While scandals are not unheard of in beauty pageants, it is the contestant from Puerto Plata's sudden and inexplicable forced withdrawal that has threatened the image of the Miss Dominican Republic Beauty Pageant.

Rumours and allegations surround the pullout of Miss Puerto Plata, Iona Guiosepus Roman, who has said she will speak at a future undetermined time about the situation. Rumours of threats and blackmail, alleged positive drug tests and allegations of money being sought from her to guarantee the winning of the crown swirl around the distraught contestant, who's only concern at this time is for her family.

Director of the pageant, Magaly Febeles, has denied the rumours of a positive drug test stating that the reason for the exclusion of Miss Puerto Plata is solely due to the fact that she is not a Dominican native. While Miss Roman's mother is Dominican, her father is Greek.

It is believed that the drop in passenger arrivals, mainly among tourists from the U.S. and Puerto Rico can be explained by new regulations introduced requiring those travellers to present a passport to return to U.S. territory.

While overall tourist arrivals increased by 3.45% in January and February of 2007, this still represents a drop in the growth rate over the same period in 2006. According to the Tourist Flow Report presented by the Central Bank, 664,523 tourists arrived in the Dominican Republic in the first two months of the year compared to 641,335 in 2006.

In following the company's philosophy of responsible mining, Barrick announced the expansion of their community relations programs, already in place in communities near their Pueblo Viejo Project, to Barahona Province in the southwest.

Barrick is a leading international gold mining company operating the Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corporation (PVDC) in this country.

In collaboration with local and national authorities and with support from the Public Health Ministry and Civil Defense and the involvement of people living in the communities,  Barrick announced plans for a series of community improvement programs aimed at benefitting Sanchez Ramirez, Monseñor Nouel and the Barahona Province.

Among already developed programs they highlighted dental health programs in the neighbourhoods of Casandra Damiron, Baitoita, Savica and La Montañita of Batey Central in Barahona, the donation of medical equipment to the Jamie Sanchez Hospital of Barahona Province, the donation of books, dictionaries, maps and art supplies to several schools to encourage education, the provision of computer classes to youngsters and adults.

Barrick expects that in 2007 PVCD will continue to expand its community development projects in areas such as health, labour, education, infrastructure, culture and more.

Speaking Wednesday at the monthly luncheon of the American Chamber of Commerce, National Business Council president Lisandro Macarrulla stated that there can be no solution to the crisis in the electrical sector as long as the government remains directly linked to the business. He wants the government distributers transferred to the private sector and demanded a stop to the practice of guaranteeing energy purchase contracts to particular businesses that is later resold at a loss. He would like to see loyal competition, transparency in the sector and rigorous compliance to commitments.

He also alleged that the government cannot discern between political and partisan issues and what is necessary and basic for the nation and should not be delayed any further.