DR1 Daily News - Tuesday, 1 November 2016

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Medina opens VIII Ministerial Forum for Development
President Medina promises reforestation
Montas meets with heads of Conatra and Fenatrano
Vice President Cede?o campaigns for Hillary
Central Bank raises interest rates
New rules for larimar and amber exports
Santo Domingo tunnels and overpasses to close
Paliza of PRM to National Magistracy Council
Doctors on strike in Santiago
Mining communities ask for money
Thousands of objects confiscated at airports
OISOE case advances in court
Rains to continue
US Elections 2016: The Final Stretch at the Quinta Dominica
Alex Ferreira at Hard Rock Caf?
Toy aficiao in the National Theater



Medina opens VIII Ministerial Forum for Development
President Danilo Medina attended the opening of the VIII Ministerial Forum for Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean and the 1st Board Meeting of the Regional Conference on Social Development at the Jaragua Renaissance Hotel in Santo Domingo on Monday, 31 October 2016. The event, a platform for impact assessment of social policies in the region, is coordinated by Vice President Margarita Cede?o?s Office.

Yesterday, President Medina met Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the Presidential Palace. Clark is a former prime minister of New Zealand (1999-2008). She was in the Dominican Republic for the VIII Ministerial Forum for Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The hour-long meeting between Clark and President Medina was also attended by UNDP assistant administrator
Sharon Kingsley and the UNDP representative of the in the Dominican Republic, Lorenzo Jim?nez de Luis, accompanied by sustainable human development officer Melissa Bret?n.

https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...ontra-la-pobreza-dice-pais-va-por-buen-camino


President Medina promises reforestation
During a visit to Sabana Yegua in the southwestern province of Azua on Sunday, 30 October 2016, President Danilo Medina promised local residents that he would commission an environmental protection plan aimed at improving their quality of life.

The Ministry of Agriculture will be responsible for drawing up the plan and the commitment was made during the President?s surprise visit to 10 communities around the Sabana Yegua dam. The plan will be presented within 15 days.

The meeting took place in Las Ca?itas, Padre las Casas where Medina listened to locals who live in an area that is almost totally deforested despite being one of the country?s main water sources.

He said that the area around Hondo Valle and Sabaneta would also be reforested with hardwood, pine and avocado trees and coffee plants.

http://elnacional.com.do/haran-plan-reforestar-cuenca-sabana-yegua/


Montas meets with heads of Conatra and Fenatrano
Minister of Industry and Commerce Tem?stocles Mont?s met with transport company heads Antonio Marte of Conatra and Juan Hubieres of Fenatrano on Monday, 31 October 2016. The transporters have a monopoly on most of the country?s transport routes, traditionally unchallenged by the government.*

Recently the government removed a multi-million-peso fuel subsidy, and the transporters responded by increasing their fares by between RD$5 and RD$50, despite statements by Juan Hubieres who claimed that the transporters were not the beneficiaries of what he called ?the fuel mafia.?

The meeting with Mont?s led Juan Hubieres to call off the transport stoppages that he had announced following the removal of the subsidy.

The transporters are also protesting legal moves by the National Business Council (Conep) in pursuit of a Superior Administrative Court (TSA) ruling that would enable other companies to bid for transport routes. Conep claims that service on the routes is bad because of the government?s complacency towards the monopoly.

http://touch.metrord.do/noticias/mo...esarios-del-transporte/ftwpjE---ahEaveMc7uu2/


Vice President Cede?o campaigns for Hillary
Vice President Margarita Cede?o has released a video where she urges Dominicans living in the United States to vote for the Democratic Party candidate, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In the video she appeals to the estimated 1.8 million Dominican-Americans living in the United States, saying that in a Trump presidency, women?s dignity may not be respected, Dominicans could become second-class citizens and their children?s future prospects could be stunted. She says that Hillary is the only option for progress, and the only option that guarantees dignity, respect and future for Latin Americans in the United States.

http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...minicanos-votar-por-hillary-clinton-ID5324875


Central Bank raises interest rates
The Central Bank has increased its monetary policy interest rate by 50 base points from 5% per year to 5.5% effective from 1 November 2016.

The rate for overnight deposits will increase from 3.5% to 4% annual and the repos rate from 6.5% to 7%.

The decision has been taken as a preventative measure and takes into consideration the balance of risks for the inflation projections, market expectations, the internal macroeconomic context as well as the international environment relevant to the Dominican economy; especially the expectation for an increase in interest rates at the Federal Reserve, the recent trend for increased international petroleum prices and the uncertainty in the international markets related to the United States elections.

According to the Central Bank, in September 2016 the annual inflation rate was 1.35%, and the accumulated rate reached 0.35% at the end of the month.

The projections for inflation for 2017 show a slight tendency to increase so it is anticipated to be 4% plus or minus 1%.

From January to September 2016 the Gross Domestic Product increased by 6.9% year on year and it is expected to end the year at 6.5%, making it the highest in Latin America for the third consecutive year.

http://www.bancentral.gov.do/notas_...enta-la-tasa-de-poltica-monetaria-a-550-anual


New rules for larimar and amber exports
The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) has announced the first set of rules for the export of amber and larimar, semi-precious stones that used to be exported in their natural state, raw and semi-processed. This situation was creating confusion about their origin when they arrived at international destinations.

According to resolution R-MEM-REG-047-2016, it is now prohibited to export larimar if it is whole, cut into sheets and/or tablets half a centimeter thick. The resolution also bans amber from being sent out of the country in a whole form. The Ministry has also banned the export of these stones with traces of impurities or cut into different sizes.

A Presidency press release says the regulations are aimed at developing the micro, small and medium-scale jewelry businesses and to create employment in those communities.

At present, 1,200 larimar mines and 2,000 amber mines are registered with the Ministry.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...ia-y-minas-regula-exportacion-ambar-y-larimar


Santo Domingo tunnels and overpasses to close
The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) has announced that several of the capital?s tunnels and overpasses will be closed during the week for cleaning and maintenance.

The works will continue until Friday, 4 November 2016 from 10:30pm until 6am.

The works will be carried out at:
The overpass in both directions of Av. John F Kennedy with Av. Maximo Gomez on Tuesday, 1 November.

The Av. Charles de Gaulle overpass at the San Isidro Highway on Wednesday, 2 November.

Av. 27 de Febrero with Av. Maximo Gomez on Thursday, 3 November.

Las Americas tunnel on Friday, 4 November.

The Ministry has apologized for any inconvenience caused.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...e-tuneles-y-elevados-en-el-gran-santo-domingo

Paliza of PRM to National Magistracy Council
The Senate has issued the Partido Revolucionario Moderno (PRM) with a certificate officially confirming that it is the second-largest party in Congress. This confirms the political party?s right to be represented on the National Magistracy Council, which is in charge of electing Supreme Court justices.

The PRM has chosen Puerto Plata senator Jose Ignacio Paliza as its representative. The news was announced in a press release by Paliza?s office.


Doctors on strike in Santiago
Medical interns at the Jose Mar?a Cabral and B?ez Hospital in Santiago walked out for three hours on Monday, 31 October 2016 in protest at what they describe as ?precarious working conditions? in the hospital.

According to their spokesman, Jos? Antonio Galarza N??ez, the hospital remodeling is making it difficult to treat patients, as there are no medicines, not even for treating a case of high blood pressure. He said that the treatment they are offering patients is inhumane, and he did not want the public to think it was the fault of the medical staff.

He added that there was a lot of contamination in the hospital and the National Union of Nurses, SINATRAE, confirmed that there was an outbreak of tuberculosis, although this was denied by the hospital public relations director, Jhonny Lama, who asked them to present proof.

http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...abores-en-el-hospital-cabral-y-baez-EX5321152


Mining communities ask for money
Campaigners from communities affected by mining in the central province of Sanchez Ramirez (Cotu?) and the Maim?n and Piedra Blanca areas have complained that the budget proposals sent to Congress by President Danilo Medina have once again failed to deliver the funds to which they are legally entitled to the communities affected by Barrick Gold?s activities in the Pueblo Viejo Mine.

According to their calculations, the budget is unfair with only 2.2% being allocated (some RD$200 million) out of the 5% the Law of the Environment and Natural Resources assigns to the municipalities around the mine.

The communities stated that the money that President Danilo Medina should have transferred to the Provincial Council of the Administration of Mining Funds (FOMISAR) in 2017 is miniscule in comparison to the state earnings of around RD$9.15 billion from the mine despite the fact that the mining communities are the ones that have to live with the dust and the pollution from Barrick Gold.

http://hoy.com.do/comunidades-miner...a-pretende-seguir-incumpliendo-entrega-del-5/


Thousands of objects confiscated at airports
According to the Specialized Corps of Airport Security and Civil Aviation, (CESAC), around 50,000 products and articles have been confiscated from passengers at the international airports around the country so far in 2016.
The confiscations are made in compliance with an international ruling that bans passengers from boarding planes with articles in their hand luggage that could jeopardize the security of the passengers and crew.

The confiscated items include switchblade razors, knives, pliers, screwdrivers, scissors, nail clippers, umbrellas, bottles of alcohol, files, creams, lighters, deodorants and others.

According to a report given to the press at Las Americas Airport, the total number of articles was 49,265. The confiscated items are taken to a warehouse before being incinerated.

http://elnacional.com.do/decomisan-49-mil-objetos-a-pasajeros-aeropuertos/


OISOE case advances in court
A National District judge has opened the final trial against the four men accused of irregularities at the Office of the Supervising Engineers of State Works (OISOE). The case was opened in response to the accusations in a suicide note left by architect David Rodr?guez Garc?a.

Judge Patricia Padilla will hear the conclusions of the Public Prosecution Service and the defense before giving her verdict.

Three of the accused, Joel Soriano Fabian, Alejandro Isidoro de los Santos (a former OISOE employee) and Julio Rafael P?rez Alejo are all in pre-trial detention. The fourth defendant, Juan Ernesto Romero P?rez is out on bail until the process concludes.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...icio-de-fondo-contra-implicados-en-caso-oisoe


Rains to continue
According to the National Meteorological Office (Onamet) a low-pressure front moving across the country is bringing thunderstorms and heavy rain in the north, northwest, northeast, southeast, central mountain range and the border regions.

Onamet is on alert for floods and mudslides in Dajab?n, Puerto Plata, Santiago, Espaillat (Moca), Hermanas Mirabal (Salcedo) and Mar?a Trinidad S?nchez (Nagua).

Heavy rains are also forecast for the provinces of El?as Pina, Montecristi, Santiago Rodr?guez, La Vega, San Jose de Ocoa, Monse?or Nouel (Bonao), S?nchez Ram?rez (Cotu?), Monte Plata, Hato Mayor, El Seibo, La Altagracia (Higuey), La Romana, San Pedro de Macoris, San Crist?bal, Azua, Independencia, Pedernales and San Juan de la Maguana.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...uaceros-mantienen-alerta-para-seis-provincias


Light earthquake felt in DR‬
An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale with its epicenter in Monte Plata in the southeastern Dominican Republic was felt at 7:02am on Tuesday, 1 November 2016. Monte Plata is around 33 km east of Santo Domingo, the capital city. Earthquakes in the 4-5 magnitude range are usually felt but cause little or no damage.


US Elections 2016: The Final Stretch at the Quinta Dominica
The Quinta Dominica cultural center in Santo Domingo?s Colonial City is inviting the public to attend a talk on ?US Elections 2016: The Final Stretch? on Thursday, 3 November 2016 at 7pm. Jos? A. Mart?, a regular speaker at the Quinta Dominica, is a graduate of the UASD with a postgraduate in international economic affairs from the Institute of Political Studies in Paris. Mart? worked at the United Nations, the World Bank, and in Wall Street in New York for many years.

His talk will focus on current topics, the media and social media, and will provide a political analysis of key states such as Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Nevada and New Hampshire, less than a week before US Election Day.


Alex Ferreira at Hard Rock Caf?
Alex Ferreira and El Frente Caribe will be playing at the Hard Rock Caf? at Blue Mall in Santo Domingo on Friday, 11 November 2016. The show starts at 9:30pm. Best-loved hits to be performed include ?Me pierdo contigo,? ?El af?n? and ?Tres veredas.?


Toy aficiao in the National Theater
Fundaci?n Matrimonio Feliz presents the musical, ?Toy aficiao? at the National Theater in Santo Domingo on Saturday, 12 November 2016. The show starts at 8pm. It is a love story between two young people from different social classes. The leading roles are played by Zeny Leyva, Manolo Ozuna, Jos? Julio S?nchez (Grupo Aura) and Manny Cruz (Grupo Aura).

The play is produced by Eudys Cordero, president of Fundaci?n Teatro Efusi?n, nominated for the Casandra Awards for best musical in 2010. Cordero is also the playwright and producer of the film, ?A ritmo de fe? (2013), one of very few Dominican films chosen for screening by HBO.

The film is directed by Jos? Manuel Rodr?guez (La Diva), veteran actor of the Las M?scaras theater group, and winner of the 2010 Casandra award for best actor.

For information on upcoming events:
http://www.dr1.com/calendar


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