New director of the Civil Defense
Peralta goes forward on Tres Brazos recommendations
Hugo Francisco Alvarez Pérez to head Chamber of Accounts
MIC and World Bank sign cooperation agreement
New services at Dominican consulates
Former Spanish President Zapatero visits
7,000 of 249,000 completed legalization procedures, says expert
Valle Nuevo farmers grant stay
Mayor calls for acting against undocumented in Santiago
Highly profitable Dominican banks
Preparing the way for the DR to become the hub of the Caribbean
Méjico Angeles to preside Barrick gold mine
Biden backs Perez to head DNC
Haitian gets max jail sentence for murder
Major drug haul in San Cristóbal
Court orders new hearing in Winston Rizik drug case
DR loses first came to Cuba in Caribbean Series
Dodgers come in full to inaugurate academy
Victor Estrella will not be on Davis Cup team
Jenifer Lopez show coming to Casa de Campo
New director of the Civil Defense
President Danilo Medina names Brigade General Rafael Antonio Carrasco Paulino as new director of the Civil Defense.
In the same decree 12-17, the President appointed longtime former director of the Civil Defense, Major General Rafael Emilio de Luna Pichirilo, as director of the Technical Executing Unit for Agroforestry Development Projects of the Presidency.
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2017/02/...proyectos-desarrollo-agroforestal-presidencia
Peralta goes forward on Tres Brazos recommendations
The Administrative Minister of the Presidency José Ramón Peralta told reporters from Diario Libre on Wednesday, 2 February 2017 in Santiago that the next step in the Tres Brazos land regularization case will be to proceed with the recommendations made by the commission that was appointed to investigate the sale of the terrain in East Santo Domingo. Peralta stressed that the investigations were carried out within the time frame required, “and this was what the people were waiting for.”
The Tres Brazos case investigates a concession granted by the governmental Corde to a private company Titulac so the latter could issue land titles to illegal occupants of the property. In the Dominican Republic, if a person has occupied a property for 20 years, the person can begin a procedure to claim the property without paying the cost of the land. But in each case a legal procedure must be followed and this can be costly. The deal was that Titulac would offer these services to regularize the occupants and issue their property titles.
Among other things, the investigating commission appointed by the President recommended the annulling of the concessions and sending the case to Justice after determining that the original concession by the Dominican Corporation of State Enterprises (Corde) to the private company was an irregular operation.
Peralta talked to reporters after accompanying President Danilo Medina at the inauguration of new offices for INFOTEP in the city of Santiago.
Hugo Francisco Alvarez Pérez to head Chamber of Accounts
On Wednesday, 2 February 2017, the Senate approved the appointment of Hugo Francisco Alvarez Perez to preside the Chamber of Accounts. The Chamber of Accounts is the government department in charge of government audits and the general accountability of government departments.
Alvarez Pérez is the son of a former justice of the Supreme Court of Justice, Hugo Alvarez Valencia. He graduated with a degree in law from the Catholic University Madre y Maestra (today PUCMM) in 1977. He has served as a state prosecutor for the judicial district of La Vega as well as in diplomatic positions at the Dominican Embassy in Bonn, Germany. Judge Alvarez Pérez was also the head of the legal department of the Superintendence of Banks for the north region. The judge has also been a professor at the Catholic Technological University of the Cibao in La Vega as well as at the Fernando Arturo de Meriño Agroforestry University in Jarabacoa.
A well-known participant in the carnival activities in La Vega, Alvarez Pérez was crowned King Momo of the 2010 carnival in La Vega. Judge Alvarez Pérez is also famous for being the civil justice that married singer Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley in La Vega in 1994.
Other members chosen or the Chamber of Accounts are Pedro Antonio Ortiz Hernández, vice president; Carlos Noé Tejada Díaz, secretary; Félix Álvarez Rivera and Pablo Domingo del Rosario. Del Rosario and Ortíz Hernández continue in the Chamber of Accounts.
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...rez-perez-como-presidente-camara-cuentas.html
MIC and World Bank sign cooperation agreement
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) and the World Bank signed on Wednesday, 1 February 2017, a cooperation agreement to improve the management of the MIC.
The agreement calls for the World Bank to carry out a survey and analysis of the current operations of the MIC and then work out a strategy to achieve the desired objectives. This agreement is part of a broader initiative for a strategic review of the Ministry.
In a press communiqué from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, it was announced that the World Bank project would make recommendations to strengthen the transparency at the Ministry.
Senior public sector specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean for the World Bank Joanna Alexandra Watkins explained that the outcome would be a diagnosis of how the ministry is working now in terms of staff, budget, division of work and whether there are functions that overlap those in other institutions.” She added that further on, they would create a conceptual map of how the ministry is functioning now and how it should function in the future.
New services at Dominican consulates
The Dominican Consulate in New York announced all Dominican consulates will soon be offering the program “Cielo RD”, an insurance that will enable low cost funeral services to Dominican expats, Consul General Carlos Castillo told Hoy newspaper. The service would be offered by General de Seguros, a company affiliated to a Panamanian firm.
The service will enable the remains of Dominican citizens and residents to be flown to the Dominican Republic from the US for a much lower cost than currently available on the market. At present, to repatriate the remains of love ones costs US$3,500 to US$5,000 from New York. He said that around 750 people of Dominican descent pass away each year in New York City alone. He said of these 90% are over 75 years of age.
Likewise, Carlos Castillo, the New York consul announced the start of a program to revalidate the academic titles of professionals, to facilitate immigrants obtaining jobs in the US labor market.
http://hoy.com.do/consulado-en-ny-implementa-repatriacion-de-cadaveres-2/
Former Spanish President Zapatero visits
The former President of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero visited this week. He offered praise for the migratory programs of the Dominican government. He met at the Ministry of Interior and Police with Minister Carlos Amarante Baret and received an honoris causa title from the state university.
While hosting Rodríguez Zapatero, Minister Amarante announced the government had invested more than US$50 million in the implementation of the National Foreigner Legalization Plan (PNRE) that primarily sought to legalize the status of hundreds of thousands of undocumented Haitians living in the country. The fact that in Haiti few citizens of that country have identity documents, has brought major problems to the Dominican Republic when these Haitians migrate without having any documents that prove their identity or legal status. The PNRE sought to correct that situation, with a focus on addressing the legal status needs of long-time residents.
As reported, 249 thousand foreigners applied for the program and 225 thousand received free temporary residence status from the Dominican government in a process that followed accepted human rights standards. 98% of the beneficiaries of the program were Haitians.
Amarante Baret made the remarks in his welcome speech on occasion of the visit of the former Spanish president.
Rodríguez Zapatero was the guest speaker at the “Forum for the Discussion of Migratory and Social Inclusion Policies: Comparative Perspectives.” The event was organized by the National Institute of Migration of the Dominican Republic and the Club de Madrid.
Speaking at the event, Rodríguez Zapatero highlighted that thousands of people lose their lives trying to migrate to other countries. He was critical of recent immigration measures of US President Donald Trump, who he said seems to want to instigate an immigration crisis.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Interior and Police Carlos Amarante Baret said that migration is a universal phenomenon and have been part of human kind since its early days. He said that more than a source of conflicts, migrants contribute to economic development and to expanding the cultural and tolerance horizons.
During his visit here, Rodríguez Zapatero was honored with a honoris causa title at the state university, UASD.
During the government of Rodríguez Zapatero, the Spanish government implemented a program that enabled hundreds of Dominicans of Spanish descent to benefit from Spanish citizenship.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...guez-zapatero-alaba-politica-migratoria-de-rd
http://hoy.com.do/uasd-entrega-doctorado-honoris-causa-a-jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero/
https://www.metrord.do/do/destacado...-zapatero-optimista-futuro-paz-venezuela.html
7,000 of 249,000 completed legalization procedures, says expert
This week Minister of Interior and Police Carlos Amarante Baret highlighted the Medina administration had spent US$50 million to legalize 225 thousand of 249,000 who applied to regularize their status under the National Plan for Status Legalization (PNRE). Under the plan, the government relieved applicants from regular charges and offered a simplified procedure for status legalization. An estimated 98% of those who applied were Haitians living in the country.
Migration expert Juan Manuel Rosario said that if an audit were made to the regularization process, no more than 7,000 would have qualified for their legalization according to the law because only these had presented the correct documentation. He made his comments lamenting that the Dominican government had spent US$50 million on the effort.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...calificaran-no-pasarian-de-seis-mil-gx6145019
Valle Nuevo farmers grant stay
The block of small farmers in Valle Nuevo, Constanza decided to grant the government a truce until next Saturday, 4 February 2017, to find a solution to their eviction from working in the national park areas. The Ministry of Environment is implementing Resolution 14-2016 that has banned farming in the area as of 29 January 2017.
Norberto Rosario, spokesmen for the block of farmers, told the press that they reached the truce after meeting with father Rogelio Cruz. “If there is no solution by Saturday with the authorities from the Ministry of the Environment, then we will redouble our efforts and our struggle, since we are not going to let them throw us out into the streets with our hands empty,” they told Diario Libre reporters.
The spokesman also said that they are going to hold a larger gathering with all of the farmers affected by the measure from all seven communities in the sector of El Convento. He said: “In this meeting we’re going to report to the press a lot of the facts that have not been told about Valle Nuevo. In addition we are going to unmask the lies of many public officials.”
Since Monday, 30 January, brigades from the Ministry began to dismantle the infrastructure on the farm belonging to Miguel Crouch In Alto Bandera.
Mayor calls for acting against undocumented in Santiago
The Mayor of Santiago Abel Martinez called on the immigration authorities to undertake actions to control the entry of thousands of undocumented persons who continue arriving in Santiago, where he says they are taking over plazas, parks and other sectors while the authorities are doing nothing to deal with the situation.
The mayor was answering questions from reporters from the Diario Libre regarding the prohibition that undocumented foreigners occupy spaces in the new flea market operating in El Ingenio. He took advantage of the situation to issue a call in general to the authorities to deal with the illegal entry of Haitians that he says is on the increase in Santiago as well as other nearby towns.
According to the Mayor, the authorities should rigorously apply the normalization process for foreigners, on which this state spent a large amount of resources (more than US $50 million). He said everyday more and more illegal Haitians can be seen on city streets. “This should not be permitted since the parks are being inundated by illegal foreigners, mostly Haitians, who set up businesses and this is something we’re not going to allow,” he complained.
He argued for the authorities to take some measures so that anyone who is in Dominican territory illegally can be deported to their country of origin, regardless of which country. He added that the Dominican Republic cannot continue accommodating persons who do not pay taxes and who don’t have a residency or legal identification.
He also noted that all the deadlines of the National Plan of Normalization of Foreigners (PNRE) have passed, and it is “now up to government to carry out their responsibilities regarding the deportation of illegal persons in our territory.”
Highly profitable Dominican banks
The governmental BanReservas, Banco Popular and BHD León reaped 78.7% of all the earnings of Dominican banks in 2016. The three leading banks accumulated earnings of RD$17.63 billion last year, as reported in El Dinero.
The Superintendence of Banks (SIB) says that in 2016 bank earnings reached RD$22.39 billion, up from RD$20.85 billion in 2015, or a 7.43% increase.
Preparing the way for the DR to become the hub of the Caribbean
A two-day event is focusing on steps to advance the Dominican Republic becoming the regional logistics center of the Caribbean. The effort seeks to set the framework for establishing the country as the maritime commerce hub of the Caribbean. The event is organized by the Dominican Port Authority with the collaboration of the Dominican Association of Shippers.
The director of the Dominican Port Authority Víctor Gómez Casanova presided over the 1-2 February 2017 event where the plan for the development of the port and maritime sector in the country is being discussed.
The president of the Dominican Association of Maritime, Teddy Heinsen, in his opening words at the “National Maritime and Ports Strategy Talk” highlighted the growth opportunities of the country given its strategic geographic location.
The work sessions are taking place at the Hotel Embassy Suites in Santo Domingo, after the opening at the Ministry of Foreign Relations convention center.
President Danilo Medina was represented by Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo. Also attending the opening were Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado; Environment Minister Francisco Domínguez Brito; Labor Minister José Ramón Fadul, among others.
http://www.eldinero.com.do/36354/go...ir-a-r-dominicana-en-hub-maritimo-del-caribe/
Méjico Angeles to preside Barrick gold mine
The Barrick Gold Corporation announced the appointment of Dominican Méjico Ángeles Lithgow to the post of president of the company in the Dominican Republic. He replaces Manuel Rocha who was promoted to senior corporate vice president of the company. Rocha had been president since 2012.
Ángeles Lithgow had been partner and director of government affairs at the Barrick Gold Corporation – Pueblo Viejo. Previously he had worked at EGE Haina and Jaguar Dominicana. He holds degrees in business administration and finance.
The Barrick Gold Corporation Pueblo Viejo mine operation is the largest foreign investment in the history of the Dominican Republic.
http://www.listindiario.com/economi...ignan-nuevo-presidente-a-barrick-pueblo-viejo
Biden backs Perez to head DNC
Former Vice President Joe Biden issued a statement backing the former Secretary of Labor Tomas Pérez, a son of Dominicans living in the United States, for the post of Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Pérez was the Secretary of Labor during the Obama Administration and is a lawyer with experience in both labor law as well as civil rights.
According to Biden: “He knows how to communicate with immigrant families in Arizona as well as coal miners in West Virginia.”
The Biden support is currently the most important approval so far that Pérez has received in his bid to head the Democratic Party. Former President Barack Obama, who has still not made known his preference, called Perez “untiring and intelligent.”
Haitian gets max jail sentence for murder
A Haitian woman received a sentence of 30 years in jail for killing another Haitian woman. The murder occurred on 8 December 2014, when Yaqueline Yan (Juana) showed up at the banana farm in El Cañeo, Mao, where the the victim Osmaila Lacua was working, as reported in Acento. Yan stabbed Lacua who died after receiving 13 knife wounds. She will serve her sentence in the Montecristi women’s jail.
Major drug haul in San Cristóbal
The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) seized 1,425 bundles of suspect cocaine or heroine in a raid in San Cristóbal. Four vehicles, a rifle, several fuel containers and two boats were seized in the operation.
The drugs would have been introduced by boat along the coasts of Najayo and Sabana Grande Palenque. The boats are suspect to have come from South America. Participating in the operation were the Air Force, the Armada, the Army and the National Police. Five Dominicans were arrested.
The bundles were sent to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences for verification.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...cauta-1425-paquetes-de-droga-en-san-cristobal
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...uetes-droga-najayo-palenque.html#.WJI4--mVs4o
Court orders new hearing in Winston Rizik drug case
With the dissident vote of one of the judges, the Court of Appeals of the Province of Santo Domingo annulled the ruling that had sentenced Winston Rizik (el Gallero) to 10 years in jail. He was accused of drug trafficking and asset laundering.
The resolution had condemned his brother, Nelson Rizik Delgado as accomplice.
The other two judges Manuel Pérez and substitute judge Rosaly Brito ordered a new hearing be heard with the presentation of evidence.
The dissident judge was Saulo Ysabel Díaz who expressed his disapproval to the new hearing in the understanding the court can decide for itself and review the evidence presented by the court of first instance.
After the revocation of the ruling, the court now can change the preventive custody measure and order the release of Rizik Rodríguez.
http://eldia.com.do/corte-anula-sentencia-que-condena-a-winston-rizik
DR loses first came to Cuba in Caribbean Series
The Granma team of Cuba defeated the Tigres del Licey in the first game in the Caribean Series taking place in Cualican, Mexico. The Dominican team lost 4-0.
Follow the series at http://www.seriedelcaribeculiacan2017.com.mx/
Dodgers come in full to inaugurate academy
Dodgers chairman Mark Walter, president and CEO Stan Kasten, Senior Vice President for Planning and Development of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Janet Marie Smith and the Major League Baseball commissioner, Rob Manfred hosted President Danilo Medina and Sports Minister Danilo Díaz on Tuesday, 31 January 2017 for the inauguration of the renovations and expansions of the Dodgers Baseball Academy.
The Campo Las Palmas dates back to 1987 and was the first major league baseball facility to be built in the Dominican Republic. Today all Major League Baseball teams have academies.
Campo Las Palmas is located in San Antonio de Guerra in Monte Plata province.
The facility is also home to two Dominican Summer League clubs.
The Campo Las Palmas dates back to 1987 when it was the first built by a Major League Baseball team in the country. The camp has capacity to accommodate 96 players and 19 coaches and support staff.
The Dodgers team reports that the upgrades included the renovation of seven existing structures and the construction of three new buildings, with the 10 buildings totaling almost 100,000 square feet on 70 acres of land.
Among the other features:
3½ fields & a covered area for batting and infield practice
Running track
Conditioning and weight room
Clubhouse training areas
Four classrooms, a quiet room and a “social area” for players
Offices for the Dodgers international scouting department
Offices and on-site housing for 96 players, 19 coaches, plus support staff
Fruit and vegetable trees near the new kitchen
Dining hall, which incorporates the Dodgers’ nutritional program
Community Little League field
Also on the premises is the Jackie Robinson hall that also functions as a movie house that uses English-language films as part of language learning.
Speaking at the event, Smith highlighted lots of attention is placed on the formal education of the baseball players. They can work towards their high school degrees while receiving sports training.
Graduates of Campo Las Palmas include Ramón Martínez, Raúl Mondesí, Adrian Beltré, Pedro Báez and Yimi García.
Speaking during the event, Mark Walter, CEO of the Dodgers highlighted the commitment of the Dodgers to the local community. During the event, the president of the Dodgers Stan Kasten delivered a donation for the Futuro Vivo school.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred thanked President Medina for the support to the team and sport. He also congratulated the owners of the academy for the upgrading of the installations. "Baseball's continuing investment in the Dominican Republic and in the development of players is important to the economy here and it's important to our game," said Manfred. "I am struck by the fact that some of the features here really demonstrate baseball's priorities in the Dominican Republic. For all of us, it's not just about the development of players. It's also about the development of people and communities here in the Dominican Republic.
A moment of silence was held in memory of recently deceased players Yordano Ventura and Andy Marte.
http://www.truebluela.com/2017/1/31/14464684/dodgers-dominican-republic-renovation-campo-las-palmas
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...as-instalaciones-academia-los-angeles-dodgers
Victor Estrella will not be on Davis Cup team
Rafael Moreno, captain of the Dominican team in the Davis Cup, lamented that the country's best tennis player, Victor Estrella, will not be playing with the team in the Davis Cup tournament that opens on Friday, 3 February 2017 in Santo Domingo.
Estrella (ranked 96th by ATP) declined to play because the event conflicts with the ATP 250 Ecuador Open 2017 where he is the defending champion.
Playing for the Dominican Republic will be José Hernandez (ranked 249th), Roberto Cid (595th), Jose Olivares (722nd) and Nick Hard 1,769th).
The tournament will be held from 3 to 5 February at the Mirador del Este courts. It is part of the first round of the Americas Zone I of the Davis Cup. The Dominican Republic will be playing Chile.
Admission is free to the matches. The winning team is the first to land three victories.
http://www.daviscup.com/en/draws-results/group-i/americas.aspx
http://www.daviscup.com/en/draws-results/tie.aspx?id=M-DC-2017-G1-AM-M-DOM-CHI-01
Jenifer Lopez show coming to Casa de Campo
Casa de Campo has announced the performance of Latin star Jennifer López at the Altos de Chavón Amphitheater this coming Easter Saturday, 15 April 2017.
Casa de Campo says that this marks the first of more artistic shows set for the Altos de Chavón stage. In 2016, Marc Anthony, Carlos Vives, J Balvin, Ricky Martin, Zion and Lennox, Enrique Iglesias and Gente de Zona performed at Altos de Chavón.
Andrés Pichardo, president of Casa de Campo, announced attractive hotel and show packages are available.
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
Peralta goes forward on Tres Brazos recommendations
Hugo Francisco Alvarez Pérez to head Chamber of Accounts
MIC and World Bank sign cooperation agreement
New services at Dominican consulates
Former Spanish President Zapatero visits
7,000 of 249,000 completed legalization procedures, says expert
Valle Nuevo farmers grant stay
Mayor calls for acting against undocumented in Santiago
Highly profitable Dominican banks
Preparing the way for the DR to become the hub of the Caribbean
Méjico Angeles to preside Barrick gold mine
Biden backs Perez to head DNC
Haitian gets max jail sentence for murder
Major drug haul in San Cristóbal
Court orders new hearing in Winston Rizik drug case
DR loses first came to Cuba in Caribbean Series
Dodgers come in full to inaugurate academy
Victor Estrella will not be on Davis Cup team
Jenifer Lopez show coming to Casa de Campo
New director of the Civil Defense
President Danilo Medina names Brigade General Rafael Antonio Carrasco Paulino as new director of the Civil Defense.
In the same decree 12-17, the President appointed longtime former director of the Civil Defense, Major General Rafael Emilio de Luna Pichirilo, as director of the Technical Executing Unit for Agroforestry Development Projects of the Presidency.
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2017/02/...proyectos-desarrollo-agroforestal-presidencia
Peralta goes forward on Tres Brazos recommendations
The Administrative Minister of the Presidency José Ramón Peralta told reporters from Diario Libre on Wednesday, 2 February 2017 in Santiago that the next step in the Tres Brazos land regularization case will be to proceed with the recommendations made by the commission that was appointed to investigate the sale of the terrain in East Santo Domingo. Peralta stressed that the investigations were carried out within the time frame required, “and this was what the people were waiting for.”
The Tres Brazos case investigates a concession granted by the governmental Corde to a private company Titulac so the latter could issue land titles to illegal occupants of the property. In the Dominican Republic, if a person has occupied a property for 20 years, the person can begin a procedure to claim the property without paying the cost of the land. But in each case a legal procedure must be followed and this can be costly. The deal was that Titulac would offer these services to regularize the occupants and issue their property titles.
Among other things, the investigating commission appointed by the President recommended the annulling of the concessions and sending the case to Justice after determining that the original concession by the Dominican Corporation of State Enterprises (Corde) to the private company was an irregular operation.
Peralta talked to reporters after accompanying President Danilo Medina at the inauguration of new offices for INFOTEP in the city of Santiago.
Hugo Francisco Alvarez Pérez to head Chamber of Accounts
On Wednesday, 2 February 2017, the Senate approved the appointment of Hugo Francisco Alvarez Perez to preside the Chamber of Accounts. The Chamber of Accounts is the government department in charge of government audits and the general accountability of government departments.
Alvarez Pérez is the son of a former justice of the Supreme Court of Justice, Hugo Alvarez Valencia. He graduated with a degree in law from the Catholic University Madre y Maestra (today PUCMM) in 1977. He has served as a state prosecutor for the judicial district of La Vega as well as in diplomatic positions at the Dominican Embassy in Bonn, Germany. Judge Alvarez Pérez was also the head of the legal department of the Superintendence of Banks for the north region. The judge has also been a professor at the Catholic Technological University of the Cibao in La Vega as well as at the Fernando Arturo de Meriño Agroforestry University in Jarabacoa.
A well-known participant in the carnival activities in La Vega, Alvarez Pérez was crowned King Momo of the 2010 carnival in La Vega. Judge Alvarez Pérez is also famous for being the civil justice that married singer Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley in La Vega in 1994.
Other members chosen or the Chamber of Accounts are Pedro Antonio Ortiz Hernández, vice president; Carlos Noé Tejada Díaz, secretary; Félix Álvarez Rivera and Pablo Domingo del Rosario. Del Rosario and Ortíz Hernández continue in the Chamber of Accounts.
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...rez-perez-como-presidente-camara-cuentas.html
MIC and World Bank sign cooperation agreement
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) and the World Bank signed on Wednesday, 1 February 2017, a cooperation agreement to improve the management of the MIC.
The agreement calls for the World Bank to carry out a survey and analysis of the current operations of the MIC and then work out a strategy to achieve the desired objectives. This agreement is part of a broader initiative for a strategic review of the Ministry.
In a press communiqué from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, it was announced that the World Bank project would make recommendations to strengthen the transparency at the Ministry.
Senior public sector specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean for the World Bank Joanna Alexandra Watkins explained that the outcome would be a diagnosis of how the ministry is working now in terms of staff, budget, division of work and whether there are functions that overlap those in other institutions.” She added that further on, they would create a conceptual map of how the ministry is functioning now and how it should function in the future.
New services at Dominican consulates
The Dominican Consulate in New York announced all Dominican consulates will soon be offering the program “Cielo RD”, an insurance that will enable low cost funeral services to Dominican expats, Consul General Carlos Castillo told Hoy newspaper. The service would be offered by General de Seguros, a company affiliated to a Panamanian firm.
The service will enable the remains of Dominican citizens and residents to be flown to the Dominican Republic from the US for a much lower cost than currently available on the market. At present, to repatriate the remains of love ones costs US$3,500 to US$5,000 from New York. He said that around 750 people of Dominican descent pass away each year in New York City alone. He said of these 90% are over 75 years of age.
Likewise, Carlos Castillo, the New York consul announced the start of a program to revalidate the academic titles of professionals, to facilitate immigrants obtaining jobs in the US labor market.
http://hoy.com.do/consulado-en-ny-implementa-repatriacion-de-cadaveres-2/
Former Spanish President Zapatero visits
The former President of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero visited this week. He offered praise for the migratory programs of the Dominican government. He met at the Ministry of Interior and Police with Minister Carlos Amarante Baret and received an honoris causa title from the state university.
While hosting Rodríguez Zapatero, Minister Amarante announced the government had invested more than US$50 million in the implementation of the National Foreigner Legalization Plan (PNRE) that primarily sought to legalize the status of hundreds of thousands of undocumented Haitians living in the country. The fact that in Haiti few citizens of that country have identity documents, has brought major problems to the Dominican Republic when these Haitians migrate without having any documents that prove their identity or legal status. The PNRE sought to correct that situation, with a focus on addressing the legal status needs of long-time residents.
As reported, 249 thousand foreigners applied for the program and 225 thousand received free temporary residence status from the Dominican government in a process that followed accepted human rights standards. 98% of the beneficiaries of the program were Haitians.
Amarante Baret made the remarks in his welcome speech on occasion of the visit of the former Spanish president.
Rodríguez Zapatero was the guest speaker at the “Forum for the Discussion of Migratory and Social Inclusion Policies: Comparative Perspectives.” The event was organized by the National Institute of Migration of the Dominican Republic and the Club de Madrid.
Speaking at the event, Rodríguez Zapatero highlighted that thousands of people lose their lives trying to migrate to other countries. He was critical of recent immigration measures of US President Donald Trump, who he said seems to want to instigate an immigration crisis.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Interior and Police Carlos Amarante Baret said that migration is a universal phenomenon and have been part of human kind since its early days. He said that more than a source of conflicts, migrants contribute to economic development and to expanding the cultural and tolerance horizons.
During his visit here, Rodríguez Zapatero was honored with a honoris causa title at the state university, UASD.
During the government of Rodríguez Zapatero, the Spanish government implemented a program that enabled hundreds of Dominicans of Spanish descent to benefit from Spanish citizenship.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...guez-zapatero-alaba-politica-migratoria-de-rd
http://hoy.com.do/uasd-entrega-doctorado-honoris-causa-a-jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero/
https://www.metrord.do/do/destacado...-zapatero-optimista-futuro-paz-venezuela.html
7,000 of 249,000 completed legalization procedures, says expert
This week Minister of Interior and Police Carlos Amarante Baret highlighted the Medina administration had spent US$50 million to legalize 225 thousand of 249,000 who applied to regularize their status under the National Plan for Status Legalization (PNRE). Under the plan, the government relieved applicants from regular charges and offered a simplified procedure for status legalization. An estimated 98% of those who applied were Haitians living in the country.
Migration expert Juan Manuel Rosario said that if an audit were made to the regularization process, no more than 7,000 would have qualified for their legalization according to the law because only these had presented the correct documentation. He made his comments lamenting that the Dominican government had spent US$50 million on the effort.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...calificaran-no-pasarian-de-seis-mil-gx6145019
Valle Nuevo farmers grant stay
The block of small farmers in Valle Nuevo, Constanza decided to grant the government a truce until next Saturday, 4 February 2017, to find a solution to their eviction from working in the national park areas. The Ministry of Environment is implementing Resolution 14-2016 that has banned farming in the area as of 29 January 2017.
Norberto Rosario, spokesmen for the block of farmers, told the press that they reached the truce after meeting with father Rogelio Cruz. “If there is no solution by Saturday with the authorities from the Ministry of the Environment, then we will redouble our efforts and our struggle, since we are not going to let them throw us out into the streets with our hands empty,” they told Diario Libre reporters.
The spokesman also said that they are going to hold a larger gathering with all of the farmers affected by the measure from all seven communities in the sector of El Convento. He said: “In this meeting we’re going to report to the press a lot of the facts that have not been told about Valle Nuevo. In addition we are going to unmask the lies of many public officials.”
Since Monday, 30 January, brigades from the Ministry began to dismantle the infrastructure on the farm belonging to Miguel Crouch In Alto Bandera.
Mayor calls for acting against undocumented in Santiago
The Mayor of Santiago Abel Martinez called on the immigration authorities to undertake actions to control the entry of thousands of undocumented persons who continue arriving in Santiago, where he says they are taking over plazas, parks and other sectors while the authorities are doing nothing to deal with the situation.
The mayor was answering questions from reporters from the Diario Libre regarding the prohibition that undocumented foreigners occupy spaces in the new flea market operating in El Ingenio. He took advantage of the situation to issue a call in general to the authorities to deal with the illegal entry of Haitians that he says is on the increase in Santiago as well as other nearby towns.
According to the Mayor, the authorities should rigorously apply the normalization process for foreigners, on which this state spent a large amount of resources (more than US $50 million). He said everyday more and more illegal Haitians can be seen on city streets. “This should not be permitted since the parks are being inundated by illegal foreigners, mostly Haitians, who set up businesses and this is something we’re not going to allow,” he complained.
He argued for the authorities to take some measures so that anyone who is in Dominican territory illegally can be deported to their country of origin, regardless of which country. He added that the Dominican Republic cannot continue accommodating persons who do not pay taxes and who don’t have a residency or legal identification.
He also noted that all the deadlines of the National Plan of Normalization of Foreigners (PNRE) have passed, and it is “now up to government to carry out their responsibilities regarding the deportation of illegal persons in our territory.”
Highly profitable Dominican banks
The governmental BanReservas, Banco Popular and BHD León reaped 78.7% of all the earnings of Dominican banks in 2016. The three leading banks accumulated earnings of RD$17.63 billion last year, as reported in El Dinero.
The Superintendence of Banks (SIB) says that in 2016 bank earnings reached RD$22.39 billion, up from RD$20.85 billion in 2015, or a 7.43% increase.
Preparing the way for the DR to become the hub of the Caribbean
A two-day event is focusing on steps to advance the Dominican Republic becoming the regional logistics center of the Caribbean. The effort seeks to set the framework for establishing the country as the maritime commerce hub of the Caribbean. The event is organized by the Dominican Port Authority with the collaboration of the Dominican Association of Shippers.
The director of the Dominican Port Authority Víctor Gómez Casanova presided over the 1-2 February 2017 event where the plan for the development of the port and maritime sector in the country is being discussed.
The president of the Dominican Association of Maritime, Teddy Heinsen, in his opening words at the “National Maritime and Ports Strategy Talk” highlighted the growth opportunities of the country given its strategic geographic location.
The work sessions are taking place at the Hotel Embassy Suites in Santo Domingo, after the opening at the Ministry of Foreign Relations convention center.
President Danilo Medina was represented by Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo. Also attending the opening were Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado; Environment Minister Francisco Domínguez Brito; Labor Minister José Ramón Fadul, among others.
http://www.eldinero.com.do/36354/go...ir-a-r-dominicana-en-hub-maritimo-del-caribe/
Méjico Angeles to preside Barrick gold mine
The Barrick Gold Corporation announced the appointment of Dominican Méjico Ángeles Lithgow to the post of president of the company in the Dominican Republic. He replaces Manuel Rocha who was promoted to senior corporate vice president of the company. Rocha had been president since 2012.
Ángeles Lithgow had been partner and director of government affairs at the Barrick Gold Corporation – Pueblo Viejo. Previously he had worked at EGE Haina and Jaguar Dominicana. He holds degrees in business administration and finance.
The Barrick Gold Corporation Pueblo Viejo mine operation is the largest foreign investment in the history of the Dominican Republic.
http://www.listindiario.com/economi...ignan-nuevo-presidente-a-barrick-pueblo-viejo
Biden backs Perez to head DNC
Former Vice President Joe Biden issued a statement backing the former Secretary of Labor Tomas Pérez, a son of Dominicans living in the United States, for the post of Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Pérez was the Secretary of Labor during the Obama Administration and is a lawyer with experience in both labor law as well as civil rights.
According to Biden: “He knows how to communicate with immigrant families in Arizona as well as coal miners in West Virginia.”
The Biden support is currently the most important approval so far that Pérez has received in his bid to head the Democratic Party. Former President Barack Obama, who has still not made known his preference, called Perez “untiring and intelligent.”
Haitian gets max jail sentence for murder
A Haitian woman received a sentence of 30 years in jail for killing another Haitian woman. The murder occurred on 8 December 2014, when Yaqueline Yan (Juana) showed up at the banana farm in El Cañeo, Mao, where the the victim Osmaila Lacua was working, as reported in Acento. Yan stabbed Lacua who died after receiving 13 knife wounds. She will serve her sentence in the Montecristi women’s jail.
Major drug haul in San Cristóbal
The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) seized 1,425 bundles of suspect cocaine or heroine in a raid in San Cristóbal. Four vehicles, a rifle, several fuel containers and two boats were seized in the operation.
The drugs would have been introduced by boat along the coasts of Najayo and Sabana Grande Palenque. The boats are suspect to have come from South America. Participating in the operation were the Air Force, the Armada, the Army and the National Police. Five Dominicans were arrested.
The bundles were sent to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences for verification.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...cauta-1425-paquetes-de-droga-en-san-cristobal
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...uetes-droga-najayo-palenque.html#.WJI4--mVs4o
Court orders new hearing in Winston Rizik drug case
With the dissident vote of one of the judges, the Court of Appeals of the Province of Santo Domingo annulled the ruling that had sentenced Winston Rizik (el Gallero) to 10 years in jail. He was accused of drug trafficking and asset laundering.
The resolution had condemned his brother, Nelson Rizik Delgado as accomplice.
The other two judges Manuel Pérez and substitute judge Rosaly Brito ordered a new hearing be heard with the presentation of evidence.
The dissident judge was Saulo Ysabel Díaz who expressed his disapproval to the new hearing in the understanding the court can decide for itself and review the evidence presented by the court of first instance.
After the revocation of the ruling, the court now can change the preventive custody measure and order the release of Rizik Rodríguez.
http://eldia.com.do/corte-anula-sentencia-que-condena-a-winston-rizik
DR loses first came to Cuba in Caribbean Series
The Granma team of Cuba defeated the Tigres del Licey in the first game in the Caribean Series taking place in Cualican, Mexico. The Dominican team lost 4-0.
Follow the series at http://www.seriedelcaribeculiacan2017.com.mx/
Dodgers come in full to inaugurate academy
Dodgers chairman Mark Walter, president and CEO Stan Kasten, Senior Vice President for Planning and Development of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Janet Marie Smith and the Major League Baseball commissioner, Rob Manfred hosted President Danilo Medina and Sports Minister Danilo Díaz on Tuesday, 31 January 2017 for the inauguration of the renovations and expansions of the Dodgers Baseball Academy.
The Campo Las Palmas dates back to 1987 and was the first major league baseball facility to be built in the Dominican Republic. Today all Major League Baseball teams have academies.
Campo Las Palmas is located in San Antonio de Guerra in Monte Plata province.
The facility is also home to two Dominican Summer League clubs.
The Campo Las Palmas dates back to 1987 when it was the first built by a Major League Baseball team in the country. The camp has capacity to accommodate 96 players and 19 coaches and support staff.
The Dodgers team reports that the upgrades included the renovation of seven existing structures and the construction of three new buildings, with the 10 buildings totaling almost 100,000 square feet on 70 acres of land.
Among the other features:
3½ fields & a covered area for batting and infield practice
Running track
Conditioning and weight room
Clubhouse training areas
Four classrooms, a quiet room and a “social area” for players
Offices for the Dodgers international scouting department
Offices and on-site housing for 96 players, 19 coaches, plus support staff
Fruit and vegetable trees near the new kitchen
Dining hall, which incorporates the Dodgers’ nutritional program
Community Little League field
Also on the premises is the Jackie Robinson hall that also functions as a movie house that uses English-language films as part of language learning.
Speaking at the event, Smith highlighted lots of attention is placed on the formal education of the baseball players. They can work towards their high school degrees while receiving sports training.
Graduates of Campo Las Palmas include Ramón Martínez, Raúl Mondesí, Adrian Beltré, Pedro Báez and Yimi García.
Speaking during the event, Mark Walter, CEO of the Dodgers highlighted the commitment of the Dodgers to the local community. During the event, the president of the Dodgers Stan Kasten delivered a donation for the Futuro Vivo school.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred thanked President Medina for the support to the team and sport. He also congratulated the owners of the academy for the upgrading of the installations. "Baseball's continuing investment in the Dominican Republic and in the development of players is important to the economy here and it's important to our game," said Manfred. "I am struck by the fact that some of the features here really demonstrate baseball's priorities in the Dominican Republic. For all of us, it's not just about the development of players. It's also about the development of people and communities here in the Dominican Republic.
A moment of silence was held in memory of recently deceased players Yordano Ventura and Andy Marte.
http://www.truebluela.com/2017/1/31/14464684/dodgers-dominican-republic-renovation-campo-las-palmas
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...as-instalaciones-academia-los-angeles-dodgers
Victor Estrella will not be on Davis Cup team
Rafael Moreno, captain of the Dominican team in the Davis Cup, lamented that the country's best tennis player, Victor Estrella, will not be playing with the team in the Davis Cup tournament that opens on Friday, 3 February 2017 in Santo Domingo.
Estrella (ranked 96th by ATP) declined to play because the event conflicts with the ATP 250 Ecuador Open 2017 where he is the defending champion.
Playing for the Dominican Republic will be José Hernandez (ranked 249th), Roberto Cid (595th), Jose Olivares (722nd) and Nick Hard 1,769th).
The tournament will be held from 3 to 5 February at the Mirador del Este courts. It is part of the first round of the Americas Zone I of the Davis Cup. The Dominican Republic will be playing Chile.
Admission is free to the matches. The winning team is the first to land three victories.
http://www.daviscup.com/en/draws-results/group-i/americas.aspx
http://www.daviscup.com/en/draws-results/tie.aspx?id=M-DC-2017-G1-AM-M-DOM-CHI-01
Jenifer Lopez show coming to Casa de Campo
Casa de Campo has announced the performance of Latin star Jennifer López at the Altos de Chavón Amphitheater this coming Easter Saturday, 15 April 2017.
Casa de Campo says that this marks the first of more artistic shows set for the Altos de Chavón stage. In 2016, Marc Anthony, Carlos Vives, J Balvin, Ricky Martin, Zion and Lennox, Enrique Iglesias and Gente de Zona performed at Altos de Chavón.
Andrés Pichardo, president of Casa de Campo, announced attractive hotel and show packages are available.
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http://www.dr1.com/calendar
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