He is banned from running, but 2020 election poll puts Medina in the lead
Nothing has changed, but security is increased in hospitals
Driving license numbers increase
Chamber of Deputies supports new UN parliamentary assembly
Puerto Plata back to its better days
Alleged police killer hands himself in
Major drug haul in Jamaica came from Santo Domingo
Leptospirosis on the increase
Supermarket Olé blames store rats on the neighborhood
Better weather on the way
DR defeats Panama in FIBA AmeriCup
He is banned from running, but 2020 election poll puts Medina in the lead
According to a poll conducted by CID Latin America, 64% of registered Dominican voters approve of the presidency of incumbent Danilo Medina and 33% disapprove, another 3% did not express an opinion. The majority (52%) of those polled supports the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), followed by those who back the leading opposition party, the Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM) with 22%. According to the poll, 6% back the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) that ran as an ally of the PLD in the 2016 election; 2% are in favor of the Social Christian Reform Party (PRSC) and 2% favor other parties, with 16% saying they would not vote for any party.
The poll was carried out from 18 to 22 August 2017, among 1,201 people with a margin of error of 2.8 and confidence level of 95%.
The survey asked followers of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), for their preferences. The most favored legitimate pre-candidates according to the 2015 Constitution are Vice President Margarita Cedeño with 24%, former President Leonel Fernández with 18%, Environment Minister Francisco Domínguez Brito 11%, Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García 8%, president of the Senate Reinaldo Pared Pérez 7%, Public Works Ministry Gonzalo Castillo 3%, Education Minister Andrés Navarro 2%. Others 5%, undecided 22%.
President Danilo Medina is prohibited by the 2015 Constitution from running for President. He was also banned from running for re-election in 2016, but the ruling PLD pushed forward a change of the 2012 Constitution so he could run. That Constitution had been changed to enable President Hipólito Mejía to seek re-election in 2012 that he lost to Medina.
Nevertheless, when included in the list of potential presidential candidates, Medina received 42% of the preference of voters, followed by former President Leonel Fernández, who received 18%, Vice President Margarita Cedeño’s popularity as presidential candidate slid to 3%, the president of the Senate Reinaldo Pared Pérez had 3%, Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García 3%, others 8%, and undecided 24%.
The survey also looked into preferences for presidential candidate among the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), the runner up in the 2016 election. Among those aspiring for the presidential candidacy for the PRM, Luis Abinader leads with 54% versus 37% for former President Hipólito Mejía.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/politica/cid-favorece-a-medina-abinader-y-a-margarita-XF8025257
http://www.eleccionesrepublicadominicana.com/encuestas-presidenciales.php
Nothing has changed, but security is increased in hospitals
Headlines and interviews have been carrying the increasing concern of hospital directors and the intentions of government officers to do something about the rising burden of Haitian women giving birth in Dominican public hospitals. But for now, it is all but talk.
Cesfront border security agents have been posted at the entrance of the Dr. Elio Fiallo Public Hospital in Pedernales, on the border with Haiti. The agents were posted after weeks of media reports on how the border has become birthing place for Haitian women seeking free and better quality health services than they could receive in Haiti. At Dominican public hospitals, these prenatal and natal services for indigent pregnant women are free, regardless of nationality. This policy has led to the border hospitals becoming a popular choice for thousands of pregnant Haitian women.
The director of the National Health Service, Nelson Rodríguez Monegro said that the country does not have mechanisms to charge for the births at public hospitals, and Dominican taxpayers will continue to cover the cost of thousands of Haitian women who come here to give birth. Rodríguez observed that medical services at public hospitals in Haiti are not free, creating a major incentive for the women to cross the border to receive free and better services.
It is estimated that each birth costs on average RD$30,000. Dominican hospitals also receive a large number of Haitian women that arrive with pregnancy complications, an additional cost burden to the Dominican health system. In 2016, reportedly, Haitian births absorbed RD$5.2 billion, as reported in Diario Libre.
Listín Diario reports that the women arrive at the hospital to receive free services because in their nearby Haitian community, Anse-a-Pitre, Haiti, they have to pay for medical services.
The Provincial Health Agency (Direccion Provincial de Salud of Pedernales) and the hospital staff are in favor of curtailing the number of Haitian births. The hospital recently says that in week 34 of this year, of 16 births at the hospital, 13 were to Haitians and only three to Dominicans.
Dr. Francisco Medrano González, provincial health director, said that the birthing tourism is consuming the monthly budget of the hospital. He said the hospital must also attend to patients involved in accidents and other health emergencies who arrive to the hospital emergency room.
Likewise, Defense Minister Lieutenant General Rubén Dario Paulino Sem said that efforts are being made to stop the illegal trafficking of pregnant women to border hospitals and those in other areas of the country. He said military physicians are interviewing Haitian women to develop intelligence on the so-called birthing cartels. An editorial in Diario Libre focuses on the string of complicities around the birthing tours that starts at the border crossing. Media reports say that the buses that transport the Haitian women pay out RD$500 bribes to each road checkpoint military so they can pass and are unmolested.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...edernales-para-impedir-parturientas-haitianas
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...l-de-haitianas-embarazadas-a-hospitales-de-rd
http://eldia.com.do/gobierno-sin-mecanismos-para-cobrar-servicios-de-salud-a-haitianas/
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...urientas-haitianas-en-hospitales-rd-AD8036604
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/de-buena-tinta/paren-aqui-porque-las-dejan-pasar-HC8037797
Driving license numbers increase
Getting a Dominican driver’s license is now easier. The executive director of the National Institute for Transit and Ground Transport (Intrant), Claudia Francesca de los Santos says that as of 4 August 2017, the timeframe between the written and driving skills tests has been reduced from 45 to 15 days. De los Santos says from July to August 2017 they had issued 57,150 driving licenses, including 422 issued to the police and 930 to military.
Some 14,193 probationary permits had been issued. 3,103 people took the written test and 837 the driving test. She went on to say that between July and August 2017 they had issued 57,150 driving licenses, of which 55,798 were civilian, 422 police and 930 military.
Of those, 14,193 probationary permits had been issued; 3,103 written exams taken; 837 driver’s skill tests; 11,564 new driving licenses had been issued; 1,873 changes of category; 127 changes from civil to military or vice versa; 21 changes to diplomatic; 69 changes from foreigners to Dominican; 1,566 duplicates had been issued and 23,797 renewals. These figures show a 13.4% increase over the same period last year.
http://hoy.com.do/intrant-ha-ofreci...os-de-licencias-durante-periodo-julio-agosto/
Chamber of Deputies supports new UN parliamentary assembly
On 14 August 2017, the president of the Commission on Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Chamber of Deputies, Victor Suárez Díaz, announced the commission’s support of the campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, UNPA.
The creation of a UN Parliamentary Assembly is promoted as a way to give elected representatives a formal role in the UN and to increase the world organization’s democratic character. It is envisaged as a complementary body that represents the world's citizens and not governments.
Suárez, a member of the governing party PLD, stated: “As president of the Permanent Commission of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, I believe that we need to use our mandate from the Congress to boost public policies that would give a voice to the world’s citizens and would work to the benefit of our peoples. For this reason I commit myself to advance the campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly both at the global level as well as from our region in the Caribbean.”
The endorsement expressed by Suárez was welcomed by the international campaign for a UNPA.
“The call made by the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic in favor of the Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly constitutes a significant step towards the democratization of the UN and the whole system of global governance,” said Fernando Iglesias, a member of the UNPA campaign’s Steering Committee and Chair of the World Federalist Movement’s Council.
“After similar resolutions adopted by the Latin-American Parliament, the Mercosur Parliament and both Argentine chambers, the Dominican Republic’s parliament could become the second one in the Latin American and Caribbean region to support the initiative of giving a real voice to the citizens of the world. The global South, where most of the world’s population lives, asks for more transparency, accountability and democracy at the international and global scale,” the Argentinean politician added.
The campaign’s international appeal for a UNPA is endorsed across party lines by more than 1,500 current and former members of parliament from over 120 countries, among them over 20 from the Dominican Republic.
http://en.unpacampaign.org/10199/do...eputies-supports-a-un-parliamentary-assembly/
Puerto Plata back to its better days
According to Julio Almonte Nina, Deputy Minister for Tourism for the North Coast, the thousands of tourists who have arrived on the last 93 cruise ships at the Amber Cove terminal in Maimon in the province of Puerto Plata, have generated income of around US$10 million that has injected great dynamism in the productive and economic sectors of the province. In pesos that equates to around RD$493,172,145.
Almonte Nina says that the 278,973 cruise ship passengers who arrived, rented 13,000 vehicles, of which 8,755 took taxis, 2,905 buses, 1,076 safari tours and 266 rented a car.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...de-dolares-por-turistas-de-cruceros-FA8031557
Alleged police killer hands himself in
A young man, being actively hunted by the Police for supposedly belonging to a gang dedicated to robbing firearms from police, military and citizens as well as being involved in several homicides in the west of the capital, handed himself in to Noticias SIN, a Channel 9 TV news service. He is 20-year old Suandrys Marrero Reyes, also known as Suandy and/or Suami, resident of Los Alcarrizos, in Santo Domingo province.
Other members of the same gang are Jesús Salvador Valenzuela Lebrón aka El Malo and/or el Malón; Manuel Johan Rubio Severino aka Boca; Abel Agustín Reynoso García aka Paramba; Hamilton Antonio Rojas Guzmán aka Deja, and Edwin García aka Diente, who are awaiting trial.
http://eldia.com.do/se-entrega-jove...r-miembro-de-la-banda-criminal-mata-policias/
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...do-a-banda-los-mata-policias-dice-es-inocente
Major drug haul in Jamaica came from Santo Domingo
The Jamaican Narcotics Police made another major drug bust on Monday 28 August 2017, when cocaine valued at just over US$100 million was found among a shipment of rice at the Kingston Container Terminal (KCT). According to the source, the bags had a total of 78 parcels, each containing white powdery substance resembling cocaine. An initial investigation has indicated that the container travelled from Guyana, to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic before arriving in Jamaica.
According to law enforcement a source, the rice was destined for a local distributor, who detectives are trying to locate. This is the third major drug seizure by detectives from the Narcotics Division in the past six weeks.
In the latest incident, law enforcement sources said the police, accompanied by members of the Customs Contraband Enforcement Team, conducted a snap operation at KCT and immediately trained their focus on cargo from specific containers.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/...kingston-port-police-hunting-rice-distributor
Leptospirosis on the increase
According to the report number 32 of the Epidemiology Department of the Ministry of Public Health (Digepi), in the first eight months of the year, 461 people have been infected with leptospirosis, with the most recent death being recorded in week 32, from 6 to 12 August.
The disease comes from contact with water or soil contaminated with urine or body fluids from infected animals such as rats, pigs and dogs and has increased by 63% in humans over last year, with 294 cases reported at the same time in 2016.
The most number of cases have been in Santo Domingo and Duarte provinces, with 43 deaths so far this year. Veterinarian Ruddy Vasquez Rondón urges measures of control or prevention further outbreaks of the disease. He ties the increase in leptospirosis to contaminated water and unchecked garbage dumps.
He said that most of the humans have been infected when working in rice fields and wetlands as well as those who bathed in contaminated water. Duarte province is a major rice-producing province.
http://elcaribe.com.do/2017/08/29/las-muertes-leptospirosis-suman-43-este-ano/
Supermarket Olé blames store rats on the neighborhood
Supermarket Olé published a paid announcement in response to the shutdown of the store on Av. Duarte after ProConsumidor inspectors confirmed the finding of rats’ feces on their food shelves. ProConsumidor also ordered the shutdown because over 1,500 expired items were being sold.
Nevertheless, the store put the blame for their internal lack of hygiene on the contamination that exists in the Duarte Avenue.The supermarket chain says the store is in an area where there are also more than 5,000 informal shops, where raw and cooked food is sold with no type of sanitary or food safety control.
The paid advertisement said that what happened at their store is an isolated event. The store points to the heavy investment the company has made in material goods and people to maintain the integrity and quality of their stores.
Last week the National Institute of the Protection of Consumer Rights (Pro Consumidor) shut down the Olé on Av. Duarte after rat feces were found on some products. The shutdown came after inspectors determined rats were inside the store circulating on the grocery store shelves.
After around a week closed, the store reopened on Tuesday, 29 August 2017 after paying a fine of RD$2.5 million for violating Law 358-05 on Consumer Protection. MetroRD reports that the flow of customers was back to normal.
http://listindiario.com/la-republic...s-en-su-sucursal-a-contaminacion-de-la-duarte
https://www.metrord.do/do/noticias/...puertas-tras-plaga-de-ratas-en-alimentos.html
Better weather on the way
The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) has forecast rains nationwide due to the passing of a tropical wave, moving west from the Mona channel. Most of the rains will be felt in the southeast, southwest, central mountain range and the border area. The rainstorm, nevertheless, is expected to have passed on its way to Cuba by Wednesday, 30 August 2017.
http://listindiario.com/la-republic...luvias-en-el-pais-temperaturas-seguiran-altas
DR defeats Panama in FIBA AmeriCup
The Dominican Republic national basketball team won a convincing victory against Panama 86-64 in the continuing of the FIBA AmeriCup in Montevideo, Uruguay. The quarter scores were 27-22, 18-19, 18-6 and 23-17. The Dominican offensive was lead by players Víctor Liz, Angel Delgado and Sadiel Rojas.
In a first game, the Dominican men’s basketball team had lost to Uruguay 66-57.
The DR is playing in Group C of the Group Phase of the tournament from 28-30 August 2017. The DR is competing against the US, Panama and hosts Uruguay. The winner of the qualifying group will play 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.
The next game will be against the USA on 30 August 2017 at 8:30pm.
http://www.fiba.basketball/americup...2d0b&iid=6f1d2409-9f32-4d2a-bdc4-58ae163a4054
Nothing has changed, but security is increased in hospitals
Driving license numbers increase
Chamber of Deputies supports new UN parliamentary assembly
Puerto Plata back to its better days
Alleged police killer hands himself in
Major drug haul in Jamaica came from Santo Domingo
Leptospirosis on the increase
Supermarket Olé blames store rats on the neighborhood
Better weather on the way
DR defeats Panama in FIBA AmeriCup
He is banned from running, but 2020 election poll puts Medina in the lead
According to a poll conducted by CID Latin America, 64% of registered Dominican voters approve of the presidency of incumbent Danilo Medina and 33% disapprove, another 3% did not express an opinion. The majority (52%) of those polled supports the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), followed by those who back the leading opposition party, the Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM) with 22%. According to the poll, 6% back the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) that ran as an ally of the PLD in the 2016 election; 2% are in favor of the Social Christian Reform Party (PRSC) and 2% favor other parties, with 16% saying they would not vote for any party.
The poll was carried out from 18 to 22 August 2017, among 1,201 people with a margin of error of 2.8 and confidence level of 95%.
The survey asked followers of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), for their preferences. The most favored legitimate pre-candidates according to the 2015 Constitution are Vice President Margarita Cedeño with 24%, former President Leonel Fernández with 18%, Environment Minister Francisco Domínguez Brito 11%, Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García 8%, president of the Senate Reinaldo Pared Pérez 7%, Public Works Ministry Gonzalo Castillo 3%, Education Minister Andrés Navarro 2%. Others 5%, undecided 22%.
President Danilo Medina is prohibited by the 2015 Constitution from running for President. He was also banned from running for re-election in 2016, but the ruling PLD pushed forward a change of the 2012 Constitution so he could run. That Constitution had been changed to enable President Hipólito Mejía to seek re-election in 2012 that he lost to Medina.
Nevertheless, when included in the list of potential presidential candidates, Medina received 42% of the preference of voters, followed by former President Leonel Fernández, who received 18%, Vice President Margarita Cedeño’s popularity as presidential candidate slid to 3%, the president of the Senate Reinaldo Pared Pérez had 3%, Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García 3%, others 8%, and undecided 24%.
The survey also looked into preferences for presidential candidate among the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), the runner up in the 2016 election. Among those aspiring for the presidential candidacy for the PRM, Luis Abinader leads with 54% versus 37% for former President Hipólito Mejía.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/politica/cid-favorece-a-medina-abinader-y-a-margarita-XF8025257
http://www.eleccionesrepublicadominicana.com/encuestas-presidenciales.php
Nothing has changed, but security is increased in hospitals
Headlines and interviews have been carrying the increasing concern of hospital directors and the intentions of government officers to do something about the rising burden of Haitian women giving birth in Dominican public hospitals. But for now, it is all but talk.
Cesfront border security agents have been posted at the entrance of the Dr. Elio Fiallo Public Hospital in Pedernales, on the border with Haiti. The agents were posted after weeks of media reports on how the border has become birthing place for Haitian women seeking free and better quality health services than they could receive in Haiti. At Dominican public hospitals, these prenatal and natal services for indigent pregnant women are free, regardless of nationality. This policy has led to the border hospitals becoming a popular choice for thousands of pregnant Haitian women.
The director of the National Health Service, Nelson Rodríguez Monegro said that the country does not have mechanisms to charge for the births at public hospitals, and Dominican taxpayers will continue to cover the cost of thousands of Haitian women who come here to give birth. Rodríguez observed that medical services at public hospitals in Haiti are not free, creating a major incentive for the women to cross the border to receive free and better services.
It is estimated that each birth costs on average RD$30,000. Dominican hospitals also receive a large number of Haitian women that arrive with pregnancy complications, an additional cost burden to the Dominican health system. In 2016, reportedly, Haitian births absorbed RD$5.2 billion, as reported in Diario Libre.
Listín Diario reports that the women arrive at the hospital to receive free services because in their nearby Haitian community, Anse-a-Pitre, Haiti, they have to pay for medical services.
The Provincial Health Agency (Direccion Provincial de Salud of Pedernales) and the hospital staff are in favor of curtailing the number of Haitian births. The hospital recently says that in week 34 of this year, of 16 births at the hospital, 13 were to Haitians and only three to Dominicans.
Dr. Francisco Medrano González, provincial health director, said that the birthing tourism is consuming the monthly budget of the hospital. He said the hospital must also attend to patients involved in accidents and other health emergencies who arrive to the hospital emergency room.
Likewise, Defense Minister Lieutenant General Rubén Dario Paulino Sem said that efforts are being made to stop the illegal trafficking of pregnant women to border hospitals and those in other areas of the country. He said military physicians are interviewing Haitian women to develop intelligence on the so-called birthing cartels. An editorial in Diario Libre focuses on the string of complicities around the birthing tours that starts at the border crossing. Media reports say that the buses that transport the Haitian women pay out RD$500 bribes to each road checkpoint military so they can pass and are unmolested.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...edernales-para-impedir-parturientas-haitianas
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...l-de-haitianas-embarazadas-a-hospitales-de-rd
http://eldia.com.do/gobierno-sin-mecanismos-para-cobrar-servicios-de-salud-a-haitianas/
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...urientas-haitianas-en-hospitales-rd-AD8036604
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/de-buena-tinta/paren-aqui-porque-las-dejan-pasar-HC8037797
Driving license numbers increase
Getting a Dominican driver’s license is now easier. The executive director of the National Institute for Transit and Ground Transport (Intrant), Claudia Francesca de los Santos says that as of 4 August 2017, the timeframe between the written and driving skills tests has been reduced from 45 to 15 days. De los Santos says from July to August 2017 they had issued 57,150 driving licenses, including 422 issued to the police and 930 to military.
Some 14,193 probationary permits had been issued. 3,103 people took the written test and 837 the driving test. She went on to say that between July and August 2017 they had issued 57,150 driving licenses, of which 55,798 were civilian, 422 police and 930 military.
Of those, 14,193 probationary permits had been issued; 3,103 written exams taken; 837 driver’s skill tests; 11,564 new driving licenses had been issued; 1,873 changes of category; 127 changes from civil to military or vice versa; 21 changes to diplomatic; 69 changes from foreigners to Dominican; 1,566 duplicates had been issued and 23,797 renewals. These figures show a 13.4% increase over the same period last year.
http://hoy.com.do/intrant-ha-ofreci...os-de-licencias-durante-periodo-julio-agosto/
Chamber of Deputies supports new UN parliamentary assembly
On 14 August 2017, the president of the Commission on Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Chamber of Deputies, Victor Suárez Díaz, announced the commission’s support of the campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, UNPA.
The creation of a UN Parliamentary Assembly is promoted as a way to give elected representatives a formal role in the UN and to increase the world organization’s democratic character. It is envisaged as a complementary body that represents the world's citizens and not governments.
Suárez, a member of the governing party PLD, stated: “As president of the Permanent Commission of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, I believe that we need to use our mandate from the Congress to boost public policies that would give a voice to the world’s citizens and would work to the benefit of our peoples. For this reason I commit myself to advance the campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly both at the global level as well as from our region in the Caribbean.”
The endorsement expressed by Suárez was welcomed by the international campaign for a UNPA.
“The call made by the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic in favor of the Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly constitutes a significant step towards the democratization of the UN and the whole system of global governance,” said Fernando Iglesias, a member of the UNPA campaign’s Steering Committee and Chair of the World Federalist Movement’s Council.
“After similar resolutions adopted by the Latin-American Parliament, the Mercosur Parliament and both Argentine chambers, the Dominican Republic’s parliament could become the second one in the Latin American and Caribbean region to support the initiative of giving a real voice to the citizens of the world. The global South, where most of the world’s population lives, asks for more transparency, accountability and democracy at the international and global scale,” the Argentinean politician added.
The campaign’s international appeal for a UNPA is endorsed across party lines by more than 1,500 current and former members of parliament from over 120 countries, among them over 20 from the Dominican Republic.
http://en.unpacampaign.org/10199/do...eputies-supports-a-un-parliamentary-assembly/
Puerto Plata back to its better days
According to Julio Almonte Nina, Deputy Minister for Tourism for the North Coast, the thousands of tourists who have arrived on the last 93 cruise ships at the Amber Cove terminal in Maimon in the province of Puerto Plata, have generated income of around US$10 million that has injected great dynamism in the productive and economic sectors of the province. In pesos that equates to around RD$493,172,145.
Almonte Nina says that the 278,973 cruise ship passengers who arrived, rented 13,000 vehicles, of which 8,755 took taxis, 2,905 buses, 1,076 safari tours and 266 rented a car.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...de-dolares-por-turistas-de-cruceros-FA8031557
Alleged police killer hands himself in
A young man, being actively hunted by the Police for supposedly belonging to a gang dedicated to robbing firearms from police, military and citizens as well as being involved in several homicides in the west of the capital, handed himself in to Noticias SIN, a Channel 9 TV news service. He is 20-year old Suandrys Marrero Reyes, also known as Suandy and/or Suami, resident of Los Alcarrizos, in Santo Domingo province.
Other members of the same gang are Jesús Salvador Valenzuela Lebrón aka El Malo and/or el Malón; Manuel Johan Rubio Severino aka Boca; Abel Agustín Reynoso García aka Paramba; Hamilton Antonio Rojas Guzmán aka Deja, and Edwin García aka Diente, who are awaiting trial.
http://eldia.com.do/se-entrega-jove...r-miembro-de-la-banda-criminal-mata-policias/
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...do-a-banda-los-mata-policias-dice-es-inocente
Major drug haul in Jamaica came from Santo Domingo
The Jamaican Narcotics Police made another major drug bust on Monday 28 August 2017, when cocaine valued at just over US$100 million was found among a shipment of rice at the Kingston Container Terminal (KCT). According to the source, the bags had a total of 78 parcels, each containing white powdery substance resembling cocaine. An initial investigation has indicated that the container travelled from Guyana, to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic before arriving in Jamaica.
According to law enforcement a source, the rice was destined for a local distributor, who detectives are trying to locate. This is the third major drug seizure by detectives from the Narcotics Division in the past six weeks.
In the latest incident, law enforcement sources said the police, accompanied by members of the Customs Contraband Enforcement Team, conducted a snap operation at KCT and immediately trained their focus on cargo from specific containers.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/...kingston-port-police-hunting-rice-distributor
Leptospirosis on the increase
According to the report number 32 of the Epidemiology Department of the Ministry of Public Health (Digepi), in the first eight months of the year, 461 people have been infected with leptospirosis, with the most recent death being recorded in week 32, from 6 to 12 August.
The disease comes from contact with water or soil contaminated with urine or body fluids from infected animals such as rats, pigs and dogs and has increased by 63% in humans over last year, with 294 cases reported at the same time in 2016.
The most number of cases have been in Santo Domingo and Duarte provinces, with 43 deaths so far this year. Veterinarian Ruddy Vasquez Rondón urges measures of control or prevention further outbreaks of the disease. He ties the increase in leptospirosis to contaminated water and unchecked garbage dumps.
He said that most of the humans have been infected when working in rice fields and wetlands as well as those who bathed in contaminated water. Duarte province is a major rice-producing province.
http://elcaribe.com.do/2017/08/29/las-muertes-leptospirosis-suman-43-este-ano/
Supermarket Olé blames store rats on the neighborhood
Supermarket Olé published a paid announcement in response to the shutdown of the store on Av. Duarte after ProConsumidor inspectors confirmed the finding of rats’ feces on their food shelves. ProConsumidor also ordered the shutdown because over 1,500 expired items were being sold.
Nevertheless, the store put the blame for their internal lack of hygiene on the contamination that exists in the Duarte Avenue.The supermarket chain says the store is in an area where there are also more than 5,000 informal shops, where raw and cooked food is sold with no type of sanitary or food safety control.
The paid advertisement said that what happened at their store is an isolated event. The store points to the heavy investment the company has made in material goods and people to maintain the integrity and quality of their stores.
Last week the National Institute of the Protection of Consumer Rights (Pro Consumidor) shut down the Olé on Av. Duarte after rat feces were found on some products. The shutdown came after inspectors determined rats were inside the store circulating on the grocery store shelves.
After around a week closed, the store reopened on Tuesday, 29 August 2017 after paying a fine of RD$2.5 million for violating Law 358-05 on Consumer Protection. MetroRD reports that the flow of customers was back to normal.
http://listindiario.com/la-republic...s-en-su-sucursal-a-contaminacion-de-la-duarte
https://www.metrord.do/do/noticias/...puertas-tras-plaga-de-ratas-en-alimentos.html
Better weather on the way
The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) has forecast rains nationwide due to the passing of a tropical wave, moving west from the Mona channel. Most of the rains will be felt in the southeast, southwest, central mountain range and the border area. The rainstorm, nevertheless, is expected to have passed on its way to Cuba by Wednesday, 30 August 2017.
http://listindiario.com/la-republic...luvias-en-el-pais-temperaturas-seguiran-altas
DR defeats Panama in FIBA AmeriCup
The Dominican Republic national basketball team won a convincing victory against Panama 86-64 in the continuing of the FIBA AmeriCup in Montevideo, Uruguay. The quarter scores were 27-22, 18-19, 18-6 and 23-17. The Dominican offensive was lead by players Víctor Liz, Angel Delgado and Sadiel Rojas.
In a first game, the Dominican men’s basketball team had lost to Uruguay 66-57.
The DR is playing in Group C of the Group Phase of the tournament from 28-30 August 2017. The DR is competing against the US, Panama and hosts Uruguay. The winner of the qualifying group will play 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.
The next game will be against the USA on 30 August 2017 at 8:30pm.
http://www.fiba.basketball/americup...2d0b&iid=6f1d2409-9f32-4d2a-bdc4-58ae163a4054
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