DR1 Daily News - Tuesday, 4 April 2017

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May 3, 2000
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Preparing for Easter week
Government to carry out priority construction
Interest rates up
Breakfast suppliers payments on the way
Santo Domingo mayor David Collado explains advances
Aviation accident data
Judge orders start of Mateo Aquino Febrillet murder trial
Percival Matos’ band members to stay in jail
Operation over 24 hours leads to over 1,500 arrests
National journalist prize winner
Baseball prospect killed in crash
Earthquake shakes the east



Preparing for Easter week
According to a press release from the Presidency, around 40,000 people will be working to prevent accidents and tragedies during the peak domestic vacation time, Easter Week that kicks off with children getting off from school beginning on Friday, 7 April.  Easter celebrations will officially end on Sunday, 16 April.

As reported, the Emergency Operations Center (COE) has arranged for 2,602 assistance points throughout the country. More than 10 government organizations are coordinating their efforts to offer assistance to citizens in the case of need.

https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias/vigilia-pascual-semana-santa-2017


Government to carry out priority construction
The Ministry of Public Works (MOPC) has announced it will be carrying out priority construction works in 14 provinces with an initial investment of more than RD$20 billion. 

The highlighted provinces are Santiago, Puerto Plata, Hermanas Mirabal, Espaillat, La Vega, Montecristi, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Samana, Hato Mayor, La Altagracia, Valverde, Monsenor Noel, Duarte, and Sanchez Ramirez.

Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo said that in these provinces 83 works were started in March including bridges, roads, neighborhood roads, drainages, pedestrian bridges and sewage system work. The projects will include repairing damage caused by the November floods last year. 

http://almomento.net/gobierno-infor...nes-de-pesos-en-obras-de-14-provincias/303363


Interest rates up
The Central Bank has increased the interest rate by 25 basis points from 5.5% annual to 5.75% effective from 3 April 2017. 

The same adjustment has been made to interest paid on short-term deposits that has increased from 4% to 4.25% annual and the repos rate has also increased from 7% to 7.25% annual.

The decision was taken at the March meeting of the monetary policy committee, following a detailed analysis of the balance of risks, inflation, macroeconomic indicators, market expectations and the international environment as it relates to the local economy. 

The press release said that the Central Bank reaffirms its commitment to achieve inflationary targets and maintain macroeconomic stability as well as stabilizing prices.  

http://www.bancentral.gov.do/notas_...enta-su-tasa-de-poltica-monetaria-a-575-anual


Breakfast suppliers payments on the way
Education Minister Andrés Navarro assured  public school breakfast suppliers that the service payments impasse would soon be resolved. The Instituto Nacional de Bienstar Estudiantil (Inabie) maintains several months in arrears with the suppliers. Navarro said he met with the Controller General of the Republic, the Budget Agency of the National Treasury and the Procurement Agency to expedite the payments to the Inabie. 

Navarro said that most of the 1,046 suppliers are small and medium-sized business that have met the requirements. He said there are only 57 companies that have not fulfilled all the requirements and require special permits to expedite these payments. 

http://www.minerd.gob.do/Lists/Noti...aspx&Web=754836dd-ffd5-4ead-8c2e-b7c9b87af8e2


Santo Domingo mayor David Collado explains advances
In an interview in Diario Libre, the National District Mayor David Collado gave details about progress made in the capital city. Also participating in the interview were city government urban planning director Amin Abel, and city government strategic planning director, Jesus D’Alessandro. 

In his first eight months as city mayor, Collado said the city government has restored the Máximo Gómez, Cristo Redentor and Independencia cemeteries. He said lighting was installed, green areas pruned, streets were paved and chapels were rescued, among other improvements. 

He also spoke of efforts to improve produce markets, mentioning those in Los Guandules, Honduras and Cristo Rey. 

He said the RD$40 million the previous city administration had used for the Christmas Spectacular at the Ibero America Park were used instead for permanent street lighting in the neighborhoods of La Fe and Cristo Rey. He spoke of repairs of eight avenues in Cristo Rey and the Vietnam alley. 

He said construction of the overpass at Ortega y Gasset and Av. Reyes Católicos was started. 

There were park improvements including La Arboleda (in front of Corazones Unidos hospital), Las Praderas, Enriquillo (Av. Duarte), La Ciénaga and Pedro Livio Cedeño street with Av. Duarte. 

Lighting was improved on Av. De la Salud (Mirador Park) at a cost of RD$15 million with paving of sidewalks and the construction of three public bathrooms. He said an agreement was reached with marathon runners and cyclists to carry out their events while keeping the volume down and accepting the restrictions on concerts given that this is a residential area. 

Collado also mentioned the recovery of sidewalks at Av. Jiménez Moya from Av. Independencia to Av. 27 de Febrero. 

Regarding the sea-bordering Malecón, he said sidewalks are being paved. An agreement was reached with the Ministry of Public Works to divide the works of the Malecón with the city government responsible for Av. Abraham Lincoln to Av. del Puerto and the Ministry of Public Works taking over the west side, from Av. Abraham Lincoln to Manresa. He also said that the city government is working on the plan for the construction of an amphitheater that would be located beside the Fray Antonio de Montesino monument on the Malecón. 

Furthermore, he said an agreement was reached for drivers of large trucks to restrict their travel on the avenue to night hours during weekdays while the Santo Domingo bypass is completed. 

He said efforts have paid off with savings of RD$63 million on the garbage collection bills, and spoke of the positive effects of new late evening schedules for garbage collection. He also said the city government has taken over collecting of fees for garbage with mayor savings of an estimated RD$200 million a year. 

Likewise, during the interview, it was made known that talks are ongoing with the association of private schools of the National District for the establishment of school children busing service in order to reduce traffic jams in the morning hours. 

https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion...ero-he-logrado-cumplir-las-promesas-LB6726692


Aviation accident data
According to data from the Aviation Accident Investigation Commission (CIAA) and the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), since 2015 to date there have been 24 air accidents in the country that have led to 11 deaths and five disappearances. 

According to the reports, on 4 March 2017, ex Air Force officer, Jose Ernesto Rosario Alvares died while fumigating fields near Villa Tapia after striking an antenna while piloting his single engine aircraft.

In 2016, one person died and five were reported missing in accidents across the country. 

On December 5, a plane crashed in Valle Nuevo in Constanza claimed the life of Dr. Hector Herrand Perdomo.  The pilot of plane and another passenger were injured in the crash.  

In November, 2016, a helicopter crashed into the Nisibon Lake in Higuey and both the pilot, Rafael Sanchez and his passenger, Luis Cunillera have never been found. 

Also three people disappeared when traveling back from Haiti to Puerto Plata when their sea plane crashed off the north coast of the island. North Americans Candy and Charles Adkins and Canadian Benjamin Brown have not been found despite extensive searches.

In 2015, there were eight airplane crashes resulting in the deaths of nine people. 

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ovocan-11-muertes-y-5-desaparecidos-IY6724486


Judge orders start of Mateo Aquino Febrillet murder trial
National District judge Rigoberto Sena ordered the start of the trial against who at the time was the powerful truckers union (Fenatrado) president Blas Peralta, accused of the murder of former rector of the state university (UASD) Mateo Aquino Febrillet. The trial opening had been delayed on more than 15 occasions by the defense lawyers. Peralta is the main suspect of the murder, while Geraldo Felix Bautista Mena, Rafael Herrera Peña and Franklin Venegas are tried as accomplices. The judge also confirmed that these continue in jail while the trial is heard. 

Attorney General Jean-Alain Rodriguez said that the prosecution ahs enough evidence against the accused. Among the evidence are calls made to his security chief Rafael Herrera Peña would make shortly after the murder. 

http://eldia.com.do/acusados-muerte-de-febrillet-van-a-juicio/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT4fLfyfERo


Percival Matos’ band members to stay in jail
Yesterday, 3 March 2017, a National District judge ruled that the four people accused of belonging to the band run by the deceased John Percival Matos should remain in jail on remand.

Judge Rigoberto Sena announced the decision during the mandatory revision of coercive measures, stating that the reasons for applying them had not changed.

Therefore Brayan Peter Paulino Felix, Army Major  Elvin Rodgers, Reyvi David Corporan Adames (Culebra) and Javier de Jesus Fernandez Perello will all remain in jail on one year’s remand as they await trial having been accused of robbing several banks.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...plicados-de-formar-parte-de-banda-de-percival


Operation over 24 hours leads to over 1,500 arrests
During the new operations between the National Police and the Ministry of Defense, over the last 24 hours there have been 1,582 people arrested. Those with records will previous criminal records will be required to appear in court. Other detainees will be released within the legal time limit stipulated if no charges are brought against these individuals. 

Of those arrested, 17 were apprehended committing a crime, while the names of another eight individuals appeared in police records, according to a press release issued by the National Police. 

In the same operations, the police confiscated 88 knives and six firearms along with 2,890 motorcycles and 39 vehicles. They also confiscated 56 packets of marijuana, 14 packets of cocaine, one packet of crack and a hookah.

In separate anti noise operations, the Anti-Noise Unit confiscated 72 speakers, 38 sound systems and three vehicles from people who were violating the Noise Ordinance. 

In total, the Police and Ministry of Defense reported to have intervened in 24,734 incidences across the country from 6 am on Sunday 2 April to 6 am Monday 3 April in street patrols and in commercial centers and malls.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...llaje-mixto-en-las-ultimas-24-horas-HD6731108


National journalist prize winner
The director of El Caribe newspaper, Rafael Osvaldo Santana, has been selected as the winner of the National Journalist Prize 2017 by the Ministry of Education and the Dominican College of Journalists (CDP). 

His selection was announced by the president of the CDP, Olivo de Leon, who said that Santana was chosen by a jury comprised of the Minister of Education, Andrés Navarro, director of the Communication’s school at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), Rodolfo Coiscou Duvergé, a representative of the Dominican Association of Daily Newspapers and one from the Dominican Association of Broadcasters (ADORA), and two journalists chosen from a group of ten. 

Santana has been the director of different newspapers including El Caribe, Listín Diario, (2004-2005); El Siglo (1997) and Ultima Hora (2002-2003). He also directed Cadena de Noticias (CDN) in 2006.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...-premio-nacional-de-periodismo-2017-AF6733031


Baseball prospect killed in crash
Two young men lost their lives on the night of Sunday, 2 April 2017.  One of the victims, 16-year old Vicente Alejandro King Acosta, was a rising baseball star.

The accident happened in Samaná at around 10pm. The victims were Erinaldo Castro, aged 25 who was driving a motorcycle. Preliminary reports say he crashed into King Acosta.

King Acosta was a prospect for the Chicago Cubs and died when he was being taken to Plaza de la Salud Hospital in Santo Domingo.

José Serra, director of Cubs Baseball Academy in the country said that King Acosta had a promising future in the game.

http://eldia.com.do/muere-prospecto...hicago-en-accidente-de-motocicleta-en-samana/


Earthquake shakes the east
The Dominican government reported that an earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter Scale occurred around 10:45pm on Sunday, 2 April 2017. The epicenter of the quake was 92.8 km below the surface in El Valle, Hato Mayor province. The US government reported the earthquake had measured 4.7 on the Richter Scale. 

The tremor was felt mainly in the east of the country, especially Hato Mayor, but also in Santo Domingo and other parts of the Dominican Republic. So far there are no reports of damage or victims.

Six hours later, another earthquake was felt 13 km east southeast of La Romana at depth of 111 km.  The second quake measured 3.8 on the Richter Scale.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...magnitud-4-9-se-siente-en-gran-parte-del-pais
http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/survive-earthquake5.htm
http://www.earthquakecountry.org/dropcoverholdon/
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/triangle.asp