Ministry of Energy and Mines puts hold on new permits
Interior and Police grants grace period to renew firearm licenses
Odebrecht-Tecnimont-Estrella wants US$708 M more
Tax Agency hones in on Samana
Peravia senator and governor’s business shut down
Container freight traffic up
Fenatrado truckers paralyze Haina port
Government borrows US$20 billion in less than 10 years
Roberto Henríquez: All need to install water treatment plants
Taiwan Defense Minister visits
Puerto Rico seeks more trade with the DR
Race for Water visits
Carmen Muñoz is new Miss Dominican Republic
Silver for the DR in U18 Volleyball World Championship
DR in the FIBA AmeriCup in Uruguay
Dance the night away
Ministry of Energy and Mines puts hold on new permits
The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) announced it is suspending the issuing of new mining permits for the next 90 days. It also announced it will not be receiving requests for exploration concessions for the next six months. The Ministry said the break is to give time to strengthen the norms through resolutions based on the law that are meant to reorganize the system.
During the suspension period, the MEM will concentrate on updating and complementing the assessment system for mining concessions, so the legal framework is adequate for the new times.
The MEM says the resolution does not affect requests for regularization of exploitation of small mining operations being processed.
https://www.mem.gob.do/index.php/no...-solicitudes-y-entrega-de-concesiones-mineras
Interior and Police grants grace period to renew firearm licenses
The Ministry of Interior and Police is giving persons in arrears with their firearm permit status a grace period from 1 to 30 September 2017 to get their firearm permits in order. There are also reductions in the fees to be paid to encourage compliance. Those that are behind in their permit for two to three years, will only have to pay one year. Those that are four years or more behind, pay only two years to become legal.
http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/163153-gun-renewal-pardon-period
http://mi.gob.do/index.php/noticias...acia-para-renovacion-licencias-armas-de-fuego
Odebrecht-Tecnimont-Estrella wants US$708 M more
The construction of the Punta Catalina coal-fired power central in Peravia province is behind schedule by about a year, as reported in Diario Libre on Saturday, 26 August 2017. Furthermore, the newspaper says that Consorcio Odebrecht-Tecnimont-Estrella, the builder, is requesting that the Dominican government pay an additional US$708 million more than contractually stipulated.
Ruben Jiménez Bichara, executive vice president of the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE), told Diario Libre that what is being contested is US$542.6 million for the extension of the completion of the power central, and US$165.6 million for changes requested in the project for situations previously not contemplated.
The 752-megawatt plant had been scheduled to enter into operation at the end of 2018. Jiménez says works are advanced 80% -- engineering 99%, procurement 98%, and construction 55%. He said the government has already invested US$1.6 billion in the construction. He said talks are scheduled between the parties to resolve the situation.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economia/cdeee-no-cedera-ante-presion-odebrecht-JC8004874
Tax Agency hones in on Samana
For years, few businesses in Samaná have paid taxes to the government. Now, the Tax Agency (DGII) under Magin Diaz says these businesses need to begin to pay their fair share of taxes. The agency met with the business community of Samana last week and said that those who do not meet their tax obligations will be forced to shut down.
Díaz explained that previous to the closure of the businesses, the DGII notifies the businesses so these voluntarily regularize their situation.
The meeting with the DGII head Magín Díaz was organized by the DGII with the collaboration of the Samaná Touristic Cluster (CTS), the Tourism Competitiveness Institute (Incotur).
Present for the Samaná business community were Rafael Blanco Tejera, president of Incotur; Henry Ulloa, president of CTS and Juan Bancalari, president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism Businesses of Samaná (Ahetsa).
Díaz explained that the activity was part of periodic meetings the agency is carrying out nationwide to press the importance for economic development of businesses complying with their tax obligations.
http://dgii.gov.do/noticias/Paginas...e-cierre-de-comercios-la-proxima-semana-.aspx
Peravia senator and governor’s business shut down
The Baní city store owned by senator Wilton Guerrero Dumé and his wife Nelly Melo Matos, who is the provincial governor, was shut down by the Tax Agency (DGII) last week. The closure of department store Gran Maravilla and Maravilla Dama owned by the senator and governor, were part of an operation of the DGII in Baní, capital of Peravia province. The DGII also reported closing the Julio Peña Liquor store.
As reported in El Dia, the DGII shut down the senator and governor stores because thee did not send timely information to the DGII, were not invoicing correctly and refused to install fiscal cash registers.
http://eldia.com.do/negocios-del-senador-de-peravia-son-cerrados/
Container freight traffic up
Statistics from the Dominican Port Authority (Apordom) show that freight trade movement at Dominican ports was up 38.81% for the first quarter of 2017. Apordom says 488,409 freight containers arrived, or 136,542 more than compared to the same period in 2016 when 351,867 arrived to Dominican ports.
Apordom makes the point that while the number of freight containers increased significantly, the number of ships arriving at Dominican ports has remained about the same. Last year 1,431 ships docked at port from January to March 2017 and 1,429 in the first quarter in 2016.
Cargo at Dominican ports was 6,597,721 metric tons for the first quarter 2017, an increase of 532,626 compared to the previous year.
Apordom reports the movement shows the importance of trans-shipment loads, as more cargo is arriving in transit to other ports.
Apordom also reports that during the first quarter of the year, 476,324 passengers disembarked at Dominican ports. This is up 37.22% from the same January-March 2016 when 347,116 passengers disembarked, for 129,208 more passengers by sea.
http://www.apordom.gob.do/archivos/Estadisticas/2017/Informe Estadístico Enero - Abril 2017.pdf
Fenatrado truckers paralyze Haina port
Truckers affiliated to the Fenatrado truckers association blocked cargo operations at the Haina Port on Friday, 25 August 2017. The president of the Dominican Association of Centers and Logistics Operators (Asologic), Salvador Figueroa, said that this kind of action generates losses in the millions of pesos to the country.
He called for the government to act and not allow this kind of protest that is in violation of the Constitution. He said this kind of action should have been controlled after the Superior Administrative Court (TSA) ruled that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce needs to take actions to enforce the law, and impede these anti-competitive acts.
On the morning of Friday, 25 August, the truckers blocked the entrance to the Haina Port for several hours. They were demanding that the Police release 22 of their members that were arrested in Cotuí during a protest in which Fenatrado members forcibly demanded they be awarded the transport of cargo.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...can-perdidas-millonarias-a-sectores-GD8005800
Government borrows US$20 billion in less than 10 years
In May 2007, the national debt, not included the Central Bank debt, was US$7.5 billion. Ten years later, in May 2017, under the country now owes US$20.8 billion. The national nonfinancial public sector debt is now at a staggering US$28,369.8 million as of May 2017. This is an increase of 275.34% over ten years, under the governments of Leonel Fernández and Danilo Medina of the ruling PLD party.
As reported in Diario Libre, in 2007, the nonfinancial public sector debt was 19% of the Gross Domestic Product. Ten years later it is 38.3% of the GDP.
The debt with multilateral organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, the Corporacion Andina de Fomento, the International Monetary Fund was US$1,819.1 million in 2007, increasing to US$4,431.2 million by 2016.
Of the public debt, the locally borrowed increased from US$1.002.6 million in 2007 to US$9,916.3 million as of May 2017, up 889.05%. The foreign contracted public debt went from US$6.555.6 million in 2007 to US$18,453.5 million as of May 2017, up 181.49%.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...us-20-811-millones-en-menos-10-anos-EA7763868
Roberto Henríquez: All need to install water treatment plants
The president of the Santo Domingo Hotels Association admitted that several hotels have not installed residual water treatment plants but said that this is a problem that needs to be resolved in general. He argued that neither high-rise residential towers nor the government offices have water treatment plants. Roberto Henríquez, president of AHSD said that it would be interesting if the government came up with an incentive plan with tax incentives to stimulate the installation of water treatment plants. This should be in coordination with the city governments, and the ministries of Environment and Public Health, among other entities.
“There is not a single highrise that has a water treatment plant, and there are thousands of these structures. There is not a public office that treats its water. It stands to reason that one cannot only place the burden on the hotels, that would be unfair and inappropriate,” he said.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...trito-no-tienen-plantas-tratamiento-MD7995916
Taiwan Defense Minister visits
Visiting Vice Minister of Foreign Relations of Taiwan, Jose Maria Liu, said Taiwan in a near future could develop infrastructure works in the country. He was accompanied by Taiwan ambassador Valentino Ji Zen Tang. They announced that two delegations of Taiwan businessmen will be visiting shortly. More investors could come to follow in the footsteps of Taiwan investors who already operate a major solar energy power plant, a US$115 million investment by General Energy Solutions in Monte Plata.
As reported in Diario Libre, the visiting vice minister said that Taiwan wants to do many things with the Dominican Republic, and above all it wants to buy products.
Jose Maria Liu made the statements after a meeting with the new president of the Chamber of Deputies, Rubén Maldonado, at the Chamber of Deputies. Maldonado met with him together with legislators Orlando Espinosa, Radhames González, Gustavo Sánchez, Máximo Castro Silverio and Victor Suarez.
The offering comes at a time when the People’s Republic of China has increased its offers for construction of infrastructure in the Central American and Caribbean region.
On Friday, 25 August 2017, the visit of Liu was followed by that of Taiwan Defense Minister Feng Shih-kuan. The Taiwan Defense minister visited from 24-27 August, to strengthen bilateral relations and military cooperation between both countries. He was scheduled to meet with Dominican Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Ruben Dario Paulino Sem, the director of the National Investigations Agency (DNI) Admiral Sigfrido Pared Pérez and the National Congress. The Taiwan Defense minister is on a tour that is taking him to the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador through 8 September.
The Dominican Republic is one of a handful of countries that still recognizes Taiwan as China. The DR has commercial relations with the People’s Republic of China.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...ruir-obras-de-infraestructura-en-rd-GC7985844
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/ministro-de-defensa-de-taiwan-visita-el-pais-EE7996732
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40263581
Puerto Rico seeks more trade with the DR
Puerto Rican Secretary of State Luis Rivera Marin was in Santo Domingo on Friday, 25 August 2017, to meet with President Danilo Medina at the Presidential Palace. During the visit he announced a mission of Puerto Rican businessmen would visit soon to reach agreements to facilitate trade.
Also present was Minister of Foreign Relations Miguel Vargas and Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...aleceran-lazos-danilo-recibe-al-secretario-de
Race for Water visits
Seeking to raise the Dominican awareness of the harm human plastic wastes cause to the oceans, the Race for Water solar catamaran science boat docked in Santo Domingo for a three-week visit. Race for Water is organizing talks about how plastic waste can be transformed into an energy resource. The ship visit is coordinated by the Embassy of Switzerland in the Dominican Republic and the Dominican-Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Tourism (CCTDS) with the collaboration of the Dominican Armada and the Dominican Port Authority.
Marco Siméoni, founding president of the R4W, stresses that their goal is to reduce the use and toxic effects of plastic on land and surrounding waters. He highlights that about 80% of marine debris consists of plastic, the equivalent of a truck full of plastic is loaded into the ocean every minute.
The visiting vessel uses only clean and renewable solar energy at all times for propulsion and life on-board. The vessel seeks to spread the message that while plastic is a global problem, the solutions need to be local.
As reported in Diario Libre, Simeoni said that the DR was chosen as a stop because of the great amount of plastic contamination that is apparent on streets, beaches and because they feel their solution proposals are very applicable for the island. They are proposing a technological solution of a French company that transforms plastic waste into a synthetic gas with which electricity can be produced.
Prior to docking in Santo Domingo, the Race for Water boat had been to Bermuda and Cuba.
https://www.diariolibre.com/ciencia...ntaminacion-por-plastico-en-oceanos-NG7998681
http://www.raceforwater.com/
Carmen Muñoz is new Miss Dominican Republic
The representative of Duarte province (San Francisco de Macorís), 24-year old 5’11 Carmen Muñoz Guzmán was crowned Miss Dominican Republic by her predecessor Sal García during a gala that for the first time took place outside of Santo Domingo. The stage of the Gran Teatro Cibao in Santiago was chosen this time to host the contest. 37 women competed for the grand prize, the right to represent the Dominican Republic in the Miss Universe 2017 scheduled to take place in Phoenix, Arizona, USA on 26 November 2017.
The first runner up was Lytza Sofía Álvarez di Crestana from Santo Domingo East, who won the right to compete in Miss United Continents 2017. The second runner up was Jeisy Lucía Rodríguez Estévez, who will represent the country in the Reina Hispanoamérica 2017 pageant. Fourth place went to Zaidy Bello, representing Barahona, who was chosen Miss Quisqueya.
Other awards that event went to Mayelin de la Cruz from La Vega, who won the best reality show, Lytza Alvarez of Santo Domingo East, who won the best typical dress, created by designer Leonel Lirio. Kassandra Montandón, of the National District, won the “best body” award. Jennifer Daniel of Independencia province won the title for the “best smile” and Lorenne de Oleo from Elías Piña was voted Miss Communication.
The favorites of the public were
Zaidy Bello, representing Barahona; Alicia Restituyo, representing La Vega; Dharla Bodden for San Juan de la Maguana; Carmen Muñoz de la for Duarte province and Jeysi Rodríguez, from the host city, Santiago.
https://www.metrord.do/do/entretenc...-munoz-es-la-nueva-miss-rd-universo-2017.html
Silver for the DR in U18 Volleyball World Championship
The lower-seeded Dominican girls volleyball team was the big surprise during the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U18 World Championship that took place in Argentina. The Dominican team played what FIVB described as a “spectacular final match” losing 3-1 to the defending champions from Italy. The game went 25-23, 19-25, 25-12 and 25-20). Dominican Republic fought hard led by Madeline Guillen, who scored 25 tallies.
FIVB reported: “While Italy secured back-to-back titles for the first time of their history, for Dominican Republic it was also a dream run as the Caribbean girls reached the podium for the very first time in this age group category.”
The Dominican team had joined volleyball powerhouses Italy, Russia and Turkey in reaching the semi-finals of the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U18 World Championship taking place in Rosario, Argentina.
To advance in the quarterfinals, the Dominican U18 years volleyball team defeated Russia on Saturday, 26 August 2017, 3-0 (25-17, 28-26, 25-21).
Earlier the Dominican team had been the favorite Poland 3-2 on Thursday, 24 August 2017. The game was played to the limits with the DR team winning the first, second and fifth sets (21-25, 22-25, 25-15, 25-20 and 14-16), and the win was again credited to the stellar performance by Madeline Guillen.
And then on Friday, 25 August, the DR grabbed a 3-0 victory from host Argentina (21-25, 17-25, 18-25).
http://u18.girls.2017.volleyball.fi...etain-girls-u18-crown-after-four-set?id=72686
http://u18.girls.2017.volleyball.fi...lic-craft-an-unforgettable-3-2-upset?id=72422
http://u18.girls.2017.volleyball.fi...ered-our-guard-admits-dominican-star?id=72423
http://u18.girls.2017.volleyball.fi...-russia-and-dominican-republic-reach?id=72580
DR in the FIBA AmeriCup in Uruguay
Dominican Republic national basketball team is in Montevideo, Uruguay for the FIBA AmeriCup. The Dominican Republic will be playing in Group C of the Gropu Phase of the tournament.
Group C of the FIBA AmeriCup 2017 will be played from August 28-30 at the Palacio Peñarol in Montevideo with the participation of the national teams from the Dominican Republic, the United States, Panama and hosts Uruguay. The winner of the qualifying group will qualify for the FIBA AmeriCup Final Four in Cordoba, Argentina.
The 12-player roster for the Dominican Republic is under coach Melvyn López and is made up by Jonathan Araujo, Juan Coronado, Adris de León, Victor Liz, Agnel Delgado, Rigoberto Mendoza, Angel Núñez, Dagoberto Peña, Sadiel Rojas, Edward Santana, Gelvis Solano, Juan Miguel Suero. Of these, Juan Coronado, Victor Liz and Edward Santana were on the Dominican team that made Round of 16 at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Coach López told FIBA: "We are aiming for this group to carry us to the Final Four of the AmeriCup, always concentrating on one game at a time. Our first challenge is against Uruguay (28 August) at 7pm (Dominican time) and it could be the most difficult, so we are going to focus on them." On 29 August, the DR will play Panama at 5pm, and on 30 August, the team will play the USA.
http://www.fiba.basketball/americup/2017/news/dominicans-ready-to-take-aim-at-americup-final-four
http://www.fiba.basketball/americup/2017/Uruguay
Dance the night away
The Raffy Matias merengue band and romantic song singer Ramón Orlando will be performing together at Lucía 203 in the Colonial City. The show, “Romantico y Bailable” is set for Friday, 1 September 2017 as of 10pm. Tickets are for sale online at Ticketexpress for RD$1,000 per person.
Interior and Police grants grace period to renew firearm licenses
Odebrecht-Tecnimont-Estrella wants US$708 M more
Tax Agency hones in on Samana
Peravia senator and governor’s business shut down
Container freight traffic up
Fenatrado truckers paralyze Haina port
Government borrows US$20 billion in less than 10 years
Roberto Henríquez: All need to install water treatment plants
Taiwan Defense Minister visits
Puerto Rico seeks more trade with the DR
Race for Water visits
Carmen Muñoz is new Miss Dominican Republic
Silver for the DR in U18 Volleyball World Championship
DR in the FIBA AmeriCup in Uruguay
Dance the night away
Ministry of Energy and Mines puts hold on new permits
The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) announced it is suspending the issuing of new mining permits for the next 90 days. It also announced it will not be receiving requests for exploration concessions for the next six months. The Ministry said the break is to give time to strengthen the norms through resolutions based on the law that are meant to reorganize the system.
During the suspension period, the MEM will concentrate on updating and complementing the assessment system for mining concessions, so the legal framework is adequate for the new times.
The MEM says the resolution does not affect requests for regularization of exploitation of small mining operations being processed.
https://www.mem.gob.do/index.php/no...-solicitudes-y-entrega-de-concesiones-mineras
Interior and Police grants grace period to renew firearm licenses
The Ministry of Interior and Police is giving persons in arrears with their firearm permit status a grace period from 1 to 30 September 2017 to get their firearm permits in order. There are also reductions in the fees to be paid to encourage compliance. Those that are behind in their permit for two to three years, will only have to pay one year. Those that are four years or more behind, pay only two years to become legal.
http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/163153-gun-renewal-pardon-period
http://mi.gob.do/index.php/noticias...acia-para-renovacion-licencias-armas-de-fuego
Odebrecht-Tecnimont-Estrella wants US$708 M more
The construction of the Punta Catalina coal-fired power central in Peravia province is behind schedule by about a year, as reported in Diario Libre on Saturday, 26 August 2017. Furthermore, the newspaper says that Consorcio Odebrecht-Tecnimont-Estrella, the builder, is requesting that the Dominican government pay an additional US$708 million more than contractually stipulated.
Ruben Jiménez Bichara, executive vice president of the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE), told Diario Libre that what is being contested is US$542.6 million for the extension of the completion of the power central, and US$165.6 million for changes requested in the project for situations previously not contemplated.
The 752-megawatt plant had been scheduled to enter into operation at the end of 2018. Jiménez says works are advanced 80% -- engineering 99%, procurement 98%, and construction 55%. He said the government has already invested US$1.6 billion in the construction. He said talks are scheduled between the parties to resolve the situation.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economia/cdeee-no-cedera-ante-presion-odebrecht-JC8004874
Tax Agency hones in on Samana
For years, few businesses in Samaná have paid taxes to the government. Now, the Tax Agency (DGII) under Magin Diaz says these businesses need to begin to pay their fair share of taxes. The agency met with the business community of Samana last week and said that those who do not meet their tax obligations will be forced to shut down.
Díaz explained that previous to the closure of the businesses, the DGII notifies the businesses so these voluntarily regularize their situation.
The meeting with the DGII head Magín Díaz was organized by the DGII with the collaboration of the Samaná Touristic Cluster (CTS), the Tourism Competitiveness Institute (Incotur).
Present for the Samaná business community were Rafael Blanco Tejera, president of Incotur; Henry Ulloa, president of CTS and Juan Bancalari, president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism Businesses of Samaná (Ahetsa).
Díaz explained that the activity was part of periodic meetings the agency is carrying out nationwide to press the importance for economic development of businesses complying with their tax obligations.
http://dgii.gov.do/noticias/Paginas...e-cierre-de-comercios-la-proxima-semana-.aspx
Peravia senator and governor’s business shut down
The Baní city store owned by senator Wilton Guerrero Dumé and his wife Nelly Melo Matos, who is the provincial governor, was shut down by the Tax Agency (DGII) last week. The closure of department store Gran Maravilla and Maravilla Dama owned by the senator and governor, were part of an operation of the DGII in Baní, capital of Peravia province. The DGII also reported closing the Julio Peña Liquor store.
As reported in El Dia, the DGII shut down the senator and governor stores because thee did not send timely information to the DGII, were not invoicing correctly and refused to install fiscal cash registers.
http://eldia.com.do/negocios-del-senador-de-peravia-son-cerrados/
Container freight traffic up
Statistics from the Dominican Port Authority (Apordom) show that freight trade movement at Dominican ports was up 38.81% for the first quarter of 2017. Apordom says 488,409 freight containers arrived, or 136,542 more than compared to the same period in 2016 when 351,867 arrived to Dominican ports.
Apordom makes the point that while the number of freight containers increased significantly, the number of ships arriving at Dominican ports has remained about the same. Last year 1,431 ships docked at port from January to March 2017 and 1,429 in the first quarter in 2016.
Cargo at Dominican ports was 6,597,721 metric tons for the first quarter 2017, an increase of 532,626 compared to the previous year.
Apordom reports the movement shows the importance of trans-shipment loads, as more cargo is arriving in transit to other ports.
Apordom also reports that during the first quarter of the year, 476,324 passengers disembarked at Dominican ports. This is up 37.22% from the same January-March 2016 when 347,116 passengers disembarked, for 129,208 more passengers by sea.
http://www.apordom.gob.do/archivos/Estadisticas/2017/Informe Estadístico Enero - Abril 2017.pdf
Fenatrado truckers paralyze Haina port
Truckers affiliated to the Fenatrado truckers association blocked cargo operations at the Haina Port on Friday, 25 August 2017. The president of the Dominican Association of Centers and Logistics Operators (Asologic), Salvador Figueroa, said that this kind of action generates losses in the millions of pesos to the country.
He called for the government to act and not allow this kind of protest that is in violation of the Constitution. He said this kind of action should have been controlled after the Superior Administrative Court (TSA) ruled that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce needs to take actions to enforce the law, and impede these anti-competitive acts.
On the morning of Friday, 25 August, the truckers blocked the entrance to the Haina Port for several hours. They were demanding that the Police release 22 of their members that were arrested in Cotuí during a protest in which Fenatrado members forcibly demanded they be awarded the transport of cargo.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...can-perdidas-millonarias-a-sectores-GD8005800
Government borrows US$20 billion in less than 10 years
In May 2007, the national debt, not included the Central Bank debt, was US$7.5 billion. Ten years later, in May 2017, under the country now owes US$20.8 billion. The national nonfinancial public sector debt is now at a staggering US$28,369.8 million as of May 2017. This is an increase of 275.34% over ten years, under the governments of Leonel Fernández and Danilo Medina of the ruling PLD party.
As reported in Diario Libre, in 2007, the nonfinancial public sector debt was 19% of the Gross Domestic Product. Ten years later it is 38.3% of the GDP.
The debt with multilateral organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, the Corporacion Andina de Fomento, the International Monetary Fund was US$1,819.1 million in 2007, increasing to US$4,431.2 million by 2016.
Of the public debt, the locally borrowed increased from US$1.002.6 million in 2007 to US$9,916.3 million as of May 2017, up 889.05%. The foreign contracted public debt went from US$6.555.6 million in 2007 to US$18,453.5 million as of May 2017, up 181.49%.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...us-20-811-millones-en-menos-10-anos-EA7763868
Roberto Henríquez: All need to install water treatment plants
The president of the Santo Domingo Hotels Association admitted that several hotels have not installed residual water treatment plants but said that this is a problem that needs to be resolved in general. He argued that neither high-rise residential towers nor the government offices have water treatment plants. Roberto Henríquez, president of AHSD said that it would be interesting if the government came up with an incentive plan with tax incentives to stimulate the installation of water treatment plants. This should be in coordination with the city governments, and the ministries of Environment and Public Health, among other entities.
“There is not a single highrise that has a water treatment plant, and there are thousands of these structures. There is not a public office that treats its water. It stands to reason that one cannot only place the burden on the hotels, that would be unfair and inappropriate,” he said.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...trito-no-tienen-plantas-tratamiento-MD7995916
Taiwan Defense Minister visits
Visiting Vice Minister of Foreign Relations of Taiwan, Jose Maria Liu, said Taiwan in a near future could develop infrastructure works in the country. He was accompanied by Taiwan ambassador Valentino Ji Zen Tang. They announced that two delegations of Taiwan businessmen will be visiting shortly. More investors could come to follow in the footsteps of Taiwan investors who already operate a major solar energy power plant, a US$115 million investment by General Energy Solutions in Monte Plata.
As reported in Diario Libre, the visiting vice minister said that Taiwan wants to do many things with the Dominican Republic, and above all it wants to buy products.
Jose Maria Liu made the statements after a meeting with the new president of the Chamber of Deputies, Rubén Maldonado, at the Chamber of Deputies. Maldonado met with him together with legislators Orlando Espinosa, Radhames González, Gustavo Sánchez, Máximo Castro Silverio and Victor Suarez.
The offering comes at a time when the People’s Republic of China has increased its offers for construction of infrastructure in the Central American and Caribbean region.
On Friday, 25 August 2017, the visit of Liu was followed by that of Taiwan Defense Minister Feng Shih-kuan. The Taiwan Defense minister visited from 24-27 August, to strengthen bilateral relations and military cooperation between both countries. He was scheduled to meet with Dominican Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Ruben Dario Paulino Sem, the director of the National Investigations Agency (DNI) Admiral Sigfrido Pared Pérez and the National Congress. The Taiwan Defense minister is on a tour that is taking him to the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador through 8 September.
The Dominican Republic is one of a handful of countries that still recognizes Taiwan as China. The DR has commercial relations with the People’s Republic of China.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...ruir-obras-de-infraestructura-en-rd-GC7985844
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/ministro-de-defensa-de-taiwan-visita-el-pais-EE7996732
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40263581
Puerto Rico seeks more trade with the DR
Puerto Rican Secretary of State Luis Rivera Marin was in Santo Domingo on Friday, 25 August 2017, to meet with President Danilo Medina at the Presidential Palace. During the visit he announced a mission of Puerto Rican businessmen would visit soon to reach agreements to facilitate trade.
Also present was Minister of Foreign Relations Miguel Vargas and Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...aleceran-lazos-danilo-recibe-al-secretario-de
Race for Water visits
Seeking to raise the Dominican awareness of the harm human plastic wastes cause to the oceans, the Race for Water solar catamaran science boat docked in Santo Domingo for a three-week visit. Race for Water is organizing talks about how plastic waste can be transformed into an energy resource. The ship visit is coordinated by the Embassy of Switzerland in the Dominican Republic and the Dominican-Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Tourism (CCTDS) with the collaboration of the Dominican Armada and the Dominican Port Authority.
Marco Siméoni, founding president of the R4W, stresses that their goal is to reduce the use and toxic effects of plastic on land and surrounding waters. He highlights that about 80% of marine debris consists of plastic, the equivalent of a truck full of plastic is loaded into the ocean every minute.
The visiting vessel uses only clean and renewable solar energy at all times for propulsion and life on-board. The vessel seeks to spread the message that while plastic is a global problem, the solutions need to be local.
As reported in Diario Libre, Simeoni said that the DR was chosen as a stop because of the great amount of plastic contamination that is apparent on streets, beaches and because they feel their solution proposals are very applicable for the island. They are proposing a technological solution of a French company that transforms plastic waste into a synthetic gas with which electricity can be produced.
Prior to docking in Santo Domingo, the Race for Water boat had been to Bermuda and Cuba.
https://www.diariolibre.com/ciencia...ntaminacion-por-plastico-en-oceanos-NG7998681
http://www.raceforwater.com/
Carmen Muñoz is new Miss Dominican Republic
The representative of Duarte province (San Francisco de Macorís), 24-year old 5’11 Carmen Muñoz Guzmán was crowned Miss Dominican Republic by her predecessor Sal García during a gala that for the first time took place outside of Santo Domingo. The stage of the Gran Teatro Cibao in Santiago was chosen this time to host the contest. 37 women competed for the grand prize, the right to represent the Dominican Republic in the Miss Universe 2017 scheduled to take place in Phoenix, Arizona, USA on 26 November 2017.
The first runner up was Lytza Sofía Álvarez di Crestana from Santo Domingo East, who won the right to compete in Miss United Continents 2017. The second runner up was Jeisy Lucía Rodríguez Estévez, who will represent the country in the Reina Hispanoamérica 2017 pageant. Fourth place went to Zaidy Bello, representing Barahona, who was chosen Miss Quisqueya.
Other awards that event went to Mayelin de la Cruz from La Vega, who won the best reality show, Lytza Alvarez of Santo Domingo East, who won the best typical dress, created by designer Leonel Lirio. Kassandra Montandón, of the National District, won the “best body” award. Jennifer Daniel of Independencia province won the title for the “best smile” and Lorenne de Oleo from Elías Piña was voted Miss Communication.
The favorites of the public were
Zaidy Bello, representing Barahona; Alicia Restituyo, representing La Vega; Dharla Bodden for San Juan de la Maguana; Carmen Muñoz de la for Duarte province and Jeysi Rodríguez, from the host city, Santiago.
https://www.metrord.do/do/entretenc...-munoz-es-la-nueva-miss-rd-universo-2017.html
Silver for the DR in U18 Volleyball World Championship
The lower-seeded Dominican girls volleyball team was the big surprise during the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U18 World Championship that took place in Argentina. The Dominican team played what FIVB described as a “spectacular final match” losing 3-1 to the defending champions from Italy. The game went 25-23, 19-25, 25-12 and 25-20). Dominican Republic fought hard led by Madeline Guillen, who scored 25 tallies.
FIVB reported: “While Italy secured back-to-back titles for the first time of their history, for Dominican Republic it was also a dream run as the Caribbean girls reached the podium for the very first time in this age group category.”
The Dominican team had joined volleyball powerhouses Italy, Russia and Turkey in reaching the semi-finals of the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U18 World Championship taking place in Rosario, Argentina.
To advance in the quarterfinals, the Dominican U18 years volleyball team defeated Russia on Saturday, 26 August 2017, 3-0 (25-17, 28-26, 25-21).
Earlier the Dominican team had been the favorite Poland 3-2 on Thursday, 24 August 2017. The game was played to the limits with the DR team winning the first, second and fifth sets (21-25, 22-25, 25-15, 25-20 and 14-16), and the win was again credited to the stellar performance by Madeline Guillen.
And then on Friday, 25 August, the DR grabbed a 3-0 victory from host Argentina (21-25, 17-25, 18-25).
http://u18.girls.2017.volleyball.fi...etain-girls-u18-crown-after-four-set?id=72686
http://u18.girls.2017.volleyball.fi...lic-craft-an-unforgettable-3-2-upset?id=72422
http://u18.girls.2017.volleyball.fi...ered-our-guard-admits-dominican-star?id=72423
http://u18.girls.2017.volleyball.fi...-russia-and-dominican-republic-reach?id=72580
DR in the FIBA AmeriCup in Uruguay
Dominican Republic national basketball team is in Montevideo, Uruguay for the FIBA AmeriCup. The Dominican Republic will be playing in Group C of the Gropu Phase of the tournament.
Group C of the FIBA AmeriCup 2017 will be played from August 28-30 at the Palacio Peñarol in Montevideo with the participation of the national teams from the Dominican Republic, the United States, Panama and hosts Uruguay. The winner of the qualifying group will qualify for the FIBA AmeriCup Final Four in Cordoba, Argentina.
The 12-player roster for the Dominican Republic is under coach Melvyn López and is made up by Jonathan Araujo, Juan Coronado, Adris de León, Victor Liz, Agnel Delgado, Rigoberto Mendoza, Angel Núñez, Dagoberto Peña, Sadiel Rojas, Edward Santana, Gelvis Solano, Juan Miguel Suero. Of these, Juan Coronado, Victor Liz and Edward Santana were on the Dominican team that made Round of 16 at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Coach López told FIBA: "We are aiming for this group to carry us to the Final Four of the AmeriCup, always concentrating on one game at a time. Our first challenge is against Uruguay (28 August) at 7pm (Dominican time) and it could be the most difficult, so we are going to focus on them." On 29 August, the DR will play Panama at 5pm, and on 30 August, the team will play the USA.
http://www.fiba.basketball/americup/2017/news/dominicans-ready-to-take-aim-at-americup-final-four
http://www.fiba.basketball/americup/2017/Uruguay
Dance the night away
The Raffy Matias merengue band and romantic song singer Ramón Orlando will be performing together at Lucía 203 in the Colonial City. The show, “Romantico y Bailable” is set for Friday, 1 September 2017 as of 10pm. Tickets are for sale online at Ticketexpress for RD$1,000 per person.