In his speech, Fernandez said the opening of Ikea is an example of the Dominican economy’s reactivation in 2010. “The opening of this store is a great rejoicing, but it also constitutes a great event from the economic and commercial standpoint for the Dominican Republic.”

Accompanying the Head of State was the owner of the Swedish franchise Frederic Andersalm, who said the store, the first of the chain in Latin America, was built on around 70,000 meters and has 1,600 parking spaces.

The actress Angelina Jolie visited president Leonel Fernandez last night to coordinate efforts to aid Haiti.

The actress, known for her humanitarian work in needy countries, also visited the quake’s youngest victims in the orthopedic surgery hospital Darío Contreras, where patients and medical personnel welcomed her.

Hundreds of Haitian citizens have been treated in that medical center, many of whom had to undergo an amputation.

According to Press director Rafael Nunez, “the situation in Haiti is difficult so we request aid from Latin America and around the world to help our neighbor.”

The Dominican Republic shares the Hispaniola Island with Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Nunez said the Dominican Republic was ready to help Haiti out.

In other developments, U.S. President Barack Obama has expressed that his country is ready to send humanitarian aid to Haiti.

Tuesday’s tremor, measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, rocked Haiti at 5:53 p.m. Dominican time (2153 GMT). Though there have been no confirmed casualties so far, press reports from Port au Prince, Haiti’s capital city, confirmed collapses of office and residence buildings including the presidential palace, U.N. peacekeeper headquarters, ministerial offices, a hospital and a cathedral.

The earthquake was followed by two aftershocks measuring 5.9 and 5.5 respectively. The quake was centered about 15 km southwest to the Haitian capital, with a depth of 10 km, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Haiti was last hit by a strong earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale in 1984, but yesterday’s was the strongest earthquake in more than 200 years.

Source: DominicanToday.com

Quoting a source, newspaper El Nacional said the meeting took place in the home  of a mutual friend of Fernandez and Vargas and that the verbal agreement would be signed in a second meeting at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

El Nacional said it tried to get Fernandez’s comment by phone, through National Palace Press director Rafael Núñez, “but, as usual, this one didn’t return the call. Vargas’ comment couldn’t be obtained either, not even through his very close journalist friends.”

It said however that the source didn’t reveal the Thursday meeting’s site, but affirmed that it was on the chief executive’s agenda, when they’ll sign a document that would commit the legislators of the ruling PLD and opposition PRD parties, to strike the “never again” from the new Constitution. “That agreement fell like a ‘cold bucket of water’ among leaders of both parties, and those consulted were in disbelief and even doubted it could be signed.”

Although the agreement could benefit Fernandez as well as Vargas, the “loophole” would also increase ex president Hipólito Mejia’s possibilities of running again.

The chief executive held another meeting with the leaders of the also opposition PRSC party Monday night, when he also allegedly offered them electoral agreements, aimed at getting the Revisory Assembly to approve  as is, article 104 in the new Constitution , leaving open the possibility for him to seek office again.

Even if the chief executive gets all of his party’s Assembly members support, he would need at least 20 of the opposition’s 90 lawmakers.

The Revisory Assembly integrates 210 legislators,  whom 120 belong to the PLD.

Source: DominicanToday.com

SANTIAGO. – President Leonel Fernandez yesterday headed in this city several activities including the inauguration of road works and a military parade to mark the 164th anniversary of the Battle of Marchthe 30, 1844. The chief executive cut the ribbon for the Metropolitan Hospital of Santiago (HOMS) and a church in Licey, works built at a cost of RD$368 million.

After the inaugurations, the President also announced the conclusion of the works to rebuild the barrios affected by the storm Olga, among them Beella Vista, Rafey, Baracoa, and La Joya. DominicanToday.com