DR1 Daily News - Wednesday, 26 July 2017

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City government proud of Malecón boulevard restoration
No request for housing project yet received at National District City Hall
Report fake drugs
Haiti and DR work on telecom issues
Foreigner Legalization Plan is again be extended
Dominican Republic ranks 120/172 in Save the Children Index
March against standardized medical exam
Factory poisoning in Moca
Four dead in motorcycle carrying seven
Marijuana confiscated
Crime in Boca Chica
Who’s coming for the 20th Festival Presidente



City government is proud of Malecón boulevard advances
City Mayor David Collado in his election campaign had promised to bring back the splendor of Santo Domingo’s sea bordering boulevard that combines the Paseo Padre Billini, the Av. George Washington and the Autopista 30 de Mayo, more than 14 kilometers.

Now Mayor David Collado proudly announces that by 9 August, the contractors will have completed works on the 1.5 km stretch from the Ministry of Foreign Relations (near Av. Abraham Lincoln) to the Av. Máximo Gómez. Lighting of the avenue and spotlights looking out to the sea are being installed. Also illuminated benches, a bicycle route, areas for taking photos and for family recreation.

On the Malecón, the city government has also begun the restoration of the Monumento Fray Antón de Montesinos on the Paseo Presidente Billini eastern side of the Malecón, where it is planning an amphitheater.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...-9-de-agosto-parte-remozada-malecon-EF7711420


No request for housing project yet received at National District City Hall
National District City Hall has said that as of Monday, 24 July 2017, it had not yet received the request for the construction of a 2,000-apartment development where the Metaldom industry is currently located on the sea-fronting Malecón boulevard (in its Autopista 30 de Mayo western extension).

Architect Amin Abel, head of urban planning at City Hall, said that his department had been approached by the developers, but that they had not received the formal project request for authorization.

Metaldom announced the housing development on Monday 24 July 2017, indicating that it was just waiting for approval from the city government.

http://listindiario.com/la-republic...ta-de-metaldom-para-construccion-de-viviendas


Report fake drugs
The Ministry of Public Health has made available a smartphone app that can be used by the public to report suspect drugs, foods and other products. The DigemApps app (free on Google Play) will allow consumers to anonymously report products that they believe may be counterfeit, fraudulent or not meeting health and quality standards directly to the authorities. They will also be able to upload pictures of the suspect goods and each report will be tagged with GPS coordinates.

The app will forward the reports to the Directorate General for Medicines, Food and Health Products of the Ministry that will carry out an inspection of the retail establishment and – if warranted - impose penalties.

Public Health Minister Altagracia Guzmán Marcelino is optimistic that if used to its full potential the app could create a citizen army that would have a dramatic impact on the circulation of illicit and substandard goods in the country.

https://www.securingindustry.com/ph...ic-anti-fake-app-taps-citizen-power/s40/a5166


Haiti and DR work on telecom issues
Haitian and Dominican telecom authorities agreed on Tuesday, 25 July 2017 to find a joint solution to the interference on the border in radio broadcasts (especially in FM frequency) and the penetration of mobile signals from both countries. The president of the board of the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel), José del Castillo Saviñón participated in a meeting with Jean David Rodney, director of the Haitian telecom agency, National Telecommunications Council (Conatel), to discuss the issues.
A press release from Indotel said that the radio interference primarily affects FM stations. Likewise, the penetration of Haitian signals causes activation of roaming in border frequencies resulting in extra charges on otherwise local calls.

The telecom agencies also met to discuss the implementation of land digital television and the distribution of the radioelectric spectrum on the island under the framework of a 2007 agreement. The agreement would be revised with specific joint action plans. A second meeting is scheduled for November 2017.

https://indotel.gob.do/noticias/ind...erferencias-en-la-frontera-dominico-haitiana/
http://acento.com.do/2017/actualida...solucionar-interferencias-telecomunicaciones/


Foreigner Legalization Plan is again be extended
The National Council of Migration has issued a resolution extending the time for submitting identity documents for the National Foreigner Status Legalization Plan (PNRE). The extension will be for a year. The plan originally expired on 15 May 2015, but the deadline has been extended by the government when acknowledging that the delays have been caused by the Haitian government and not lack of diligence by the Haitian applicants. This is the third extension.

Most Haitians who applied under the plan have not been able to obtain identity documents from Haiti (birth certificate, government ID or passport). The proposal is that within the new extension period, applicants (mainly Haitians) should be able to complete the program requirements and legalize their migratory status.

Former Migration director José Ricardo Taveras had warned President Danilo Medina and the National Migration Council to be careful not to extend the term of the National Plan for Status Legalization of Foreigners (PNRE) and much less grant any type of immigration status to immigrants who have not met the requirements established in Decree 327-13.

In a note, Taveras said that Article 3 of Decree 327-13 establishes as the only possible term to be eligible for the plan a period of 18 months that expired on 15 May 2015, and that Article 4 stipulates that aliens whose status is considered irregular "do not qualify nor can be applications be received by the government to address their status. And that these individuals may be subject to deportation in accordance with the Dominican Constitution and laws”.

He stated that not only was the series of extensions of deadlines granted so that foreigners can complete their applications illegal, the temporary, two-year status designated to the beneficiaries of the PNRE has expired. Therefore, Taveras insisted that no more extensions should be granted.

In addition, he said that in articles 25 and 93 of the Constitution, the regime of foreigners is subject to constitutional and legal control, which is why the competence of its regulation is strictly concerned with the National Congress and cannot be changed by administrative decisions or resolutions.

http://hoy.com.do/3a4-2/
http://almomento.net/extenderan-por...ets-plan-regularizacion-de-extranjeros/336647


Dominican Republic ranks 120/172 in Save the Children Index
A report on childhood in the world in 2017 issued by Save the Children has concerning figures about the dangers and threats facing the children in the Dominican Republic. Save the Children’s new global report, “2017 End of Childhood Report: Stolen Childhoods” looks into the “childhood enders”– events and factors that rob children of their childhoods, such as child marriage, infant mortality, extreme violence and displacement by war or conflict.
The report indicates that the well-being of children in the DR are being compromised by early marriages, unsafe and unregulated working conditions, high rates of teen pregnancy, malnutrition, exposure to violence and lack of education opportunities.

The report’s End of Childhood Index focuses on a set of life-changing events that signal the disruption of childhood. It ranks 172 countries based on where childhood is most intact and where it is most eroded. It shows which countries are succeeding, and failing, to provide conditions that nurture and protect their youngest citizens. The DR is ranked 120th out of a total of 172 countries included in the study.

The numbers show there is a mortality rate among the under 5 years of age is 30.9 per 1,000 live births, 12.8 are involved in child labor and there are 97.3 births for each 1,000 girls between the ages of 15 and 19.

In addition, the Dominican Republic is among the ten countries with the highest rate of child homicide with 118 deaths for each 100,000 children between the ages of 0 and 19.

The report reveals that 7.1% of children have poor growth due to malnutrition and 14.6% do not go to school.

In the same study, the USA is ranked the 36th best place to have a child. Highest ranked countries in Latin America and the Caribbean: are Chile (53rd), Bahamas (54), Cuba (61), Costa Rica (66), Argentina (67), St. Lucia (67), Trinidad & Tobago (71), Jamaica (73), Uruguay (74), Suriname (81), Brazil 89, Mexico (90), Ecuador (95), Belize 98), Panama (99), Paraguay (102), Peru (103), Nicaragua (109), Bolivia (14), Colombia (118), Haiti (121), Venezuela (q125), El Salvador (126), Honduras (142), Guatemala (147).

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...mantes-sobre-el-trato-a-la-infancia-KX7707408
http://www.savethechildren.org/atf/...HOOD_INDEX_2017_EASTAFRICA EDITION_LOWRES.PDF


March against standardized medical exam
The state Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) and the Dominican Medical College have announced that they will march in protest against the Proposed Law on the Single Competence Examination.

The information was provided by Rector Iván Grullón when he said the march would be to the Public Health Ministry on 1 August 2017 at 10am, leaving from the Salvador B. Gautier Hospital.

Grullón explained that following several meetings with the medical union based on observations, studies and discussions they believed the project was abhorrent as it damaged the fundamental and constitutional rights of the medical profession. He said that having obtained the title of doctor, “if you did not pass this stupid exam, then you could not practice medicine even though you had the title of a doctor, you were not a doctor”.

The Ministry of Public Health wants to instate the test as a proficiency certification in order to guarantee the quality of service provided by medics. The intention is to replace the present obligatory residence with the certification.

http://eldia.com.do/la-uasd-y-el-colegio-medico-marcharan-en-contra-del-examen-unico-medico/


Factory poisoning in Moca
According to the Ministry of Public Health, on Tuesday 25 July 2017, at least 36 people were poisoned in a tobacco factory located in a Moca free zone. First it was reported that a workman apparently misapplied a chemical used to dry the tobacco leaves. However, later reports said that the company, Inetab Kaubeck, had ordered the tobacco packs to be fumigated with rat poison and that is what caused the problem.

At around 9:30am, those affected were taken to different health centers suffering from dizziness, vomiting, headaches and breathing problems.

Technicians from the Ministry of Public Health arrived at the location to open an inquiry into the incident.

http://almomento.net/moca-mas-de-30...veneno-para-ratas-en-fabrica-de-tabaco/336670
http://elnacional.com.do/al-menos-23-intoxicados-en-fabrica-de-tabaco-en-moca/


Four dead in motorcycle carrying seven
A motorcycle that was travelling from Dajabon, being driven by a man from Santiago, crashed with seven illegal Haitians on board, killing four, including the driver.

The driver was Cristofer Santiago Viallet (Bun), aged 20 who lived in the El Ingenio sector of Santiago. He died while being treated at the public hospital in Santiago Rodríguez.

Three others died, including two women and a child, and the other three on board the motorcycle are being treated in hospitals in Villa Los Almácigos and El Pino, in Dajabón.

Family of the motorcyclist says he worked as a mechanic in a workshop in Dajabon, from where he was contracted to transport the illegals but as he had no experience, he failed in the attempt.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2017/07/...dente-motor-que-viajaban-7-haitianos-ilegales


Marijuana confiscated
The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) has confiscated 98 pounds of what is thought to be marijuana across the country in a serious of raids.

There were two simultaneous raids in Santiago, resulting in five arrests and 50 pounds of marijuana.

In Azua DNCD agents from the DNCD stopped a man in a vehicle that was found to contain 48 pounds of marijuana and at the Cibao International Airport, using a K9 sniffer dog two people were detained.

They were both travelling to Puerto Rico, and were found to have 4 kilos and 245 grams of cocaine concealed in a wheelchair.

http://eldia.com.do/dncd-ocupa-98-libras-de-marihuana-en-operativos/


Crime in Boca Chica
Business owners in Boca Chica are complaining about the high level of crime in the municipality. Representatives of the business community argue that the police, rather than preventing crimes, are aggravating the situation by demanding handouts.

Enrique Félix, president of the Union of Small Businesses in Boca Chica, highlighted that on Saturday morning, 22 July 2017, two individuals held up a tourist at gun point, stole her bag and left shooting in the air, all this only 500 meters from the police station.

He said that rather than the police protecting the tourists that some of their members blackmailed and extorted the tourists. Felix cited an example a group of firefighters from New Jersey who the police threatened with guns and demanded US$200 not to be taken to jail.

Felix reported low occupancy in Boca Chica, estimating this at 50% due to the insecurity.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...n-ola-de-atracos-y-macuteo-policial-MY7706493


Who’s coming for the 20th Festival Presidente
The organizers of the Festival Presidente, the most important music extravanganza that gathers trending music performers held in Central America and the Caribbean, announced the names of several of the stars that have already confirmed their participation in the the 3-5 November 2017 event.

These include:
Juan Luis Guerra, Ricky Martin, Carlos Vives, Maluma, J. Balvin, Farruko, Ozuna, JustinTimberlake, Zion & Lennox, Nicky Jam, Bryant Myers, Bad Bunny, Wisin, Chiquito Team Band, Mozart la Para, Lapiz Conciente, Mark B, El Alfa, El Mayor Clásico.

https://www.diariolibre.com/revista...omienza-a-ser-desde-ya-una-realidad-BC7712560
 
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