DR1 Daily News - Thursday, 10 November 2016

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May 3, 2000
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Danilo Medina congratulates Donald Trump
Medina visits Puerto Plata to assess damage
Senate postpones vote on JCE
First salary talks reached no agreement
Migration Agency presents 2017-2020 Strategic Plan
Tariffs increase on US$200 courier purchases
UK delegation visits Agriculture Ministry
JAD president criticizes US farm subsidies
Greenhouse farmers seek better financing
Dominican to preside Latin American Bank Federation
Senate honors Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
Red alert for Puerto Plata and Maria Trinidad Sanchez
University education fair
Danny Rivera at Bellas Artes



Danilo Medina congratulates Donald Trump
Joining heads of state around the world, Dominican President Danilo Medina has sent his congratulations to US President-elect Donald Trump on behalf of the Dominican people, his government and himself.
“I would like to convey our sincere congratulations for your election as President of the United States,” he wrote in the official letter sent via the Ministry of Foreign Relations. He also mentioned how Dominicans had followed the US election process very closely. Medina expressed hope that Trump would achieve the best of success in the constant development of that powerful nation, and in strengthening democracy and world peace. He extended the congratulations to Vice President-elect Mike Pence.

Medina said that he trusted the excellent friendship relations between our peoples would continue through trade and cultural exchanges, and that all the cooperation and technical assistance programs that have united both countries for many years will continue.

Meanwhile, Vice President Margarita Cede?o expressed hope that Trump would come through with his pledge to work for unity in the United States. Via her Twitter account, the Vice President praised Hillary Clinton as a symbol of courage and bravery for speaking for the less vulnerable. “I admire Hillary Clinton, a true fighter. You lost the election, but you have won your place in history,” she wrote. Cede?o had actively campaigned among Dominicans-Americans in support of Clinton. It was an unprecedented move for a Dominican President or Vice President to take sides in a foreign election.

https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias/presidente-danilo-medina-felicita-a-donald-trump
http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.ph...election-outcome-have-any-consequenses-for-DR
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...52/el-gobierno-felicita-a-donald-trump-y-vice
http://www.metrord.do/noticias/como...e-trump-sea-presidente/ftwpkj---IoHcmLI0vNG6/
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...s-y-vuelve-a-mostrar-admiracion-hacia-clinton
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...-gracioso-de-las-elecciones-en-estados-unidos


Medina visits Puerto Plata to assess damage
President Danilo Medina flew to Puerto Plata on Wednesday 9 November 2016 to take a firsthand look at the damage caused by the relentless rainfall that caused extensive flooding over the past week.

In his tour of several low-lying areas of the city, the President ordered the Minister of Public Works Gonzalo Castillo, and the Administrative Minister of the Presidency Jos? Ramon Peralta to do everything possible to help the families who lost everything in the floods. He visited the areas of Nuevo Renacer, Playa Oeste, Nuevo Hait? and Los Coquitos. He pledged government funds to build a flood prevention barrier and ordered mattresses and household items to be donated to the affected families.

Before landing in Puerto Plata the president flew over areas like Sabaneta de Yasica, Cabarete and Sosua and saw the damage that had been inflicted on basic infrastructure such as roads and bridges as well as housing.
However, as the rainfall resumed, the President has to call off his planned visits to the towns of Imbert and Guananico.

Although the damage has not been added up, most newspaper reports are talking of millions and millions in losses, as well as the cancellation of several cruise ships visits into the port of Amber Cove in Maim?n, a 15-minute drive from Puerto Plata city.

The torrential and incessant rains have caused most damage in the north, northeast and northwest of the country.
The government sent a 130-vehicle convoy and construction equipment to Puerto Plata for quick repairs. Mobile kitchen units have also been dispatched to the affected areas.

Minister of Public Works Castillo said that the other affected areas included El Lim?n in Saman?, Cabrera in Mar?a Trinidad S?nchez, Moca in Espaillat and La Vega as well as parts of Santiago and Montecristi provinces.
According to the COE, around 26,000 people have been forced to leave their homes, and more than 5,000 houses have been affected.

https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...a-danos-y-escucha-a-los-afectados-por-lluvias
http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/159533-Photos-of-Catastrophic-Rains-on-North-Coast
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/11/09/mas-26-mil-desplazados-21-provincias-alerta-por-las-lluvias


Senate postpones vote on JCE
The Senate of the Republic has accepted a decision by the chairman of the special commission that evaluated the nominees for the Central Electoral Board (JCE), which has asked the Senate to vote on their five proposals of shortlists prepared by the commission.

Dionis Sanchez asked the Senate to take a vote on the candidates during the next session scheduled for Wednesday, 16 November 2016.

According to the Diario Libre the shortlists are as follows:
Shortlist 1: Rafelina Peralta Arias, Roberto Fernando Salad?n, Miguel Andr?s Gil D?az
Shortlist 2: Rosario Altagracia Graciano, Sonia Hiciano, Frederic Bolivar Almonte Brito
Shortlist 3: Rom?n Andr?s Jaquez Liranzo, Carmen Imbert Brugal, Santiago Salvador Sosa Garc?a
Shortlist 4: Roberto Rosario M?rquez, Henry Orlando Tejeda Oviedo, Dolores Altagracia Fern?ndez S?nchez
Shortlist 5: Trajano Vidal Potentini, Juan Miguel Castillo Pantaleon, Jos? Miguel Minier Almonte

Meanwhile, main opposition PRM party spokesman Andres Bautista says that the government already has its JCE members, who would be Supreme Court of Justice vice president Julio C?sar Casta?os Guzm?n (a former president of the JCE), former ambassador Roberto Salad?n, politician Henry Mej?a, former judge and radio and TV host Carmen Imbert Brugal and Freddy Almonte. Reportedly, the list was supplied by Monsignor Agripino N??ez Collado, mediator of the coalition of political parties that discussed the new lineup of the electoral board. The coalition was disbanded when opposition members speculated that the government planned to impose its candidates.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2016/11/10/442615/senadores-aplazan-la-seleccion-jueces-jce
http://www.metrord.do/noticias/adel...ehenes-a-los-senalados/ftwpkj---sITkPioNibz6/
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/11/10/oposicion-dice-medina-propuso-una-jce-unilateral
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...al-electoral-para-la-semana-proxima-XF5412505
http://eldia.com.do/senado-aplaza-para-el-miercoles-la-escogencia-integrantes-de-jce/


First salary talks reached no agreement
As expected, a meeting between workers and management representatives ended without any agreement on Wednesday, 9 November 2016. However, the workers’ representatives described the meeting as productive because the National Salary Committee (CNS) has been adjourned and has agreed to meet again on December 7.

The National Salary Committee usually meets every two years, and only one year has gone by since the latest 14% minimum wage increase.

The union representatives are demanding a 30% private sector salary increase.

On Wednesday, Management Confederation (COPARDOM) head Joel Santos commented that he wanted to know the reasons for these meetings before the end of the two-year period established by salary legislation. Santos said that the Labor Code calls for a salary review every two years.

The CNS is composed of workers’ representatives, essentially the unions, and headed by the CNUS, a labor union confederation, the business sector and government.

There is no doubt that these conversations will be long and drawn out, with management holding to the letter of the law and the labor unions seeking pay increases across the board.


Migration Agency presents 2017-2020 Strategic Plan
The general director of the Migration Agency (DGM), Lieutenant General M?ximo William Mu?oz Delgado says that the government will be implementing the Institutional Migratory Strategic Plan 2017-2020 to improve its controls on immigration. Upon making the announcement during a meeting of Migration Agency staff on Wednesday 9 November 2016, Mu?oz Delgado described migration as a matter of national security and encouraged the staff to meet the targets set by President Danilo Medina.

The plan includes strengthening migratory registries, legalization of foreigners and integration of immigrants living in Dominican territory while making migratory processes more efficient.

http://acento.com.do/2016/actualida...ategico-mejorar-gestion-migratoria-2017-2020/
http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/139285-New-Decree-for-All-Foreigners


Tariffs increase on US$200 courier purchases
The Customs Agency (DGA) has announced significant increases in the tariff charged per kilo on courier orders as of Tuesday, 15 November 2016 to 31 December 2016. The rate will gradually increase by 300% in a year’s time. The measure affects imports via courier valued at less than US$200.

The per-kilo rate as of 15 November 2016 will be US$0.50 up from US$0.25. As of January 2017, it will increase to US$0.75 from 1 January 2017 to 30 June 2017, and then again to US$1.00 as of 1 July 2017.

This is the latest in a series of measures aimed at increasing government revenue, along with others such as highway tolls and vehicle license tags.

http://elnacional.com.do/aduanas-sube-300-a-tarifa-de-compras-por-internet/


UK delegation visits Agriculture Ministry
The Minister of Agriculture Angel Estevez has hosted an official visit by a delegation from the United Kingdom. During the meeting they discussed establishing a bilateral agreement for exporting local products as well as strengthening the production process and the Dominican Republic.

The delegation, composed of UK Parliament members and businesspeople, is interested in strengthening trade links and training specialist staff with a view to increasing exports of national products such as bananas and mangoes.

The group also proposed initiatives for strengthening the sanitation process used in the export of farm produce.*The delegation has also visited rice, banana and mango farms. They praised the quality of the national production and expressed interest in creating the perfect setting for opening the doors to negotiations and exchanges of products with United Kingdom.


JAD president criticizes US farm subsidies
The executive president of the Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD), Osmar Ben?tez has complained that the US$41 billion in subsidies paid to US farmers affects Dominican producers seeking to benefit from the DR-CAFTA Free Trade Agreement with the United States.

He made the observation while signing a cooperation agreement for training and research in agriculture with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

http://www.listindiario.com/economia/2016/11/09/442394/agro-nacional-en-desventaja


Greenhouse farmers seek better financing
The Dominican Cluster of Greenhouse Farmers said on Wednesday, 9 November 2016, that several weaknesses in the sector were limiting its development. Cluster president Pedro Musa Velasquez told Diario Libre reporters that the weaknesses in the sector include a lack of financing and support. He added that it is easier to finance a vehicle than it is to obtain the resources needed for farm production.

Musa Velasquez added that since they began installing greenhouses during President Hip?lito Mej?a’s administration (2000-2004) many people with no knowledge or experience of farming or from outside sector have come in attracted by the expected profits to be made. He said, nevertheless, that more training was needed for all aspects of greenhouse production.

He called on President Danilo Medina to honor his campaign pledges to support the country’s greenhouse producers.

Musa Velasquez was speaking to reporters during a press conference at the headquarters of the Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD) in Santo Domingo.


Dominican to preside Latin American Bank Federation
Dominican Jos? Manuel L?pez Vald?s was elected to preside the Latin American Bank Federation (Felaban) for 2016-2018 during the organization’s 50th assembly. An economist, L?pez Vald?s is the president of the local Association of Commercial Banks of the Dominican Republic (ABA).
Other board members are Jaime Moreno, for Panama; and Segismundo Schulin-Zeuthen Serrano, for Chile.

See his acceptance speech:
http://www.aba.org.do/index.php/com...-de-esa-institucion-para-el-periodo-2016-2018


Senate honors Adriano Espaillat
The Senate of the Republic will honor 62-year old Santiago-born Adriano Espaillat who has just been elected to the United States House of Representatives. The initiative to honor representative-elect Espaillat was presented by Adriano Sanchez Roa and Amarilis Santana Cedano. Espaillat is the first Dominican-American to win a seat in the United States Congress. He achieved this after more than 20 years of service in the city of New York and in the state legislature. He will represent New York’s 13th congressional district.

Espaillat is a member of the New York State Senate and a former member of the New York State Assembly.

A Democrat, Espaillat is a ranking member of the Senate Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee and Chair of the Senate Latino Caucus. He represents the neighborhoods of Marble Hill, Inwood, Washington Heights, Hamilton Heights, West Harlem, and the Upper West Side in Manhattan where large number of Dominicans live.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adriano_Espaillat


Red alert for Puerto Plata and Maria Trinidad Sanchez
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) is maintaining its red alert for the provinces of Puerto Plata and Maria Trinidad Sanchez (Nagua), which were worst affected by the rains over the past week.

The agency reported that the number of displaced people has increased to more than 26,000 with 19 communities cut off by floodwaters and crumbling roadways. The rains have also destroyed 23 houses, 20 of them in Puerto Plata, damaged seven bridges and affected a total of 5,230 houses according to the Wednesday, 9 November 2016 bulletin.

Five provinces are under yellow alert and 14 are on green alert, making a total of 21 provinces under some sort of warning by the COE.

According to the National Meteorological Office (Onamet), the rains are expected to continue throughout the country. Areas across the country have reported damage from the floodwaters and mudslides.


University education fair
With the support of the European Union delegation, the Organization of American States and the embassies of the France (Campus France), Spain, Germany (German Academic Exchange Service - DAAD), Switzerland, Canada, Mexico and Brazil, the First International Higher Education Fair will take place in Santo Domingo on Tuesday, 15 November 2016. Information on scholarships and education financing will also be offered during the event.

The event is carried out to present higher learning opportunities abroad. It will take place from 9am to 7pm at the Sala A?da Cartagena Portalat?n and the Sala Latinoamericana y Caribe?a of the Pedro Henr?quez Ure?a National Library on Av. Pedro Henr?quez Ure?a in Plaza de la Cultura. Attendance is free.


Danny Rivera at Bellas Artes
Puerto Rican-Dominican romantic ballad singer Danny Rivera is performing at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Santo Domingo on 18 and 19 November 2016. His concert, “Para toda la vida” is directed by Amaury S?nchez. The show will include appearances by musicians Guarionex Aquino, Sandy Gabriel, Federico M?ndez, Ezequiel Francisco. Tickets are RD$2,000-RD$2,500 and for sale at Ticket Express and the Bellas Artes box office.


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


Archived News stories:
http://dr1.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/91-Daily-Headline-News

Archived Travel News stories:
http://dr1.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/92-Travel-amp-Tourism-News