DR1 Daily News - Friday, 30 September 2016

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DEA delegation meets President Medina
President backs start of Juan Dolio tower
186.5 megawatts in renewable energy
Government plans more big loans in 2017
Haiti commits to issuing 112,000 passports
Drones used to ease traffic in Santo Domingo
Farming banned in Valle Nuevo National Park
Sand extracted from Ban? Dunes
Hard Rock Hotel case postponed
Former President Mej?a operated on at Cedimat
Hurricane Matthew to bring heavy rains
Felix S?nchez to help train Dominicans in athletics
David Ortiz in Under Cover
Fernando Varela art at Arte San Ramon
Berklee students in Juan Luis Guerra tribute
Bolero Solo Bolero at the Mirador
Hermanos Rosario at Mamma Club
Novocentro Fine Arts International Film Festival
Jazz and the graphic arts
Flamenco in the Colonial City
Fausto Rey at Restaurante Millo



DEA delegation meets President Medina
The Presidency hosted a mission from the United States Drug Enforcement Agency at the Presidential Palace on Thursday, 29 September 2016. US Ambassador James Brewster, who accompanied the mission, stated that the DR and the US are continuing to strengthen joint strategies for fighting drug trafficking.

The president of the National Drug Control Agency, Rear Admiral Edmundo Felix and the DEA director in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean region, Matthew Donahue, also attended the meeting along with DEA directors from New York, Boston and other US cities. Donahue said that the DEA heads from several US cities were taking part because “we have a crisis in the trafficking of fentanyl and heroin.”
“We would like to thank President Danilo Medina for all the assistance he is providing,” said Brewster.

https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...uaran-fortaleciendo-lucha-contra-narcotrafico


President backs start of Juan Dolio tower
President Danilo Medina was in Juan Dolio on Wednesday, 28 September 2016 for the start of construction of the Le Parc Beach Front Juan Dolio residential high rise. The developers, the RI Group say they will be investing US$12 million in the construction.

The ground breaking ceremony was also attended by Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia, RI Group vice president Roman Rollon and company partner Nikoles Silverman, and the Mayor of Juan Dolio, John Hazim.

The Presidency press release did not mention the number of floors.

Several high-rise buildings have been built in Juan Dolio, authorized by the government after many years of being banned. The announcement of the new tower comes at a time when construction of similar vacation properties in Juan Dolio is slow or has been stopped with buildings in an advanced state of construction.

https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...-primer-palazo-le-parc-beach-front-juan-dolio


186.5 megawatts in renewable energy
The Dominican Republic has the capacity to generate 186.5 megawatts in wind, solar and biomass energy, according to the government. Deputy Minister of Energy Ernesto Vilalta says that in 2016 alone, some 109.5 megawatts of renewable energy were added to the national grid.

He said another 235 megawatts have been contracted for wind power installations in 2017, bringing the total to 421.5 megawatts of clean energy.

Vilalta was speaking on Thursday 29 September 2016 at the opening of the second meeting of the CELAC Ad-Hoc Energy Group held in Santo Domingo with representation from 15 countries. The Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Ministry of Foreign Relations sponsored the event.

The deputy minister said the Medina administration would continue to promote the installation of renewable energy projects.

http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=500204


Government plans more big loans in 2017
The RD$711 billion 2017 National Budget calls for the Medina administration to borrow an additional US$2.7 billion in sovereign bonds in 2017. The RD$711 billion budget includes RD$47 billion in sovereign bonds placement. The Ministry of Hacienda estimates a rate of RD$47.2 to US$1 for 2017.

Minister of Hacienda said the budget would be presented to Congress on Friday, 30 September.

The placements will be of US$1.5 billion and US$1.2 billion.

http://www.diariolibre.com/economia...templa-rd-127-000-millones-en-bonos-LK5059397


Haiti commits to issuing 112,000 passports
The government of Haiti has again pledged to issue 112,000 passports to its nationals residing in the Dominican Republic so they can complete the requirements for legalizing their migratory status under the National Foreigner Legalization Plan (PNRE). Applicants had already paid RD$1,000 for the document several years ago, but their passports have still not been issued. On a dozen occasions before, the government of Haiti has made the same commitment. Most people in Haiti do not have identity documents and the Haitian government has been lax in resolving this problem.

The Dominican government has granted the applicants several extensions acknowledging that the Haitian government and not the individuals was to blame for not issuing the documents.

On Thursday, 29 September 2016, the Foreign Ministers of the DR and Haiti, Miguel Vargas and Pierrot Delienne met again and said the measure follows up on the agreements reached between President Danilo Medina and acting President Jocelerme Privert during the 72nd United Nations General Assembly in New York City earlier this month.

In a press conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Relations in Santo Domingo, both ministers recognized the importance of making progress on the legalization of immigrants in the Dominican Republic.

During the press conference, Delienne said there was no ban on the overland entry of Dominican products. “There are no obstacles from here to Haiti and vice versa, following the corresponding customs procedures and by any route for trade," he said. He said that he and Vargas had met on three occasions in the past month – in Port-au-Prince, in New York and in Santo Domingo. He said that both nations were working to create trade and migratory facilities, and discussing other ways in which both countries can work together.

Delienne added that Haiti had requesting technical assistance for the automation of the 9 October 2016 election. Vargas confirmed that the request has been received at the Ministry of Foreign Relations and that it is being channeled. Earlier it was said that there was no time for providing technical assistance due to lack of time. According to news reports, the Dominican Central Electoral Board (JCE) will be sending observers to the election.

Delienne and Vargas announced that the Bilateral Commission would be meeting again on 19 October 2016.

http://eldia.com.do/haiti-dotara-de-pasaporte-a-112-mil-ciudadanos-indocumentados/
http://m.elcaribe.com.do/2016/09/30/canciller-haitiano-repite-que-veda-productos-existe


Drones used to ease traffic in Santo Domingo
The Metropolitan Transport Authority reports that it has started using drones to supply real-time information on the routes worst affected by traffic jams, by providing a “bird’s eye view” for surveillance and improving city traffic information and management.

The drones are helping them to provide a better and swifter response to congested areas, AMET reported in a press release.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/09/30/drones-aliados-amet-para-agilizar-transito-distrito


Farming banned in Valle Nuevo National Park
Environment Minister Francisco Dom?nguez Brito is giving farmers in the Valle Nuevo protected area 120 days to harvest their crops and stop farming in the area. “It is no longer possible to continue preying on that protected area,” he said. The new measures ban any new farming.

The Ministry has also ordered the removal of any kind of piping, irrigation or water collection systems in the Valley Nuevo National Park. He said that three reservoirs would be left for use in case of a forest fire.

The minister announced that the park security would be stepped up with an increased military presence. He said there would be rules for vacation homes in the park, which will have to pay for using the areas. He made it clear that there could not be farming above 1,300 meters over sea level to prevent the waters from being sequestered.

The ban includes strawberry, flowers and fruit tree cultivation as well as domestic and farm animals.

Research shows that 769 water sources are located in the 980 square-kilometer area of Valle Nuevo National Park, which supply water to Santo Domingo, San Crist?bal, Ban?, San Jos? de Ocoa, Villa Altagracia, Bonao, Constanza, Jarabacoa, Rancho Arriba and a large number of rural aqueducts.

Water sources also supply the Ysura, Marcos A. Cabral and Yuna-Caracol irrigation systems, and the Sabana Yegua, Jig?ey, Aguacate, Valdesia, Hatillo, Pinalito, Blanco, Tireo, Tire?to, Arroy?n and Tavera dams.

Rosa M. Bonetti de Santana and Andres Ferrer for the Propagas Foundation were also present at the announcement of the ban, along with National Natural History Museum director Celeste Mir, Dr. Rafael Moscoso Puello National Botanical Garden director Ricardo Garc?a, and Rafael Collado, representing the local community. Deputy minister for Protected Areas Daneris Santana, deputy minister for International Cooperation Patricia Abreu, and Constanza provincial director Tito Montero were at the event.

http://www.ambiente.gob.do/ambiente...recuperacion-del-parque-nacional-valle-nuevo/
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...icultores-para-que-abandonen-valle-nuevo.html


Sand extracted from Ban? Dunes
Two truckers were arrested and their trucks laden with sand that had been illegally extracted from the Ban? Dunes protected area were seized on Wednesday evening, 28 September 2016 by members of the Dominican Armada, as reported by the naval institution.

The Armada has handed over the Nissan trucks L180017 and S008466 to the Ministry of Environment.

The Armada has a station nearby the Dunes.

http://eldia.com.do/se-roban-arena-de-las-dunas-bani/


Hard Rock Hotel case postponed
Neighborhood groups continue to voice their opposition to the construction of the 38-floor Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Av. Abraham Lincoln at the corner of Andr?s Julio Aybar Street in the Piantini area of Santo Domingo. In July 2016, neighborhood groups presented a motion pointing to irregularities in the granting of the preliminary permits for the project to the Superior Administrative Court (TSA), the government court entrusted with ensuring that government actions are in line with rules and regulations.

Lawyer Miriam Paulino, representing the Piantini Central neighborhood association, is requesting the suspension of any future construction and the revocation of the land use permits issued by the Municipality on several grounds, including the project’s violation of zoning regulations.

As reported in Diario Libre, in response to the request for revoking the land use permit, the court postponed the hearing on 28 September 2016 so that Inmobiliaria Nivar, the company that was issued the National District City Council land use permit for the project, can study the objections presented by the Piantini neighborhood groups.

The neighborhood groups say they do not oppose the construction of the hotel per se, but that the project must meet existing laws and zoning regulations. This would allow a maximum of up to 23 floors for the hotel and not allow for the construction of the casino included in the proposal.

The Ministry of Environment has not yet issued the environmental license required for the mega gaming and hospitality project to proceed. During the public hearing held to present the project to the community, local residents expressed their unanimous opposition to the 15 additional floors beyond existing zoning height limits and the mega casino.


Former President Mej?a operated on at Cedimat
Medical staff at Centro de Diagn?stico y Telemedicina Avanzada (Cedimat) in Santo Domingo announced that former President Hip?lito Mej?a underwent surgery for kidney stones after visiting the city hospital with serious kidney pains. The operation took place on at 6am on Thursday, 29 September.

Speaking at a press conference, Urologist Octavio Cruz Pineda showed reporters the stone that was extracted from the former President. It was obstructing his urinary tract. Dr. Cruz said that Mej?a was in good health and would probably be discharged from the hospital on Friday 30 September 2016.

http://elnacional.com.do/operan-de-emergencia-a-hipolito/


Hurricane Matthew to bring heavy rains
The Weather Service (Onamet) is forecasting heavy rains and high surf starting on Friday, 30 September 2016 and continuing throughout the weekend, mainly on the south of the island.

Hurricane Matthew, now a category 1, is a very large storm that is tracking westwards across the Caribbean. Given its large size, despite passing around 450 km south of the country, Matthew is forecast to bring heavy rains through the weekend.

Green alerts have been issued for the southwestern provinces of San Crist?bal, Pedernales, Peravia (Bani), El?as Pi?a, San Jos? de Ocoa, Independencia, Azua, Bahoruco, Barahona and San Juan de la Maguana.

As of 5am on Friday, Hurricane Matthew was located south of the city of Santo Domingo, moving west. Forecasters expect it to swerve to the north passing Jamaica before crossing Cuba as it moves further north.

Pawa Airlines has announced the cancellation of flights scheduled for Friday, 30 September 2016 to Aruba and Curacao from Las Americas International Airport, as reported in Diario Libre.
For weather updates, see the last posts at

http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/157613-2016-Hurricane-Season


Felix S?nchez to help train Dominicans in athletics
Double Olympic gold medalist, retired 400m-hurdler Felix Sanchez has announced that he is opening a track and field club in the Dominican Republic in November 2016 to provide opportunities for new talents in athletics.

He said he monitored the Dominican participation in athletics competitions in the R?o de Janeiro Olympic Games where he worked as a sports commentator, and noticed that there was good potential but the necessary discipline and a plan were missing to further develop the sport.

“For that reason I decided to move my family here to set up an athletics club to make it possible to develop the sport I love. We can take the potential we have on a national level to the international level,” he said.

The Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center stadium was named after S?nchez after he won his first medal in the Athens Olympics in 2004. He went on to win a second gold medal in the London 2012 Olympics.

Felix S?nchez was recently recognized for his international achievements during the Dominican Olympic Committee’s Olympic Gala.

http://www.diariolibre.com/deportes/beisbol/felix-sanchez-hara-un-club-de-atletismo-en-rd-XE5060264


David Ortiz in Under Cover
The Under Cover video of Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz’s pretending to be a Lyft taxi driver in Boston is making the rounds. The slugger wore a wig and sunglasses so that customers would not recognize him. He told his passengers he was called Donny. No one made the connection, even when he did his routine of spitting into his hands before taking the wheel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9ogkPyhsL0


Fernando Varela art at Arte San Ramon
Galeria Arte San Ramon (ARS) presents Recent Works by Fernando Varela, a long-time Uruguayan resident in the Dominican Republic.
The exhibition opens on Thursday, 6 October 2016.


Berklee students in Juan Luis Guerra tribute
Berklee College of Music students recently played a tribute to Berklee graduate Juan Luis Guerra of the Dominican Republic in Boston.

A seven-minute mix with music and songs by the composer played and sung by the students is circulating in You Tube.

Watch the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUasXRl0AOQ


Bolero Solo Bolero at the Mirador
A memorable concert with Jose Emilio Joa (el Chino Joa), Juan Luis Guerra group vocalist Adalgisa Pantale?n, Johanna Almanzar, Elsa Liranzo and Frank Ceara, accompanied by Mickey Creales and his band, will perform Friday, 30 September 2016 at the Centro Cultural Mirador from 8:30pm. The center is located on the Avenida Mirador del Sur.

This is a Skip Productions event, Tel 809 258-5149.

Tickets are RD$1,000 and are for sale online at Ticket Express.


Hermanos Rosario at Mamma Club
Award-winning merengue group Los Hermanos Rosario is performing at the Mamma Club disco on Friday, 30 September 2016. The show at the Piantini discotheque in Santo Domingo starts at 10pm.

The group is famous for its hit songs including “La clept?mana,” “Fin de semana,” “Cumand?,” “La candelosa” and “Mil horas.”


Novocentro Fine Arts International Film Festival
An opportunity to watch international films outside of mainstream cinema distribution, the Fine Arts International Film Festival is taking place at the Novocentro cinema in Santo Domingo on Av. Lope de Vega and in Santiago at the Fine Arts Caribbean Cinema of Plaza Internacional on Av. Juan Pablo Duarte. The festival is being held from 29 September to 12 October 2016 in Santo Domingo and through 5 October 2016 in Santiago. The event is sponsored by Caribbean Cinemas and Orange.

See the films at:

Santo Domingo:
http://festivaldecinefinearts.com/Santo_Domingo.pdf

Santiago:
http://festivaldecinefinearts.com/Santiago.pdf


Jazz and the graphic arts
Enjoy 20 years of artistic works by Puerto Plata artist Adolfo Faringthon on exhibition as part of the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival. Faringthon has been responsible for creating the visuals for the festival for the past 15 years.

The exhibition, “Dominican Republic Jazz Festival Graphic Identity and Visuals” features 51 works on canvas, silkscreen prints, wood engravings, aluminum and photographs and can be viewed at the Galer?a Nacional de Bellas Artes of the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Santo Domingo through Sunday, 23 October 2016.

It will then move to Casa de Arte in Sos?a, Puerto Plata where it will be on show through the first week of January 2017.


Flamenco in the Colonial City
The Centro Cultural de Espa?a presents, “Cositas nuestras,” a flamenco dance performance at the Fortaleza de Santo Domingo (Ozama) on Saturday, 1 October 2016 at 9:30pm.

The event is part of the fourth annual celebration of Spanish Week in the Dominican Republic coordinated by the Embassy of Spain to celebrate Spanish heritage. The show is directed by Dominican choreographer Patricia Abreu and guest flamenco dancer Elena Castro. Other dancers are Adriana La Pimienta and Ruben Portillo from Malaga, Spain. Cositas Nuestras tells the story of two women linked by destiny and who discover they have much in common.

Fausto Rey at Restaurante Millo
Legendary romantic singer Fausto Rey is booked for a show at the Restaurante Millo in Santo Domingo’s Naco neighborhood. He is remembered for filling the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center stadium on two occasions. He will be playing on Wednesday evening, 5 October 2016. He is best known for his songs including “Yo ma?ana,” “En tu d?a feliz” and “Yolanda.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1OSPGrvMak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl3X7PcX8lY&list=PL9Iozn8LFwAxz6o_WHbU7xayvnuT3EMG4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BhCx11cp0I&list=PL9Iozn8LFwAxz6o_WHbU7xayvnuT3EMG4&index=5

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
 
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