DR1 Daily News - Tuesday, 2 August 2016

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May 3, 2000
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President meets with emergency services
Bad weather clears
Tour boat sinks with three reported dead so far
Dominican Republic making strides in agriculture
More controls called for judiciary
Judges protest asking for more money
Police tell their men not to quit
Change in policies for 44% renewable energy in DR
No report yet from Edenorte on Nagua tragedy
Dominican teen athletes go missing in Florida
DR defeats USA to win Volleyball U-20 Championship
Gilberto Santa Rosa at the National Theater



President meets with emergency services
Representatives of the emergency services met with President Danilo Medina yesterday morning, Monday, 1 August 2016, at the Presidential Palace to discuss the weather situation as the tropical wave currently over the country could become a tropical storm and is expected to bring heavy rain to parts of the country. According to Meteorology Director, Glora Ceballos , there is an 80% probability the wave will become a tropical storm as it moves rapidly westward accompanied by lightening and strong wind gusts.
Public Works Minister, Gonzalo Castillo asked all of the mayors in towns in the path of the storm to ensure that street gutters were cleared of debris to avoid flooding.
Also present at the meeting were the director of the Emergency Operations? Center, General Juan Manuel Mendez and the director of Civil Defense General Rafael De Luna Pichirilo.
http://eldia.com.do/ante-el-mal-tie...ne-en-el-palacio-a-los-organismos-de-socorro/

Bad weather clears
The National Weather Office (Onamet) announced for today that the storm weather that had affected the Dominican Republic since Sunday is past but scattered showers are forecast mainly for the south, central mountain range and border area. Gloria Ceballos, director of Onamet, said that the center of the storm has moved on to Jamaica and the extended effects of high surf and thunderstorms have ended.
All boats had been told to stay in port due to large waves up to 8 feet in height on both the northern and southern coasts.
Earlier, the Emergency Operations? Center (COE) had issued yellow alert for the provinces of San Cristobal, Peravia, Azua, Barahona and Pedernales, given the possibility of heavy rains that may cause flooding.
A green alert had been issued for La Altagracia, La Romana, San Pedro de Macoris, Hato Mayor, El Seibo, Greater Santo Domingo, Duarte and Monte Plata.
In preparation for the present peak of the Atlantic Hurricane Season for the Caribbean in general, Major General Rafael de Luna Pichirilo, director of Civil Defense said that they have identified 3,261 shelters with capacity for 825,267 people should they be needed, but first the authorities expect people to stay with friends and family should their homes become flooded.
Public Works Minister, Gonzalo Castillo, said that several bridges have been repaired in the south of the country.
Ceballos of Onamet reminded that the country is now entering the critical period of the hurricane season and the weather in the Atlantic Ocean has started to become very active. All hurricanes affecting the Dominican Republic in the past 100 years have occurred either in August or September.
http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/157613-2016-Hurricane-Season
http://www.onamet.gov.do
http://dr1.com/weather/hurricanes.shtml

Tour boat sinks with three reported dead so far
The Armada (Navy) has announced that they have recovered the bodies of three women who drowned when a boat, around 18 feet in length and carrying nine passengers, overturned off the coast of Samana.
The victims are Carla Mabel Reyes, Rosanna Vargas and Milqueya Cecilia Vargas Saldana, whose bodies were recovered. Missing are Jovanny Quezada, Alberto Santiago Rivera N??ez, F?lix Quezada and Francisco Almonte.
There are two survivors of the boating accident, Ruth Capellan, who was able to swim to shore as well as the captain of the boat, Vertilio Nunez, who is currently recovering in hospital. The Navy is continuing the search for four others who are missing.
According to their report, the boat left at 10:30 am from Samana, heading towards Los Haitises on an excursion. The accident was reported at 6 pm when survivor Capellan reached shore.
The Armada worked together with local fishermen to try and locate the others on board.
The boat apparently had left Samana without receiving authorization from the Armada Dominicana. The Armada said the boat captain was aware that the weather conditions were not favorable for the excursion. In addition there were no life jackets on board.
The Armada says that the four couples were vacationing in Samana and hired the boat for the excursion to Los Haitises.
http://eldia.com.do/al-menos-tres-a...-naufragar-yola-entre-sanchez-y-los-haitises/

Dominican Republic making strides in agriculture
Agriculture Minister Angel Estevez presented the advances the country has made in farming to an international delegation of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) visiting the country. The group toured the installations of the Bioarroz laboratorios in Juma, Bonao and Biovega, in La Vega, to see the diversity of products that are being produced "in vitro", as well as rice production taking advantage of the use of new techniques.
Vice President Margarita Cedeno and Foreign Relations Minister Andres Navarro joined Estevez for a meeting on Monday, 1 August 2106, to advance the implementation of the CELAC plan for the Food Security, Nutrition and Eradication of Hunger 2025.
The regional event is taking place in Santiago through Wednesday.
Estevez said modern technology has changed the Dominican countryside. He highlighted the use of modern equipment and GIS technology to improve crop production. He added that farmers and agricultural businesses use high quality seed to assure high yields.
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=490622

More controls called for judiciary
During the forum ?Judicial Independence? held yesterday in Santo Domingo organized by the Coalition Action for Justice and Safety, lawyer Cristobal Rodriguez called for the rescuing of the independence of the Judicial Branch from crime. He mentioned the case of the supposed judges that are being accused of being part of a mafia that marketed sentences. ?Yes, we are in a situation of crisis of the administration of justice. Yes, there is a complex situation that cannot be resolved from the Judicial Branch only and that encompasses the entire power system of Dominican society,? he remarked in his presentation at the forum. He called for more control and surveillance mechanisms for the members of the Judicial Branch. ?The judges need to be monitored, there should be effective control mechanisms,? he said.
In her participation in the forum, Supreme Court judge Miriam German Brito said that the country cannot aspire to healthy justice when the judge is intimidated. ?If a judge is not clear about his role he will be influenced by a fear of what people will say, and that is not justice either,? said German Brito. She highlighted these are difficult times for judges, but believes judges have a debt with society that needs to be paid with their independence of criteria and impartiality.
Former Supreme Court judge, Julio Anibal Suarez observed that the judges need security in their posts. He observed several judges are transferred to less desirable posts following their issuing of certain sentences.
Lawyer Fabiola Medina identified organized crime and political interference as the main threats affecting the Judicial Branch. She acknowledged the important role lawyers have in corruption and the lack of independence of judges. She said that recent cases of corruption in the judiciary are evidence of the weak internal controls and inadequate handling of complaints. She said there are many honest judges that have denounced the irregularities of their colleagues.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...fectan-soberania-del-poder-judicial-DD4522476

Judges protest asking for more money
Judges, bailiffs and administrative personnel of the Judicial Branch have demonstrated across the 35 judicial districts in the country asking for the assignation of 2.66% of the federal budget for the Judicial Branch.
The protest movement, called ?Fight for the autonomy of the Judicial Branch?, has the backing of judges throughout the country. These protestors went ahead with there demonstration, despite an order issued on Sunday, 31 July 2016, from Mariano German Mejia, president of the Supreme Court of Justice, not to take to the streets in protest.
German nevertheless acknowledged that the Judicial Branch needs more resources, but that the correct procedures and channels should be used to negotiate with the government.
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/08/01/jueces-exigen-266-del-presupuesto-para-poder-judicial
http://acento.com.do/2016/actualida...-reclaman-aumento-presupuesto-poder-judicial/

Police tell their men not to quit
While a newly passed Police Law 590-16prohibits police officers and rank to hold a second job, the spokesman for the director of the Police, called for police members to wait until the procedures of the new law are completed before filing their resignation. A majority of Police officers and rank hold second or third jobs in order to compensate for their low wages.
Diario Libre in its back page editorial says that the Police should start by those that are ?affiliated? to the Police, or persons that seek a rank for personal advantages and that does not receive a wage.
http://www.diariolibre.com/piden-a-...que-esperen-aplicacion-de-nueva-ley-BB4524254
http://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/de-buena-tinta/los-policias-inorganicos-MY4526943

Change in policies for 44% renewable energy in DR
According to a new report launched by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Dominican Republic could be getting 27% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030.
The report states that the main challenges and opportunities for economic development in the Dominican Republic lie with the capacity of the country?s diversification of the energy sources. Under current policies, the country?s share of renewable sources in power will only reach 21% by 2030, falling short of the 25% by 2025 national target.
Nevertheless, if amendments to the present energy laws are made, and government policies are focused more on stimulating renewable energy resources, there could be a dramatic spike in the use of renewable energy in the country, perhaps reaching as high as 44% of all electricity generated by 2030.
Dolf Gielen, Director of IRENA?s Innovation and Technology Centre, said: ?The Dominican Republic could become one of the leading countries in the Caribbean region for renewable energy deployment?.
Gielen estimates annual investment of $566m (?428.5m) in renewable energy is needed between now and 2030 to reach the 27% renewable sources mark, which would result in annual savings of up to $5.3bn (?4.01bn) by 2030.
http://www.energylivenews.com/2016/08/01/dominican-republic-has-huge-green-potential/

No report yet from Edenorte on Nagua tragedy
The electricity power distributor EdeNorte has still not explained how a medium tension cable was dangling over a major highway when it came in contact with a bus on the Nagua road. Six persons riding in the bus died instantly and 22 others injured when sparks from the electric line ignited a fire in the bus.
It was originally stated that the vehicle, a bus from Ismael Transport in Higuey, had hit an electricity pole. However, Colonel Noble Luna, head of the Nagua Fire Department, denied that the bus struck the pole, with the evidence pointing to the likelihood that the cable was in the middle of the road when the bus passed. This cable became entangled in a side-view mirror of the bus and caused a fire to break out immediately with all the passengers still on board. Four died instantly due to burns and another two died in hospital. Other passengers broke windows to try and escape the burning bus.
Edenorte has only said that they regret the tragedy and sent condolences to the families of the victims. The company did not say if it would be covering the costs of the funerals or medical expenses of the 22 people who are still in hospital.
The government owned company has said it would be launching an investigation and technicians have been sent to the scene.
http://almomento.net/edenorte-no-ha...sobre-hecho-en-que-murieron-6-personas/230194
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...recuperan-cadaveres-de-tres-mujeres-BL4519506
http://www.listindiario.com/las-mun...mbarcacion-que-zozobro-maria-trinidad-sanchez
http://elnacional.com.do/identifican-hombres-desaparecidos-en-naufragio-samana/

Dominican teen athletes go missing in Florida
Two teenage brothers have gone missing from their hotel in Kissimmee, Florida. According to Kissimmee police, the brothers, Francis Carela Valdez, 15, and Franklyn Carela Valdez, 16, were on a baseball tour with their team from the Dominican Republic and went to Old Town in Orlando, a tourist area filled with shops and rides, with the rest of the team on Friday night, 29 July 2016. They went back to their hotel, but in the morning they were gone.
Team authorities reported their absence on Saturday 30 July 2016. The boys were known to have little money on them and did not have phones.
The police believe that the boys may be trying to reach New York where they are thought to have family members. The search for the teens is ongoing.
http://www.listindiario.com/las-mun...anos-que-participaban-en-un-torneo-en-florida

DR defeats USA to win Volleyball U-20 Championship
The Dominican Republic?s U20 women?s volleyball team defeated the United States 3-1 (25-22, 25-14, 23-25, 25-17) to win the Norceca Women?s U-20 Continental Championship at the Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Cuba won the bronze medal, Puerto Rico came in fourth.
Natalia Martinez won the individual award. The win gives the Dominican team a slot in the FIVB age-group 2017 World Championships.
Norceca reported on the championship game:
?Dominicans faced the United States with a well-structured game plan. The Dominican Republic neutralized Lexi Sun?s attacking and Birone Butler?s blocking, which had been crucial in previous matches against the USA. The suffocating Dominican defense allowed Massiel Matos and Natalia Martinez to unleash their elite service and spiking power, especially in the second set in which the DR won with a comfortable margin. The United States then took the third set using May Mackenzie and Elizabeth Hall?s blocking ability; middle blockers Taryn Knuth and Brionne Butlet also contributed in the team?s advantage, scoring more frequently. In set four, Massiel Matos? serves were on fire in set four as well as Natalia Martinez? attacking, they carried their team to victory.?
Commenting on the game, the Brazilian coach of the Dominican team said: ?We did our homework, that was the key of winning tonight. We thoroughly studied the USA squad and we worked hard to win the gold.? He stressed that putting aside the tactics and the strategy, the girls played with heart and fought with an impressive defensive display. ?The balls weren?t dropping. We fought hard to punch the world?s championship ticket.?
USA coach Laurie Corbelli of the US said: ?The Dominicans defense was amazing. I have never coached a team that has faced a serve as tough, it was unbelievable, they had great defense, a great game plan, they got great team unity and they know each other well, they played better than we did and they deserved to win. ?
https://www.norceca.net/Dominicans win NORCECA U20 title and FIVB WCH ticket.htm
https://www.norceca.net/Dominican Natalia Martinez named MVP of the NORCECA U20.htm

Gilberto Santa Rosa at the National Theater
After the first two dates of Friday, 5 and Saturday, 6 August were sold out, the promoters of the show of salsa king Gilberto Santa Rosa at the National Theater have opened a third date on Sunday, 7 August 2016. Puerto Rican Santa Rosa is also popular for his boleros. He is presenting the show, ?The Man and His Music? that originally opened some 21 years ago at the Carnegie Hall in New York City. He will be performing his best hits: ?Perdoname,? ?Conciencia,? ?Sin Voluntad,? ?La Agarro Bajando,? ?Conteo Regresivo? and many more.
Tickets are for sale at Uepa Tickets, CCN Jumbo, Supermercados Nacional and the box office of the National Theater. Tickets are RD$6,000, RD$4,975, RD$3,790 and RD$2,500.

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

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