NewsWhore
05-13-2008, 05:30 PM
As the end of the electoral period nears, Diario Libre publishes an analysis by Tania Molina of headline-making issues that have fallen by the wayside and have been almost forgotten. She says that the financing of the Santo Domingo Metro, Social Security, Constitutional reform, and the Central Electoral Board's contract for the SOMO project to automate the civil registry have all been forgotten. Molina writes that last 15 November President Leonel Fernandez addressed the nation to present a new energy saving plan at a time when the price of fuel broke the US$100 barrier. The use of natural gas, transport efficiency and energy use programs were all part of the plan, as was limiting the use of government vehicles and rational use of energy in public offices. Part of Fernandez's plan included removing speed bumps, and alternate days for shared fare-paying taxis, but none of this seems to have been implemented. But Molina, citing statistics from the Ministry of Hacienda, writes that little has been implemented. She mentions that since November government offices have actually used 1.47% more energy.
Another issue is the Dominican state's purchase of Shell's stake in the Dominican Petroleum Refinery, but little more has been heard of that topic.
The government admits there is a need to reform the social security law, but again, it was said that that this would be the responsibility of the next government. Other issues like a new IMF agreement and rulings on the Sun Land case have all but disappeared from the public debate to give way to electoral propaganda.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)
Another issue is the Dominican state's purchase of Shell's stake in the Dominican Petroleum Refinery, but little more has been heard of that topic.
The government admits there is a need to reform the social security law, but again, it was said that that this would be the responsibility of the next government. Other issues like a new IMF agreement and rulings on the Sun Land case have all but disappeared from the public debate to give way to electoral propaganda.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)