DR1 Daily News - Thursday, 14 July 2016

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  • Improving traffic and security on 8 main roads in Santo Domingo
  • Energy and Mines approves concessions
  • CMD insists on short work hours at hospitals
  • National Health Service wants to incorporate IDSS
  • Chamber of Deputies slush fund eliminated
  • Lack of cooperation from Haiti is biggest snag to legalizing status
  • Cooperatives handle RD$80 billion
  • Indotel uses 53% of its resources to pay wages
  • Dominican exports down 10 years under DR-CAFTA
  • Civil society meets to consolidate institutions
  • Santiago environmentalists report damming of small rivers
  • Gas station closed in Santiago by Public Works
  • Samana Tourist Cluster calls for judicial security
  • German arrested by Ministry of Environment for deforesting
  • Police generals oppose Police reform bill
  • Two Dominicans to compete in swimming in Rio Olympics
  • It’s hot and will get hotter
  • Luisa Maria Guell in Santo Domingo
  • Celebrating Fernando Echavarria at Hard Rock
  • Illegales set for another show

Improving traffic and security on 8 main roads in Santo Domingo
Minister of Public Works Gonzalo Castillo announced traffic improvements on eight main thoroughfares in the National District. Beginning in August, there will be better enforcement of traffic laws, improved street lighting, landscaping, the construction of ramps for disabled access and improved security in general. As part of the program, the roads are being equipped with better signage and ease of way and clearer indications for turning lanes.
The government announced 60 permanent patrols, 40 motorized patrols and 20 patrols in vehicles on service 24/7. These measures will include the identified corridors at the avenues Prolongacion 27 de Febrero, Luperon, Los Proceres, Abraham Lincoln, Nunez de Caceres, Malecon (between Abraham Lincoln-Luper?n), Anacaona-Mirador Sur, Republica de Colombia to Sol Poniente, and Expreso Quinto Centenario.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...funcionamiento-de-nuevos-corredores-ED4342336

Energy and Mines approves concessions
The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) reported on Wednesday, 13 July 2016, that 44 permits have been issued between May 2015 and June 2016, for the exploration for both metallic and nonmetallic minerals. During the same period, the Ministry also published seven protocols and regulations to establish clear rules for the mining sector.
Minister of Energy and Mines Antonio Isa Conde stated that this year the Ministry has focused on strengthening the regulatory framework and the strict compliance of mining activities established by law, including the process to grant or deny a concession.
In a press release published in the El Nacional newspaper, the MEM reported that there were 21 permits issued for mineral exploration, 15 administrative resolutions, three refusals for exploration and one request for cease and desist on a concession. Two concessions were declared to have reached their time limit and one administrative decision authorized the restart of operations and another declared a concession to be null and void.
Regarding the legal framework for mining activities, the Ministry of Energy and Mines reported the completion of the first set of regulations for the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons that was approved in 2015 by the Executive Branch.

CMD insists on short work hours at hospitals
The president of the Dominican Medical Association (CMD), Dr. Waldo Ariel Suero, insists that the present work hour structure for doctors is not negotiable. He is suggested that if the government wants the doctors to work more hours, they should create a night shift for attending physicians that ends at 8pm. The doctors are demanding salary increases of up to 60% and they say that the government has only offered 20%, as reported in Diario Libre.
Dr. Suero spoke during an assembly of the National Health Pact (Panasalud) that was held in the morning of Wednesday, 13 July 2016, in which dozens of health care service providers attended. As reported, the CMD President received a standing ovation when he spoke on the issue of the working hours.
Dr. Suero called for the authorities to return to the negotiation table. He now is insisting that the negotiations be made public. He said: “90% of Dominicans have been bought [by the government], but nobody can buy Waldo Ariel Suero.”
He announced a return to strikes if the government does not yield to their demands. The CMD is demanding the government allot 5% of the GDP to the public medical sector. The representatives of medical staff at public hospitals have been meeting with the government authorities since April 2016.
During the Panasalud meeting, the physicians declared the Dominican health sector in a state of emergency.
Last weekend, the president’s spokesman, Roberto Rodriguez Marchena, revealed a past study had concluded that the doctors at the public hospitals do not fulfill the working hours as established in their contracts.
http://eldia.com.do/waldo-advierte-si-gobierno-no-da-respuestas-en-proximos-dias/
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...co-declara-en-emergencia-el-sistema-sanitario

National Health Service wants to incorporate IDSS
The director of the National Health Service (SNS) said on Wednesday, 13 July 2016, that the including of the hospitals of the Dominican Social Security Institute (IDSS) in the National Public Network of Medical Care would translate into improvements in healthcare access for the general public. He said this merger has been part of the talks with the Dominican Medical Association (CMD).
Rodriguez Monegro says the IDSS facilities only provide assistance to their insured members estimated to be 70,000 persons after the enactment of the National Social Security Law. Before the law took was in place, more than 400,000 persons had already chosen to leave the IDSS to seek service by the private health insurers.
Rodriguez Monegro pointed out that the IDSS receives an annual subsidy of RD$2.9 billion as well as some RD$700 million from the Treasury for health insurance, all of which totals RD$3.6 billion to provide services for just 70,000 persons. This translates to RD$32,000 per person or three times the amount covered under the payroll withholding system. He also stressed that with the exception of the Salvador B. Gautier Hospital, that has a high rate of occupancy, all the IDSS hospitals are being underused with an average of 26% occupancy.
Rodriguez Monegro suggested a fundamental change in the restructuring of the health facilities and set as an example the conversion of the Estrella Ure?a public hospital in Santiago that is a general Social Security facility into the maternity hospital for Santiago. The head of the National Health Service says that if they could complete continue with these types of changes, they would remove the maternity facilities from the Jose Maria Cabral E. Baez Hospital and convert that facility into a high level general hospital.

Chamber of Deputies slush fund eliminated
The named “cofrecito,” or little coffer as the reportedly RD$50,000 extra monthly payment that legislators of the Chamber of Deputies received for social works at discretion of the legislators, has been eliminated. The Chamber of Deputies chapter had been suspended during the final months of the 2016 general election, as reported in MetroRD.
The funds were eliminated during the campaign on grounds that it was an unfair advantage for those seeking to be re-elected. The announcement of the elimination of the social works funds was made by outgoing legislator, Abel Martinez, who is president of the Chamber of Deputies and also mayor-elect of Santiago.
The senators continue to receive up to RD$900,000 a month for the same purposes. Senators receive from RD$420,000 to RD$900,000 a month for their discretional social works fund. The amount depends on the inhabitants of the province.
As reported in MetroRD, legislators representing the 31 provinces and the National District have received around RD$1.8 billion in the five years of the social works allotment.
http://www.metrord.do/noticias/diputados-le-dicen-adios-al-cofrecito/ftwpcb---5p2rB8LRYo/

Lack of cooperation from Haiti is biggest snag to legalizing status
Former judge, Juan Miguel Castillo Pantaleon, observes that the delays in the government of Haiti in issuing civil documents to their citizens, i.e. passports and birth certificates, is the greatest barrier that is preventing Haitians to complete requirements to normalize their legal status in the country.
In an interview published in 7Dias, Castillo said on 13 July 2016, that the government of Haiti apparently lacks the funds to organize their national elections and even less funds to issue the passports and other civil registry documents.
Castillo made the comments after the Ministry of Interior and Police announced its decision to extend the temporary residence permits issued by the Migration Agency for those who enrolled under the National Foreigner Legalization Plan (PNRE). Given that thousands of Haitians were not able to deposit the required documentation, the Dominican government issued temporary permits giving the Haitians an extra year to deposit the required passports. Then on 12 July 2016, the Dominican government gave the Haitians another year, extending the term for depositing the paperwork that would have expired on 17 July 2016.
Castillo Pantaleon said that the law establishes that those who do not submit the required paperwork are subject to be deported, which, he says, has not happened.
Castillo Pantaleon made his remarks during an interview on Interactivo Super 7 on 107.7FM.
Castillo was critical of the decision of the government to extend the deadline for processing temporary permits for more than 143,000 Haitian immigrants. He said the extension violates the law.
Castillo said the language of the General Migration Law does not provide for a blanket extension for foreigners to legalize their status. The law establishes individual solutions, not collective solutions, he said.
Meanwhile, FNP legislator Pelegrin Castillo said the extension is in violation of the Constitution and sends the worst signals of inconsistency and further affects the weak institutional capacity regarding immigration matters in the country.
Newly named Metropolitan Archbishop of Santo Domingo, Francisco Ozoria, has commended the government for the extension calling it a humanitarian decision. The government has argued that the plan has at least enabled the biometric identification of persons who do not have a civil identity. In Haiti, most people do not have civil identity because of the traditional failure of the Haitian government in giving priority to the issuing of these documents.
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...an-regularizar-situacion-migratoria-pais.html
http://elnacional.com.do/ven-ilegal-prorroga-carnets-a-haitianos/

Cooperatives handle RD$80 billion
The Dominican cooperative movement, with approximately 767 cooperatives, handles some RD$80 billion, a sum that represents the strength and advances that the cooperative movement has made in the Dominican Republic. This was the statement by Anibal Garcia Duverge, the president of the governmental Development and Cooperative Credit Institute (Idecoop) who on Wednesday, 13 July 2016, told the press about Idecoop’s 5-year plan. Talking to the reporters of the Listin Diario, Garcia Duverge said that by the close of this year they expect to double the numbers of cooperatives in this country.
“Our goal is to carry the philosophy of cooperatives throughout the country,” said Garcia Duverge. He said work continues on the strengthening the institutions, the control and monitoring of the cooperatives in the Dominican Republic and the promotion of cooperatives throughout the entire country.

Indotel uses 53% of its resources to pay wages
A report in El Dinero highlights that last year, taxes on telecom services generated RD$1.35 billion. On the downside, the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) has directed more than half to pay salaries. Telecom service bills are taxed 2% to create the Telecom Development Fund (FDT). The funds were targeted to develop telecom services in poor areas in the Dominican Republic and to contribute to increased connectivity in the country.
El Dinero reports that last year Indotel received total revenues of RD$2.35 billion, of which it should have transferred RD$674.9 million to the government. Of the remainder RD$1.68 billion, Indotel used RD$885.1 million to pay salaries, bonuses, gratuities and compensations to its 809 employees as of February 2016. For FDT projects, Indotel only invested RD$168.6 million, or 7.1% of the total, or about 10% of the budget allotted for developments.
http://www.eldinero.com.do/25382/indotel-usa-el-53-de-sus-ingresos-en-pago-de-salarios/

Dominican exports down 10 years under DR-CAFTA
After 10 years of DR-CAFTA, Dominican exports still have yet to get a boost, despite the promises made by government officials in both the US and DR when the agreement was announced.
A study carried out by DASA for the Ministry of Planning (MEPyD) reveals that while Dominican exports during the period (2005 to 2014) have diversified, the overall value of exports has declined 11.11% since the signing of the agreement. In 2005, at the signing of the agreement, Dominican exports to the United States were US$4.48 billion. The exports have steadily declined and by 2014 they were valued at US$4.46 billion, or a decrease of 0.4%. The study reveals the decline is mainly due to the reduction in apparel exports originating at duty free manufacturing zones.
On the contrary, imports were boosted by DR-CAFTA over this ten-year period. In 2014, the DR imported US$6.24 billion from the United States, up from US$4.16 billion in 2005. In 2005, the DR had a trade surplus with the United States of US$317 million.
Nevertheless, Roberto Despradel for DASA said that the study “Evaluation of the Trade Performance and Future Challenges of DR-CAFTA 10 Years after its Signing” shows that the farm and agro-industrial sector has been the sector to best take advantage of the treaty. He said farm and agro-industrial exports went from US$479 million in 2005 to US$917 million in 2014. This compares to apparel exports that went from US$1.92 billion in 2005 to US$851 million in 2014.
Despradel said the country will be affected by the dismantling of tariffs on protected farm products.
http://www.diariolibre.com/economia...-diez-anos-de-vigencia-del-dr-cafta-FC4343070

Civil society meets to consolidate institutions
The Action Coalition for Justice and Security met yesterday to consolidate demands for judicial reform and lobby so that politics does not prevail in persons named to key positions in the superior courts of the country and government entities. 18 civil society institutions have compiled initiatives and concerns and presented these at a First Forum of the Civil Society. Towards a National Pact for Justice and Security. The event was held to address the strengthening of national institutions. In the opening speech, political scientist Rosario Espinal observed the moment is one when the opposition is disarticulated. The movement seeks to create a focus for social pressure and that the government listen if it wants to be legitimate.
The forum was held at a time confident in courts has declined from 60% in 2008 to 41% at present. Confidence in the Police has declined from 46% to 35%.
Civil society groups that are participating are:
Coalicion Accion por la Justicia y la Seguridad, Fundacion Institucionalidad y Justicia (Finjus), Participacion Ciudadana, Centro Regional de Estrategias Economicas Sostenibles (CREES), Asociacion de Empresas Industriales de Herrera y la provincia Santo Domingo (AEIH), Centro Bono, Centro Juan XXIII, EDUCA, Acoprovi, ANJE, CODUE, FLACSO, Profamilia, Pastoral Juvenil, Poder Ciudadano and the American Chamber of Commerce.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...-reparto-de-cargos-en-instituciones-HE4341898

Santiago environmentalists report damming of small rivers
Environmentalists and residents in the community of Palo Quemado, high up in the northern Septentrional mountain range complained that the rivers in that area are being damned and the waters used for the extraction of amber in the area while forest areas are also being cleared.
Nelson Bautista, a coordinator for the Green Action Foundation, said that as a result of this practice for the first time in 10 years, the Jacagua River did not flow normally between 2015 and March 2016. Residents of Palo Quemado, near the Luperon Highway, explained that every night heavy machinery operates in the Jacagua, San Francisco and Gurabo rivers whose sources are in the Septentrional mountains.
Both the Jacagua River and the San Francisco flow in the area of the old Santiago and then merge with the Yaque del Norte River.
As a result, another foundation, the Saltadero Foundation, is in the process of obtaining military units to patrol the protected area that is shared with the Professor Eugenio De Jesus Marcano Botanical Park.

Gas station closed in Santiago by Public Works
Military officials assigned to the Ministry of Public works shut down a gas station in Santiago after neighborhood groups carried out a protest calling for its definitive closure. The station is located on the Duarte Highway leading to Licey in the area of Pontezuela. The gas station was closed because the location had been declared eminent domain in 1995 according to a copy of the decree obtained by the Diario Libre.
The Decree 173 was issued in 1995 by then President Joaquin Balaguer and justified the takeover so that the space be used for sports and public recreation. Article 1 of the decree says textually: “The lands located along the banks and surrounding area of the Nibaje, Hoya de Caimito and Pontezuela arroyos are declared to be eminent domain and are to be used to promote recreational and sports facility areas, forests and water treatment facilities together with permanent forestry nurseries.” The decree also establishes the boundaries. The closed-down gasoline station is within the area of the Arroyo Pontezuela. According to a spokesman from the neighborhood groups, the gas station is in an area that will be part of the Pontezuela Ecological Corridor that already has presidential approval.

Samana Tourist Cluster calls for judicial security
The Samana Tourist Cluster expressed its worries regarding the invasion of private properties and called on the judicial authorities to guarantee the rule of law and preserve the dynamic process of investment growth in the tourist sector in the Samana Peninsula. In addition to what they call “professional squatters,” the Cluster explains that they are facing “reckless lawsuits that affect lands that are registered in areas designated for tourism,” creating legal complications that delay many projects.
In a press release sent to El Nacional newspaper, the Cluster calls for the protection of private property, in a press release sent to El Nacional newspaper. The Cluster adds that the frequent invasion of squatters on land that is privately held is “one of the factors that affects the development of tourist projects as well as foreign and national investment, and the overall business climate…”
The Samana Tourist Cluster also says that Samana boasts world-class tourist attractions and these illegal property invasions and reckless lawsuits have led to a virtual halt in the development of the region as an attractive tourist destination.”

German arrested by Ministry of Environment for deforesting
The Ministry of Environment reported on Wednesday, 13 July 2016, the arrest and indictment of a German citizen accused of being the person responsible for the cutting down of hundreds of different trees in the province of San Jose de Ocoa, as reported in Diario Libre.
In a press release, the Ministry says Rene Raulgod was accused of violation of the Environment Law 64-00. The Ministry says the cutting and destruction of the trees was carried out within the boundaries of the Montana de Humeadores National Park, near Rancho Arriba. They point out that this destruction was done with a power saw and affected approximately 2,000 tareas (a tarea = 629 square meters) with coffee and other native species planted in the area in open violation of the environmental regulations.
Raulgod was arrested and indicted during an operation carried out by members of the National Environmental Protection Service in the presence of a representative of the Environmental Attorney General’s Office.
http://hoy.com.do/autoridades-somet...rboles-en-area-protegida-de-san-jose-de-ocoa/

Police generals oppose Police reform bill
The board of directors of the Institute of Retired Generals of the National Police (IGREPOL) is asking President Danilo Medina to veto the bill to reform the Police recently passed in Congress. The bill is now pending the President’s signing and publishing to be law. Among other measures it calls for a drastic reduction in the number of working generals in the Police.
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=487715

Two Dominicans to compete in swimming in Rio Olympics
The Dominican Republic will again have two swimmers in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The qualifying swimmers, Dorian McMenemy and Jhonny Perez, both are Dominican-Americans who live and train in the United States.
As reported in SwimSwam swimming news portal, McMenemy recently completed her first year of NCAA swimming with Wagner College. This will be her second Olympic appearance as she competed in London 2012 as one of two Dominicans and the only female. Her appearance was the first by a Dominican female swimmer at the Olympics. She will compete in the 50 free in Rio, and holds a personal best of 26.87 from the World Championships last summer.
Since the 2012 Olympics McMenemy has competed internationally at the 2013 World Championships, the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, and the 2015 World Championships. Her international debut came at the 2011 Worlds in Shanghai. In 2012 she was named the Dominican Female Swimmer of the Year.
As to her preparation for the Rio Olympics, Swim Swam reports that McMenemy is coming off a successful freshman year at Wagner, where she placed 5th at the NEC Championships in the 50 free and was on the 200 medley relay team that broke the school record.
Perez lives in Florida and trains at Azura Florida Aquatics in Fort Lauderdale since 2014.
Perez holds personal best times of 23.70 and 51.71 in the 50 and 100 freestyle from the Barcelona stop of the Mare Nostrum Series this year.
https://swimswam.com/dorian-mcmenemy-jhonny-perez-named-dominican-olympic-team/

It’s hot and will get hotter
The National Weather Agency (Onamet) is reporting temperatures of more than 34 C for the rest of the week. The highs are caused by a combination of Sahara dust, intense solar radiation and summer time weather in general. Onamet recommends to avoid being outside from 11am to 4pm, to hydrate frequently and wear light clothing.
Onamet says rains there will be some scattered showers, but rains will be scarce.
http://eldia.com.do/meteorologia-recomienda-ingerir-suficiente-liquido/

Luisa Maria Guell in Santo Domingo
Cuban singer and songwriter Luisa Maria Guell is booked for a performance at 8:30pm at the Enriquillo Sanchez hall of the Ministry of Culture on 20 August 2016.
Luisa Maria Guell won the 2007 Latin Grammy nomination in the category of Best Tango Album.
Tickets are RD$1,500 general admission, and RD$2,500 and RD$3,000 VIP tickets. They are for sale online at http://www.ticketexpress.com.doTake note seats are not numbered at the Ministry of Culture hall.
Listen to her music at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqdlPi3E6iU

Celebrating Fernando Echavarria at Hard Rock
Familia Andre band members and friends are meeting in a tribute to the late group founder and musician Fernando Echavarria. The performance will be on Friday, 22 July 2016 at the Hard Rock Caf? in Santo Domingo. Showtime 9pm.
Echavarria died last year of a heart attack shortly before a performance.
Several of his memorable best hits include: De Oro, Marcela, Pato Robao, Donde E que E.
Listen to his music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avZOmyCKEuI&list=RDavZOmyCKEuI

Illegales set for another show
After the success of their first performance, the Ilegales have programmed a second show, Ilegales Concert Party at Hard Rock Cafe for Saturday, 23 July 2015.
Vladimir Dotel and his group are performing after the good reviews they received from the public at the recent Soberano Awards. Tickets are for sale at Uepa Tickets, Supermercados Nacional, Jumbo and the Hard Rock Cafe. Showtime 9pm.
Listen to their music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAERK1dTATg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGWsn6CVQFw

Read more about upcoming events at http://www.dr1.com/calendar

To read more news, see the DR1 News Archives at: http://dr1.com/premium/news/2016/index.shtml
 
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