The Sectors of Cibao aspire to a lifted economy in 2008

In 2008 important changes will occur, which will make it possible to improve competitiveness and the living standards of the Dominican ones

The representatives of the Catholic Church, trades, companies, agricultural producers, tourist sector and civil society explain that year 2007 brought a lot of problems, some of them unforeseen caused by the natural phenomena and other factors which negatively influenced the national economy, but that in spite of that, they have good prospects for the year 2008. Although some recognize that there are difficult challenges for this year 2008, they suggest actions which make it possible to instigate the economy and to reduce the levels of poverty which affect the Dominican society.

The president of the Association of the Tradesmen and Industrials of Santiago (ACIS), Luis Núñez, known as that from the point of view of 2008, it is essential for the Government to maintain macro-economic stability, but while trying to transfer these benefits to improve the living conditions of the population.

The manager affirms that the year 2007 was difficult for the productive sector, but thinks that in 2008 important changes will occur, which will make it possible to improve competitiveness and the living standards of the Dominican ones.

Meanwhile, the president of the Commercial and Production Chamber of Santiago, estimates that independently of the local problems which affect the province, in 2008 the authorities must devote themselves to the revision of the tax policy, because it constitutes an important matter to promote the economic development, competitiveness, social and contributive equity, like raising the living conditions of the Dominican people.

On his side, the archbishop of Santiago, monsignor Ramón Benito de la Rosa y Carpio, known that 2008 will face great challenges, but estimates that it is necessary to concentrate main efforts to improve the living conditions of poor people in the « barrios » and countryside.

The archbishop of Santiago indicates that the most important challenges of this year must be the combat against poverty and the insecurity and improving education of the people.

The syndic of Santiago, Enrique Sued, affirms that the challenges of the governmental authorities are numerous for this year, among them poverty, delinquency and the combat of the defects.

The director of the faculty of economy of the Technological University of Santiago (Utesa), Braulio Rodriguez, announced that 2008 will be punctuated with many sacrifices for the Dominican ones, because in addition to the major problems which the country has, it will be an electoral year.

Listin Diario, by Ricardo Santana, Manuel Gilbert, and Pedro Jiménez, 05.01.08

Public works will begin the plan of repair and of asphalting of the streets

Normal activities restarted in Santiago

The Secretariat of Public works announced the realization as from today Monday of a vast program of asphalting of the streets, avenues, districts and urbanizations of this city which present a progressive deterioration.

This information was given by the under-secretary of Public works of the Northern area, Porfirio Brito, by the means of the Sub directorate of Information and Press of the Presidency in Santiago, which had specified that this plan would be carried out as of the suspension of the rains which have recently affected the country.

The streets Del Sol, 30 de Marzo, San Luis, 16 de Agosto, España, Restauración, Independencia and Salvador Cucurullo, among others, just like the avenues Las Carreras, 27 de Febrero, Imbert, Estrella Sadhalá, Circunvalación and avenida Hispanoamericana underwent serious deteriorations of their asphalt structure, which causes problems to the drivers and the drivers of public transport.

Brito indicated that the brigades of Public works were initially monopolized on the sectors which needed it: Belle Bella Vista, Rafey, Baracoa, La Joya and La Cambronal, where they withdrew tons of mud, refuse and deposit which had been accumulated during the rising of the Yaque River del Norte after the tropical storm Olga.

He declared that Public works started again their normal activities.

He explained that they are already asphalting the districts Cienfuegos, Mella I, calle 5, de Monterico and that the section of Baldom, in Estrella Sadhalá Avenue, was already rehabilitated.

Listín Diario, by Pedro Jiménez, 14.01.08

Courtyard By Marriott Santiago, world leader in customer satisfaction

First international category hotel in Santiago

The Hotel Courtyard By Marriott Santiago, with only one year of operation, was designed as the fourth hotel of the chain on a world level on the level of the satisfaction of its hosts.

The program consists of a survey filled by the businesses travelers and the tourists who visit one of the properties of the company at the international level, including the names Marriott Hotels and Resorts, Courtyard By Marriott, Ritz Carlton and Renaissance Hotels and Resorts, among other divisions of the chain.

Courtyard By Marriott Santiago was chosen by the hosts for three months consecutive in the 4th place, for quality, consistency of its standards and experiment of service, it was only exceeded by destinations like Rome and Germany.

Mrs Katy Lizardo of Contreras, Managing Director of the complex, expressed her satisfaction for this important realization.

We are happy that our efforts and devotions are rewarded in the best manner which is, with the recognition of our customers and of the achievement of their expectations.

The growth which we show today as new property and as first hotel of international category in the town of Santiago, stimulates us to continue to work every day for the benefit of our customers, to surpass our human capital and for the tourist reputation of the zone, she underlined.

Courtyard By Marriott Santiago is located on the Autopista Duarte km 9, at only 4 minutes from the International airport of Cibao and at 8 minutes from the town centre of Santiago.

Diario Digital, 19.01.08

> Hotel Courtyard By Marriott Santiago

Santiago: New image of the Historical Center

Houses restored

The illumination provided by thousand 800 lamps, paints and repairs of thousand 600 buildings of Republican style as well as the rebuilding of the roadways in the historical center, start to give a beautiful image of the center of this city.

However, some small details transformed themselves into the spearhead of criticisms, because of the fact that work is not completed, causing, in some cases, the obstruction of the ways and obliging the pedestrians to walk in the middle of the streets.

Denunciations of demolitions of historical buildings are added to this, as it is the case of a store destroyed this weekend by its owners in the calle Restauración, practically in front of the authorities of the Monumental Heritage.

The project of restoration had to be inaugurated by President Leonel Fernández in last December, but was suspended following the tragedy caused by the risings of the Yaque River, after the passage of the tropical storm Olga.

The storekeepers of the historical center, grouped in the Association of Owners of Stores and the citizens are satisfied with the work because they affirm that now thanks to the illumination, the inhabitants of Santiago enjoy a greater security.

The investment of the Dominican State in the lights and the roadways exceeds 100 million pesos.

El Caribe, 23.01.08, by Miguel Ponce 

Águilas win Dominican baseball finals

Águilas del Cibao

Santiago de los Caballeros.– Local baseball heroes the Águilas del Cibao won their 20th crown last night, after beating the Tigres del Licey in the 2007-2008 Dominican national baseball championships.

Rafael Furcal’s eighth-inning solo home run broke a 1-1 tie, lifting Aguilas Cibaenas to a 2-1 victory over Licey and giving the club its 20th Dominican winter league title.

Licey, with the Angels’ Erick Aybar at shortstop, also will advance to next week’s Caribbean Series.

Dominican Today, 28.01.08

Leonel will begin his campaign in Santiago, zone which resulted the most difficult to him

Next Friday in Cibao

SANTIAGO.- After being proclaimed presidential candidate of the Party of the Dominican Liberation (PLD), Leonel Fernández will start on next Friday his proselytist campaign in this zone of Cibao, where the last investigations precisely reflected unfavorable results.

The Agent will traverse the various zones of this province, informed this Tuesday the deputy and the president of the House of Commons, Julio César Valentín.

This Friday is the formal beginning of Leonel in campaign and he will start withSantiago , he said during an interview in the Matinal program, of Telemicro, channel 5.

Valentín admitted that in Santiago, the President-Candidate was in an unfavorable position compared to Miguel Vargas Maldonado and the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), but that now, him and the PLD are at six points in top of the opposition candidature.

Al Momento, 29.01.08