Beautiful Beaches and Tourist Development
Beautiful beaches of Dominican RepublicDominican Republic stimulates the recovery of the beaches
The authorities of Dominican Republic are promoting a recovery program of the beach zones in order to guarantee good conditions for the tourism development.
In this way, during the last months of 2008, some actions will start on seven beaches of the country with an initial investment of 25 million dollars.
The plans to be carried out take into account the addition of 1.4 million cubic meters of sand, as well as the elimination of some constructions which affect the safeguarding of the mentioned sites.
The initiative will work to the restoration of Playa Caleta of La Romana, of Palenque and Najayo of San Cristóbal, of Playa San Rafaël and El Quemaito of Barahona and of Juan Bolaños and Costa Verde of Montecristi.
Within the complementary plans of tourist offers evaluated by the authorities, we also find the creation of two cable cars, one in Jarabacoa and another one in Santiago, which are in phase of quotation.
Dominican Republic Live, 01.07.08
UNESCO taps Dominican great Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra For peace
The United Nations UNESCO will designate Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra Artist of Peace in the coming days, said an oficial source.
UNESCO director Koichiro Matsuura bestowed the honor and will have an initial period of two years, according to a letter UNESCO sent to Dominican Culture Minister Jose Rafael Lantigua, who said the distinction is a « high honor » for the artist as well as for his country.
“The importance of Juan Luis Guerra’s career makes him an unquestionable personality of Dominican culture.”
Dominican Republic Live, 02.07.08
Dominicans to the Moon
The moonA tour of NASA facilities
A contest sponsored by Listin Diario and the First Lady’s Office, “Inteligencia para el buen funcionamiento del mundo”, will take six Dominican students and two teachers on a 10-day tour of NASA facilities in Huntsville, Alabama.
The students will take part in the Student and Science Technology Competition during their visit.
First Lady Margarita Cedeno encouraged the students to make the most of the experience and wished them well during their trip. She added that they were going with an open mind and should be willing to absorb as much as possible.
Dominican Republic Live, 03.07.08
Dominican President Will Fly to Venezuela
Leonel Fernandez and Hugo ChavezTo talk oil
Dominican president Leonel Fernandez will fly to Venezuela Saturday to attend a Petrocaribe summit, where the leaders will deal with the increases in the price of oil on and try to get Caracas to boost the share received by their countries through that deal.
The 16 leaders who are part of that trade mechanism are expected to be present in the Summit, to be held July 12 and 13.
Dominican Republic will have to pay Venezuela US $4.04 million in interests and capital at yearend, and US $18.7 million next year for fuels bought through president Hugo Chavez’ Petrocaribe oil deal, implemented to help the region’s poorer countries.
The energy cooperation agreement allows Dominican Republic to buy up to 40 percent of Venezuela’s oil on credit, in a quota of up to 50,900 barrels daily.
Dominican Republic Live, 07.07.08
Dominican Government Seeks Venezuelan Oil
Petrocaribe pipeline50,900 barrels of crude per day
Dominican Government will request 50,900 barrels of crude per day within the Petrocaribe accord, from the 30,000 barrels it receives from Caracas, said Hacienda minister Vicente Bengoa, who’ll fly Friday to Maracaibo, Venezuela to meet with the energy ministers from the countries in the pact.
President Leonel Fernandez will participate in the gathering slated for the weekend, Bengoa said.
Dominican Republic now has the capacity to receive that amount of petroleum it will seek from Venezuela, since the State already owns all shares in the Dominican Petroleum Refinery. The country initially received 25,000 barrels through Petrocaribe, amount which then rose to 30,000 barrels.
The country would receive 25,000 barrels on credit per day if the proposal is approved, since the price per barrel is over 100 dollars, and the Agreement states that in that circumstance the country has the right to finance 50 percent of Venezuela’s supply. Before petroleum reached 100 dollars the country financed 40 percent of Venezuela’s crude.
Government income via Petrocaribe has jumped 165 percent this year, from RD $2.9 billion the first half of 2007 to 6.0 billion in the same period this year.
Dominican Republic Live, 08.07.08
The « LIVE » Websites Extend Their National Cover
15 new sites on the Dominican Republic15 new sites on the Dominican Republic from September 1rst.
After Santo Domingo, Santiago, Las Terrenas, Samaná and Dominican Republic, the « LIVE » Websites are upgrading their communication and their extension in the country with the new Websites of Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Bávaro, La Romana and Las Galeras as from September 1rst.
The transfer of the 15 existing sites on a new and more powerful server better adapted to the future prospects of the « LIVE » Websites obliged us this to stop putting online and we apologize for these inconveniences.
Fron now on, you will find our news and information services and they will be not less than 30 « LIVE » sites which will be online as of September 1rst to inform you on the Dominican Republic, area by area and city by city.
We wish you a good surf ! Thanks you for visiting us.
LIVE Websites staff, 10.07.08
Anxiety Reigns Prior to Dominican President’s Speech on Crisis
Dominican President Leonel FernandezMeasures on saving energy, electricity and fuels
There’s anxiety among industrialists, business leaders, retailers, political parties and other sectors, with the measures president Leonel Fernandez will announce tonight on saving energy, electricity and fuels, to deal with the rise in the price of oil and food.
In tonight’s televised press conference slated for 7:30 p.m. in the National Palace the Head of State, in the presence of media directors, local journalists and the foreign press, “the backdrop prepared for a live television program, where each of the panel guests will have a turn to make their question.”
A statement handed out yesterday says journalists accredited to the National Palace could enter the Embajadores salon and be present in the activity.
Leaders of business, politics and lawmakers have asked the Government to announce without delay the measures to face the crisis brought about by the rise in oil, and a wage increase.
In the last few weeks, the chief executive has met several times with the cabinet officials in the energy, economic, social and farming areas to analyze the measure to be will announced.
The last meeting took place last night with the National Council on Food Security.
At first some officials said Fernandez would speak to the country to announce the measures to face the crisis brought about by the constant rises in the prices of a barrel of oil and in nutritional products.
Several officials, among them vice president Rafael Alburquerque; Economy minister Temístocles Montas and Dominican State Electrical Companies (CDEEE) vice president Radhamés Segura, assured the measures to be taken won’t jeopardize the poorest citizens and would be accompanied with social compensation.
Dominican Republic Live, 10.07.08
Dominican President Lists Measures to Mitigate Crisis
Leonel FernándezOpposition sees « nothing »
President Leonel Fernandez announced last night that he’ll send to Congress next Tuesday a complementary budget and a set of measures to mitigate the effects of high fuel prices, in his speech to the country that two opposition leaders railed as a “missed opportunity.”
He said he would work to form a bloc of 57 affected countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, including Haiti, so that the petroleum producers create a US $40 billion solidarity fund from the US $1.3 trillion he said the petroleum-producing countries have made on the sale of crude.
The chief executive said he has obtained the support of former U.S. president Bill Clinton and former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, to form the bloc of nations.
Fernandez said « nothing »
“What can I say, the President didn’t say anything” was the first reaction of Social Christian Party general secretary Victor Gomez Casanova on Fernandez’s press conference.
He said the chief executive’s speech was empty because it only made announcements. “We’re tired announcements. The Government looks like an advertising firm and we understand that what a government must do is to present action, being more pragmatic and less theoretical.”
A similar reaction came from Dominican Revolutionary Party general secretary Orlando Jorge Mera, for whom Fernandez’s words were « unfortunate » He said the President lost a great opportunity to announce measures that would mitigate the nation’s problems.
Dominican Republic Live, 11.07.08
Speculation With World’s Oil « Abusive, Injurious »
Leonel Fernández PetrocaribeDominican President says
CARACAS.- President Leonel Fernandez said speculation in the world’s oil markets is “abusive and injurious” against countries that don’t produce crude, causing serious turmoil in their economies. He proposed that Petrocaribe nations form a bloc to request solidarity from producing nations to put an end to speculation.
Speaking Sunday at the 5th PetroCaribe summit, the chief executive said speculation and oil contracts for the future are the major causes of the current jump in the price of oil. He said that currently there are 860,000 oil future contracts, which represent 10 times the quantity of oil that is produced every day in the world.
Fernandez, repeating his proposal during a press conference in Santo Domingo Wednesday, suggested that PetroCaribe summit and the United Nations create a bloc to deal with the current fuels and food crises.
The PetroCaribe deal between the world’s 5th largest oil exporter and 18 of its Central American and Caribbean neighbors provides them with 200,000 barrels of crude per day on preferential conditions at flexible credit terms. It was founded June 29, 2005, with 14 countries signing o
Beneficiaries are allowed to pay half price for oil supply before paying another half in a span of 17 to 25 years with a yearly interest of 1 percent to 5 percent.
Dominican Republic Live, 14.07.08
Fernandez Asks Chavez to Invest in Dominican Oil Refinery
Presidents Leonel Fernandez and Hugo Chavez meetingPresidents Leonel Fernandez and Hugo Chavez meeting
MARACAIBO, Venezuela.- The presidents of Dominican Republic and Venezuela advance on talks aimed at striking a deal for the Venezuela oil group PDVSA to buy an undisclosed number of shares in the Dominican refinery, Refidomsa. 
Presidents Leonel Fernandez and Hugo Chavez met Monday to hammer out the details of the planned transaction, as part of the activities during the three-day Petrocaribe Summit hosted by Caracas.
Fernandez said a partnership between PDVSA and the Dominican refinery would benefit its investors proportionally.
“The possibility contemplated was for Petroleums of Venezuela to become shareholder of the Dominican Refinery, also for the purpose to expandnig Refidomsa or to construct a new refinery, ” he said after the meeting with several senior Government officials present.
Dominican Republic Live, 15.07.08
All eyes on Dominican President as Calls for Wage Increase Grow
Leonel FernándezSeveral sectors have stated their preference to raise salaries
Amid the population’s expectations on president Leonel Fernandez’s address to the nation in next the few days, to announce measures to mitigate the crisis in the country, the calls for a general wage increase grow.
Several sectors have stated their preference to raise salaries, arguenig that the current inflation « blankets » what a large part of the population earns.
Despite the consensus for a salary increase in Congress, the National Wage Committee (CNS) cannot debate it if a proposal isn’t submitted from either business or workers, said CNS president Gloria Henríquez. She said once one of the parts notifies an interest in discussing an increase in the minimum wage, she’ll immediately summon the other part.
The official said although the law stipulates that the wage increase must be revised every two years, it also indicates this rule can be voided in certain periods, such as the country’s current one.
On the topic, Chamber of Deputies president Julio Cesar Valentin yesterday said the country’s economic conditions forces a revision for a wage increase on the part of the Government and the private sector.
The legislator said he awaits any proposal on the matter on the part of president Fernandez, which the lawmakers will approve. “There’s a sincere interest in the Government to solve that of an increase, for which we seek a mechanism to do the wage increase, through the Hacienda Ministry and its technicians.”
Dominican Republic Live, 16.07.08
Dominican President to Announce Sweeping Measures
President Fernández speechTo face crisis
President Leonel Fernandez will announce a series of economic and social measures, including on saving energy, electricity, fuels and a wage increase, amid great expectation of industrialists, business leaders, politicians and other sectors of society.
The Head of State will speak in a televised speech at 9 p.m., as the economic and social measures expected would “alleviate” the poorest citizens.
The Presidency’s Press director Rafael Núñez said Fernandez will speak about importance topics that “public opinion and the population in general are expecting, regard the crisis of energy and foods.”
He said the chief executive has been consultig with Government officials of the economic, energy and agribusiness areas. “So the President already has a diagnosis on the reality in those three areas at his disposal.”
Yesterday Hacienda minister Vicente Bengoa, interviewed after a meeting with Fernandez, said the complementary budget, of around RD $30 billion, will be submitted to Congress Friday morning or Monday of next week.
Dominican Republic Live, 17.07.08
Dominican President Announces Measures to Confront Crisis
Dominican President Leonel FernandezCreation of new program
President Leonel Fernandez last night announced a series of economic and social measures to confront the crisis brought about by the rise in oil and food prices worldwide, including a 15 percent wage increase for government employees who earn up to RD $30,000 per month and a readjustment of the minimum wage.
He also announced a jump from 3,000 to 5,000 pesos per month on the pensions for retired civilians and military.
He said construction of new infrastructure projects will not begin and the conclusion will be prioritized for those that to date are advanced in at least 75 percent.
Fernandez, in his speech to the nation, disposed a 25 percent reduction on the purchase of fuel, lower the cost in the use of cell phones and travel expenses, allowances and per diems.
He also announced the creation of the program « Bonogas » for households and drivers; to benefit to 800,000 poor and lower middle class homes with the purchase of up to six gallons of propane monthly, with the same subsidy as the one for drivers of RD $38 per gallon, or RD $228 monthly to be included in the Solidarity Card.
It will also benefit around 24,000 urban transport drivers with an subsidy of RD $38 per gallon, a little more than double what the current law stipulates, of RD $17.35 per gallon, for the purchase of up to six gallons of propane gas daily. The amount would total RD $5,700 monthly.
Fernandez said the focalization of the subsidy on propane used in transport and homes would save RD $6.3 billion.
Dominican Republic Live, 18.07.08
Dominican Government to Hire 10,000 Road Workers
National Asphalt PlanNational Asphalt Plan
The Public Works Ministry will contract 10,000 temporary workers to repair and maintain streets, highways and country roads, to relaunch its National Asphalt Plan.
Public Works minister Victor Diaz Rúa said the Plan aims to make the country’s roads safer for traffic.
He said more than 400 works were already evaluated to determine those that are 75 percent finished and to conclude them, as president Leonel Fernandez announced Thursday.
He mentioned highways, bridges, bypass avenues, buildings, hospitals and sports facilities among the works, to finish then at a cost of more than RD $50 billion. “That is an investment of more than 50 billion pesos, what happens is that they are benig done by turn and many of them already have a big investment, and many are more than 75 percent concluded.”
Interviewed by newspaper Listin, Diaz Rúa said many other works will have to be paralyzed for lack of funds and others will have to wait until 2009, and that the hiring of road crews doesn’t imply a boost of the government payroll.
Dominican Republic Live, 21.07.08
Global Solidarity Fund
Carlos Morales TroncosoTo compensate high international fuel prices
Speaking at the United Nations yesterday, Dominican Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso proposed the creation of a Global Solidarity Fund with contributions from oil-producing countries.
The Fund would enable oil producers to help poorer nations by contributing a portion of their earnings towards compensating developing countries for the high international fuel prices.
The initiative, which was devised by President Leonel Fernandez, suggests that 57 countries with per capita incomes no higher than US $6,000 should have access to a special fund, worth US $40 billion.
Representatives from Jamaica, El Salvador and Guatemala voiced their support for the initiative while Iranian, Algerian and Venezuelan representatives were less enthusiastic.
Dominican Republic Live, 22.07.08
A mission of Costa Rica is visiting Dominican Republic
Quisqueya VerdeTo know the reforestation program
A delegation of technicians of Costa Rica is currently visiting Dominican Republic to exchange the experience of the local reforestation program “Quisqueya Verde”; which during its eleven years of execution made it possible to replant million trees in the country.
This information was offered by the minister of environment, Omar Ramirez, who explained that these technicians belong to the Costa Rican commission of the campaign « A que sembrás un árbol », developed by the Government of this country jointly with the private sector.
He said that the technicians, who will remain a week here, wish to know in detail the Reforestation Plan « Quisqueya Verde », which, he explained “Ceased being a simple program of the government and is transformed into a state policy” .
The civil servant stressed that the two countries form part of a reduced group of Caribbean nations which during the last years increased their wooded cover.
Dominican Republic Live, 23.07.08
The Museum of the Dominican Man finds pictographs and petroglyphs
Pictographs and petroglyphs New discoveries in Yamasá
Archaeologists of the Museum of the Dominican Man, dependence of the Secretariat of Culture, found in the Mountain of Yamasá, province of Monte Plata, several pictographs and petroglyphs unknown until now.
The archaeologists Jorge Ulloa Hung and Johnny Rubio carried out these discoveries in Sección Hato Viejo, el Salto del Jaguez and in Cueva del Indio.
The Guillén brothers, known in the area for their traditional work, were used as guides by the archaeologists.
According to the researchers, the new cave art expressions discovered in the Province of Monte Plata, and in particular in the zone of Yamasá, constitute new evidence which complete the studies undertaken in the zone.
“The pictographs discovered are of black color, and their height from the ground is variable. Some are at 50 cm while others are at 1,50 m.”
Fragments of containers which were also discovered on the surface are the only archaeological evidence. No complete piece was dug up and the fragments were taken along to the Museum of the Dominican Man to be studied.
Dispersed human bones were also found.
Contrarily to the pictographs, the petroglyphs were localized in Salto de Jaguey, and represent human figures.
Dominican Republic Live, 24.07.08
Busiest Dominican Airport to Have U.S. Customs and Immigration station
Punta Cana AirportA station controlled by United States personnel
By the end of the 2009 summer, Dominican Republic will have a United States Customs and Immigration station at Punta Cana International Airport (east), which would make that region soar past Cancún in tourist reservations, said newspaper Nuevo Diario, quoting the agency Noticaribe.
It said the dream of Cancun tourism business leaders of having a station controlled by United States personnel will become a reality for Dominican Republic, after their efforts with the Mexican authorities have yet to reach what will take place at Punta Cana.
Nuevo Diario said the country’s busiest air terminal isn’t the first to have such a station with U.S. personnel, as they already operate in Canadian and Bahamian airports.
Dominican Republic Live, 25.07.08
Gasoline-propane Gas Row
Dominican gasoline stationDominican Government to decide
The Government will state today its position on the conflict between gas station owners (Anadegas) and liquefied propane gas distributors (Asonadigas), said Industry and Commerce minister Melanio Paredes yesterday.
The official said the Presidency’s Press Office will disclose the details and he’ll meet with Anadegas’ leaders Tuesday, to deal with the situation and announce the results.
The conflict began when Anadegas tried to sell propane in its stations, which Asonadigas rejects.
Recently Asonadigas boycotted the sale of propane in their 780 stations, until the Government bans that fuel from gasoline stations.
The Government itself closed several gasoline stations for trying to prepare them to sell propane, which prompted Anadegas to suspend that fuel’s sales, but claims its right on Law 407-72, which it said allows service stations to market all types of fuels.
Dominican Republic Live, 28.07.08
Government Admits That Sale of GLP in Gasoline Stations is Legal
Melanio ParedesCommission of lawyers created
To sell liquid oil gas (GLP) in the gasoline and gas stations of Dominican Republic do not fall into the illegality, informed the Industry and Commerce Minister Melanio Paredes.
“There are no legal standards which prevent the distribution of GLP in the stations which sell gasoline and gas oil”, said the civil servant at the time of a press conference to the National Palace.
He clarified, however, that the gasoline and gas oil stations will not be authorized to sell GLP as long as a study performed by a specialized international agency and the Head Office of Quality Standards and Systems (DIGENOR) is ongoing to establish the regulations of the places.
Paredes said that, for safety reasons and to avoid possible damage to the environment and to the integrity of the people who work in these trades, for the time being the sale of the two types of fuel in the same place will not be authorized.
He indicated that the Secretariat of Industry and Commerce implemented a commission of lawyers to treat on the legality or not to sale GLP in the gasoline stations.
With this decision the Government tries to put an end to the confrontation between the distributors of GLP and the retailers of gasoline and gas oil.
The first are opposed to sell GLP in the traditional fuel service stations.
The conflict obliged the authorities to seize several equipment of GLP sale which had been installed by some gasoline retailers without obtaining the authorization of Industry and Commerce.
The retailers ratify the provision of sale; the gas salesmen reject it.
The National Association of Gasoline Retailers (ANADEGAS) reiterated its provision to sell gas, but the gas distributors are firm as for their rejection.
Dominican Republic Live, 29.07.08
Senate Will Take Cognizance of the Complementary Budget Tomorrow
SenateA total of RD $31,621 MM
The Senate president, Reinaldo Pared Pérez, convened the legislators to take cognizance tomorrow of the law project of Complementary Budget that rises to RD $31,621 millions, resources with which the Government tries to face the crisis produced by the petroleum rising and the food situation.
Pared Pérez asked the senators to be punctual and to be at 10.00 am in the parliament, hour when the ordinary session will iniciate. This one will have as only purpose the information by the Executive Power about the Complementary Budget.
The project includes a part of 503 millions pesos in order to cover the doctors requests and other 4 thousand 800 millions for the 15% salary increasing of the public employees, that will be applied from august.
The Complementary Budget is based on the decree number 288-08, emitted by the Republic President, supported by the article number 55 of the constitution.
“In order to carry out some of the announced measures to face the risk coming from the petroleum prices’ rise and the eventuality of a food crisis, the Executive Power elaborated a Law Project of Complementary Budget, to be carried out during this year, that has to be known as soon as possible by the National Congress”, explains the decree in which one the Congress is convened in a extraordinary legislature, from July 29th and until August 15th.
On Agust 16th, a new ordinary legislature will initiate.
Dominican Republic Live, by Deyanira Polanco, 30.07.08
Landmark Bill Would Create Law to Protect, Exploit Dominican Forests
Dominican forestsHistorical agreement
Environment minister Omar Ramirez and more than 90 private and government agencies yesterday announced an historical agreement that takes their interests into account, in a draft to create the Forestry Law from of a bill they’ll submit to the Executive Branch.
The Forestry Sectorial Law would promote an export industry economically feasable for the country, whilst preserving the forests for recreational use by humans and as a habitat for flora and fauna. It would be the second of six laws required by Environment Law 64-00.
“We aim for that the Dominican Republic, at least in the next 10 years, becomes self-sufficient in wood production” Ramirez said, after noting the negative balance in furniture exports and wood imports.
“But another important element is the economic mechanisms and incentives to protect forests.”
Forestry Chamber president Freddy González warned that although the country’s development can lead to environmental instability, the private sector, working with the Government and understanding its rules, will seek « zero instability. »
Dominican Republic Live, 31.07.08
