President Leonel Fernandez

By Jean H Charles: I just spent a full week in the Dominican Republic visiting the cities of Santiago and Santo Domingo as well as the towns and the villages in between. The experience was as pleasant as my trip to Trinidad and Tobago during Carnival time. Compared to Haiti, which is still living in the stone age, the Dominican Republic is moving at full speed into modernity and towards development. Jean H Charles MSW, JD is Executive Director of AINDOH Inc a non profit organization dedicated to building a kinder and gentle Caribbean zone for all. He can be reached at: jeanhcharles@aol. To ... Read Full Story

Shares of Vancouver-based GoldQuest Mining Corp. (TSX: V.GQC, Stock Forum) jumped 39% to 16 cents Thursday morning, after the company announced that it has entered into a purchase agreement with Gold Fields Dominican Republic BVI to regain full ownership of its gold-focused portfolio in the Dominican Republic. GoldQuest says it will acquire 100% ownership of the Dominican portfolio by issuing 8.6 million shares and granting a 1.25% royalty interest to Gold Fields in exchange for its 60% undivided interest in the projects. The company also notes that it will “aggressively review and explore newly prioritised gold targets”. "We are delighted to regain full ownership ... Read Full Story

'+company+ ' ( TSX: '+exchange+'.'+symbol+' , Stock Forum ) '+percent+' Stockhouse Canadian Small and Micro-cap Stock Report for Thursday, August 6, 2009 TORONTO (SHfn) – A joint venture agreement with a zinc/copper player propelled shares of a small explorer Thursday, while results boosted a biotech stock. Aquila Resources (TSX: T.AQA, Stock Forum) shares climbed 32% to 24.5 cents on Thursday after the micro cap miner said it has entered into a subscription, option, and joint venture agreement with HudBay Minerals, which grants HudBay the right to acquire a majority interest in Aquila's Back Forty Project in Michigan. Under the agreement, HudBay has agreed to ... Read Full Story

The real estate market of a Caribbean island could be in for a lift after an international resort firm announced plans for a double resort property project. AMResorts is to develop two new schemes at Cap Cana on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic at a cost of $200 million. The US torism real estate firm is developing the 30,000 acre master plan close to Punta Cana International Airport and is dividing the project across two brands. Zoëtry Pearl Sands will feature up-market accommodation and restaurant and entertainment venues, while Pure Secrets at Cap Cana will be aimed at couples. Both are due ... Read Full Story

SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) - The Dominican Republic canceled an Independence Day military parade amid public outrage over scandals linking soldiers and police to crime and drug trafficking. President Leonel Fernandez's cancellation of the Friday parade marking the Caribbean nation's 165th independence anniversary followed a succession of cases implicating military and law enforcement officials with serious crime. "The military march-past has been suspended by decision of the president," an armed forces spokesman said Wednesday. The crime involving soldiers and police has raised alarm among local business and church leaders who fear it will damage the Dominican Republic's image as a major Caribbean tourist destination for ... Read Full Story