DR1 Daily News - Thursday, 1 June 2017

Dolores1

DR1
May 3, 2000
8,215
37
48
www.
Congress passes anti-money laundering bill
Senators pass Penal Code banning all abortions
Two airfields to become international airports
Odebrecht preventive custody issuing postponed for Tuesday
Odebrecht file circulating
Unfortunate quips unsettle Odebrecht defenses
Participación Ciudadana asks for inquiries in Punta Catalina Odebrecht contract 
Green March Movement calls for Navarrete march 
Turtle lays 90 eggs on Manresa beach 
Police solves homicides of Haitians by Haitians
Today is the beginning of the 2017 Hurricane Season
Free admission to the Botanical Gardens on 5 June
Sergio Vargas and Diomary La Mala show
Mozart la Para Santo Domingo concert



Congress passes anti-money laundering bill
The Chamber of Deputies and the Senate passed the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism Bill on Wednesday, 31 May 2017. The bill will replace Anti-Money Laundering Law 72-02. 

The deputies removed cooperatives from the supervision of the Superintendence of Banks, but reinstated betting and lottery shops. The cooperatives will continue under the supervision of the Cooperative Institute for Development and Credit (IDECOOP), while betting and lottery shops will be under Superintendence of Banks oversight. 

Minister of Hacienda Donald Guerrero had visited the Chamber of Deputies on 31 May 2017, for face to face talks with legislators about the gambling and cooperative issues that had delayed the passing of the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism Bill. Guerrero focused on the importance of the bill and its timely approval. 

The bill was fast-tracked through the Senate on the same day. The bill now moves to the Executive Branch for signing and publication. 

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...s-a-la-ley-contra-lavado-de-activos-CA7222037
http://noticiassin.com/2017/05/mini...-salida-al-proyecto-de-ley-lavado-de-activos/


Senators pass Penal Code banning all abortions
The Senate reaffirmed their vote against abortion in the Dominican Republic. The senators rejected a motion that would have allowed for abortions in cases of rape, incest or malformation of the embryo or when the life of the mother was in danger. The only exception left open for abortion is if all available scientific and technical means are exhausted to save the two lives.  

The bill had been vetoed twice by President Danilo Medina. The strong position against abortion in any of its forms has been maintained by the Roman Catholic and evangelical churches in the Dominican Republic. 

The Penal Code establishes jail terms of two to three years for the aborting woman, and any persons that may assist her. The penalties for medical professionals assisting an abortion range from four to ten years in jail. 

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...digo-penal-con-penas-para-el-aborto-YG7228771


Two airfields to become international airports
The airfields at Constanza and Montecristi will be converted into international airports. They have occasionally served as international ports of entry, but the intention is to open them for regular international traffic. 

The mountain valley airfield in Constanza will undergo modifications to allow the export of fresh produce to the United States and other countries in the region. Currently, fresh produce must be transported from Constanza to La Vega on a road that is known for its many dangerous curves. 

The airport in Montecristi, in the northwest, will also be remodeled and upgraded to regularly accommodate international flights, to promote tourism in the region. 

The director general of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC), Alejandro Herrera made the announcement. He said IDAC is working in close coordination with the Airport Authority, headed by Marino Collante. 

Herrera also told reporters that the airfield at Cabo Rojo could be linked with the International Airport Maria Montez in Barahona to boost tourism in the southwest. Herrera stressed the fact that tourism and air transportation are major supports of the Dominican economy.

http://elnacional.com.do/convertirian-aerodromos-en-aeropuertos-internacionales/


Odebrecht preventive custody issuing postponed for Tuesday
Judge Francisco Ortega postponed for Tuesday, 6 June 2017 the issuing of preventive custody to 13 of 14 men accused in the Odebrecht bribes scandal. He accepted a request made by the defense bar of Minister of Industry and Commerce Juan Temistoclas Montás who requested the judge confirm that the Public Ministry had deposited the proofs that are mentioned in the accusatory instrument. 

The men will continue in jail despite the 48-hour term having ended because the defending lawyers agreed with the request. 

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...000-de-la-manana-coercion-odebrecht-IF7227684
http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/162004-Tuesday, 30 May 2017


Odebrecht file circulating
Media services have been sharing the details of an extensive file on the involvement of the 14 under arrest in the Odebrecht bribes scandal. It carries statements by Mario Vasconcelos Cruz, former manager of Odebrecht in the Dominican Republic, on the efforts of Odebrecht commercial representative Angel Rondón in securing cooperation of key officials in the Dominican Republic to move ahead Odebrecht contract work. 

Including many details of the file, Diario Libre today reports that Rondón moves more than RD$844 million and more than US$18 million in the Dominican financial system to grease the expediting of the construction work. The report details that his 37-year old daughter Angelina Rondón received RD$300 million and US$14 million in her bank accounts from 2007 to 2017. 

The file also establishes that Odebrecht, via Rondón, paid bribes related to the construction of the Punta Catalina thermoelectric generation central. No one is under arrest in regards to that major work carried out by Odebrecht during the Medina administration. 

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...4-millones-en-el-sistema-financiero-JD7225496


Unfortunate quips unsettle Odebrecht defenses
It appears that either media pressure or a lack of thoughtful reflection may have been to blame for words and actions of several officials implicated in the Odebrecht scandal who may have compromised their own defense against corruption charges.  It is apparent that several public figures are talking “rubbish”, as named in Diario Libre, when they speak to the media about the judicial process and the Odebrecht case. 

For example, Diario Libre reporters focused on the words of Attorney General of the Republic Jean Alain Rodriguez who recounted a Dominican refrain that basically says that “all that should be are there, and all there should be there” during a press conference on Monday, 29 May 2017, barely hours after several politicians and government officials or former officials were arrested in regard to the Odebrecht case. The Attorney General was then forced to issue a press release in which he said that the investigations are ongoing in order to determine if there are other persons or companies involved in the corruption scandal. 

Another major political figure, Reinaldo Pared Perez’s words have become subject of many memes and comments in all media. The high-ranking ruling PLD party member and president of the Senate told reporters the following: “What happened is that I went by the mud puddle and I didn’t get muddy!” This gave rise to much speculation especially since Pared Pérez had just visited the persons under arrest at the Palace of Justice in Ciudad Nueva, those who therefore must be muddy. 

Pared Pérez was also quoted in talking about Temistocles Montas, Cesar Valentin, and Tommy Galan, who are all mentioned in the bribery indictment, and he referred to them as “the President’s men.” Such a statement, which throws suspicion upon the figure of President Danilo Medina and “his men” who are now in jail, seemed to be a denial of the accusation by the opposition parties that the President of the Republic seems to have favorites who are corrupt. 

The journalists from the Diario Libre recall another Dominican popular saying that refers to the fact that most fish die by opening their mouths.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...na-el-caso-odebrecht-en-la-justicia-DY7221162


Participación Ciudadana asks for inquiries in Punta Catalina Odebrecht contract 
Civic movement Participación Ciudadana national coordinator Marisela Duval questions why the Odebrecht contract for the construction of the Punta Catalina thermoelectric plant, the largest single Odebrecht contract, is not included in the Odebrecht case handled by Judge Francisco Ortega. 

She questioned that only 14 present and past government officials and present and past legislators and suppliers have been accused of accepting bribes, when, in her opinion, there are many more officials who are also involved in the scandal. Although the inquiry into the Odebrecht contracts is just starting, Duval said, "why doesn’t the list include more officials in the Medina administration?” 

She said that the government could be trying to protect the ongoing construction of Punta Catalina by leaving it out of the inquiry. "But until when will the government gloss-over the Punta Catalina construction contract, which is currently the largest public project.” 

http://hoy.com.do/pc-exige-investigacion-profunda-y-ver-obra-punta-catalina/


Green March Movement calls for Navarrete march 
Organizers of the Green March Movement are calling for participation in the Sunday, 4 June 2017 anti-impunity march in Navarrete. The Green March is also calling for a Sunday, 11 June 2017 march in San Pedro de Macorís with the participation of residents in eastern provinces. 

http://noticiassin.com/2017/05/movimiento-verde-realizara-marcha-en-navarrete-el-proximo-domingo/


Turtle lays 90 eggs on Manresa beach 
At dawn on Tuesday, 30 May 2017, a hawksbill marine turtle (Dermochelyidae species) laid 90 eggs on Playa Manresa on the western end of the Santo Domingo Malecon. El Nuevo Diario reported the birthing process took four hours.

https://elnuevodiario.com.do/tortuga-desova-90-huevos-en-playa-manresa/


Police solves homicides of Haitians 
The Police accused three Haitian immigrants of being part of a ring that assaulted and murdered two motorcyclists whose bodies were found in the sewage of Barrio Las Colinas II in Los Guaricanos, Santo Domingo Norte. The accused are Haitians 22-year old Luke Preveli (Lucas), 29-year old Luverus Mackeson (Ruso), and Moise Eloy. The first two are under arrest, and the third is a fugitive of justice. 

The Police also accuse the suspects of the murder of fellow Haitians 24-year old Amín Alet Jean and 55-year old Teodoro Mejía Ogando. The men had been missing for 3 and 16 days, respectively. 

The Police say that the Haitians murdered the motorcyclists to steal their motorcyclists. The stolen motorcycles were sold by 54-year old Dominican, Susano Carmona (Niño), who was also arrested. 

http://almomento.net/sdn-desarticul...ue-asaltaba-y-asesinaba-motoconchistas/321467


Today is the beginning of the 2017 Hurricane Season
According to newspaper reports and information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) the 2017 Atlantic cyclone season might see between 11 and 17 tropical cyclones in the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean area. Local newspapers are reporting that perhaps three or four of this year’s hurricanes might come very close to our shores. 

NOAA, speaking through the National Hurricane Center, said that this year’s forecast predicts 11 to 17 tropical storms, of which as many as nine might become hurricanes and of these perhaps 2 to 4 might become serious category 3 or above storms. Experts at the University of Colorado are forecasting 11 storms of which four might become hurricanes.

The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) and the Center of Emergency Operations (COE) are preparing their responses to this year’s storm season. 

http://elnacional.com.do/cuatro-fuertes-ciclones-podrian-tocar-el-caribe/


Free admission to the Botanical Gardens on 5 June
The Ministry of Environment and the National Botanical Gardens, Dr. Rafael Moscoso, is inviting the public to celebrate an “Environmentally Friendly Family Day” at the Santo Domingo botanical gardens. This is on occasion of Global Environment Day. Admission will not be charged on 5 June 2017. 

The event is celebrated as per Decree 363-13 that calls for the Ministry of Environment to organize special events on the first Sunday of June of every year. The Botanical Gardens are open from 9am to 5pm to the general public. 


Sergio Vargas and Diomary La Mala show
Sergio Vargas and Diomary La Mala are booked for a Friday, 2 June 2017 performance at the Hotel Barceló Santo Domingo (former Lina). Tickets at the Barceló Santo Domingo box office. For more information, call Tel 809 563-5000. 


Mozart la Para Santo Domingo concert
Urban music singer-songwriter, Mozart La Para will be performing on Saturday, 3 June 2017 at 7pm at the Plaza Juan Barón on the eastern side of the Malecón. “Mozart La Para directo al corazón” (Mozart La Para straight to the Heart) is the name of the concert. The concerts are free. Special effects are part of the concert.