President Medina issues reforestation call
RD$805 million for politics
Haiti and DR customs agencies reach working agreement
Civil Code still being discussed
Attorney General continues with Odebrecht interviews
New vaccination for girls
Suspended judge’s request to interrogate witnesses denied
Green March in Santiago
Delcy Yapor’s widow calls her death a double tragedy
Green alert due to heavy rains
Classical dances of India at Palacio de Bellas Artes
President Medina issues reforestation call
President Danilo Medina issued an impassioned plea for the Dominican people to support reforestation during a speech in which he highlighted the importance of forests on occasion of International Day of Forests.
On Tuesday 21 March 2017, the President encouraged the public to become more aware of the importance of protecting Dominican ecosystems. Medina said it that we must conserve our forest resources and time is of the essence.
To mark the United Nations’ International Day of Forests, Medina visited Hondo Valle in Elías Piña on the border with Haiti where he participated in a symbolic tree-planting day together with Environment Minister Francisco Dominguez Brito.
http://www.diariolibre.com/medioambiente/dm-va-a-hondo-valle-a-siembra-de-arboles-NX6624618
http://www.un.org/en/events/forestsday/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NgzZ2-_YCQ
RD$805 million for politics
The Central Electoral Board (JCE) announced the distributing in 2017 of RD$805 million to political parties as approved by the plenary of the JCE on 21 March 2017. The Electoral Law establishes that 80% of the total or RD$644 million will be paid in equal parts to the political parties that received more than 5% of the valid votes cast in the 2016 general election.
The remaining 20% or RD$161 million will be distributed: RD$96 million, or 12%, in equal parts to political parties that obtained less than 5% of the valid votes in the past election; political parties and political movements that maintained their recognized status and newly recognized political parties or movements.
Another RD$64 million, or 8% will be distributed in the proportion of valid votes obtained by each of the political parties that received less than 5% of the valid votes in the 2016 election.
The JCE validated that the total of votes cast in the presidential, legislative and municipal be used to determine the standing of the political parties (Resolution 02-17).
Haiti and DR customs agencies reach working agreement
The directors of the customs agencies of the Dominican Republic and Haiti signed an information exchange protocol that would be applicable for trade over the border. Victor Hugo Saint Louis, signed for Haiti and Enrique Ramírez for the Dominican Republic. The agreement seeks to create mechanisms to reduce contraband and tax evasion at the border while facilitating legitimate commerce between the two countries. At the same time, the government officials had participated in the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee for the implementation of the Customs Cooperation Agreement.
The signing follows up on the memorandum of understanding to this end, signed by both customs agencies directors on 20 October 2016, which was based on a previous memorandum of understanding that was signed in February 2014.
Haiti is the second largest trade partner of the Dominican Republic, only behind the United States. Trade with Haiti is estimated at more than US$1 billion a year.
Also participating in the meeting for the DGA were technical deputy directors Gabino Polanco, William Espinosa of Operations, Jose Guillermo Quiñones, legal advisor; Patria Matos Paulino, technical coordinator and Lisbeth Carrasco, of economic studies. For Haiti, the participants were: Reynald Eugene, general deputy director; Gaston Sylvestre, secretary general; Jn. Marie Réginal Timmer, rulings director; Jeantal Clairvil, director of the programming unit; Marie Florence P. Alouidor, deputy director of the Central Office and Jean Ronald Benjamin, deputy director of the Sidonia customs automation system in Haiti.
Civil Code still being discussed
On Tuesday, 21 March 2017, the Chamber of Deputies began the reading of a bill that would recognize that spouses in free unions have the same rights as marriages carried out by a civil judge or in a church. The amendment would be incorporated in the Civil Code of the Dominican Republic.
The amendments establish the right to a private life, the right to an opinion and the right to physical integrity for both spouses. It also stipulates that children born outside wedlock have the right to inherit, and includes the protection against spousal violence and mutual reparation between spouses.
The Civil Code has 2,500 articles in 379 pages. The amendments would incorporate around 300 new articles.
The bill has been reviewed in the National Congress on four previous times since 1997 during the first term in office of President Leonel Fernandez. At the time, Fernandez appointed a commission of judges to study the proposal and make recommendations.
The reviewing of the Civil Code has involved more than 1,000 hours of work of various commissions and legal authorities designated by presidents of both legislative chambers.
The code proposes that canonic marriage be equal to civil, and that non-Catholic religious marriages will also be officially recognized. In addition, it establishes that marriage should only be between a man and a woman as stipulated in the 2015 Constitution.
The Civil Code also includes the rights and duties of spouses based on the constitutional principle of equality.
http://elnacional.com.do/diputados-inician-lectura-a-reforma-codigo-civil/
Attorney General continues with Odebrecht interviews
On Tuesday, 21 March, 2017, the Attorney General Jean-Alain Rodríguez, interviewed the senator of the Dominican Liberation Party for San Cristobal, Tommy Galán, at 10:30am. Joining the interview was the Prosecutor for the Persecution of Administration Corruption (Pepca), Laura Guerrero and the interview was about the approval of international loans used in the works constructed by Odebrecht.
The interview took place following the comments by Senate president, Reinaldo Pared Perez, who said that those senators who formed part of the Treasury Committee who processed or otherwise worked in some form or fashion on the loans should be interviewed. It is expected that more senators and deputies will be interviewed.
Also interviewed recently have been ex-presidents of the Senate, Andres Bautista and Jesus Vasquez (Chu), and the ex-president of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco. In addition the local manager of Odebrecht, Marcelo Hofke, and businessman Angel Rondón, the commercial representative of Odebrecht who was identified by Odebrecht as the person who received US$92 million that is also the amount the Brazilian construction company has admitted to have paid in bribes to Dominican officers.
Other interviewees were attorney Conrado Pittaluga who managed Odebrecht accounts and Leonardo Guzman, son-in-law of former Minister of Public Works Víctor Díaz Rua.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...terroga-a-tommy-galan-sobre-el-caso-odebrecht
New vaccination for girls
The vaccination against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) that protects against uterine cancer, will be given to all girls between the ages of 9 and 10, as part of a health program coordinated by the ministries of Public Health and Education. The target population for the vaccine is estimated to be around 190,000 girls.
The vaccines will be applied from 22-29 April 2017, to coincide with the World Immunization Week sponsored by the World Health Organization (24-30 April 2017). In the Dominican Republic, there are approximately 1,600 cases of cervical cancer per year and up to 500 women have died from this disease.
Doctors Mercedes Rodriguez and José Manuel Puello, of the Ministry of Public Health’s Collective Health division and Cristina Rodríguez, from the Ministry of Education are coordinating the effort. The Ministry of Education has invested RD$100 million for the first dose of the vaccine.
The vaccine will be given to the children at public schools and private schools, following parental approval. Thereafter, the vaccine will be available as part of the national vaccination program for nine year-old girls.
The Ministry of Public Health provides 14 free vaccinations to children in the Dominican Republic under the Extended Program for Immunizations (PAI) directed by Doctor Zacarías Garib.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...-el-virus-del-papiloma-humano-en-las-escuelas
http://www.who.int/campaigns/immunization-week/2017/event/en/
Suspended judge’s request to interrogate witnesses denied
Suspended Judge Awilda Reyes Beltré has asked to call the president of the Supreme Court of Justice, Mariano Germán, and former Attorney General Francisco Domínguez Brito as witnesses in the disciplinary hearing against her. She says these individuals should explain the circumstances of money they said she allegedly received. The Judicial Branch has rejected this request and another two related requests from Reyes Beltré.
As a result, Reyes Beltré decided to relieve her defense lawyer, Harold Echavarria, of his duties and appointed another lawyer for the hearing on Wednesday 22 March 2017, when the case continues.
The prosecution concluded that neither Germán nor Domínguez Brito had anything to do with the case and suggested it was a delaying tactic on the part of Reyes Beltré. Reyes Beltré strongly objected to this argument, reminding the court German had said at a press conference that she returned a supposed bribe that he had taken to the Attorney General. Therefore, she demanded that they testify, as both had spoken about her to the media. She wanted these justice officials to disclose the source of the money was which she had supposedly given to them.
http://hoy.com.do/awilda-insiste-pr...uez-brito-busquen-dinero-de-supuesto-soborno/
Green March in Santiago
Organizers of the Green March have announced yet another protest march, this time in Santiago for next Sunday, 26 March 2017. The march is being organized to protest repeated cases of corruption and impunity linked to the Odebrecht bribe scandal.
The organizers said that they wish to demonstrate to the government of President Danilo Medina that the public has had enough of the Odebrecht scandal. Odebrecht has built over 20 major infrastructure works in the country.
The route for the Green march will start where the ring road meets Hermanas Mirabel and then will take the route to Antonio Guzmán Fernández Avenue, ending at the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration of the Republic, the traditional main gathering point in Santiago.
The Santiago march follows other previous marches held since the movement began in December 2017, including those in Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, and San Francisco de Macoris.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...erde-en-santiago-el-proximo-domingo-YF6632537
Delcy Yapor’s widow calls her death a double tragedy
The death of 55-year old Delcy Miguelina Yapor Acosta, who died of a bullet wound while driving her van on Monday, 20 March 2017, has not only affected her family but also that of the man who shot her by accident.
The family of Yapor received the sympathies from the family of Franklin Padilla Nunez, who accidently shot Yapor while aiming at two people on a motorcycle who had just robbed a woman of her handbag. They have acknowledged that Padilla, a former air force officer, was trying to be a good citizen and detain two supposed criminals.
Yapor received the mortal wound when doing her morning job of taking children to school. At the time of her death, two children were in the van on their way to school. Yapor was a mother of four daughters.
Her widow, Leandro Acosta, in a mass held at the Buen Pastor Church, called for citizens not to use deadly force to try to stop a crime. “Those of us who are not part of the police should not get involved, because now we see the tragic consequences of taking such action,” said Acosta with resignation. He said that when society fails in delivering justice, the people want to take justice into their own hands, and an almost animal-like instinct comes forth. He observed that everyone wants to go around with a gun to catch a thief and eliminate him,” lamented Acosta who said the country is facing a critical moment.
http://hoy.com.do/el-abrazo-de-la-f...ntes-del-exraso-mato-accidentalmente-a-delcy/
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...e-que-muerte-obliga-sociedad-reflexionar.html
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...-ciudadanos-no-tomar-la-justicia-en-sus-manos
Green alert due to heavy rains
The Center for Emergency Operations (COE) has declared five provinces under green alert for flooding and mudslides due to the heavy rains. These are Dajabon, Puerto Plata, Espaillat, Santiago, La Vega and Monseñor Nouel. The COE is calling residents in the areas of high risk to take the necessary precautions.
http://hoy.com.do/coe-declara-alerta-verde-para-cinco-provincias-por-inundaciones/
Classical dances of India at Palacio de Bellas Artes
The Embassy of India, the Honorary Consulate of India, the India Council for Cutlural Relations and the Ministry of Culture of the Dominican Republic are sponsoring an evening of classic dances of India at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. The performers are Shovana Narayan and the Kathak group of narrators. The performance will be on Tuesday, 28 March 2017 at 8pm at the Palacio de Bellas Artes.
Shovana Narayan is described in Wikipedia as one of the best Kathak choreographers and dancers in the world. In India she is regarded as a pioneer and a role model in successfully combining a full-fledged career as a senior serving civil servant in the Government of India with dance and choreography.
Shovana Narayan has been conferred with numerous awards including the Padmashri Award for excellence and outstanding contribution to dance in 1992 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 1999. In addition, she has also been awarded with Rajiv Gandhi Puraskar, Indira Priyadarshini Samman, and Rotary International Award and Japan's Oisca Award.
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
RD$805 million for politics
Haiti and DR customs agencies reach working agreement
Civil Code still being discussed
Attorney General continues with Odebrecht interviews
New vaccination for girls
Suspended judge’s request to interrogate witnesses denied
Green March in Santiago
Delcy Yapor’s widow calls her death a double tragedy
Green alert due to heavy rains
Classical dances of India at Palacio de Bellas Artes
President Medina issues reforestation call
President Danilo Medina issued an impassioned plea for the Dominican people to support reforestation during a speech in which he highlighted the importance of forests on occasion of International Day of Forests.
On Tuesday 21 March 2017, the President encouraged the public to become more aware of the importance of protecting Dominican ecosystems. Medina said it that we must conserve our forest resources and time is of the essence.
To mark the United Nations’ International Day of Forests, Medina visited Hondo Valle in Elías Piña on the border with Haiti where he participated in a symbolic tree-planting day together with Environment Minister Francisco Dominguez Brito.
http://www.diariolibre.com/medioambiente/dm-va-a-hondo-valle-a-siembra-de-arboles-NX6624618
http://www.un.org/en/events/forestsday/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NgzZ2-_YCQ
RD$805 million for politics
The Central Electoral Board (JCE) announced the distributing in 2017 of RD$805 million to political parties as approved by the plenary of the JCE on 21 March 2017. The Electoral Law establishes that 80% of the total or RD$644 million will be paid in equal parts to the political parties that received more than 5% of the valid votes cast in the 2016 general election.
The remaining 20% or RD$161 million will be distributed: RD$96 million, or 12%, in equal parts to political parties that obtained less than 5% of the valid votes in the past election; political parties and political movements that maintained their recognized status and newly recognized political parties or movements.
Another RD$64 million, or 8% will be distributed in the proportion of valid votes obtained by each of the political parties that received less than 5% of the valid votes in the 2016 election.
The JCE validated that the total of votes cast in the presidential, legislative and municipal be used to determine the standing of the political parties (Resolution 02-17).
Haiti and DR customs agencies reach working agreement
The directors of the customs agencies of the Dominican Republic and Haiti signed an information exchange protocol that would be applicable for trade over the border. Victor Hugo Saint Louis, signed for Haiti and Enrique Ramírez for the Dominican Republic. The agreement seeks to create mechanisms to reduce contraband and tax evasion at the border while facilitating legitimate commerce between the two countries. At the same time, the government officials had participated in the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee for the implementation of the Customs Cooperation Agreement.
The signing follows up on the memorandum of understanding to this end, signed by both customs agencies directors on 20 October 2016, which was based on a previous memorandum of understanding that was signed in February 2014.
Haiti is the second largest trade partner of the Dominican Republic, only behind the United States. Trade with Haiti is estimated at more than US$1 billion a year.
Also participating in the meeting for the DGA were technical deputy directors Gabino Polanco, William Espinosa of Operations, Jose Guillermo Quiñones, legal advisor; Patria Matos Paulino, technical coordinator and Lisbeth Carrasco, of economic studies. For Haiti, the participants were: Reynald Eugene, general deputy director; Gaston Sylvestre, secretary general; Jn. Marie Réginal Timmer, rulings director; Jeantal Clairvil, director of the programming unit; Marie Florence P. Alouidor, deputy director of the Central Office and Jean Ronald Benjamin, deputy director of the Sidonia customs automation system in Haiti.
Civil Code still being discussed
On Tuesday, 21 March 2017, the Chamber of Deputies began the reading of a bill that would recognize that spouses in free unions have the same rights as marriages carried out by a civil judge or in a church. The amendment would be incorporated in the Civil Code of the Dominican Republic.
The amendments establish the right to a private life, the right to an opinion and the right to physical integrity for both spouses. It also stipulates that children born outside wedlock have the right to inherit, and includes the protection against spousal violence and mutual reparation between spouses.
The Civil Code has 2,500 articles in 379 pages. The amendments would incorporate around 300 new articles.
The bill has been reviewed in the National Congress on four previous times since 1997 during the first term in office of President Leonel Fernandez. At the time, Fernandez appointed a commission of judges to study the proposal and make recommendations.
The reviewing of the Civil Code has involved more than 1,000 hours of work of various commissions and legal authorities designated by presidents of both legislative chambers.
The code proposes that canonic marriage be equal to civil, and that non-Catholic religious marriages will also be officially recognized. In addition, it establishes that marriage should only be between a man and a woman as stipulated in the 2015 Constitution.
The Civil Code also includes the rights and duties of spouses based on the constitutional principle of equality.
http://elnacional.com.do/diputados-inician-lectura-a-reforma-codigo-civil/
Attorney General continues with Odebrecht interviews
On Tuesday, 21 March, 2017, the Attorney General Jean-Alain Rodríguez, interviewed the senator of the Dominican Liberation Party for San Cristobal, Tommy Galán, at 10:30am. Joining the interview was the Prosecutor for the Persecution of Administration Corruption (Pepca), Laura Guerrero and the interview was about the approval of international loans used in the works constructed by Odebrecht.
The interview took place following the comments by Senate president, Reinaldo Pared Perez, who said that those senators who formed part of the Treasury Committee who processed or otherwise worked in some form or fashion on the loans should be interviewed. It is expected that more senators and deputies will be interviewed.
Also interviewed recently have been ex-presidents of the Senate, Andres Bautista and Jesus Vasquez (Chu), and the ex-president of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco. In addition the local manager of Odebrecht, Marcelo Hofke, and businessman Angel Rondón, the commercial representative of Odebrecht who was identified by Odebrecht as the person who received US$92 million that is also the amount the Brazilian construction company has admitted to have paid in bribes to Dominican officers.
Other interviewees were attorney Conrado Pittaluga who managed Odebrecht accounts and Leonardo Guzman, son-in-law of former Minister of Public Works Víctor Díaz Rua.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...terroga-a-tommy-galan-sobre-el-caso-odebrecht
New vaccination for girls
The vaccination against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) that protects against uterine cancer, will be given to all girls between the ages of 9 and 10, as part of a health program coordinated by the ministries of Public Health and Education. The target population for the vaccine is estimated to be around 190,000 girls.
The vaccines will be applied from 22-29 April 2017, to coincide with the World Immunization Week sponsored by the World Health Organization (24-30 April 2017). In the Dominican Republic, there are approximately 1,600 cases of cervical cancer per year and up to 500 women have died from this disease.
Doctors Mercedes Rodriguez and José Manuel Puello, of the Ministry of Public Health’s Collective Health division and Cristina Rodríguez, from the Ministry of Education are coordinating the effort. The Ministry of Education has invested RD$100 million for the first dose of the vaccine.
The vaccine will be given to the children at public schools and private schools, following parental approval. Thereafter, the vaccine will be available as part of the national vaccination program for nine year-old girls.
The Ministry of Public Health provides 14 free vaccinations to children in the Dominican Republic under the Extended Program for Immunizations (PAI) directed by Doctor Zacarías Garib.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...-el-virus-del-papiloma-humano-en-las-escuelas
http://www.who.int/campaigns/immunization-week/2017/event/en/
Suspended judge’s request to interrogate witnesses denied
Suspended Judge Awilda Reyes Beltré has asked to call the president of the Supreme Court of Justice, Mariano Germán, and former Attorney General Francisco Domínguez Brito as witnesses in the disciplinary hearing against her. She says these individuals should explain the circumstances of money they said she allegedly received. The Judicial Branch has rejected this request and another two related requests from Reyes Beltré.
As a result, Reyes Beltré decided to relieve her defense lawyer, Harold Echavarria, of his duties and appointed another lawyer for the hearing on Wednesday 22 March 2017, when the case continues.
The prosecution concluded that neither Germán nor Domínguez Brito had anything to do with the case and suggested it was a delaying tactic on the part of Reyes Beltré. Reyes Beltré strongly objected to this argument, reminding the court German had said at a press conference that she returned a supposed bribe that he had taken to the Attorney General. Therefore, she demanded that they testify, as both had spoken about her to the media. She wanted these justice officials to disclose the source of the money was which she had supposedly given to them.
http://hoy.com.do/awilda-insiste-pr...uez-brito-busquen-dinero-de-supuesto-soborno/
Green March in Santiago
Organizers of the Green March have announced yet another protest march, this time in Santiago for next Sunday, 26 March 2017. The march is being organized to protest repeated cases of corruption and impunity linked to the Odebrecht bribe scandal.
The organizers said that they wish to demonstrate to the government of President Danilo Medina that the public has had enough of the Odebrecht scandal. Odebrecht has built over 20 major infrastructure works in the country.
The route for the Green march will start where the ring road meets Hermanas Mirabel and then will take the route to Antonio Guzmán Fernández Avenue, ending at the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration of the Republic, the traditional main gathering point in Santiago.
The Santiago march follows other previous marches held since the movement began in December 2017, including those in Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, and San Francisco de Macoris.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...erde-en-santiago-el-proximo-domingo-YF6632537
Delcy Yapor’s widow calls her death a double tragedy
The death of 55-year old Delcy Miguelina Yapor Acosta, who died of a bullet wound while driving her van on Monday, 20 March 2017, has not only affected her family but also that of the man who shot her by accident.
The family of Yapor received the sympathies from the family of Franklin Padilla Nunez, who accidently shot Yapor while aiming at two people on a motorcycle who had just robbed a woman of her handbag. They have acknowledged that Padilla, a former air force officer, was trying to be a good citizen and detain two supposed criminals.
Yapor received the mortal wound when doing her morning job of taking children to school. At the time of her death, two children were in the van on their way to school. Yapor was a mother of four daughters.
Her widow, Leandro Acosta, in a mass held at the Buen Pastor Church, called for citizens not to use deadly force to try to stop a crime. “Those of us who are not part of the police should not get involved, because now we see the tragic consequences of taking such action,” said Acosta with resignation. He said that when society fails in delivering justice, the people want to take justice into their own hands, and an almost animal-like instinct comes forth. He observed that everyone wants to go around with a gun to catch a thief and eliminate him,” lamented Acosta who said the country is facing a critical moment.
http://hoy.com.do/el-abrazo-de-la-f...ntes-del-exraso-mato-accidentalmente-a-delcy/
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...e-que-muerte-obliga-sociedad-reflexionar.html
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...-ciudadanos-no-tomar-la-justicia-en-sus-manos
Green alert due to heavy rains
The Center for Emergency Operations (COE) has declared five provinces under green alert for flooding and mudslides due to the heavy rains. These are Dajabon, Puerto Plata, Espaillat, Santiago, La Vega and Monseñor Nouel. The COE is calling residents in the areas of high risk to take the necessary precautions.
http://hoy.com.do/coe-declara-alerta-verde-para-cinco-provincias-por-inundaciones/
Classical dances of India at Palacio de Bellas Artes
The Embassy of India, the Honorary Consulate of India, the India Council for Cutlural Relations and the Ministry of Culture of the Dominican Republic are sponsoring an evening of classic dances of India at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. The performers are Shovana Narayan and the Kathak group of narrators. The performance will be on Tuesday, 28 March 2017 at 8pm at the Palacio de Bellas Artes.
Shovana Narayan is described in Wikipedia as one of the best Kathak choreographers and dancers in the world. In India she is regarded as a pioneer and a role model in successfully combining a full-fledged career as a senior serving civil servant in the Government of India with dance and choreography.
Shovana Narayan has been conferred with numerous awards including the Padmashri Award for excellence and outstanding contribution to dance in 1992 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 1999. In addition, she has also been awarded with Rajiv Gandhi Puraskar, Indira Priyadarshini Samman, and Rotary International Award and Japan's Oisca Award.
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