DR1 Daily News - Wednesday, 26 October 2016

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May 3, 2000
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Medina calls for easing trade rules
President Medina meets EU representatives
National Salaries Committee to meet
Report on literacy program
Military to provide security at city malls
Constitutional Tribunal bans cutting water service
Super Tucano details in the news
Attorney General knows all about Super Tucano bribes
Protests by police families
Cholera risk warning
Arrests following Puerto Plata road strike
Colombians arrested in B?varo for car theft
Crackdown on fake medicines
FBI working to solve arms smuggling
Hundreds fear losing their savings in Inversia
Hispaniola Half Marathon


Medina calls for easing trade rules
President Danilo Medina gave the keynote speech during the inauguration of the 43rd CELAC-EU Ministerial Summit at the Ministry of Foreign Relations convention center on Tuesday, 25 October 2016. Thirty ministers of foreign affairs from the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and from the European Union are meeting on 25-26 October 2016, in Santo Domingo.*

In his address, Medina told the high-ranking European Union officials attending the event that trade facilitation was more effective than donations for development. He called for clear and fair rules in international markets.
Medina said that the farming subsidies that developed countries have in place affect Dominican exports, reiterating that trade is more effective than development aid.

Medina called for developing country support for the implementation of the United Nations Convention for Climate Change. Medina said that climate change is an obstacle to sustainable development and in many cases can destroy what has taken years to build in just a few hours. He said that climate change threatens food security, conservation of natural resources and survival itself.

Medina said the Dominican Republic was sharing its experience in the case of migration. He said the DR had implemented the National Foreign Status Legalization Plan (PNRE), which enabled the legalization of more than 300,000 people?s migratory status.

Speaking at the event, Federica Mogherini, the EU?s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, said that these are times for changes in countries and there is a responsibility to govern those changes.

During the morning session, the foreign ministers reviewed the evolution and implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and the Caribbean.

They also reviewed United Nations Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias/danilo-medina-el-comercio-es-mas-efectivo-para-enfrentar-pobreza
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...-es-mas-efectivo-que-las-donaciones-que-hacen
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2016/10/25-26/


President Medina meets EU representatives
President Danilo Medina hosted a visit by Federica Mogherini, the European Union?s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission at the Presidential Place on Tuesday 25 October 2016.

She was introduced by Foreign Relations Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado at around noon.
Mogherini was accompanied by Alberto Navarro, head of the European Union delegation in the country, as well as Edita Hrd?, Managing Director for the Americas of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and Stefano Manservisi, Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development (DEVCO).

The EU representatives are in the Dominican Republic to attend the Meeting of Foreign Ministers and 48th Meeting of High-Ranking Officials of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union in Santo Domingo.

http://www.cdn.com.do/noticias/naci...e-a-representante-ue-para-asuntos-exteriores/


National Salaries Committee to meet
Labor Minister Jose Ramon Fadul has announced that the National Salaries Committee will be meeting on 9 November 2016. The committee is responsible for establishing minimum wages in the Dominican Republic.*
The last minimum wage increase was applied in 2015 when it was increased by a minimum 14%.

According to union leader Rafael (Pepe) Abreu, some workers have not received a pay raise for ten years, including people earning wages close to the minimum, adding that although wages are reviewed with the private sector every two years there were always some who are close to the minimum who do not receive any wage increases.

Abreu is hoping for a 30% raise for employees of large, medium and small-scale businesses, along with security guards, agricultural workers, and tourism and free zone employees.

The highest minimum wage category is currently RD$12,873, still below the cost of the basic family shopping basket that was calculated as RD$12,939.71 at the end of September 2016, according to the Central Bank.

http://www.diariolibre.com/economia...voca-al-comite-nacional-de-salarios-BY5274201


Report on literacy program
On 25 October 2016 the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI) and the General Office of Special Programs of the Presidency (Digepep) presented a report on the 2013- 2016 Literacy Plan that sought to teach around 800,000 adults to read and write.

According to the report, at the end of 2015 a total of 940,583 people who could not read or write registered for the program and the total number of trainees completing the program was 525,375.

Digepep director Domingo Contreras said that the program had been of great value to society with more than 60,000 facilitators in the National Literacy Plan.

However, the report author and deputy rector at Apec University, Inmaculada Madera, said that although the Plan contained some very positive aspects, she criticized some of its weaknesses such as the fact that many of the facilitators were unqualified and did not receive training, and delays in their payment.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...e-contigo-graduo-525-mil-375-personas-en-2015


Military to provide security at city malls
The Ministry of Defense has reached an agreement with representatives of leading shopping malls for military personnel to provide security services. The plan starts in November 2016 when military and police agents will join the shopping mall security services. *

The announcement followed a meeting between Minister of Defense Lieutenant General Ruben D. Paulino Sem and representatives of Plaza Lama, Agora Mall, Malec?n Center, Bella Vista Mall, Acr?polis, Blue Mall, Megacentro, Plaza Central, Unicentro Plaza, Sambil, Jumbo, Carrefour, Galer?a 360, Metropolitana and Plaza Las Am?ricas.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...integraran-a-vigilancia-en-plazas-comerciales


Constitutional Tribunal bans cutting water service
Did you know that if you live in a condominium and do not pay your maintenance fees, the administration is not allowed to cut off your water supply? A Constitutional Tribunal ruling has established that ?nothing justifies the suspension or restriction of water services.?

The ruling came after Claudio Cede?o Chalas of the Las Ca?as residential neighborhood in La Romana asked the court to make a ruling when the manager of his apartment building, Yeritza Guerrero, disconnected the water supply to his apartment until he paid his maintenance dues in full.

But the last resort court ruled that if the water service was limited, his right to health and human dignity was affected.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...-mantenimiento-para-recibir-servicio-del-agua


Super Tucano details in the news
This week the Dominican media has been following newly released information on the chronology of the purchase of the eight Super Tucano aircraft by the Dominican government from Embraer of Brazil.

Earlier information received from Brazil led to a case being opened with written evidence that singled out Minister of Defense at the time Major General Pedro Rafael Pe?a Antonio and Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Piccini N??ez, who served as the direct contact. Daniel Aquino Hern?ndez and his son Daniel Aquino M?ndez are also accused in the case, which involves US$3.5 million in bribes, for the use of their shell company 4D Business Group. The complicity of legislators in the approval of the contract is also mentioned in the details.

The Specialized State Prosecutors for Administrative Corruption (PEPCA) has stated that senator for Hermanas Mirabal province Luis Rene Canaan Rojas was the person who channeled the bribe to secure the Senate?s approval for the purchase contract. At the time, the media highlighted Senate president Reinaldo Pared P?rez?s strong support for the approval of the contract. The approval of the US$93.7 million contract for the purchase of the eight Super Tucano (EMB-314) aircraft on 16 September 2008 received favorable votes from 18 of 20 senators.
Francisco Dominguez Brito (PLD-Santiago) and Wilton Guerrero (PLD-Peravia) were the only senators who did not vote in favor. Approval in the Chamber of Deputies followed on 11 November 2008 with 87 deputies voting in favor to 11 against. The legislators risked their standing in the ruling PLD after the party?s Political Committee ordered legislators to vote in favor on 4 November 2008.

Diario Libre editorialist Adriano Miguel Tejada says that Embraer has agreed to pay US$107 million to the US Department of Justice and US$98 million to the commission that regulates the stock exchange. Embraer will also pay US$20 million to Brazil, and this sum will be deducted from the payment to the SEC.

Now Tejada says that the scandal in the country has been restricted to accusations against the individuals named in the written evidence. He points out, however, that the big loser in the operation was the Dominican state, which paid over market price for the purchase of the aircraft. He advises the Dominican government to seek compensation from Embraer to set a precedent against future corruption.

The case was heard in the United States because Embraer trades on the New York Stock Exchange and is required to file regular reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

http://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/am/embraer-debe-devolver-el-sobreprecio-FI5280887
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...-de-soborno-por-venta-de-los-tucano-GL5278558
https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/904581/download
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/embr...resolve-foreign-corrupt-practices-act-charges


Attorney General knows all about Super Tucano bribes
Attorney General Jean Alain Rodr?guez says that the fact that Embraer has admitted to bribing Dominican Air Force officials by paying them US$3.5 million in return for landing a purchase contract for eight Super Tucano planes is nothing new. The purchase took place during the last administration of President Leonel Fernandez.
Rodr?guez said that that he had already received confidential reports from the United States to Brazil mentioning the same matter, and provided assurances that there would be an investigation into the matter, respecting due process.

The Attorney General said that there was much more information in the file, which was why four people are subject to coercive measures while the investigation is in process.

http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...on-de-embraer-no-incluye-nada-nuevo-AY5274525


Protests by police families
Relatives of active and retired members of the Police have been protesting outside the National Congress building in Santo Domingo demanding an increase in salaries for police officers as well as guarantees for job security and economic and social protection. Legislators are studying the National Budget for 2017.

Several people spoke out, saying that there could not be discipline within the force while police officers were experiencing hunger and called for improved living conditions.

The demands include a minimum salary of RD$25,000 for a private, an additional RD$5,000 for lieutenants and RD$25,000 more for majors. They also asked for humane treatment, holidays and an eight-hour day plus overtime.

http://eldia.com.do/familiares-de-policias-protestan-en-congreso-nacional-por-aumento-de-sueldo/


Cholera risk warning
Hospitals affiliated to the National Health Service (SNS) along the border with Haiti are not prepared for the major threat of a renewed cholera outbreak, according to the National Nurses Union (Sinatrae).

Union general secretary Julio Cesar Garcia Cruceta highlighted that several health centers, including the Elio Fiallo hospital in Pedernales, as well as hospitals in Dajab?n, El?as Pi?a, Montecristi and the General Melenciano Hospital in Jiman?, had nursing staff shortages.

There have already been reports of cholera cases in the Vinicio Calventi, Marcelino Velez Santana and Francisco Moscoso Puello hospitals with 71 patients with cholera symptoms. On Monday 24 October 2016, six cases were reported in Jiman? on the southwestern border with Haiti.

The Health Ministry?s Risk Management and Disaster Unit director Dr. Jose Luis Cruz said that they were taking steps following the increase in the number of cases in Haiti.

He said that as of week 38 of this year there had been 18 deaths from cholera and 1,070 suspicious cases. The Ministry will be issuing a preventative alert and is applying national and international protocols.

Garc?a Cruceta from Sinatrae said that the shortage of nurses was a serious problem and dangerous for patients as not only would they not get the care they needed but the same nurse would be working in several areas, which could lead to cross-contamination and the spread of the disease.

http://elnacional.com.do/ven-dificil-detener-colera-en-frontera/


Arrests following Puerto Plata road strike
At least 30 people were arrested during the first day of a 48-hour strike in the communities along the Gregorio Luperon tourist highway demanding the rebuilding of the road that links Puerto Plata province with Santiago.

The arrests included Tony Reyes, Franklin Mera, Ferm?n Pena, Mart?n Leocadio, V?ctor Rodriguez and Leonardo Tavarez, who were taken to the Cibao central National Police headquarters in Santiago.

Relatives accused the police officers who took the men out of their homes to arrest them of abusive behavior.

The communities where the protests took place included Palo Quemado, La Cumbre, La Cumbre de Juan Veras, El Llano, Yasica, Pedro Garcia, Yaroa and Arenoso.

On the first day of the strike, which started on Tuesday 25 October 2016 and is due to end on Wednesday, businesses and schools were closed and the road was blocked with tree branches, broken glass and burning tires.
The police had to clear the road in order to reach the area.

The protesters said that business is down due to the poor state of the road and that the government is not listening to their concerns. They pointed out that work to rebuild the road had started several years ago, but was never finished.

http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...onas-durante-huelga-en-puerto-plata-FX5275645


Colombians arrested in B?varo for car theft
The National Police Eastern Regional Office says that five Colombians have been arrested accused of belonging to a gang that carried out robberies by breaking into cars in B?varo and Punta Cana.

They were named as John Alexander Quinones Lopez, 44, Miguel Angel Suescum Rodriguez, 25, Edwin Garzon Aviles, 34, Juan Carlos Rodriguez Alvarez, 52, and Martha Liliana Arenas Manosalva, 39.

According to a press release, they were found in possession of US dollars, South Korean won, and Dominican and Colombian pesos as well as a Ford Escape vehicle where the tools they used to commit the robberies were found.

http://hoy.com.do/apresan-cinco-colombianos-vinculados-a-robos-en-bavaro-y-punta-cana/


Crackdown on fake medicines
The Ministry of Health has closed 114 pharmacies and filed 58 new lawsuits against laboratories, importers and others in the illegal drugs business since April 2015.

Public Health Minister Altagracia Guzman Marcelino and the team that makes up the General Department of Food, Medicines and Sanitary Products (DIGEMAPS) said that there were strict controls over the production and sale of medicines to prevent the population being harmed by fake or expired medications.

She said the number of inspectors had been tripled to crack down on the illicit practices.

http://elnacional.com.do/someten-58-laboratorios-por-falsificar-medicinas/


FBI working to solve arms smuggling
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) is working with Dominican intelligence and customs agencies in an investigation into the trafficking of arms and military equipment from the US into the Dominican Republic.

Information from a source at Las Americas International Airport said that the investigations are being led by a Miami-based FBI agent who is looking into sources in Florida that are sending merchandise to the Dominican Republic. Several illegal consignments of firearms have been discovered in cargo in the ports of Haina, Puerto Plata, Punta Caucedo and other places.

In the last few weeks, 34 firearms have been confiscated including rifles, pistols and revolvers plus over 40,000 rounds of ammunition and military equipment, as well as two machines for making bullets and munitions for several types of weapons.

http://elnacional.com.do/fbi-y-rd-investigan-el-trafico-ilegal-de-armas-desde-eu/


Hundreds fear losing their savings in Inversia
The collapse of the Financiera Inversia finance company has affected around 300 people who had entrusted Teodoro Hidalgo with their savings. Hidalgo, who served as corporate affairs manager at the Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana (CND) for many years had formed a financial company where dozens of his colleagues deposited their pension funds from the CND. The company paid above market interest rates on the savings with a 16% interest rate on six-month deposits and 24% on two-year deposits.

As reported, in late September 2016, the company experienced liquidity problems and missed the interest payments to its depositors. It was then reported that Hidalgo left the country on 8 October 2016 and his whereabouts are unknown.

According to news reports RD$1.5 billion in deposits are at risk, affecting around 300 investors.

It has since been revealed that the company was not registered with the Superintendence of Banks and was not authorized to operate as a financial company.

Depositors say that the company made its transactions through the Central Bank.

The company was based at Calle Jacinto Ma??n 25 in Santo Domingo.*

Victims of the scheme say they fully trusted Hidalgo because of his track record at the CND.
Depositors represented by the law firm Biaggi & Messina are accusing Hidalgo of fraud, as reported in Acento.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TM49iKK8kI
http://acento.com.do/2016/actualida...es-propietario-teodoro-hidalgo-sale-del-pais/


Hispaniola Half Marathon
Now in its 21st year, the 21km Hispaniola Half Marathon starts at Km 5 of the Parque Mirador del Sur in Santo Domingo on Sunday, 20 November 2016 at 6:21am sharp. Registration is open from 8 November at all branches of the Banco Ademi and Sportline stores at the Agora, Sambil and Megacentro malls. Registration, at RD$900 per person can also be done online at http://www.santodomingocorre.com
The route consists of two runs around the Mirador del Sur Park. Total cash prizes for RD$300,000.

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


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