1 and 2 during a 12 months period and the second with the blocks 3 and 4 which will be started six months afterwards.

We invite the inhabitants of Santiago to make their dreams come true and to have their own roof, underlined Rodriguez within the framework of the formal presentation of the projects in the hotel CourtYard by Marriot in Santiago, last Thursday July 24.

Diario Digital, 05.05.08

Two projects will be submitted to the Municipal council

Development of the Commune

SANTIAGO. - The PLD party representative of the town council of this commune, Hipólito Martínez, announced that he will submit two development projects of the city before the Municipal council: A Municipal council of the Traffic and Terrestrial transport and a Market of the Producers in Cienfuegos.

Concerning the Municipal council of the Traffic and Transport, Martínez said that this project was in its theoretical phase and that with this last one, they will work to the integration of the authorities, the trade unions, the taxi drivers and the civil society in the regulation of this sector. The politician said that the population will benefit of this project because there will be a control on the price of the concho and taxi journeys.

Regarding the construction of a Center of Supplying or Market of Producers in Cienfuegos, Martínez said that this project will allow the population of this Community the acquisition of fresh and cheap agricultural products.

He said that for the execution of the project, the lands where it will be built were already pointed out; with the approval of the mayor José Enrique Sued and that he counts on the support of his companions of party and of the population of Cienfuegos.

The « peledeísta » (PLD) city council man underlined the importance for Cienfuegos to have a supplying center which will allow the sale of agricultural food products to the families residing in this district.

Hipólito Martínez, who is one of the Community chiefs of Cienfuegos also explained that from the town hall, he carries out a vast social program for the benefit of the poor families of this locality.

Diario 55, by Arturo Taveras, 11.08.08

INAPA invests 485 million pesos for water in Santiago

To improve living conditions

The executive director of the National Institute of Drinking water and Sewers (INAPA), Frank Rodriguez, informed that the government invested more than 485.5 million pesos to supply drinking water and to improve sanitary conditions in various Communities of the province of Santiago.

Among the Communities where the government works to improve the water service, there are Hato del Yaque, Villa Bao, Estancia del Yaque, La Canela, San José de Las Matas, Jánico, Villa González and Banegas.

In the same way, the executive director of INAPA said that the construction of the treatment plant of waste waters of Cotuí and Fantino is included in the budget for the next year and that they are working now on tubular wells in several Communities of the province of Sánchez Ramirez.

He stressed that work which is made confirms the need for president Leonel Fernández to improve the living conditions and to obtain an equity in the rural Communities.

He declared that the government works in order to have at the end of this next 4 years governmental period, between 90% and 95% of the Dominican population supplied with drinking water.

He informed that INAPA also started again work in the Community of Estancia del Yaque, where treatment plant of the aqueduct of Navarrete will be rehabilitated.

Listín Diario, 13.08.08

Few storm effects in Santiago

Thanks to the prevention work of Civil Defense

The director of the Civil Defense of Santiago, Francisco Arias, stated that the effects of the passage of tropical storm FAY were minimal regarding Santiago.

As explained Francisco Arias who directs the Emergency Operations Center (COE) at the regional level, fruit of the united effort as regards prevention carried out by members of the assemblies of neighbors and manpower of Civil Defense, reduced almost to nothing the negative effects of the storm FAY, no important damages were recorded.

However Arias indicated that the population must accurately follow the bulletins emitted as well by the national office of meteorology as by the aid organizations in order to be able to take the precaution measures to face any weather phenomenon which could represent a danger for the country.

The civil servant said that following the torrential rains which fell down on the area during the weekend, the ground was saturated and overflows of rivers could be possible in the event of new precipitations.

Diario 55, by José Zapata, 18.08.08

The contractors of Santiago greet the arrival of future work

Announcement made by Leonel

SANTIAGO. - The Association of the Storekeepers and Industrials of Santiago (ACIS) expressed its satisfaction as for the infrastructure work and investment program announced by President Leonel Fernández in his speech at the occasion of his new mandate.

In a document signed by its president, Luis Núñez, the organization considers that the next four years period - if the variables of the international environment allow it - is perceived as promising regarding important achievements.

It is visible that the productive sectors of Santiago are satisfied regarding the investments promised by the first agent and we already offer our help and our support for the actions generated within the framework of his alliance proposals and dialog between the public and private sectors, to seek to consolidate viable solutions in order to overcome the most urgent difficulties indicates the official statement.

However, the Association considers regrettable that the subject relating to the decisions on the electric sector is absent from the presidential report, subject which it regards as « transversal » for the national economy.

By taking into account its importance, its topicality and the concern which it produces in the productive sectors in particular and in the population in general, we consider that one should have tackled the subject of the electric sector and the search of solution for the power generation and distribution indicates the ACIS.

The Association stresses that for being completely followed in its new mandate, the Government needs a solid support of the entire nation, particularly of the productive sectors and of the working class.

Al Momento, 19.08.08

An agreement to improve environment conditions is signed

Cooperation in the Cibao

SANTIAGO.- The Ecological Society of Cibao (SOIECI) and the Open University for Adults (UAPA), subscribed a cooperation agreement to develop joint initiatives to improve the environment conditions of the « Ciudad Corazón » and the area of Cibao.

This agreement was signed by Doctor Angel Hernándezstate superintendent of the academy and the agronomist Eduardo Rodríguez, president of the’ ecological organization.

Diario Libre, 21.08.08

Dominican violinist Aisha Syed to perform in Santiago

Fifth concert with the National Symphony

Santiago de los Caballeros.– Dominican star violinist Aisha Syed will perform at Gran Teatro del Cibao, in Santiago, for a benefit concern for Fundolor, a foundation that helps victims of cancer.

The once child music prodigy will be accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Alvaro Manzano.

Syed made her debut when she was 11 years old. This will be her fifth concert with the National Symphony as a soloist.

Dominican Today, 25.08.08

The rains would have improved the power supply in the Cibao region

According to EDENORTE

SANTIAGO. – The Northern Power Company (Edenorte), informed that the climatic conditions as well as the reduction in the electrical energy request positively influenced since yesterday morning the electricity distribution in the area of Cibao.

By the means of its director of Public Relations, Atahualpa Ramirez, the Company announced that, yesterday morning at 9:30, there were only 26 circuits which were out of order for various causes, for a total of 186 which function in the concession zone. According to Ramirez, to these conditions are added a better generation in the North, with the addition in the Inter-Connected National Energy Service (SENI) of some hydro-electric generators and the contribution of 114 mega Watts of the Falconbridge and Puerto Plata generators.

Ramirez explained that, if the conditions which prevailed on Tuesday morning in the energy system of the Northern zone are maintained, the service offered by this company would continue to improve.

The civil servant of Edenorte added that the company presents apologies to all its customers for the difficulties undergone during the previous weeks.

In the same way, he reiterated the interest of the authorities to put into practice formulas which will allow the standardization of the electricity service as soon as possible.

Listín Diario, by Ricardo Santana, 27.08.08

Work for Santiago’s US $300M streetcar to begin mid 2009

The first stage in the East-West route would cover 21 kilometers

SANTIAGO.- The first stage of the streetcar planned by the City Council here to improve the mass transit system will cost 200 million Euros (US $300 million)

The Spanish railways company FEVE is currently in charge of building the streetcar system, and works in the final stages the project’s blueprints.

Urban Planning department director Oscar Nazer said the ground use permits for the work’s construction were approved July 17 for the concessionaire company Ferrocarriles Metropolitanos de Santiago, based in Madrid, together with the local company, Consulting APD.

Nazer said if everything goes as planned; the new transport system’s construction would begin by mid 2009. We’re optimistic with this initiative because it’ll solve the mass transit for problem for passengers in the city of Santiago.

The streetcar’s first stage in the East-West route would cover 21 kilometers beginning at the Cibao International Airport.

Dominican Today, 29.08.08

Santiago Live