Ministry of Environment publishes effort to stop illegal mining of rivers
Watch that cheese! Expired cheeses stopped in Customs
Opposition parties’ consensus on political parties and electoral bills
Minister of Environment announces he wants to be the PLD candidate in 2020
Puerto Plata institutions join forces to urge the public not to consume parrot fish
San Juan legislator: Where is the hydrogeologic study for Romero?
Alicia Ortega presents the pros and cons of the GoldQuest Romero Project
Rum products to appeal rejection of request for country brand
Gildan donates RD$2 million to San Pedro orphanage
Women’s groups campaign pro abortion
Costly wedding? Police decide to find savings in numbers
Santiago prosecutors say they will appeal customs fraud case
Miguel Ángel Muñoz Pereyra to jail for drug trafficking
Dominican team for the FIBA Americas World Basketball Cup qualifier
DR chosen to host inaugural CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield
Aisha Syed to play her violin at Carnegie Hall
Romeo coming for Christmas-time bachata concert
Ministry of Environment publishes effort to stop illegal mining of rivers
The Ministry of Environment has sent out a press release reporting that it has seized several trucks that were transporting illegally sourced sand and gravel for construction. The Ministry says that the confiscations were carried out to put a stop to the illegal exploitation of natural resources that is causing the degradation, alteration and destruction of riverbeds. Most of the trucks were detained in San Cristóbal in operations carried out by members of the Servicios Nacional de Protección Ambiental (SENPA).
Resolution No.0015-2017 issued last year suspended the extraction, transport and sale of loose or unconsolidated materials or sediments on beaches, rivers, lakes, wetlands, springs or deposit areas of the Dominican Republic, until the Ministry determined the feasibility of the sustainable use of these materials and established the corresponding authorization procedures for their extraction.
The Ministry said the confiscations were made after the truck operators ignored the resolution.
http://ambiente.gob.do/medio-ambiente-arrecia-ofensiva-protegiendo-los-rios/
http://eldia.com.do/medio-ambiente-...ra-transportar-arena-extraida-de-rios-ilegal/
Watch that cheese! Expired cheeses stopped in Customs
Vincent A Dutch Masterpiece aged cheese is delicious and sold at several supermarkets in the Dominican Republic. Now the Ministry of Public Health says it has seized a shipment of 3,565 pounds of the aged cheese consigned to Price Smart Dominicana. The shipment arrived via Puerto Multimodal Caucedo.
In a press release, the Ministry of Public Health called for companies to comply with legal requirements for imports as contemplated in Public Health Law 42-01 and its ruling issued by Decree 528-01 to avoid situations such as this confiscation. The Ministry of Public Health says it will be pressing criminal charges in this case.
The Ministry of Public Health reports that the finding of the expired cheese was made based on the random inspection procedures systematically applied by the Ministry of Public Health inspectors at different entry points. The Ministry of Public Health division, Dirección General de Medicamentos, Alimentos y Productos Sanitarios (DIGEMAPS) was responsible for the finding of the expired food product.
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...nto-565-libras-queso-vencido-price-smart.html
http://eldia.com.do/salud-publica-d...eso-vencidos-en-el-puerto-multimodal-caucedo/
Opposition parties’ consensus on political parties and electoral bills
Nine opposition parties have proposed changes to the political parties and electoral bills that that were resubmitted by the Central Electoral Board (JCE) to the legislature that resumes its work on 27 February 2018.
A key proposal is that party primaries be held with the participation of party members and not the general voting list of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) that has had the support of PLD members close to President Danilo Medina. The proposal is also that all the political parties hold their primaries on the same day but with just their voting list of members.
As reported in Diario Libre, the proposal has been endorsed by the PRM (54 deputies), PRSC 11, Alianza País 1 and Frente Amplio for 67 legislators of 289. Of the 289 legislators, 190 are deputies and 32 senators.
The bills are organic laws that need two thirds of the vote for these to pass. The 67 opposition legislators votes could mean the difference in the passage or rejection of the bills. 142 votes are needed to pass the organic law if all legislators attend the session in which the voting will occur. The opposition composes 65 of the 190 legislators. The ruling party would need to convince 17 opposition candidates to support PLD initiative with the open primaries clause. Open primaries were rejected by a Supreme Court of Justice ruling in 2005.
The proposals made by the opposition parties also call for establishing quotas and limits for fixed and fair time in terms of candidates’ access to the media. Also the initiative calls for quotas for women in political positions, a ban on tax exemptions, donations and gifts on behalf of government entities, including city governments. The parties also called for political parties to be held accountable and have to render accounts of expenditures of funds provided to the parties by the state for political activities. Also, it is proposed that the reserved candidacies be a maximum of 20% of the elective positions among other recommendations.
The participating political parties making the joint request are:
Partido Revolucionario Moderno (PRM), Partido Reformista Social Cristiano (PRSC), Partido Alianza País (AlPaís), Partido Humanista Dominicano (PHD), Partido Dominicanos por el Cambio (DxC), Frente Amplio (FA), Fuerza Nacional Progresista (FNP), Alianza por la Democracia (APD), Partido Revolucionario Social Demócrata (PRSD), Opción Democrática (OD) and the Partido Socialista Cristiano (PSC).
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ce-sus-propuestas-y-presiona-al-pld-BI9208377
Minister of Environment announces he wants to be the PLD candidate in 2020
Minister of Environment Francisco Dominguez Brito announced he will seek the PLD nomination for president for the 2020 election. “I will be honored to continue to work carried out by President Danilo Medina and the PLD governments,” he said. In 2012 he also aspired to the Presidency, losing out to President Medina.
Others that have expressed their interest in running on the ruling PLD party ticket are former President Leonel Fernandez, Minister of Education Andres Navarro and Minister of Public Works Gonzalo Castillo. Navarro and Castillo have the open backing of President Danilo Medina. The 2015 Constitution, that includes an amendment that allowed Medina to seek reelection in the 2016 general election, bans Medina from running for President again.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...uscara-presidencia-de-la-republica-por-el-pld
Puerto Plata institutions join forces to urge the public not to consume parrotfish
Four Puerto Plata institutions have signed an agreement to back the campaign “Save the Parrotfish” as an innovative initiative to preserve the fish that is in danger of extinction and also is essential for the conservation of coral reefs.
The agreement is a continuation of the project “Understanding the ecology and social perceptions of fisheries that are commercially important for the development of education strategies and fulfillment of long term laws to back sustainable fishing between Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.
The institutions that signed the agreement are: Instituto Oceanográfico James H. Ross, the Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Companies of the North (Ashonorte), the Institute for Social Ecological Research (ISER) and the Ministry of Environment office in Puerto Plata. The agreement was signed by Juan Francisco Payero Brisso, Tatty La Hoz, Allen Campos and the Ministry of Environment representative and will last through September 2018.
The entities will conduct a joint “Save the Parrotfish” campaign to discourage the consumption of this ecologically important fish. The campaign will first target students in the Puerto Plata area. Workshops will offer information about the link between parrotfish, lionfish and the health of coral reefs. A second phase of the campaign will focus on encouraging Puerto Plata restaurants to obey the law and not serve parrot fish for the next two years. The ban began in June 2017. Instead of parrotfish, the restaurants commit to promote dishes served with lion fish, an invasive species.
http://eldia.com.do/instituciones-firman-acuerdo-para-campana-educativa/
San Juan legislator: Where is the hydrogeologic study for Romero?
The sister of President Danilo Medina, deputy for the province of San Juan de la Maguana Lucía Medina spoke up during the weekend against gold mining in San Juan de la Maguana in the southwest of the Dominican Republic. Interviewed by Ana Jiménez and Danylsa Vargas TV show on Sunday evening on RNN, Medina alerted that GoldQuest has not carried out the preliminary hydrogeological study on underground water situation in the area where they want to mine for gold. The GoldQuest mine site is located 800 to 900 meters above sea level with farming operations carried out at around 400 to 450 meters above sea level.
Medina says that GoldQuest has delayed in presenting scientific information that would help convince the people of San Juan that the exploitation of gold would not affect the environment and farming. San Juan de la Maguana is a prime farming province. “By not doing so, they have not convinced anyone that it is not true that they are going to affect the aquifers and the waters of the dam,” she said.
An exploitation agreement signed by the Ministry of Energy and Mines was sent to the office of President Danilo Medina for ratification. The agreement grants GoldQuest rights for 75 years.
Medina highlighted that her brother, President Danilo Medina is making great efforts to ensure the reforestation of the aquifer basins of the country and has begun with investments in the southern region. She said there are seven reforestation projects underway. She said the President is very interested in the construction of a reservoir to guarantee water for the San Juan Valley in times of drought.
Medina said again that if the people of San Juan de la Maguana do not want the mine, they will not have the mine. Also pending for the final authorization of the exploitation of the mine is the Ministry of Environment permit that includes a community go-ahead.
"My heart and my commitment is with San Juan and I will never be against their interests, but I ask you not to let ourselves be dragged by people who want to fish in troubled waters," said Medina Sánchez.
Deputy Lucia Medina made it clear that this project will not be possible. She told her listeners that she is appealing to the sensitivity and responsibility with which President Medina has executed his government program.
She called for the people of San Juan to be calm and patient since President Medina has not yet given his ratification for the exploitation. After the President gives his ratification, the project then passes to the Ministry of Environment for approval.
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/02/...rar-licencia-social-sobre-explotacion-minera/
Alicia Ortega presents the pros and cons of the GoldQuest Romero Project
President Danilo Medina needs to ratify the exploitation green light awarded by the Ministry of Energy and Mines for the exploitation of an underground gold mine (Romero Project) in San Juan de la Maguana province in the southwest. GoldQuest has said the mine has a seven-year exploitation potential, but the agreement contract with the government is for 75 years, according to a GoldQuest press release.
The deal calls for a Tax Stability Agreement that provides tax incentives for the project for a minimum of 25 years protected under the current Mining Law. The agreement also calls for the government to receive “economic benefits at forty percent (40%), taking into account the Royalty, Income Tax and Municipal Contributions, and a Voluntary Contribution that the company has committed to pay to the state, if warranted, under a formula.”
Alicia Ortega investigative news program aired an around one-hour four part video with presentations by GoldQuest representatives Felix Mercedes and Julio Espaillat and several local people speaking up for the San Juan de la Maguana province. The program addresses concerns such as use of water sources, imported labor, and potential damage to health and agriculture. The province’s major source of income is farming.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines says that the company has met all the legal, economic and technical conditions, and the project is considered to be in the national interest. The Ministry of Energy and Mines says that the company has provided a sworn statement that it will not affect water sources in the province. During the Alicia Ortega video, the company executives, nevertheless admitted to using water from a local river source for the exploration efforts.
The Ministry says they have secured a contract with 8% more income for the government than established in the 50-year old mining law. The Ministry has said the mining operation would mean US$224 million in revenues for the state over the announced seven-year exploitation period of the 75 year exploitation contract.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines has issued dozens of exploration permits for other mines in the western mineral belt of the country with areas located besides two of the most important protected areas of the country and sources of water. Many of these are to GoldQuest for other sites from Padre las Casas to Dajabón. GoldQuest has underway a major public relations campaign to share the benefits of the mining project.
The granting of the mining exploitation concession is conditional on the ratification of the Exploitation Permit issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mines by President Danilo Medina and the carrying out an Environmental Impact Study, and subsequently obtaining an Environmental License, including the local social license by the affected community.
In a press release, the company explains that its 50-km-long land package hosts multiple targets areas including the multi-million-ounce gold/copper Romero Project, 22 km to the northwest that has received approval from the Ministry of Mines for a 75-year Exploitation License.
https://noticiassin.com/2018/02/el-...pe-mortal-al-medio-ambiente-en-la-region-sur/
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...-por-favorecer-explotacion-mina-san-juan.html
https://www.goldquestcorp.com/index.php/news/2018-news/262-
Rum products to appeal rejection of request for country brand
The Dominican Association of Rum Producers (ADOPRON) rejected the recent decision of the National Office of Industrial Property (ONAPI) turning down the application for registration of the Denomination of Origin for Dominican Rum.
The entity stated that it is studying ONAPI's ruling and that it will defend its request in the necessary scenarios, as well as the reputation and quality of Dominican rum, a "country-brand" product with well-earned international prestige as a result of the effort made since decades ago by the traditional exporters of the item, that as a whole represent over 90% of Dominican rum exports.
Adopron seeks that only Dominican rum produced with sugar cane can be denominated as Dominican rum.
http://hoy.com.do/rechazan-decision-de-onapi-sobre-registro-de-origen-del-ron/
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...onapi-sobre-registro-denominacion-origen.html
Gildan donates RD$2 million to San Pedro orphanage
Gildan Dominicana made a contribution of RD$2,011,092 to the Hogar Caridad Misionera. The funds were collected during the 4th edition of the Gildan Glow Run, held last year along the Malecón in San Pedro de Macorís, with the participation of more than two thousand runners. The Hogar Caridad Misionera is a girls orphanage that has been operating for more than 15 years. Gildan Dominicana manager Juan Carlos Contreras expressed his pleasure in the support to benefit run.
“"Our main purpose is always to generate a positive impact on our environment, that is why we promote actions in favor of education, the quality of life of our people and communities, as well as the protection of the rights of children,” he said during the event when he delivered the resources to Sor Digna Lazo, director of the orphanage.
http://elnacional.com.do/gildan-entrega-2-millones-a-hogar-caridad-misionera/
http://www.genuinegildan.com/en/
Women’s groups campaign pro abortion
Civil society and citizen groups met on Sunday, 18 February 2018 to campaign for Congress to pass amendments to decriminalize abortion in the cases when the life of the mother is in danger, or there has been rape or incest.
One week before the start of the next legislative term, the Women and Health Collective and the Coalition for Women's Rights and Life launched the campaign where they will be asking for citizens to sign the petition. Dozens of organizations participated in the event, including the Green March Movement and other entities.
The group met on Sunday, 18 February 2018 at the house of artist Silvano Lora to ask legislators to decriminalize abortion. Cinthya Velasco, director of the Women and Health Collective,said that they hope the legislators will hear the voices of the citizens who daily demonstrate in favor of the protection of women, said Cinthya Velasco, director of the Women and Health Collective.
She emphasized that the consultation made by Profamilia in 2016 to university women revealed that 74.5% are in favor of excluding the penalty when the woman's life is at risk, 72.7% when the pregnancy is unfeasible and 70.6% when it is a product of a rape or incest.
The event took place at a time a San José de Ocoa court ordered three months pre-trial custody to 20-year old Aris Nurys Tejada Ortiz accused of undergoing an abortion. She was ordered to hold jail in the Centro de Corrección y Rehabilitación de Baní Mujeres in Peravia. Art. 317 of the Dominican Penal Code contemplates sentences of two to five years in the cases of provoked abortions.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...n-que-aborto-no-debe-ser-penalizado-KB9232158
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...mujer-acusada-de-practicarse-aborto-NB9232492
Costly wedding? Police decide to find savings in numbers
The National Police helped its officers sponsoring the wedding of 17 agents at the Santo Domingo headquarters. The wedding, organized by the Asociación de Esposas de Oficiales de la Policía (ASEOPNA), began with a Sunday mass at the Police Palace by Father Alejandro Cabrera. The wedding was conducted at the Officers Club and officiated by civil registry judges Laura Patricia Adames Reyes and Francisco Pérez.
The godfather and godmother for the wedding were Major General Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte, director general of the Police and his wife Olimpia Lora, president of the police wives’ association. The newlyweds then enjoyed an elaborate musical show and received numerous gifts.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...en-unirse-en-matrimonio-en-una-boda-colectiva
Santiago prosecutors say they will appeal customs fraud case
The Santiago prosecutors say they will appeal the sentence by the Santiago court that ruled in favor of several accused in a case of estimated RD$100 million fraud in Customs in Santiago. The fraud went public in July 2010, but later the victim of the fraud, the Santiago Customs, desisted from pressing charges. Several of the accused were sons of high up PLD politicians. The Santiago prosecutors, nevertheless, continued the case.
Prosecutor Luisa Liranza said that they will appeal based on the evidence presented during the trial that she says was sufficient to incriminate the accused.
They are appealing the judgement by the Segundo Tribunal Colegiado of Santiago that sentenced José Rafael Marte to eight years in jail, Gibrand Aburkama Martínez to five years in jail and Adalberto Rosa Rosario to two years in jail at the Rafey-Hombres in Santiago. The prosecutors are also appealing the decision of illegal possession of firearms handed out to Rosa Rosario, while the other two for asset laundering with illegal assets from drug trafficking.
Three others included in the case Miguel Ángel de Jesús Lazala, Herald Estévez Peña and Héctor Manuel García Ortega, whose charges were not pursued due to lack of evidence.
The judges that issued the sentences were Osvaldo Castillo, Martha del Carmen Martínez, and Esther Carolina Reyes Aracena.
Former Santiago prosecutor, Yeni Berenice Reynoso, who presented the original charges, observed that it appears that the cash and the weapons seized in 2010 have “evaporated into thin air”. The National District prosecutor was in charge of the investigation of the Customs fraud estimated at RD$100 million in 2010. She noted that the judges focused on sentencing the accomplices, not so those that evidence showed were the authors of the crimes.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...tres-acusados-en-desfalco-a-aduanas-DA9211665
http://www.lainformacion.com.do/not...tiona-fallo-justicia-en-caso-desfalco-aduanas
http://elnacional.com.do/parece-se-esfuman-dinero-armas-caso-aduanas-santiago/
Miguel Ángel Muñoz Pereyra to jail for drug trafficking
The Public Ministry reported that Miguel Ángel Muñoz Pereyra “Pipe” was sentenced to 18 months in jail after the Specialized Anti Asset Laundering and Terrorism Financing Prosecution and Peravia province prosecutors pressed charges. Muñoz is accused of trafficking in cocaine that was seized in 2016 off the coast of Matanzas in Peravia province.
He was captured at Km 11 of the Duarte Highway after being a fugitive of justice since 1916 when the shipment of 1,136.96 kilograms was seized. State prosecutors say that he was part of an international drug trafficking ring that laundered the earnings through a series of betting shops located in the country. He is accused of violating several articles of the Drug and Controlled Substance Law 50-88 and Law 72-02 on Asset Laundering.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...e-acusado-de-narcotrafico-y-lavado-de-activos
Dominican team for the FIBA Americas World Basketball Cup qualifier
The Dominican Republic national basketball team matches Bahamas on 22 February 2018 and the Virgin Islands three days later as the team endeavors to keep their spot in Group D of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifier. The Dominican Basketball Federation (Fedombal) last week announced the senior men’s national team roster.
Team members are: Dagoberto Peña, Victor Liz, Adris De Leon, Ronald Ramon, Rigoberto Mendoza, Sadiel Rojas, Luis Montero, Jonathan Araujo, Gelvis Solano, Edward Santana, Eloy Vargas and Juan Guerrero.
In the first round 27 November 2017 round in Santiago de los Caballeros, the Dominican team opened their qualifying campaign with victories against Virgin Islands (99-89) and Canada (88-76) for a 2-0 record.
The DR is one of 16 teams competing in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas qualifiers. The Americas region is widely regarded as the most competitive FIBA region in the world.
Of these only seven will advance to the FIBA Basketball World Cup to be held in China in 2019. The seven top contenders from the FIBA Basketball World Cup will then qualify directly for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketba...as-qualifiers/2202/Bahamas-Dominican-Republic
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketba...uts-in-dominican-republic-for-february-window
DR chosen to host inaugural CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield
Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced on 17 February 2018 that the Dominican Republic will host the inaugural edition of the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield. The event is scheduled to be played in April 2018. The newly-launched football championship will feature 12 teams from 12 member association leagues as efforts are underway for a more professional football club game across the region.
Participating teams in the 13-21 April 2018 2018 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield tournament to be celebrated in Santiago de los Caballeros are:
Group A: SV Deportivo Nacional (ARU), Inter Moengotapoe (SUR), Weymouth Wales FC (BRB) and USR Sainte-Rose (GPE)
Group B: Guyana Defence Force (GUY); Avenues United FC (VIN); Hard Rock Sports Club (GRN) and SV Real Rincon (BOE)
Group C: Cayon FC (SNK), Bodden Town FC (CAY), RKSV Centro Dominguito (CUW) and Franciscain (MTQ)
The organization explains that the Caribbean Club Shield provides clubs from member associations from across the Caribbean a direct pathway to the Confederation’s top regional club championships. Together with the Caribbean Club Championship, now underway and featuring eight professional clubs from the four club leagues in the Caribbean with the highest professional standards – the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago -- the Caribbean Club Shield will serve as a qualifying tournament for the Scotiabank CONCACAF League, and open the door for wider participation of Caribbean clubs in Confederation championships at the highest level.
The winner of the 2018 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield, if it fulfills CONCACAF Regional Club Licensing criteria, will have the opportunity to face the fourth-place finisher of the 2018 Caribbean Club Championship in a playoff match, to determine the fourth Caribbean representative in the 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF League.
Aisha Syed to play her violin at Carnegie Hall
Dominican violinist Aisha Syed will be debuting at the Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall as part of Independence Day celebrations on 27 February 2018. The performance is part of her "Golden Land World Tour" that is taking the 28-year old violinist to 14 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia. The Dominican Heritage and Culture Society, based in New York, is presenting the concert to commemorate the 174th Anniversary of Dominican Independence.
Her program includes a wide variety of works by Ravel, Bach, Franck, and Paganini, including those with Spanish roots - de Falla's Danse espagnole and Spanish composer Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy.
She will be playing a 1690 Stradivarius violin generously provided by Florian Leonhard Fine Violins and will be accompanied by pianist Martin Labazevitch.
Syed is an Honorary Goodwill Cultural Ambassador for the Dominican Republic. She has performed all over the world in venues such as the Luxembourg Palace in Paris, Wigmore Hall in London, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, in addition to performing on BBC Radio 3.
Her 2018-2019 season highlights include her debut at Carnegie Hall, National Performing Arts Center in India, the Arsht Center in Florida, Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico, Kirchner Center Symphonic Hall in Argentina, and others.
Tickets for the performance are US$150, in support of the Dominican Heritage and Culture Society, and are available at carnegiehall.org or by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/artic...yed-Makes-NYC-Debut-At-Carnegie-Hall-20180215
http://aishasyedcastro.com/
Romeo coming for Christmas-time bachata concert
Show promoter Saymon Díaz announced that Romeo Santos has been booked for a concert on 15 December 2018 at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo. The stop is part of Romeo Santos’ Golden Tour 2018 that includes performances in the United States, Europe and Latin America. Tickets will go on sale as of 12 March 2018.
Watch that cheese! Expired cheeses stopped in Customs
Opposition parties’ consensus on political parties and electoral bills
Minister of Environment announces he wants to be the PLD candidate in 2020
Puerto Plata institutions join forces to urge the public not to consume parrot fish
San Juan legislator: Where is the hydrogeologic study for Romero?
Alicia Ortega presents the pros and cons of the GoldQuest Romero Project
Rum products to appeal rejection of request for country brand
Gildan donates RD$2 million to San Pedro orphanage
Women’s groups campaign pro abortion
Costly wedding? Police decide to find savings in numbers
Santiago prosecutors say they will appeal customs fraud case
Miguel Ángel Muñoz Pereyra to jail for drug trafficking
Dominican team for the FIBA Americas World Basketball Cup qualifier
DR chosen to host inaugural CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield
Aisha Syed to play her violin at Carnegie Hall
Romeo coming for Christmas-time bachata concert
Ministry of Environment publishes effort to stop illegal mining of rivers
The Ministry of Environment has sent out a press release reporting that it has seized several trucks that were transporting illegally sourced sand and gravel for construction. The Ministry says that the confiscations were carried out to put a stop to the illegal exploitation of natural resources that is causing the degradation, alteration and destruction of riverbeds. Most of the trucks were detained in San Cristóbal in operations carried out by members of the Servicios Nacional de Protección Ambiental (SENPA).
Resolution No.0015-2017 issued last year suspended the extraction, transport and sale of loose or unconsolidated materials or sediments on beaches, rivers, lakes, wetlands, springs or deposit areas of the Dominican Republic, until the Ministry determined the feasibility of the sustainable use of these materials and established the corresponding authorization procedures for their extraction.
The Ministry said the confiscations were made after the truck operators ignored the resolution.
http://ambiente.gob.do/medio-ambiente-arrecia-ofensiva-protegiendo-los-rios/
http://eldia.com.do/medio-ambiente-...ra-transportar-arena-extraida-de-rios-ilegal/
Watch that cheese! Expired cheeses stopped in Customs
Vincent A Dutch Masterpiece aged cheese is delicious and sold at several supermarkets in the Dominican Republic. Now the Ministry of Public Health says it has seized a shipment of 3,565 pounds of the aged cheese consigned to Price Smart Dominicana. The shipment arrived via Puerto Multimodal Caucedo.
In a press release, the Ministry of Public Health called for companies to comply with legal requirements for imports as contemplated in Public Health Law 42-01 and its ruling issued by Decree 528-01 to avoid situations such as this confiscation. The Ministry of Public Health says it will be pressing criminal charges in this case.
The Ministry of Public Health reports that the finding of the expired cheese was made based on the random inspection procedures systematically applied by the Ministry of Public Health inspectors at different entry points. The Ministry of Public Health division, Dirección General de Medicamentos, Alimentos y Productos Sanitarios (DIGEMAPS) was responsible for the finding of the expired food product.
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...nto-565-libras-queso-vencido-price-smart.html
http://eldia.com.do/salud-publica-d...eso-vencidos-en-el-puerto-multimodal-caucedo/
Opposition parties’ consensus on political parties and electoral bills
Nine opposition parties have proposed changes to the political parties and electoral bills that that were resubmitted by the Central Electoral Board (JCE) to the legislature that resumes its work on 27 February 2018.
A key proposal is that party primaries be held with the participation of party members and not the general voting list of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) that has had the support of PLD members close to President Danilo Medina. The proposal is also that all the political parties hold their primaries on the same day but with just their voting list of members.
As reported in Diario Libre, the proposal has been endorsed by the PRM (54 deputies), PRSC 11, Alianza País 1 and Frente Amplio for 67 legislators of 289. Of the 289 legislators, 190 are deputies and 32 senators.
The bills are organic laws that need two thirds of the vote for these to pass. The 67 opposition legislators votes could mean the difference in the passage or rejection of the bills. 142 votes are needed to pass the organic law if all legislators attend the session in which the voting will occur. The opposition composes 65 of the 190 legislators. The ruling party would need to convince 17 opposition candidates to support PLD initiative with the open primaries clause. Open primaries were rejected by a Supreme Court of Justice ruling in 2005.
The proposals made by the opposition parties also call for establishing quotas and limits for fixed and fair time in terms of candidates’ access to the media. Also the initiative calls for quotas for women in political positions, a ban on tax exemptions, donations and gifts on behalf of government entities, including city governments. The parties also called for political parties to be held accountable and have to render accounts of expenditures of funds provided to the parties by the state for political activities. Also, it is proposed that the reserved candidacies be a maximum of 20% of the elective positions among other recommendations.
The participating political parties making the joint request are:
Partido Revolucionario Moderno (PRM), Partido Reformista Social Cristiano (PRSC), Partido Alianza País (AlPaís), Partido Humanista Dominicano (PHD), Partido Dominicanos por el Cambio (DxC), Frente Amplio (FA), Fuerza Nacional Progresista (FNP), Alianza por la Democracia (APD), Partido Revolucionario Social Demócrata (PRSD), Opción Democrática (OD) and the Partido Socialista Cristiano (PSC).
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ce-sus-propuestas-y-presiona-al-pld-BI9208377
Minister of Environment announces he wants to be the PLD candidate in 2020
Minister of Environment Francisco Dominguez Brito announced he will seek the PLD nomination for president for the 2020 election. “I will be honored to continue to work carried out by President Danilo Medina and the PLD governments,” he said. In 2012 he also aspired to the Presidency, losing out to President Medina.
Others that have expressed their interest in running on the ruling PLD party ticket are former President Leonel Fernandez, Minister of Education Andres Navarro and Minister of Public Works Gonzalo Castillo. Navarro and Castillo have the open backing of President Danilo Medina. The 2015 Constitution, that includes an amendment that allowed Medina to seek reelection in the 2016 general election, bans Medina from running for President again.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...uscara-presidencia-de-la-republica-por-el-pld
Puerto Plata institutions join forces to urge the public not to consume parrotfish
Four Puerto Plata institutions have signed an agreement to back the campaign “Save the Parrotfish” as an innovative initiative to preserve the fish that is in danger of extinction and also is essential for the conservation of coral reefs.
The agreement is a continuation of the project “Understanding the ecology and social perceptions of fisheries that are commercially important for the development of education strategies and fulfillment of long term laws to back sustainable fishing between Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.
The institutions that signed the agreement are: Instituto Oceanográfico James H. Ross, the Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Companies of the North (Ashonorte), the Institute for Social Ecological Research (ISER) and the Ministry of Environment office in Puerto Plata. The agreement was signed by Juan Francisco Payero Brisso, Tatty La Hoz, Allen Campos and the Ministry of Environment representative and will last through September 2018.
The entities will conduct a joint “Save the Parrotfish” campaign to discourage the consumption of this ecologically important fish. The campaign will first target students in the Puerto Plata area. Workshops will offer information about the link between parrotfish, lionfish and the health of coral reefs. A second phase of the campaign will focus on encouraging Puerto Plata restaurants to obey the law and not serve parrot fish for the next two years. The ban began in June 2017. Instead of parrotfish, the restaurants commit to promote dishes served with lion fish, an invasive species.
http://eldia.com.do/instituciones-firman-acuerdo-para-campana-educativa/
San Juan legislator: Where is the hydrogeologic study for Romero?
The sister of President Danilo Medina, deputy for the province of San Juan de la Maguana Lucía Medina spoke up during the weekend against gold mining in San Juan de la Maguana in the southwest of the Dominican Republic. Interviewed by Ana Jiménez and Danylsa Vargas TV show on Sunday evening on RNN, Medina alerted that GoldQuest has not carried out the preliminary hydrogeological study on underground water situation in the area where they want to mine for gold. The GoldQuest mine site is located 800 to 900 meters above sea level with farming operations carried out at around 400 to 450 meters above sea level.
Medina says that GoldQuest has delayed in presenting scientific information that would help convince the people of San Juan that the exploitation of gold would not affect the environment and farming. San Juan de la Maguana is a prime farming province. “By not doing so, they have not convinced anyone that it is not true that they are going to affect the aquifers and the waters of the dam,” she said.
An exploitation agreement signed by the Ministry of Energy and Mines was sent to the office of President Danilo Medina for ratification. The agreement grants GoldQuest rights for 75 years.
Medina highlighted that her brother, President Danilo Medina is making great efforts to ensure the reforestation of the aquifer basins of the country and has begun with investments in the southern region. She said there are seven reforestation projects underway. She said the President is very interested in the construction of a reservoir to guarantee water for the San Juan Valley in times of drought.
Medina said again that if the people of San Juan de la Maguana do not want the mine, they will not have the mine. Also pending for the final authorization of the exploitation of the mine is the Ministry of Environment permit that includes a community go-ahead.
"My heart and my commitment is with San Juan and I will never be against their interests, but I ask you not to let ourselves be dragged by people who want to fish in troubled waters," said Medina Sánchez.
Deputy Lucia Medina made it clear that this project will not be possible. She told her listeners that she is appealing to the sensitivity and responsibility with which President Medina has executed his government program.
She called for the people of San Juan to be calm and patient since President Medina has not yet given his ratification for the exploitation. After the President gives his ratification, the project then passes to the Ministry of Environment for approval.
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/02/...rar-licencia-social-sobre-explotacion-minera/
Alicia Ortega presents the pros and cons of the GoldQuest Romero Project
President Danilo Medina needs to ratify the exploitation green light awarded by the Ministry of Energy and Mines for the exploitation of an underground gold mine (Romero Project) in San Juan de la Maguana province in the southwest. GoldQuest has said the mine has a seven-year exploitation potential, but the agreement contract with the government is for 75 years, according to a GoldQuest press release.
The deal calls for a Tax Stability Agreement that provides tax incentives for the project for a minimum of 25 years protected under the current Mining Law. The agreement also calls for the government to receive “economic benefits at forty percent (40%), taking into account the Royalty, Income Tax and Municipal Contributions, and a Voluntary Contribution that the company has committed to pay to the state, if warranted, under a formula.”
Alicia Ortega investigative news program aired an around one-hour four part video with presentations by GoldQuest representatives Felix Mercedes and Julio Espaillat and several local people speaking up for the San Juan de la Maguana province. The program addresses concerns such as use of water sources, imported labor, and potential damage to health and agriculture. The province’s major source of income is farming.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines says that the company has met all the legal, economic and technical conditions, and the project is considered to be in the national interest. The Ministry of Energy and Mines says that the company has provided a sworn statement that it will not affect water sources in the province. During the Alicia Ortega video, the company executives, nevertheless admitted to using water from a local river source for the exploration efforts.
The Ministry says they have secured a contract with 8% more income for the government than established in the 50-year old mining law. The Ministry has said the mining operation would mean US$224 million in revenues for the state over the announced seven-year exploitation period of the 75 year exploitation contract.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines has issued dozens of exploration permits for other mines in the western mineral belt of the country with areas located besides two of the most important protected areas of the country and sources of water. Many of these are to GoldQuest for other sites from Padre las Casas to Dajabón. GoldQuest has underway a major public relations campaign to share the benefits of the mining project.
The granting of the mining exploitation concession is conditional on the ratification of the Exploitation Permit issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mines by President Danilo Medina and the carrying out an Environmental Impact Study, and subsequently obtaining an Environmental License, including the local social license by the affected community.
In a press release, the company explains that its 50-km-long land package hosts multiple targets areas including the multi-million-ounce gold/copper Romero Project, 22 km to the northwest that has received approval from the Ministry of Mines for a 75-year Exploitation License.
https://noticiassin.com/2018/02/el-...pe-mortal-al-medio-ambiente-en-la-region-sur/
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...-por-favorecer-explotacion-mina-san-juan.html
https://www.goldquestcorp.com/index.php/news/2018-news/262-
Rum products to appeal rejection of request for country brand
The Dominican Association of Rum Producers (ADOPRON) rejected the recent decision of the National Office of Industrial Property (ONAPI) turning down the application for registration of the Denomination of Origin for Dominican Rum.
The entity stated that it is studying ONAPI's ruling and that it will defend its request in the necessary scenarios, as well as the reputation and quality of Dominican rum, a "country-brand" product with well-earned international prestige as a result of the effort made since decades ago by the traditional exporters of the item, that as a whole represent over 90% of Dominican rum exports.
Adopron seeks that only Dominican rum produced with sugar cane can be denominated as Dominican rum.
http://hoy.com.do/rechazan-decision-de-onapi-sobre-registro-de-origen-del-ron/
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...onapi-sobre-registro-denominacion-origen.html
Gildan donates RD$2 million to San Pedro orphanage
Gildan Dominicana made a contribution of RD$2,011,092 to the Hogar Caridad Misionera. The funds were collected during the 4th edition of the Gildan Glow Run, held last year along the Malecón in San Pedro de Macorís, with the participation of more than two thousand runners. The Hogar Caridad Misionera is a girls orphanage that has been operating for more than 15 years. Gildan Dominicana manager Juan Carlos Contreras expressed his pleasure in the support to benefit run.
“"Our main purpose is always to generate a positive impact on our environment, that is why we promote actions in favor of education, the quality of life of our people and communities, as well as the protection of the rights of children,” he said during the event when he delivered the resources to Sor Digna Lazo, director of the orphanage.
http://elnacional.com.do/gildan-entrega-2-millones-a-hogar-caridad-misionera/
http://www.genuinegildan.com/en/
Women’s groups campaign pro abortion
Civil society and citizen groups met on Sunday, 18 February 2018 to campaign for Congress to pass amendments to decriminalize abortion in the cases when the life of the mother is in danger, or there has been rape or incest.
One week before the start of the next legislative term, the Women and Health Collective and the Coalition for Women's Rights and Life launched the campaign where they will be asking for citizens to sign the petition. Dozens of organizations participated in the event, including the Green March Movement and other entities.
The group met on Sunday, 18 February 2018 at the house of artist Silvano Lora to ask legislators to decriminalize abortion. Cinthya Velasco, director of the Women and Health Collective,said that they hope the legislators will hear the voices of the citizens who daily demonstrate in favor of the protection of women, said Cinthya Velasco, director of the Women and Health Collective.
She emphasized that the consultation made by Profamilia in 2016 to university women revealed that 74.5% are in favor of excluding the penalty when the woman's life is at risk, 72.7% when the pregnancy is unfeasible and 70.6% when it is a product of a rape or incest.
The event took place at a time a San José de Ocoa court ordered three months pre-trial custody to 20-year old Aris Nurys Tejada Ortiz accused of undergoing an abortion. She was ordered to hold jail in the Centro de Corrección y Rehabilitación de Baní Mujeres in Peravia. Art. 317 of the Dominican Penal Code contemplates sentences of two to five years in the cases of provoked abortions.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...n-que-aborto-no-debe-ser-penalizado-KB9232158
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...mujer-acusada-de-practicarse-aborto-NB9232492
Costly wedding? Police decide to find savings in numbers
The National Police helped its officers sponsoring the wedding of 17 agents at the Santo Domingo headquarters. The wedding, organized by the Asociación de Esposas de Oficiales de la Policía (ASEOPNA), began with a Sunday mass at the Police Palace by Father Alejandro Cabrera. The wedding was conducted at the Officers Club and officiated by civil registry judges Laura Patricia Adames Reyes and Francisco Pérez.
The godfather and godmother for the wedding were Major General Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte, director general of the Police and his wife Olimpia Lora, president of the police wives’ association. The newlyweds then enjoyed an elaborate musical show and received numerous gifts.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...en-unirse-en-matrimonio-en-una-boda-colectiva
Santiago prosecutors say they will appeal customs fraud case
The Santiago prosecutors say they will appeal the sentence by the Santiago court that ruled in favor of several accused in a case of estimated RD$100 million fraud in Customs in Santiago. The fraud went public in July 2010, but later the victim of the fraud, the Santiago Customs, desisted from pressing charges. Several of the accused were sons of high up PLD politicians. The Santiago prosecutors, nevertheless, continued the case.
Prosecutor Luisa Liranza said that they will appeal based on the evidence presented during the trial that she says was sufficient to incriminate the accused.
They are appealing the judgement by the Segundo Tribunal Colegiado of Santiago that sentenced José Rafael Marte to eight years in jail, Gibrand Aburkama Martínez to five years in jail and Adalberto Rosa Rosario to two years in jail at the Rafey-Hombres in Santiago. The prosecutors are also appealing the decision of illegal possession of firearms handed out to Rosa Rosario, while the other two for asset laundering with illegal assets from drug trafficking.
Three others included in the case Miguel Ángel de Jesús Lazala, Herald Estévez Peña and Héctor Manuel García Ortega, whose charges were not pursued due to lack of evidence.
The judges that issued the sentences were Osvaldo Castillo, Martha del Carmen Martínez, and Esther Carolina Reyes Aracena.
Former Santiago prosecutor, Yeni Berenice Reynoso, who presented the original charges, observed that it appears that the cash and the weapons seized in 2010 have “evaporated into thin air”. The National District prosecutor was in charge of the investigation of the Customs fraud estimated at RD$100 million in 2010. She noted that the judges focused on sentencing the accomplices, not so those that evidence showed were the authors of the crimes.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...tres-acusados-en-desfalco-a-aduanas-DA9211665
http://www.lainformacion.com.do/not...tiona-fallo-justicia-en-caso-desfalco-aduanas
http://elnacional.com.do/parece-se-esfuman-dinero-armas-caso-aduanas-santiago/
Miguel Ángel Muñoz Pereyra to jail for drug trafficking
The Public Ministry reported that Miguel Ángel Muñoz Pereyra “Pipe” was sentenced to 18 months in jail after the Specialized Anti Asset Laundering and Terrorism Financing Prosecution and Peravia province prosecutors pressed charges. Muñoz is accused of trafficking in cocaine that was seized in 2016 off the coast of Matanzas in Peravia province.
He was captured at Km 11 of the Duarte Highway after being a fugitive of justice since 1916 when the shipment of 1,136.96 kilograms was seized. State prosecutors say that he was part of an international drug trafficking ring that laundered the earnings through a series of betting shops located in the country. He is accused of violating several articles of the Drug and Controlled Substance Law 50-88 and Law 72-02 on Asset Laundering.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...e-acusado-de-narcotrafico-y-lavado-de-activos
Dominican team for the FIBA Americas World Basketball Cup qualifier
The Dominican Republic national basketball team matches Bahamas on 22 February 2018 and the Virgin Islands three days later as the team endeavors to keep their spot in Group D of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifier. The Dominican Basketball Federation (Fedombal) last week announced the senior men’s national team roster.
Team members are: Dagoberto Peña, Victor Liz, Adris De Leon, Ronald Ramon, Rigoberto Mendoza, Sadiel Rojas, Luis Montero, Jonathan Araujo, Gelvis Solano, Edward Santana, Eloy Vargas and Juan Guerrero.
In the first round 27 November 2017 round in Santiago de los Caballeros, the Dominican team opened their qualifying campaign with victories against Virgin Islands (99-89) and Canada (88-76) for a 2-0 record.
The DR is one of 16 teams competing in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas qualifiers. The Americas region is widely regarded as the most competitive FIBA region in the world.
Of these only seven will advance to the FIBA Basketball World Cup to be held in China in 2019. The seven top contenders from the FIBA Basketball World Cup will then qualify directly for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketba...as-qualifiers/2202/Bahamas-Dominican-Republic
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketba...uts-in-dominican-republic-for-february-window
DR chosen to host inaugural CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield
Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced on 17 February 2018 that the Dominican Republic will host the inaugural edition of the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield. The event is scheduled to be played in April 2018. The newly-launched football championship will feature 12 teams from 12 member association leagues as efforts are underway for a more professional football club game across the region.
Participating teams in the 13-21 April 2018 2018 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield tournament to be celebrated in Santiago de los Caballeros are:
Group A: SV Deportivo Nacional (ARU), Inter Moengotapoe (SUR), Weymouth Wales FC (BRB) and USR Sainte-Rose (GPE)
Group B: Guyana Defence Force (GUY); Avenues United FC (VIN); Hard Rock Sports Club (GRN) and SV Real Rincon (BOE)
Group C: Cayon FC (SNK), Bodden Town FC (CAY), RKSV Centro Dominguito (CUW) and Franciscain (MTQ)
The organization explains that the Caribbean Club Shield provides clubs from member associations from across the Caribbean a direct pathway to the Confederation’s top regional club championships. Together with the Caribbean Club Championship, now underway and featuring eight professional clubs from the four club leagues in the Caribbean with the highest professional standards – the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago -- the Caribbean Club Shield will serve as a qualifying tournament for the Scotiabank CONCACAF League, and open the door for wider participation of Caribbean clubs in Confederation championships at the highest level.
The winner of the 2018 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield, if it fulfills CONCACAF Regional Club Licensing criteria, will have the opportunity to face the fourth-place finisher of the 2018 Caribbean Club Championship in a playoff match, to determine the fourth Caribbean representative in the 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF League.
Aisha Syed to play her violin at Carnegie Hall
Dominican violinist Aisha Syed will be debuting at the Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall as part of Independence Day celebrations on 27 February 2018. The performance is part of her "Golden Land World Tour" that is taking the 28-year old violinist to 14 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia. The Dominican Heritage and Culture Society, based in New York, is presenting the concert to commemorate the 174th Anniversary of Dominican Independence.
Her program includes a wide variety of works by Ravel, Bach, Franck, and Paganini, including those with Spanish roots - de Falla's Danse espagnole and Spanish composer Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy.
She will be playing a 1690 Stradivarius violin generously provided by Florian Leonhard Fine Violins and will be accompanied by pianist Martin Labazevitch.
Syed is an Honorary Goodwill Cultural Ambassador for the Dominican Republic. She has performed all over the world in venues such as the Luxembourg Palace in Paris, Wigmore Hall in London, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, in addition to performing on BBC Radio 3.
Her 2018-2019 season highlights include her debut at Carnegie Hall, National Performing Arts Center in India, the Arsht Center in Florida, Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico, Kirchner Center Symphonic Hall in Argentina, and others.
Tickets for the performance are US$150, in support of the Dominican Heritage and Culture Society, and are available at carnegiehall.org or by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/artic...yed-Makes-NYC-Debut-At-Carnegie-Hall-20180215
http://aishasyedcastro.com/
Romeo coming for Christmas-time bachata concert
Show promoter Saymon Díaz announced that Romeo Santos has been booked for a concert on 15 December 2018 at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo. The stop is part of Romeo Santos’ Golden Tour 2018 that includes performances in the United States, Europe and Latin America. Tickets will go on sale as of 12 March 2018.