DR1 Daily News - Thursday, 17 November 2016

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Julio C?sar Casta?os selected JCE president
Taxpayers relieved from paying for officers gift-giving
Senators pass 2017 National Budget
Catastrophe!
Governor of Espaillat province announces telethon
COE reduces alert levels
One-stop shop set up at Dajab?n Chamber of Commerce
App seeks to catch expired products sold in stores
AMET announces ?Safety Week?
Pedro Brache to head Conep new board
Barrick Gold employees demonstrate over firings
US specialist talks about Trump and the DR
Seven-vehicle traffic accident in Santa B?rbara
Prosecutors raid offices of Inversia
Ombudsman car thief was out on bail
DR to play Canada first in World Baseball Classic
Legados presents stories of famous Dominicans
Nine Hitchcock films at the Cinemateca
Opera gala at the National Theater


Julio C?sar Casta?os selected JCE president
The PLD-majority Senate has chosen the current vice president of the Supreme Court of Justice, Julio C?sar Casta?os Guzm?n, as president of the Central Electoral Board (JCE). He was a judge at the JCE from 1999-2002 and its president from 2006-2010. He will now head the JCE for the 2016-2020 term. The other judges who were selected were Roberto Salad?n, Carmen Imbert Brugal, Henry Mej?a and Rosario Graciano. Graciano is the only other member of the current JCE board who will be continuing.

The replacements are Jos? Miguel Minier, Jos? Lino Mart?nez, Luis Garc?a, Rafael Evangelista Alejo and Juan Bautista Cuevas.

The board received the vote of 28 ruling PLD party members of the 32 members of the Senate.*

The Senate will swear the new judges in on Monday, 22 November 2016 at 5pm.

Casta?os Guzm?n is a graduate in law from the Pontifical Madre y Maestra Catholic University (PUCMM) in 1977. He did his doctoral studies at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, graduating in 2006. He was born in Santo Domingo on 8 April 1955.

Roberto Salad?n is a lawyer, former Dominican ambassador to the US from 2009-2011, Dominican ambassador to the OAS from 2011-2013 and governor of the Central Bank from 1987-1989.

Carmen Imbert is a lawyer, professor of law, and former judge. She has been replacement judge at the National District electoral board. She is best known today for her extensive work as a TV and radio talk show host.

Rosario Graciano has been deputy minister of Foreign Relations, is a professor of law and practicing lawyer. At present she is a judge at the JCE where from 2010 she has been in charge of coordinating the Cancelled and Suspended Persons Commission as well as the Commission for Institutional Policies on Gender Equality.

Henry Mej?a is a lawyer who works as replacement to Eddy Olivares at the present Central Electoral Board (JCE), with known ties to the PRD, now a strong PLD ally in government. As reported in El Dia, he is a former member of the Chamber of Accounts who was sentenced for serious omissions in the line of duty. He has served as a replacement at the JCE for Eddy Olivares. He is a member of the PRD and close associate of PRD president, Miguel Vargas Maldonado, presently Minister of Foreign Relations.

http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...ntura-de-la-junta-central-electoral-CI5479523
http://eldia.com.do/castanos-guzman-de-vuelta-a-la-junta-central-electoral/


Taxpayers relieved from paying for officers gift-giving
Through the offices of the Minister of the Presidency, Gustavo Montalvo, President Danilo Medina issued a circular that bans the purchase of Christmas gifts, including baskets of festive alcoholic drinks and other presents with public funds, a common government practice at the cost of taxpayers. The disposition is obligatory for all agencies ascribed to the Executive Branch. The circular (C?PR?IN?2016?29,066) was signed by Minister Gustavo Montalvo.

Governmental agencies can, however still purchase Christmas baskets for distribution to low-income families.

http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...be-regalos-navidenos-con-fondos-publicos.html


Senators pass 2017 National Budget
In its Wednesday, 16 November 2016 session, the Senate approved the 2017 National Budget as sent by the Executive Branch for RD$711.4 billion with a vote of 25 of the 27 senators present. The budget was accepted after the joint commission chaired by Dionis S?nchez recommended its approval. Only senator Jose Ignacio Paliza from the PRM and Josecito Hazim from the PRSC opposed the approval.

According to Diario Libre, one of the objections expressed by PRM spokesman Jos? Ignacio Paliza, was that the budget only assigns 14% to capital investments. The rest of the money will go to pay debts and other government expenses. Paliza added that the budget contains just 0.1% for his province, Puerto Plata.*

The PRSC senator from San Pedro de Macor?s, Josecito Hazim, criticized the government?s public borrowing policy calling it irresponsible and saying that the time will come when the country will not be able to pay the debt and will go through a process similar to what Puerto Rico is experiencing now. He said that the 2017 budget depends on a 50% pre-payment of the ITBIS (VAT in the Dominican Republic) that he said would destroy small and medium-sized businesses.

http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=507729
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=507746


Catastrophe!
The Dominican Republic is facing a major reconstruction of damaged infrastructure in the northern part of the country. According to one local newspaper, the government is estimating damage worth nearly RD$7 billion, before all damaged areas have been inspected. The government reports that the Presidency Social Plan has spent around RD$150 million on helping families affected by floods.

El Nacional newspaper is reporting more than RD$1.5 billion in crop damage in the Lower Yuna Basin alone.

According to Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo, Public Works brigades are working to reestablish communication in areas where several roads and bridges have collapsed. He said that the Ministry is in permanent session and working hard to deal with infrastructure and housing damage in the cities and towns of provinces such as Maria Trinidad Sanchez (Nagua), Saman?, Puerto Plata and Espaillat (Moca). He said that priority was also being given to roadways in the provinces of La Vega, Duarte (San Francisco de Macor?s), S?nchez Ram?rez (Cotu?) and Santiago.

According to the Castillo things are getting worse by the day in the northwestern provinces and the north coast where rain is still falling.

Scheduled visits by four cruise ships to the Amber Cove cruise ship port were cancelled due to the flooding. The Damajagua Falls infrastructure has also been affected by the flooding rivers.

Meanwhile, as reported in El Caribe, Puerto Plata Tourism Cluster spokesman Roberto Casoni said that hotel occupancy in the area is high. Hotels and tour companies have been hard at work finding replacements for usual outdoor excursions that have been affected by the rains.*

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/11/17/las-inundaciones-causan-estragos-linea-noroeste
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...de-esta-tarde-debido-a-dos-vaguadas-YX5473643
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/11/17/las-inundaciones-causan-estragos-linea-noroeste
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...onas-afectadas-por-lluvias-escucha-a-la-gente


Governor of Espaillat province announces telethon
As President Danilo Medina toured the city of Moca in Espaillat province and the surrounding areas severely affected by river flooding on Wednesday 16 November 2016, provincial Governor Dilon? Ovalles announced a telethon starting at 10am on Thursday, live from Channel 3 in Moca, Televiaducto. He said that the owners of Channel 3 have contributed the space for the benefit.

According to a report prepared both by the Governor?s Office as well as Civil Defense, around 95 families have lost everything and another 1,500 families are directly affected by the flooding.

http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/realizaran-telemaraton-a-favor-de-damnificados-en-moca-LJ5478937


COE reduces alert levels
On Wednesday afternoon, 16 November 2016, the Emergency Operations Center (COE) reduced alert levels in the north of the country. The yellow alert in place for Duarte province was reduced to green, and for the provinces of La Vega, Saman?, Puerto Plata, Espaillat (Moca), Mar?a Trinidad S?nchez (Nagua), Santiago and Montecristi the green alerts that were issued on 16 November continue.

In a report issued on 16 November, the COE reported that 10,945 people had been displaced because of the rains and flooding that continues to affect the north of the country. In addition, 2,189 houses have been affected and 62 have been destroyed. Other provinces under a green alert for flooding and possible landslides are Dajab?n, Hato Mayor, Hermanas Mirabal (Salcedo), El Seibo, Monse?or Nouel (Bonao) and Valverde (Mao).


One-stop shop set up at Dajab?n Chamber of Commerce
The Ministry of Industry & Commerce, the Dajab?n Chamber of Commerce, the European Union and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have announced the launch of a new one-stop shop for doing business on the border with Haiti. The plan is to offer a large variety of services for customers at a single location making transactions convenient and service efficient to create more opportunities for sales and trade.

Deputy Minister for the Promotion of Small Business, Ignacio Mendez was in Dajab?n to present the program. The one-stop shop will be operated by the Dajab?n Chamber of Commerce.

During the event held at the Instituto T?cnico San Ignacio de Loyola, ITESIL, another program backed by the European Union and the UNDP, the Food Quality Center (Centro de Calidad de Alimentos) was launched. The new center will help with analysis, training and quality control research for food in the border region, as set out in Law 216-11 on border market regulation.

http://mic.gob.do/direcciones/comun...-activan-ventanilla-?nica-en-la-frontera.aspx


App seeks to catch expired products sold in stores
The ministries of Public Health and Industry & Commerce have issued an invitation to programmers to enter a contest for developing an app that will enable people to use their mobile phones to report expired products sold in stores. Karina Mena, director of the Food, Pharmaceuticals and Sanitary Product Agency (Digemaps) and deputy minister of Industry and Commerce, Ignacio M?ndez made the announcement.

Mena said that the ?hackathon? is also aimed at deterring the sale of fraudulent pharmaceuticals. The app would include a rumor-reporting mechanism so that normal citizens can report infractions when in the store through their mobile or other electronic media.

The plan is also to use the app at airports and ports to detect fraudulent merchandise.*

Prizes are RD$150,000 for the winner, RD$100,000 second place, and RD$75,000 third place.

http://mic.gob.do/direcciones/comun...ncia-para-detectar-delitos-farmac?uticos.aspx


AMET announces ?Safety Week?
The Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET) has announced the celebration of ?Safety Week? from 21 to 27 November 2016. AMET spokesman Colonel Diego Pesqueira said that 15,000 people would be leading the event, which will target half a million citizens.

Pesqueira said that the exercise, which has the direct support of the President of the Republic, the entire 911 System and other institutions, is aimed at reducing traffic accidents and to discouraging careless driving. He added that information materials on common traffic violations would be distributed. He said they would be firm about the importance of respecting traffic lights, seatbelt use, the dangers of alcoholic beverage consumption while driving, and speeding on the roads. They will insist on the use of safety helmets for motorcycle drivers.


Pedro Brache to head Conep new board
The National Business Council (Conep) held its General Assembly on Wednesday, 16 November 2016 and chose its new board of directors for the 2017?2019 period. Pedro Brache will head the Conep and will take office at the beginning of 2017. Together with Brache, other members of the board are Campos de Moya as first vice president, Lina Garcia de Blasco as second vice president, Roberto Herrera as third vice president, Leonardo Matos as Secretary, Marisol Vicens as deputy secretary, Rafael Del Toro as treasurer, and Antonio Ramos as deputy treasurer. Rafael Paz will stay on as the executive vice president.

Pedro Brache is the chairman and chief executive of the Rica Group and is a board member of the Popular Group and the American Chamber of Commerce, among other obligations.

The board of directors is responsible for the implementation of policies and initiatives that come out of the agreements and resolutions of the General Assembly.


Barrick Gold employees demonstrate over firings
A group of employees of the Barrick Gold Corporation protested the firing of some 40 miners on Wednesday, 16 November 2016 outside the gold mine operated by the Canadian company in Pueblo Viejo. The workers whose work contracts were canceled had led a protest against the company two weeks ago in demand of a union contract that would regulate their working conditions.

Workers? spokesman David Col?n told Diario Libre reporters that the company had fired dozens of employees ?for the simple fact of having participated in the union set up process.? Col?n and other employees stood outside with small signs at the mine entrance in Pueblo Viejo, some 100 km north of Santo Domingo. They claim that the mining company was preventing the formation of a union.

Arlena Pe?a, the communications director for Barrick Pueblo Viejo, told the media the 40 employees were fired because they had put the operations and the safety of the mine in danger during the demonstration of 2 November 2016. She pointed out that on that occasion a group of workers marched through several areas of the open pit mine in an attempt to disrupt the work, ?going so far as to reach a critical area of the operation and physically assault one operator.? She also said that the company has no objections to the formation of a union or negotiating a collective bargaining agreement. She said that since last April representatives of the company and the employees, headed by Col?n, have been meeting with the mediation of the Ministry of Labor.

http://www.diariolibre.com/economia...provoca-la-cancelacion-de-empleados-AI5479552


US specialist talks about Trump and the DR
Jean Abinader, a specialist in the United States on public policy and the Arab world, has advised the leadership of the Dominican Republic to follow closely the impact that the policies of President-elect Donald Trump might have on immigration and bilateral relations with the United States. Speaking at a conference at the Palestinian Syrian Lebanese Club, the president of the Arab-American Institute and an advisor to former Vice President Al Gore, said that policies suggested by Trump, especially on the fight against terrorism, could also intrude into areas that are strategically important to the Dominican Republic, such as tourism.

In summing up his vision of the possible impact of the next United States administration on the Dominican Republic, he estimated that proposals on issues such as energy, commerce and immigration would have direct repercussions in the countries in the region.

The speaker was introduced by former presidential candidate Luis Abinader of the PRM party.


Seven-vehicle traffic accident in Santa B?rbara
Seven vehicles were involved in a major collision on Wednesday evening, 16 November 2016 at the corner of Juan Parra with the Avenida del Puerto (Av. Francisco Alberto Caama?o) in the Santa B?rbara area in Santo Domingo.

Seven people were injured, with two in critical condition ? 38-year old Ram?n Mieses and his nephew 16-year old Delbi Contreras who were taken to the Dar?o Contreras Trauma Hospital.

The accident occurred when the driver of a tour bus hit the brakes and skidded on construction material that had fallen from another vehicle on the road. As a result, the bus collided with a freight truck, and then three automoviles and a SUV slammed into the vehicles. A motorcycle driver was also hit.

The accident, which caused major traffic chaos, occurred only 70 meters from the floating bridge over the Ozama River at around 7pm, a peak travel time, as reported by Metropolitan Transport Authority spokesman Diego Pesquiera. According to preliminary reports, the vehicles involved in the crash were a gray Honda Accord driven by Miguel Fern?ndez, a Honda CRV driven by Yoselin Veloz Matos, an International truck driven by Hansel Daniel Medina and a RAV4.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...eridos-tras-accidente-en-sector-santa-barbara


Prosecutors raid offices of Inversia
The National District prosecutors office has confirmed the arrest of Teodoro Hidalgo M?ndez, president of the Inversia financial company, and accused him of defrauding 300 people of around RD$1 billion. Hidalgo and his wife were arrested at their residence. His company offices Calle Jacinto Ma??n near the corner with Av. Winston Churchill in Santo Domingo were also raided, said his lawyer Ingrid Hidalgo. The lawyer said that they had submitted several legal actions at the office of prosecutor Yeni Berenice Reynoso putting her defendant at the disposition of the Public Ministry but had not received any response.

?This is an unwise and unnecessary act because our client has always shown good will to cooperate with the state prosecutors, but what they are looking for here is to make a show rather than find a solution to the processes,? said the lawyer.

The financial company declared to be bankrupt on September 2016.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/11/16/hay-varios-detenidos-por-caso-inversia
http://elnacional.com.do/arrestan-presidente-financiera-inversia/
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...estafa-por-mas-de-rd-1-300-millones-GF5474282


Ombudsman car thief was out on bail
Covering the latest development in the robbery and abduction of Ombudsman Zoila Mart?nez, El Dia reports that one of the suspects, 31-year old Euddy Adini Roa Garc?a Roa Garc?a, is accused of belonging to a gang that stole cars in the Dominican Republic for resale in Haiti.

According to reports, Roa is a former Police lieutenant who turned to stealing vehicles for export to Haiti after leaving the force. His most recent sentence was handed down earlier this year, but did not serve jail time because he was released on bail. In December 2011, the gang led by Roa was accused of stealing three vehicles in separate cases in Puerto Plata.

Following the abduction of ombudsman Zoila Mart?nez and theft of her white Toyota Landcruiser Prado SUV, the vehicle was located in Cap-Haitien in northern Haiti. According to the Police, six suspects in the case are under arrest: 35-year old Marcos Alejandro Cabrera Ort?z (Marquito), 32-year old Euddy Adini Roa Garc?a, both supposedly serving 20-year jail sentences.

Other arrests in connection with the case include a 33-year old Haitian, Michael Lindor, Domingo Cabrera D?az (El Ganso) and Edward ?El Cac?n? and ?El Flaco.?

The Police say that they are all members of the international crime ring that steals vehicles here and takes them to Haiti.

http://eldia.com.do/expolicia-es-vinculado-a-robo-de-jeepeta-de-la-defensora-del-pueblo/


DR to play Canada first in World Baseball Classic
Organizers of the World Baseball Classic have just released the schedule for the 2017 tournament. The Classic opens on 6 March with games in Seoul, South Korea, Tokyo, Japan, Guadalajara and Jalisco in Mexico and Petco Park in San Diego, California. Defending champion, the Dominican team will match Canada on 9 March 2017 as part of Group C. The game will be played at the Marlins Park in Miami at 6pm.

The Dominican team?s next game will be against the United States on Saturday, 11 March 2017 at 6:30pm. Then, on Sunday, 12 March, the DR will match Colombia at 12:30pm. The best two teams will move on to the next round that will be played at the Petco Park in San Diego. The semifinals will be played at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

The WBC features three rounds, and Round 1 begins with four pools: A, B, C and D. Each pool contains four teams and plays in a different location.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/11/16/abrira-ante-canada-clasico-mundial
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-wo...eball-is-closer-than-you-think-171219771.html
http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/schedule/


Legados presents stories of famous Dominicans
As part of its 85th anniversary commemoration events, the Grupo Blandino is holding an exhibition of memorabilia of famous Dominicans, from past Presidents to outstanding physicians and architects. There are mementoes from famous Dominicans in industry, law, the arts and communication.

The family that owns the Blandino funeral home has chosen to use the former Casa Virginia building on Av. Roberto Pastoriza at the corner of Calle San Martin de Porres in Santo Domingo as the venue for the exhibition. The exhibition is open through Friday, 18 November 2016, but its early success could mean the opening dates are extended.

The exhibition includes memorabilia of former President Joaquin Balaguer, Salvador Jorge Blanco and Juan Bosch as well as architects Guillermo Gonz?lez, Manuel Valverde Podesta and Jose Caro Alvarez; business founders Samuel Conde, Alfonso Moreno and J. Armando Berm?dez; national heroes Luis Amiama Ti? and Antonio Imbert, and doctor Te?filo Gautier Abreu.
The arts are represented by writer, lawyer and poet Virgilio D?az Grull?n, Rafael Villanueva and Sonia Silvestre, among many others.

Blandino chose to highlight family values in celebration of its 85 years of service to Dominicans.


Nine Hitchcock films at the Cinemateca
Cinemateca Dominicana, the government-owned movie house behind the Museum of History & Geography in Plaza de la Cultura in Santo Domingo announces an Alfred Hitchcock film season from 17-23 November 2016. The ?Hitchcock and Hollywood? event will feature nine by films legendary movie director Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) made from his arrival in the US in 1939 after years of a successful career making silent films in UK cinema.

The event is being organized by the United States Embassy and the Film Agency (DGCine).

The program is:
Thursday, 17 November: Strangers on a Train. 7:30pm.
Friday, 18 November: Rear Window at 6pm, The Birds at 8pm.
Saturday, 19 November: To Catch a Thief at 6pm. Vertigo at 8pm.
Sunday, 20 November: Dial M for Murder at 6pm. Psycho at 8pm.
Tuesday, 22 November: The Man Who Knew Too Much at 7:30pm
Wednesday, 23 November: Frenzy at 7:30pm.


Opera gala at the National Theater
On Saturday, 19 November 2016 at 8:30pm, a Lyrical Song Gala will be held at the National Theater main hall Carlos Piantini in Santo Domingo. This is a production by the Sociedad ProArte Latinoamericana, and a benefit for the Fundacion Dominico-Alemana.

Two concerts will be sung by leading Dominican lyrical singers. The singers will be accompanied by the Dominican Philharmonic Orchestra.

Lyrical singers taking part are: Paola Gonz?lez, Carmench? Dom?nguez, Pura Tayson, Glenmer P?rez, Juan Cuevas, Enrique Pina, Edgar P?rez and Di?medes Ogando.

They will sing arias and compositions including Nessun Dorma, Granada, El ruise?or, and La Donna e mobile. Ticket prices range from RD$300 to RD$1,000. Tickets are available at the National Theater box office and online at Uepa Tickets.

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


Archived News stories:
http://dr1.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/91-Daily-Headline-News

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

Bronxboy

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2007
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Nine Hitchcock films at the Cinemateca
Cinemateca Dominicana, the government-owned movie house behind the Museum of History & Geography in Plaza de la Cultura in Santo Domingo announces an Alfred Hitchcock film season from 17-23 November 2016. The “Hitchcock and Hollywood” event will feature nine by films legendary movie director Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) made from his arrival in the US in 1939 after years of a successful career making silent films in UK cinema.

The event is being organized by the United States Embassy and the Film Agency (DGCine).

The program is:
Thursday, 17 November: Strangers on a Train. 7:30pm.
Friday, 18 November: Rear Window at 6pm, The Birds at 8pm.
Saturday, 19 November: To Catch a Thief at 6pm. Vertigo at 8pm.
Sunday, 20 November: Dial M for Murder at 6pm. Psycho at 8pm.
Tuesday, 22 November: The Man Who Knew Too Much at 7:30pm
Wednesday, 23 November: Frenzy at 7:30pm.




Very recommended.

One of my favorite directors!!!
 

CristoRey

Welcome To Wonderland
Apr 1, 2014
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Senators pass 2017 National Budget:

?The PRSC senator from San Pedro de Macor?s, Josecito Hazim, criticized the government’s public borrowing policy...
He said that the 2017 budget depends on a 50% pre-payment of the ITBIS (VAT in the Dominican Republic) that he said would destroy small and medium-sized businesses.


I don?t understand how they can expect businesses to pay a 50% pre-payment on taxes/ revenue
they have yet to collect???