Last Dominican News (only for those who speak English)

IMF official voices concern IMF Deputy Managing Director Murilo Portugal says that high fuel and energy prices are negatively affecting the country's deficit in the current accounts balance of payments. The economist said the issue with fuel and energy prices is more a problem of balance of payments than inflation. He explained that for every US$10 rise in barrel prices, the deficit in the current accounts increases by US$400 million for the DR. He explained that the DR needs an extra US$500 million to deal with the issue. Yesterday, Portugal and other IMF officials met with the DR's economic team and members of the private business sector. Portugal is expected to meet with President Leonel Fernandez today and is due to speak to the media shortly afterwards. El Caribe reports that Portugal is in the DR at the invitation of Central Bank Governor Hector Albizu.

Blackouts are back Technical difficulties, lack of fuel and an unpaid electricity bill are being blamed for a series of rolling blackouts in the DR. Many of the country's power generators have gone offline in the past few days, but officials expect them to be back online by today. Hoy reports that the Cogentrix power generators went offline because the state owed them US$7.5 million. State-Run Electricity Companies (CDEEE) vice president Radhames Segura said that the government had paid the debt yesterday. Segura says that a total of eight power generators have been affected for a variety of reasons, but assured the public that as of today the situation would slowly get back to normal. The Smith and Enron plants were also offline due to technical difficulties, which are being investigated and the V and VI turbines in Los Mina went offline due to a delay in the arrival of a fuel shipment. The Haina I, Haina IV and Palamara-La Vega plants were also offline because of fuel deficiencies. In all, 800 MW of power has been unavailable but Segura says that 470 MW will be available for consumers today.

School more expensive Education Minister Alejandrina German has authorized schools that charge more than R$500 per month to charge up to 12% more for the 2008-2009 school year. The Minister also ordered schools to give parents a credit if the monthly fees or inscription costs exceeded the 12%. The Minister said that any school wishing to charge more than the 12% increase must provide the Department for Private Schools with an explanation, and that schools that fail to do so will be fined. German authorized the increases as a result of the accumulated inflation rate of 7.95% registered in recent years. Hoy quotes a study which indicates that of the 1,577 recognized schools in the DR, 328 will not raise tuition fess while 378 schools will increases fees by 10% to 19% and 59 schools will increase fees by 20%. Listin Diario writes that 271 schools in the DR currently charge less than RD$500 per month, while 641 schools charge less than RD$1,000 per month. The Dominican Teachers Association welcomed the increase, but parents are wary about the decision as it will increase the costs of their children's education.

Wages will stay the same Prices are going up, but wages are staying the same, at least for now. According to El Caribe, the DR's business sector is not willing to discuss a salary increase for employees, arguing that various sectors should meet to analyze the pressures caused by high fuel prices before deciding. National Council for Private Business (CONEP) president Lisandro Macarulla explains that "it is not convenient to speak of a wage increase right now: instead there must be an analysis of the economy's development, taking the international crisis into consideration". He added that there is no way the country can continue to grow in the way it has over the last forty years without tackling basic issues like education and quality of life. He said that once those issues are addressed, officials can discuss possible wage increases. CNUS workers' union leader Jose Abreu said that Macarulla's statements are all very well, but while he makes his assertions prices are increasing disproportionately.

Haitians in DR embassy protest Haitian nationals are being asked to meet in front of the Dominican Embassy in New York on 3 July in protest against what they describe as mistreatment and discrimination against Haitian immigrants to the DR. The protest is scheduled for 5:30. The protest is being organized by the Haitian Solidarity Roots Committee and the Dominican-Haitian Solidarity Network. Both are based in New York. Protestors will denounce alleged abuses of Haitian workers, what they call "racist" policies by the Dominican government and will call on the Dominican authorities to stop the deportation of Haitians from the DR. The organizations estimate that some 700,000 Haitians live in the DR.

Unions still owe According to FENATRANO transport union leader Juan Hubieres, the country's main bus unions owe over RD$4.2 billion as a result of Plan Renove. He also says that the Office for Metropolitan Bus Services (OMSA) still owes RD$377 million in payments on 106 buses from the same plan. Hubieres explained that CONATRA owes RD$1.25 billion while the CNTU owes RD$1.23 billion. Hubieres claims that 21 bus unions received substantial sums of money as a result of Plan Renove.

Telefonica coming to DR Spanish telephone company Telefonica is coming to the DR and will offer phone and broadband internet service. Diario Libre quotes comments made by Dominican Telecommunications Institute (INDOTEL) director Rafael Vargas. Vargas said that Telefonica might enter into high-level negotiations with existing communications companies in the DR. No details on when exactly Telefonica would begin to establish a presence in the DR. Telefonica was founded in 1924 and is one of the world's largest telecommunications providers with 228 million users worldwide. It currently operates in 24 countries, including 12 in Latin America.

Trash becomes an issue Trash has become the main pollutant in the DR. Environmental Minister Omar Ramirez says the DR produces 6,000 tons of trash per day on average. Ramirez made his comments during the opening of the "Waste Management Workshop" sponsored by Red Girasol and the German cooperation agency GTZ. During the conference representatives from 70 environmental groups will be trained in sanitation issues. Ramirez says that the country will soon have the capacity to convert waste into energy, as is done in other nations. The Minister added that the DR needs to look for technological solutions as well as solutions that are economically viable, environmentally sustainable and socially acceptable.

Claro loses money Every month the Claro-Codetel phone company loses RD$700,000 due to phone cables being stolen. Company officials estimate that every year RD$10 million worth of cables is stolen. Communications director Fernando Placeres says that 2008 hasn't been as bad as previous years, when the company lost RD$20 million per year. Legal council for Claro-Codetel Ignacio Miranda says that cable thefts are high because of the black market. He added that metal companies buy the stolen cables without asking where the cables come from. The cables are considered valuable because of the copper wiring inside. Officials have continually argued that the DR can't export large amounts of copper since it is not mined here.

Rains will continue National Meteorological Office director Gloria Ceballos says that rains will continue throughout the DR for the next 24 to 48 hours. She added that the east, northeast and southern parts of the DR should prepare for any emergency situations. Ceballos continued by saying that a storm front originating in Puerto Rico could make its way to the DR today, bringing high winds and thunderstorms. Officials are warning citizens about flooding and are asking people to stay away from rivers. Officials are also asking small boats to stay in port until the storms have passed. Green alerts have emitted for Santo Domingo, San Cristobal, Barahona, Pedernales, Independencia, San Juan de la Maguana, Hato Mayor, San Pedro de Macoris, La Altagracia, La Romana, El Seibo, La Vega, Monsenor Nouel, Espaillat, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Duarte, Bajo Yuna, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez and Monte Plata.

Publicado por: Sócrates Mercedes.-