DR1 Daily News - Friday, 30 June 2017

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May 3, 2000
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Panama, Costa Rica and Dominican
Medina meets with Central American presidents
Panama proposes follow up to SICA agenda
IDB to lend US$50 million to Tax Agency
Green hotline at the Ministry of Environment
Plastic surgeons salute actions taken by Ministry of Public Health
Province of Santo Domingo accounts for 36% of all DR inhabitants
Blas Peralta admits firing shots killed Mateo Aquino Febrillet
Man with machete stopped from entering Metro
Getting stuck in baluster impedes a robbery
Police investigate suspect in Gascue murders
Casa de Teatro celebrates with Colonial City painting holiday
Family concert at the Puerto Plata amphitheater


Medina meets with Central American presidents
President Danilo Medina returned on Thursday, 29 June 2017 from San José, Costa Rica where he met with the presidents of Central America while participating in the 49th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Central American Integration System (SICA).

Speaking at the plenary session of the summit, Medina said the meeting had been important for strengthening of the strategic agenda of the organization to achieve a quantitative step ahead in the regional integration process. He spoke of the priorities of collectively finding answers to climate change and poverty in the region. Medina also spoke of the need to find new sources of financing for the development agenda and for opening more doors to cooperation.

"We believe that approving the concept of 'regional public good' will enable us to access external financing and exercise better accountability. Central America must be heard in the global debate on financing for development," said Medina.

Medina emphasized that the region needs to align international cooperation with sustainable development goals and improve mechanisms for measuring compliance with those goals. He highlighted SICA's progress in issues such as regional security, democratic institutions, promoting small and medium-sized enterprises, value chains, risk management and in the fight against climate change. He called for the regional efforts directed to water conservation at a time when the region ahs been affected by droughts. He said he shares the vision that SICA should have definite mandates and action lines that are sustainable in time.

He called for continuing to work towards an every day more prosperous Central America, more united, and with a clear and strong voice in the world.

The Presidency reported that Medina held bilateral meetings with the presidents of Panama and Guatemala.
Traveling with Medina was Administrative Minister José Ramón Peralta, Foreign Relations Minister Miguel Vargas, senator Félix Nova Paulino (Monseñor Nouel) and deputy José Miguel Cabrera.

SICA was formed in 1991 and its members are: Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Dominican Republic and Belize.


Panama proposes follow up to SICA agenda
Panama, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic will work together as of 1 July 2017, on the agenda agreed upon during the Central American Integration System (SICA). The announcement was made by Deputy Foreign Minister of Panama, Luis Miguel Hincapié. The announcement was made on occasion of the meeting of heads of government of the three countries during the San José, Costa Rica SICA summit.

Hincapié said that the group seeks to continue the carry out the agenda set by the temporary presidencies at SICA. He complained that the six-month temporary presidency of each country has been too short of a time frame and the troika was formed so that the program that Panama will carry out during its Presidency during the second half of 2017 can be achieved.

Hincapie spoke of the need to reorganize SICA, redefine the role of the 27 SICA observers, and reinforce issues of security and migration.

https://us.invertalia.net/news/pana...n-republic-to-create-sica-s-first-troika-5992
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...minicana-crearan-primera-troika-del-sica.html


IDB to lend US$50 million to Tax Agency
The InterAmerican Development Bank is lending US$50 million to the Tax Agency (DGII) for strengthening tax administration and public spending management. The program is intended to help reduce the fiscal deficit in a sustainable way by raising tax revenues through improvements in administration and an increase in information and resources to help attain efficient cash management practices.

The IDB reports that the program also seeks to boost up the tax administration efficiency of the DGII by implementing a series of steps to improve administration and human resources management, including changes in the organizational structure, operational processes, and information systems and technological infrastructure.

Additionally, the program will seek to reduce tax evasion, strengthen tax surveillance and transparency processes, and help improve services for taxpayers while cutting compliance costs. It will also fund initiatives aimed at improving macro-fiscal planning, cash management and public spending’s budget execution.

“An innovative contribution of the new program to the country’s tax administration is the introduction of electronic invoices for large taxpayers—a feature that will lead to a reduction in both bureaucratic procedures and tax dodging,” said IDB project team leader Belinda Pérez Rincón.

This project is expected to lead to a tax revenue increase of at least 0.5% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the end of the project’s life, which will be highly beneficial for the country, as it will free up more government resources to push forward public policies.
The IDB loan is for a 24.5-year term, with a 5.5-year grace period and a LIBOR-based interest rate.
http://www.iadb.org/en/news/news-re...blic-strengthen-tax-administration,11833.html


Green hotline at the Ministry of Environment
Emulating the example of the 911 Emergency System, the Ministry of Environment announced the start of a hotline service to combat environmental violations nationwide. The center is named the Centro de Contacto para Atención al Usuario y Recepción de Denuncias.

At the Ministry of Environment, Domingo Rodríguez is the coordinator of the new service in the provinces. He said that the responses to complaints will be channeled through the Servicio Nacional de Protección Ambiental (SENPA), the provincial environment office, or corresponding agencies.

The hot lines are: 809 539-6400, 809 200-6400 (for toll free domestic calls) and 849 356-6400 Monday to Friday from 8am to 7pm. Environmental violation reports can also be received 24/7 on social media at the accounts of @Ambienterd (Twitter, Instagram y Facebook) and at the Ministry of Environment website at http://www.ambiente.gob.do

The Ministry of Environment is encouraging calls reporting fires, violations of environmental laws, illegal charcoal sales and unregulated cutting of trees.

Minister Francisco Domínguez Brito says the service has a first fleet of 20 all terrain pickups, 15 motorcycled units for quick response. He said the number of these vehicles will increase in months to come.

http://ambiente.gob.do/denuncias-ambientales/
http://ambiente.gob.do/medio-ambiente-crea-centro-de-contacto-y-atencion-al-usuario/


Plastic surgeons salute actions taken by Ministry of Public Health
The Dominican Society of Plastic Surgery (Sodocipre) backs actions by the Ministry of Public Health to close centers that are carrying out plastic surgery procedures without duly certified personnel. In a press release, the board of Sodocipre recognized actions taken after in 2015 the Ministry of Public Health issued Resolution 08-15 that regulates who can practice plastic surgery in the country, establishing parameters and requirements for these procedures.

Sodocipre also highlighted that in March 2017, the Ministry made official the first national protocols for certified plastic surgeons, taking a step forward in the standards for liposuction and breast reconstruction operations.

Sodocipre invites the population to use the services of physicians affiliated with the society.

https://elnuevodiario.com.do/cirujanos-plasticos-saludan-medidas-sp/


Province of Santo Domingo accounts for 36% of all DR inhabitants
The Province of Santo Domingo is the most important province in the Dominican Republic, says Rafael A. Burgos Gómez, president-founder of the Association of Industry and Commerce of the Province of Santo Domingo (ASOINCO). He made the observation when swearing in the new board of the association now under Joaquín Hilario.

He said 36% of all inhabitants in the Dominican Republic live in the province or 2,700,000 according to the 2010 Census. But Gomez estimated that the population in Greater Santo Domingo (including the National District) has grown to around 4.2 million people. Of these, 1.3 million are eligible voters. The province also contributes 34% of the GDP and 36% of the National Budget.

The province of Santo Domingo runs from the west to the east, surrounding the National District. It is the location of important trade free zones, such as San Isidro, Parque Cibernético, Los Alcarrizos, Gildan, Boca Chica and Santo Domingo North.

https://elnuevodiario.com.do/consideran-provincia-santo-domingo-aporta-34-del-pib/


Green March Movement shares insights into Odebrecht case
The Green March Movement says that during the mandates of Presidents Hipólito Mejía, Leonel Fernández and Danilo Medina, the government and the National Congress violated or allowed the violation of the Constitution and laws when allowing for multimillionaire contracts to be issued. A technical study carried out by the Green March Movement on transactions carried out from 2001 to 2016 shows the systematic violation fiscal and financial management laws with the apparent complacency of the National Congress.

The study reviewed 22 loan contracts for works contracted by or in execution by Odebrecht construction firm for US$1,899 million, or 7% of the total debt of the non-financial public sector as of 31 December 2016, equal to 2.7% of GDP. These figures do not include financing used in select years without the legislative approval, nor those contracts approved for the Punta Catalina thermoelectric central.

The Green March Movement says that if the financing approved for Punta Catalina is included, the loans for Odebrecht works the costs balloon to US$3,132 million, equal to 4.4% of GDP and 11.7% of the non-financial public debt as of 31 December 2016.

The study concludes that "observing the behavior, in form and substance of the government when executing the works contracted with Norberto Odebrecht corporation and its Dominican associates, clearly demonstrates the quagmire of politics and widespread corruption exercised by those who seek solely to enrich themselves, directing government resources to in favor a few.”

The Green March Movement investigation highlights that several of the leading government officials responsible for signing and managing the Odebrecht contracts and loans have not been investigated nor submitted to Justice. They understand that the Public Ministry has pending the clarification or resolution of the omissions in the cases of Vicente Bengoa, Cristina Lizardo, Simón Lizardo, Rubén Jiménez Bichara and Lucia Medina.

Green March lists the individuals who may be implicated in the case, including those yet to be publically investigated:

2000-2004 engineer Roberto Rodríguez, INAPA executive director, in charge of implementing the start of the Línea Noroeste aqueduct; Ing. César Sánchez, CDEEE vice president, initiated the contract of Pinalito dam project, but not the execution; Máximo D’Oleo, director of EgeHID; Lic. Rafael Porfirio Calderón Martínez, Technical Secretary of the Presidency, represented the government in the signing of the loan.

2004-2012 engineer Víctor Díaz Rúa, at INAPA and MOPC; Ing. Radhamés Segura, CDEEE vice president, responsible for Pinalito and Palomino dams; Dr. Juan Temístocles Montás, as Technical Secretary of the Presidency; Lic. Vicente Bengoa Albizu, as Secretary of Hacienda; Lic. Daniel Toribio, as Secretary of Hacienda; responsible for the signing of several loan contracts with a special power of attorney from President Leonel Fernández.

2012-2016 Gonzálo Castillo, Minister of Public Works, responsible for several road works; Ing. Rubén Jiménez Bichara, CDEEE vice president, Punta Catalina; Lic. Simón Lizardo Mézquita, signatory of several contracts, when Minister of Hacienda.

The Green March Movement highlights the approval of a loan for US$80,200,000 with the intervention of President Danilo Medina and Minister of Hacienda Simón Lizardo Mézquita, when signing with the Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica (BCIE), the Contrato de Préstamo Directo – Cofinanciado No. 2111; and with Cristina Lizardo Mézquita, vice president of the Senate acting as president, and Lucía Medina Sánchez, vice president of the Chamber of Deputies acting in the role of president.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2017/06/29/marcha-verde-denuncia-violacion-leyes-favor-odebrecht
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/marcha-verde-hipolito-leonel-danilo-violaron-leyes-favorecer-odebrecht/


Blas Peralta admits firing shots killed Mateo Aquino Febrillet
After more than a year of delaying the case on legal technicalities and maintaining his innocence, Fenatrado truckers’ association president Blas Peralta admitted in court on Thursday, 29 June 2017 that he shot the bullets that killed former UASD rector Mateo Aquino Febrillet. Aquino Febrillet was rector of the UASD from 2011-2014.

During the opening of the hearing for the trial at the First Collegiate Court of the National District during the morning session, Peralta’s chauffeur Franklin Venegas and his “right hand” Gerardo Félix Batista, who were in the vehicle at the time of the murder, had testified that Peralta fired the fatal shots on 11 March 2016.

Batista and Venegas said they had not spoken up before because Peralta had threatened to kill them if they talked. Venegas and Félix Batista asked for forgiveness from the family of Aquino Febrillet, the widow Rita Solís and her children and the UASD for the tragic incident.

Venegas said Blas Peralta was in the front passenger seat from where he fired the fatal shots. Venegas said that Peralta pursued deputy Eduardo Montás (PRSC-San Cristóbal) as he drove away in the vehicle of Mateo Aquino Febrillet. He said Peralta was very agitated and exclaimed “the game was over” and then he fired two shots.

Venegas testified that the gun got stuck after the two shots, and that at the time Peralta had stated that if the gun had not got stuck, he would have killed all in the vehicle.

Geraldo Félix Bautista, mentioned as a right hand of Peralta, said Peralta’s defense lawyer had told them to not talk to anyone, and that he would take care of everything.

Eric Raful, lawyer of Peralta, said that the statements by Venegas and Félix Batista only meant that these two individuals reached an agreement with the prosecutors to blame his defendant. He discarded their statements from having legal standing - saying these two only sought to be relieved of responsibility in the murder case.

But then in the afternoon session, after hearing the testimony, Peralta himself would admit his responsibility for the first time. “I cannot deny here that I fired, I would irresponsible, and I am not an irresponsible man. I am a man who commands 92,000 men,” said the president of the fearsome Fenatrado truckers’ association.

Peralta would then attempt to justify his actions. He said he had been meeting with deputy Eduardo Montás at the Restaurante El Lado for several hours and Montás had downed too much wine and became violent, slapped him and later fled. He then got in his own vehicle with his driver Franklin Venegas and Geraldo Félix Bautista and went in pursuit of Montás who had left with Aquino Febrillet.

Peralta said that Geraldo Félix Bautista handed him a gun and he fired. He said he was hot and bothered and did not know the SUV they pursued was that of Aquino Febrillet. He denied the version that the gun got stuck. And he accused Colonel Rafael Herrera Peña of having the murder weapon that he said he personally handed to have the gun changed.

Peralta also asked for pardon to the relatives of Aquino Febrillet and Dominican society. He said that a man is brave when he admits his error.

Also speaking at the hearing, was Omar Enriquillo Sosa Méndez, driver of the vehicle in which Mateo Aquino Febrillet and Eduardo Montás were riding on the day of the murder. Sosa identified Peralta as the person who fired the fatal shots. During the incident, Montás suffered a superficial wound on his left arm, while the secretary of the former rector, Elaine Mañaná was injured in her left leg.

National District prosecutor Yeni Berenice Reynoso said the testimony confirms the theory of the prosecution that Blas Peralta murdered Aquino Febrillet.

http://hoy.com.do/imputados-en-ases...as-peralta-fue-quien-disparo-contra-exrector/
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2017/06/30/blas-peralta-admite-que-disparo-contra-vehiculo-febrillet
http://almomento.net/se-contradicen-sindicalista-peralta-y-el-diputado-montas-sobre-muerte/188698


Man with machete stopped from entering Metro
A video circulating on social media shows how security agents impeded a man from taking the Metro with a machete in hand. The video shows how the agents try to convince the man to desist and towards the end how he is arrested without putting up a fight. The man is thought to be of Haitian origin.

http://hoy.com.do/increible-hombre-...con-machete-en-mano-pero-seguridad-lo-impide/


Getting stuck in baluster impedes a robbery
21-year old Felix Cristofer Zorrilla (Bocón) got stuck in the baluster when attempting to climb into a dwelling in Consuelo, San Pedro de Macoris at 2am. He is suspect of attempting to rob the dwelling. But Bocon miscalculated, and at one point could not move forward or backward and had to call for help.

News reports say he was apparently preparing to steal a small motorcycle (pasola). The reports say he will receive pre-trial detention after being rescued and arrested by the Police. The Police says that Zorrilla is a native of Hato Mayor who lives in Sabana Perdida, Santo Domingo province.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...austre-de-residencia-buscaba-robar-una-pasola


Police investigate suspect in Gascue murders
The Police are investigating Joel Antonio Mañón Pimentel (Cacón), who is a suspect in the murder of retired Spanish citizens, 85 year old Carlos Carrera and his 70-year old wife Carmen. The bodies of the victims were found on Tuesday, 27 June 2017 in the afternoon.

The Police suspect the apartment janitor and Mañón. The couple, who were stabbed to death, lived in the Residencial El Escorial, apt. 1-A, on Rosa Duarte Street. The forensics scientists suspect the bodies had been undiscovered approximately seven hours after the crime.

Mañón was handed over to the authorities by the president of the neighborhood board where he lives with the intermediation of TV investigative journalist Alicia Ortega. Mañón was described by neighbors as a person who has not had been in trouble before. He was taken to the homicides department at Police headquarters for processing. The parents of the young man are also being investigated.

The assailants stole the car of the couple and abandoned it in Los Alcarrizos.
Also sought in the case is Francisco Durán Rosario.


Casa de Teatro celebrates with Colonial City painting holiday
Thirty-three artists will be setting up to paint at different points of the Colonial City and Santo Domingo, Santiago, La Romana and Sosúa (Puerto Plata) on Saturday, 1 July from 10am to 7pm. The painters are commemorating the 43rd anniversary of Casa de Teatro culture house.

The painters will be at: Parque Colón, Centro Cultural de España, Plaza Guibia, Calle El Conde (several points), Plaza España, Casa de Teatro, Parque Duarte, Parque Padre Billini, Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, Quinta Dominica, Calle Hostos, Calle las Damas, Parque Independencia, Plaza María de Toledo, El Conde steps painting what they see.

The works need to be started and finished on the same day. The works will later be shown and sold at Casa de Teatro block in the Colonial City. The artist gets to keep 50% of the sale and 50% will be donated to Rayo de Sol school that works with children with special needs.

Family concert at the Puerto Plata amphitheater
Puerto Plata is promoting “Vacaciones a todo volume” show with 30 clowns and music by La Pandilla RD, El Nene El Nene la Amenazzy at the Anfiteatro de Puerto Plata on Saturday, 22 July 2017. Also performing will be Grupo Chamakos, Ashley, Keven y Hensy and Kanquimanía. Tickets are for sale at the amphitheater.

The Puerto Plata amphitheater presents monthly shows on the third Saturday of each month.

http://elnacional.com.do/concierto-familiar-en-anfiteatro-de-pp/