DR1 Daily News - Thursday, 26 January 2017

Dolores1

DR1
May 3, 2000
8,215
37
48
www.
Dominican Republic honors Duarte
V CELAC ends with Punta Cana Declaration
RD$450 million in waterworks for Puerto Plata
Barrio program intended to reduce crime
Arguments and counter arguments on Valle Nuevo
Creeks bring most contamination to Ozama River
Who will get the Dominican Municipal League?
DR ranked among the world’s most corrupt
PLD rejects counter-march against impunity
Blackouts occur with 6 generators off line
Unions hope 30% wage hike will be approved
Lawyers file case against Presidente beer
Helping prosecutors crack down on online child pornography
Las Yayas mayor arrested for trafficking Haitians
Two Dominican conjoined twins separated in New York
Licey just needs one game to win baseball championship
Guy Frómeta to play jazz on El Conde Steps
Tiempo de Mangos Verdes at Casa de Teatro
National Arts & Crafts Fair at Fortaleza Ozama



Dominican Republic honors Duarte
Dominicans honor Juan Pablo Duarte, founding father of the Dominican Republic today. Duarte is regarded as the father of Dominican independence and was the leader of the independence movement to end the Haitian domination of the western side of the island of Hispaniola that had been under Spanish rule until a first independence was declared on 1821. Haitian rule would dominate the country from 1822 to 1844, when Duarte orchestrated the independence movement known as La Trinitaria. 

The Instituto Duartiano invites all to visit its museum located at Calle Isabel la Católica in the Colonial City. 

Duarte was born 26 January 1813 and died in 1876 in Caracas, Venezuela where he was in exile.

The Ministry of Labor ordered that Monday, 30 January 2017 be a holiday, commemorating Duarte’s birthday that falls midweek.


V CELAC ends with Punta Cana Declaration
The 24-25 January 2017 V Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) ended in Punta Cana with the approval of 20 special declarations and the Political Declaration of Punta Cana.

A press release from the Presidency of the Dominican Republic highlights that in the Political Declaration of Punta Cana lists a range of important agreements, including calls in the areas of peace, regional security, fighting organized crime, food security, sustainable urban development, gender equality, the importance of education and promoting of IT technologies, disaster management, migration, transparency, and climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. The regional heads of government and state agreed to advance economic integration in the region, promoting public-private alliances and small business efforts to increase regional and extra-regional trade.

During the event, El Salvador President Salvador Sánchez Cerén received the temporary presidency of CELAC for 2017. In his first speech as the CELAC president, he committed to promote an agenda to address strongly from the CELAC agenda new measures being announced by US President Donald Trump that could affect the Latin American and Caribbean region.

https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias/declaracion-prensa-v-celac-punta-cana
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...agenda-fuerte-para-enfrentar-medidas-de-trump


RD$450 million in waterworks for Puerto Plata
The National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI) announced the approval of 14 public works projects in municipalities of Puerto Plata affected by the flooding caused by torrential rains in October and November 2016. The public works are budgeted at over RD$450 million and the funds would be invested in Villa Isabela, Altamira, Luperón and Los Hidalgos municipalities.

Olgo Fernández, director of INDRHI, said that the government works would be:
Villa Isabela: RD$284,568,956.68. In Villa Isabela municipality gabions would be built to protect farms and towns from flooding waters of the Unijica, Gualetico and Jaiba rivers. Breakwaters would be installed at several points of the roads to protect from flooding in La Llanada. Other protections would be installed along three kilometers of the Encantamiento, Tiburcio and Los Muertos rivers and along sections of the Gran Diablo River.

Altamira: RD$74,443,676.10.  Gabions would be installed alongside the Grande and Yeca rivers.

Luperón: RD$75,361,319.43. Protections would be installed to prevent flooding from Bajabonico River. The funds would also be used to repair the Belloso dike and the La Isabela irrigation system.

Los Hidalgos: RD$15,646,336.15. Installation of protections from flooding of the Cambero, Unijica and Cañada Grande rivers.

http://noticiassin.com/2017/01/indrhi-ejecutara-obras-por-mas-de-rd450-millones-en-puerto-plata/


Barrio program intended to reduce crime
The Medina administration announced the start of the “I am the Barrio” program (“Mi Barrio Soy Yo”) to reduce crime nationwide. The program includes offering entrepreneurs low cost funding to encourage young people to start and keep businesses as an alternative to a life of crime. The government is making available RD$500 million for the program that primarily seeks to finance micro and small manufacturers. The program will bring the low-cost funding service under Banca Solidaria to at-risk communities. Banca Solidaria will be working with the local churches, community leaders to introduce the program in the barrios.

For starters, the program will be promoted in the barrios Ensanche Luperón, Capotillo, Los Guandules, Las Cañitas, Carretera Mella, Camino Adentro, Mandinga, Los Alcarrizos, Pueblo Nuevo, Hato Nuevo, Los Americanos, Los Mina, and Los Tres Brazos in Greater Santo Domingo.

The program also has the support of the Institute for Student Welfare (INABIE) and the Center for Exports and Investments (CEI-RD).

http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=517840


Arguments and counter arguments on Valle Nuevo
Request was denied for postponement or delay of the ruling from the Superior Administrative Court (TSA) regarding the resolution by the Ministry of Environment to cease and desist all farming activity within the boundaries of the Valle Nuevo National Park.

Readers will recall that the Ministry of Environment issued Resolution 14-2016 last year that provided a period of 120 days for farming and other activities to cease and residents to leave the National Park. The deadline for this period is 29 January 2017, but the plaintiffs have filed an appeal saying that this timeframe should end on 10 March, considering the date of publication of the resolution in the national press.

However, the Ministry asserts that the grace period began from the moment the resolution was put up on their webpage.

Subsequently, new documents were filed by the plaintiffs and lawyers from the Ministry of the Environment and the Justice Department quickly moved to register their objection to the new filings. The TSA postponed their final decision on this matter until Friday, 27 January 2017.


Creeks bring most contamination to Ozama River
The director of the Dominican Port Authority Victor Gomez Casanova said yesterday that the leading contributing factor to the contamination of the Ozama River is the untreated waste from residential areas that is carried by creeks that that empty into the Ozama River. He said treatment of this waste is more important than the dismantling of the shipyards and ship scrapyards that operated in the river.

He said the Port Authority is working together with the Ministry of the Environment and other institutions to deal with the situation.

As part of the cleanup of the Ozama and the Isabela Rivers, the government has announced the installation of a water treatment plant for the northern part of Santo Domingo.


Who will get the Dominican Municipal League?
158 City governments will meet on Thursday, 26 January 2017, to choose the head of the Dominican Municipal League (LMD). Although the LMD is the body charged with developing policies and strategies for municipal city government development, it is best known as a conduit for political spoils. The general assembly to choose the head of LMD is scheduled to start at 10am at the Santo Domingo Sheraton Hotel.

The LMD chair post has been awarded to the PRSC since 1999 by the PLD in appreciation for the PRSC support of the PLD during consecutive presidential campaigns. Johnny Jones of the PRSC is seeking re-election as LMD chairman.

But now, for the same political spoils tradition, the new PLD ally, the PRD, wants the position to go to one of its leaders. 

But partisans of the ruling PLD insist the LMD position was not offered to the PRD as part of the talks leading to the PRD’s congressional support for the change of the 2010 Constitution that allowed President Danilo Medina to run for re-election in 2016.

The PLD secretary general, Reinaldo Pared Pérez, has floated the name of Ignacio Ditrén as the candidate to the post, but the PLD has not yet registered Ditrén as their party’s official candidate. Meanwhile the PRD has put forward Neney Cabrera as its candidate.

The other majority party participating in the election, the PRM, has 30 city governments and has called for its members to abstain from voting for any candidate of the PLD government block.

Candidates can be nominated up to the morning of the event.

MetroRD highlights that, in addition to traditionally being treated as political spoils for leading government political allies, the LMD chair is especially attractive for the perks it brings. For example, MetroRD reports that the LMD allots RD$20 million for per diems for the 12 meetings a year of its executive board, in which 32 mayors and representatives of municipal affairs commissions of majority political parties participate.

MetroRD indicates that of the RD$844,360,000 budget of the LMD, most goes to pay wages of 400 employees that adds up to RD$10.5 million a month.

http://eldia.com.do/prm-instruye-a-...e-de-votar-por-candidatos-pld-liga-municipal/
http://eldia.com.do/prm-instruye-a-...e-de-votar-por-candidatos-pld-liga-municipal/
http://www.metrord.do/noticias/cinc...der-la-liga-municipal/ftwqay---bR0p71fNQoNdM/
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...-la-liga-sin-que-haya-nada-definido-DI6082577


DR ranked among the world’s most corrupt
Transparency International has released its 2016 International Corruption Perceptions Index. The Dominican Republic again scores among the most corrupt countries in the world. Of 176 countries, the Dominican Republic is ranked 120th. In the Americas region, the DR is only above Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela, in that order.

The report highlights the connection between corruption and inequality, which feed off each other to create a vicious cycle of corruption, unequal distribution of power in society, and unequal distribution of wealth.

According to the Index, countries with low scores “are characterized by generalized impunity, deficient governability and fragile institutions.”

The results are released at a time the recent large turnout at a march against impunity would seem to indicate the tolerance of Dominicans to administrative corruption is coming to an end.

The organization says that over two-thirds of the participating 176 countries and territories fall below the midpoint of the scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). In that area, the DR scored 31 points of a possible 100 points. This is a two point improvement over the 33 score in 2015. Nevertheless, the DR dropped to 120th from a ranking of 103rd in 2015 when 167 countries participated. 

The civic group Participación Ciudadana says that the index is the most used barometer throughout the world for measuring corruption. The index compiles information from independent institutions that specialize in the business sector. The least corrupt countries were Denmark, New Zealand, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Singapore, Netherlands, Canada and Germany.

https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/corruption_perceptions_index_2016
http://www.metrord.do/noticias/rd-e...ion-segun-indicador-ipc/ftwqay---iqrgAoGd6HA/


PLD rejects counter-march against impunity
The Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) rejected the proposal for a counter-march in answer to the very successful protest march held on 22 January 2017 in Santo Domingo. The Secretary General of the party, Reinaldo Pared Perez, said that the party is “strongly opposed to the creation of a march in answer to that of Sunday, 22 January.”

This statement by Pared Perez appeared in his Twitter account. He added: “To sponsor and organize a march in answer to that of Sunday 22 January, would be nonsensical and close to silly.”

Last week, the Administrative Minister of the Presidency, José Ramon Peralta, expressed similar feelings as he distanced the government from a march to be carried out by some 600 organizations in answer to the one held against impunity and corruption last Sunday.


Blackouts occur with six generators off line
12-hour blackouts in many sectors of Greater Santo Domingo and some provinces are occurring as the result of an 878 megawatt (MW) deficit in generation of electricity caused by six facilities going off line. More than 10 sectors of East Santo Domingo and the northern part of the National District suffered through blackouts on 25 January 2017.

El Nacional reported that AES Andres, which generates 300 MW and Los Mina 5 that produces 105 MW, along with three plants that belong to the San Pedro de Macoris Electricity Company (formerly Cogentrix) were off line. San Felipe in Puerto Plata entered into service yesterday morning as the national system continues to operate with at least a 300 MW deficit.

The long list of areas without electricity included barrio Duarte and Villa Carmen together with Ensanche Luperon, and the Espaillat, 24 de Abril, Capotillo, and Guachupita barrios. In addition to the lack of electricity, the blackouts also affected the water supply throughout the entire area.


Unions hope 30% wage hike will be approved
The labor movement in the Dominican Republic is hoping that its proposal for a 30% minimum wage increase for private employees will be accepted by the National Committee on Salaries whose members will meet on 15 February at the Ministry of Labor. The spokesman for the labor unions, Rafael (Pepe) Abreu, stressed that the rank and file of labor unions supports the wage increase.  Abreu said there is an urgency to increase the salaries of workers since the cost of the basic food basket is now estimated to be some RD$28,000 and many of these workers earn less than RD $13,000 each month.

According to El Nacional newspaper, Abreu understands that the National Committee on Salaries is only authorized to order increases in the minimum wage, but he said that he hopes that companies throughout the country will increase all salaries since the cost of living is constantly going up.

The labor spokesman said that the salary increase proposal was delivered to the National Committee on Salaries in December 2016, but the first meeting was delayed because the Dominican Confederation of Management (Copardom) insisted that the organization had to wait until a new board of directors was sworn-in.

Abreu also talked about severance pay, which in Dominican labor law is called “cesantia”. Some business sectors have proposed the elimination of this benefit, but the union leader says that this is not negotiable even during the tripartite discussions for the modification of the Labor Code.


Lawyers file case against Presidente beer
Lawyers Guido Gómez Mazara and José Luis Hernández Cedeño filed a petition before the National Commission for the Defense of Competition (Procompetencia) in which they request precautionary measures be taken against the Dominican National Brewery (Cervecería Nacional Dominicana-CND), the country’s largest brewery, for their unfair marketing practices for beer and rum. The lawyers argue that the CND is acting in violation of Article 50 of the Constitution that prohibits monopolies as well as articles 64 and 65 of the General Law for the Defense of Competition (Law 42-08).

The market share enjoyed by the CND is said to be 98% of the beer market that includes imports and this according to the case file facilitates price gouging.

The request by the lawyers is based on the results of a study carried out by Procompetencia after the merger of the Dominican National Brewery and the Brazilian firm Ambev. They say the company delves in “unfair practices” that suppresses the participation of other beer and rum importers or manufacturers in the Dominican market. Beginning back in December, the lawyers have been working with the Commission and requesting precautionary orders that would force the CND to cease and desist from unfair competitive practices.

The report by Procompetencia says: “Competitors (beer importers) have complained of the unfair marketing practices implemented by CND-Ambev. The requirements of an exclusive contract are commonly identified. It is evident that this is an abuse of the dominant market position held by CND-Ambev.”

The lawyers argue that the near control of the national beer market has allowed Presidente to unfairly increase their prices.  The attorneys cited as an example the fact that in 2012 a bottle of Presidente before taxes cost RD$38.81, while in 2015 the same cost was RD$58.99, which represents a 52% increase. The jurists argued that even after adjustment for inflation, the pretax cost of that beer should have been RD $49.95 in September 2015.

The lawyers also note the struggle between CND-Ambev and United Brands that owns the Heineken brand, saying that the premium clients of Presidente are prohibited from exhibiting promotional material for Heineken or Coors under the threat of having free beer coolers removed from their premises. CND-Ambev employees who do not report clients who have refused to comply with the company’s point of purchase signage requirements, have been pressured and in some cases fired by the company.

http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...ria-nacional-por-sus-practicas-desleales.html


Helping prosecutors crack down on online child pornography
The Dominican government has shared information regarding cases of online child pornography in the Dominican Republic during a workshop organized by the Attorney General Office, the Higher Education Institute of the Public Ministry, UNICEF, and the UK Embassy. The Regional Workshop for Coordination and Investigation of Online Child Pornography began on Tuesday, 24 January 2017.

During the workshop, the Dominican government indicated that most of the online pornography activities were detected in Puerto Plata, La Altagracia (Punta Cana), Samaná and Boca Chica tourist areas. Local investigations detected last year 21,000 cases of child pornography online in which generally minors of 9 to 13 years were exploited.

The workshop seeks to share tools and investigative techniques with 60 members of prosecutorial agencies, Interpol, National Police, and child protection authorities in El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

Gladys Sánchez Richiez, rector of the Higher Education Institute of the National Prosecutors College, said that efforts will continue to create more awareness and prevention campaigns will continue. At present, the government is executing the “There are No Excuses” campaign in coordination with UNICEF.

Speaking at the event, Chris Campbell, UK ambassador in the Dominican Republic, said that fighting child pornography and protecting children from these predators should be a priority of everyone. He said the British government is globally committed to back efforts to bring those responsible for child pornography crimes to justice.

The four-day event has brought together international experts from Spain, Facebook, Interpol, International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, Child Rescue Coalition and the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom.

http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/159229-exploitation-of-minors-and-tourism


Las Yayas mayor arrested for trafficking Haitians
The Migration Agency announced the arrest on Tuesday, 24 January 2017, of the mayor of Las Yayas in Azua. Mayor Ramón Antonio Soto was caught trafficking 11 Haitian nationals in a city government ambulance. The Haitians were taken to the Third Brigade of the Army to be prepared for their repatriation to Haiti. Meanwhile, Soto was taken to the Police headquarters for booking. He said that he was not transporting the Haitians for monetary gain, but rather simply taking them to do farm work at his fruit farm.

http://noticiassin.com/2017/01/apre...car-haitianos-en-ambulancia-del-ayuntamiento/


Two Dominican conjoined twins separated in New York
Two Dominican sisters born as conjoined twins were successfully separated this at the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York. The physicians who performed the operation held a press conference on Wednesday, 25 January 2017 to share the good news story.

The 11-month old girls are still recovering from the 17-18 January surgery, but doctors are optimistic they will be able to go home soon and live healthy and fully independent lives.

Ballenie and Bellanie Camacho were born with shared gastrointestinal tracts, bladders, reproductive areas and a portion of their spinal cord. 

The girls underwent 22-hour multiple surgeries with the participation of over 50 medical professionals. The team of medics was led by Drs. Samir Pandya and Whitney McBride.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/loca...ildrens-Hospital-hudson-valley-411664765.html
http://abc7ny.com/health/separated-conjoined-twins-make-1st-public-appearance/1718496/


Licey just needs one game to win baseball championship
With its Wednesday, 25 January 2017, win over the Aguilas Cibaeñas, 5-2, at the Santo Domingo Quisqueya Stadium, the Tigres del Licey are one game short of winning the Dominican Winter Baseball Championship. The Licey now leads with four victories in the win-five-of-nine-games series. During the Wednesday game, Licey pitcher Evan McLane kept the Aguilas at bay for seven innings.

The series will shift to the Cibao Stadium in Santiago in the Thursday, 26 January game that starts at 8pm.  Afull house of Aguilas fans will be pushing for their team. To follow the series, see http://www.lidom.com


Guy Frómeta to play jazz on El Conde Steps
This Thursday, 26 January 2017, Duarte Day, the renowned percussionist, Guy Frómeta, will be delighting audiences at the El Conde Steps of the Colonial City. Frómeta has played the drums in shows with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Paquito de Rivera, Ricky Martin, Gato Barbieri, Miguel Bosé, Alejandro Sanz, Spyro Gyra, Carlos Vives, Leni Stern and Juan Luis Guerra. 

He is the guest artist this evening at the “Jazz Nights in The Zone” where Calle El Conde starts. The performance is free, but those who want to get a good place should be there around 7pm for the show that starts at around 8pm.
 

Tiempo de Mangos Verdes at Casa de Teatro
Casa de Teatro presents the comedy “Tiempo de Mangos Verdes” at its Cristóbal de Llerena Hall, Wednesday, 25 January and Thursday, 26 January at 8:30pm. It tells the story of a longtime politician and his 16-year old daughter who becomes pregnant and attempts to hide this to not tarnish his reputation. Tickets RD$400.


National Arts & Crafts Fair at Fortaleza Ozama
The Ministry of Culture presents from Wednesday, 8 February to Sunday, 12 February the National Arts & Crafts Fair (Fenart) at the Fortaleza Ozama in the Colonial City. Around 300 artisans from all around the country will be participating.

Read more on ongoing and upcoming events at:
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