DR1 Daily News - Tuesday, 26 July 2016

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May 3, 2000
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No progress in medical talks
Montecristi hospital has no surgeons
Abortion debates delay passing Penal Code
Snags for political bills passing
Mayor-elect David Collado reveals his plans
Finjus: City officer raises are illegal
Regional central bankers meet in Punta Cana
Taino Bond to help raise US$4 million for small business
Gerdau Metaldom sells customized steel rods
Ramon Prieto sentenced to two years in jail
Traffic deaths worse in the area
Lots of old cars in circulation
DICAN agents go back to work in El Seibo
Accused of abortions sent to La Victoria
Dominican dies in elevator accident
Children drown in San Jose de Las Matas
Hot weather to continue
Santiago?s historic buildings in photographs
Fernando Villalona at the Palacio de Bellas Artes



No progress in medical talks
According to the medical unions that make up the National Health Pact (Panasalud), including the Dominican Medical Association (CMD), the proposals put forward by the government still are not satisfactory.
At a press conference, spokespersons for Panasalud said that engaging the government in talks for talks? sake ad infinitum is not the solution.
Panasalud representatives complained that the government has claimed that it wants to transform the health sector, but it seems that the authorities simply want to exploit health workers.
For example, they say the government does not possess the moral authority to demand a restructuring of the hours doctors are to be on duty, when in fact countless government employees receive high salaries yet work very few hours.
Furthermore, the Panasalud representatives said that if the government did not accept Panasalud?s proposals by today, they would rally their members to take the fight to the next level. The president of the Dominican Medical Association (CMD) is a champion of strikes at public hospitals.
Panasalud claims that the government has no intention of earmarking 5% of GDP to the health sector or increasing pensions. Instead, the authorities want to increase the number of work hours for health care professionals.
http://almomento.net/propuestas-del...-exigencias-gremios-integran-panasalud/228211

Montecristi hospital has no surgeons
The provincial hospital in Montecristi, Padre Fantino Public Hospital, has had no surgeons for 15 days since the only two surgeons on staff, Alejandro Valdez and Cuban doctor Mariluz Proenza, resigned citing poor working conditions in the hospital.
This has meant that anyone needing surgery has to be referred to Santiago or the local private clinic.
The hospital, which treats many patients from Haiti, was to receive substantial improvement in facilities, equipment and medical supplies. But to date, these investments have not materialized, much to the frustration of both hospital patients and healthcare workers.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...o-de-montecristi-no-tiene-cirujanos-AA4453741

Abortion debates delay passing Penal Code
Legal advisor to the President, Cesar Pina Toribio, says that President Danilo Medina is waiting for the Senate to act on the amended Penal Code legislation that recently was passed by the Chamber of Deputies. The Senate sent the bill to review on its final workday, Monday, 25 July 2016. The Senate returns to work on 16 August 2016.
A revision of the Penal Code has been awaiting final legislative action since it was first passed in 1997 during the Fernandez administration.
The Penal Code again is matter of much controversy after the Chamber of Deputies eliminated an article that ordered a special law be drafted to allow abortion in the cases of rape or incest or malformation of the fetus. The provision for authorizing abortions in case of the mother?s life being at risk was kept.
Legal advisor to the Executive Branch, Pina Toribio favors the passing of a separate bill on abortions.
Meanwhile, the president of the Association of Private Clinics (Andeclip) Rafael Mena said that for every four births, one abortion is carried out in the Dominican Republic. He said in regards to abortions, the nation is living ?with our backs to the Dominican reality.? He said women have the right to decide. He estimates some 90,000 abortions a year are carried out in the Dominican Republic. He said the penalization of abortion does not resolve the problem nor will deter the practice. He said the decision of the deputies is proper to the times of the Holy Inquisition. Religious groups are the strongest anti-abortion advocates.
The director of the Los Minas Maternity Victor Calderon said that despite their being banned by law, every day around nine abortions are carried out at that public hospital to women, mostly teenagers, who arrive with an abortion in process.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...go-penal-sea-rechazado-y-modificado-FA4453205
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...a-un-aborto-por-cada-cuatro-partos-en-el-pais
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...cada-ano-pais-revela-presidente-andeclip.html

Snags for political bills passing
The request of the PRM and PRSC for a restructuring of the Central Electoral Board (JCE), the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) and the Chamber of Accounts by consensus and not by political majority as the law stands now has delayed the passing of the Political Party Bill.
Another snag is the request to include the minority parties in the talks since they secured 17% of the popular vote in the May 2016 general election. The minority parties are lobbying for their inclusion and are meeting with the coordinator of the talks, Monsignor Agripino Nunez Collado.
Only parties receiving more than 5% of the vote in the 2016 general election were invited to the talks, which only include the ruling PLD, the PRM, PRSC and PRD.
The PRM has also asked that civil society organizations be part of the discussions.
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=489523

Mayor-elect David Collado reveals his plans
Major elect for the National District, David Collado, announced that he will focus his first actions on making public cemeteries secure, eliminating chaos in public fresh produce markets and rebuilding sidewalks to make the city more pedestrian friendly. In an interview with Mercado magazine, he lamented the public cemeteries had become hiding places for criminals. Collado noted that public cemeteries generate RD$23 million and some RD$17 million are used in their management.
Regarding city transportation, he spoke of the need to improve coordination among the 14 government agencies that have their hand in the mess that has become Santo Domingo?s public transit quagmire. Collado insisted that an inter-institutional roundtable has to be created to find long-term solutions to the city?s transportation scheme. He also favors encouraging the private sector to build parking facilities to improve traffic flow in key commercial areas. He also spoke of the need to fund improvements in the Mirador del Sur Park. Finally, Collado wants to increase from the number of municipal police officers from 400 to 800 as a boost to city?s public safety.
http://hoy.com.do/david-collado-traza-estrategias-para-el-distrito-nacional/

Finjus: City officer raises are illegal
The executive vice president of the Foundation for Institutionality and Justice (Finjus), Servio Tulio Castanos Guzman, said that the recent wage increases and expanded pensions for city government councilors and mayors are illegal since these government servants approved the wage and benefit packages for themselves. He said that these wage and benefit packages could be vacated once new authorities are sworn in, pointing out that the Constitution prohibits creating legislation that directly favors municipal mayors or councilors. The report in Hoy also warns that there could be complicity between the outgoing and incoming city authorities in reference to the new pay and benefit packages.
http://hoy.com.do/finjus-dice-son-ilegales-alza-sueldos-y-pensiones-cabildos/

Regional central bankers meet in Punta Cana
The Central Bank will be hosting the meeting of the Central American Monetary Council (CMCA) from 28-29 July 2016, in Punta Cana. Presidents and governors of regional Central Banks are coming for the event that seeks to promote best practices in monetary and financial policies to promote the macroeconomic stability in the region.
Governor of the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, Hector Valdez Albizu, and vice governor Clarissa de la Rocha will be the main hosts of the event for the Dominican Republic.
http://www.bancentral.gov.do/notas_...in-del-consejo-monetario-centroamericano-cmca

Taino Bond to help raise US$4 million for small business
The International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group) announced on 25 July 2016, that a 6-1/2 year RD$180 million-denominated bond (approximately US$4 million) has been issued to support domestic capital markets and boost financing for micro-entrepreneurs in the Dominican Republic.
IFC will invest the bond proceeds in Banco de Ahorro y Credito Adopem S.A., a leading microfinance institution in the Dominican Republic, to expand long-term, local currency lending to micro-entrepreneurs.
Since it was founded, Banco Adopem has focused on supporting the most vulnerable sectors of society. Approximately 60% of its customers have access to financing exclusively through Banco Adopem. Ninety two percent of its customers earn annual wages that are below the poverty line.
"One of IFC's priorities in the Dominican Republic is to support financial inclusion and promote the development of the capital market. Through the Taino bond program, IFC is providing Dominican companies with long-term financing in local currency, and mobilizing funds to create jobs and help micro-entrepreneurs," said Guillermo Villanueva, IFC?s Resident Representative in the Dominican Republic. ?Efficient domestic capital markets create alternative channels of funding for the private sector and reduce economies? dependence on foreign debt."
The yield on IFC?s bond was 8.75%. Citinversiones de T?tulos y Valores, S.A. (Puesto de Bolsa) acted as lead structurer on the transaction, and together with BHD Leon Puesto de Bolsa, S. A., acted as co-placement agents for the bond.

Gerdau Metaldom sells customized steel rods
Gerdau Metaldom is now manufacturing steel rods in customized sizes. The metal works industry located in the Parque Industrial Duarte says the industry now has capacity to supply the Dominican Republic market and export markets in Central America and the Caribbean. To offer the customized sizes, Gerdau Metaldom has installed new equipment at a cost of RD$120 million.
Company spokesman Carlos Valiente said the new plant will contribute to making a stronger and more competitive the local construction sector by guaranteeing to meet and exceed quality requirements of regulatory agents and international standards.
http://www.diariolibre.com/economia/gerdau-metaldom-inaugura-planta-de-corte-de-varillas-IF4447947

Ramon Prieto sentenced to two years in jail
The president of the Corporacion de Credito (Cocretur) y Prestamos Personales de Nominas (Primesa), Ramon Prieto was sentenced to two years in jail for breach of trust. He was sued by 118 depositors at the financial entity and accused of a scam of more than RD$400 million. Also accused is Miguel Horacio Mercado, vice president of the financial company. The National District court ordered that the depositors receive double the amount of money they had saved.
Prieto is a former president of the National Hotel & Tourism Association and is regarded as one of the leading developers of tourism in Samana where he created the El Portillo Beach Resort that was later sold to the Bahia Principe hotel chain.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...mpresario-ramon-prieto-por-abuso-de-confianza

Traffic deaths worse in the area
Out of all of the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic has the highest rate of death by traffic accident with 19.5 deaths for every 100,000 inhabitants.
The data was revealed by the deputy minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Juan Reyes, who said that the figure is one of the highest in the world and almost triple that of European countries that scarcely reached 10 traffic related deaths per 100,000 residents.
Participating in the Traffic Safety Seminar at the Presidential Place that is taking place from 25 to 31 July 2016, Reyes said that in absolute terms, 1,946 people died in traffic accidents in 2015.
He called for an urgent modification of traffic law 241-67 that has been in place for over 50 years.
Dr. Jose Miguel Aponte, director of the Dario Contreras Trauma Hospital, said that 80% of the accidents are due to violations of the traffic laws, principally speeding and reckless driving, drinking and driving. Most of these accidents involve motorcyclists. He said the hospital spends most of its budget on the victims of these accidents.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...-mayor-indice-de-muertes-por-accidentes-en-al
http://elnacional.com.do/violacion-a-ley-transito-es-causa-80-accidentes/

Lots of old cars in circulation
Overall, most vehicles in circulation in the Dominican Republic date from year 2000 or before. Vehicles manufactured from 2001-2014 make up 44.1%. But the largest number of vehicles on our nation?s roads were built before 2001 (53.4%).
Referring to statistics from the Tax Agency (DGII), El Caribe reporters found that 70% of the cars in circulation in the Dominican Republic are more than 16 years old. This situation is attributed to cars being sold and resold several times, many of which end up as dilapidated public transport vehicles. The problem is made worse by authorities who have been lax in enforcing requirements for minimum safety standards for vehicles in circulation.
The report by El Caribe also showed that 48.9% of all registered motorcycles date from the year 2000 or below.
At the end of 2015, there were 3,612,964 registered vehicle units. Of these, only 2.4% were 2015 or 2016 models.
El Caribe reports that the DGII shows that there were 773,018 cars in circulation, of which barely 5,508 units corresponded to 2015 models (5,061 units) and 2016 models (1,447 units). Vehicles manufactured in year 2000 or earlier accounted for 542,660 cars.
In the buses category, the total registered at the end of 2015 was 357,028 units of which 1,369 were made in 2015 and 366 in 2016 for 2% of total buses in circulation. Buses manufactured in 2000 or earlier were 54,461 units for 61.8%.
In the cargo category, of 392,395 units at the end of 2015, 249,598 or 63.6% were vehicles manufactured in 2000 or earlier.
The analysis showed that SUVs are the most modern of all the vehicles. With a universe of 357,028 units, only 26% had been manufactured in 2000 or earlier. There were 2,414 units model 2016 and 9,291 units model 2015 in the SUV category. 70.7% of the SUVs were manufactured from 2001-2014.
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/07/25/parque-vehicular-anejo-53-con-mas-16-anos-vida

DICAN agents go back to work in El Seibo
The Anti Narcotics Division of the National Police (DICAN) has reinstated the DICAN agents and officials in El Seibo who were let go based on accusations of being involved in irregularities while on duty.
National Police director, Major General Nelson Peguero Paredes, said that there was no proof that they had been involved in acts of corruption as alleged by the El Seibo prosecutor.
The men were reinstated in their positions. Peguero warned government employees to be careful before making damaging accusations.
http://eldia.com.do/pn-restablece-m...l-seibo-que-eran-investigados-por-corrupcion/

Accused of abortions, sent to La Victoria
Judge Jose Alejandro Vargas ordered pre-trial custody at La Victoria for Rafael Delgado Quezada, accused of posing as a doctor (he had studied medicine for eight semesters) and practicing clandestine abortions at the Centro Medico Nacional in Villa Consuelo. The center operated without permission of the Ministry of Public Health.
The judge ordered house arrest for the owner of the clinic 67-year old Agustin Hung Guillen. Others arrested in the raid on the clinic were allowed to post bonds. The accusations came about after a bag with six fetuses was found on 18 July 2016, near the San Isidro Highway. A police search tied these to operations at the clinic.
Hung Guillen, who denied the accusations, had been arrested for similar crimes in 2001.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...ortos-y-colocan-grilletes-propietario-clinica

Dominican dies in elevator accident
A Dominican died over the weekend in Manhattan, New York crushed by an elevator in a store.
The victim was 43-year old Jose Fernandez, also known as Morenito or El Flaco. He was declared dead at the scene. It was later revealed that the elevator had been installed illegally and was considered a death trap. The New York Department of Buildings has no records regarding an elevator at the building.
One worker said the owners had the elevator built to access a new storage space on the second floor hidden behind large yellow signage.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york...ed-washington-heights-death-article-1.2724423
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/07/...n-caerle-encima-ascensor#sthash.MMPq9QnY.dpuf

Children drown in San Jose de Las Matas
On Sunday, 24 July 2016, two children aged 10 and 13 drowned when swimming at the Balneario La Ventana, in the municipality of San Jose de Las Matas, according to Civil Defense.
The victims, Yeremy Cruz Garcia and Reimy Cruz Garcia, originally from Tamboril, lived in the United States and were visiting family and friends.
Their parents, Juana Garc?a and Genrry Cruz have now returned to the United States. http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/07/...dian-eeuu-ahogan-balneario-san-jose-las-matas

Hot weather to continue
A weak weather system is crossing the country bringing some scattered showers, but the hot weather will continue.
Gloria Ceballos, director of the Weather Agency (Onamet) forecast record highs of 38 degrees Celsius this year. She said that on Sunday, 24 July 2016 highs of between 35-37 degrees Celsisus were registered in Jimani and Loma de Cabrera on the border with Haiti.
Temperatures of 33-35C are forecast for La Romana, 34-35C for central La Vega and 33-34C for Greater Santo Domingo.
People are recommended to stay hydrated, wear light clothes and stay out of the sun from 11am to 4pm.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2016/07/25/428499/onamet-pronostica-chubascos-por-vaguada

Santiago?s historic buildings in photographs
Black and white winning photographs of the historical center of Santiago are on exhibition at the Palacio Consistorial in Santiago from 26 July to 25 August 2016.

Fernando Villalona at the Palacio de Bellas Artes
Merengue and bolero fans are invited to the best hits concert by Fernando Villalona scheduled for the Palacio de Bellas Artes. He will perform on 26 July at 8pm to commemorate his 45 years in show business. He said his first performance was precisely on 26 July 1971 when he performed in a voice contest. He has recorded more than 25 albums and innumerable singles.

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

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

Expat13

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Jun 7, 2008
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Alot of sad news here for sure. Constantly borrowing millions from the IMF who obviously are blinded as to where this money goes. Not much to medical, education or infrastructure, stolen by the politicos and oligarchs. Worse the people are so subservient they quietly allow it