DR1 Daily News - Tuesday, 31 January 2017

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DR Embassy to open in Antigua and Barbuda
President visits farmers in the East
President congratulates Licey Tigers
Central Bank highlights poverty is decreasing
Check online before buying a used phone 
No delay on moving people out of Valle Nuevo
Guzmán family plead for their land in Valle Nuevo
Stop to agriculture in Valle Nuevo
More people to be relocated from national parks
Police to receive pay raise
Dominican Republic only country with no Odebrecht arrests
Malecón flea market continues
Sal García in costume dress turns heads
Dominican prostitutes protests unfair competition from Venezuelans
Jail on remand for Puerto Plata businessmen accused of fraud
Police kill general’s killers
Johnny Ventura sings boleros



DR Embassy to open in Antigua and Barbuda
The Medina administration favors opening a Dominican embassy in Antigua and Barbuda, the Antigua Observer reports. The government of Antigua & Barbuda has offered the land where the embassy would be built by the Dominican government. A mission of the Ministry of Foreign Relations will travel to the island to look into the matter and explore other ways to establish formal diplomatic relations and strengthen bilateral ties. 

The announcement follows the visit of Antigua & Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne to participate in the 5th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) that took place 24-25 January 2017 in Punta Cana. There he met with President Danilo Medina and Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado and expressed his interest in strengthening relations.

As reported in the Antigua Observer, Browne highlighted the tremendous potential of the relations between both countries, which is underpinned by strong people-to-people links, and joint coordination in regional forums such as CELAC and the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM). The Antigua Prime Minister said Antigua and Barbuda would welcome the further development of investment and business ties with the Dominican Republic, and pointed out that island would serve as an excellent platform for trade reach into OECS and CARICOM markets.

Browne was one of only three heads of government from the English-speaking Caribbean that came for the regional meeting. The others were President Charles Savarin of Dominica and Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Michael Holness. 

Browne also mentioned the possibility of exploring bilateral cooperation in the area of health-care, given that the Dominican Republic possesses expertise and high-level medical facilities that can be utilized by Antiguans seeking medical treatment abroad.

http://antiguaobserver.com/dominica...h-diplomatic-presence-in-antigua-and-barbuda/


President visits farmers in the East
On Sunday, 29 January 2017, Danilo Medina visited the provinces of Hato Mayor and La Romana, where he met hog farmers and cattle ranchers as well as crop farmers to discuss ways to strengthen the agricultural sector in the region.

The visit began in Los Hatillos, Hato Mayor, where the President and his team met with farmers and community representatives. The farmers asked for financing to build a dairy processing plant to increase the value of the milk produced, along with other ideas. The President responded by appointing a committee to visit later in the week and evaluate the financial terms for the construction of the proposed project. 

In Cumayasa, La Romana, Medina met with the Cumayasa Hog Farmers’Association (Asoporcum) and offered them help to build a building for 100 pig farmers, which would increase profits and generate more employment in the area. During the visit, President Medina gave the farmers 200 high quality female goats, to improve herd quality. He reiterated the importance of repaying the loans that he offered them. 

http://hoy.com.do/presidente-medina-visita-productores-hato-mayor-la-romana/


President congratulates Licey Tigers
Via his Twitter account, President Danilo Medina congratulated the Licey Tigers for winning the Dominican Baseball League championship against the Aguilas Cibaeñas.  The President wished Licey the best of luck in the Caribbean Series that follows.

He also congratulated the Aguilas from the Cibao on their effort and for being great competitors.
The Tigres del Licey defeated the Aguilas where it hurt the most, in their home stadium, the Estadio Cibao in Santiago. The series went to the maximum nine games and ended on Sunday, 29 January 2017, when Licey defeated the Aguilas, 6-2. Outfielder Emilio Bonifacio sparked Licey’s victory with a bases clearing double in the sixth inning that drove in three runs. Other key players in the game for Licey were Sergio Alcántara who went 4-4 and was drove in two runs.  Licey’s starting pitcher César Valdez, gave the Tigers five strong no-run and only two-hits innings. 

President Danilo Medina announced he would receive the winning team at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday, 31 January 2017 in the morning. The capital city champs have now won 22 Dominican Winter Baseball Championships, the most in the country. The team will travel in the afternoon to Mexico to compete in the Caribbean Series from 1-7 February 2017. 

Several players from other teams will be joining the Licey in the Caribbean Series. These are Leyry García, Zoilo Almonte, Ronny Rodriguez and Edgar García, and Bryan Evans, Ulises Joaquín and Juan Grullon from the Gigantes, Estrellas and Aguilas Cibaeñas. 

The Caribbean Series matches teams from Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.

Read the details of the game at: http://www.lidom.com/home/tigres-campeones-valdez-electo-mvp/

http://www.listindiario.com/el-depo...e-conquisten-la-corona-en-la-serie-del-caribe


Central Bank highlights poverty is decreasing
The National Workforce Survey, underwritten by the Central Bank, revealed that the level of poverty in the Dominican Republic has decreased from 42.2% in September 2012 to 30% in September 2016. This means that 1,072,400 more Dominicans are now above the poverty line.

The results were presented by the Central Bank Governor Hector Valdez Albizu. He highlighted that the country was going in the right direction with the economy continuing to grow in a sustained manner, low levels of inflation and a robust generation of employment.

Hector Valdez Albizu also said that inflation closed the year of 2016 at 1.7% that is the second lowest level over the last 33 years. 

http://almomento.net/gobierno-mas-de-un-millon-salio-de-la-pobreza-bajo-de-un-42-2-al-30-0/284751


Check online before buying a used phone 
The president of the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel) José del Castillo Saviñón announced that as of 15 February 2017 cell phone users will have access to an online service to verify if a cell phone has been stolen. Del Castillo predicts the new service will reduce the number of cell phone robberies. Del Castillo also announced that as part of the Digital Republic Program, Wi-Fi will be free at 5,200 public schools. 

http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...dra-saber-traves-internet-celular-robado.html


No delay on moving people out of Valle Nuevo
On Friday, 27 January 2017 the Superior Administrative Court (TSA) ruled in favor of the Ministry of the Environment in rejecting the provisional suspension of the resolution to remove within 120 days any people still working or living in the Juan Bautista Perez Rancier National Park (Valle Nuevo) in La Vega. The deadline for leaving the area expired on Sunday, 29 January. 

TSA president Rafael Vasquez Goico rejected the appeal that was filed by the businesses of Granja Mora, Flores Purama and Flores Antillana that have maintained farm operations in the protected area of Valle Nuevo. 

Following the ruling the lawyer for the appellants, Manuel Fermin Cabral said that they would continue to explore legal actions. 

Several farmers in Valle Nuevo National Park had given notice to authorities that they will not leave on Sunday and also said that military personnel were stopping them from taking equipment and supplies to their farms.  In addition, around 300 undocumented Haitian workers in the area of Valle Nuevo have been rounded up by Migration and military authorities. 

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Francisco Dominguez Brito went to several communities in Valle Nuevo and said that the land belonged to all Dominicans and had to be looked after. He said that they are offering support for the development of greenhouse projects but reiterated that all farming and activities had to be carried out outside the area of the park.

The Ministry has given farmers 15-20 days to complete their harvests. 

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...tse-rechaza-suspender-desalojo-de-valle-nuevo
http://elnacional.com.do/tsa-rechaza-medida-cautelar-empresarios/
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...-para-concluir-cosechas-valle-nuevo-HJ6128966


Guzmán family pleas for their land in Valle Nuevo
The Guzmán family, owners of around 140,000 tareas (1 tarea = 629 square meters) of land in the protected area of Valle Nuevo, has issued a video in which they confirm they hold title to the land and highlight their conservation work in the area. José Delio Guzmán appears in the video and confirms he has sent communications to Environment Minister Francisco Dominguez Brito but has received no reply.

The family shows the title deeds to the property dated 1956, that is before the area was declared to be protected in 1961, in response to the statement by Domínguez Brito that he doubted titles existed. Guzman stated that 99.9% of their land was being used for important conservation projects with only a tiny amount being used for agriculture. Guzmán asked the Minister to stop talking at his family through the media and urged that the Ministry and Guzmán family work together towards the conservation of the park.

He went on to say that there were two projects waiting for approval from the Ministry --  building a nursery for reforestation using private funds and a business plan for the Valle Nuevo National park that offers an alternative to agriculture.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2017/01/28/familia-guzman-aclara-sobre-terrenos-propiedad-valle-nuevo#


Stop to agriculture in Valle Nuevo
The Ministry of the Environment has installed checkpoints in the different access points of Valle Nuevo to ban workers access to the protected area. Likewise, the dismantling of irrigation systems piping water to farms has begun. The prohibition of farming activities in the Valle Nuevo was upheld following the end of the timeframe imposed by the Ministry.  

Nevertheless, a group of 70 people lead by Roman Catholic priest Rogelio Cruz has entered the area to begin planting of potatoes in the community of Castillo.  Interestingly, father Rogelio Cruz is the same priest who in 2014 campaigned to impede commercial activity in the mountainous area of Loma Miranda, urging that the government declare the area a national park. This time around, he is actually encouraging activities (such as farming) that impact the environment in an area that has been already declared national park. 

Deputy Minister of the Environment Dannerys Santana, who is in charge of protected areas for the Ministry of Environment, explained that from now on, access for farming activities in the protected area is banned. These protected areas include:  Rio Grande, La Siberia, Pinalito, Las Espinas, Malagueta and Valle Nuevo that are located in the provinces of La Vega, Monseñor Nouel, Ocoa and Azua. 

Santana explains that the great majority of the farmers in the area affected have harvested their crops, apart from those who need a few days more, especially for the harvesting of carrots.

He confirmed that no one would be arrested nor would they be relocating anyone. He estimated there were only 40 families living inside the protected area, as most of the workers are housed outside the national park. On the other hand, a representative of the landowners, Leonidas Aquino, said there were more than 300 farmers who lived in the area of the park that would go hungry if not allowed to farm. Santana also said that Minister Francisco Dominguez Brito had spoken to the famers to explain the policy, but admitted that the Ministry has yet to identify where the farmers will be relocated.  Dominguez Brito had offered them a salary of RD$7,000 a month and health insurance to stop farming and be appointed as rangers.  However, most farmers said that the monthly compensation offered by the Ministry was not enough money to live on.

http://eldia.com.do/medio-ambiente-pone-seguridad-en-puntos-de-acceso-valle-nuevo/
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...sobediencia-cvica-por-loma-miranda-LIDL774861
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...s-infraestructuras-agricolas-valle-nuevo.html


More people to be relocated from national parks
Environment Minister Francisco Domínguez Brito has announced that in February 2017 all of the families living on land in the parks of Sierra de Bahoruco and Los Haitises will be moved.

He said the measures are to preserve the national parks and their water resources. Domínguez Brito added that many of the underground water sources which come from Los Haitises and that fill the wells for cattle raising and agriculture are drying up and therefore the deterioration of the area’s natural resources needs to be reversed.

He went on to say that the rescue of forests, hydrographic resources and protected areas is a priority for the administration of President Danilo Medina. 

He warned that seawater was now penetrating the underground rivers in Los Haitises. This means the wells may fill with salt water rather than fresh water if the present situation is not corrected.

http://almomento.net/dominguez-brit...ises-podria-dejar-region-este-sin-agua/284890


Police to receive pay raise
According to the Minister of Hacienda Donald Guerrero Ortiz, police will be receiving a salary increase beginning in February 2017, backdated to the beginning of the year.

In a press release, he assured that the police officers can have full confidence in the government and President Danilo Medina. The release highlights that the police is a priority and that public sector salaries should be increased. 

Guerrero said the President will soon be announcing a package of measures to improve working and living conditions for police officers.

The police had demanded a minimum salary of RD$25,000 for a private, increasing by five thousand pesos each rank with majors receiving RD$25,000 more than they do at the moment. They also asked for better working conditions, including paid holidays and an eight-hour working day, along with other requests.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...nda-promete-a-la-pn-aumento-sueldo-en-febrero


Dominican Republic only country with no Odebrecht arrests
Unlike all of the other countries involved in the Odebrecht bribery scandal, ongoing investigations of Odebrecht-led projects in the country have not led to any prosecutions to date.  Odebrecht officials have admitted that bribes were paid in the Dominican Republic related to construction projects. 

So far the only person known to be implicated in the scandal is businessman Angel Rondon, who supposedly initially received the money, but has insisted that the payment he received from Odebrecht was for services rendered. However, Odebrecht representatives have given a different account of Rondon’s role in the scandal. 

According to the Law 448-06 on Bribery, a person who is found to have accepted a bribe will be punished by three to ten years in jail with a fine of double the amount of the bribe. 

However, the first phase of the investigation has ended, with no announcements of formal charges being filed against individuals. Local press has covered the cases of arrests carried out in other countries where Odebrecht has done business, such as Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Panama and Guatemala. 

In Brazil, the former executive president Odebrecht, Marcelo Odebrecht, is serving 19 years and four months in jail, and former treasury Minister Antonio Palocci is under arrest.

In Venezuela, the first person to be accused is being sought by local police and Interpol in connection with the bribes although his identity is not known. In Peru, former government official, Edwin Luyo is currently serving 18 months in jail on remand. Also under arrest is government official Miguel Navarro and the former vice minister of Communications Jorge Cuba who has been sentenced to remand in jail for 18 months, although he fled from the country at the end of last year and is currently being sought by authorities.

In Colombia, the former deputy minister of Transport, Gabriel Garcia Morales is currently in jail having admitted to accepting bribes.  While in Panama, 17 former government officials are to face formal charges including the sons of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli; Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares; along with his brother Mario Martinelli.

http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...-tiene-apresados-por-caso-odebrecht-NY6111906


Malecón flea market continues
Diario Libre reported that despite the announcement by Mayor of Santo Domingo West Francisco Peña that the city flea market would no longer take place at its present location, vendors showed up for sales as usual on Sunday, 29 January 2017. The market takes place at the intersection of the Malecon, Carretera Sánchez and Av. Luperón and in recent years has burgeoned to affect the flow of traffic in the area. 

Merchants operating in the area also complain of the unfair competition because the vendors operate on a cash basis and do not pay taxes nor have the usual costs of regular business. 

As reported in Dairio Libre, a representative of the vendors said that they agreed with the city councilors to present a project for the improvement of traffic in the area and that would limit the market area. 


Sal García in costume dress turns heads
Miss Dominican Republic Sal García did not get into the top 13 in the Miss Universe competition, but the national dress designed by Leonel Lirio did manage to get a lot of international press. The Telegraph of the UK included the costume that recreated a Cándido Bidó painting in its list of one of the most outlandish costumes so far in the Miss Universe competition. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/li...erse-candidate-dominican-republic-sal-garcia/
http://news.abs-cbn.com/life/01/26/...how-tests-miss-universe-bets-poise-creativity


Dominican prostitutes protest unfair competition from Venezuelans
The president of the Movement of United Women (Modemu), Jacqueline Montero, complained of the increasing arrival of Venezuelan sex workers who she says operate for lower rates than the Dominicans. Montero said she has received complaints from associates working near the Malecón of Santo Domingo that the Venezuelans are known to accept discounts of up to RD$2,500 on the RD$3,000 rate charged by Dominicans. “The Venezuelans have invaded the market,” she says. She complained that the Venezuelans have lovely hair, are elegant, and well prepared and they now are discounting the rates.  Montero urged the Venezuelans to not discount the rates. Montero said that the Venezuelans have contacts in the eastern tourism areas that bring the clients to the city. 

While speaking as president of the sexual workers group, Montero is also a deputy in the Chamber of Deputies. She represents San Cristóbal province for the PRM. 

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2017/01/27/venezolanas-desplazan-criollas-mercado-sexual


Jail on remand for Puerto Plata businessmen accused of fraud
Puerto Plata judge Maria Emelinda Estevez has handed down a sentence of one year in preventive custody for businessman Juan Carlos Morales Capella, his wife, Lourdes Plá and his son Juan Carlos Morales Plá.

All are accused of committing serious violations of the Monetary and Finance Law. 

Representatives of the Public Prosecution service raided the offices of Financiera Morales Comercial in Puerto Plata where they arrested the executives, accused of fraud.  The authorities confiscated files and materials that will be studied as potential evidence against the family, who are accused of fraud against those depositing in their financial intermediary.

http://elnacional.com.do/un-ano-de-prision-preventiva-a-dueno-de-financiera-morales-comercial-en-pp/


Police kill general’s killers
The police shot and killed during a clash the two men who are suspected of involvement in the deadly armed robbery of the cardiologist and retired General Jose Francisco de Jesus Minervino Toribio. Toribio was shot and killed while exercising near his apartment in Santo Domingo East, on 28 January 2017.

The deceased were identified as 22-year old Jhondely Santiago Peña Romero, aka John, Fuma and or Bolo, and the other only known as “Chiquito”, aged between 20 and 25.

It is not known where the shooting took place, but the police says both of the deceased were armed, and in police files with arrest records for previous homicides.

A third man, who was with “Bolo” and “Chiquito” sped away on a motorcycle, is being sought by the police. 

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...eguidos-por-la-muerte-de-un-cardiologo-en-sde


Johnny Ventura sings boleros
Legendary merengue singer Johnny Ventura is booked for a performance at the Escenario 360 events hall of the Galeria 360 shopping mall. “Solo Boleros” is the name of the romantic songs concert set for Friday and Saturday, 3-4 February 2017. The 76-year old Ventura is making a selection of popular romantic songs from his 60-year career. 

Among the songs are classics such as: "Cuando estoy contigo", "Resumen", "Dilema", "Poquita fe", "Nada de ti", "Flor de pantano", and his extensive repertoire of ballads and boleros. Tickets are RD$4,000 and include open bar of premium spirits and snacks. To book online, go to Ticketsexpress.com.do

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


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