DR1 Daily News - Friday, 26 May 2017

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May 3, 2000
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Chamber of Deputies in favor of eliminating child marriage
Loans make up fifth source of foreign exchange for Dominican government
Dominican Republic is inundated by betting shops
Acento alerts to forgery of Brazilian Odebrecht papers
Public Health advises on conjunctivitis
Judge rejects Christopher Naudin-Air Cocaine deal
The new profile of Dominican police
20,000 illegal Venezuelans in the Dominican Republic
Jacinto Gimbernard passes away
National Symphony Concert at National Congress esplanade



Chamber of Deputies in favor of eliminating child marriage
Responding to a campaign initiated by Plan InternacionalRD against child marriage in the Dominican Republic, the Commission of Justice of the Chamber of Deputies recommended eliminating Art. 146 and others from the 3,000-article Civil Code that is being revised in Congress. The article had allowed marriages of boys and girls under 18 years with the consent of the parents or a judge. The bill will be revised in the Tuesday, 30 May 2017 session.  

The Plan InternationalRD study indicated that one of five teenagers (ages 15 to 19) is married or living with a man 10 years older. 39% of men surveyed said they would prefer to marry or live with a child or a teenager. The men stated the teenagers or children were “more obedient.” 

Plan Internacional, the non-governmental organization, is lobbying for the elimination of child marriage after carrying out the study that revealed the impact the child marriages had on perpetuating poverty in the country. 

The director of Plan Internacional-RD, Aracelis de los Santos, has requested that the opposition PRM legislators become the spokespersons for the elimination of child marriages from the Civil Code of the Dominican Republic. The Civil Code allows child marriages with the consent of the minor’s parents. Plan InternacionalRd had stressed the violation of basic human rights and the perpetuating of poverty caused by the child unions.

Deputy Ginette Bournigal (PRM-Puerto Plata) called for the Roman Catholic and evangelical churches to raise their voices against child marriages. “I have not heard my Catholic church or the evangelical church speak out in defense of the girls. Where is the voice of our churches defending our girls? she stated. 

The president of the Chamber of Deputies Lucia Medina has said she is against the practice of marriages of minors in the country. 

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...a-diputados-para-eliminar-matrimonio-infantil
http://acento.com.do/2017/actualida...civil-las-excepciones-al-matrimonio-infantil/
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...usticia-el-informe-del-codigo-civil-DM7178746


Loans make up fifth source of foreign exchange for Dominican government
International loans are the fifth source of foreign exchange for the Dominican Republic. Enrique Pensón Brisindi of the Analytica financial research firm reports that taking on foreign loans follows remittances, free zone receipts, tourism receipts and direct foreign investment receipts. 

As reported in El Dinero online economic news service, Penson Brisindi said the government regularly resorts to injecting hard currency into the economy via internal loans in order to satisfy its debt obligations. 

At the close of the first quarter of 2017, the government injected US$1.3 billion in foreign loans, according to the Public Credit Agency (Dirección General de Crédito Público). At the same time, the Central Bank data reveal that national the value of exports reached US$1.06 billion, free zones revenues generated US$1.32 billion, tourism receipts were US$1.98 billion and remittances were valued at US$1.45 billion. 

Pensón warned that the widespread interest in supporting tax reform as a way to consolidate public finances in the medium and long term could lead to a reduction in the deficit that, in turn, could affect the exchange market.

This means, he explained, that to consolidate the public finances has to come accompanied with a reformulation of the Dominican economic model, with added initiatives to increase the country’s capacity to generate hard currency. 

He cautioned that solving fiscal problem could, in fact, create another fiscal crisis in the country. Penson said the Medina administration is dragging its feet in addressing important government priorities, given that fact that only the Education Pact has been signed, while there have been delays in the completion of the Electricity and Fiscal Pacts that were key components of the National Development Strategy Law 1-12 (END). 

Foreign debt in the Dominican Republic has reached US$9,169.8 million, or 12.3% of the GDP. Of the total, US$2,799.2 million (3.8% of the GDP) is intragovernmental debt, which is defined as debt contracted by one institution of the government with another. 

Furthermore, the Ministry of Finance data indicate that as of 31 March 2017, the Non-Financial Public Sector Debt had reached US$27,659.6 million, or 37.2% of the GDP. This is made up of 66.8% of foreign debt, or US$18,489.8 million, with 33.2% being domestic debt. 

https://www.eldinero.com.do/41960/emision-de-deuda-es-quinta-fuente-de-ingresos-de-divisas-para-rd/


Ambassadors to El Salvador and Russia named
President Danilo Medina announced the appointment of Fernando Pérez Memén as ambassador in El Salvador. For many years he had served as ambassador in Mexico. 

Likewise, José Manuel Castillo Betances was named ambassador to the Federation of Russia. Castillo is a past ambassador in Cuba. 

https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...la-republica-de-el-salvador-y-federacion-rusa


[/B]Dominican Republic is inundated by betting shops
There are now more betting shops than grocery stores. The Dominican Republic has been swamped by the sheer numbers of these illegal businesses, while government officials have apparently looked the other way. 

A recent report in Diario Libre hints one of the reasons for a lack of governmental oversight – there are at least two senators and nine deputies that have close ties these businesses. 

And Listin Diario on Thursday, 25 May 2017, reports that while there are only 1,822 betting shops registered with the Ministry of Finance, it is estimated that close to RD$10 billion is gambled away every year, with most of the betting activity occurring during the seven-month Major League Baseball season. Media reports say there are around 200,000 shops nationwide. These shops mainly attract men. 

The Chamber of Deputies is reviewing a bill that returned to the house after the Senate amended the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism Bill (Ley de Lavado de Activos y Financiamiento al Terrorismo) to exclude betting shops. Despite nine deputies being part of the betting shop business, the original bill, endorsed by the Executive Branch, was passed without amendments and moved to the Senate where the controversial amendment was added. Now the lower chamber needs to decide whether to reinstate the inclusion of the oversight of betting shops in the bill or endorse the version that passed the Senate. 

The National Federation of Lottery Betting Shops of the Dominican Republic (Fenabanca) president Wilson de los Santos told Listin Diario reporters that inclusion or exclusion of the betting shops in the Anti-Money Laundering Bill would not affect Fenabanca, because all their members run legal operations. 

Ricardo Nadal, president de la National Association of Sports Betting Shops, requested the implementation of a four-year old initiative to install software at the Ministry of Finance that would link the activities of all the sports betting shops to the Ministry. He said this would lead to an increase in revenues for the government. 

The biggest lottery in the country, Leidsa, distanced itself from the lottery shops and sports betting shops. In a press release, Leidsa said it complies with international standards for the business and is in favor of including the lotteries and betting shops in the anti-money laundering bill. Leidsa says that it is connected in real time to the government that controls all their operations. 

Minister of Hacienda Donald Guerrero admits that in the past years the number of illegal betting and lottery shops has multiplied, with the government regulating agencies incapable of regulating the sector. 

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...ais-esta-inundado-de-bancas-para-las-apuestas
http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/161927-Wednesday, 24 May 2017
https://www.metrord.do/do/noticias/2017/05/24/leidsa-apoya-proyecto-ley-lavado-activos-rd.html
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ican-a-las-que-cumplen-con-registro-IY7177903


Acento alerts to forgery of Brazilian Odebrecht papers
Acento.com.do is alerting that official documents from the Public Ministry of Brazil have been forged to include additional names, including those of local journalists Fausto Rosario, Miguel Guerrero and Nelson Marrero. The document is circulating in social media. 

Acento reports that the original No. 500661729.2016.4.04.7000/PR and No. 5035204- 61.2016.4.04.7000/PR, is available on the website of the Public Ministry of Brazil at http://www.mpf.mp.br

http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...ento-para-incluir-nombres-caso-odebrecht.html


Public Health advises on conjunctivitis
The Ministry of Public Health says that the symptoms of conjunctivitis can last from one to two weeks and in most cases will disappear on their own. The Ministry is advising against self-medicating and explains that antibiotic eye drops do not cure the viral conjunctivitis. 

If the disease is accompanied by moderate or intense paints in the eyes, blurry vision and sensibility to life, a prompt visit to an ophthalmologist is recommended because this could be bacterial conjunctivitis. Then an ophthalmologist will typically prescribe antibiotic eye drops to treat the infection.

Allergic conjunctivitis treatment often includes applying cool compresses to the eyes and using anti-allergy eye drops and cool artificial tears.

Public Health is took keep hands clean and avoid touching eyes to avoid contagion, as well as not to share cosmetics or towels. 

http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...desaparece-pocos-dias-pide-automedicarse.html


Judge rejects Christopher Naudin-Air Cocaine deal
Accused of helping two French pilots (as part of the Air Cocaine case) sentenced to 20 years in jail for drug trafficking, Christopher Naudin will continue in jail and needs to stand trial in the Dominican Republic. Judge Kenya Romero rejected the deal that Naudin had reached with the judiciary whereby he declared himself guilty, would pay a fine of RD$500,000 for a 5 year jail term he would serve in France. 

The judge argued that the deal had authorized a penalty that was below the minimum penalty for the crime as established by law. 

http://eldia.com.do/jueza-rechaza-homologar-acuerdo-con-el-frances-christophe-naudin/
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...cede-pena-es-menor-al-minimo-de-ley-CB7175554


The new profile of Dominican police
The civic society non-governmental organization, Participación Ciudadana called for an urgent transformation of the National Police as the only way people can regain confidence in the Police. Participación Ciudadana conducted a panel discussion on the selection process for policemen and the new profile for police. 

The panel focused on dispositions in the Fundamental Law of the National Police 590-16 with the participation of National Police officers, and officials from the Ministry of Public Administration and the Association for a More Just Society from Honduras. Also participating was the Dominican chapter of Transparency International that considered the new police department should offer quality services to citizens, and enjoy better benefits, such as decent wages and social security for them and their families. 

Colonel Jorge Cordero Montes de Oca of the National Police outlined the new selection process for members of the Police under the new Law 590-16. 

http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...cia-transformacion-institucional-policia.html


20,000 illegal Venezuelans in the Dominican Republic
The ambassador of Venezuela in the Dominican Republic, Ali de Jesus Uzcategui Duque says that 3,000 to 4,000 Venezuelans have legal status in the Dominican Republic, while around 20,000 are living here undocumented since last year, as reported in El Dia. He said the number of Venezuelans is determined by those who entered compared to those who have left. The ambassador admitted that economic reasons are behind the migration of most of those arriving in the Dominican Republic. 

The ambassador spoke when reading an official document to the press on the Present Political Situation of Venezuela. The document expresses the rejection of the Venezuelan government to the violence created by extremist sectores of the right in Venezuela that seek foreign intervention and are creating a climate of violence affecting the stability of the Venezuelan state. 

http://eldia.com.do/en-el-pais-hay-cerca-de-20-mil-venezolanos-de-manera-ilegal/


Jacinto Gimbernard passes away
Regarded as a major contributor to culture in the Dominican Republic, Jacinto Gimbernard was mourned yesterday after he passed away at 85 years on Wednesday, 24 May 2017. His history book, “Historia de Santo Domingo,” was a textbook used in many high schools for Dominican history classes. 

Gimbernard played violin with the National Symphony Orchestra for 13 years. He directed the National Symphony and was known for his successes in bringing the National Symphony Orchestra to new levels. He was also was director of the Fundación Corripio, and a well-read writer for Hoy newspaper on cultural affairs for many years. 


National Symphony Concert at National Congress esplanade
The Ministry of Culture, the National Congress and the Board for the Centro de los Héroes announced a gala concert with the participation of the National Symphony Orchestra. The concert will take place on Saturday, 27 May 2017 at 7:30pm at the front entrance to the National Concert. 

The concert will commemorate the bicentennial birth of the founders of the nation, Juan Pablo Duarte, Matías Ramón Mella and Francisco del Rosario Sánchez, and is a tribute to Dominican mothers on occasion of Mothers’ Day that will be celebrated on Sunday, 28 May 2017. 

The gala concert will be directed by Maestro José Antonio Molina, director of the  National Symphony Orchestra. Performing with the orchestra will be soloists Maridalia Hernández, Niní Cáffaro and soprano Pura Tyson. 

The board of the Centro de los Héroes consists of institutions that operate in the area, including the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate, the Judicial Branch of government (Supreme Court of Justice and Attorney General Office), the National District Government (AND) and the Superior Electoral Court (TSE).  Also represented on the board are the Ministry of Labor, Dominican Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI), Dominican Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE), and the National Lottery. 

https://elnuevodiario.com.do/doming...es-alta-prioridad-para-el-gobierno-de-medina/