DR1 Daily News - Monday, 23 January 2017

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President Medina: new reforesting programs for the south
Santo Domingo West mayor closes Luperón Av. bazaar 
Wages up to RD$34,685 don’t pay income tax
Presidents come for CELAC Summit in Punta Cana
Largest march ever protests impunity in government
Diesco announces deal with Goldman Sachs
Pre-trial custody for three in case of murder of German senior citizen
Royals’ Yordano Ventura dies in car accident
Licey vs. Aguilas baseball finals tied to four games
Comedy at Casa de Teatro
10th Funglode Film Festival
Steve McCurry master class at Funglode
Concert to Our Lady of Altagracia televised on 30 January



President Medina: new reforestry programs for the south
The Presidency announced new forestry programs in the southwest. President Danilo Medina, in a visit to the southwest on Sunday, 22 January 2017, described the destruction of the forests in mountainous woodland areas as “terrible” and has said this practice cannot continue. President Medina on Sunday visited the mountain communities of Los Fríos and Los Montancitos that border with Azua, San Juan and La Vega provinces where he spoke with farmers about the new forestry programs. The forestation and farming projects are intended to protect the basins of the Palomino and Sabana Yegua dams.

Medina announced these include projects to plant lumber-producing trees and fruit trees in 100,000 tareas (1 tarea = 629 square meters) in the mountainous areas for commercial exploitation. He said the projects will provide jobs to local farmers so these can put a stop to unsustainable farming practices. Medina said that once the projects are underway anyone known to cut a tree would go to jail.

During the Sunday visit, Medina was accompanied by Agriculture Minister Angel Estévez, Environment Minister Francisco Domínguez Brito and Administrative Minister José Ramón Peralta.

http://m.elcaribe.com.do/2017/01/23/danilo-medina-anuncia-reforestacion-del-sur


Santo Domingo West mayor closes Luperón Av. bazaar
The Mayor of Santo Domingo West Francisco Peña said that the city government would not allow the installation of the Malecón vendor bazaar next Sunday, 29 January 2017. The bazaar has created a slum area on the Malecón where it intersects with the Luperón Avenue and Km. 12 of the Sánchez Highway. The decision of the Ayuntamiento de Santo Domingo Oeste (ASDO) will affect more than 150 vendors that had taken over the area impeding normal traffic.

Mayor Peña announced a recreational area would instead be built under the overpass of Sánchez Highway at Km. 12 where the city open-air market had been operating for years.

Alfredo Labata Tamares, who is in charge of security for the ASDO, told El Caribe reporters that the city government has not accepted payments from the vendors nor any agreement for these to continue to offer their wares at the city road intersection.

Nevertheless, José Manuel Caro, spokesman for the vendors, told El Caribe reporters that he had met with the mayor on Tuesday, 17 January, and the mayor had only required that the vendors find ways to not affect the flow of traffic through the western section of Santo Domingo. “We have 13 years there. Mayor Roberto Salcedo brought us there. We did not invade the area. All we want is to reach an agreement where none of the parts is affected,” he told El Caribe reporters.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2017/01/23/comienzan-desalojar-mercado-las-pulgas


Wages up to RD$34,685 don’t pay income tax
The Tax Agency (DGII) announced that wages up to RD$34,685 a month will now be exempt from paying income taxes.

This is up RD$578.25 from 2016 wages, when the exemption was up to RD$34,106.75. The wage exemption was adjusted for annual inflation.

This means that wages up to RD$416,220 over a 12 month period are now exempt from income taxes. Those making RD$416,220.01 to RD$624,329 pay 15% on the difference over RD$416,220.01. Those making RD$624,329.01 to RD$867,123 pay RD$31,216 plus 20% of the difference over RD$624,329.01. Those making RD$867,123.01 and more pay RD$79,776 plus 25% of the difference over RD$867,123.01.

See http://www.dgii.gov.do


Presidents come for CELAC Summit in Punta Cana
Preparations for the V CELAC Summit of Heads of State and Government are underway in Punta Cana. The heads of states and governments of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) will be meeting in Punta Cana from 24-25 January 2017. CELAC is a regional inter-governmental organization that promotes integration and development of Latin American and Caribbean states.

During the meeting, the temporary presidency of the regional block that the Dominican Republic has held for the past two years will be passed to El Salvador.

Prior to the start of the regional event, technical teams from 33 countries are participating in the 20th Meeting of CELAC National Coordinators at the Barceló Bávaro Convention Center in Punta Cana, site of the meetings. The staff is meeting prior to the gathering of the 13th meeting of the ministers of foreign relations on Tuesday, 24 January. Some 30 foreign ministers have confirmed their participation. Both meetings are preparatory sessions held prior to the summit of heads of government and state on Wednesday, 25 January.

The Ministry of Foreign Relations (Mirex) of the Dominican Republic is the organizer of the event. Hugo Beras, spokesman for Mirex, said the 2017 summit would be the most attended by CELAC in its history in regards to attendance by heads of government and state. Among the statesmen confirmed for the meeting are: Michelle Bachelet, Chile; Raúl Castro Ruz, Cuba; Salvador Sánchez Cerén, El Salvador; Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela; Juan Carlos Varela, Panamá; Rafael Correa, Ecuador; Juan Manuel Santos, Colombia; Enrique Peña Nieto, México; Evo Morales, Bolivia; David Granger, Guyana; Daniel Ortega Nicaragua, Jocelerme Privert, Haiti, and Charles A. Savarin, Dominica. The prime ministers of Jamaica, Antigua & Barbuda and the vice presidents of Uruguay, Costa Rica and Honduras have confirmed.

During the 25 January meeting of heads of government, the focus will be on food security, migration and development and the global drug problem. There will also be discussions on nuclear disarmament, gender issues, advancement of women, funding for development, return of Guantanamo to Cuba, need to put an end to the trade block against Cuba, the Las Malvinas conflict, saving indigenous languages, sustainable health systems, and the 20-30 agenda, among others.

Also participating are officials from the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, the director of the FAO, the executive secretary of the ECLAC, the secretary of the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government (SEGIB), the secretary general of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System among others.

The opening event is set for 7pm on Tuesday, 24 January at the Gran Teatro of the Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort with the keynote and welcome address by President Danilo Medina.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2017/01/22/451252/comienzan-trabajos-de-cumbre-de-la-celac
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu.../hoy-comienzan-a-llegar-delegaciones-a-cumbre


Largest march ever protests impunity in government
Evidence from aerial photos suggest that the Sunday morning, 22 January 2017, March Against Impunity could well have been the largest protest in recent years against the government. Hundreds of thousands marched seeking an end to impunity that has enveloped government officers who are accused of having benefited from overpricing and bribes. The march marks an end to the generalized tolerance of Dominican society to corruption.
Attired in green shirts and many with their children tagging along, protestors from all walks of life completed a route from 27 de Febrero and Máximo Gómez avenues to Independencia Park. The media reported that the march headed south on 30 de Marzo street, instead of on Dr. Delgado avenue. The Dr. Delgado route would have brought the protestors in front of the Presidential Palace.

There was an extraordinary turnout even after on Friday, 20 January 2017, Attorney General Jean-Alain Rodríguez had announced that Odebrecht, the Brazilian construction giant, would reimburse the Dominican government for US$184 million. This is double the US$92 million in bribes the corporation admitted to having paid to local players for securing of US$163 million in procurement works from 2001-2014. This payment would be in compliance with Law 448-06 on bribes in trade and investment.

In a press conference on Friday, Rodríguez said that the Attorney General Office requested that the Procurement Department issue a resolution calling for the temporary suspension of the registration of Odebrecht as a state provider, which would prevent the company from participating in any tender for future transactions with the Dominican government. However, this resolution does not impede the company from continuing to participate in the construction of what is its largest public works project underway, the Punta Catalina power plant. The project, contracted under the Medina administration, has been criticized for alleged overvaluation and irregularities in the tender.

During the press conference, Attorney General Rodríguez insisted that the investigation will not end with the suspension of future projects, nor will it end with the company’s payment of the fine. He said the investigation would be complete when charges are made against those who have committed these crimes.

The announcement from the Attorney General’s Office, however, did little to discourage Dominicans from participating in the Sunday, 22 January, march against government impunity. The PLD governments have long been accused of making backroom deals and holding undue influence over the judiciary. Protestors called for the judiciary and the central government to be more transparent and pro-active in pursuing and prosecuting individuals accused of administrative corruption.

While Odebrecht has earned a reputation for the quality of their public works projects in the Dominican Republic, documents in the New York Court ruling revealed that many of these projects were some of the most costly in Latin America. Graft, in the form of payments to government officials, has inflated the costs of public works projects, which are ultimately paid by taxpayers.

While local attempts to take the alleged corrupt government officials to court for corruption have been filed away by the PLD influenced judiciary, the recent US New York court ruling directly quantifying local bribes at more than US$92 million has renewed the interest in the general public to identify and prosecute those who may have taken bribes.

The Dominican judiciary has been notably complacent when confronted with accusations of administrative corruption, and the handling of the Odebrecht corruption scandal has not been any different so far. While the corruption has been acknowledged, the names of those accused have yet to be revealed or mentioned in court documents.

Meanwhile, commercial representative of the Odebrecht, Angel Rondón confirmed receiving a similar amount to the US$92 million described by the US judiciary as bribes, but insists that this was a payment to compensate him for his work.

The Odebrecht construction works encompass a period of 17 years, from 2001 to 2017, with most of these projects having been undertaken during the governments of former President Leonel Fernández, who is the president of the ruling PLD party. The largest single contract of all, nevertheless, is that for the construction of the Punta Catalina power plant. The Odebrecht corruption scandal spans three presidents – those of Leonel Fernández (1996-2000), Hipólito Mejía (2000-2004), Leonel Fernández (2004-2008, 2008-2012) and Danilo Medina (2012-2016, 2016-2020).

In an editorial on Saturday, 21 January 2017, Diario Libre editor Ines Aizpún wrote: “The PLD cannot show for its years in power a firm will to identify and punish the corrupt…. The PLD is too expensive to maintain… The march on Sunday calls for an end to corruption, and above all, demands the end to the very complex system of complicities. In an economy that grows without retribution, in a challenging environment of a stagnant labor market, with labor and fiscal pacts pending and feared… the stolen amounts would make anyone dizzy. US$184 million at least… and the names are?”

Diario Libre’s editorial on Monday, 23 January 2017 focuses on the millions of Dominicans that followed the march on social media.

The organizers of the successful march included:
Foro Ciudadano, Centro Juan XXIII, Poder Ciudadano, Somos Pueblo, Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos, Participación Ciudadana, Centro Bonó, Federación Nacional de Trabajadores Independientes de la Construcción (Fenticon), Colectivo LGBT, Bloque Popular, Movimiento de Trabajadores Independientes, Movimiento de Mujeres Trabajadoras, Los Cañeros,  Comité Codiano, Corriente Magisterial Juan Pablo Duarte, Los Peregrinos de Moca,  FEFLAS, FAPROUASD, La Multitud, Frente Universitario Renovador, Grupo Milenio Verde (MIVER) among others.
Abroad, there were reports that Dominicans living in New York and Texas carried out their own walks wearing green shirts to protest administrative corruption impunity in the Dominican Republic.

A follow up protest concert has been announced for February 2017. 

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...73/citan-presidente-prm-por-el-caso-odebrecht
http://eldia.com.do/odebrecht-pagara-us184-millones-a-rd-dice-procurador/
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...echt-pagara-us-184-millones-al-pais-YF6043144
http://eldia.com.do/marcha-en-santo-domingo-para-exigir-carcel-en-caso-odebrecht/
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/siga-minuto-a-minuto-la-marcha-fin-de-la-impunidad-EF6052556
http://acento.com.do/2017/actualida...que-independencia-una-afluencia-masiva-gente/
 http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...unidad-tras-conocerse-sobornos-odebrecht.html
http://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/am/el-dinero-y-los-nombres-KE6042682
http://www.diariolibre.com/m/notici...idad-llegan-al-parque-independencia-GE6053954
http://www.diariolibre.com/m/notici...idos-marcharon-contra-la-corrupcion-XA6057505
http://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/am/la-marcha-de-los-que-no-fueron-JB6056083


Diesco announces deal with Goldman Sachs
Manuel Diez Cabral, president of Diesco in the Dominican Republic, announced the company has signed an agreement with Goldman Sachs Group for RD$4 billion. The deal is the first time Goldman Sachs will invest in the country. Diez made the announcement after meeting with President Danilo Medina at the Presidential Palace. 
Diez Cabral said the funding will enable the company to accelerate its vision to expand in the Dominican Republic and the region. He said the funding will create added opportunities to enter new markets and innovate in new products and services that contribute to the development of the economy in the country in the short and medium term.

http://e-diesco.com/noticias/goldma...sa-dominicana-diesco-por-rd4000-millones.html


Pre-trial custody for three in case of murder of German senior citizen
A Puerto Plata court (Oficina Judicial de Servicios de Atención Permanente de Puerto Plata) ordered a year of pre-trial custody for three individuals suspected of participating in the murder of a 70-year old Sosúa investor, Frank Joachim Ebert . The wife of Mr. Ebert, María Núñez (alias Negra),  had originally told police that she and her husband were kidnapped from their residence in Loma Blanca, Sosúa. However, the Police suspect that Núñez and those close to her sought to profit from the murder of the aging German.

The accused are the man’s wife, María Núñez, her alleged lover Fernando Bienvenido Báez Belliard  and his son Leandro García Martínez. Police speculate that the motive of the murder is related the suspects’ desire to seize the property of the German.

Judge Pascual Francisco Abreu accepted recommendations made by Puerto Plata prosecutors José Armando Tejada, Juan Carlos Hernández Castro and Ramón Cabrera, who revealed their suspicion that the accused participated in the murder of the foreigner who had living for years in the country.

The body of the German was found buried in the property of Báez in Los Ciruelitos in Santiago. He died of multiple knife wounds.

http://eldia.com.do/imponen-prision-preventiva-a-tres-personas-por-muerte-de-empresario/


Royals’ Yordano Ventura dies in car accident
On the early morning of Sunday, 22 January 2017, 25-year old Kansas Royals’ pitcher, Yordano Ventura died in a car accident. The news was first known released by Police spokesman Jacobo Mateo Moquete by Twitter. The accident occurred on the Juan Adrián road between Piedra Blanca and Rancho Arriba.

Ventura had pitched in two World Series (2014, 2015) for the Royals after signing with the club in 2013. He helped the Royals defeat the New York Mets to win their second World Series championship in 2015. He held a 38-31 career record in 94 games (93 starts) at the Major League level. He was known for his fastball, which could top 100mph, and his fiery temperament.

The Police also reported the death of 33-year old Dominican baseball player Andy Marte who played for a baseball team in South Korea when his vehicle was involved in another accident in Casa de Alto on the Pimentel road to San Francisco de Macorís. At the time of his death, Marte was on the roster of the Aguilas who are in the finals of the Dominican Winter Baseball Championship.

http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...cido-hoy-accidente-transito.html#.WITuEemVs4o
http://www.listindiario.com/el-depo...dente-de-transito-el-pelotero-yordano-ventura
http://www.diariolibre.com/deportes...-que-viajaba-el-pelotero-andy-marte-EF6052978
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/danny-...no-ventura-at-kauffman-stadium-200558545.html
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...aguilas-fallecido-hoy-accidente-transito.html
http://www.listindiario.com/el-deporte/2017/01/23/451355/bandera-a-media-asta-estadio-kc
http://www.listindiario.com/el-depo...o-quedo-el-vehiculo-donde-iba-yordano-ventura
http://www.listindiario.com/el-depo...dente-de-transito-el-pelotero-yordano-ventura
http://www.diariolibre.com/deportes...-que-viajaba-el-pelotero-andy-marte-EF6052978


Licey vs. Aguilas baseball finals tied to four games
In the series of nine games, first to win five, the Licey Tigers under Audé Vicente and the Aguilas Cibaeñas under Manny Acta are tied to four games each. The Licey tied the series winning 9-6 over the Aguilas in the game played in the Santo Domingo Quisqueya Stadium. The playoff of the Dominican Winter Professional Baseball Championship continues on Tuesday, 24 January 2017 at 8pm at the Cibao Stadium in Santiago.

Prior to the Sunday, 22 January game, fans kept a minute of silence in honor of Aguilas player Andy Marte and

Kansas Royals’ Yordano Ventura, both who had died in car accidents the day before.

http://www.diariolibre.com/m/deport...cey-felinos-ganan-9-6-a-las-aguilas-BA6057434
http://www.listindiario.com/el-depo...tara-y-solano-guian-tigres-a-empatar-la-final


Comedy at Casa de Teatro
Casa de Teatro presents “Habitación 69”, a comedy on Monday, 23 January and Tuesday 24 January 2017 at 8:30pm.  Cristóbal Llerena hall. Tickets are RD$400.00.


10th Funglode Film Festival
In its 10th year, the Festival de Cine Global Dominicano (FCGB) opens on Wednesday, 25 January 2017 with a showing of “Luis” by director and producer Archie López at the Teatro Nacional. The festival ends on 1 February. Over its eight days, 108 films will be shown in Santo Domingo, Santiago, Higuey, La Romana, Nagua and San Francisco de Maocrís.

The films showing are:

Local films:
“Chocolate” (2016), by Fernando Peña; “Exceso” (2016), by Paula Cury Melo; “Lo que pudo haber sido” (2016), by Violeta Lockhart; “Swingers” (2016) by Aulio Iván and the documentary: “Huellas” (2016), by Ayerím Villanueva.

Foreign films: “Basura” (Spain, 2016), by Juan Silva;  “Cinecitta On Wheels” (Italy, 2016), by Inti Carboni; “Cualquier día”  (Costa Rica, 2016), by Marysela Zamora; “El Vuelo de los Cangrejos” (Venezuela, 2016), by Bhima Gandica and Inti Torres; the documentaries “Garbanzos con azúcar” (Spain, 2015), by Antonio Aguilar and “Solari” (Peru 2016), by Sergio García.

http://www.funglode.org/notice/la-p...rira-el-x-festival-de-cine-global-dominicano/


Steve McCurry master class at Funglode
Photojournalist and artist Steve McCurry will be at Funglode for a Thursday, 9 February 2017 masterclass starting at 7pm.

McCurry is recognized as one of the most iconic figure in contemporary photography. The class is free of charge at the Funglode headquarters on Capitán Eugenio de Marchena 26, La Esperilla, Santo Domingo.

To register, email miryam@globalfoundationdd.org
http://stevemccurry.com

This event is organized by the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD). Reservations need to be made before 6 February 2017.


Concert to Our Lady of Altagracia televised on 30 January
CTN Channel 30 of Telecable will be showing on Monday, 30 January 2017 at 8pm the concert dedicated to Our Lady of Altagracia that took place at the Basilica Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia on Friday, 20 January 2017. The concert was performed by the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro José Antonio Molina with the special participations of violinist Kirstin Lee and soprano Nathalie Peña-Comas.

Read more on ongoing and upcoming events at:
http://www.dr1.com/calendar


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

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