DR1 Daily News - Friday, 23 September 2016

Dolores1

DR1
May 3, 2000
8,215
37
48
www.
First Lady promotes special needs center
Foreign Minister meets NY Consul General
Deportations and challenges for the DR
Pepe Mujica to visit for talk
Educa report points to obstacles in education system
Protest for rivers in San Cristobal
Wilton Guerrero: people missing in Dican case
Llorente & Cuenca: DR perceived corrupt countries
DR ranks poorly in electoral integrity
Tornados over Enriquillo Lake
60 years since first Dominican MLB signing
DR wins slot in volleyball world championship
Table Tennis Tournament in Santiago
Expo Cibao 28 Sept – 2 October
Miriam Cruz in Concert
Honey exhibition-sale at Agora Mall


First Lady promotes special needs center
First Lady Candida Montilla, accompanying the President during the 71st General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, networked with her counterparts from several countries and promoted her Comprehensive Care Centers for People with Diabilities (CAID).

She spoke about the center during a conference on autism sponsored by the Autism Speaks organization.

As part of the CAID initiative, newborns will soon be subject to neonatal screening for early detection of developmental, genetic and metabolic disorders in order to ensure that children with special needs since birth receive immediate care.

First Lady Montilla invited her counterparts to visit the center that is endorsed by Unesco.


Foreign Minister meets NY Consul General
During his visit to New York City to attend the 71st General Assembly of the United Nations, Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado made the most of the occasion to meet with the new consul general Carlos Antonio Castillo Almonte. The outgoing consul general, architect Eduardo Selman was also present at the meeting. The deputy minister for consular and migratory affairs, Marjorie Espinosa Rouge and Ministry communications director Hugo Beras were also in New York with Vargas.

In the previous government, Castillo served as senator for San Jos? de Ocoa.

The New York-based consul is responsible for providing services to the Dominican communities in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He said he was open to suggestions from the Dominican community to improve the services.

Castillo was sworn into the post in Santo Domingo by President Danilo Medina after being appointed in Decree 246-16.

52-year old Castillo is a lawyer and businessman who chaired the Senate security and national defense commission. Prior to his election as senator he served as consul general in Haiti from 1996-2000 and 2004-2010.


Deportations and challenges for the DR
A Friday, 23 September 2016 editorial in El Dia focuses on increased efforts to contain Haitian immigration across the Americas. At the same time, countries in the region have stepped up pressure on the Dominican Republic to regularize the status of more Haitians in its territory, which has encouraged more illegal immigration from Haiti.

El Dia points out that the US government has been consistent in its attempts to impose a naval shield to prevent illegal Haitian immigration. The exception that was made for arrivals in US territory following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti is no longer in place, and all Haitians are now being deported based on the US authorities’ assessment that the situation in Haiti has improved.

The writer goes on to comment that Caricom countries allow free movement of citizens with the exception of Haitians, who need visas to travel in the Caribbean.

The editorialist warns: “This state of affairs presents a big challenge for the Dominican Republic. All those countries would prefer Haitian immigrants to go to countries other than theirs. In their view, the only option is the Dominican Republic, meaning that the pressure is back on us to be the escape valve. The effects are already being felt, but we are not seeing any of the government policies required to tackle this phenomenon.”

http://eldia.com.do/deportaciones-y-desafios-para-rd/


Pepe Mujica to visit for talk
An unconventional former Latin American President, 80-year old Jos? Alberto "Pepe" Mujica Cordano of Uruguay will be visiting the Dominican Republic in October at the invitation of former presidential candidate Minou Tav?rez Mirabal, leader of the Opci?n Democr?tica party. Mujica was President of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015.

The former PLD deputy said that Mujica would be attending a Democratic Plaza event with young people who are keen to hear about his political experience first hand, as well as his social and political commitment and philosophy of life despite difficult times.

A former fighter with the Tupamaro urban guerilla group, Mujica was imprisoned for 13 years during the military dictatorship in the 1970s and 80s. He later entered government as minister of agriculture and became a senator before being elected President in 2010.

He is best known and widely admired for his modest lifestyle and for donating around 90% of his US$12,000 monthly salary to charities that benefit poor people and small-scale entrepreneurs.

The event is scheduled for Monday, 10 October at the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henr?quez Ure?a (UNPHU) Horacio V?zquez Savi??n auditorium in Santo Domingo, starting at 6pm.

At 10am on that same day, former President Mujica will be awarded a Honoris Causa Doctorate by the UASD state university at the Aula Magna. He will also be attending a luncheon-interview with the Corripio Media Group at 12:30pm.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/09/22/presidente-uruguay-jose-mujica-vendra-pais


Educa report points to obstacles in education system
Acci?n Empresarial para la Educaci?n (Educa) president Jose Marmol says if the present government practices continue, the public education system could collapse by 2025. The study warned that the payroll and pension payments combined would make up 99% of the budget of 4% of GDP assigned to public elementary and high school education.

He said that if the current structure for wage increases continues, existing early retirement processes are maintained and the teachers’ payroll continues to rise as early childhood programs and extended day programs are implemented, the Ministry of Education budget could collapse by 2025. Educa says wage increases should be merit-based.

On 22 September 2016, Marmol presented its report ?Quality Education Spending in the Dominican Republic.” In its conclusions, the report recommends a census-survey of teachers, a payroll audit and a ministerial plan to reduce costs that result in reduced value to educational outcomes, so that funds can be allocated to support programs and school supervision.

For instance, the report identified that advertising spend had increased 500% between 2013 and 2014, at a time when the Ministry’s general budget increased by 9.5%.

The report adds that the payroll for non-teaching and administrative staff had increased 85% between 2012 and 2015, with 33,110 new staff members being hired, with a 9 to 10 ratio, an unacceptable ratio of administrative to teaching staff.

Marmol said that they were studying Ministry of Education officials’ retirement and pensions and their effect on the budget.

He described the construction of new schools as positive because of the shortage of classrooms, while pointing out that there have been major variations between the construction costs of the schools.

He said teachers benefited from a 27% wage increase between 2011 and 2015, but this has not been reflected in improved quality.

He called for the education authorities to be prudent when incorporating innovations without first assessing their cost-benefits.

The study described investments in teacher training and improving the efficiency of the school breakfast program as positive.

Read the report at: http://www.educa.org.do/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Presentacion-Calidad-del-Gasto.pdf

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/09/23/educa-dice-aumentos-los-maestros-haran-colapsar-presupuesto
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...on-tragarse-el-4-por-ciento-del-pib-EG5008503


Protest for rivers in San Cristobal
Re-elected senator for San Crist?bal, Tommy Gal?n has asked the new Minister of Environment, Francisco Dom?nguez Brito to take action to halt the depredation of rivers in his province.

Gal?n said that in the past, complaints about the long-term destruction of the rivers in the province have been met with indifference from the provincial environmental authorities. He expressed concern at the continuous and uncontrolled extraction of construction materials from the Nigua and Yubaso river basins.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday 22 September 2016, he showed images where eight 18 cubic-meter trucks were loading the materials.

He pointed out that the extraction of gravel and other materials affects several communities, including Mucha Agua, Semana Santa, Daza, Los Cac?atos and Boruga.

He called for the replacement of the person in charge of the Ministry in San Crist?bal. He said the extraction of the construction material violated Law 123-71.

http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...estan-destruyendo-los-rios-san-cristobal.html


Wilton Guerrero: people missing in Dican case
PLD senator for Peravia province (Ban?), Wilton Guerrero said that the former chief of Police, Manuel Castro Castillo should have been investigated in connection with the cocaine theft case involving agents of the National Police anti-narcotics division (DICAN). Earlier this week, members of the police and prosecutors were sentenced to 20, 15 and 10 years in jail, including the former Dican director, ex-colonel Carlos Fern?ndez Valerio.

Guerrero said that Castro shared some responsibility, either active or passive, and should have been investigated.

He called the investigation shameful because most were allowed out. “There were generals and colonels involved who were not touched, not even with the petal of a rose,” said Guerrero.

Nevertheless, he said the exception was the former director of Dican, ex-colonel Carlos Fern?ndez Valerio who he said “deserved what he got.” Fern?ndez was sentenced to 20 years in jail for his role in the theft of almost 1,000 kilograms of cocaine that had been seized by authorities and later stolen by the authorities themselves.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/09/...-exjefe-policia-por-accion-omision-caso-dican


Llorente & Cuenca: DR perceived corrupt countries
The Spanish consulting firm specializing in communications, reputation management and public affairs Llorente & Cuenca says that the Dominican Republic is perceived as one of the most corrupt countries in Latin America. The company says the perception has consolidated during the ruling PLD’s prolonged period in power.

“The long-term political predominance of the PLD, that has governed from 1996, with the exception of 2000-2004, and the country’s institutional weakness, has led the country to be perceived in recent years as one of the most corrupt in Latin America,” says Llorente & Cuenca, mentioning the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2015.

It says that corruption and political patronage have prevailed in the Dominican Republic on several occasions throughout its history. The firm mentions that the most publicized case of corruption involves San Juan de la Maguana senator F?lix Bautista, allegedly involved in illicit enrichment, asset laundering and forgery. However, the Supreme Court has not allowed a case to be heard for these charges. Transparency International listed Bautista in fourth place in the world among people symbolizing Big Corruption.

The company’s findings are included in its report: “Corruption, the Achilles Heel of Latin American Democracies.” It comments that every day it becomes more essential to efficiently regulate the presence of money in politics.

Llorente & Cuenca is represented in the Dominican Republic by Iban Campo.

See the complete report in Spanish:
http://www.desarrollando-ideas.com/...09/160912_DI_informe_Corrupcion_LatAm_ESP.pdf
http://acento.com.do/2016/actualida...-mas-corruptos-segun-informe-llorente-cuenca/


DR ranks poorly in electoral integrity
The Dominican Republic is ranked only higher than Haiti in the Electoral Integrity Project’s Perceptions of Electoral Integrity database that compares 153 countries holding 213 elections from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2016. Released in August 2016, the independent academic study is directed by Pippa Norris and its research team is based at the University of Sydney and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

The study provides independent assessments utilizing a rolling design where experts assess the quality of national elections one month after the close of the polls.

Results in the Americas are:
Costa Rica 81, Uruguay 75, Canada 75, Brazil 67, Chile 66, Grenada 66, Jamaica 66, Argentina 64, Barbados 63, United States 62, Peru 62, Panama 60, Colombia 60, Mexico 57, Cuba 56, Bolivia 55, Ecuador 55, Paraguay 55, El Salvador 54, Belize 53, Guyana 53, Suriname 50, Guatemala 48, Venezuela 45, Honduras 45, Dominican Republic 44 and Haiti 28.
https://sites.google.com/site/electoralintegrityproject4/


Tornados over Enriquillo Lake
Videos and images of spectacular waterspouts, along with a hailstorm, were shared on Twitter on Thursday, 22 September 2016, as reported in Diario Libre. The weather phenomenon was witnessed around Enriquillo Lake, near the city of Jimani, according to spectators.

Metereologist Jean Suriel says this is the first time that this sort of whirling column of air and water mist has been observed. These small-diameter tornados form over water before moving over land.

In a post on Twitter, National Weather Service (Onamet) director Gloria Ceballos said that conditions in the area were generating clouds that favored the formation of this phenomenon.

http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/video-se-forman-trombas-marinas-en-el-lago-enriquillo-YG5008661


60 years since first Dominican MLB signing
When Osvaldo Virgil made his debut with the New York Giants, he became the first Dominican to play in Major League Baseball in the United States. To date 688 Dominican players have followed. Virgil’s debut was on 23 September 1956, 60 years ago.

Fellow players Juan Marichal and Felipe Rojas Alou met with Osvaldo Virgil to commemorate the historic date.

According to report in Listin Diario, Virgil lives in his native city of Montecristi and is in good health at the age of 84. Virgil told reporters that his father, Henry Virgil, from the Turk & Caicos Islands, immigrated to the north coast of the Dominican Republic where he established his family.

Because his father was opposed to dictator Trujillo, the family would leave the country to settle in the Bronx, New York in 1945. Virgil went to the DeWitt Clinton High School and was drafted into the army in 1950, receiving military training at the Parris Island Academy in South Carolina. He served in the marines until 1952 and says that the training has served him well in life.

He said he joined professional baseball in 1953, and was signed into the New York giants at the age of 24.

Osvaldo Virgil has been married twice and has five children. One of his sons, Ozzie reached the Major Leagues as a catcher.

He recalls that in his first game he went 4-0 at bat. In his next game he hit 4-3 with an RBI and a run scored, including his first double, all against pitcher Robin Roberts of the Philadelphia Phillies, a member of Cooperstown Hall of Fame.

He recalls playing with the legendary Juan Marichal, Jes?s Alou, Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Manuel Mota, Gaylord Perry, Brooks Robinson, Al Kaline, Hoyt Wilhelm, Willie Stargell, Jim Bunning and Willie McCovey.

A report in El Caribe lists the teams that Virgil played for as the New York Giants (1956-1957), Detroit Tigers (1958, 1960-1961), Baltimore Orioles (1962), Pittsburgh Pirates (1965) and San Francisco Giants (1966-1969).

After he retired as a player, he spent 19 years working as a coach for the San Francisco Giants, Montreal Expos, Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres.

Felipe Rojas Alou says that Osvaldo Virgil opened the door for more Dominican players. “When they found out that this country could produce ballplayers, they started to sign more players like Juli?n Javier, Ruddy Hern?ndez and Juan Marichal.”

In the Dominican baseball league, Virgil has played with the Escogido (he was batting leader for the 1956-57 season), the Aguilas Cibae?as, for which he also served as manager. He also managed the Azucareros del Este in La Romana. Abroad he managed the Leones del Caracas, Tigres de Aragua, Tiburones de La Guaira and Cardenales de Lara in Venezuela.

Osvaldo Virgil was inducted into the Dominican Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 and was immortalized in the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.

Currently he works as a special assistant to the New York Mets and makes frequent trips to the Mets Baseball Academy in Boca Chica.

http://www.listindiario.com/el-depo...0-anos-del-primer-dominicano-en-grandes-ligas
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/09/23/virgil-dia-que-abrio-paso


DR wins slot in volleyball world championship
Playing in Peru for a slot in the World Championship, the two-time defending champion U23 women’s volleyball team overpowered Costa Rica in straight sets 3-0 (25-11, 25-5, 25-11) to maintain second place in the U23 Women’s Volleyball Pan American Cup. The DR’s only loss in the tournament has been to Argentina.

The victory over Costa Rica gave the Dominican team the spot in the world championship.

The DR will play tournament leader Peru on their home court in Lima on Friday, 23 September 2016.

https://www.norceca.net/Dominican Republic downs Costa Rica 3-0.htm


Table Tennis Tournament in Santiago
Women’s ping-pong will be played Rolling International Classic at the Gran Arena del Cibao in Santiago on Saturday and Sunday, 24-25 September 2016. There will be competitions in 15 categories, including U21, Elite, Masters, U-9, U-11, U-13, U-15. The event is approved by the Dominican Table Tennis Federation (Fedoteme) presided by Juan Vila.

Games start at 10am on Saturday and Sunday.


Expo Cibao 28 Sept – 2 October
Expo Cibao, the Dominican Republic’s largest exhibition of goods and services will be open following the inaugural ceremony at 7pm on Wednesday, 28 September 2016 through Sunday, 2 October.

The exhibits will be open to the general public from 10am to 10pm on the grounds of the Gran Teatro del Cibao in Santiago. The goods and services exhibition is in its 28th year.

http://expocibao.com.do


Miriam Cruz in Concert
Hard Rock Caf? Santo Domingo presents Miriam Collection with star merengue singer Miriam Cruz on Friday, 23 September 2016 starting at 10pm.

Tickets are for sale online at Ticket Express and at the door.


Honey exhibition-sale at Agora Mall
32 national honey producers will be at Agora Mall in Santo Domingo this Saturday, 24 September 2016. On exhibit and for sale they will have honey mixed with spices, royal jelly, products for use in baking, cosmetic products made with honey, soaps and more.

Among the producers is the Punta Cana Ecological Foundation, Moris Dominicana from Samana, Flor de Quisqueya from San Crist?bal and Ban? and Apiario Ecol?gico Dominicano from Los Cacaos in San Crist?bal.


For information on upcoming events:
http://www.dr1.com/calendar

Archived News stories:
http://dr1.com/forums/forumdisplay.p...-Headline-News

Archived Travel News stories:
http://dr1.com/forums/forumdisplay.p...p-Tourism-News