Senate approves full power emergency law
Merengue recognized by UNESCO
Thousands still in shelters
2016 hurricane season is over!
Public Works Ministry/PAHO begin highway safety hearings
Dominguez Brito meets environmentalists in Mao
Government officials get big raises, asset increases
CMD rejects single code from Sisalril
Long lines to file government officer wealth declarations
Attorney General’s office increases fees
Eiffel Tower-Christmas Tree is talk of the town
Lila Alburquerque is ambassador and deputy
Judge orders Santiago Mayor to release data
Procurement director suspends OISOE equipment purchase
MLB teams agree to drop international draft
Carol Morgan School gets a Real Madrid training center
Dominican-born Mariano D?az stars in Real Madrid game
A baseball round-up
Burger Festival in Punta Cana
Senate approves full power emergency law
The ruling PLD-majority Senate has fast-tracked a request from the Executive Branch to allow the Presidency to declare a State of Emergency in the 15 provinces affected by rains and flooding in November 2016. The 15 provinces are: Puerto Plata, La Vega, Espaillat (Moca), Maria Trinidad S?nchez (Nagua), Santiago, Duarte (San Francisco de Macor?s), Saman?, S?nchez Ram?rez (Cotu?), Montecristi, La Altagracia (Higuey), Hermanas Mirabal (Salcedo), Hato Mayor, Valverde (Mao), El Seibo and Monse?or Nouel (Bonao). The declaration releases the government from usual procurement procedures and accountability platforms.
During Category 3 Hurricane Georges in 1998, Congress did not authorize a similar request made by the then government of former President Leonel Fern?ndez.
Merengue recognized by UNESCO
Merengue band orchestras are celebrating. Merengue band leader Johnny Ventura has called the inscription an alert to the Dominican Republic to protect the authenticity of the music.
Merengue, the music and dance of the Dominican Republic, was inscribed on 30 November 2016 in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The UNESCO explains that merengue is considered part of the national identity of the Dominican community. It plays an active role in various aspects of peoples daily lives – from their education to social gatherings and celebrations, even political campaigning.
The decision was taken during the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage during the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, taking place from 28 November to 2 December 2016.
According to UNESCO, merengue is considered part of Dominican national identity. It plays an active role in various aspects of peoples daily lives – from their education to social gatherings and celebrations, and even in political campaigning.
The decision was taken during the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage during the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, taking place from 28 November to 2 December 2016.
Merengue was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage following the decisions adopted by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, taking place in Ethiopia until 2 December.
In the 30 November 2016 announcement, UNESCO stated:
“Merengue is considered part of the Dominican community's national identity, playing an active role in various aspects of the people's daily lives, from education and social gatherings and celebrations to political campaigning. In 2005, November 26 was declared National Merengue Day with merengue festivals held each year. Danced in pairs, flirtatious gestures are used as dancers move to music. Passed on through participation, the traditional practice attracts people of different social classes helping to promote respect and coexistence within communities.”
Others added to the list are:
Spain’s Valencia Fallas festival
Egypt's Tahteeb, stick game
Ethiopia's Gada system
Korea's Culture of Jeju Haenyeo
Azerbaijan – Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey’s flatbread making and sharing culture
France’s Carnival of Granville
Georgia's living culture of three writing systems of their alphabet
Germany's idea and practice of organizing shared interests in cooperatives
Greece's Momoeria New Year's celebration
Japan's Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals
Belgium’s beer culture
China’s 24 Solar Terms, knowledge of time and practices developed in China through observation of the sun’s annual motion
Cuba’s Rumba, the festive combination of music and dances and all the practices associated
India’s Yoga.
Iraq’s Khidr/Elias festivities.
Saudi Arabia’s Almezmar dance.
http://en.unesco.org/news/eleven-ne...ve-list-intangible-cultural-heritage-humanity
Thousands still in shelters
Although the rains are falling at a much lower rate compared to last week, more than 8,000 people are still in shelters or staying with relatives and friends. The provinces of Maria Trinidad S?nchez (Nagua), Duarte (San Francisco de Macor?s) and Espaillat (Moca) are reporting the highest number of houses and other buildings affected by the rains.
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) Wednesday 30 November 2016 report states that 21 local aqueducts are still out of service and nine aqueducts have been partially affected in areas including Santiago, Monse?or Nouel (Bonao), Duarte, Maria Trinidad S?nchez, Dajabon, Azua, San Juan de la Maguana, La Altagracia and Hato Mayor. The COE reports that over 1,600 houses remain underwater and 16 communities are still cut off. Ten provinces are still subject to alerts with six under a yellow alert and four under a green alert.
The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) is forecasting only scattered rains across the national territory; however, some rains are to be expected in provinces such as Maria Trinidad Sanchez and the central mountains. A low-pressure trough is expected over the country, which might slightly increase the rains - especially in the northeast, southeast, southwest and the central mountains.
2016 hurricane season is over!
The United States National Weather Service says that this year’s Atlantic hurricane season will be remembered for the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew that reached a category five, the most powerful in a decade, and left several hundred people dead in Haiti. “Matthew has been the first category five hurricane formed in the last five years since Felix in 2007 and it has beaten the record as the most powerful hurricane that developed so far South in the Atlantic Ocean,” according to NWS spokeswoman Arlena Moses. As well as Haiti, Matthew also affected the eastern coast of Cuba, the west of the Dominican Republic, the north of Colombia, the Bahamas, the southeast of the United States – where some cleaning up continues to this day – and even parts of Canada in its last stages. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami has still not calculated the final death toll from Matthew but it is estimating at least 1600 dead, making it the most deadly hurricane since Stan in 2005.
A normal Atlantic hurricane season, which begins at the beginning of June and ends on 30 November represents an average activity of between 11 and 12 tropical storms and five hurricanes. Nonetheless this year there were 15 storms seven of which became hurricanes (Alex, Earl, Gaston, Hermione, Matthew, Nicole and Otto) and three of these storms reached a major category of 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
Public Works Ministry/PAHO begin highway safety hearings
The Ministry of Public Works and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) is holding a public hearings workshop for the National Highway Safety Plan announced by President Danilo Medina in Decree 263-2016.
The course, which began on Wednesday, 30 November 2016, is being chaired by Minister of Public Works Gonzalo Castillo. More than 100 representatives from civil society organizations as well as municipal authorities and multilateral agencies and international and national advisors are taking part.
The workshop is taking place at the Santo Domingo Sheraton Hotel and will end on Thursday afternoon, 1 December 2016. The purpose is to hear proposals and suggestions from a variety of public actors as well as municipal and private sector groups. The event is partially sponsored by the Pan-American Health Organization as well as the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Presidential Commission for Highway Safety is a blue ribbon panel of ministers of Public Works, Public Health, Education, the Interior and Police, as well as the Attorney General, the commanding officer of AMET, the director of the Tax Agency (DGII), the Director of Ground Transportation (OTTT), and the secretary-general of the Dominican Municipal League.
Dominguez Brito meets environmentalists in Mao
The verification and regulation plans for forest management, for tackling deforestation, use of charcoal, the extraction of gravel and sand from riverbeds were just some of the problems discussed by several environmental organizations in the northwest during a meeting with Environment Minister Francisco Dom?nguez Brito in Mao’s Ecological Park in the province of Valverde.
Dom?nquez Brito told his audience that they could rely on his full support in the defense of the environment and that they would find a set of solutions to the area’s environmental problems. He stated: “We are destroying our habitat. This is one of the areas which is suffering most, but what we have done, we have devastated our forests and the waters run without control, because there is nothing to hold them.”
He added that while today we are complaining about too much rain, tomorrow the complaints would be about the drought.
The environmentalist expressed their commitment to formalizing the proposals so that they can be assessed and possibly implemented and they expressed their appreciation for the willingness of the minister and his staff to hear them out. Dom?nguez Brito also encouraged the environmental campaigners to waste no time in reporting any member of the Ministry who might be taking money. He said they have ways of protecting the identity of the whistleblower. The Minister also met with several of the mayors of the province of Valverde to discuss solid waste management, ways of reducing pollution, and how to reforest urban areas.
Government officials get big raises, asset increases
A report in Diario Libre highlights the hefty wage raises received by officials in the Medina administrations since 2012 ranging from RD$50,000 to RD$600,000 a month more. The newspaper, in its online version of the story, also presents the cases of several government officials who have doubled their declared assets.
Among the beneficiaries are:
Jos? del Castillo. At the Ministry of Industry and Commerce his wage was RD$210,000. He now works at the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel) where his basic monthly wage is RD$515,506, an increase of RD$305,506.
Sim?n Lizardo was Minister of Hacienda where he was paid RD$300,000. He was promoted to administrator of BanReservas, where he makes RD$984,450, a wage increase of RD$684,450.
Jos? Ram?n Peralta. When appointed administrative minister of the Presidency, his wage was RD$75,000 and now he makes RD$250,000. He declared total assets of RD$128 million, including 15 companies worth RD$42.9 million. In 2016, he declared 14 companies worth RD$165.7 million, and a total worth of RD$419.8 million in 2016.
Gonzalo Castillo. When he was appointed Minister of Public Works in 2012 he made RD$75,000. He now earns RD$300,000. When appointed in 2012, he declared RD$146.5 million in worth, including RD$85 million invested in companies. For 2016, he declared RD$308.2 million in bank deposits, 14 companies worth RD$299.3 million and total worth of RD$770.4 million.
Alejandrina Germ?n. She started on a wage of RD$200,000 as Minister of Women and had bank deposits of RD$2.6 million, and a total worth of RD$7.3 million in 2012. In 2016 she declared bank deposits for RD$5.9 million and total assets of RD$13.4 million. Her wage increased to RD$300,000.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...-rd-600-mil-patrimonios-se-duplican-KD5577815
CMD rejects single code from Sisalril
The Dominican Medical Association (CMD) and 40 societies of medical specialists have rejected the implementation of a single unique code per physician as ordered by Resolution 208-16 from the Superintendence of Health and Labor Risks (Sisalril). They protest that this entity cannot indicate which doctor can provide services to the affiliates of the Dominican Social Security System (SDSS).
CMD president Dr. Waldo Ariel Suero, speaking at a press conference on 30 November 2016, said that after analyzing the measure they decided that “this creates something new and would enable Sisalril to determine which doctor can or cannot provide services to the affiliates of the Social Security System, when this is not part of its competence.”
Suero said that they expect that the president of the Dominican Association of Health Risk Administrators (ADARS), the Dominican equivalent of HMOs, to decide “that dialogue remains open and so far they have not called on have they established a date for such a meeting.” He stated, nonetheless, that they are open to talks and they suggested following up on or continuing discussions with Sisalril in order to reach a consensus on a proposal that all the doctors could agree on.
Suero also said that the CMD together with the specialists would continue to face the problems presented by the ARS and the situations that exclude more than 10,000 doctors who do not have a contract with these companies and which keeps them separated from the SDSS.
Long lines to file government officer wealth declarations
Dozens of public servants went to the offices of the Chamber of Accounts in order to file their sworn declarations of assets before the deadline on Wednesday afternoon, 30 November 2016. The officials and/or their representatives waited in line for their turn to file the documents. Some appeared for the first time on Wednesday claiming that their commitments had not given them enough time while others were completing their files.
A few days ago Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo warned that any official who has not presented a sworn declaration by Wednesday afternoon would be excluded from December payroll since they would be in violation of Law 311-14, article 14 that requires all public servants to present a sworn declaration of assets within 30 days of being appointed or elected (on 16 August 2016). The officials had been given an extension to 30 November. The chief of the cabinet of the Chamber of Accounts, Consuelo Ariza, said that they were going to receive documents until 4 pm.
The law establishes that anyone in violation should be dismissed and the government can request a verification of the annual statements from the Tax Agency (DGII).
Attorney General’s office increases fees
The Attorney General of the Republic has ordered increases ranging from RD$100 to RD$1,170 in the fees required for filing services offered to citizens. In a press communiqu?, the Attorney General office announced that starting Thursday, 1 December 2016 the fees would be adjusted in compliance with an official resolution that orders the indexing of the special contribution that is paid to the Dominican Lawyers Association.
The notice explains that the adjustments will also be carried out to modernize the services to the public via their webpage and in the centers that provide services to the public throughout the country beginning on Thursday, 1 December 2016, certifications of good conduct, as well as requests for exequaturs to practice a profession will increase to RD$600. Incorporation costs for nonprofit organizations will now cost RD$2,500, nearly doubling the previous cost. Most of the funds collected will go to the Dominican Lawyers Association in fulfillment of Law 91-83.
Eiffel Tower-Christmas Tree is talk of the town
Social media has been having a field day since the installation of the Eiffel Tower Christmas Tree structure near the Plaza de la Bandera in Santo Domingo. A video where Santo Domingo West mayor Francisco Pe?a says he purchased the tower without knowing what country it represented is doing the rounds.
There are also memes that suggest other world famous monuments that could be placed at iconic national sites, such as the leaning tower of Pisa at the Presidential Palace.
“I don’t know if it is Eiffel, or from France, or where it is from. What I know is that it was a structure located at the Hotel Hispaniola and we bought it cheap,” he said. According to Pe?a, the plan is to fill it with lights to brighten up the municipality during Christmas.
He said he paid RD$500,000 but had received quotes for RD$2 million for the large metal structure that he plans to decorate as a giant Christmas tree. He said now Dominicans will not have to go to Paris to take their photography with the Tour Eiffel as background.
Meanwhile, in a press release, the Dominican Republic Society of Architects (SARD) protested that the Eiffel Tower would be located next to the Plaza de la Bandera. The architects say that the Plaza de la Bandera is a symbol of the city of Santo Domingo and a space designed to honor our tricolor flag and thus its surroundings should be the object of the most absolute respect and solemnity.
Diario Libre arts editor Alfonso Qui?ones described the tower as kitsch, or an example of poor taste.
http://eldia.com.do/alcalde-francisco-pena-desconoce-a-que-pais-representa-la-torre-eiffel/
http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/159826-Santo-Domingo-s-own-Eiffel-Tower
http://boquechivo.diariolibre.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2016/11/20161130.gif
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...rededores-de-la-plaza-de-la-bandera-YD5603504
http://eldia.com.do/pena-la-gente-no-tendra-que-ir-a-francia-a-ver-torre/
Lila Alburquerque is ambassador and deputy
Rafaela (Lila) Alburquerque has two jobs – Dominican ambassador to Taiwan and PRSC deputy in the Chamber of Deputies. She was appointed to the post of ambassador to Taiwan in 2011 during former President Leonel Fern?ndez’s administration. Alburquerque is a former president of the Chamber of Deputies.
Now, El Nuevo Diario is reporting that she is on the Ministry of Foreign Relations payroll for RD$691,500 a month, but also receives RD$200,455 wage as an elected deputy for the opposition PRSC party. The media has published photos of her attending a recent congressional session.
The Dominican Constitution (Art. 144) prohibits government officials from receiving compensation from more than one paid post at the time, except for teaching.
Defending her situation, Alburquerque says that she placed her position at the disposition of President Danilo Medina, who is in charge of designating a replacement for the ambassadorial post in Taiwan.
http://elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=509614
Judge orders Santiago Mayor to release data
Judge Henry Dominguez of the First Instance Court of Santiago has ordered Santiago city mayor Abel Martinez to provide the information requested by PRM council member Nelson Manuel Abreu Lora concerning personal donations the mayor has received. Abreu Lora requested the information based on his right under the Law of Freedom of Access to Public Information 200-04. Abreu has also requested information on the dismissal of employees at the city government and the remodeling of the administrative offices and that of mayor Mart?nez.
As reported in Acento, Mart?nez had refused to do so arguing that they were just donations made to him personally.
Procurement director suspends OISOE equipment purchase
Yocasta Guzm?n Santos, director of the governmental Procurement Office says that an investigation has been launched into the procurement of medical diagnostic equipment for the government-built Primary Healthcare Centers (Centros Diagn?sticos). The purchase order (OISOE-EXPU-002-2016) was issued by the Office of the Supervisory Works of the State (OISOE), a Presidency dependency. Eleven of the largest medical equipment suppliers in the country went public this week complaining the correct procedures had not been met.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...icos-que-realizaba-oisoe-por-falta-licitacion
MLB teams agree to drop international draft
In a meeting held on 30 November 2016 that ended in the early morning hours of Thursday, 1 December, Major League Baseball teams agreed to drop their planned implementation of the US-style baseball player draft system abroad. The agreement is part of the collective bargaining between team owners and player unions. The teams said the details of the agreement would be forthcoming.
The imposition of the international draft was seen as a way to substantially benefit the teams and reduce signing bonuses for future players — but the players union, with considerable support from their Latin American contingent, strongly opposed this and was able to overturn the intention of the team owners.
The system would have gone into effect in 2018. Dominican David Ortiz was one of the most vocal opponents of the draft. Diario Libre reported that the strong Latin American stance was decisive in getting the baseball team owners to abandon the draft imposition. In addition to Ortiz, other players who were active were Fernando Rodney, Jose Bautista, Robinson Can?, Nelson Cruz, Edwin Encarnaci?n, Carlos Villanueva, Wellington Castillo and Starling Marte.
What is known is that Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred wanted to implement a globally inclusive first-year draft for baseball. Players in the Dominican Republic have not been subjected to the amateur draft and have had the ability to sign with any team. Many players can sign as early as the age of 16, but younger players can get their start in baseball academies.
Local ball players are opposed to the drafting system because it would reduce the signing bonus and affect the local baseball industry, and especially baseball scouts and trainers.
It has always been argued that the imposition of the draft in Puerto Rico in 1990 stymied professional baseball there affecting the Puerto Rican championship and the Caribbean Baseball League, while benefiting the Dominican Republic where several Major League Baseball academies sprung up to nurture the future ball players. There are only 40 rounds in the draft, while there is no limit to the number of free agents a team can sign, thus there is a cap on the number of players that get to play MLB professional ball. An estimated 500-600 ball players are signed as free agents in the Dominican Republic every year. As reported, fewer than 100 players are signed in a draft system.
Opponents of the draft point to the current free-agency set-up where almost all Major League Baseball teams operate baseball academies to train their future players in the Dominican Republic. The concern is that the teams would be less likely to spend on the facilities, if the draft would mean any team could secure their academy recruits.
The draft would have covered players in the DR, Venezuela, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Mexico and Cuba and its actual implementation was seen as logistically very difficult.
The final announcement will be made on the occasion of the 4-8 December 2016 MLB owner-player meetings to take place at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Maryland.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/s...-to-inclusion-in-the-baseball-draft.html?_r=0
http://deadspin.com/report-mlb-owners-drop-demand-for-an-international-dra-1789467518
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...wners_wise_to_drop_international_draft_demand
http://www.hardballtimes.com/mlb-wants-an-international-draft.-heres-why-it-shouldnt-happen./
http://www.diariolibre.com/deportes...-el-pulso-a-duenos-mlb-con-el-draft-FE5600979
http://eldia.com.do/draft-se-debilita-ante-presion-de-peloteros/
Carol Morgan School gets a Real Madrid training center
Real Madrid has opened its second football training center at the Carol Morgan School on Av. Sarasota in Santo Domingo. Fundaci?n Armid (Escuela de Tecnificaci?n de Futbol) president Carmelo Zubiaur and former star Real Madrid football player Emilio Butrague?o, who is now Real Madrid CF institutional relations director, visited the country for the event.
The Carol Morgan School training center is being inaugurated a year and a half after the first center was opened at the PUCMM University in Santiago de los Caballeros in 2015, serving 400 children.
Butrague?o encouraged students to give 100% of themselves at home, at school and on the football field.
Carol Morgan School’s board of directors’ president Katia Rodr?guez stated: “The Carol Morgan School family is celebrating. Today we can say that this school’s arrival at our installations represents a turning point.”
The Carol Morgan School football team is the Sharks. The project targets 450 football students.
Dominican-born Mariano D?az stars in Real Madrid game
Coinciding with the inauguration of Real Madrid’s second training center in the Dominican Republic at the Carol Morgan School in Santo Domingo, the media is focusing on Spanish-Dominican Mariano D?az who was key to the Real Madrid football team advancing to the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey tournament in Madrid.
The sports media highlighted that on 30 November 2016, Mariano D?az made it into the Real Madrid record books.
The 20-year old Dominican-born striker scored the fastest goal ever by a Real Madrid player in the Spanish Copa del Rey, in Zidane’s side’s 6-1 win over Cultural Leonesa in Bernab?.
http://en.as.com/en/2016/11/30/football/1480537991_088399.html
http://en.as.com/en/2016/10/26/football/1477490757_828717.html?omnil=resrelart
A baseball roundup
The Dominican Winter Professional Baseball Championship has reached the midway point of the 2016- 2017 season. The Gigantes Del Cibao are currently in first place followed by Escogido, the Tigres del Licey, the Estrellas Orientales, the Aguilas Cibae?as and the Toros Del Este.*
During the last month this season has been disrupted by an unusual number of rain delays and washed out games, which this reporter cannot recall happening over the last 50 years.*
Last year’s champions, the Gigantes Del Cibao have come back quite strong and are enjoying a two-game advantage over Escogido, one of last year’s worst teams but now sitting comfortably in second place together with the other team eliminated during the first round of the playoffs, the Tigres del Licey. The perennial fan favorite, the Aguilas Cibae?as are full game out of the coveted fourth position that will go into the round robin section of the championship later this month.
In Santo Domingo there will be games every night almost until Christmas Eve because of the rainouts, and every team will be playing for the next 22 days without a rest. By clicking on www.lidom.com you can access the revamped calendar to attend games in Santiago, San Pedro, San Francisco, La Romana, and Santo Domingo.
For the league schedule, see http://www.lidom.com/home/calendario/
Burger Festival in Punta Cana
The Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Punta Cana Village is promoting its Burger Festival to take place on Saturday, 17 December 2016. There will be artisanal beers, beers in barrel, local and imported beers for sale and even a blind tasting of beers contest. The focus, however, will be on artisanal hamburgers, each with their creator. There will also be live music throughout the festival.
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
Merengue recognized by UNESCO
Thousands still in shelters
2016 hurricane season is over!
Public Works Ministry/PAHO begin highway safety hearings
Dominguez Brito meets environmentalists in Mao
Government officials get big raises, asset increases
CMD rejects single code from Sisalril
Long lines to file government officer wealth declarations
Attorney General’s office increases fees
Eiffel Tower-Christmas Tree is talk of the town
Lila Alburquerque is ambassador and deputy
Judge orders Santiago Mayor to release data
Procurement director suspends OISOE equipment purchase
MLB teams agree to drop international draft
Carol Morgan School gets a Real Madrid training center
Dominican-born Mariano D?az stars in Real Madrid game
A baseball round-up
Burger Festival in Punta Cana
Senate approves full power emergency law
The ruling PLD-majority Senate has fast-tracked a request from the Executive Branch to allow the Presidency to declare a State of Emergency in the 15 provinces affected by rains and flooding in November 2016. The 15 provinces are: Puerto Plata, La Vega, Espaillat (Moca), Maria Trinidad S?nchez (Nagua), Santiago, Duarte (San Francisco de Macor?s), Saman?, S?nchez Ram?rez (Cotu?), Montecristi, La Altagracia (Higuey), Hermanas Mirabal (Salcedo), Hato Mayor, Valverde (Mao), El Seibo and Monse?or Nouel (Bonao). The declaration releases the government from usual procurement procedures and accountability platforms.
During Category 3 Hurricane Georges in 1998, Congress did not authorize a similar request made by the then government of former President Leonel Fern?ndez.
Merengue recognized by UNESCO
Merengue band orchestras are celebrating. Merengue band leader Johnny Ventura has called the inscription an alert to the Dominican Republic to protect the authenticity of the music.
Merengue, the music and dance of the Dominican Republic, was inscribed on 30 November 2016 in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The UNESCO explains that merengue is considered part of the national identity of the Dominican community. It plays an active role in various aspects of peoples daily lives – from their education to social gatherings and celebrations, even political campaigning.
The decision was taken during the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage during the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, taking place from 28 November to 2 December 2016.
According to UNESCO, merengue is considered part of Dominican national identity. It plays an active role in various aspects of peoples daily lives – from their education to social gatherings and celebrations, and even in political campaigning.
The decision was taken during the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage during the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, taking place from 28 November to 2 December 2016.
Merengue was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage following the decisions adopted by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, taking place in Ethiopia until 2 December.
In the 30 November 2016 announcement, UNESCO stated:
“Merengue is considered part of the Dominican community's national identity, playing an active role in various aspects of the people's daily lives, from education and social gatherings and celebrations to political campaigning. In 2005, November 26 was declared National Merengue Day with merengue festivals held each year. Danced in pairs, flirtatious gestures are used as dancers move to music. Passed on through participation, the traditional practice attracts people of different social classes helping to promote respect and coexistence within communities.”
Others added to the list are:
Spain’s Valencia Fallas festival
Egypt's Tahteeb, stick game
Ethiopia's Gada system
Korea's Culture of Jeju Haenyeo
Azerbaijan – Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey’s flatbread making and sharing culture
France’s Carnival of Granville
Georgia's living culture of three writing systems of their alphabet
Germany's idea and practice of organizing shared interests in cooperatives
Greece's Momoeria New Year's celebration
Japan's Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals
Belgium’s beer culture
China’s 24 Solar Terms, knowledge of time and practices developed in China through observation of the sun’s annual motion
Cuba’s Rumba, the festive combination of music and dances and all the practices associated
India’s Yoga.
Iraq’s Khidr/Elias festivities.
Saudi Arabia’s Almezmar dance.
http://en.unesco.org/news/eleven-ne...ve-list-intangible-cultural-heritage-humanity
Thousands still in shelters
Although the rains are falling at a much lower rate compared to last week, more than 8,000 people are still in shelters or staying with relatives and friends. The provinces of Maria Trinidad S?nchez (Nagua), Duarte (San Francisco de Macor?s) and Espaillat (Moca) are reporting the highest number of houses and other buildings affected by the rains.
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) Wednesday 30 November 2016 report states that 21 local aqueducts are still out of service and nine aqueducts have been partially affected in areas including Santiago, Monse?or Nouel (Bonao), Duarte, Maria Trinidad S?nchez, Dajabon, Azua, San Juan de la Maguana, La Altagracia and Hato Mayor. The COE reports that over 1,600 houses remain underwater and 16 communities are still cut off. Ten provinces are still subject to alerts with six under a yellow alert and four under a green alert.
The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) is forecasting only scattered rains across the national territory; however, some rains are to be expected in provinces such as Maria Trinidad Sanchez and the central mountains. A low-pressure trough is expected over the country, which might slightly increase the rains - especially in the northeast, southeast, southwest and the central mountains.
2016 hurricane season is over!
The United States National Weather Service says that this year’s Atlantic hurricane season will be remembered for the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew that reached a category five, the most powerful in a decade, and left several hundred people dead in Haiti. “Matthew has been the first category five hurricane formed in the last five years since Felix in 2007 and it has beaten the record as the most powerful hurricane that developed so far South in the Atlantic Ocean,” according to NWS spokeswoman Arlena Moses. As well as Haiti, Matthew also affected the eastern coast of Cuba, the west of the Dominican Republic, the north of Colombia, the Bahamas, the southeast of the United States – where some cleaning up continues to this day – and even parts of Canada in its last stages. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami has still not calculated the final death toll from Matthew but it is estimating at least 1600 dead, making it the most deadly hurricane since Stan in 2005.
A normal Atlantic hurricane season, which begins at the beginning of June and ends on 30 November represents an average activity of between 11 and 12 tropical storms and five hurricanes. Nonetheless this year there were 15 storms seven of which became hurricanes (Alex, Earl, Gaston, Hermione, Matthew, Nicole and Otto) and three of these storms reached a major category of 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
Public Works Ministry/PAHO begin highway safety hearings
The Ministry of Public Works and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) is holding a public hearings workshop for the National Highway Safety Plan announced by President Danilo Medina in Decree 263-2016.
The course, which began on Wednesday, 30 November 2016, is being chaired by Minister of Public Works Gonzalo Castillo. More than 100 representatives from civil society organizations as well as municipal authorities and multilateral agencies and international and national advisors are taking part.
The workshop is taking place at the Santo Domingo Sheraton Hotel and will end on Thursday afternoon, 1 December 2016. The purpose is to hear proposals and suggestions from a variety of public actors as well as municipal and private sector groups. The event is partially sponsored by the Pan-American Health Organization as well as the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Presidential Commission for Highway Safety is a blue ribbon panel of ministers of Public Works, Public Health, Education, the Interior and Police, as well as the Attorney General, the commanding officer of AMET, the director of the Tax Agency (DGII), the Director of Ground Transportation (OTTT), and the secretary-general of the Dominican Municipal League.
Dominguez Brito meets environmentalists in Mao
The verification and regulation plans for forest management, for tackling deforestation, use of charcoal, the extraction of gravel and sand from riverbeds were just some of the problems discussed by several environmental organizations in the northwest during a meeting with Environment Minister Francisco Dom?nguez Brito in Mao’s Ecological Park in the province of Valverde.
Dom?nquez Brito told his audience that they could rely on his full support in the defense of the environment and that they would find a set of solutions to the area’s environmental problems. He stated: “We are destroying our habitat. This is one of the areas which is suffering most, but what we have done, we have devastated our forests and the waters run without control, because there is nothing to hold them.”
He added that while today we are complaining about too much rain, tomorrow the complaints would be about the drought.
The environmentalist expressed their commitment to formalizing the proposals so that they can be assessed and possibly implemented and they expressed their appreciation for the willingness of the minister and his staff to hear them out. Dom?nguez Brito also encouraged the environmental campaigners to waste no time in reporting any member of the Ministry who might be taking money. He said they have ways of protecting the identity of the whistleblower. The Minister also met with several of the mayors of the province of Valverde to discuss solid waste management, ways of reducing pollution, and how to reforest urban areas.
Government officials get big raises, asset increases
A report in Diario Libre highlights the hefty wage raises received by officials in the Medina administrations since 2012 ranging from RD$50,000 to RD$600,000 a month more. The newspaper, in its online version of the story, also presents the cases of several government officials who have doubled their declared assets.
Among the beneficiaries are:
Jos? del Castillo. At the Ministry of Industry and Commerce his wage was RD$210,000. He now works at the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel) where his basic monthly wage is RD$515,506, an increase of RD$305,506.
Sim?n Lizardo was Minister of Hacienda where he was paid RD$300,000. He was promoted to administrator of BanReservas, where he makes RD$984,450, a wage increase of RD$684,450.
Jos? Ram?n Peralta. When appointed administrative minister of the Presidency, his wage was RD$75,000 and now he makes RD$250,000. He declared total assets of RD$128 million, including 15 companies worth RD$42.9 million. In 2016, he declared 14 companies worth RD$165.7 million, and a total worth of RD$419.8 million in 2016.
Gonzalo Castillo. When he was appointed Minister of Public Works in 2012 he made RD$75,000. He now earns RD$300,000. When appointed in 2012, he declared RD$146.5 million in worth, including RD$85 million invested in companies. For 2016, he declared RD$308.2 million in bank deposits, 14 companies worth RD$299.3 million and total worth of RD$770.4 million.
Alejandrina Germ?n. She started on a wage of RD$200,000 as Minister of Women and had bank deposits of RD$2.6 million, and a total worth of RD$7.3 million in 2012. In 2016 she declared bank deposits for RD$5.9 million and total assets of RD$13.4 million. Her wage increased to RD$300,000.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...-rd-600-mil-patrimonios-se-duplican-KD5577815
CMD rejects single code from Sisalril
The Dominican Medical Association (CMD) and 40 societies of medical specialists have rejected the implementation of a single unique code per physician as ordered by Resolution 208-16 from the Superintendence of Health and Labor Risks (Sisalril). They protest that this entity cannot indicate which doctor can provide services to the affiliates of the Dominican Social Security System (SDSS).
CMD president Dr. Waldo Ariel Suero, speaking at a press conference on 30 November 2016, said that after analyzing the measure they decided that “this creates something new and would enable Sisalril to determine which doctor can or cannot provide services to the affiliates of the Social Security System, when this is not part of its competence.”
Suero said that they expect that the president of the Dominican Association of Health Risk Administrators (ADARS), the Dominican equivalent of HMOs, to decide “that dialogue remains open and so far they have not called on have they established a date for such a meeting.” He stated, nonetheless, that they are open to talks and they suggested following up on or continuing discussions with Sisalril in order to reach a consensus on a proposal that all the doctors could agree on.
Suero also said that the CMD together with the specialists would continue to face the problems presented by the ARS and the situations that exclude more than 10,000 doctors who do not have a contract with these companies and which keeps them separated from the SDSS.
Long lines to file government officer wealth declarations
Dozens of public servants went to the offices of the Chamber of Accounts in order to file their sworn declarations of assets before the deadline on Wednesday afternoon, 30 November 2016. The officials and/or their representatives waited in line for their turn to file the documents. Some appeared for the first time on Wednesday claiming that their commitments had not given them enough time while others were completing their files.
A few days ago Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo warned that any official who has not presented a sworn declaration by Wednesday afternoon would be excluded from December payroll since they would be in violation of Law 311-14, article 14 that requires all public servants to present a sworn declaration of assets within 30 days of being appointed or elected (on 16 August 2016). The officials had been given an extension to 30 November. The chief of the cabinet of the Chamber of Accounts, Consuelo Ariza, said that they were going to receive documents until 4 pm.
The law establishes that anyone in violation should be dismissed and the government can request a verification of the annual statements from the Tax Agency (DGII).
Attorney General’s office increases fees
The Attorney General of the Republic has ordered increases ranging from RD$100 to RD$1,170 in the fees required for filing services offered to citizens. In a press communiqu?, the Attorney General office announced that starting Thursday, 1 December 2016 the fees would be adjusted in compliance with an official resolution that orders the indexing of the special contribution that is paid to the Dominican Lawyers Association.
The notice explains that the adjustments will also be carried out to modernize the services to the public via their webpage and in the centers that provide services to the public throughout the country beginning on Thursday, 1 December 2016, certifications of good conduct, as well as requests for exequaturs to practice a profession will increase to RD$600. Incorporation costs for nonprofit organizations will now cost RD$2,500, nearly doubling the previous cost. Most of the funds collected will go to the Dominican Lawyers Association in fulfillment of Law 91-83.
Eiffel Tower-Christmas Tree is talk of the town
Social media has been having a field day since the installation of the Eiffel Tower Christmas Tree structure near the Plaza de la Bandera in Santo Domingo. A video where Santo Domingo West mayor Francisco Pe?a says he purchased the tower without knowing what country it represented is doing the rounds.
There are also memes that suggest other world famous monuments that could be placed at iconic national sites, such as the leaning tower of Pisa at the Presidential Palace.
“I don’t know if it is Eiffel, or from France, or where it is from. What I know is that it was a structure located at the Hotel Hispaniola and we bought it cheap,” he said. According to Pe?a, the plan is to fill it with lights to brighten up the municipality during Christmas.
He said he paid RD$500,000 but had received quotes for RD$2 million for the large metal structure that he plans to decorate as a giant Christmas tree. He said now Dominicans will not have to go to Paris to take their photography with the Tour Eiffel as background.
Meanwhile, in a press release, the Dominican Republic Society of Architects (SARD) protested that the Eiffel Tower would be located next to the Plaza de la Bandera. The architects say that the Plaza de la Bandera is a symbol of the city of Santo Domingo and a space designed to honor our tricolor flag and thus its surroundings should be the object of the most absolute respect and solemnity.
Diario Libre arts editor Alfonso Qui?ones described the tower as kitsch, or an example of poor taste.
http://eldia.com.do/alcalde-francisco-pena-desconoce-a-que-pais-representa-la-torre-eiffel/
http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/159826-Santo-Domingo-s-own-Eiffel-Tower
http://boquechivo.diariolibre.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2016/11/20161130.gif
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...rededores-de-la-plaza-de-la-bandera-YD5603504
http://eldia.com.do/pena-la-gente-no-tendra-que-ir-a-francia-a-ver-torre/
Lila Alburquerque is ambassador and deputy
Rafaela (Lila) Alburquerque has two jobs – Dominican ambassador to Taiwan and PRSC deputy in the Chamber of Deputies. She was appointed to the post of ambassador to Taiwan in 2011 during former President Leonel Fern?ndez’s administration. Alburquerque is a former president of the Chamber of Deputies.
Now, El Nuevo Diario is reporting that she is on the Ministry of Foreign Relations payroll for RD$691,500 a month, but also receives RD$200,455 wage as an elected deputy for the opposition PRSC party. The media has published photos of her attending a recent congressional session.
The Dominican Constitution (Art. 144) prohibits government officials from receiving compensation from more than one paid post at the time, except for teaching.
Defending her situation, Alburquerque says that she placed her position at the disposition of President Danilo Medina, who is in charge of designating a replacement for the ambassadorial post in Taiwan.
http://elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=509614
Judge orders Santiago Mayor to release data
Judge Henry Dominguez of the First Instance Court of Santiago has ordered Santiago city mayor Abel Martinez to provide the information requested by PRM council member Nelson Manuel Abreu Lora concerning personal donations the mayor has received. Abreu Lora requested the information based on his right under the Law of Freedom of Access to Public Information 200-04. Abreu has also requested information on the dismissal of employees at the city government and the remodeling of the administrative offices and that of mayor Mart?nez.
As reported in Acento, Mart?nez had refused to do so arguing that they were just donations made to him personally.
Procurement director suspends OISOE equipment purchase
Yocasta Guzm?n Santos, director of the governmental Procurement Office says that an investigation has been launched into the procurement of medical diagnostic equipment for the government-built Primary Healthcare Centers (Centros Diagn?sticos). The purchase order (OISOE-EXPU-002-2016) was issued by the Office of the Supervisory Works of the State (OISOE), a Presidency dependency. Eleven of the largest medical equipment suppliers in the country went public this week complaining the correct procedures had not been met.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...icos-que-realizaba-oisoe-por-falta-licitacion
MLB teams agree to drop international draft
In a meeting held on 30 November 2016 that ended in the early morning hours of Thursday, 1 December, Major League Baseball teams agreed to drop their planned implementation of the US-style baseball player draft system abroad. The agreement is part of the collective bargaining between team owners and player unions. The teams said the details of the agreement would be forthcoming.
The imposition of the international draft was seen as a way to substantially benefit the teams and reduce signing bonuses for future players — but the players union, with considerable support from their Latin American contingent, strongly opposed this and was able to overturn the intention of the team owners.
The system would have gone into effect in 2018. Dominican David Ortiz was one of the most vocal opponents of the draft. Diario Libre reported that the strong Latin American stance was decisive in getting the baseball team owners to abandon the draft imposition. In addition to Ortiz, other players who were active were Fernando Rodney, Jose Bautista, Robinson Can?, Nelson Cruz, Edwin Encarnaci?n, Carlos Villanueva, Wellington Castillo and Starling Marte.
What is known is that Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred wanted to implement a globally inclusive first-year draft for baseball. Players in the Dominican Republic have not been subjected to the amateur draft and have had the ability to sign with any team. Many players can sign as early as the age of 16, but younger players can get their start in baseball academies.
Local ball players are opposed to the drafting system because it would reduce the signing bonus and affect the local baseball industry, and especially baseball scouts and trainers.
It has always been argued that the imposition of the draft in Puerto Rico in 1990 stymied professional baseball there affecting the Puerto Rican championship and the Caribbean Baseball League, while benefiting the Dominican Republic where several Major League Baseball academies sprung up to nurture the future ball players. There are only 40 rounds in the draft, while there is no limit to the number of free agents a team can sign, thus there is a cap on the number of players that get to play MLB professional ball. An estimated 500-600 ball players are signed as free agents in the Dominican Republic every year. As reported, fewer than 100 players are signed in a draft system.
Opponents of the draft point to the current free-agency set-up where almost all Major League Baseball teams operate baseball academies to train their future players in the Dominican Republic. The concern is that the teams would be less likely to spend on the facilities, if the draft would mean any team could secure their academy recruits.
The draft would have covered players in the DR, Venezuela, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Mexico and Cuba and its actual implementation was seen as logistically very difficult.
The final announcement will be made on the occasion of the 4-8 December 2016 MLB owner-player meetings to take place at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Maryland.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/s...-to-inclusion-in-the-baseball-draft.html?_r=0
http://deadspin.com/report-mlb-owners-drop-demand-for-an-international-dra-1789467518
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...wners_wise_to_drop_international_draft_demand
http://www.hardballtimes.com/mlb-wants-an-international-draft.-heres-why-it-shouldnt-happen./
http://www.diariolibre.com/deportes...-el-pulso-a-duenos-mlb-con-el-draft-FE5600979
http://eldia.com.do/draft-se-debilita-ante-presion-de-peloteros/
Carol Morgan School gets a Real Madrid training center
Real Madrid has opened its second football training center at the Carol Morgan School on Av. Sarasota in Santo Domingo. Fundaci?n Armid (Escuela de Tecnificaci?n de Futbol) president Carmelo Zubiaur and former star Real Madrid football player Emilio Butrague?o, who is now Real Madrid CF institutional relations director, visited the country for the event.
The Carol Morgan School training center is being inaugurated a year and a half after the first center was opened at the PUCMM University in Santiago de los Caballeros in 2015, serving 400 children.
Butrague?o encouraged students to give 100% of themselves at home, at school and on the football field.
Carol Morgan School’s board of directors’ president Katia Rodr?guez stated: “The Carol Morgan School family is celebrating. Today we can say that this school’s arrival at our installations represents a turning point.”
The Carol Morgan School football team is the Sharks. The project targets 450 football students.
Dominican-born Mariano D?az stars in Real Madrid game
Coinciding with the inauguration of Real Madrid’s second training center in the Dominican Republic at the Carol Morgan School in Santo Domingo, the media is focusing on Spanish-Dominican Mariano D?az who was key to the Real Madrid football team advancing to the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey tournament in Madrid.
The sports media highlighted that on 30 November 2016, Mariano D?az made it into the Real Madrid record books.
The 20-year old Dominican-born striker scored the fastest goal ever by a Real Madrid player in the Spanish Copa del Rey, in Zidane’s side’s 6-1 win over Cultural Leonesa in Bernab?.
http://en.as.com/en/2016/11/30/football/1480537991_088399.html
http://en.as.com/en/2016/10/26/football/1477490757_828717.html?omnil=resrelart
A baseball roundup
The Dominican Winter Professional Baseball Championship has reached the midway point of the 2016- 2017 season. The Gigantes Del Cibao are currently in first place followed by Escogido, the Tigres del Licey, the Estrellas Orientales, the Aguilas Cibae?as and the Toros Del Este.*
During the last month this season has been disrupted by an unusual number of rain delays and washed out games, which this reporter cannot recall happening over the last 50 years.*
Last year’s champions, the Gigantes Del Cibao have come back quite strong and are enjoying a two-game advantage over Escogido, one of last year’s worst teams but now sitting comfortably in second place together with the other team eliminated during the first round of the playoffs, the Tigres del Licey. The perennial fan favorite, the Aguilas Cibae?as are full game out of the coveted fourth position that will go into the round robin section of the championship later this month.
In Santo Domingo there will be games every night almost until Christmas Eve because of the rainouts, and every team will be playing for the next 22 days without a rest. By clicking on www.lidom.com you can access the revamped calendar to attend games in Santiago, San Pedro, San Francisco, La Romana, and Santo Domingo.
For the league schedule, see http://www.lidom.com/home/calendario/
Burger Festival in Punta Cana
The Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Punta Cana Village is promoting its Burger Festival to take place on Saturday, 17 December 2016. There will be artisanal beers, beers in barrel, local and imported beers for sale and even a blind tasting of beers contest. The focus, however, will be on artisanal hamburgers, each with their creator. There will also be live music throughout the festival.
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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