DR1 Daily News - Wednesday, 12 July 2017

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President inaugurates elementary schools in Hato Mayor
Supreme Court judge selection can be followed on TV
Deputies reject eliminating exceptions to abortion
Central Bank reports inflation is at a minimum
Financial Action Task Force seeks to avoid financing of terrorism
Learning how to classify garbage in school
Migration agency focuses on Santiago
De Camps: Haiti issue is to divert attention from Odebrecht
Odebrecht accused leave jail
Ángel Rondón asks again for preventive custody to be lifted
Blas Peralta sentenced to 30 years in jail
Number of femicides in the Cibao is alarming
Police murders up to 14 this year
One Canadian dead and another injured in motorcycle and bus collision
Provinces under alert for rains


President inaugurates elementary schools in Hato Mayor
On Monday, 10 July 2017, President Danilo Medina inaugurated three elementary public schools in Hato Mayor province. The Matías Ramón Mella, La China and Las Cañitas schools have 35 classrooms between them, serving up to 1,120 students.

The three schools were inaugurated during a ceremony at the La China public school. The government construction projects included paving all of the roads leading to the schools.

The Office of Supervising Engineers of State Works (Oisoe), that was responsible for the construction. It was reported that the government invested RD$101,128,709 in the public schools constructions.

Minister of Education Andrés Navarro said that at least 200 more schools will be open in time for the start of the 2017-2018 schoolyear in August 2017. He said some 1,150,000 students are enrolled in the extended day school programs and that another 600,000 students across the country will eventually be integrated into the extended school day program.

http://hoy.com.do/presidente-entrega-tres-escuelas-en-hato-mayor/


Supreme Court judge selection can be followed on TV
The National Council of the Magistracy (CNM) begins public hearings this Thursday, 13 July 2017 at 4pm. These will continue all day on Friday, 14 July and on Saturday, 15 July in the morning. The selection jury expects to be able to interview 20 to 25 candidates per session. The judges will be reviewing the qualifications of candidates for four Supreme Court of Justice positions and five Superior Electoral Court (TSE) positions, and their substitutes. The interviews with the candidates will be televised and can be followed online. The candidates will be summoned in alphabetical order, and depending on whether they are lawyers or professional judge.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...altas-cortes-seran-el-jueves-viernes-y-sabado
http://cnm.gob.do/


Deputies reject eliminating exceptions to abortion
Despite intense pressure by Catholic and Evangelic church groups, the Chamber of Deputies again voted against eliminating from the Penal Code three exceptions to the ban on abortion in the Dominican Republic. The 84 deputies voted to reject the recommendations made by the Chamber of Deputies commission that had studied the bill that had been amended in the Senate to exclude the exceptions in the cases of incest, rape and malformation of the fetus. 63 deputies voted to pass the Penal Code without the exceptions. Of the 161 deputies present, 14 abstained from voting.

The Chamber of Deputies commission had recommended accepting the elimination of the abortion exceptions made by the Senate to no longer delay the passing of the revised Penal Code that has been debated for more than 20 years in the National Congress.

Opposition deputy Gloria Reyes of the PRM celebrated that the deputies had voted to save women, rather than to save the Penal Code.

The Penal Code had been vetoed on two occasions by President Danilo Medina. Medina backs including the exceptions to abortion. Medical societies and women groups have lead the campaign to pass the Penal Code with the abortion ban exceptions.

The bill now will have to be resubmitted in the new legislature that opens as of 16 August 2017, and will need to again be reviewed in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...tados-el-codigo-penal-vuelve-a-cero-YD7599890


Central Bank reports inflation is at a minimum
According to the Central Bank, inflation for June was 0.06%. The accumulated rate for the first six months of the year was 1.02% and the annualized rate from June 2016 to June 2017 is 2,55% which is below the target limit set by the Monetary Program.

The report states that the highest levels of inflation came from the Diverse Goods and Services Group (0.29%), due to increases in personal services such as barbers (0.63%) and women’s hairdressers (0.48%). Prices for food prepared outside of the home, e.g. restaurants and hotels rose between 0.17 and 0.18%. Daily “Blue Plate Specials” at restaurants only rose 0.13%, while pizza prices jumped 1.14%. The price of a fried chicken meal bumped up 0.16%.

The next highest group was Recreation and Culture (0.31%), mainly due to an increase of 0.8% in cable television, and tour prices for tourists (1.23%). This was followed by the Transport Group (0.02%), due to a decrease in fuel prices but an increase in airline tickets (8.9%) and motorcycle taxi prices (0.57%).

The decreases in inflation came from the Food and Non Alcoholic Beverage Group (-0.01%) due to decreases in the prices of limes, eggs, avocados, plantains, sweet potatoes, seasonal fruits, pumpkin, pineapple, sour oranges, onions and cassava that compensated for the increase in prices of chicken, garlic, peppers, salami, oranges, purified water and pigeon peas.

Concurrently with the Central Bank announcement of almost inexistent inflation, on Tuesday, 11 July 2017, an editorial in El Día newspaper says reports that a different story is true for most Dominicans. The editorialist writes:
“Inflation exists. An authorized body such as the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic does not have to say so. This economic phenomenon is felt every day in Dominican households in the increases in prices.” The writer says that the prices of goods for everyday living continue to increase, and some of these have become luxury items, while others are just purchased in less quantity. The editorialist mentions meat, milk, cod fish, butter, pork, imported oats, pastas, medicines.

https://www.bancentral.gov.do/notas...a-que-la-inflacin-del-mes-de-junio-fue-de-006
http://eldia.com.do/pesar-por-la-inflacion/


Financial Action Task Force seeks to avoid financing of terrorism
The National Anti-Terrorist Committee of the Dominican Republic is looking into strengthening institutions and implementing measures to prevent the entry of terrorists, the Presidency reported on 11 July 2017. In a meeting, the committee studied measures to prevent banks from receiving capital that could be used to finance terrorism.

While experts indicated that the risk of terrorist acts being conducted in the Dominican Republic “is very low,” implementing preventive measures are important given the large number of foreign tourists that visit the country.

Minister of Defense Rubén Darío Paulino Sem said: “It is our duty to cooperate with the other nations in the implementation of international mechanisms to detect and report any person or transaction related to organized crime. We are developing an automated reporting system that creates and integrates lists of suspect persons with ties to terrorist activities that would trigger the immediate freezing of terrorist related goods and assets, in compliance with the standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF-GAFI) and the United Nations Security Council,” he stated.

The regional representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Panama, Amado de Andrés, was present and spoke about the risks of terrorism in Latin America and the best practices to reduce vulnerability. The Dominican Republic will be assessed in oncoming months by the Financial Action Task Force of Latin America (GAFILAT).

The Financial Action Task Force of Latin America (GAFILAT) is a regionally based inter-governmental organization that includes 16 countries from South America, Central America and North America to combat money laundering and terrorist financing by means of a commitment for continuous improvement of the national policies against both scourges, and the enhancement of different cooperation mechanisms among its member countries.

http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...peracion-internacional-contra-terrorismo.html


Learning how to classify garbage in school
“Clean Dominicana” (Dominicana Limpia) is the name of the new education program that could become part the official curricula starting 2017-2018 schoolyear. Project coordinator Jorge Luis Bisonó says that the ambitious program that seeks to insert half an hour every week or an hour every 15 days so students can become familiar with sorting waste and recycling. Bisonó says the program was presented to President Danilo Medina and has the support of the Cervecería Nacional Dominicana, the Malta Morena malt and Presidente beer brewery. Bisonó says the goal is to reach 34,000 persons in the next three years.

“If we implement this program in the schools, we can teach students to separate garbage at school and then in six years recycling will be second nature to an entire generation of Dominicans,” he said.

He said they will be expanding the same pilot program that was successfully implemented in San José de las Matas, where he was mayor at the time. He said the children were taught to classify wastes using children’s books and talks.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2017/07/11/basura-sera-una-asignatura-planteles


Migration agency focuses on Santiago
The Migration Agency (DGM) in Santiago with the military and migratory control crews reportedly arrested several undocumented Haitians. The sweep was carried out on the avenues Salvador Estrella Sadhalá, 27 de Febrero, Circunvalación Sur and in the municipalities of Licey al Medio, Tamboril, Navarrete and Puñal. Also in the nearby province of Valverde. Individuals detained were sent to the border town of Dajabón, processed, then deported.

As reported in 7 Dias, the president of the Dominican Espiscopal Conference, Monsignor Diómedes Espinal said that the Haitians are fleeing poverty in Haiti and migration to the Dominican Republic is difficult to control because the border is open. “They are fleeing the difficult situation in which they live in Haiti,” said Monsignor Espinal.

Nevertheless, Santiago Mayor Abel Martínez has complained that the city is overrun by undocumented Haitians and the Mayor has intensified efforts to control the many Haitian vendor points in public spaces throughout the city. On 15 November 2017, the Santiago city government issued a resolution banning undocumented foreigners from setting up shop in public spaces, including parks, avenues, and street sidewalks. Listin Diario reported that city government inspectors are requiring Dominican IDs prior to authorizing the street posts. But ambulatory street vendors continue to be common.

Archbishop of Santiago, Monsignor Ramón Benito de la Rosa y Carpio said that there are Mafiosi groups made up by Dominicans, Haitians and other foreigners that profit from human trafficking.

Meanwhile, Army chief, Mayor General Braulio Alcántara López announced changes to the infantry commanders in the border areas of Dajabón, Duvergé and Las Matas de Farfán.


https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...detectar-indocumentados-en-santiago-AJ7597651
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...alcaldia-saca-haitianos-de-plazas-de-santiago
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...1/cambian-comandantes-ejercito-en-la-frontera


De Camps: Haiti issue is to divert attention from Odebrecht
The secretary general of the Social Democrat Revolutionary Party (PRSD) Luis Miguel De Camps speculates that the migratory issue is in the press and social media is acting as a distraction from the more important issue of government corruption and impunity. De Camps made his comments on the La Super 7 en la Mañana radio talk show on 107.7FM. De Camps said that the Haitian migration problem is not new, nor is there anything new happening for it to have taken over the front page headlines.

De Camps said that the increase in crime is related to the lack of good jobs. He called for first job opportunities for youth. He said there is an awakening of the people evidenced in the mobilizations that are healthy for Dominican society. He said as a political party they align themselves with those calling for an end to corruption and impunity.

http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...-sustituir-tema-odebrecht-con-migratorio.html


Odebrecht accused leave jail
Six of eight accused men in the Odebrecht bribe case, who won their appeals to have their preventive custody rulings reversed, left Najayo jail yesterday, Tuesday 11 July 2017. In place of preventive custody, the men were authorized on Saturday, 8 July 2017 to post bail of between RD$5 million and RD$15 million. The men are not allowed to leave the country and have to make periodic appearances in court. Of the 13 who were in preventive custody, 11 were allowed to leave the jail. The men had been in jail for 45 days.

The six are lawyer Conrad Pittaluga, former Minister of Industry & Commerce Temístocles Montás, former PRD deputy Ruddy González, the president of the opposition leading party PRM, Andrés Bautista; former administrator of the state hydroelectric corporation, EgeHID Máximo D’Oleo and former executive vice president of the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE), César Sánchez.

In the Odebrecht bribes case, only Odebrecht commercial representative Angel Rondón and former Minister of Public Works Víctor Díaz Rúa were ordered by the court to remain in pre-trial detention.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...is-imputados-del-caso-odebrecht-dejan-prision

Ángel Rondón asks again for preventive custody to be lifted
The defense lawyers of businessman Ángel Rondón, accused in the Odebrecht bribes case, will request a revision in the preventive custody terms that were upheld at a recent appeal at the Supreme Court of Justice.

According to lawyer, Luis Manuel Minier, along with other lawyers Juan Antonio Delgado, Pedro Balbuena and Manuel Fermín who are working on Rondón’s defense, their argument will be based on the reasons given by judge Miriam Germán Brito during the hearing when the court ruled that Rondon would stay in preventive custody.

Minier said that once he received the ruling in writing, he then had 48 hours to respond. He once again proclaimed his client’s innocence. Rondón argues the funds received were in payment of services rendered to help Odebrecht secure the construction contracts in the Dominican Republic.

http://listindiario.com/la-republic...n-buscara-que-le-varien-la-prision-preventiva


Blas Peralta sentenced to 30 years in jail
The First Collegiate Court of the National District sentenced transport czar Blas Peralta to 30 years in the La Romana Jail (Centro de Rehabilitación y Corrección de La Romana – Cucama) for the murder of former rector of the state university, UASD, Mateo Aquino Febrillet. Peralta is the president of the Federación Nacional de Transporte Dominicano (Fenatrado) truckers association, known for imposing its cargo transport market share with vandalism.

Peralta was also found guilty of attempted murder against Omar Enriquillo Sosa, Rosa Elaine Mañaná, Joel Antonio Soriano and Edward Montás.

Peralta was also ordered to pay compensation of RD$10 million to the Aquino’s widow, Rita Yomaris Solís; and RD$7 million to each of the three children and RD$1 million to Omar Enriquillo Sosa Méndez. The Aquino Febrillet family lawyers had requested RD$100 million in compensation for each of the children and RD$200 million for the widow.

The court also sentenced three for being accomplices and for attempted murder. These are former Police colonel Rafael Herrera Peña to five years, with a reduced jail sentence of three years at the Najayo Jail. Also Gerardo Félix Bautista Mena and Franklin Venegas to eight years in Najayo Jail each. The prosecution had requested five years.

The decision was taken by judges Ingrid Fernández, Claribel Nivar and Leticia Matos. The full decision will be read on 1 August 2017.

The murder occurred on 11 March 2016. Peralta’s defense bar was able to postpone the hearing for more than a year.

The presiding judge also sentenced Peralta and accomplices for attempted murder against Edward Montás and other persons against whom Peralta fired when they were riding in the SUV with Mateo Aquino Febrillet. Aquino Febrillet had been serving as mediator in a conflict over political candidacies between Blas Peralta and Edward Montás, but the discussions in an Av. Anacaona restaurant got out of control and Aquino Febrillet had left with Edward Montás to be followed by Blas Peralta in another vehicle.

http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2017/07/12/473715/30-anos-para-blas-peralta
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...-30-anos-por-asesinato-de-febrillet-YC7598980


Number of femicides in the Cibao is alarming
Another woman has been killed by her partner bringing the number of femicides to 47 so far this year. The latest murder happened in the community of Las Guáranas in Duarte province. The victim suffered multiple stab wounds. She was identified as 37-year old Esperanza Mena Duarte. Her presumed killer is Juan Toribio Estrella (El Pinto) aged 40, who is now under arrest.

Feminist groups in the Cibao are expressing their concern over the domestic violence and femicides happening in the area, with 22 so far this year – just under half of the total for the whole country.

http://listindiario.com/la-republic...-en-aumento-una-nueva-victima-en-las-guaranas


Police murders up to 14 this year
The police have announced that following the murder of two police officers in San Jose de Ocoa early on Monday morning, 10 July 2017, the total number of police killed so far this year by criminals has risen to 14.

Nelson Rosario, police spokesman said that they are on the heels of the four men involved in the recent shooting and there is an operation being carried out in San José de Ocoa and Bani to capture those responsible for the deaths of Lieutenant Johnny Arias Cabrera and Corporal D’Oleo Paredes.

It appears that the police officers were killed when they tried to stop the men in a white SUV in which they were holding someone kidnapped. The SUV has since been recovered on the road from Bani to Ocoa, containing the body of the presumed kidnapped victim.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2017/07/11/delincuencia-cobra-vida-14-policias-que-ano


One Canadian dead and another injured in motorcycle and bus collision
Two men died and one was seriously injured on the General Gregorio Luperon Road in Puerto Plata. The accident involved a motorcycle and a public transport autobus.

The victims are Ruddy Feliz Feliz (a mechanic by trade), aged 48, along with Canadian national, 23 year old Amir Hassan, who were on the motorcycle when it was struck by the bus.

The third victim is another Canadian, 23-year old Abdel Rahman Tarifi, who was injured. He was staying at the Gran Paradise Hotel in Playa Dorada. He was taken to the Ricardo Limardo hospital. The bus driver, Miguel Espinal Ciprian was arrested and the accident is under investigation.

http://almomento.net/choque-entre-m...ja-dos-muertos-y-un-herido-de-gravedad/333042


Provinces under alert for rains
According to the National Meteorological Office (Onamet), a stationary weather system to the north of Puerto Rico is expected to bring heavy rains to much of the country. Six provinces are now under alert for flooding, overflowing rivers and possible mudslides. The provinces expected to be affected by the heavy rains are Sánchez Ramírez, María Trinidad Sánchez, Samaná, Duarte (San Francisco de Macorís), La Vega and El Seibo.

Rain and thunderstorms are also expected in the provinces of Hato Mayor, Monte Plata, Sánchez Ramírez, Hermanas Mirabal, Espaillat, Monseñor Nouel, Santiago, Puerto Plata, San Juan de la Maguana, Elías Piña, Dajabón, Valverde, Santiago Rodríguez and Montecristi.

http://listindiario.com/la-republic...-y-altas-temperaturas-dominan-el-clima-de-hoy
 
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