DR1 Daily News - Wednesday, 21 September 2016

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Who will take over CELAC presidency?
Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas discusses immigration at the UN
New Presidential Road Safety Commission
Sweeping changes at ProCompetencia
Petrocaribe agreement not being used
Danilo Medina still the most popular president
No plot to re-elect Rosario to JCE
Banreservas changes debit cards
Who makes the best coffee?
Demonstration for Cotu? land compensation
Emergency landing at Las Americas
Arrests made in Samana bank robbery



Who will take over CELAC presidency?
During his visit to New York City, President Danilo Medina headed a meeting of a troika from the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) made up of the Dominican Republic, Guillaume Long of Ecuador and Syvanie Burton of Dominica. The members of the troika are the state currently holding the presidency, the former state in this position, and the next state due to hold the title.

The purpose of the meeting on Tuesday 20 September 2016 was to decide and agree on a candidate for the succession of the pro tempore presidency, currently held by the Dominican Republic. The pro tempore presidency lasts for one year and was taken on by the country in January 2016.

As planned, the Dominican Republic will hold the 2017 Summit in January 2017 when the next presidency is due to be announced. However, according to statements by President Danilo Medina a successor has yet to be chosen.

President Medina spoke to the press at the end of the meeting, saying that if no substitute for the presidency is selected he was concerned because the DR did not want to continue holding the presidency, as it was expensive and time-consuming, among other issues.

He said there were many potential candidates but that they were finding it difficult to reach a consensus on the successor. He added that the candidate for the 2017 pro tempore presidency needed to be chosen by consensus before the January summit that will take place in Santo Domingo.

The pro tempore presidency of CELAC is held by a member country for a period of one year, and involves preparing, hosting and presiding the annual summit, the foreign ministerial and national coordination meetings as well as regional and sub-regional integration mechanism meetings.

CELAC, an intergovernmental dialogue mechanism is made up of the 33 Latin American and the Caribbean countries. It was created to make gradual progress towards the region?s integration and find a balance between the diversity of the politics, economic and social and cultural lifestyles of its 600 million inhabitants.

CELAC was established 3 December 2011. Its member states are: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

President Danilo Medina is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly at 3pm on Wednesday, 21 September 2016. He is scheduled to return to the Dominican Republic later in the evening.

http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...esion-de-la-presidencia-pro-tempore-EG4989600
http://almomento.net/dominicana-no-quiere-seguir-presidiendo-la-celac-revela-danilo-medina/245916
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=498747
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_of_Latin_American_and_Caribbean_States#Member_states
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...n-la-presidencia-temporal-del-celac-XC4985918


Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas discusses immigration at the UN
Speaking at the United Nations on Tuesday, 20 September 2016, Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas highlighted the importance of sovereign rights of each country to decide who they will allow into their territory.

Speaking at the Fifth Migration Forum he said that it was a massive challenge but that high-level meetings such as this one would be a step in the right direction. He said that most people migrated to different countries to improve their lives or to flee from violence and conflict.

With reference to the Dominican Republic he said that most of the migration has come from Haiti. He spoke of measures taken to respect the human rights of the immigrants, mentioning that many are victims of circumstances over which they have had no control.

Vargas explained the 2013 National Foreigner Legalization Plan (PNRE) Foreigners Plan implemented through 2014 and said he was looking for an opportunity to work with institutions and organizations with experience in this field, especially the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, UNICEF, the European Union, and others.

http://almomento.net/ante-onu-canci...ca-derecho-soberano-sobre-la-migracion/245698


New Presidential Road Safety Commission
President Danilo Medina issued Decree 263-16 on Tuesday, 20 September 2016, creating the Presidential Commission for Road Safety. The commission is being set up to seek comprehensive solutions to traffic accidents in the country. Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo said that thousands of people die in traffic accidents every year and the commission will be responsible for finding permanent solutions to the problem.

The commission has been assigned the task of preparing a national road safety plan within two months. The plan will include measures such as new road safety policies, campaigns for public awareness and for people found in violation of Traffic Law 241-67, and road safety training for technical staff and officials.

A specialized working group will be created with representatives from central government, municipal and private sectors tasked with presenting proposals and suggestions and being informed of the decisions to be taken.

Members of the commission are representatives of the ministries of Public Works (which will chair the commission), Public Health, Interior and Police, Education, Attorney General, Transit and Land Transport (DGTT), National Police, Metropolitan Transport Authority, Dominican Municipal League and the Federation of Dominican Municipalities.

http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/presidente-crea-comision-para-la-seguridad-vial-LE4987508


Sweeping changes at ProCompetencia
ProCompetencia doesn?t have an executive director, thus reducing its operational scope and meetings the objectives for which it was created, that is to enhance competition in the country. Its board, nevertheless, costs taxpayers millions every year and it already had a staff of 50 employees.

The new president of the board of ProCompetencia, TV and radio host and lawyer Yolanda Martinez reportedly dismissed 25 of the 50 employees on Tuesday, 20 September 2016. The dismissals include the deputy director for promotion of competition, the legal advisor, the human resources and general services officers, the financial and administrative officer, the procurement analyst, the budget analyst, the receptionist, a graphic designer, the coordinator of the public access to information department, and the events organizer. As reported, most of the staff was hired after 31 July 2016.

As reported, Martinez has asked the Chamber of Accounts to carry out an audit to establish the organization?s current financial status.

PRD deputy, Radhames Gonzalez encouraged the ProCompetencia board to follow through with Law 42-08 that establishes that they need to send the Executive Branch three names of their candidates for the selection of the executive director.

http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...bios-de-personal-en-pro-competencia-DY4991072


Petrocaribe agreement not being used
Minister of Hacienda Donald Guerrero says that at present, the Dominican Republic is not benefiting from long term financing under the Petrocaribe agreement with Venezuela due to the low oil prices. He said the country is still buying its fuel from Venezuela as well as from other international markets.

Guerrero told the press that once agreement is reached on the Electricity Pact, the next step would be the Fiscal Pact. Both pacts need to be reached as set out in the National Development Strategy Law (END) and their enactment is overdue.

http://www.listindiario.com/economi...etrocaribe-por-lo-barato-que-esta-el-petroleo


Danilo Medina still the most popular president
According to a survey carried out by Mexican company Mitofsky Consulting, President Danilo Medina and President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua are the only leaders in the Americas who are regarded as outstanding by the citizens of their countries.

In order to be classified as outstanding the leaders need to reach an approval level of 65% or more. Danilo Medina obtained 83% and Daniel Ortega 67%.

They are followed by Rafael Correa of Ecuador, Jimmy Morales of Guatemala and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski from Peru, all of whom had approval ratings of 61%.

They were followed by the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with 55%.

The third group, with between 54% and 40% consists of Juan Orlando Hern?ndez of Honduras with 52%, Barack Obama of the United States with 52%, Juan Carlos Varela of Panama (46%), Mauricio Macri from Argentina (43%) and Salvador Sanchez Ceren of El Salvador (41%).

The lowest ratings, between 39% and 20% were obtained by Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia and Tabar? Vazquez of Uruguay, both with 30%. They are followed by Mexican president Enrique Pe?a Nieto and Evo Morales of Bolivia, both with 29%, and then Horacio Cartes of Paraguay (23%), Chilean president Michelle Bachelet (22%) and Venezuelan president Nicol?s Maduro (21%).

The very lowest assessments went to Brazil?s Michel Temer with 14% and Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis, with 10%.

http://eldia.com.do/presidentes-dominicano-y-nicaraguense-los-lideres-americanos-mejor-evaluados/


No plot to re-elect Rosario to JCE
Senator Dionis S?nchez, who chairs the Special Senate Commission responsible for choosing the Central Electoral Board (JCE) members for 2016-2020 has rejected accusations from the opposition parties that there is a plot to re-elect current JCE president Roberto Rosario along with other members of the institution. The JCE oversees the organization of the general elections and civil registry.

S?nchez said that the only plan was based on the Constitution and ratified by the recent elections, adding that the opposition parties should return to the table and resume talks for the enactment of the Electoral Bill and the Political Parties Bill.

He said that if there was some kind of plot to choose the new members of the JCE and the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) then no one had told him, but that as far as he was concerned all applicants were equal.

He added that the interviews of the candidates would take place by the end of October in the order in which their applications were submitted. He said that there were 190 candidates at present but that the deadline for applications had been extended until Friday, 23 September 2016 so he expected the final total to reach 200.

http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...escoger-a-roberto-rosario-en-la-jce-MD4984097


Banreservas changes debit cards
Banreservas, the governmental commercial bank, has announced that from 10 October 2016 the bank?s R-24 debit cards will be deactivated as the bank is replacing them with a new more secure model. The bank is asking holders of the old cards to call in to a bank branch to be issued with a new card. The change is free of charge.

The new MasterCard Banreservas card comes with an identification chip to ensure greater security and confidentiality. The card is valid for transactions in the Dominican Republic, online and around the world.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...-solo-tendran-vigencia-hasta-el-10-de-octubre


Who makes the best coffee?
The 30th Asonahores Trade Show was held at the Barcel? Convention Center in Punta Cana earlier in September 2016.

This year, baristas from Princess, Barcel? Deluxe, Breathless and Riu Palace took part with Melvin Mota of Breathless, Jhoan S?nchez of Riu Palace and Alex B?ez of Barcel? Deluxe won the top three places for their skills at preparing coffee drinks.

The awards were presented by Asonahores president Sim?n Su?rez and marketing director Thelma Mart?nez.

At the event, Industrias Banilejas announced the creation of the Instituto del Caf?, a center that will be dedicated to train baristas. Puerto Rican Erica Reyes is advising Induban on the new center.

Baristas work behind a counter preparing espresso, cappuccinos and other coffee drinks. Reyes said: ?Our aim is to cultivate people?s taste and to ensure that more people can prepare a good cup of coffee.?


Demonstration for Cotu? land compensation
Representatives of the Rosario family demonstrated outside the National Congress building in Santo Domingo on Tuesday, 20 September 2016. They are asking for US$2.5 billion in compensation for land that they say was taken over by Barrick Gold in Laguna in Cotu?, S?nchez Ram?rez province.

According to their lawyer Jhonny Cortoreal, the land had been in their family for years. Family spokesman Miguel de Oleo said that the family is now in a critical situation as many have died of cyanide poisoning.

National Police guarded the area around Congress when faced with the demonstrators.
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/09/20/protestan-frente-congreso-reclamo-que-barrick-pague-2500


Emergency landing at Las Americas
Aserca flight 420 arriving from Colombia with 139 passengers on board made an emergency landing at Las Americas International Airport on Tuesday 20 September 2016, after experiencing partial engine failure.

The pilot radioed the control tower and the airport activated its emergency plan with firefighting units, medical corps, paramedics and airport security.

The plan landed safely and the passengers were taken to the transit area while the plane was towed away for repair.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...9-pasajeros-aterriza-de-emergencia-en-el-aila


Arrests made in Samana bank robbery
Six people have been arrested following a robbery at the Banco Ademi in Samana on Friday, 16 September 2016 when two men armed with pistols robbed an undisclosed amount of money.

They were named as 23-year old Carolin Melanie Rymer Bueno, an employee of Banco Ademi, and her husband Waldi Javier Rijo Luciano, a 30-year old hairdresser. Haitian Hilove Jean Marie, 30, and hairdressers Maikol Jefry Thomas Siret, 22, Deivi Israel Mart?nez Encarnacion, 20, and Johann Ariel Kelly de Pena, 31 are also under arrest.
According to the police, the robbery was planned by Rijo Luciano and his wife and was carried out by Maikol Jefry Thomas Siret and Deivi Israel Mart?nez Encarnacion, who wore full-face helmets and carried firearms that they used to hit the security guard.
Police recovered RD$400,000 from the home of the employee and her husband and another RD$200,000 from Thomas Siret?s home.

Jean Marie allegedly procured the motorcycle and a Ford Explorer and de Pena owned the gun that he hired to the gang for RD$20,000.

http://pn.gob.do/noticias-principal...adas-en-el-asalto-a-entidad-bancaria-en-saman


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