DR1 Daily News - Friday, 11 November 2016

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Medina celebrates 65th birthday working
Vargas travels to Russia for CELAC meeting
President of Senate announces PLD preferences for the JCE
Faride Raful blasts fellow legislators for being rubber stamps
The IMF publishes Dominican Republic Country Report
Customs confiscates 20 million cigarettes
Edenorte shuts down Puerto Plata power for maintenance
Wally Brewster’s last Thanksgiving Day speech in DR
Man crashes SUV into Malecon obelisk
Mother of murdered girl demands autopsy results
The biggest moon on 13-14 November 2016
DR Jazz Festival in Puerto Plata
Elsa N??ez exhibits at Centro Cultural Mirador
Iberostar Chef on Tour
Barcelo Bavaro Culinary Week
Theater on Women Anti-Violence Day
Puerto Plata Merengue Festival postponed



Medina celebrates 65th birthday working
President Danilo Medina spent his 65th birthday, Thursday, 10 November 2016, working as usual. Medina was born in Arroyo Cano, Bohech?o, a rural community in the southwestern province of San Juan de la Maguana in 1951. He is the eldest of seven children of Juan Pablo Medina and the late Amelia S?nchez.


Vargas travels to Russia for CELAC meeting
Minister of Foreign Relations Miguel Vargas Maldonado traveled to the Russian city of Sochi on Thursday, 10 November 2016, heading a Dominican mission to the talks between members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Russian authorities. The Dominican Republic is the temporary president of the CELAC block of nations.

The meeting seeks to strengthen relations and explore opportunities for cooperation, investment and exchange of experiences in areas of common interest with the Russian authorities. The meetings will take place on 14 and 15 November.

Vargas and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov set up the visit during their meeting in New York City during the United Nations General Assembly in September.

As reported by the Ministry of Foreign Relations, Russia and CELAC are studying ways of sharing best practices in citizen security, drugs problem, training for diplomats, and other areas related to sciences, technology and innovation.

The Minister’s delegation includes deputy minister for bilateral affairs Cesar Medina and the director of Communications, Hugo Beras.


President of Senate announces PLD preferences for the JCE
Senate president Reinaldo Pared P?rez has told Diario Libre that the ruling PLD party’s choices for the new Central Electoral board (JCE) members are Julio Casta?os, Roberto Salad?n, Carmen Imbert, Henry Mej?a and Freddy Almonte.

He said the PRM had submitted a list with the names of Jorge Subero Isa, Julio Cesar Casta?os Guzm?n, Roberto Salad?n, Luis Mora Guzm?n, Rafael Armando Vallejo Santelises, Miriam Germ?n, Marisol Vicens, Ricardo Nieves, Braulio Portes and Katia Miguelina Jim?nez. Two of them, Casta?os and Salad?n are also on the PLD’s list.

Diario Libre publishes background on the ruling party PLD candidates:
Julio C?sar Casta?os is a lawyer, vice president of the Supreme Court of Justice.

Roberto Salad?n is a lawyer, former Dominican ambassador to the US from 2009-2011, Dominican ambassador to the OAS from 2011-2013 and governor of the Central Bank from 1987-1989.

Carmen Imbert is a lawyer, professor of law, and former judge. She is best known today for her extensive work as a TV and radio talk show host.

Henry Mej?a is a lawyer who works as replacement to Eddy Olivares at the present Central Electoral Board (JCE), with links to the PRD.

Freddy Almonte is a lawyer and former member of the Chamber of Accounts who served as director of passports agency in 1986 under then-President Joaqu?n Balaguer. He has links to the PRSC.


Faride Raful blasts fellow legislators for being rubber stamps
Legislator Faride Raful (PRM-National District) says she will not be a rubber stamp for bills that mortgage the future of future generations and her own children. She has been critical of new loans passed in the ruling PLD-dominated Congress and is demanding that legislators fulfill their role to serve as check to the Executive Branch. Raful began her career as a legislator in August 2016.

In recent addresses in Congress, she has criticized loans for installing electricity transmission lines, pointing out that the loans are going to works that have already been financed by previous loans. On Tuesday, 8 November 2016 she blasted fellow legislators for passing the bill for the US$600 million bond placement for financing the Punta Catalina power plant, warning that Bndes would penalize the Dominican government for not taking the Brazilian financing. She also criticized Congress for approving the loan for Punta Catalina when the top Public Electricity Corporation executive could not even tell the legislators how much the coal-fired power plant would cost the government.

She described the Punta Catalina power plant as “the most overvalued public work built in the Dominican Republic.” Fadul criticized the fact that the loan bill was not reviewed by the legislators who signed it without studying or discussing the favorable report presented by the Chamber of Deputies Hacienda Commission.

“I do not want to hear tomorrow that we did not read this contract as occurred in the case of the Barrick Gold contract. I will not be an accomplice to this,” she said.

She criticized her fellow deputies for their complacency towards the Presidency, saying that many were just there for the privileges.

Her words in the Chamber of Deputies were widely shared on social media, along with an incident in which fellow legislator Noe Camacho (PLD-Espaillat) took off his belt. Camacho denied accusations that that he had meant it as aggressive gesture towards his female colleague. He claimed it was a reaction to the “beating” she had given him with what he described as “offensive” remarks during her speech in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday, 9 November 2016. According to Camacho, Raful had offended the other deputies by saying they were just there to make a good wage, have a good laugh and enjoy the perks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5pIpY3SXgc
http://hoy.com.do/diputado-niega-se-quitara-la-correa-para-darle-una-pela-a-faride-raful/
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=506749


The IMF publishes Dominican Republic Country Report
On 10 November 2016 the International Monetary Fund released its Country Report on the Dominican Republic, based on consultations with Dominican monetary and economic authorities.

In its summary, the IMF states: “The Dominican Republic remains among the most dynamic economies in the region, benefiting from a strengthened macro-policy framework and external tailwinds. It does not face significant internal or external imbalances: inflation is low, fiscal deficits and debt moderate, and the external position is broadly in line with fundamentals. Vulnerabilities remain, however: public debt is set to increase over the medium-term and the tax ratio is one of the lowest in the world, reserves are below the Fund’s suggested metric, legacy bottlenecks in the electricity sector remain unresolved, and social challenges persist. The consultations focused on policies to address these vulnerabilities and strengthen the economy’s resilience to external shocks.”

Read the full report:
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2016/cr16342.pdf


Customs confiscates 20 million cigarettes
The Customs Agency has announced the seizure of a contraband shipment of 20.4 million cigarettes of the brands Capital and GRB at Haina Oriental port. The shipment is valued at RD$280 million. The cigarettes, which came from in India, were packed in two 40-foot freight containers, camouflaged with textiles. The shipment, which was consigned to Embarques Luconsa, SRL, address unknown, was detected after an international alert was received from the source of the cargo. A state prosecutor was present when the freight containers were opened.

Last week, the Customs Agency confiscated and destroyed 60.9 million cigarettes of several brands at the same port worth RD$296.9 million on the local market.

http://eldia.com.do/aduanas-se-inca...s-de-cigarrillos-en-puerto-de-haina-oriental/


Edenorte shuts down Puerto Plata power for maintenance
Edenorte, the north coast power distribution company has announced that power in Puerto Plata will be affected by the shutdown of the Puerto Plata II substation on Saturday, 12 November 2016. Maintenance works will take place from 10am to 2pm.

Electricity supplies will be cut off in the Av. Col?n area, Armada headquarters, AMET headquarters, new dock, Coraaplata pumps station, industries of Vin?cola del Norte, Kuki Silverio hardware store, Av. Manolo Tav?rez Justo to Puerto Plata clinic and Villa Progreso neighborhood. The blackout will also affect the city center, Cambel?n, La Rigola, Los Cueto, Ricardo Limardo public hospital, La Sirena, Tropical and Jos? Luis supermarkets, as well as the areas of Miramar, Los Cocos, Los Guandules, Barrio Invi, Centro M?dico Bournigal, Panader?a Santa Rita, Canal 3, la Alcald?a, Centro de Bellas Artes, and the Catedral San Felipe Ap?stol.

Other businesses and entities to be affected are: Distribuidora Gonzalez, Progreso, Popular and Reservas banks, Mercado Nuevo, Distribuidora Corripio, the La Arena and Perla radio stations, Plaza Julio Pascual, the Antera Mota and Virginia Elena Ortea public schools, the Jos? Duveaux and Gregorio Urbano Gilbert public high schools and the Malec?n.

The neighborhoods and areas of El Arenazo, Ensanche Luper?n, Bayardo, Padre Granero, Bello Costero, Cantabria, Mari V?zquez, Sabana Grande, Los Reyes, Plaza Turisol, Cerros del Atl?ntico, Aros Carrau, Torre Alta and Los Maestros will also be affected.

The neighborhoods and areas of Atl?ntica, Pelegr?n, Ucamaima, Jardines del Atl?ntico, Costa Atl?ntica, Puerta Roja, Atl?ntica V, Arboleda, Marapic?, Joel, Long Beach, Don Armando and Lorena II, the extension of Avenida Luis Ginebra, the governor’s seat, Palacio de Justicia, Palacio de la Polic?a and the public jail will have their power cut off between these times.

Other areas include Ginebra Arzeno, Los Dom?nguez, Los Limones, Altos de Chav?n, Padre Las Casas, Los Bordas, Los Sufridos, Colinas del Sur, Cristo Rey, Las Olivas, Montemar, Ortega, Cambel?n, La Limonera, Buenos Aires, Los Mameyes, Los N??ez and AMBEV Dominicana.

http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=506759


Wally Brewster’s last Thanksgiving Day speech in DR
US Ambassador James (Wally) Brewster will be the keynote speaker at the American Chamber of Commerce’s traditional Thanksgiving Day luncheon that takes place on Wednesday, 23 November 2016. It is a local tradition for the US ambassador to address the business community on that day.

In a back page editorial, Diario Libre speculates that the ambassador could use it as his farewell speech.

http://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/de-buena-tinta/se-despedira-wally-en-la-camara-DF5412948


Man crashes SUV into Malecon obelisk
An unidentified man died after crashing his red Chevrolet Tahoe SUV into the obelisk on Santo Domingo’s Malec?n in the early hours of Thursday, 10 November 2016, as reported by the Police.

The 911 Emergency System staff noticed the accident when monitoring the Malec?n via surveillance cameras and immediately called the National District Fire Brigade to head to the site.

The driver’s charred remains were taken to the National Forensic Institute for identification. The wreck of the vehicle was sent to the Metropolitan Transport Authority compound on Km 13 of the Duarte Highway.

http://pn.gob.do/noticias-principal...enida-george-washington-del-distrito-nacional


Mother of murdered girl demands autopsy results
Diolandita Cabrera, mother of 10-year old Carla Massiel whose body was found more than a year after she went missing, has started legal proceedings to demand that the Attorney General Office hand over the results of the autopsy carried out by the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF).

In a press conference on Thursday, 10 November 2016 at the Attorney General Office, Cabrera said she did not trust the investigations carried out by the state prosecutors.

She complained that despite her requests she has not received the reports, and has not been granted a meeting with Attorney General Jean Alain Rodr?guez.

Family lawyer Plutarco J?quez said the family had submitted the legal demand for the autopsy after the Attorney General refused their request for a meeting. He says the family has the right to know the results.

In response, on Thursday, 11 November 2016, Attorney General Jean-Alain Rodr?guez ordered the autopsy results to be delivered to the mother.

As reported in Diario Libre, Cabrera says she needs the documents to file a case against Liliana Santana, daughter of the owner of Clinica Integral who was accused in connection with the case by Darwin Trinidad Infante, who has admitted to burying the body, but not to the murder.

The girl’s remains were found 500 meters from her mother’s home at Km. 23 of the Duarte Highway in Pedro Brand municipality. She lived with her mother Diolandita Cabrera and stepfather Manuel Reyes.

Jos? P?rez, Carla Massiel Cabrera’s biological father, has accused his former wife Diolandita of being responsible for her daughter’s disappearance.

http://fuegoalalata.do/2016/08/18/osamenta-de-carla-massiel-estaba-cerca-de-vivienda-de-la-madre/
http://acento.com.do/2016/actualida...rocurador-entrega-resultados-autopsia-inacif/
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=506671
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...massiel-pide-resultados-de-autopsia-XX5415707


The biggest moon on 13-14 November 2016
Get set to watch the supermoon on Sunday, 13 November 2016. In the Dominican Republic the moon will be closer to full during that evening. Astronomers say, however that the moon will actually look completely full and bright all night long on both nights – 13 and 14 November – as it rises in the east around sunset, climbs to its highest point around midnight, and then sets in the west at or near sunrise.

Astronomers are describing the phenomenon as “the biggest, closest and brightest full moon to Earth since 1948”. Another one like it won’t be seen until 2034, they say.

The explanation is that since the moon’s orbit around Earth is elliptical, there are times when our lunar companion is closest to Earth. This is called perigee. This month, perigee occurs on 14 November at about 6 am Eastern time — within two hours of the moon becoming officially full — making this fun event an extra-super, perigee full moon.

According to astronomers, the precise moment when the moon turns full will be 13:52 UTC on 14 November 2016. This means the full moon instant will happen in the morning hours before sunrise in western North America and on many Pacific islands, east of the International Date Line.

Moon-gazers in Europe and Africa will be able to see it on both nights.


DR Jazz Festival in Puerto Plata
On Friday, 11 and Saturday, 12 November 2016, Cabarete Beach will host the DR Jazz Festival with performances by Enerolisa and her Grupo de Salve and the Berklee Global Jazz Institute Ambassadors, special guest Terri Lyne Carrington and Esperanza Spalding from the United States. Patricia Zarate Quintet from Chile, Geri Allen, Terri Lynne Carrington, Ingrid Jensen and Linda Oh from the United States and Merengue entre Mujeres with Maridalia Hern?ndez will also be onstage, as well as La India Canela with Maestro Joshy S?nchez’s band.


Elsa N??ez exhibits at Centro Cultural Mirador
Dominican painter Elsa N??ez is inaugurating her 54th individual exhibition at the Centro Cultural Mirador on the Av. Mirador del Sur in Santo Domingo, a short distance east of the Meson de la Cava Restaurant. The exhibition opens on 10 November 2016 and will continue through 9 January 2017.

The exhibition, “Los latidos de Angel” is a tribute to her husband, actor and visual artist Angel Hache who died on 1 April 2016 at the age of 72. N??ez is a winner of the National Visual Arts Award.*


Iberostar Chef on Tour
Chef Matt Lambert from New Zealand will be serving a seven-course dinner at the Iberostar Grand Hotel B?varo in Punta Cana as part of the Iberostar Chef on Tour event, now in its second year. Main courses on the menu are: Chicharrones pizza, raw oyster, tomato gazpacho, salted tuna belly, foie gras, rib eye beef steak, and fermented milk – rice- acid.

The event takes place on Saturday, 12 November 2016. Price is US$130. For more information, call 809 221-6500.

http://www.iberostarchefontour.com/en/matt-lambert-12-of-november-2016-iberostar-grand-hotel-bavaro/


Barcelo Bavaro Culinary Week
Barcelo Bavaro Grand Resorts is hosting a culinary event, Barcelo Bavaro Culinary Week at the Barcelo Bavaro Palace from 13-20 November 2016. Peru is the guest country.

Dominican cuisine will be showcased by chefs Jacqueline Henriquez, Juancho Ortiz, Carolina Arias, Paulette Tejada, Luigi Puello, Elly Saul Rosario and Edgar Severino.

Amar Santana, a finalist on the "Top Chef 2016" reality show is a special guest at the event. For more information call 809 686-5797


Theater on Women Anti-Violence Day
The Ravelo Hall at the National Theater in Santo Domingo is hosting an International Women’s Theater Festival in commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The Festival Internacional Teatro Mujeres sobre las Tablas is coordinated by the Fundaci?n Absoluto Teatro, directed by actress and playwright Elizabeth Ovalle.

There will be 10am performances for schoolchildren and for the general public at 8:30pm from 15 to 27 November 2016.

For 15 and 16 November, the play will be: “Las penas saben nadar” with actress Olga Bucarelli, directed by Elvira Taveras. This play is about all the obstacles an actress must face in order to progress in her career.

On 18 November, “Juicio a una zorra” will be staged with Elvira Taveras as Helen of Troy.

On 23-24 November, actresses Quennia Rivera and Elizabeth Ovalle will act in “Por Hora”, a comedy on migration and gender violence.

On 25-26 November, which is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Edil? Pichardo will play Minerva Mirabal, in “Yo soy Minerva”, a play about the brave woman who confronted dictator Trujillo. The United Nations instituted the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to mark the anniversary of her murder.


Puerto Plata Merengue Festival postponed
Brugal Rum has announced the postponement of the Festival del Merengue y Ritmos Caribe?os 2016 in Puerto Plata that was set for 12 and 13 November. The event has been postponed due to the heavy rains that have caused flooding in Puerto Plata. It will now take place on Saturday, 19 and Sunday, 20 November with the same program.

On Saturday, 19 November the lineup will be Banda Real, Sexappeal, Kinito M?ndez and La Nueva Escuela.

On Sunday, 20 November, Rey Junior, Pochy Familia, Revoluci?n Salsera, Sergio Vargas and Mozart La Para take the stage. The event traditionally takes place at La Puntilla, now the setting for a modern amphitheater.

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
 
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