DR1 Daily News - Wednesday, 13 December 2017

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Public hospital medics and government sit down to talks
Road patrols are ready to serve you
Drive extra carefully in December
Pension Plan funds at RD$507.6 billion
Inflation at 3.2% from January to September 2017
Women help line
Rosario Espinal: Will the PLD be the Last of the Mohicans?
Nuria Piera will no longer continue at news station
Truckers association tell government who is in charge
Two colonels accused in drugs security breach at La Romana airport
DNCD seizes 11,000 kilos of drugs from in first three quarters
Woman cuts penis of man at cabana
Police identify murderer of Los Alcarrizos woman
National Choir Christmas Concert


Public hospital medics and government sit down to talks
The Dominican Medical Association under new leadership has begun to work closely with the government. 72-hours after assuming the presidency of the Dominican Medical Association (CMD), former association vice president, Dr. Wilson Roa met on Monday, 11 December 2017, with President Danilo Medina at the Presidential Palace. President Medina had not met with Roa’s predecessor, Dr. Waldo Ariel Suero during his presidency.

Also attending the meeting with the President were the secretary general of the CMD, Carlos Roa; Labor Minister José Ramón Fadul (Monchy), physician José Joaquín Puello, and the representative of the Domincian government in the Board of the Dominican Social Security Institute (IDSS), Rafael Rodríguez Sandoval. Also present were the president of the board of directors of the Clínica Unión Médica and member of the Dominican Association of Private Clinics (ANDECLIP), Daniel Rivera and the coordinator of social security for the Ministry of Labor, Gustavo Güílamo.

The Presidency reported the focus of the talks was the comprehensive reform of the health system.

In the afternoon, the new president of the CMD met with the public health authorities at the Universidad Católica de Santo Domingo (UCSD). The meeting at the UCSD was mediated by the UCSD rector, Reverend Jesus Castro Marte. Physicians José Joaquín Puello and Julio Amado Castaños Guzmán, rector de la Universidad Iberoamericana (Unibe), served as witnesses during the meeting.

Also participating in the Monday meeting were officers of the Ministry of Public Health, the National Health Service (SNS), the National Health Plan (SeNaSa) and the Superintendence of Health and Labor Risks (Sisalril). Castaños Guzmán said that there are expectations the needed reforms for the health sector could be in place by January 2018.

Following the meetings, Dr. Roa attributed the differences that lead to many work stoppages to a misunderstanding of the agreement (Pacto por el Sector Salud) signed by the CMD and the government in November 2016. The CMD under former president Dr. Suero organized frequent shutdowns of public hospitals to pressure the government to meet their demands. The work stoppages mainly affected the very poor. They did not affect decentralized government hospitals nor private clinics that work with paying customers or patients with medical insurance.

As reported, the parties agreed to prepare an agenda to discuss differences. Among the points to be discussed are wages, start of the primary care system, public hospital physicians compliance with the agreement stipulations and follow up of future agreements.

The next meeting is set for 20 December at 4pm.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/gobierno-y-gremios-salud-interpretaron-mal-acuerdo-LE8754195
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...dico-previo-al-reinicio-del-dialogo-DB8751885


Road patrols are ready to serve you
The Ministry of Public Works has announced increases in road patrols during the Christmas holidays. Security is being enhanced with 400 extra vehicles as of 12 December 2017 on the roads leading from the seven international airports to ensure the safety of holiday arrivals.

The expanded operation of the road assistance on behalf of the Military and Police Commission of the Ministry of Public Works (Comipol) will be in place through 15 January 2018. Ambulances, mobile mechanics and tire-repairing vehicles, pickups, tow trucks will be on the roads 24/7.

Minister of Public Works Gonzalo Castillo has been mentioned as a possible candidate to the presidency for the ruling PLD party.
http://eldia.com.do/obras-publicas-dispuso-400-unidades-se-desplazaran-en-carreteras/
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...restar-asistencia-por-festividades-navidenas-


Drive extra carefully in December
There were 163 deaths in traffic accidents in December 2016. On average from 2012 to 2016, there have been 193 deaths in December. December is to Dominicans what August is to Europeans. It also is the only time of the year, when the Ministry of Interior and Police removes the curfew on serving alcoholic beverages. This authorization often leads to excess consumption of alcohol, sending out the wrong signal to the population.

As a result, extra precautions need to be exercised when driving during the Christmas holidays in the Dominican Republic. With the curfew on alcoholic beverages lifted, many people will be driving under the influence. Others will be fatigued from partying when on the road.

There is a need to be extra alert. Look both ways when crossing an intersection, regardless of whether you have right of way. Observe speed limits, even if no one else seems to be driving at those speeds.

During the past 10 years, there have been 18,874 deaths for traffic accidents in the Dominican Republic. The country has a very high rate of 29.3 traffic accident deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, according to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO).

In Greater Santo Domingo (the province of Santo Domingo and the National District) there were 3,385 traffic accident deaths from 2007 to 2016.
The most vulnerable groups are people driving on motorcycles and young people. According to the National Statistics Office (ONE) motorists are involved in more than 85% of the traffic accidents and 37% of the victims are ages 15 to 29 years.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...accidentes-fatales-registra-el-pais-HY8753669


Pension Plan funds at RD$507.6 billion
The head of the Superintendence of Pensions (SIPEN), Ramón Contreras Genao, reported on Monday, 11 December 2017, that as of 15 November 2017, the pension funds equity managed by the department amounts to RD$507.6 billion, of which 78.4% corresponds to individual capitalization accounts, equivalent to RD$397,933 million.

He added that 6.5% corresponds to individualized distribution plans; 0.04% to complementary plans; 5.4% to the Social Solidarity Fund, and RD$27,448,000; and 9.7% to the National Teacher Welfare Institute (Inabima).

Contreras Genao highlighted there are 3,679,160 affiliated persons, of which 1,742,718 are active contributors, or 47.37% of the total population in the social security system.

Contreras Genao spoke during the mass celebrating the 16th Anniversary of the start of operations of SIPEN at the San Antonio de Padua Church.

https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...pais-asciende-a-rd-507-648-millones-IB8751578


Inflation at 3.2% from January to September 2017
Core inflation (January to November 2017) in the Dominican Republic rose to 3.2%, primarily due to rising fuel prices. The Central Bank has forecast that inflation by yearend will be 4.0% (±1.0%). The Central Bank reports that the Consumer Price Index was up 0.76% from October figures.

The higher cost of transportation services (mostly affected by rising fuel prices), food and non-alcoholic beverages and housing rising prices accounted for 92.8% of the inflation in November. Likewise, the rising prices of fuel added to inflation.

The Central Bank says inflation was felt more in the northern region (0.99%), eastern region (0.66%), Greater Santo Domingo (0.65%) and southern region (0.59%). The northern region was the most affected by the passing of hurricanes Irma and Maria in September.

https://www.bancentral.gov.do/notas...a-inflacin-acumulada-del-ao-en-320-por-ciento


Women help line
The Attorney General Office announced the start of operations of the call center for assistance to gender crimes. Life Line 809 200-1202 is now an emergency line with national reach for timely assistance and particularly to prevent femicides. The Attorney General Office says that the service previously was only available in the National District and with limited working hours. As of Tuesday, 12 December 2017, the service serves all points in the country 24/7.

Upon making the presentation, Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez explained that a multidisciplinary team composed of a director, a prosecutor, call center telephone operators, supervisors, crisis care psychologists, police officers and assistant lawyers, among others, have been hired and trained for the re-launch of the service.


Rosario Espinal: Will the PLD be the Last of the Mohicans?
Political analyst Rosario Espinal is calling the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) the “last of the Mohicans” of the traditional parties system that has dominated in the country after the fall of Dictator Trujillo in the 60s. She said that the party could suffer the same fate as the other two traditional parties – the PRSC and the PRD. These have languished with electoral results of around 5%, down from being the dominating political party with upwards of 40% of the vote.

She alerted that the present crisis in the PLD could weaken the party. Espinal conjectured the way the party is going all the members will be able to fit inside a small meeting hall of a hotel. The PLD members are divided over whether to hold open primaries, with former President Leonel Fernandez opposing these, and President Danilo Medina in favor. The 2015 Constitution does not allow Medina to run again for re-election.

Espinal, nevertheless, acknowledges that a division of the PLD at this time would not weaken it enough for another party to win the next presidential election because among the opposition there is not a party with enough power to move the pendulum and win the election.

She said a local economic crisis is needed to displace the PLD. But Espinal explained that international conditions are in the country’s favor at the present time; the economy of the US is growing, with very low unemployment, and tourism is at an all-time high in the country.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...-en-sistema-de-partidos-tradicional-DB8751665


Nuria Piera will no longer continue at news station
Best known as a TV investigative journalist, Nuria Piera announced yesterday she will not extend her contract at the CDN media group. Company CEO Manuel Estrella said it was Piera’s decision. He said she had told him a year ago that she would not renew the five-year contract.
Piera said she wanted to dedicate more time to her family. She has a daughter. She will continue with her investigative TV program.


Truckers association tell government who is in charge
Truckers affiliated to the Fenatrado, the local truckers association, have been off work for the past three days to pressure the government to release members that caused a conflict with Malespin construction company in Montecristi. The men were arrested when blocking traffic in Montecristi in a conflict over Malespin construction company cargo.

Fenatrado seeks the business to honor the longstanding and unwritten deal that gives them a privileged share of all cargo leaving ports in the Dominican Republic. For years, Dominican authorities have looked the other way as the truckers have reaffirmed their monopoly on cargo.

When Malespin did not honor this agreement, the truckers did their stuff and by force blocked traffic. This time, the director of the Dominican Port Authority, Victor Gomez Casanova is adhering to Art. 46 of the Dominican Constitution that establishes the free right to transit and Law 70-70 on port security that says that ports are a matter of national security. For that reason, Gomez said he would not allow the truckers to block the entrances to the ports of the country.

Meanwhile, Ricardo de los Santos, president of Fenatrado, warned that the truckers in the country acted as one, even when the stoppage of activities affects the financials of their very own members.

Fenatrado seeks a negotiation with the government. Meanwhile, De los Santos asked for pardon from businessmen and the people for the inconveniences their work stoppage is causing, especially at this busy Christmas time of the year. An editorial in Diario Libre asks why does the government have to negotiate with those that break the law.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2017/12/...norte-rechazan-obstaculizacion-de-camioneros/
https://www.diariolibre.com/especia...mioneros-y-gobierno-debido-a-crisis-CD8764576
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/am/y-usted-por-que-debe-cumplir-la-ley-CC8765602


Two colonels accused in drugs security breach at La Romana airport
An Air Force Colonel and an Army colonel, a first lieutenant of the Police and a military recruit were fired accused of serious dereliction of duty at the La Romana International Airport. The group is accused of allowing the landing and departure of an airplane with an undetermined amount of drugs two weeks ago. Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Ruben Paulino Sem said the men were fired upon recommendations by the commission that investigated the case.

Those fired are Air Force colonel Domingo Figuereo Heredia, who was assigned to the Specialized Corps of Airport and Civil Aviation Security (CESAC) and was security director at the airport. Also relieved of their duties were Army Colonel Robert Antonio Ramírez Pimentel, in charge of the National Drug Control Agency operations at the airport. Police lieutenant Andrés Lorenzo Castillo Padilla, and military recruit Enmanuel Cruz Espinal were also fired. They were all remanded to justice in the case.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...-con-drogas-en-aeropuerto-la-romana-AF8755615


DNCD seizes 11,000 kilos of drugs from in first three quarters
The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) reports the seizure of 11,000 kilos of drugs nationwide from January to September 2017. This includes 9,492 kilos of cocaine and 1,602 kilograms of marijuana and 25,000 grams of heroin.

The largest amount of drugs were confiscated at sea and ports, followed by land operations and airports. DNCD statistics are very similar to those for the entire 2016, when there were busts resulting in seizing of 9,649 kilos of cocaine.

The largest cocaine bust was of 1,902 in June and 1,850 kilos in July, during two sea operations. The Dominican Republic has 1,600 kilometers of coastline.

The provinces where the most busts were carried out were San Cristóbal (1,485 kilos of cocaine from January to March), La Altagracia, El Seibo and Montecristi.

As a result of the efforts to combat drug trafficking, 16,189 persons have been arrested in the busts. Among those arrested were 15,043 Dominicans, 1,162 Haitians and 32 Venezuelans.

http://eldia.com.do/la-dncd-ocupa-11-mil-kilos-en-nueve-meses/


Woman cuts penis of man at cabana
The Puerto Plata police identified as 31-year old Johanny Diaz the woman who severed the penis of 42-year old Samuel Ventura Garcia at a motel “La Sensación” in Cofresí at the entry to Puerto Plata on the dawn of 11 December 2017.

She is under arrest in Puerto Plata. As reported in Diario Libre, Díaz has said she is not sorry. She said that she took the action because of the verbal and physical abuse by Ventura.

Ventura was admitted to the Ricardo Limardo Public Hospital for surgery to try to save his sex organ. Later he was taken to the Clinica José Gregorio Hernandez in Puerto Plata where he is recovering from the reconstruction of his penis in the intensive care unit.

The Police said that Ventura Garcia is a resident in Maimon, but did not indicate where the aggressor is from.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/mujer-cerceno-pene-a-expareja-dice-no-se-arrepiente-XF8766462


Police identify murderer of Los Alcarrizos woman
The Police reported that 22-year old Alexander Hernandez Familia (Alex) has confessed to the murder of his girlfriend 20-year old Steisy Elizabeth Cordero Cruz. Her body was found in scrubland in Los Alcarrizos. She had last been seen by her family last night before leaving home with a friend. During the evening, she published photos on Facebook of herself in a discotheque, but never returned home.

A taxi driver identified as Samuel is also identified as an accomplice after discarding the body at Km 14 of the Duarte Highway. Hernandez said he paid RD$10,000 to the taxi driver to dispose of the body.

http://curiosodigital.com.do/nacion...de-joven-hallada-asesinada-en-los-alcarrrizos


National Choir Christmas Concert
The National Choir is performing at the Convento de los Dominicos on Calle Padre Billini in the Colonial City on 8pm this Thursday, 14 December 2017.

On the program are Christmas traditional songs: Silent Night (Franz Gruber), White Christmas (Irving Berling), Feliz Navidad (Jose Feliciano), Campanitas de cristal (Rafael Hernandez), El burrito sabanero (Hugo Blanco), Mi Navidad (Apolinar Bueno), Jingle Bells (James Pierpoint), among others.