DR1 Daily News - Thursday, 13 October 2016

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Economy Minister admits lack of hard currency
Matthew aid from DR flows into Haiti
More rains for Cibao
Public Works checks water damage in Moca
Floating bridge over Ozama closed
Conep supports AIRD position
Despradel rallies against anti-competitive practices
Deputy points out that new loan would cover already funded work
Transformer loss blacks out part of capital
Attorney General bans prosecutors from talking to press
Duquesa management might rescind contracts
FAO says there is less hunger in DR
Illegal travelers seized by the Armada
Kidnapped child rescued
Cinemateca presents award-winning Spanish films



Economy Minister admits lack of hard currency
The Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Isidoro Santana has acknowledged that the Dominican economy does not generate enough dollars to supply productive sector demand. He says that the current economic model has run its course.

“For a long time now the country has not been producing enough dollars, it is a major importer, that is why we have this situation,” he said. Santana was referring to complaints from businesses that banks are not able to supply foreign exchange needs. Santana agreed with Association of Industries of Herrera (AEIH) president Antonio Taveras Guzman who has called for the country’s productive model to be changed.

Santana said that any such transformation would require extensive institutional and political changes but that the Ministry would work towards that end.

Santana was speaking on Wednesday 12 October 2016 after meeting with Taveras. Taveras said the AEIH would submit a proposal for a fiscal revolution when Santana calls the next meeting.

http://eldia.com.do/santana-reconoce-que-el-pais-no-produce-dolares-suficientes-para-cubrir-demanda/


Matthew aid from DR flows into Haiti
As seemingly endless lines of vehicles carrying supplies to Haiti reached the border crossing at Jiman? on Wednesday 12 October 2016, they were met by a high-ranking commission from the Haitian government headed by the Haitian government’s cabinet chief Jean Max Bellerive.

The Haitian official told reporters from Diario Libre that this was the largest aid consignment received so far on Haitian territory.

The first of some 500 trucks heading towards Port-au-Prince crossed the border carrying food, medicine, construction materials and other supplies to help the victims of Hurricane Matthew.

Bellerive said that the damage caused by Matthew is equal to 30% of Haiti’s gross domestic product.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/10/13/entrega-ayuda-haiti-para-recuperarse-devastacion-ciclon
http://eldia.com.do/haiti-agradece-ayuda-entregada-por-la-rd/
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...-la-contundente-ayuda-de-republica-dominicana


More rains for Cibao
The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) reported on Wednesday afternoon (12 October 2016) a low-pressure trough passing over the country bringing heavy rains.*

In response to this forecast, the Emergency Operations Center (COE) issued a green alert for the provinces of Espaillat (especially the city of Moca) and Duarte (San Francisco de Macor?s and especially the Lower Yuna Basin) as well as for the Atlantic coast from Cabo Enga?o to Manzanillo due to high winds and strong wave activity.

Onamet says that the rains that are moving west will be more frequent over the provinces of La Altagracia (Higuey, including Punta Cana), El Seibo, San Pedro de Macor?s, Maria Trinidad S?nchez (Nagua), Hermanas Mirabal (Salcedo), Duarte (San Francisco de Macor?s), S?nchez Ram?rez (Cotu?), Monte Plata, Monse?or Nouel (Bonao), Espaillat (Moca), Saman?, Puerto Plata, Santiago and La Vega.

The weather office warned of flash flooding and the risk of landslides in low-lying areas or along the banks of rivers and streams. Small craft warnings have been issued for small boats to remain in port. Onamet says that this low-pressure area will be over Haiti by Thursday afternoon and will also be bringing rains to that stricken nation.

http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=502438
http://www.onamet.gov.do/?param=pronostico-general


Public Works checks water damage in Moca
The Ministry of Public Works sent a commission to the city of Moca in the province of Espaillat on Wednesday 12 October 2016, to assess the damage caused by the flooding of the Moca River following torrential rainfall on Tuesday, 11 October 2016.

According to sources in the ministry, the rains on already saturated ground caused the flooding. As reported some 49 homes were destroyed and a further 300 were affected by the floodwaters.

The commission was headed by Axel Pimentel, who is the director of the Department of Operations and Road Maintenance at the Ministry.

Members of the Ministry of Public Works based in Santiago also took part in the damage assessment together with the provincial Governor Andres Dilone.

The Ministry of Public Works is also diverting the course of the river so that it does not flood the area again.

http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...iendas-las-perdidas-son-millonarias-YA5174274


Floating bridge over Ozama closed
The Ministry of Public Works (MOPC) has announced the temporary closure of the floating bridge over the Ozama River in Santo Domingo.*

The reasons for the shutdown were not disclosed. On 27 September 2016, the bridge was shut down when a breakdown caused a leak in the barge.

The announcement was made via the ministry’s Twitter account on Wednesday, 12 October 2016.


Conep supports AIRD position
The National Business Council (Conep) says that it supports the Dominican Republic Industries Association (AIRD) in its rejection of the government’s plan to collect 50% of the value-added-tax (ITBIS) as established in Article 16 of the proposed 2017 National Budget.*

In a press release issued on Wednesday, 12 October 2016, Conep had said that the tax would affect local industry competitiveness, and would hit mainly small and medium-sized industries.

CONEP agrees with AIRD in that the new measure will affect judicial security and have negative consequences on the investment climate, production and export of national goods. They added that such a move would also have negative consequences on job creation within the sector.

Taking these factors into account, Conep issued a call to President Medina to submit an amendment to the proposed National Budget 2017 eliminating Article 16.

http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=502367
http://hoy.com.do/el-conep-y-aird-objetan-en-senado-adelanto-50-itbis/


Despradel rallies against anti-competitive practices
Speaking in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday, 12 October 2016, Deputy Fidelio Despradel (Al Pais-National District) asked the board of the National Commission for the Defense of Competition (CNDC), better known as ProCompetencia, to explain what measures have been taken to deal with the monopolistic and anti-competitive practices exposed by reports funded by the Inter-American Development Bank. The reports showed anti-competitive practices in the beer, insurance and pharmaceutical markets.

Despradel is asking ProCompetencia officials to present to the Chamber of Deputies the plans to overcome the situation exposed by the reports.

Recently, the government appointed lawyer Yolanda Mart?nez to head the institution after the National Business Council (Conep) rejected accusations of unfair business practices in the beer, pharmaceutical and insurance markets included in reports generated under the former head, Michel Cohen.*

Despradel told journalists: “Many sectors in the Dominican Republic operate as cartels. They decide the prices among themselves. That is, there is no competition whatsoever because the prices are agreed in advance.” He said the most serious case affects the price of beers where he said a great monopoly dominates 99% of the market. Despradel said that if the laws were applied, they would have to sell beer at a much lower price. He added that the same applies to pharmaceuticals.

Despradel described ProCompetencia as “inoperative” because it does not have an executive director. “They have not appointed an executive director because they are not interested in having an executive director who would have to take action. They are interested in keeping this cartel system that is what there is,” he told reporters.

He said he has petitioned the Chamber of Deputies president, Luc?a Medina to take action to address the problem because the situation is a problem for Dominican consumers.

He said he has information that ProCompetencia has already investigated the cases of 30 market sectors that operate as cartels in addition to the beer, pharmaceutical and insurance markets. The finding of those studies, nevertheless, have not been made public.

Despradel said that as a consequence of the failure to apply the General Competition Defense Law (42-08), the country is positioned 132nd of 138 countries in the World Economic Forum Competitiveness Ranking for 2016-2017.

http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...r-acciones-para-regular-mercado-cervezas.html
https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-global-competitiveness-report-2016-2017-1/

Deputy points out that new loan would cover already funded work
Deputy Faride Raful (PRM-National District) has called on Congress to order an audit of the national grid modernization project being implemented by the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE) and rejected the new financing that is being requested. She expressed a dissident opinion to the approval of the financing made by the Hacienda and Public Credit Commission of the Chamber of Deputies.

The commission has approved a US$120 million loan from the World Bank’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

She said this is the third loan for a project that is being implemented by power distributors without showing improvements. Raful said the circuits included in the new loan had already been covered in the previous No. 2042/OC-DR covering Bayona and San Crist?bal circuits.

The government has already approved US$250 million for the improvements in the grid.

http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=502433


Transformer loss blacks out part of capital
Electricity distribution company EdeSur reports that an automatic high voltage transformer (138/69 KV) at the Metropolitan Substation inside the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center failed to function properly on Wednesday, 12 October 2016, causing a major blackout in areas that usually enjoy 24-hour electricity.*

Areas such as Naco, Ensanche La F?, Plaza de la Salud, and the Olympic Center itself were affected by this equipment failure.

Technicians from the Electricity Transmission Enterprise (ETED) were working with EdeSur to restore the service.


Attorney General bans prosecutors from talking to press
As reported in Hoy, new Attorney General Jean Alain Rodr?guez has banned prosecutors and staff from speaking to journalists since his first day (17 August 2016) on the job. Following the order, journalists complain that prosecutors are no longer talking to them, and will not even have coffee with them to discuss matters off the record, for fear that any breaking news will be traced back to them.

As reported in Hoy, two months after his appointment, Rodr?guez has not met with the assistant prosecutors, who are not complaining publicly because of the new “code of silence” imposed in the department.

Hoy comments that the press department has become inoperative. Rafael Can? was appointed press advisor but appointments are needed to see him, “because he is very busy.”

According to the new rules, anyone wishing to interview him has to make a request to communications director Tessie S?nchez and send her the questions in writing. She then sends them to the communications cabinet director who sends them on to the attorney general.

Hoy reports that in the two-month period, there has only been one press conference and printed press was given preference.

Journalists who have access to Rodr?guez via Whatsapp complain he takes too long to reply to messages.

http://hoy.com.do/temor-y-autocensura-paralizan-flujo-de-informaciones-en-procuraduria-general/


Duquesa management might rescind contracts
The general manager of the Lajun Corporation that operates the Duquesa garbage collection and disposal company in northern Santo Domingo has told reporters that it may not renew contracts with municipalities that do not accept “a fair price per ton” for the garbage received at the dump.

According to the Lajun Corporation, the municipal governments are only paying an average of US$2.25 per ton of garbage and this does not allow the corporation to create the necessary conditions for proper waste disposal.

In a press communiqu? dated Wednesday, 12 October 2016, Lajun general manager Adrian Lee-Chin warns that the company “will be obliged to not renew these contracts because the situation is not workable, causing huge problems and toxic effects for surrounding populations that are experiencing a deterioration in their quality of life and health.

Duquesa, which serves Greater Santo Domingo, is calling on the mayors to agree to a fair price per ton that will guarantee the sustainability of the landfill site.

According to the press release, the corporation has both public and private partners, with the private sector collecting more than 70% of waste in the Dominican Republic despite not having a proper regulatory framework.

The document quotes a proposal by consultant Roberto Castillo Tio, who suggested a cost per ton of between US$6.00 and US$8.00.


FAO says there is less hunger in DR
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Special Ambassador Guadalupe Valdez, the Dominican Republic has made progress in the reduction of malnutrition compared to other countries in the region that “have scored low” in studies on the fight against hunger.

The information is contained in a new FAO report that says that the country is in the moderate range, in contrast with countries like Guatemala and Haiti that are in critical situations because of malnutrition levels among the population, especially children.

In an interview on a Radio Super 7 talk show on Wednesday, 12 October 2016, Valdez said that the case of Haiti is much more serious because 4.5 million people out of a population of some 11 million experience a severe lack of guaranteed food. She pointed out that the studies were conducted before the effects of Hurricane Matthew, which has left thousands of people without food and without shelter.


Illegal travelers seized by the Armada
Twenty people were detained and four small craft seized on Wednesday, 12 October 2016 in an intensive series of operations by Dominican Republic Armada (Navy) ground and naval patrols in the east and north of the country.

The Armada spokesman, Captain Augusto Lizardo Gonz?lez reported that the group included 13 Cubans and seven Dominicans who were trying to cross to Puerto Rico illegally.

Lizardo reported that the first arrests were made in the Saona Island area when six Cubans, four men and two women were discovered in a Zodiac speedboat that they later abandoned.

Meanwhile, an operation carried out by naval patrols in the area known as Media Luna (Half Moon) in Miches, in the province of El Seibo, the Armada detained two Dominicans on board a small makeshift craft as they tried to reach Puerto Rico.

In Saman?, a naval unit intercepted a fishing boat with five people on board, four women and one man. According to reports, the man jumped overboard as the boarding operation was taking place and so far his whereabouts are unknown.

In a joint operation with the United States Coast Guard, the Dominican Armada intercepted seven Cubans and the Dominican in a small craft on the high seas also trying to reach Puerto Rico. All those arrested were sent to the Naval Intelligence Division for questioning.


Kidnapped child rescued
The Army reports that a three-year old boy who had been kidnapped was rescued on Wednesday, 12 October 2016. Army intelligence (G-2) agents arrested two Haitians who were traveling with the boy at the “15 de Azua” checkpoint in the southwest.

After being informed of the kidnapping, the Army issued alerts along the border routes, leading to the arrest of Keny Lois and Santi Maria and the rescue of the kidnapped child.

A press release from the Army General Command says that the boy was taken to his uncle Dieulefils Pierre, who had reported the kidnapping and ransom request. The boy was returned to his family.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...enen-a-haitianos-por-raptar-nino-de-tres-anos


Cinemateca presents award-winning Spanish films
The Embassy of Spain and the National Film Agency (DGCine) are screening eight award-winning Spanish films as part of Spain Week in the Dominican Republic event, which takes place from 13-19 October 2016.

The films are:
La isla m?nima (2014), directed by Alberto Rodr?guez.
Loreak (2014) by director Jos? Maria Goenaga.
La tropa de trapo en la selva del arco?ris (2014), by director ?lex Colls.
Todos est?n muertos (2014), by director Beatriz Sanch?s.
Donkey Xote (2007) by director Josep Pozo.
Hermosa juventud (2014) by Jaime Rosales.
Sacromontes los sabios de la tribu by Chus Guti?rrez.
Stella Cadente (2014) by Llu?s Mi?arro.

Admission is free.

See programs, summaries of these films and more details at:

http://www.dgcine.gob.do/esp/index....programaci?n-“espa?a-hoy”&catid=31&Itemid=273

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


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http://dr1.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/92-Travel-amp-Tourism-News