DR1 Daily News - Tuesday, 6 February 2018

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CDEEE seeks reliable source of natural gas and new investors
DR sustains big trade deficit with US
Curacao seeks to import fruit and vegetables from the Dominican Republic
UASD rector appeals to the Presidency to restore classes at the UASD
Medina could slant Constitutional and Supreme Court of Justice in his favor
No date for next Venezuelan talks in Santo Domingo
Agreement reached with Pawa for stranded travelers
Armada rescue fishermen
Drowning in Puerto Plata
Passenger falls from escalator in Las Americas
Dominican artist is missing in Holland
Diario Libre: Land of mysteries
Davidoff Initiative brings artists to Altos de Chavón
Aguilas advance to Caribbean Series semifinals



CDEEE seeks reliable source of natural gas and new investors
While participating in the Caribbean Energy Conference in Nassau, Bahamas, the executive vice president of the Dominican Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE), Ruben Jiménez Bichara, said the government would be calling by mid year 2018 a tender for more power plants and would favor those fired by natural gas. He also said the government has a goal of transitioning 940 megawatts from fuel oil powered plants to natural gas.

In a press release, the CDEEE executive called for additional private investment in natural gas-fired power plants. He said a reliable source of natural gas at competitive prices needs to be secured.

Jimenez Bichara referenced the 300 megawatts of the Compañía Eléctrica de San Pedro de Macorís, (Cogentrix) and the 430 megawatts of the Quisqueya I y II centrals, as well as the 150 megavatios of the Sultana del Este power plant and the 60 megawatts of Los Orígenes power plant, all in the San Pedro de Macorís southeastern province. This adds up to the 940 megawatts in fuel oil powered plants the governments wants to convert to natural gas production.

During the Nassau 18th Annual Caribbean Energy Conference (25-26 January 2018), Jiménez Bichara gave a talk entitled, “Electricity Sector: Dominican Republic”. At the conference he spoke of advances on the coal-fired Punta Catalina Thermoelectric Central, with capacity for 752 megawatts, scheduled for completion by the end of 2018.

“The construction of a coal-fired power plant was a tactical decision given the difficulty of securing a supply of natural gas in the desired quantity, frequency and price,” he explained. He said the country now offers business opportunities for those interested in supplying around 1,000 megawatts in addition to new investments. He said local demand grows at around 120 megawatts every year.

http://cdeee.gob.do/cdeeesite/cdeee-gestiona-gas-natural-para-conversion-de-plantas/


DR sustains big trade deficit with US
The Dominican Republic has not taken advantage of the DR-CAFTA free trade agreement with the United States, says Antonio Ciriaco Cruz, director of the School of Economics of the state university UASD. On the contrary, from 2013 to 2017, the country has accumulated a trade deficit of US$14.6 billion. US exports to the Dominican Republic have been US$37.09 billion, but the US has only imported US$22.5 billion.

The president of the Dominican Association of Exporters, Álvaro Sousa Sevilla, recently highlighted that for the first time Dominican exports in 2018 will surpass the US$10 billion mark, up from US$9.86 billion in 2016. Of the total, US$4.57 billion was exported to the United States.

The principal Dominican exports last year were: gold (US$1.64 billion), medical instruments (US$972 million), tobacco products (US$655 million), low tension protection equipment (US$402 million), and jewelry (US$396 million). Main imports were refined petrol products (US$1.46 billion), vehicles (US$891 million), pharmaceuticals (US$474 million), petrol (US$446 million).

http://eldia.com.do/rd-acumula-14589-millones-deficit-comercial-con-ee-uu/


Curacao seeks to import fruit and vegetables from the Dominican Republic
Curacao, which in the past sourced fruits and vegetables from Venezuela, is looking to buy these commodities in the Dominican Republic.

Last month the prime ministers of Curacao and Aruba expressed their concern about the closure of the air and maritime borders and any trade with Venezuela. Curacao Minister of Economic Development Steven Martina, representatives of the Dominican government and exporters of Dominican fruit and vegetables met last week to discuss more constant and reliable Dominican exports to the Dutch territories.

In addition, Curacao now has a memorandum of understanding for the delivery and purchase of fruits and vegetables, as well as a letter of intent on the matter, which was signed two weeks ago with Dominican parties.

http://www.freshplaza.com/article/1...ort-fruit-and-veg-from-the-Dominican-Republic


UASD rector appeals to the Presidency to restore classes at the UASD
The rector of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), Ivan Grullón Fernández, met on Monday, 5 February 2018, with José Ramón Peralta, Administrative Minister of the Presidency, to seek a solution to faculty protests that are affecting the start of this semester of classes.

Grullón Fernández said the Presidency would need to provide the additional cash for more classrooms, salary increases, among other demands made by the striking professors.

For their part, the Federation of UASD Professors (Faprouasd) maintained their call for a strike demanding the authorities comply with their promise of a 5% salary increase and an improvement in the working conditions at the university.

http://eldia.com.do/rector-de-la-uasd-se-reunira-con-peralta-para-buscar-solucion-a-conflicto/
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...nero-para-aumentar-salarios.html#.WnjEPZM-ckg


Medina could slant Constitutional and Supreme Court of Justice in his favor
President Danilo Medina could use the majority he has of followers in the National Magistracy Council (CNM) to increase his influence in the Constitutional Court by pushing through four new judges, a report in Diario Libre highlighted on 5 February 2018.

This year three Constitutional Court judges reach the six year terms for which they were appointed and need to be confirmed or replaced. These are judges Leyda Margarita Piña Medrano, Jottin Curry David and Idelfonso Reyes. Another judge, Victor Gomez Berges, has completed his six year term and cannot be re-appointed, given that he has already reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 years.

The same news feature says that Medina could also take advantage of the retiring age of several justices to place persons loyal to him in the Supreme Court of Justice. The president of the Supreme Court of Justice was chosen for a seven year term that ends on 22 December 2018. Nevertheless, he could be elected for a similar period.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ribunal-constitucional-y-la-suprema-CA9112235


No date for next Venezuelan talks in Santo Domingo
A follow up meeting that would have taken place at the Ministry of Foreign Relations between Venezuelan government and opposition representatives on Monday, 5 February 2018, has been indefinitely suspended. The previous meeting took place in Santo Domingo and concluded on 31 January 2018.

President Danilo Medina and Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado had been serving as mediators between the parties. “We have been awaiting confirmations from the parties,” said Hugo Beras, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Relations. Meanwhile, in Caracas, Venezuela, the head of the government negotiators, Jorge Rodríguez said they are ready to sign the agreement with the opposition. He said there are agreements on 99.9% of the points.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ialogo-venezolano-queda-en-suspenso-BX9123560


Agreement reached with Pawa for stranded travelers
The Civil Aviation Board (JAC) and Pawa Dominicana have reached an agreement to resolve the situation of the 12,000 passengers who have bought tickets to fly with the airline up to July 2018. The announcement was made by Luis Ernesto Camilo, president of the JAC.

For those flying to Sint Marteen, Aruba and Curacao it has been agreed to rent several 737 planes and for passengers booked for other destinations it has been agreed to send them on other airlines. He said that a chartered plane would leave on Monday afternoon, 5 February 2018, to Aruba and today, Tuesday 6 February, other chartered planes would leave to Curacao and Aruba. Camilo explained that the aircraft is being chartered via the embassies of Holland and Panama, but that Pawa has to bear the costs.

65% of the travelers will have their tickets reimbursed via their credit cards. Camilo said that around 5,180 people will have their money returned.

Pawa has 21 days to make the refunds and then the investigations will be continued to see if the suspension of the airline will be continue following the 90-day penalization period.

https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...ajeros-y-reembolsar-pasaje-al-65-de-afectados
http://www.jac.gob.do/index.php/not...-de-autorizacion-economica-de-pawa-dominicana


Armada rescue fishermen
The Dominican Armada (Navy) announced the rescue of five men who were on the 60-foot long boat, Miss Matinal that became inoperable near Saona Island on the southeastern coast. The boat was captained by Carlos Durán, who was accompanied by Wilton Manuel Gómez, Ramón Antonio Cabrera, Warlin Guillermo Robaira and Luis Carrasco. The alarm was raised by some fishermen near Saona Island when the boat called Doña Estela went missing. The rescued men thanked the fishermen and the Dominican Armada, and returned to their families. .

The fishermen were making their way to Barahona in the southwest from Samaná in the northeast.

Armada spokesman, Naval Captain Augusto Lizardo said that the men were taken to the Naval Offices in Bayahibe to be checked over by a doctor, where all were certified to be in good health.

http://hoy.com.do/rescatan-cinco-personas-que-quedaron-a-la-deriva-en-alta-mar/


Drowning in Puerto Plata
A rescue unit from the Puerto Plata firefighters unit has recovered the body of a 16-year old who drowned off the beach of El Pueblecito. Alison Veras, from Moca, in Espaillat province, had disappeared on Sunday 4 February, 2018 while bathing together with other people. His aunt alerted the authorities and the search began. His body was sent to the morgue in the Ricardo Limardo hospital in Puerto Plata.

https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...cente-de-16-anos-en-una-playa-de-puerto-plata


Passenger falls from escalator in Las Americas
A French tourist identified as Maurius Alaen Siounanda was descending from the food court on the third level of the Las Americas International Airport and when using the escalator fell down to the first floor when his backpack became tangled. The 37-year old man suffered injuries on several parts of his body received the first aid from the airport medical staff. He tested positive for alcohol intoxication prior to leaving the airport.

A paramedic, who attended the passenger, along with other security officials at the airport, said his left leg was the most seriously injured. After receiving first aid at the airport, he was transferred to the Darío Contreras Trauma Hospital in Santo Domingo.

https://elnuevodiario.com.do/turist...el-del-aila-presenta-intoxicacion-alcoholica/
http://eldia.com.do/un-frances-borracho-cae-del-tercer-nivel-del-aeropuerto-las-americas/


Dominican artist is missing in Holland
A Dominican has gone missing in Amsterdam, Holland (The Netherlands) and the Dominican authorities have been alerted and asked for assistance. Teresa María Díaz Nerio was last seen by family members on 17 January 2018, when she left her home in Amsterdam where she lived with two brothers. The brothers find it unusual that their sister has not answered phone calls or emails.

She is the daughter of Alma Josefina Nerio, a university professor and consultant for municipal issues and gender, who complained the authorities have not done enough to help find her daughter.

Díaz was born in Santo Domingo but is now residing in The Netherlands. She is a graduate in art from Gerrit Rietveld Academy of the Arts in Amsterdam in 2007 and has a masters in art from the Dutch Art Institute in 2009.

The Magaly Pineda Feminist Forum called on the Dominican state for assistance and to take a lead in the search for Diaz Nerio, and urged that Interpol, appoint investigators. Nerio also urged that an official commission involving Dominican embassies in Europe be appointed to investigate the case of the missing artist. According to Nerio, The Dutch authorities have so far only have been reviewing the city surveillance cameras in hopes of finding a clue to the disappearance.

“In such a modern world, with so much technology, there are so many ways to locate a person,” said the mother, complaining her daughter has been missing for 20 days when appearing on a local TV program to encourage the authorities to help find her daughter.

https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...aparecida-dice-madre-de-dominicana-en-holanda
http://hoy.com.do/solicitan-apoyo-p...esa-maria-diaz-nerio-desaparecida-en-holanda/
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...holanda-constituirse-en-parte-civil-GG9118932
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...busqueda-dominicana-desaparecida-holanda.html


Diario Libre: Land of mysteries
Diario Libre in an editorial published on 5 February 2018, observes the lack of closure to many crimes that make headlines in the Dominican Republic. “Here everything happens, but the details of cases are hardly ever revealed,” he writes.

To mention just a few, Adriano Miguel Tejada, executive editor of Diario Libre, mentions all sorts of contraband that is discovered, but no one ever knows who has imported the goods. ”Thus, the responsible person just loses the value of his or her shipment (unless this is returned to person of interest on a technicality) and nothing ever happens,” he writes.

He observes the recent diesel contraband. “To whom was it consigned? What shipping company brought it? The information is known by the Customs Agency, but there is no way to get information on this”, he writes.

Tejada also mentions that the press never was able to report on the free zone industry where the Quirino drug shipment was headed, or who smuggle in alcoholic beverages and cigarettes that are freely sold in local shops. “Those people have distribution channels, that should not be too difficult to trace,” he observes.

Tejada also accuses the Police of no longer sharing information with the press, after being assisted by new international consultants. “All crimes are a mystery, unless there is an up-roar among public opinion.”

He observes that at the DGII any information is protected by discrepancy and news people are told the information is withheld so as not to affect ongoing investigations, until it arrives at the Attorney General’s Office where prosecutors simply report the investigation is at a dead end.

At the Ministry of Foreign Relations even the check stubs were stolen and nothing happens; at the state UASD university finances are secret; and at the Ministry of Education even teachers that failed the standardized assessment tests received incentives.

“A joker told me that all this has been happening ever since politicians diversified into all businesses, because if you investigate, always one of the top echelons will appear, regardless of the party .... you reach your own conclusions,” he writes.

https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/am/el-pais-de-los-misterios-AC9114453


Davidoff Initiative brings artists to Altos de Chavón
International contemporary artists are currently residing at Altos de Chavón where they interact with the art school’s students in support of Caribbean art. The exchanges are part of the Davidoff Art Initiative that supports contemporary art and artists in the Caribbean, strengthens art organizations that work to promote Caribbean art and the rest of the world. The artists will be in residence in La Romana for four months, from January to April 2018.

Participating this year are:
Mimi Cherono Ng’Ok (Kenya), Jan Peter Hammer (Germany), Candice Lin (United States), Paul Haheke (France), art curator Christo[her Ho (Hong Kong) and writer Alejandra Villasmil (Venezuela). The program is coordinated by Albertine Kopp and is in its fourth version.

http://www.davidoffartinitiative.com/


Aguilas advance to Caribbean Series semifinals
After losing its first game in the Caribbean Series, the Aguilas Cibaeñas that are representing the Dominican Republic have won their second and third games moving up to the semi-finals. The DR will now play the Criollos de Caguas from Puerto Rico.

On Monday evening, 5 February 2018, the Aguilas defeated the Cuban team, Alazanes de Granma, 7-1 in the game played in Guadalajara, Mexico. The victory was credited to Brian Evans who pitched the first seven innings.

This is the first time that Mexico, host of the 2018 event, does not make it to the finals.

https://www.listindiario.com/el-deporte/2018/02/06/501629/rd-avanzan-a-las-semifinales
 

adribb0

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Feb 6, 2018
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Excellent news for my team the eagle cibaeñas to classify the Caribbean series, let team to become champion.

"Adriana"