DR1 Daily News - Wednesday, 20 July 2016

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May 3, 2000
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Medina and Cedeno declared winners
Migration services to be available online
Chamber of Deputies passes new Penal Code
New growth forecast for Latin America
Zika cases still appearing
The high cost of applying the new Police Reform Law
Foreigners make up 6.6% of prisoner population
Dominican pilot killed in crash
Minibus crashes into Independence Park
Fetuses found in plastic bag
German suspect of having hung himself in Samana
Tu Pais fair at Sambil Mall
Xiomara Fortuna at Casa de Teatro
Jose Antonio Rodriguez at Casa de Teatro
Johnny Ventura at the Barcelo Santo Domingo
Cultural Projects Fair at Palacio de Bellas Artes
Ricardo Montaner and Camila rock group at Palacio de los Deportes


Medina and Cedeno declared winners
The National Assembly on 19 July 2016 confirmed on Tuesday, 19 July 2016 the re-election bid of President Danilo Medina and Vice President Margarita Cedeno of the ruling PLD party for the term 2016-2020. The National Assembly gathers legislators from both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The ruling PLD party is majority in both houses.
Medina and Cedeno were not present at the ceremony that was called at 10am by Cristina Lizardo, Senate president, according to Electoral Law 275-97. Attending were 190 of 198 legislators. Of these 167 voted in favor and 23 against. The dissidents, nevertheless, were not present when Medina and Cedeno were declared winners.
Ramon Rogelio Genao, secretary general and spokesman for the Social Christian Reform Party (PRSC) in the Chamber of Deputies said that the declaration was illegal as the Central Electoral Board (JCE) had not sent the original acts confirming the votes. He called it one more joke on behalf of the Dominican Liberation party (PLD). He said that instead of sending the original summary of the votes, the JCE had sent the bulletins from the electoral stations, which, he said was a confirmation that there had been no manual count of the votes as had been agreed upon by the participating parties.
http://eldia.com.do/rogelio-genao-dice-proclamacion-de-danilo-y-margarita-es-ilegal/
http://hoy.com.do/asamblea-nacional...anilo-medina-y-margarita-cedeno-de-fernandez/
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...-danilo-medina-y-a-margarita-cedeno-DD4401467

Migration services to be available online
According to Major General Ruben Dario Paulino Sem, director general of the Migration Agency (DGM), from 1 August 2016, most of the services offered by the DGM will be available online at http://www.migracion.gob.do
Paulino Sem said that the measure is part of a process to modernize and automate the operations of the department. He said the system cost US$200,000.
Interested parties will be able to send scanned documents to comply with requirements for the issuing of residence permits and travel permits for minors. Among other services to be offered online are those related to entry and departure certificates, citizenship, loss of documents (passport, visas, citizenship), naturalization, judicial and customs procedures, exemptions for taxes on the import of vehicles and household goods, among others.
Paulino Sem that only once the requested process is concluded, a visit to the DGM offices may be needed for the verification of the original documentation and for the delivery of the requested document.
He said that as part of the improvement of migration services, kiosks are being installed at the international airports of Las Americas in Santo Domingo, Cibao in Santiago, Punta Cana, La Romana and Puerto Plata as well as at the main office of the Migration Agency and the certifications office in the Malecon Center in Santo Domingo as well as the regional office in Santiago.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...to-las-solicitudes-en-migracion-seran-via-web

Chamber of Deputies passes new Penal Code
In a work session yesterday, 19 July 2016, Chamber of Deputies legislators voted to pass amendments to the Criminal Code. Eliminated from the code is the article that would have incorporated four exceptions to the section that penalizes abortion. There will not be exceptions made even in instances to save the life of the mother, malformation of the fetus or incest. The Penal Code criminalizes abortion, establishing penalties of four to 10 years in prison for anyone who is found to have performed an abortion.
Other amendments are the accumulation of jail sentences to 60 years, an increase in the maximum single jail sentence to 40 years and the criminalizing of the invasion and occupation of land. It also establishes 20 to 30 years in jail for kidnapping, and 4 to 10 years in jail for adults inciting minors to commit criminal acts. The new code also brings changes in the penalties for feminicides and poisoning.
The bill passed in the Chamber of Deputies with the vote of 132 votes in favor and six against.
The bill will be sent to the Senate for review.

New growth forecast for Latin America
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised upwards its growth figures for Latin America for 2016 and 2017.
The IMF has reduced the anticipated negative growth of 2016 to -0.4% and now shows growth in Latin America will increase at 1.6% in 2017.
It states that the improvement is due to an anticipated improvement in the recovery of the Brazilian economy. The Brazilian economy that now stands at -3.3% for 2016 is expected to improve to 0.5% for 2017.
At the same time the Mexican economy is also expected to improve from 2.5% in 2016 to 2.6% in 2017.
This is good news for the Dominican business. There are direct flights to Brazil and Mexico and improvements in the economy of these countries could translate into more tourist visitations and more foreign investment from those countries.
The revision of the increase in figures in Latin America is produced in the context of worsening in the projections for world economies due to the expected departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union, but the IMF also says it is concerned with factors which might affect Latin America such as the Zika virus and climate change,
The IMF has reduced the increase in the world economy to 3.1% for 2016 and 3.4% for 2017.
http://www.diariolibre.com/economia...nto-de-latinoamerica-en-2016-y-2017-XC4400536

Zika cases still appearing
For the first 25 weeks of the year, there have been 4,660 cases of suspected zika virus registered. 747 cases of pregnant women were reported by the Ministry of Public Health.
There have been 210 notified cases of Guillain Barre Syndrome and 17 deaths due to the disease.
According to the Epidemiology Bulletin covering the first half of the year, in the last week 153 suspected zika cases were notified, 25 in pregnant women. In addition there were six suspected cases of Guillain Barre.
Of those cases checked in the laboratory, 28% were zika of which 101 were in women who were pregnant. The virus was also detected in eight of those affected by Guillain Barre.
Since the zika virus was first detected in the country, in January 2016, cases have been identified in 28 of the 31 provinces and National District. There have not yet been cases confirmed for Dajabon, Elias Pina or San Jose de Ocoa, all in the western side of the island.
Last week, the Ministry of Public Health reported 132 probable dengue cases with a total of 528 in the past four weeks. Of these, 88% were reported for the National District (Santo Domingo) and the rest in 14 other provinces. Since January there have been 5,136 probable cases of dengue including 26 confirmed deaths.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...lain-barre-y-26-al-dengue-en-lo-que-va-de-ano

The high cost of applying the new Police Reform Law
To comply with the new Police Reform Law will cost the government RD$420 million in the retirement payments for 31 generals, as reported in Diario Libre. The new law establishes that the police force cannot have more than 20 active generals. The force at present has 51 generals.
The law gives the government two years to retire the generals. A general needs to be 50 years old to be retired.
The monthly payroll of the Police is RD$387 million.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...es-a-generales-de-policia-en-retiro-EH4393006

Foreigners make up 6.6% of prisoner population
According to a report issued by the Prisons Agency, there are currently 1,660 foreigners in Dominican jails, which is 6.6% of the overall prison population of 24,848 inmates.
The vast majority of the foreign prisoners, some 80.7%, are Haitians with 1,241. In addition there are 43 from the United States, Canada and Mexico and the remaining 276 come from other countries.
39.9% of foreigners are in the new model prisons. 60.1% of the foreigners are held in traditional jails, with La Victoria holding 295 prisoners or 17.7%. La Victoria is the largest prison with 7,993 prisoners or 32.1% of the total.
Next is Anamuya in Higuey with 181 foreigners, some 10.9% and 1,023 inmates in total, or 4.1% of the overall prison population.
Then comes El Seibo with 119 foreigners out of a total of 792, Montecristi with 105 out of 406, La Vega with 72 out of 1,454 and Mao, Valverde with 63 foreigners out of a total prison population of 349.
In Barahona and La Cucama in La Romana there are 62 foreigners in each.
In San Cristobal there are 61 in Najayo Men?s prison.
Those jails with the least number of foreign prisoners, between 10 and 60, are Santiago Rodriguez, San Pedro de Macoris, Monte Plata, Higuey Women?s Jail, Najayo Women?s Jail (San Cristobal), Bani Men?s Jail, Kilometer 15 Azua, Rafey Men?s Jail, San Francisco de Macoris, Samana, Kilometer 19 Azua, Pedernales, San Juan de la Maguana, Puerto Plata, Neiba, Pedernales, La Vega, Moca and Vista del Valle.
Those with between three and 10 foreign inmates are Dajabon (3), San Cristobal (3), Bani Women?s Jail (5), Rafey Women (5), Sabana Toro (7), Salcedo (7), Nagua (9), and Elias Pina (10).
http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2016/07/19/427654/mas-1600-reos-son-extranjeros

Dominican pilot killed in crash
A Utah State University aviation student from the Dominican Republic died in a plane crash on Monday, 18 July 2016 while flying as part of the school's pilot training program.
According to authorities, 21-year old Frank Marino De Leon Compres, was flying over an area of hilly farmland between Hyrum and Paradise when his single engine, DA-40 Diamond Aircraft plane crashed just after noon. When emergency responders reached the scene they found him dead.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.
According to university spokeswoman, Maren Aller, De Leon Compres was flying to obtain the solo flight hours required to get his commercial pilot license. Aviation professor Andreas Wesemman praised De Leon Compres, saying he was an honors student whom other students admired.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/...ing-plane-crashes-in-Cache-County.html?pg=all

Minibus crashes into Independence Park
A minibus on the Feria-Almirante route on Tuesday, 19 July 2016 crashed into the railings at Independence Park. One report indicates the driver was in a race with another vehicle that sped off. The driver explained he lost control and rode the vehicle into the park to avoid crashing another vehicle.
No one was injured in the accident, although the minibus suffered broken windows and park railings were destroyed.
The minibus was being driven by 20-year old Franyi Emmanuel Perez Sanchez.
Captain Dominguez from the Metropolitan Transport Authority (Amet) confirmed it had been a race but said he had the license plate number of the runaway vehicle.
The minibus driver denied they had been racing and said the accelerator cable became stuck and he had to drive onto the edge of the park to prevent the minibus hitting another vehicle.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...strella-contra-verja-del-parque-independencia

Fetuses found in plastic bag
Six fetuses have been discovered in a green area off the San Isidro highway, near Av. Ecologica in Santo Domingo East.
The fetuses were found in a black plastic bag by passersby. The remains were sent to the National Institute of Forensic Pathology. They were identified as being of four male and two females, aged between four and twelve weeks of gestation.
http://pn.gob.do/noticias-principal...rde-de-la-avenida-ecolgica-santo-domingo-este

German suspect of having hung himself in Samana
The Police reported the case of a German citizen who apparently hung himself at his Las Terrenas home. The Police said the German left a suicide note to another German explaining he had received an email at 3am notifying him that his pension had been cancelled. He lived in El Muro in Las Terrenas, Samana. The German was identified as 68-year old Peter Paul Hochs T.
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/07/19/hallan-ahorcado-aleman-que-retiraron-pension

Tu Pais fair at Sambil Mall
A national cultural and touristic fair is set for Thursday, 21 July to Sunday, 24 July 2016 at the events and exhibitions hall of Sambil shopping mall on Av. John F. Kennedy in Santo Domingo. There will be culinary and arts and crafts exhibitions.
Teddy de Lara, coordinator of the ?Tu Pais? event, said that there Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, La Romana-Bayahibe, Samana, Sanchez, Barahona, Jarabacoa, Constanza, San Jose de Ocoa and Montecristi tourist destinations would be exhibiting at the fair.

Xiomara Fortuna at Casa de Teatro
Folklorist Xiomara Fortuna is booked for a concert at the Casa de Teatro auditorium as part of the 42nd anniversary celebrations of the cultural center. Saturday, 23 July 2016 at 9pm.

Jose Antonio Rodriguez at Casa de Teatro
Culture Minister Jose Antonio Rodriguez is participating in the 42nd anniversary celebrations of Casa de Teatro. He will present a concert on Friday, 22 July 2016. 9pm.

Johnny Ventura at the Barcelo Santo Domingo
On Friday, 29 July 2016, enjoy the music of the legendary Johnny Ventura merengue band. Also performing will be romantic ballad singers Jackeline Estevez and Vickiana. Ventura promises to delight audiences with a repertoire of best hits. Areas for dancing will be available. 9pm.

Cultural Projects Fair at Palacio de Bellas Artes
The Ministry of Culture is presenting the First Fair of Cultural Projects from 4-7 August 2016 at the Palacio de Bellas Artes.
The event will showcase provincial initiatives to promote music, arts and crafts, literature and plastic arts in the provinces. The showing will be open from 10am to 10pm.
The Ministry announces several leading artists will be performing as part of the event. These include Fefita ?La Grande,? Kinito Mendez, Maridalia Hernandez, Pavel Nunez, Diomary ?La Mala?, Jose Pena Suazo, Rando Camasta, Covi Quintana and Pamel Mancebo. There will be choral, ballet and folklore dance performances, too.

Ricardo Montaner and Camila rock group at Palacio de los Deportes
A show with Venezuelan songwriter and singer Ricardo Montaner and the pop rock group Camila is booked for the Palacio de los Deportes in Santo Domingo on 24 September 2016. ?Solo hits,? is a production by Cesar Suarez Jr. Camila is winner of Grammy and Billboard awards. Montaner?s presence is part of his ?Agracedido World Tour?.
Listen to the music by Ricardo Montaner at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9MuvylOvWE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xftFxCYQTdk

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

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