DR1 Daily News - Tuesday, 19 December 2017

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Forming a Dominican company in three days?
Leonel Fernandez: PLD united and compact for 2020
Canadian centers assist Haitians at the border
Bids to be chosen for Promesecal
Who did President Medina’s oldest daughter marry?
Universities are behind in global accounting practices
Teachers have not received pensions
Dominican scorpion serum used for anti-cancer drug
DEA calls for government to delve in LRM drugs transshipment
Plea for help to restore Trujillo’s house
Accident leaves two dead and two injured
Domestic help accused of complicity in Peguero murder
Soberano Awards wants to hear from the public on who should win
Sustainable architecture solutions at the Centro Cultural de España
MLB brings legends for youth baseball clinic series
Christmas jazz music at the Dominican Fiesta
Orchester Wiener Akademie to play at National Theater
Ricardo Arjona concert in 2018



Forming a Dominican company in three days?
President Danilo Medina ordered that a company now be able to be incorporated in three days, that construction permits take no longer than 60 days and that sanitary registration be completed in 45 days. The announcements are part of the new business strategy unfolded by the National Competitiveness Council after the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report showed the Dominican Republic had slipped 12 ranks in the 2017-2018 ranking. The announcement was made after the meeting on 18 December 2017 of the expanded National Competitiveness Council big business committee President Medina convened to turn the situation around.

The Presidency reported that to reduce from 16.5 days to 3 days the incorporating of companies, the National Office of Industrial Property (Onapi), Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Hacienda and Tax Agency (DGII) together with Executive Branch advisor on competitiveness Ligia Bonetti coordinate the new procedures and present a report on advances by 18 January 2018.

To reduce the issuing of construction permits from 180 to 60 days, a roundtable was created to be coordinated by the Ministry of the Presidency and made up by the ministries of Public Works, Hacienda, Environment, Tourism, Defense, Agriculture and Public Health. Also the Santo Domingo Water Corporation (CAASD), Edes (electricity distributors), Confotur (tourism incentives agency), National Heritage Agency (Direccion Nacional de Patrimonio Monumental), DGII, Fedomu (federation of municipalities) and the National Competitiveness Council that will serve as coordinator. Participating for the private sector will be banker Luis Molina Achecar, for the tourism sector Frank Rainieri and Ligia Bonetti.

For the issuing of the sanitary registrations in 45 days by Digemaps of the Ministry of Public Health, the President ordered the creation of a follow up committee made up by the Administrative Ministry of the Presidency, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Hacienda and National Competitiveness Council. He ordered the country follow the best practices of other countries under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to make agile the local procedures for sanitary registration. He instructed the Ministry of Public Health to strengthen the national test labs so these can make the quantitative and qualitative tests that are necessary to validate the product sanitary registrations.

https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...cir-plazos-para-constituir-empresas-y-obtener


Leonel Fernandez: PLD united and compact for 2020
Former President Leonel Fernandez told all that the PLD would present a united front in its presidential candidate for the 2020 general election in order to ensure another victory for the PLD. “No matter how grim the prognosis is, I can assure you that our participation will be strong and united to ensure the win in 2020,” he said when attending the luncheon of the ruling PLD party to celebrate the 44th year of the party’s foundation.

Fernandez said that the present government of party member Danilo Medina is historical. He observed that by 2020, when the second government of Medina ends, the PLD will have been in government for 20 years in serving the best interests of the Dominican people of the almost quarter of a century. He forecast the PLD would retain power in 2020.

The luncheon held at the headquarters of the PLD was attended by the members of the Central Committee and Political Committee of the PLD. President Danilo Medina did not attend.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2017/12/...pld-ira-unido-a-elecciones-del-2020-y-ganara/
http://eldia.com.do/leonel-fernandez-el-pld-ira-unido-a-un-nuevo-triunfo-en-2020/?2017-12-18


Canadian centers assist Haitians at the border
The International Organization for Migration (OIM), with financial support from the Canadian Government, is carrying out a project in Haiti to assist vulnerable migrants, especially women and children who have been deported from the Dominican Republic. Border Resource Centers now serve to guarantee the safe and dignified return to Haiti for the Haitians return from the Dominican Republic. Psychological support is also provided.

The first center was opened in June 2017 in Anse-à-Pîtres. A second is operating in Belladère, a third in Malpasse and the fourth and final one is currently being built in Ouanaminthe.

According to Carlos Rojas-Arbulu, head of Canadian government cooperation in Haiti, the centers focus on helping non-accompanied women and children who are the most vulnerable and need the most assistance.

From the implementing of the National Foreigner Regularization Plan (PNRE) in June 2015 to 28 September 2017, the OIM has registered more than 229,885 Haitian immigrants who have returned voluntarily or who were deported to Haiti.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...-frontera-para-asistir-a-deportados-DN8807621


Bids to be chosen for Promesecal
According to the Program for Essential Medicines/ Center for Logistical Support (PROMESE/CAL), the government will invest RD$2,884,317,912 for the provision of medicaments to hospitals and People’s Pharmacies.

The director of PROMESE/CAL, Antonio Peña Mirabal, announced that on 19 December 2017, they will reveal the proposals presented by 79 different suppliers who took part in the public tender process.

He explained that there were 301 lines of medicines, 181 of disposable materials, 12 of nutrition and 34 of topical use participating in the tenders.

The People’s Pharmacies are known for their low cost pharmaceuticals.

http://almomento.net/gobierno-invertira-rd2884-millones-en-medicamentos-hospitales-y-farmacias/


Who did President Medina’s oldest daughter marry?
DR1 erroneously published that the oldest daughter of President Danilo Medina and First Lady Candida Montilla had married Angel Duarte. This is not correct. Hoy newspaper published more details on who she had married.

The newspaper reveals that she married Angel Contreras Ojen, son of Marina Ojen Luna y Duarte Contreras Contreras. The father is described as a member of the ruling PLD party.

In sharing more details on the Saturday, 16 December 2017 wedding at the Santo Domingo Cathedral, Hoy reports that the wedding was officiated by Father Gerardo Ramirez Paniagua, who is chaplain of the chapel of the Presidential Palace and parish priest of the parish of San José de Calasanz in Santo Domingo.
The wedding reception took place at the Salon La Fiesta of the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel.

Candy Sibeli Medina Montilla wore a Luis Domínguez ivory organza wedding dress and a tiara by Ricardo Molast. Boba Band played merengue and ballads all through the evening. Hoy reported that those invited were from a selection of the closest persons to the President. The newspaper observes there were less guests than at the previous wedding of the second daughter.

President Leonel Fernandez was both at the church ceremony and at the Jaragua Hotel reception.

President Medina and First Lady Candida Montilla have three daughters -- Candy Sibeli, Vanessa Daniela and Ana Paula. Candy Sibeli is a graduate in Economy from PUCMM in Santo Domingo with masters in Finance from Rochester University in USA and University of London in Finance and Development. Vanessa Daniela is a graduate in environmental law from the Universidad de Palermo in Buenos Aires, Argentina. And the youngest daughter, Ana Paula is a graduate in medicine from the Unibe in Santo Domingo, with graduate studies in Spain.

http://hoy.com.do/celebracion-bodas-medina-montilla-contreras-ojen-luna/


Universities are behind in global accounting practices
The president of the Public Accountant Institute of the Dominican Republic (ICPARD), Felipe Montero, urged that universities adapt their study courses to the new international parameters that cover accounting practices and procedures that our interconnected world demands.

Montero said the accounting schools need to bring their students up to date with the new certified public accounting requirements. He said the ICPARD, the International Federation of Accountants and the Inter American Association of Accounts (AIC) all are ruled by the same new criteria.

“The universities need to understand that it is no longer possible to employ professors that are not up to date on the accounting rules if they want to graduate good professionals,” he said. Montero spoke during a meeting with directors of accounting schools of several local universities with the officers of the IFAC Joseph Bryson, Manuel Arias, Sarah Gagnon and Dana Jensen and the president of AIC, Cornelio Porras. The accounting schools of 22 local universities were invited, but Montero said few attended.

He was critical that the state university, UASD, that has an enrollment of 50% of the students in accounting nationwide, has not been integrated into these cutting edge efforts.

http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...nsenanza-contabilidad-advierte-instituto.html


Teachers have not received pensions
According to the vice president of the Dominican Teachers’ Association, Primitiva Medina, more than 53,000 public school teachers are on a waiting list for their pensions, at 100% of their salaries. This topic forms part of the discussions between the Ministry of Education and the teachers’ union. Most of the former educators on the waiting list were of pensionable age and most had been teaching for over 30 years.

She also said that there were still 20,000 teachers waiting to be assessed by Ministry officials.

http://hoy.com.do/mas-de-53-mil-maestros-esperan-pension-estado/


Dominican scorpion serum used for anti-cancer drug
Arthur G. Mikaelian, founder and chief executive officer of Medolife pharmaceutical company, signed an agreement with the Ministry of Environment for the extraction of venom from Dominican scorpions (Rhopalurus priceps) for the creation of new generation cancer drugs. Environment Minister Francisco Dominguez Brito signed for the Dominican Republic authorizing the breeding of these scorpions for medicinal purposes in Neyba, Bahoruco province.

The company is continuing its research into the Rhopalurusabudi and Rhopalurusbonetti scorpions. The research will have a two-year duration. The Ministry of Environment granted to Medolife exclusive access to the genetic recourse that would be developed for five years.

As part of the agreement, Medolife would incorporate students in the Bahoruco area to participate in the scientific project and the company would donate 100 portions of the anti-cancer supplement Ecozine for use by the nearby communities. The company would share 5% of its net annual earnings from the marketing of Ecozine.

Several Dominican scientists are part of the Medolife team, including Js. Gilberto Concepción, Maria Inmaculada Nuñez, Ramon Enrique Feliz, and Kelvin Guerrero. Guerrero led the investigation on the biochemistry and ecology of the species of scorpion of the Family Buthidae in the Dominican Republic for Medolife in order to identify potential organic compound in the scorpion venom that can be beneficial in cancer treatment.

Escozin is promoted as a natural supplement containing polarized and potentiated, essential minerals extracted from a novel peptide, obtained from blue scorpion serum. It is processed with an exclusively owned and patented polarization technology that potentiates the active ingredients in the blue scorpion serum and supports health at a deep cellular level. The solution is colorless and odorless and can be administered orally. One bottle is used for 30 days of intake and costs US$695.

https://medolife.life/
http://eldia.com.do/alacran-criollo-sera-usado-contra-cancer/


DEA calls for government to delve in LRM drugs transshipment
El Nacional reports that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the United States is pressing for the Dominican authorities to expand investigations into the drug haul of 625 kilos flown in on a small airplane to the La Romana International Airport. El Nacional reports the DEA has pointed out that there may be more persons involved of higher hierarchy than those signaled by the authorities and that there are many details of the investigation must come to light before the case is closed.

The DEA says that neither the air traffic controllers, nor ramp personnel have been questioned. Also, the authorities have not revealed the name of the superior officer who ordered the shutdown of the airport surveillance system.

The El Nacional source says that the DEA is requesting more information on the whereabouts of the US$500,000 (RD$24 million pesos) supposedly confiscated, and who exactly were to receive these funds. The DEA stressed that the investigation should be thorough and that all leads be followed up on in a timely manner.

The 625 kilos were flown in on HK4909G from Cartagena, Colombia on the evening of 24 October 2017. Some 23 bales of cocaine, with 25 packages each were unloaded. Military and employees at the airport have said bribes for RD$24 million were distributed.

Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez ordered Juan Amado Cedano, in charge of the Public Ministry prosecution service, to investigate. As outcome of the case, the Ministry of Defense ordered the removal of Colonel Domingo Figuereo Heredia of the Air Force and colonel Roberto Antonio Ramirez Pimentel of the Army. The first was director of airport security at the La Romana International Airport, and the second was director of the National Drug Controls Agency at the airport.

What is known is that the 625 kilos were shipped abroad on two airplanes to Europe and the United States in complicity with security staff at the La Romana Airport, including the two colonels and first lieutenant of the Police Andres Lorenzo Castillo Padilla and military recruit Emmanuel Cruz Espinal.

Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Ruben Dario Paulino Sem, the president of the DNCD, Vice Admiral Edmundo Felix Pimentel, director of the Police, Major General Ney Bautista Almonte, and the director of Airport Security Corps (CESAC), General Aracenis Castillo de la Cruz have said the investigation is still open and the case will be resolved and there will not be loose ends.

http://elnacional.com.do/dea-presiona-republica-dominicana-extienda-investigacion/


Plea for help to restore Trujillo’s house
Due to the state of deterioration and abandonment, as well as the large size of the building, the City Hall of San Cristobal has confirmed that to restore the mansion that belonged to Rafael Leónidas Trujillo would cost around RD$42 million.

Mayor Nelson Guillén, said that the amount had been determined by an architect who assessed what it would cost to renovate the former dictator’s residence as a tourist attraction.

Mayor Guillen said that the San Cristobal City Hall did not have the resources to restore the building to its original state, and has appealed to the central government for assistance. They have also presented the idea to the Ministry of Tourism. They envision a tourist route taking in this house and others belongings to Trujillo as well as other points of interest in the province.

The San Cristobal home has been deteriorating for decades and was often used by Trujillo for not only his sexual encounters but also to receive personalities and host high-spirited parties. Some of the rooms are like houses in themselves with three bedrooms, living room, kitchen and bathroom. The main structure is famous for its expansive and highly decorated living spaces.

http://eldia.com.do/alcaldia-estima-reconstruir-casa-trujillo-cuesta-rd42-millones/


Accident leaves two dead and two injured
Yesterday, Monday 18 December 2017, an accident in Puerto Plata province left two dead and two injured. The accident happened on the road from Puerto Plata to Navarrete in the municipal district of Maimon, when two motorcycles and a car crashed into each other.

The deceased are 26 year old Víctor Alfonso Sánchez, and Emmanuel Villalona, and the two injured are 18 year old Daribel García Sánchez, and Air Force private Daniel García Sánchez, aged 23, who live in Villa Cañera, in Montellano.Daribel was taken to a hospital in Santiago and Sanchez to the Bournigal Medical Center in Puerto Plata where they are both still in patients. The two who died were on a Gato motorcycle, and the two injured on a X-1000 motorbike. The driver of the grey Honda Civic that crashed into them fled the scene.

http://almomento.net/puerto-plata-choque-motocicletas-y-automovil-deja-dos-muertos-y-dos-heridos/


Domestic help accused of complicity in Peguero murder
A San Francisco de Macoris judge ordered two maids employed at the apartment of Marlin Martinez to be available for periodic presentations to the court and not to leave the country while the investigations into the murder of 16-year old Emely Peguero continue. The girl was subjected to an abortion at the apartment of Marlin Martinez and forensics say she died from a blow to her head.

Marlon Martinez, son of Marlin, is accused of the murder. Peguero was five months pregnant. Maria Balbina Rodriguez Santos and Solangel Miguelina Polo Garcia were employed by Marlin Martinez. Reportedly, Marlin used a bank account of Rodriguez Santos to deposit RD$100,000 that were paid to Bolivar Urena to transport the corpse of Peguero.

http://eldia.com.do/empleadas-de-marlin-martinez-con-medida-coercion/
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ly-sigue-abierto-con-nueva-coercion-BG8811407


Soberano Awards wants to hear from the public on who should win
The organizers of the most important show business awards in the Dominican Republic, the Premios Soberano are asking the general public to nominate online who they feel should be included in the 2018 awards.

The National Association of Showbusiness Chroniclers (Acroarte) and the Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana (Presidente Beer brewery) say the online poll will help them choose the best artists in 12 categories. Access to the poll is from 18 December through the second week of January 2018.

Emelyn Baldera, president of Acroarte, says the poll will have influence in the choosing of the best artists.

https://www.premiosoberano.com/tu-artista-para-el-soberano/


Sustainable architecture solutions at the Centro Cultural de España
We are in the last days to see “Unfinished,” the award winning architectural exhibition at the the Centro Cultural de España. Casas del XVI is sponsoring the Unfinished exhibition that gathers several Spanish entities that reflect on sustainable and responsible architecture. The exhibition shows proposals to the challenges of the world today. The exhibition won the Leon de Oro at the 15th Architecture Biennial in Venice, Italy in 2016.

The Centro Cultural de España is located at Calle Arzobispo Merino in the Colonial City.


MLB brings legends for youth baseball clinic series
Major League Baseball legendary pitcher Yorkis Perez, Francisco Cabrera and Pedro Liriano are participating in free clinics for Dominican youths from Thursday, 21 December through Saturday, 23 December. The three players combine for 16 seasons and 549 games in Major League Baseball.

The event is sponsored by The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) that was founded in 1982 with the mission of promoting baseball, raising money for charity and protecting the dignity of the game through its alumni players.

The clinics will take place in various locations around the Dominican Republic at multiple venues. Clinicians will train at different instructional stations for approximately 200 local youth ages 6 – 16. The clinics will conclude with an autograph session for children in attendance.

Full Legends for Youth Clinic Schedule:
Thursday, December 21:
Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo - 9:30am to 11:30am.
Friday, December 22:
Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo - 9:30am to 11:30am.
Saturday, December 23:
Manny Acta Field, Consuelo, in San Pedro de Macoris - 9:30am to 11:30am.
For more information regarding the clinic, please visit www.baseballalumni.com


Christmas jazz music at the Dominican Fiesta
On Friday, 22 December, enjoy “A Brazilian Christmas Party” with Sabrina & Marjorie and Tadeu Band at the Fiesta Sunset Jazz sessions. Admission is free to the roof top lounge at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel in Santo Domingo. Reservations are recommended.


Orchester Wiener Akademie to play at National Theater
The Fundación Sinfonia, that provides funding to maintain the high quality of the National Symphony Orchestra and contributes to the spreading of the awareness of classical music in the Dominican Republic, has announced the presentation of the prestigious Orchester Wiener Akademie at the National Theater in 2018.

The orchestra takes music lovers back to the early days of classical music with its renditions using the same instruments on which the pieces to today famous composers were originally played in addition to playing contemporary pieces.

The orchestra was founded in 1985 by organist and director Martin Haselbock and is known for its vast repertoire, including pieces from the Baroque, Romanticism and early 20th century classics.

The orchestra will perform on Tuesday, 6 and Wednesday, 7 February 2018.
On the local program are two symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven. The first night (6 February), the No. 1 and No. 3 (Eroica) symphonies will be played. On 7 February, the Creatures of Prometheus and Symphony No. 8 and No. 7 will be played.

Prior to the concert, there will be master musician workshops at the National Music Conservatory.

Tickets to the 6 and 7 February concerts are for sale at the Fundacion Sinfonia: Tel 809 532-6600 and 809 535-8690 or at http://www.sinfonia.org.do

https://acento.com.do/2017/sociales...-presentara-primera-vez-republica-dominicana/


Ricardo Arjona concert in 2018
Guatemalan singer-songwriter Ricardo Arjona, with more than 40 million albums sold, is booked for a performance at the Quisqueya Ball Park in Santo Domingo next 10 February 2018. His performance is part of his Circo Soledad La Gira tour. Tickets are for sale online at http://www.tuboleta.com.do