DR1 Daily News - Thursday, 29 June 2017

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May 3, 2000
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Botanical Garden for Santiago
184 register for selection of higher courts judges
Bitcoins and other online monies not backed by Central Bank
Drivers can breathe easier for a while
A 1.5km wall that hides the view of Panoramic Barahona Highway
14 deaths and the hospital renovations controversy
Fund primary care in Haiti
Police commander denies crime is out of hand
Street harassment escalates in Santo Domingo
Heavy machine operators want large salary boost
Long Night of Museums on Saturday, 1 July



Botanical Garden for Santiago
President Danilo Medina issued Decree 215-17 that increases the area of the Professor Eugenio de Jesus Marcano Botanical Garden by a quarter of a million square meters by incorporating the Natural Monument Waterfalls of La Tinaja (Monumento Natural Saltos de la Tinaja).

The Santiago botanical garden will now have an extension of 651,665 square meters and will be used for the study, conservation and management of the diversity of species in the Cibao Valley and La Tinaja.

The decree also includes a new community park within the Botantical Garden called Manuel Arsenio Ureña. Likewise, the road between Prolongación Hatuey and Circunvalación Norte de Santiago is now to be called Avenida del Botánico José de Jesús Jiménez Almonte. The perimeters of the Santiago botanical garden are declared panoramic views and are now officially protected. As a result, any project or activity in this protected area must have authorization from the Ministry of the Environment.

The Natural Monument Waterfalls of La Tinaja is situated to the north of Santiago in the foothills of the Septentrional mountain range that runs along the northern coast. The plan is to protect a series of small waterfalls and the watershed of the Jacagua River.

Article 2 of Decree 215-17 provides for the application of the management and uses that will be permitted in this area according to the World Nature Union and includes scientific research, environmental monitoring, education, conservation of native species and ecotourism development.

The botanical gardens will be administered by a council that will be chaired by a representative of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo in Santiago and will include members from the Ministry of Environment, the Ecological Society of the Cibao, the National Botanical Garden (in Santo Domingo), the Mayor’s office of Santiago, the provincial governors office, the senator for the province of Santiago, the Foundation for the Rescue of the Jacagua River and other entities.

https://www.diariolibre.com/medioam...-santiago-eugenio-de-jesus-marcano-AC7488367A


184 register for selection of higher courts judges
The National Magistracy Council (CNM) announced that 184 candidacies were received at deadline for the selection of four judges of the Supreme Court of Justice and five judges of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) and their five replacements. The CNM had given 15 days for people to register.

The procedure continues with citizen objections to these candidacies received through Saturday, 1 July 2017 at the secretary of the Supreme Court of Justice. A letter with the reasons for the objections needs to be submitted. Then, on Tuesday, 4 July 2017, the CNM meets to begin the evaluations of the candidates.

As reported, the National Business Council (19) and the Fundación Cruz Jiminián (11) were the entities that sent the most candidates.

Among the candidates are the former president of the Supreme Court of Justice Jorge Subero Isa who aspires to be elected a judge of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) and judge José Alejandro Vargas, who recently was in the news when he objected the homologation of the Odebrecht deal signed by the Attorney General.

Three members of the TSE are seeking to be kept in their ppositions, including the president of the entity, Mariano Américo Rodríguez Rijo, and Fausto Marino Mendoza Rodríguez and John Newton Guiliani Valenzuela. The later also applied to be chosen a Supreme Court of Justice judge.

See the list of candidates at: http://cnm.gob.do/Candidates


Bitcoins and other online monies not backed by Central Bank
Governor of the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic Hector Valdez Albizu warned the public that “virtual assets such as Bitcoin, Litecoin or Etherum or any similar values are not backed by the Central Bank and enjoy no protection under the judicial framework of the Dominican Republic.”

Valdez Albizu spoke during an inaugural speech at the forum on “Modern Threats to Cyber Security, Illicit Commerce and Fake Medicine,” organized by the British Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic. The statement is also published online at the Central Bank website.

Valdez said the online currencies cannot be considered as foreign currency under the Dominican exchange regime, “since they are not issued nor are they controlled by any other central bank, and for that reason they do not receive the guarantees nor the security that is offered to financial intermediaries or the free exchange consigned in Articles 28 and 29 of the Monetary and Financial Law.”

On Thursday, 22 June 2017, the Monetary Board had issued instructions to the Central Bank to, among other things, publish in multiple media outlets a warning to financial agents and to the public in general about the risk associated with the use of virtual assets as a means of investment or payment in the Dominican Republic.

Furthermore, during the event, Valdez Albizu said that the Central Bank is collaborating with the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) to prepare the national cyber security policy with action plans amidst internal and foreign threats before the end of the year. He said the plan needs to be the result of a public-private partnership so that it is inclusive and effective.

https://www.bancentral.gov.do/noticias/avisos/archivos/aviso20170628.pdf
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...ntan-con-respaldo-del-banco-central-BF7502355
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...a-nacional-de-seguridad-cibernetica-AC7501640


Drivers can breathe easier for a while
The lack of regulations and the absence of an effective educational campaign for the general population regarding the new Transit Law 63-17 that covers all aspects of motor vehicle operation and related traffic laws and also creates the National Institute of Traffic and Ground Transportation (Intrant) puts into doubt whether the law will go into effect this Saturday, 1 July 2017 as announced by government authorities.

Presidential Minister Gustavo Montalvo had said last April concerning Law 63-17 that the government was working on regulations and rules so that the law could be fully enforced and monitored. He also announced that the authorities would begin an educational campaign for the general population regarding the implementation of the law. The minister told reporters that in order “to draw up these regulations we are counting on international and local experts. He had said the government would disseminate the drafts of the law in a series of public hearings so that we will be able to incorporate the opinions of public and private organizations and other interested parties into the new law. He also added that the authorities would be meeting with bus and public transportation operators along the most important passenger routes.

In one of the more interesting asides, the minister said that improving the pedestrian experience in the city would be a priority of the new law and efforts will be made to create interconnecting pedestrian routes that would allow for the efficient, safe and an aesthetically pleasant experience for pedestrians.

The new law contains 360 articles and was signed into law by President Danilo Medina on 21 February of this year.

http://elnacional.com.do/dudan-entre-en-vigor-este-sabado-ley-de-transito/


A 1.5km wall that hides the view of Panoramic Barahona Highway
Minister of Environment Francisco Domínguez Brito recommends a “less invasive” security solution for the 300-room Bahoruco Beach Resort. Domínguez Brito suggests a lower wall or a metallic hurricane fence so that the Barahona Panoramic Highway view is less affected.

El Nacional has been reporting on complaints by residents in Barahona that the two meter tall wall surrounding the Bahoruco Beach Resort impedes travelers from observing the wonderful view of the Caribbean Sea along that stretch.

The wall is built by a company owned by Minister of Public Works Gonzalo Castillo. The project is the responsibility of the Minister’s son, Alex Castillo, as reported in El Nacional. Newspaper reporters say that the 1.5 km fence was not authorized by the La Cienaga town government. La Cienaga mayor Kelvin Féliz says that neither he, nor the councilors were informed on the construction. He said that Law 176-07 establishes that the construction required a permit from the municipal government.

El Nacional reports that the Public Works Minister purchased the hotel from the government-owned Banco de Reservas for RD$91 million.

Residents in the area are pleased that the hotel will reopen in the hopes there may be jobs for the people in the area. Others who live in beach areas that have been incorporated in the property expressed their concerns they would be evicted or relocated to a site near the cemetery.

Gonzalo Castillo is a native of Barahona.

http://elnacional.com.do/ambiente-plantea-solucion-menos-invasiva-a-pared/
http://elnacional.com.do/comprueban-pared-dana-ecosistema-y-viola-normativas-ambientales/
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...tel-de-barahona-cumple-con-normas-ambientales
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...tel-porque-traera-empleo-para-todos-NY7504539


14 deaths and the hospital renovations controversy
The executive director of the National Health Service (SNS), Nelson Rodriguez Monegro told reporters on Tuesday, 27 June 2017 that neither the remodeling process at the La Altagracia Maternity Hospital nor the lack of personnel or equipment are to blame for the deaths of 14 newborns at the hospital over the weekend. Rodriguez Monegro said that the deaths of the infants were due to extremely grave conditions of the newborns. He noted that “these were babies that were extremely premature, had low weight and in addition there were cases of congenital deformities. There were cases of cardiac the formations, neurological issues, respiratory distress, serious neonatal sepsis as a result of complicated pregnancies.

In his comments to reporters he said that these deaths had nothing to do with the lack of equipment or medical supplies or personnel since the hospital has the necessary resources in those areas. He said that the Altagracia Maternal Hospital has 90 incubators and that the average occupancy rate is 80. He also pointed out that there were nearly 100 medical personnel in the perinatal area including 49 specialists and 45 residents.

Rodriguez Monegro, nevertheless, announced that he would appoint a resident supervisor at each of the country’s maternity hospitals and that this individual would be a gyn-ob specialist.

However, on Wednesday, 28 June 2017 in the afternoon the president of the Dominican Medical Association (CMD), Dr. Waldo Arielle Suero, issued statements calling the explanation given by Rodriguez Monegro “irresponsible.” El Nacional reported that the CMD president said that he regretted the fact that the director of the SNS tried to deflect criticism of the causes of the deaths of the newborns when what he should have done was to have the Ministry of Public Health create a commission to investigate and present a report regarding the anomalies that lead to the death of these babies.

On Wednesday, the vice president of the CMD, Wilson Roa said that the death of 14 newborns over the weekend is evidence of collapse of the public health sector. He criticized that public hospitals have more than four years under remodeling by the Office of Supervisors of Public Works of the State (OISOE) and that “the renovations never end.”

Roa mentioned the on-going renovations at the La Altagracia maternity, but also noted that other hospitals are undergoing significant renovation, including José Cabral y Báez in Santiago, the San Lorenzo de los Mina in eastern Santo Domingo, the Ricardo Limardo in Puerto Plata, the Antonio Musa in San Pedro de Macorís and the Luis Eduardo Aybar in Santo Domingo.

“If you shut down the Los Mina maternity, and then start renovating La Altagracia, where are the women going to go?” he asked. He said 80% of the areas at the La Altagracia are under renovation.

He said the government needs better planning and remodel one facility at a time and not proceed with multiple renovation projects at different hospitals all at the same time.

"Between dust and debris, lack of hygiene, equipment, and adequate rehabilitation facilities, you may find four women assigned to a single bed. Ladies and gentlemen our job is to assure the health of these patients, there is no excuse for the authorities are defending the conditions in some of our medical facilities” he exclaimed. He said the SNS only invent excuses because it does not have a solution. “The solution is in the hands of the OISOE”, said Roa when interviewed on La Super 7 en la Mañana talk show on (107.7FM).

Diario Libre reported that on Wednesday, 28 June 2017, Vice President Margarita Cedeño visited the La Altagracia maternity to prepare a report on the situation of the 14 deaths over the weekend to present to President Danilo Medina upon his return from Costa Rica where he traveled on Wednesday to attend the Central American Integration System summit.

http://elnacional.com.do/ve-irresponsable-respuesta-sns-a-muerte-14-ninos/
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...erte-de-14-menores-en-la-maternidad-FG7495777


Fund primary care in Haiti
World Bank study highlights investments in primary care should be the priority in Haiti’s healthcare service, rather than investing in the construction of expansive hospitals.

A new World Bank study on health in Haiti calls for the Haiti government to switch its focus from building large big hospitals to investing in primary care and preventive medicine. The report is “Better Spending, Better Care: A look at Haiti’s Health Financing”.

The study found that, contradictorily, Haiti has significantly more hospitals than many countries of similar income levels. But it spends just US$13 on health care per capita, compared to US$180 in the Dominican Republic, US$781 in Cuba and US$336, the average for the Latin American and Caribbean region.

The report explains that more than half of all health spending is allocated to curative rather than preventive care: Haiti has many under-equipped hospitals, but only 0.3 dispensaries per 10,000 people.

The study calls for Haiti’s government and donors to better coordinate health sector financing. It says the country, which currently devotes less than 5% of its budget to health, has to spend more resources and run a more efficient health system. Traditionally, Haitians have traveled east to the Dominican Republic to benefit from free medical services in Dominican public hospitals.

The lead author of the report, Eleonora Cavagnero, a health economist for Haiti at the World Bank, advocates for a moratorium on new hospital construction in Haiti. “A lot of the illnesses that Haitians suffer from could be treated at the primary health care levels in a more cost-effective way.”
The study reveals that since 2004, public spending on health in Haiti has fallen from 16.6% of the country’s approximately US$2 billion budget to 4.4% of the latest US$1.8 billion budget submitted by Haitian Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant, a physician, and approved this month by Haiti’s Parliament.

The study recommends increasing taxes on tobacco and alcoholic beverages to increase funds available for primary health care.
The study was released in the Dominican Republic at a time when the medical community is criticizing the poor health care planning by the Medina administration health authorities.

http://www.worldbank.org/en/country...better-care-a-look-at-haitis-health-financing


Police commander denies crime is out of hand
During an interview in Santiago, the director general of the National Police, Major General Nelson Peguero Paredes, rejected the statement that crime is out of control in the country. He said crime figures are below previous years.

According to Wednesday’s statements, the general said “crime is well below previous periods, thanks to the efforts of the National Police. I call on the citizens to trust in the work that we are doing.”

Peguero Paredes referred to the case of the two Spanish citizens who were found dead in Gascue. He told reporters that the crime had been carried out by employees of the victims.

When ask about the discharge of over 3,000 members of the force because they violated laws, General Peguero said this was the right thing to do. He also noted that other police agents were discharged because of violations of the internal regulations of the force. The general was interviewed when attending the inauguration of the office For Citizens Services at the headquarters of the Central Cibao Regional Headquarters.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...echaza-delincuencia-este-desbordada-YF7502111


Street harassment escalates in Santo Domingo
After a window wiper destroyed the back window of the vehicle of a TV actress, the media has taken up the case of the threat to safety posed by the panhandlers that are cleaning windshields in violation of transit laws. Some of these individuals are aggressive and pose a serious threat to public safety.

Venezuelan actress Beba Rojas, formerly with Venevision but now living in Santo Domingo, was the latest known victim. While she was riding with her 7-year old son, in a car driven by her husband, the windshield cleaners reacted violently when the couple refused to tip the individual. The windshield cleaner threw a metallic object at the back window, causing the glass to break. Rojas said the assailant was a teenager.

The media focused on how windshield cleaners are becoming more brazen everyday as authorities look the other way.

Another TV personality, Ivonne Beras, also reported being threatened by a street vendor. Zoila Luna in her Solo para Mujeres radio talk show observed that the panhandlers have instituted a “toll” for those using regular routes.

She called for National District Mayor David Collado to intervene and stop this street harassment situation before it gets any further out of control.

https://www.diariolibre.com/revista...z-la-beba-rojas-en-la-27-de-febrero-MN7492169
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGDI5WT-WZ0


Heavy machine operators want large salary boost
The heavy machine operators in the Dominican Republic under the umbrella of the National Union of Heavy Machine Operators, reported yesterday afternoon that they have submitted a proposal to the National Salary Committee to revise the wage scale established in September 2015 for equipment operators and their assistants in the farm sector.

Juan Balbi, the secretary-general of the union, said that the sector is demanding a 30% wage increase. According to Balbi the new wage demands are exclusively for mechanized farm work.

The labor leader said that at the current time that the base salary for heavy machine operators (tractors and other equipment) is about RD $7,000 and he expects that the new wage level should be close to RD$12,500.

Balbi also mentioned that several government institutions such as the Dominican Agrarian Institute (IAD), the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI) and even the Ministry of Agriculture owe operators more than RD$20 million for work carried out to eliminate the whitefly.

https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...as-exigen-un-30-de-aumento-salarial-MC7501259


Long Night of Museums on Saturday, 1 July
The Ministry of Culture announced it is dedicating the next Long Night of Museums to merengue. The activities at city museums start on 9am and continue through midnight with workshops, talks, and exhibitions related to merengue and its history at different venues. Colonial City museums will be open for free visitation on Saturday, 1 July 2017.

There will be guided visits, artistic presentations by famous merengue bands on emblematic sites, such as the Fortaleza Santo Domingo and the Plaza España from 8pm onwards. Also programmed is a permanent exhibition on folklore studies, the gallery of merengue and carnival masks exhibition at the Dirección Nacional de Folclore on Calle La Atarazana from 10am to 12 midnight for the summer-season Long Night of Museums.

Folklore specialist Edis Sánchez will be speaking on the declaration of Merengue as Inmaterial Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO at the Alcazar de Colon from 5pm.
At the Casa del Merengue, there will be a talk on merengue by researchers Huchi Lora and Rafael Chaljub Mejía.
The program is extensive and will be carried out at the Centro Cultural de España, Plaza María de Toledo, Dirección Nacional de Folclor, Museo de Familia, Casa de Tostado, Museo de las Casas Reales, Museo Trampolín, Alcázar de Colón., Capilla de los Remedios, el Centro Cultural Banreservas, la Fortaleza de Santo Domingo, el Parque Duarte, la Plaza Reloj del Sol and the Plaza España in the Colonial City.
On Saturday, 8 July 2017, for the first time, a Long Night of Museums will be held in Puerto Plata.
http://cultura.gob.do/ministerio-de...che-larga-de-los-museos-dedicada-al-merengue/
https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/music-and-dance-of-the-merengue-in-the-dominican-republic-01162