DR1 Daily News - Friday, 18 November 2016

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Opposition parties object two JCE justices
Councilors get luxury wages, workers below minimum wages
Pedernales to get international airport
Julio Brache: To survive country needs to produce US$
Espaillat in first DR visit since election to Congress
Frank Moya Pons History Chair at PUCMM
Disturbances at the state university
Freight truck also crosses over bicycle trail
Eight-year old girl breaks swimming record
24-hour swim in Boca Chica
Baseball tickets for donations at Escogido ball game
Maestro Solano receives Trustees Award Latin Grammy
Rains cause shutdown of Puerto Plata airport
Sun shining in Punta Cana area
Death by a Thousand Cuts to be shown in La Romana
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker at the National Theater
Car racing at Las Americas track


Opposition parties object two JCE justices
In an interview with “La S?per 7 en La Ma?ana”, on La S?per 7 (107.7 FM), PRD party activist Guido G?mez Mazara, Participaci?n Ciudadana coordinator Josefina Arvelo, Alianza Pa?s president Guillermo Moreno and PRSC activist T?cito Perdomo expressed their criticism of the choice of Rosario Graciano and Henry Mej?a as Central Electoral Board (JCE) judges. They backed the appointment of JCE president Julio C?sar Casta?os Guzm?n and judges Carmen Imbert Brugal and Roberto Salad?n.

Guido G?mez Mazara said that by appointing Casta?os, Imbert Brugal and Salad?n, the country is recognizing their long track record of public service. In the case of Graciano and Mej?a, however, he said they have strong political links, which should be questioned.

He observed that the three votes of Casta?os, Imbert and Salad?n should be enough to keep the country on the right track, while pointing out that all the replacements are active PLD members. He said just one of the top three would need to be absent and the PLD could impose its criteria.

Josefina Arvelo of Participaci?n Ciudadana criticized the Senate for choosing Henry Mej?a when he had been sentenced for irregularities committed in the Chamber of Accounts, the government accountability division. She added that Graciano is best known for her links to the PLD, to the point that she was once the party’s press spokeswoman. Arvelo also challenged the choice of ruling party members as replacements, and expressed regret that the Senate did not choose a woman replacement.

Guillermo Moreno of Alianza Pa?s speculated that with the exception of Graciano, the judges had been handpicked by President Medina. He said the government has lost an opportunity to create a board of independent, impartial and politically distant men and women who would strengthen democratic institutions.

T?cito Perdomo of the PRSC said that his party would take note of the actions taken by the board members. He expected the new board to carry out major changes for the celebration of the next general election in 2020.

http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...zo-dos-los-nuevos-miembros-junta-central.html


Councilors get luxury wages, workers below minimum wages
A report in El Nacional newspaper highlights that councilors in the province of Santo Domingo municipalities are being paid RD$80,000 in wages for just two or three days of work a month.

The workers that work full shifts get by on pay ranging from RD$2,500 to RD$5,500 a month. The distortions affect workers in Santo Domingo North, Santo Domingo East, Santo Domingo West, Boca Chica and Los Alcarrizos.

The contrast was confirmed by Santo Domingo mayors Ren? Polanco, Alfredo Mart?nez, Francisco Pe?a, Radham?s Castro and Danilo Santos (Junior) in an interview with the Corripio media group.

For instance, workers in Los Alcarrizos are paid a minimum wage of RD$2,500, while the councilor makes RD$80,000, said Junior Santos.

Boca Chica workers earn a starting RD$3,500 while the councilors make RD$60,000, said mayor Castro.
Mayor Pe?a of Santo Domingo West said their minimum wage was RD$4,000 while the councilors make RD$150,000.

In Santo Domingo North, the minimum is RD$5,000 for city workers, while the councilor makes RD$160,000.

And in Santo Domingo East, workers make RD$5,000 and the councilor RD$222,000.

The minimum wage for public institutions is RD$7,000, but this is not enforced for city governments.

In the past, councilors worked on a voluntary basis and were not paid a wage.

http://elnacional.com.do/regidores-con-sueldos-de-lujo-y-obreros-en-la-miseria/


Pedernales to get international airport
The executive director of the governmental Airport Department, Marino Collante has announced that Pedernales’ Cabo Rojo airfield would be converted into an international airport with capacity for large airplanes. There is already an international airport in Barahona, 70 km away. The Maria Montez International Airport, nevertheless, has hardly ever been used for regular flight operations. The new plan is to locate the airport nearer to an area that is scheduled for tourism development to make the most of its lovely white sand beaches.

Collante said that specialists from the Airport Department are working in coordination with the Ministry of Public Works on the airport expansion project. The initiative, he said, is part of the Pedernales Tourism Development Plan, a joint project between the ministries of the Presidency, Public Works, Tourism and Environment.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...o-sera-convertido-en-aeropuerto-internacional


Julio Brache: To survive country needs to produce US$
As the guest speaker at the Dominican Republic Association of Industries (AIRD) annual luncheon held on Thursday, 17 November 2016, Grupo Rica president Julio Brache Arzeno said that the Dominican Republic’s main goal should be to restructure so that hard currency generating exports become the base of the economy.

President Danilo Medina and Vice President Margarita Cede?o also attended the luncheon.

Brache said that with globalization, local industries have had to change to survive the avalanche of imports. He said the Dominican currency devaluation has led to an increase in prices to consumers. “That is why many of us are wondering how much longer companies can compensate by increasing prices without pricing ourselves out of the market.”

He said that exporting helps compensate for devaluation and protect against inflation. “The lesson is clear: we have to produce in US dollars.”

Brache spoke of the tariff barriers and non-tariff barriers implemented by large source markets through sanitary controls and import quotas that limit the entry of Dominican products. He said that this is why the private sector needs government support to transform the economy and national industry from a nation that is a net importer to a nation of exporters.

“It is in the interest of the government that the Dominican Republic expand its exports. This should be the national goal: for the economy to become essentially export-based,” he said.

He said that in addition to opening new trade, national industry also faces generational and technological challenges, corporate governance and institutional framework. He said that a strong institutional framework is needed to provide juridical security to investments and encourage growth.

AIRD president Campos de Moya recognized President Danilo Medina for his contributions to public-private talks in the country. Monsignor Agripino N??ez Collado, former minister Andr?s Navarro, Vice President Margarita Cede?o and deputy minister of Foreign Relations Cesar Dargam were also honored during the event.

http://acento.com.do/2016/economia/...ir-la-apertura-los-mercados-producir-dolares/


Espaillat in first DR visit since election to Congress
Newly elected to the United States House of Representatives, Democrat Adriano Espaillat will be visiting the Dominican Republic next week, his first trip back to the Dominican Republic since his election on 8 November 2016. He was born in Santiago de los Caballeros but immigrated to the United States as a child. He is the first Dominican to be elected to the US Congress. In January 2017, he will succeed fellow Democrat Representative Charles Rangel, who has held the seat since 1971, representing the 13th District of New York.

His visit with a mission of elected officials will bring donations for people affected by the recent flooding in the northern part of the country, where he is originally from.

He will be available for a press conference at the airport on arrival at Las Americas International Airport at 1:45pm on Saturday, 19 November 2016.

His agenda includes a welcome event at the US Embassy, travel to the provinces of Santiago and Puerto Plata for distribution of humanitarian aid and meetings with Santiago Mayor Abel Mart?nez. Espaillat will meet with President Danilo Medina on Monday, 21 November 2016.

He is accompanied by a mission from the Federaci?n Hispana and members of the New York Senate Latino Caucus.


Frank Moya Pons History Chair at PUCMM
The Pontifical Madre y Maestra Catholic University inaugurated the Frank Moya Pons History Chair on Thursday, 17 November 2016. In his welcoming address at the event marking the launch of the new academic initiative, rector Ram?n Alfredo de la Cruz Baldera highlighted the importance of improving our knowledge of Caribbean history. He invited regional countries to form part of a large Caribbean orchestra where each nation contributes its own notes.

Mu-Kien Sang, director of the Center for Caribbean Studies at the PUCMM, said the academic initiative seeks to focus on the Caribbean. She said the Greater Caribbean region includes the insular Caribbean and the countries with Caribbean coastlines, making for the most politically, economically and culturally diverse region in the Western Hemisphere.

Historian Frank Moya Pons expressed his appreciation for the distinction and recalled his many years as a professor at the PUCMM. He expressed his satisfaction at being part of an academic project that was certain to lead to the promotion of professionals who are more aware of the international sphere.

The event took place at the PUCMM’s Santo Tomas Aquino campus in Santo Domingo.

http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...istoria-frank-moya-pons-en-la-pucmm-AK5491714


Disturbances at the state university
The state university, Universidad Aut?noma de Santo Domingo (UASD) has been affected by violent disturbances by masked protestors this week. Classes at the main campus were suspended on Thursday, 17 November 2016 due to the clashes. Rector Iv?n Grull?n said the clashes were jeopardizing the safety of students and staff. Classes are due to resume at 7am on Friday, 18 November.

The protests were reportedly in demand of an increased budget for the state university.

The protests included burning tires and littering within the university and nearby streets. Traffic through the Ortega y Gasset tunnel was rerouted due to the disturbances.

http://www.7dias.com.do/el-pais/201...-docencia-por-disturbios-sus-alrededores.html
http://eldia.com.do/video-como-si-fuera-un-juego-agentes-piden-tani-bol-a-manifestantes-en-la-uasd/


Freight truck also crosses over bicycle trail
A new video showing a freight trucker crossing over the Av. Winston Churchill cycle lane in Santo Domingo is being shared on social media. Originally a pedestrian walkway, ever since the previous city government installed the short cycle lane during the last months of the 2016 municipal election campaign, it has been used by drivers trying to avoid traffic jams.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...abado-circulando-por-ciclovia-de-la-churchill


Eight-year old girl breaks swimming record
Laura Miranda Tejada from La Vega, who according to her coach trains in a 10-meter pool, has set a new national record in 50 meters butterfly in the 7-8-year-old age group. She clocked in at 35:62 seconds during the recent 51st Anniversary Tournament at the Centro Espa?ol in Santiago de los Caballeros. The previous record, 37:33 was set by Juana Santana in 1998.

Eight-year old Laura is an honor roll student at the Colegio Peque?os Gigantes in La Vega. She trains at the Escuela de Nataci?n Belote under coach Bernard L?pez, who said that what makes the record really special is that she is part of a group that trains in a 10-meter pool in a family home in La Vega. Her parents are Giset Tejada and Julio Miranda.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-P-WVocUzg
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/11/16/laura-tejada-impuso-marca-natacion


24-hour swim in Boca Chica
Long distance swimmer Eduardo Canela is challenging himself to complete 24 hours of non-stop swimming in the waters of Boca Chica Beach starting at 10am on Saturday, 19 November 2016 to end at 10am on Sunday, 20 November.

On 3 November 2013, Canela became the first swimmer to make a round-trip crossing of Saman? Bay. In 2014 he swam for 24 hours in the Club Para?so 25-meter swimming pool, reaching a record 77 kilometers.


Baseball tickets for donations at Escogido ball game
The management of the Leones del Escogido baseball team has announced that fans who show up with donations for the flood victims in the north of the country will get free admission to the game at the Quisqueya ballpark in Santo Domingo on Sunday, 20 November 2016. The game against the Toros del Este is at 4pm.

They are appealing for donations of canned foods, bottled water, and sheets, which will be valid for free admission.

The Tigres del Licey are leading the series, followed by the Gigantes del Cibao, Escogido, Estrellas Orientales, Aguilas Cibaenas and Toros del Este.

See the games schedule at http://www.lidom.com/home/calendario/


Maestro Solano receives Trustees Award Latin Grammy
Maestro Rafael Solano, best known for his classic song “Por amor” was honored with a Latin Grammy for his Lifetime Achievement in Latin Music at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on 16 November 2016.

He received the award from Dominican merengue legends Johnny Ventura and Milly Quezada as part of events leading up to the 17th Latin Grammy Awards. Other winners of this year’s Executive Board Award were Carlos Mej?a Godoy of Nicaragua and Nelson Motta of Brazil.

"It is with immense pleasure that The Latin Recording Academy acknowledges and commends such a diverse group of honorees with this year's Lifetime Achievement and Trustees Awards," said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., Latin Recording Academy President/CEO. "Each honoree's individual work in the Latin music industry has proven to be timeless. Undoubtedly the 2016 class will continue to be an inspiration to our culture and community, while contributing to create a priceless artistic legacy day after day for Latin music."

Dominicans nominated for the 2016 Latin Grammy Awards are:
Best Salsa Album category: Johnny Ventura, Tronco Viejo; and in the Best Contemporary Tropical Album category: Hector Acosta, Merengue y Sentimiento and Daniel Santacruz, Toda la Vida.

Since the first Latin Grammy Awards were presented in 2000, Dominicans who have won include Juan Luis Guerra, Milly Quezada, Johnny Ventura, Chich? Peralta and Joseito Mateo.

http://www.billboard.com/articles/c...n-recording-academy-lifetime-achievement-2016


Operations continue at Puerto Plata airport
The torrential rains that fell on the saturated ground in the northern province of Puerto Plata on Thursday, 17 November 2016 have caused flooding in the Puerto Plata international airport, Gregorio Luper?n (POP). The floodwaters affected large areas of the airport, including the passenger check-in area.

Once again, school has been called off in the province, which has been affected by heavy rains throughout November.

The rains, caused by a front that is crossing from the northwest are forecast to continue over the weekend. [Aerodom, the airport operator, nevertheless said that the problem was promptly corrected and flights were never cancelled at the airport.] http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...to-de-puerto-plata-queda-inundado-por-lluvias
http://eldia.com.do/el-coe-reporta-463-viviendas-danadas/


Sun shining in Punta Cana area
According to forecasters, the weather system in the southwestern Caribbean Sea has weakened and is now unlikely threaten the island of Hispaniola. In the meantime, a new front is expected to bring more rains to parts of the island where the ground is already saturated.

The good news, though, is that the sun shone in Santo Domingo and the southeastern and eastern regions on Thursday, 17 November 2016, making for good beach days.

The bad news is that after three days of sunshine on the north coast, the front is likely to bring more rainfall this weekend, including the east coast.

To follow the weather during the final days of the 2016 Hurricane Season, see:
http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/157613-2016-Hurricane-Season?p=1742116#post1742116


Death by a Thousand Cuts to be shown in La Romana
Death by a Thousand Cuts, the award-winning documentary that tells the story of the fight for the Dominican border forests will be shown at Cinema Caribbean Casa de Campo Marina movie house for the general public on Tuesday, 22 November 2016 at 7pm. *
An exclusive one-day-only screening with co-director Jake Kheel to answer questions from the audience is scheduled for 21 November 2016. The documentary looks into the way illegal charcoal cutting is affecting the island of Hispaniola and the dangers for the Dominican Republic. Kheel, who is vice president of the Punta Cana Foundation, believes that solutions can be found by increasing public awareness of the situation.

Environment Minister Francisco Dom?nguez Brito, appointed in August 2016, has spoken openly about the serious situation of the destruction of forest areas for illicit charcoal production for sale in Haiti. Most of the charcoal is transported to Haiti across the Azuei Lake on the border. Dom?nguez Brito acknowledged that Haitians have all but destroyed their own forest cover, now estimated to be at just 2%, and that 80% of the population still has no choice but to cook using charcoal. He said that hundreds of families on the border with Haiti are cooking with illegally produced charcoal from the area. In an interview with the Corripio media group, Dom?nguez Brito said that proactive solutions were needed.

“In the past anyone who built clandestine ovens was prosecuted, but we have now instructed the provincial environmental directors that charcoal has to be pursued in the same way as cocaine,” he said.

He lamented the fact that there are only 250 park rangers in all the country to protect the National Parks. The film, “Death by a Thousand Cuts”, tells the story of the victims of the illegal charcoal trade.

Dom?nguez says that the demand for charcoal has to be met by commercial farms and industries authorized to produce the product.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5580250/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
http://hoy.com.do/la-sierra-de-bahoruco-esta-amenazada-por-tala-de-arboles-para-hacer-carbon/


Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker at the National Theater
The Ballet Concierto Dominicano is staging the Christmas classic, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker at the Carlos Piantini main hall of the National Theater in Santo Domingo from 16 to 18 December 2016. Performances start at 6:30pm.

The choreographer and producer, Maestro Carlos Veitia says that guest dancers are coming from the Portland Ballet in the United States for this year’s performance, joining dancers from the Ballet Nacional Dominicano and Ballet Studio onstage.


Car racing at Las Americas track
Sunday, 20 November 2016, from 10am. General admission is RD$200. Autopista Las Americas Km. 17, Santo Domingo Este.

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
 
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