DR1 Daily News - Monday, 22 January 2018

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President Medina to Davos World Economic Forum
New money laundering law eliminates bank privacy
Planned Venezuelan talks suspended
Number of undocumented Haitians entering the DR outstrips legal migration
Ministry of Tourism defends high-rise decision, Asonahores seeks meeting
Foreigners arrested in Samana for illegal stays
Ambev now owns 85% of Presidente beer
CEPM invests in Punta Cana power service
Panamanians come to try to rev up more business
Call for passing first job incentives
Leading businessman José Luis Corripio Estrada (Pepín), president of the Grupo
Superintendence of Insurance sued for child maintenance
National Sports Games: 29 June to 8 July 2018
Baseball playoffs: Licey vs. Aguilas
Andrea Bocelli at the Hard Rock Punta Cana



President Medina to Davos World Economic Forum
The Presidency confirmed President Danilo Medina is traveling to Davos, Switzerland on Monday, 22 January 2018, to attend the World Economic Forum that will be held 23 to 26 January 2018. His predecessor, President Leonel Fernandez also attended the important global platform for collaboration.

The Presidency said that Medina is scheduled to return to Santo Domingo on Friday, 26 January 2018.

Five other Latin American heads of government -- President Mauricio Macri of Argentina; Michel Temer of Brazil; Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia; Juan Carlos Varela of Panama; and Prime Minister Mercedes Arraoz of Peru are expected to attend the Forum. Former Spanish President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who together with President Medina has served as mediator of the talks in the Dominican Republic between the Venezuelan opposition and the Maduro government in November, December and January, will be attending.
A closed-door discussion on the Venezuelan political, economic and social crisis is expected to be held, taking advantage of the meeting of the Latin American heads of government.

A follow up World Economic Latin American forum is scheduled for 13-15 March 2018, in Sao Paolo, Brazil. The World Economic Forum on Latin America will convene over 750 global and regional leaders from government, business and civil society at a decisive time for Latin America, as an intense electoral cycle over the next two years promises far-reaching political and socio-economic impacts.


New money laundering law eliminates bank privacy
The Tax Agency (DGII) published in local newspapers and online on Friday, 19 January 2018, the new rules in effect after the Money Laundering Law No. 155-17 has gone into effect.

The DGII warned that tax evaders can no longer hide behind bank secrecy. The DGII calls the attention of factories, vehicle dealerships, construction and real estate companies, jewelry importers, gun vendors and pawn shops are now being subject to scrutiny to comply with the local and international laws as part of the global anti-money laundering efforts.

The new financial legislation establishes a category of Political Exposed Person (PEP) describing someone who has been entrusted with a prominent public function. PEPs generally present a higher risk for potential involvement in bribery and corruption by virtue of their position and the influence that they may hold.

The new rules also instate increased controls on casinos and sports betting shops and additional controls on non-profit organizations.

The new rules also require keeping transaction documentation for 10 years.

The publication of the new rules coincides with the visit this week of a mission of the Latin American Group of Financial Action (Fafilat) and the Global Forum of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

http://www.dgii.gov.do/noticias/Paginas/DGII-publica-cinco-normas-generales-antilavado.aspx
http://www.fatf-gafi.org/
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...eran-sospechosas-operaciones-de-ong-EG9019017


Planned Venezuelan talks suspended
Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas announced on Thursday, 18 January 2018, the suspension of the Venezuelan government and opposition dialogue mediated by President Danilo Medina and Spanish former president Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. The meetings had been scheduled to resume on 18 January in Santo Domingo. There is no new date set.

The suspension follows the recent death of rebel helicopter pilot Oscar Perez in Venezuela.

Speaking in Santo Domingo on 18 January, spokesman for the Venezuelan government Jorge Rodríguez said that the terrorist cell headed by former police inspector Oscar Perez had plans to murder President Nicolas Maduro, the Minister of Defense Vladimir Padrino Lopez and the Vice President Tareck El Aissami, attorney general Tareck William Saab, among others.

https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep.../suspenden-el-dialogo-por-la-paz-de-venezuela
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...tas-planeaban-atentar-contra-vida-maduro.html
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/oposic...-venezolano-poner-nudos-al-proceso-dialogo-2/
http://edition.cnn.com/2018/01/15/americas/venezuela-oscar-perez-dead/index.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...t-police-caracas-nicolas-maduro-a8161506.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/16/world/americas/oscar-perez-dead-venezuela.html


Number of undocumented Haitians entering the DR outstrips legal migration
More undocumented Haitians enter by way of the border with Haiti than those who enter legally, according to a report in Listin Diario published on 19 January 2018. Reporters concluded that the Migration Agency (DGM), the Customs Agency (DGA) and the Specialized Border Security Corps (Cesfront) have the technology to control the entrance and departure of immigrants; but the technology is underutilized.

A military official, who requested not to be named, told the newspaper that there is scant surveillance at crossing points known to be used by the undocumented to enter the country.

https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...ra-hay-tecnologia-de-punta-pero-sirve-de-poco


Ministry of Tourism defends high-rise decision, Asonahores seeks meeting
Minister of Tourism, Francisco Javier Garcia, said that Cap Cana developers had requested permission to build high rises of 30 floors, and Macao developers had requested permission to build 45 floors. Both were authorized to build 22 floors. Speaking when interviewed by journalists during the FITUR trade show in Madrid, Garcia said this is authorized by the Land Plan for the area.

A meeting with directors of the National Tourism & Hotel Association is pending on the authorizations. Asonahores president, Joel Santos, has said the authorization changes the successful Dominican low rise model that authorized a maximum of five floors. In the Dominican Republic, the Ministry of Tourism earlier authorized high rises for Juan Dolio and many of these have become eyesores after being abandoned by the developers.

Asonahores has requested that the Ministry take into consideration that Resolution No. 07-2012 that established that the land use, including building limitations for Punta Cana, Bavaro and Macao beach stretches, an area of over 60 km of beaches, would be in effect for 10 years.

Asonahores also says that the dispositions also violates various articles, including Article 30, in Law 107-13 that refers to the rights of persons in their relations with the government and administrative procedures. This article declares that all rulings and programs of public administration must be the result of a transparent and participatory procedure that Asonahores says has not been met in terms of the changes that are now known. Asonahores says a public hearing or discussion was not called.

https://www.listindiario.com/econom...res-y-afirma-decision-esta-viciada-de-nulidad
http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/164642-THE-NEW-PUNTA-CANA-SCANDAL?highlight=high+rise


Foreigners arrested in Samaná for illegal stays
The Migration Agency (DGM) announced the arrest on Thursday, 18 January 2018, of 939 foreigners in Las Terrenas, Samaná. DGM inspectors visited the communities of Entrada La Bonita, Entrada del Boulevar del Atlántico, Entrada La Ceiba, Cruce de Sánchez, Puesto Come Pan, Puesto Jaimito and Puesto La Bodega. Also participating in the operation were military and Public Ministry officials.

The DGM reported that 210 undocumented Haitian nationals were sent to Dajabón for deporting to Haiti. The note from the Migration Agency does not detail the nationalities of the other foreigners found to be here without proper documents.

The DGM says it has been carried out migratory inspections in Duarte, Espaillat, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, María Trinidad Sánchez, Puerto Plata, San José de Ocoa, Samaná, Santo Domingo, Santiago Rodríguez and Santiago to check for compliance of Migration Law 285-04.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/01/...s-de-900-extranjeros-en-operativos-en-samana/
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...anjeros-situacion-irregular.html#.WmD0FlQ-e9s


Ambev now owns 85% of Presidente beer
The government collected RD$9.47 billion in taxes after the approval of the second part of the sale of E. León Jimenes Corporation to the Brazilian multinational company, Ambev. The local owners now retain 15% of the company that is responsible for Presidente beer and Marlboro cigarettes, among other products.

https://www.diariolibre.com/economia/nueva-adquisicion-de-ambev-deja-al-estado-9-471-mm-XC9015437


CEPM invests in Punta Cana power service
Rolando Gonzalez Bunster, chief executive of the Consorcio Energetico Punta Cana-Macao (CEPM), the largest electricity provider in the eastern region, announced during the Madrid FITUR tourism fair in Madrid that the company is investing US$140 million in a 90-megawatt natural gas and diesel-powered plant for the Bavaro hotel and residential area in Punta Cana. The construction of the power plant will be concluded in November 2018. Likewise, the company will build a solar energy park for another 25 megawatts with construction scheduled to start in March 2018. The plants are under construction to serve the demand from the rapidly developing Punta Cana tourism destination.

The company says they are also contemplating investing US$20 million in a solid waste treatment plant with capacity for 400 tons of waste.

Power generation and distribution in the Punta Cana area is private, with CEPM being the leading provider.

http://eldia.com.do/cepm-construye-nueva-planta/


Panamanians come to try to rev up more business
A Panamanian business mission is traveling to the Dominican Republic from 20-23 March 2018, for business to business meetings with local colleagues. The Panamanians are interested in new market opportunities. The mission is organized by the Panamanian Agency for Promotion of Investments and Exports (ProInvex), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industries of Panama (MICI).

On the schedule is a workshop on doing business in the Dominican Republic.
The Ministry of Commerce of Panama says that trade between the two countries in 2016 reached US$553 million, primarily seafood, industrial and agribusiness products.

The Dominican Republic and Panama have signed a Partial Scope Trade Agreement covering around 200 products. The Panama government and businesses have been negotiating with the Dominican Republic authorities since April 2017. This mission represents the next phase of the negotiations.

https://elnuevodiario.com.do/empresarios-panamenos-viajaran-rd-marzo-rueda-negocios/


Call for passing first job incentives
Leading businessman José Luis Corripio Estrada (Pepín), president of the Grupo Corripio, urged that legislators pass First Job Code that includes measures to encourage businesses to hire more young people for an extended trial period of two to three years. He said the present lack of opportunities for unemployed young people can lead to social problems. Corripio Estrada said if there are not any changes in the labor requirements for company, “we are never going to have young people working, and we are all going to bear the consequences because of increased rates of social conflict and despair among young people who are either unemployed or underemployed.

Corripio noted that in modern societies businesses create the jobs. He warned that the government cannot continue to create fake jobs (botellas) because this does not tackle the unemployment problem or contribute to the development of the country. He said the role of the government is to create the conditions for businesses and entrepreneurs to generate the jobs and wealth.

He said that within 15 to 20 years the jobless number of university educated young professionals could reach 200,000 to 300,000.

Corripio also called for a reduction in taxes for small businesses. He criticized that small business fall under the same tax schemes as big business. Corripio noted that there is a lot of propaganda from the government to encourage businesses to join the formal sector, but the obstacles that these small businesses face make that notion a fantasy.

Corripio participated in the “Jobs and Taxes” conference on occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the Federacion Dominicana de Comerciantes at the Barcelo Santo Domingo. The president of the Federacion Dominicana de Comerciantes also spoke of the high cost of doing business. He said that in addition to wages, the additional costs per hired worker are around 50% of wages in the country. He said this works against competitiveness and called for the tax agency to recognize that companies make a legal provision fund to cover severance of employees.

Also present at the conference were Tax Agency director Magin Diaz, Industry & Commerce Minister Nelson Toca Simó, businessman Manuel Estrella and police director, Mayor General Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte.

http://elnacional.com.do/advierte-consecuencias-de-la-falta-de-empleos/


Superintendence of Insurance sued for child maintenance
TV investigative journalist Nuria Piera has shared with her viewers the plight of the mother of a four-year old boy, fathered by 81-year old Superintendence of Insurance Euclides Gutierrez, as a call for more regular child support payments. A DNA test a year and a half ago proved Gutierrez was the father, after which Gutierrez assumed child support responsibilities.

A report in El Nuevo Diario reviewed documents that show Gutierrez has contributed to the maintenance of the child with eight checks ranging from RD$95,000 to RD$60,000 paid in 2017.

Venus Marielle Almonte Miranda says the cost of care for the child is expensive because he was born with microcephalia and is autistic. She also is protested a legal effort by Gutierrez to obtain the custody of the child. The baby was born when Almonte was 21 and Gutierrez 78 years old.

Gutierrez has been Superintendent of Insurance since 2012. Piera says he receives a monthly salary of RD$800,000 in the position.

Gutierrez in the past made headlines when he accumulated arrears for power usage at his home for RD$3 million with the power distribution company and refused to pay the debt when Celso Marranzini was the administrator of the CDEEE. After the case went public, he would reach a payment agreement with the power company.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-IlEwl3b40
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/joven-...z-felix-lo-denuncia-por-no-pagar-manutencion/


National Sports Games: 29 June to 8 July 2018
The Ministry of Sports announced the celebration of the National Sports Games in the summer of 2018. Initially a spring date had been announced. The event will take place 29 June to 8 July 2018, and athletes from all around the country will compete in 11 sports in the Salcedo Games.

Minister of Sports Danilo Diaz said the government will build an apartment complex of 224 apartments to serve as sports village for the estimated 4,000 athletes that will participate in the event.

https://www.listindiario.com/el-dep...a-para-jn-seran-del-29-de-junio-al-8-de-julio


Baseball playoffs: Licey vs. Aguilas
In the Sunday, 21 January 2018 game, the Aguilas Cibaeñas didn’t give the Leones del Escogido a chance, winning 7-0 at the Aguilas’ home stadium, the Cibao Ball Park in Santiago. The Aguilas will now now match the Tigres del Licey in the playoffs of the Dominican Winter Professional Baseball Championship.

Pitcher Richelson Peña of the Aguilas was the hero of the evening during which he pitched for seven innings. Danny Santana batted two home runs.

Earlier, on Saturday, 20 January the Leones (9 wins, 9 losses) and Aguilas (9 wins, 9 losses) had defeated the Licey and Gigantes, respectively to gain the right to play on Sunday to decide who would match the Licey in the playoffs. Lidom says because of all the delays, the playoffs will now be a 5-5 series, instead of 9-5.

This is the 39th time the Aguilas make the playoffs. In 20 of those times, they faced the Licey, winning nine of those matches.

The playoffs start on Tuesday, 23 January 2018, at the Quisqueya Ball Park in Santo Domingo. The winner of the series will travel to Guadalajara, Mexico for the Caribbean Series against teams from Mexico, Venezuela and Puerto Rico to be held 2-8 February.

https://www.listindiario.com/el-dep...as-disputaran-este-domingo-juego-de-desempate
http://www.lidom.com/home/calendario/
http://estadisticas.lidom.com/Estadisticas/Inicio
http://dr1.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/48-Dominican-Baseball


Andrea Bocelli at the Hard Rock Punta Cana
The Italian singer Andrea Bocelli returns to the Dominican Republic and is booked by SD Concerts for a presentation at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the northern Macao area of Punta Cana. The concert is set for Saturday, 24 February at the Filmore Hall of the hotel. He will be accompanied by a 60-musician symphony orchestra. Tickets start at RD$7,000 and are for sale online at tuboleta.com.do