DR1 Daily News - Monday, 24 July 2017

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New Los Alcarrizos public school
300,000 more students to enter extended school program
Taiwan Foreign Affairs Minister visits
Dominicans will not need visas to travel to Honduras
New diplomatic appointments
The too costly elections in the Dominican Republic
Corruption cases in the judiciary
Green March holds Attorney General accountable for Odebrecht deal
Cocaine seized in Boca Chica
DR women finish 8th in World Grand Prix
Chromatic Convergence art exhibition at Ministry of Culture



New Los Alcarrizos public school
President Danilo Medina was in Las Mercedes, Los Alcarrizos, Santo Domingo province, on Friday, 21 July 2017, for the inauguration of the 16-classroom Liceo Elizabeth Lantigua Bonilla. The extended day school has a capacity for 455 students.

During the keynote speech, Minister of Education Andres Navarro highlighted the investment made by the government in hundreds of school nationwide is integral to a high quality of education. He said the ministry invests RD$80,000 a year in each public school student that receives a free education, uniforms, shoes, school supplies, breakfast, lunch and snacks.

The government extended day schools have been attracting many of the better private school teachers offering better pay and better working hours and conditions.

https://www.metrord.do/do/destacado...ga-nuevo-centro-educativo-los-alcarrizos.html


300,000 more students to enter extended school program
Minister of Education Andrés Navarro announced that 300,000 additional students will be attending the extended school day program. This means 1,450,000 students are enrolled in the 8 to 4pm education programs, up from 1,150,000 in the past 2016-2017 school year. Navarro expects that for the 2018-19 school year, another 300,000 students will be incorporated, for some 1,800,000 students benefiting from the modality.

Navarro highlighted how the extended day schools contribute to the quality of life of thousands of families. The children study at better facilities, and get free breakfast and lunch, their books, uniforms, shoes and school supplies.

He spoke when participating in the 11th Edition of the United Nations International Model (Minume 2017) at the Ministry of Foreign Relations Convention Center.

http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...corporaran-tanda-extendida-proximo-curso.html


Taiwan Foreign Affairs Minister visits
Minister of Foreign Affairs of China (Taiwan), David Tawei Lee arrived on Saturday, 22 July 2017 for a five-day visit, through Wednesday, 26 July. The purpose of the visit is to continue strengthening bilateral relations and so that he can preside over the meetings with the Taiwan ambassadors based in Latin America.

Taiwan still maintains relations with the Dominican Republic, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, St. Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The countries are the remaining Central American and Caribbean nations that formally recognize Taiwan in Central America and the Caribbean region. With the exception of Paraguay, all the rest of Latin America does not maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

At the present time, the People's Republic of China is rapidly expanding its diplomatic missions in the region. In the Dominican Republic, a commercial office carries the representation of the People's Republic of China. The Republic of China (Taiwan) has a full diplomatic representation.

It is reported that during his stay in the Dominican Republic, Minister David Tawei Lee will meet with high-ranking government officers, visit the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, the Ministry of Foreign Relations and bilateral cooperation projects in the country.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Dominican Republic established diplomatic ties in 1941. The relationship is such that the Santo Domingo Chinatown features a People’s Republic of China statue on one end, and one of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on the other. The largest Taiwanese investment project, which amounts to USD$110 million, is a new solar power plant in Monte Plata.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/canciller-de-taiwan-visita-republica-dominicana-ML7692943


Dominicans will not need visas to travel to Honduras
Visas will no longer be necessary for citizens of the Dominican Republic and Honduras to visit either country. The agreement will be signed this Monday, 24 July 2017, by Minister of Foreign Relations Miguel Vargas and Honduras Foreign Minister María Dolores Aguero Lara in Honduras.

Both countries have already signed agreements for exchanges in education, modernization, government management, agriculture, agribusiness, women’s issues, health, tourism, citizen participation, small business and institutional strengthening, among others.

http://eldia.com.do/canciller-miguel-vargas-firma-este-martes-acuerdo-supresion-de-visas/


New diplomatic appointments
President Danilo Medina appointed Daniel Guerrero ambassador to Peru. He also named Adonaida Medina ambassador to Paraguay. And Eduardo Quincoces Batista was named ambassador to India.

In other appointments, President Medina named Hector Mojica, a former director of the Ground Transport Technical Office (OTTT) as president of the Consejo de Coordinacion de la Zona Especial de Desarrollo Fronterizo, a border committee.


The too costly elections in the Dominican Republic
Adriano Miguel Tejada, executive editor of Diario Libre, writes in the 24 July 2017 editorial about the high cost of Dominican elections. He says the government spends around RD$20 billion in electoral matters. “I don’t dare to say what could be done with all that money,” he remarks.

“The cost of maintaining the Central Electoral Board (JCE), the recognized political parties and the electoral justice is much more than what a country of our size and population should invest in this civic activity,” he writes.

He proposes the country create just a special court, with judges from the present judicial system, specialized in reviewing electoral matters. This role is now held by the costly Superior Electoral Court (TSE). An article in Diario Libre reports that the TSE costs the country RD$500 million a year, including RD$250 million a year in salaries.

Tejada also suggests shorter electoral controls and the controlling of advertising for fair competition among candidates.

He challenges the country to come up with ways to make the general elections less costly.

The comments are made as Congress closes on Tuesday, 25 July 2017, without the approval of the Political Parties Bill that would control political spending. The new legislature resumes on 16 August 2017.

https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/am/como-hacer-menos-costosas-las-elecciones-KH7696729
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ta-al-estado-rd-500-millones-al-ano-XJ7694213
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...erra-este-martes-primera-legislatura-del-2017


Corruption cases in the judiciary
An article in El Dia highlights that while the Odebrecht case is the most famous one, the Dominican justice is hearing eight high profile corruption cases. These cases are at different phases. Involved are former mayors, prosecutors, military and government officers of all ranks. The cases were submitted by the Specialized Prosecutors Office for Administrative Corruption (Pepca).

These are:
The Tucano aircraft case where Embraer admitted to bribes for US$3.5 million. This case is still in investigation, with four accused.

The National Aqueduct and Sewage Institute (Inapa) where two are accused of fraud for RD$190 million, among other crimes. This case is being heard.

The case against former San Cristóbal mayor Raúl Mendesí for fraud and misappropriation of RD$300 million from city funds. This case is being heard.

Los Tres Brazos case for the irregular sale of government land, with one person under investigation.

The State Sugar Council case where it is known government land was irregularly transacted. This case is under investigation.

The OISOE school construction corruption case, where four were sentenced to five and six years in jail. The case now moves to the appeals court.

The cases of judges accused of corruption in office, with two under arrest as the case is being heard.

The cases of bribes for US$250,000 delivered to a fiscal suspect of favoring an accused in the Banco Peravia case. This case is being heard.

http://eldia.com.do/casos-corrupcion-en-justicia-son-millonarios/


Green March holds Attorney General accountable for Odebrecht deal
Spokespeople for the Marcha Verde (Green March Movement) called for the Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez to follow through with his announced commitment to deliver on the deal made with Odebrecht.

“The deadline expired and the citizenship needs to know whether or not there was compliance, because if Odebrecht did not provide the means of proof, the description of the financial structure used for its illegal operations, then that agreement must be annulled and prosecution begun of the construction company and its political and business allies in country,” said the organization that fights government corruption and judicial impunity.

The movement requested that Rodríguez provide an explanation of the latest findings of the investigation following the signing of the collaboration agreement that stipulated the Dominican Republic officials could have access to definitive proof of business leaders and politicians who may have received bribes in the Dominican Republic to facilitate Odebrecht’s winning of contracts for public works.

The Green March Movement leaders say that the prosecutors are obligated to report to the public and follow-up on the results achieved during the period. The spokesmen for the group said that so far the information provided by the Attorney General is not relevant to the agreement.

http://acento.com.do/2017/politica/...ia-presente-resultados-del-acuerdo-odebrecht/
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...presente-resultados-del-acuerdo-con-odebrecht


Cocaine seized in Boca Chica
The National Drug Control Agency reported the seizing of 1,010 packages suspect to contain cocaine in Boca Chica. The drugs had arrived by sea and was being transported on a pick up detained by DNCD agents as a result of an intelligence operation on the early morning of Saturday, 22 July 2017. Three Dominicans were arrested, several vehicles were detained and evidence was collected.

http://www.dncd.gob.do/dncd-incauta-mas-de-mil-paquetes-presumiblemente-de-cocaina-en-boca-chica/


DR women finish 8th in World Grand Prix
The Dominican women’s volleyball team failed to climb beyond the 8th place in the 25th World Volleyball Grand Prix, falling in the round robin to Italy and Turkey in Bangkok, Thailand. 8th place is the best the Dominican Republic has ever placed. The country was also 8th in 2006 and 2010.

In the final qualification round, the DR defeated Thailand 2-3 (25-17, 21-25, 26-24, 21-25, 7-15), but then lost to Italy 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-15) and to Turkey 0-3 (14-25, 31-33, 23-25).

The DR was playing in Group 1 of the World Grand Prix that groups the best 12 teams in the world. To move on to the finals, the DR needed to be in the top five of the tournament.

The DR finished behind Serbia, the USA, Brazil, Netherlands, Italy, Japan and China.

http://worldgrandprix.2017.fivb.com/en/resultsandrankings/group1#anchorRK1
See excerpts of the game against Thailand in the final round:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQNvob-wwIk


Chromatic Convergence art exhibition at Ministry of Culture
Dominican artists Elsa Núñez, José Perdomo, Lizett Mejía and Barón Arias have come together for the collective exhibition, “Chromatic Convergence” sponsored by the Ministry of Culture at the Sala Ramón Oviedo of the Ministry. 20 works in mixed art forms that shows off the creativity, talent and skills of abstract and figurative art. The opening is on Tuesday, 26 July and the exhibition will continue through 18 August 2017.

The Ministry announced this is the first of a series of exhibitions and visual arts conferences that will take place at the Ministry of Culture in the second half of the year.

https://www.diariolibre.com/revista...s-se-unen-para-presentar-exposicion-LF7689728