DR1 Daily News - Wednesday, 13 July 2016

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  • Honduran President visits housing projects
  • Proper labeling needed on dairy products
  • Registration process extended for a year
  • Congress fast-tracking bill for new city governments
  • Dominican chocolate best in the world
  • Santiago police arrest hit man
  • The needy being denied health insurance
  • Fugitives arrested
  • Trafficking in dollars using boats as well as planes
  • Peravia Bank extradition to begin
  • National Symphony season starts 10 August

Honduran President visits housing projects
President of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez Alvarado accompanied President Danilo Medina on a tour of the housing projects, La Nueva Barquita and Ciudad Juan Bosch, saying that these were projects are examples in which the poorest families could live a life of dignity. Hernandez expressed his admiration for the achievement, as reported on the Presidency website.
The two heads of state were accompanied by their wives, the First Ladies, Candida Montilla and Ana Maria Garcia.
President Medina said that the Dominican people were the friends of Honduras and our country was always ready to share successful experiences with our neighbors in the region.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2016/07/12/426665/rd-muestra-logros-en-favor-de-pobres

Proper labeling needed on dairy products
Minister of Industry and Commerce Jose del Castillo Savinon called for importers to properly label all products in Spanish, as required by Dominican regulations. He said products without correct labeling established by Nordom 53 are banned from sale here in the Dominican Republic beginning on 1 August 2016. Del Castillo made the announcement on 12 July 2016, in a press conference held at the Presidential Palace. Administrative Minister of the Presidency, Jose Ramon Peralta, was also present.
Del Castillo also reminded importers that starting on January 2017, all food products, both those produced locally and those imported, must have a sanitary and food safety certificate to be sold in the Dominican Republic.
The Minister said that the label should be easy to read. At the present time, many companies are using makeshift stickers placed on top of the foreign language labels with type so small at times it is almost illegible.
For starters, the Inter-institutional Committee on Rules and Food Labeling has announced that from 1 August 2016, the government will decommission all dairy products and their derivatives destined for human consumption unless they comply with the new labeling requirements.
http://eldia.com.do/gobierno-prohib...-no-cumplan-con-los-requisitos-de-etiquetado/
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/07/12/gobierno-establece-plazos-para-etiquetado-espanol-alimentos

Registration process extended for a year
Minister of Interior and Police Jose Ramon Fadul announced foreigners’ whose temporary permit cards are due to expire beginning on 17 July through 31 December 2016, will be extended for 12 months. He said the government has collected all the biometric data on these foreigners that are in the process of regularizing their status in the Dominican Republic. Most of the foreigners affected by the ruling are Haitians who have yet to obtain their identity documents from the government of Haiti.
http://almomento.net/gobierno-otorg...s-cuyo-carnes-vencerian-el-17-de-julio/224403

Congress fast-tracking bill for new city governments
The Chamber of Deputies, presided by Santiago mayor-elect Abel Martinez, is working fast to pass a bill that would modify Municipal Law 176-07. A first reading was passed in record time in the Chamber of Deputies.
Acento reports that the new municipal bill is being drafted to serve the interests of mayor elects. Among the red flags pointed out by the news portal are changes to the accountability and freedom of information access. The new bill establishes that information will be provided when “possible” by the city authorities. For instance,
Acento points out that the bill was submitted by opposition party deputy Jorge Frias (PRM-Province of Santo Domingo). But Diario Libre says it is an initiative of deputy Radhames Gonzalez of the PRD. The PRD united with the ruling PLD party for several candidacies during the 15 May 2016 general election.
Mayors-elect that would benefit from the changes include those of Santiago, National District, Santo Domingo North, Santo Domingo East, San Cristobal and others.
As reported, Frias presented the bill to the deputies on 29 June 2016, without it having been supported by legislators aligned to the PRM party, the second largest in the country. Acento observes that as by act of magic, in what is known as a do-nothing congress, the bill was read and reviewed in breakneck speed by the Technical Office for Legislation Reviews (Ofitrel) that issued its report 76-16 addressed to the president of the permanent commission of municipal affairs, Jose A. Gonzalez Sanchez, and Lelis Santana, director of the Department for the Coordination of Commissions.
Acento reports that those who have a particular interest in the bill becoming law are the president of the Chamber of Deputies Abel Martinez, who is the mayor elect for Santiago, and deputies and mayors elect for Santo Domingo East Alfredo Martinez and Santo Domingo North Rene Polanco. David Collado, deputy and mayor elect for the National District, reportedly did not participate in the new legislative effort.
Acento reports that the bill would amend how central government funds are distributed, so as to avoid having to comply with the percentages assigned by law by the government for staff, maintenance and infrastructure, among others.
The bill would give more freedom to hire staff under temporary contracts and would permit mayor to allocate fewer funds for ordinary maintenance, infrastructure projects and municipal education. The bill would allow the mayor to appoint vacancies in the city council seats, rather than having to call for elections to replace vacated seats. Accountability of city governments would be eroded since the bill calls for Law 176-07 to be amended, adding a clause of “when it is possible” to the law’s language that compromises the obligation of city government offices to comply with the freedom of information act.
The bill also would give the National District the status of a special territorial area.
Acento reports that it would also mean the dismantling of the Pascal program funded by the European Union to strengthen municipal administration.
The Chamber of Deputies also moved on the passing of a new city land use bill, with the approval of a first reading on 12 July 2016.
http://acento.com.do/2016/actualida...to-favoreceria-legisladores-electos-alcaldes/
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=487568
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...royecto-de-ordenamiento-territorial-HE4327876
http://www.metrord.do/noticias/dipu...denamiento-territorial/ftwpgl---FkILTxJit3kA/

Dominican chocolate best in the world
A chocolate company using organic cacao beans from the Dominican Republic has been awarded the prize of the best bean-to-bar chocolate in the world.
Almonte’s tiny Hummingbird Chocolate Company, based in Canada, won the award at the Academy of Chocolate in London, England when its Hispaniola bar beat 14 other world gold winners to win the coveted “Golden Bean” award.
The company was started in 2011 by Erica Gilmour and her husband Drew, and they beat world chocolate heavyweights including Akesson’s of England, Amedei of Italy and Michel Cluizel of France.
http://www.ottawasun.com/2016/07/11/almonte-chocolate-bar-is-best-in-the-world

Santiago police arrest hit man
Police in Santiago have announced the arrest of one of four supposed hit men who are suspected of having murdered around six people in the city, including a police sergeant.
Colonel Juan Guzman Badia, spokesman for the Cibao Regional Command of the National Police, said that agents from the Department of Criminal Investigations arrested Raul Alfonso Bonilla de la Cruz in Ensanche Libertad. Bonilla is believed to be a member of a powerful gang of hit men and drug dealers.
De la Cruz is accused of having killed Sergeant German Jovanny Vega in February 2016, and of being responsible for the shooting and killing of Daniel Jimenez Grin (El Gordo), Jose Manuel Nunez Moronta and Anthony Diaz Pichardo.
De la Cruz is also said to have shot Jose Nicolas Morel and Jose Brayan Mart?nez, on 7 July, both victims would later die of their wounds.
The police also took possession of a 9 mm Uzi and a 9 mm pistol.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...do-a-unas-seis-personas-en-santiago-XD4324606

The needy being denied health insurance
According to the Dominican Coalition of NGOs for the Defense of Health (COCODSALUD), Health Insurance Companies (ARS) have denied coverage to 36,000 people suffering from cancer and other high cost illnesses.
Juan Manuel Perez, Coalition spokesman, said that the insurers are ignoring resolution 375-02 issued by the National Council of Social Security (CNSS) that guarantees medical attention and treatment for these patients.
Between 2014 and 2105, 36,253 patients were denied coverage, which amounts to a 20% increase in denials over that period. Perez said that the ARS are systematically leaving thousands with no coverage, which was against the law and the Constitution that guarantees access to dignified healthcare for all Dominicans.
http://almomento.net/denuncian-aseg...cobertura-a-36-mil-pacientes-en-2-anos/224364

Fugitives arrested
According to a press release, from 16 June to 11 July, the National Police, Ministry of Defense and the Public Prosecution Service have arrested 278 people who were fugitives from justice for different crimes, during operations carried out throughout the country.
During these operations, they recovered 157 firearms, 1,761 bladed weapons including machetes, stilettos, daggers and awls.
As far as micro trafficking of drugs was concerned, the law enforcement authorities report that agents confiscated 74 kilos of cocaine, 3,665 portions of marihuana and 630 vials of crack while dismantling drug sale points.
The operations were carried out in the cities of Bonao, Santiago, Puerto Plata, San Francisco de Macoris, Barahona, San Juan de la Maguana, San Pedro de Macor?s, La Romana and the provinces of Santo Domingo and the National District.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...s-de-la-justicia-en-menos-de-un-mes-CF4326114

Trafficking in dollars using boats as well as planes
In the investigations into the traffic in US dollars ongoing in the United States as well as here, it has been revealed that those involved are not only Dominicans but also foreigners who are based here. The smugglers are now known to use motorboats and yachts that leave from private ports, in addition to the trafficking through airports.
According to intelligence sources, there are several yachts and powerful motor cruisers which have been abandoned in ports in Florida and it appears that they have traveled there from the Dominican Republic.
The problem of trafficking in dollars rose to the surface again last week when two Dominicans, Milka Charlin Alfaro and Mildred Gonzalez were captured when travelling to Miami from the Gregorio Luperon International Airport in Puerto Plata. The pair had two and a half million dollars concealed in double bottom suitcases.
Following this incident, an investigation was launched that revealed that the airports of Las Americans, Santiago and Punta Cana were also being used.
http://elnacional.com.do/ampliaran-indagatoria-trafico-de-dolares-a-eu/

Peravia Bank extradition to begin
National District Judge, Jose Alejandro Vargas, has authorized prosecutor Yeni Berenice Reynoso to begin extradition proceedings against the 10 people implicated in the Peravia Bank fraud case.
The accused are Jose Luis Santoro Castellano, Gabriel Arturo Jimenez Aray, Alejandro Morales Santoro, Luis Manuel Melo Pena, Evelyn Serret, Miriam Serret, Luis Herrera Valerio, Jose Carlos Bergantinos, Lorenzo Alejandro Laviosa Lopez and Miriam Serret Aponte.
The bank was shuttered in November 2014, amid numerous complaints of irregularities. The authorities accused Venezuelans, Luis Santoro Castellano, who was the president; Gabriel Jimenez Aray, the vice president and executive Daniel Morales Santoro of being responsible for the fraud. They all fled the country as the investigation began to pick up steam.
The suspects are accused of criminal association to commit crimes and money laundering that amounted to around US$2.8 million.
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=487559
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...icados-fraude-banco-peravia.html#.V4Vb5Uvxj7I

National Symphony season starts 10 August
Maestro Jose Antonio Molina, conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra, announced the start of the summer symphony concerts for Wednesday, 10 August 2016. The season will end with the 16 November concert. The concerts are sponsored by the Ministry of Culture with the backing of the Fundacion Sinfonia. The concerts are scheduled for 8:30pm at the main Carlos Piantini Hall of the National Theater.
Tickets are for sale by email at boleteria@sinfonia.org.do, at the National Symphony Orchestra office at 809 687-0504 ext 2213 or at the National Theater box office at 809 687-3191.
The scheduled concerts are:
Wednesday, 10 August 2016: Opening night conducted by Maestro Jose Antonio Molina. Participation of Ukranian pianist Vadym Kholodenko playing the Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18. Also the Overture Coriolan by Beethoven and the Symphony No. 7 in D minor by Dvorak.

Wednesday, 24 August: Dominican violinist Antonio Rincon (first violin with the West Palm Beach Opera Orchestra, Boca Raton Symphonia and Palm Beach Symphony in Florida) will perform the national premiere of Concerto for violin and orchestra by Khachaturian conducted by Maestro Guillermo Mota Curiel, who is the associate director and violinist of the National Symphony Orchestra. On the evening program is also Great Russian Easter Overture by Rimsky Korsakov and the Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet Suite.

Wednesday, 12 October. Conducted by Maestro Jose Antonio Molina, with soloist harpist Andre Tarantiles, and principal flute of the National Symphony Theater Alaima Gonzalez, will perform Mozart Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra in C major. That evening the orchestra will also perform Mozart’s Overture: The Marriage of Figaro. And Brahms Symphony No 2 in D major.

Wednesday, 9 November: Maestro Molina will conduct violinist Kristin Lee and cellist Jonah Kim in the Brahms’ Concerto in A minor for Violin, Cello and Orchestra and the Symphony No 1 in C minor.

Wednesday, 16 November: Closing concert. Guest conductor Kenneth Woods who is the artistic director and principal conductor of the English Symphony Orchestra. He will conduct the performance of Dominican soprano Paola Ines Gonzalez in the Concerto for Coloratura and Orchestra by Reinhold Gliere. Also on the program are two works by Brahms: the Academic Festival Overture and the Symphony No. 4. http://eso.co.uk/about-the-eso/conductors/kenneth-woods/

Read more about upcoming events at http://www.dr1.com/calendar

To read more news, see the DR1 News Archives at: http://dr1.com/premium/news/2016/index.shtml
 
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