DR1 Daily News - Monday, 11 December 2017

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The holidays are here: Drink the night away!
President Medina tours Downtown Center Punta Cana
Medina meets Elder Cook of Mormon Church
Consolidating cargo for the Caribbean
Navy commander says drug trafficking is greatest threat to DR
DGII says that they are still collecting on Dream Casinos tax debt
UN calls for different government policies to curb teenage pregnancies
New franchise at Downtown Center Bella Vista
San Francisco mayor Rodríguez sentenced to five years in jail
Police arrest Santo Cedano for rape and murder of 11-year old
The saga of the online dating match gone awry
Drunken driver kills two in Puerto Plata
Licey Tigers and Escogido Lions struggle for survival
Parque del Este lit up for Christmas
Frank Ceara and Danny Rivera Christmas concerts
Anthony Santos in Lans Bar & Lounge
Alice in Wonderland at the Nuryn Sanlley Amphitheater
Punta Cana Blue Mall Christmas carols concert


The holidays are here: Drink the night away!
The Ministry of Interior and Police announced the lifting of the curfew for selling alcoholic beverages. As of Monday, 11 December 2017, and all the way through 7 January 2018, bars, discotheques and “colmadones”, liquor stores and restaurants are free to sell alcoholic beverages 24/7. The Ministry says that the measure is in place given that the businesses argue this is their time for max sales of the year.

At the same time, the Ministry said that to prevent and avoid actions affecting safety and public order, surveillance at these businesses is being increased. The Ministry says that all applicable laws, especially those that prohibit the entry of minors to bars and sale of alcoholic beverages to minors will be strictly enforced. In addition the authorities will be vigilant concerning banning people with firearms or knives entering these establishments. The Ministry also warned that statutes concerning noise control will be enforced.

http://mi.gob.do/index.php/noticias...bares-y-discotecas-por-festividades-navidenas


President Medina tours Downtown Center Punta Cana
President Danilo Medina toured the Downtown Center Punta Cana last week. The plaza has been in operation for around four years in an area of 27,000 square meters at the cross section of the Punta Cana Tourism Boulevard with Bávaro. Miguel Ricart, general director of the entertainment and shopping center, says it was built at an investment of US$25 million.

Located in the area is a Jumbo megastore, a Sunix gas station, CocoBongo and GuaGuanco discotheques, Rad Park for inland surfing, many restaurants including Lorenzillos of Mexico, La Casita de Yeya for Dominican food, a business center, among other establishments.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2017/12/08/downtown-mall-punta-cana-abre-sus-puertas/


Medina meets Elder Cook of Mormon Church
Elder Quentin L. Cook, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was in the Dominican Republic in mid- November to address members and missionaries, as reported in the Mormon press and the LDS Church News, the official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During his visit, Cook was received by President Danilo Medina. Cook spoke at a religious freedom symposium that was sponsored by the Pontifical Catholic University Madre y Maestra.

Cook was accompanied by his wife, Mary, and members of the Church’s Caribbean area presidency and their wives (Walter F. González and wife Zulma, Claudio D. Zivik and wife Dina Noemi, and Jose Alonso and wife Rebecca). The trip was part of a visit to the Caribbean from 10-20 November 2017.

Reporting on the meeting with President Medina, trip spokesman González said that Medina was well aware of the work of the Church in the country. As reported in LDS, the official media online of the church, he remarked on the visit with the President: “He was impressed by the growth of the Church in Dominican Republic. The President expressed gratitude for the service of the Church and emphasized the importance of religion in creating a strong citizenry.”

In a separate meeting, Cook and his wife met with First Lady Cándida Montilla, who had previously visited Salt Lake City. “She expressed gratitude for the Church contributions to her social programs to help the less fortunate in the Dominican Republic,” said González. “She was very pleased with the joint efforts for social programs.”

González said the church, with its 132,000 members and the only temple in the Caribbean, is well recognized by government leaders in the Dominican Republic. González highlighted the participation of the Church in the government literacy program, “Quisqueya Aprende Contigo,” and in the publishing of Braille literacy booklets for this program.

This was the first time the religious freedom symposium was held in the Dominican Republic. “We need to always talk about the importance of religious freedom, although we are very blessed that in most of our area we have no problems,” he said.

http://www.prensamormona.do/articul...in-l--cook-visita-al-presidente-danilo-medina
https://www.deseretnews.com/article...ks-at-religious-freedom-symposium-during.html


Consolidating cargo for the Caribbean
The Dominican Republic government is working with the private sector to consolidate a platform for consolidating cargo for export to the Caribbean. This would make possible for small exporters to unite to send boxes and packages that will be consolidated to fill freight containers to supply markets in the region.

Carlos Flaquer, marketing manager for DP World Caucedo; Jhonatan Báez Cuás of Tropical Shipping and Vladimir Pimentel, business director for the Center for Exports and Investments (CEI-RD) told Listin Diario that the effort is connecting state of the art transport modes with emerging, competitive markets in the Caribbean for Dominican produce. This is part of the Administrative Ministry of the Presidency and Dominican Association of Exporters Caribbean Export Promotions Rountable.

Pimentel said that in 2018 the participants in the rountable are working on strengthening of services needed to increase exports to the Caribbean. He said that the DR exports US$150 million a year to the Caribbean. CEI-RD is backing a trade mission to Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago to increase exports.

https://www.listindiario.com/econom...an-exportacion-de-carga-consolidada-al-caribe


Navy commander says drug trafficking is greatest threat to DR
The general commander of the Dominican Armada (ARD), Vice Admiral Miguel Enrique Peña Acosta said in an interview with El Dia that the main threat affecting the Dominican Republic is the scourge of drug trafficking.

He said that given the 1,600 kilometers of coastline and its many islands, combatting drug trafficking is a major challenge and a responsibility of the Dominican navy. He called the drug trafficking activity at sea “impressive.” Peña Acosta said the most drug trafficking activity has been detected in Ocoa Bay in the southwest, Samaná and Sánchez in the northeast, and Miches and the eastern region.

He said the ARD has an aging fleet of 13 intervention boats and five drones that are used in offshore operations to detect and seize vessels loaded with drugs and illegal travelers. The navy has a staff of 1,600 members assigned nationwide to 81 posts to fight drug trafficking. As part of the efforts, he said the ARD keeps tabs on the owners and users of boats to ensure they have the adequate documentation.

The ARD’s Tactical Battalion and Department of Land Operations are responsible for land operations to support the efforts at sea. He said in the past 15 months, they have detected 400 boats that would have been used for illegal trips.

He said support has been received from the US government that is donating 10 jeeps to the Ministry of Defense.

http://eldia.com.do/el-narcotrafico-es-la-principal-amenaza-a-la-seguridad-nacional/


DGII says that they are still collecting on Dream Casinos tax debt
In a belated response to an investigate report published in Diario Libre on favorable treatment given to the Dream Casinos operators over the years, Tax Agency (DGII) director, Magin Diaz told the newspaper that the casino tax debt had not elapsed. In a recent editorial, Diario Libre had demanded an explanation from the Tax Agency as to why the lenience and benevolent treatment given to the casino company over the years by the DGII. In the letter, he guaranteed the institution would collect using legal mechanisms.

Diario Libre had published that the state would be losing RD$637,420,000 in due taxes if the request for the DGII to accept that the debt had expired was accepted.

“Do not doubt that the debt of the casinos with this institution and that in our systems shows to still be in effect, will be collected on the base of mechanisms provided by the law, and until the courts consider evidence showing the contrary,” Diaz replied to Diario Libre executive editor Adriano Miguel Tejada.

He explained that while three years have elapsed, the process had been suspended on several occasions extending the term in which to collect on the arrears to five years.

Diario Libre had reported that on 7 and 10 November 2017, Dream Casinos had requested the DGII acknowledge the expiration of the arrears regarding the casinos operated by the company. In its heyday, the company operated 12 casinos in six provinces nationwide.

This is the same Dream Casino in which Antonio Carbone, a Toronto, Canada casino executive was sentenced on 26 August 2017 to 20 years in prison after being convicted of attempted murder. Along with his brother Francesco, Carbone was one of the founders of the Dream Casino group, a multi-million dollar Caribbean venture that resulted in a series of lawsuits and countersuits revolving around the ownership and control of the company.

https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...prescrito-y-sera-cobrada-por-la-ley-EJ8748042
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...prescrito-y-sera-cobrada-por-la-ley-EJ8748042
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/editorial/la-dgii-debe-responder-LE8732836
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...dir-el-pago-de-impuestos-en-la-dgii-BN8719065
http://www.cbc.ca/news/fifth/canadi...in-prison-in-the-dominican-republic-1.4438275


UN calls for different government policies to curb teenage pregnancies
The United Nations Development Program in the Dominican Republic released the United Nations Human Development Report 2017 with a focus on the epidemic of teenage pregnancies in the country. In the DR, 22.3% of Dominican females ages 12-19 years had been pregnant. The adolescent fertility rate is an alarmingly 34% higher than the average in Latin America and Caribbean countries that stands at 16.6%.

The report reveals that the country’s high fertility rate for teenagers 15 to 19 years (100.6 HNV x 1,000 women) in the Dominican Republic, a high development nation, is similar to the average rate (101.6) in countries that are considered to be facing significant social development challenges and are rated as low development nations. In contrast, countries considered having high social advancement scored an average of 38.9 (2016).

The situation has worsened over the years. The study revealed that National Statistics Office data showed that in 2013, 43.6% of teenagers reported to have had their first sexual relationship. In contrast in 1986, 24.2% of teenagers reported to have had their first sexual relationship.

The UNDP highlights that despite the country achieving significant progress in terms of economic growth and improvements in many of its social indicators, the high teenage pregnancy rate has remained unacceptably high for the past three decades. It is apparent that public social policies have not been successful. The report seeks to provide a powerful tool for those individuals and institutions who can make address this issue and adopt different policies.

The report says that the phenomenon is greater in southern provinces and those in central Cibao region and among the most poor.

The report says that the causes of teenage pregnancy are multiple, but its effects - social, economic, political - are made visible very specifically in the quality of life of young women, their families, communities and their possibilities and opportunities to achieve well-being and dignified lives.

Among the main causes for teenage pregnancy mentioned are alcohol and drug consumption, lack of maturity, the generalized belief that it is best to have children at a young age, and not using birth control. On a positive side, the Dominican government has begun a pilot program to make available low cost condoms and birth control injections at the government low cost pharmacies (Promese-Cal). Condoms are now selling for RD$2 the package of three.

The report “El embarazo en adolescentes: Un desafío multidimensional para generar oportunidades en el ciclo de vida” is only yet available in Spanish. It can be read and downloaded at:
http://www.do.undp.org/content/domi...rrollo-humano-2017---embarazo-adolescent.html


New franchise at Downtown Center Bella Vista
100 Montaditos is the new small sandwich shop franchise to open in trending Downtown Center in Bella Vista neighborhood. The Spanish franchise’s first store in the Caribbean has a capacity for 120 patrons in its 160 square meter location at the mall that is located at Av. Romulo Betancourt corner Av. Presidente Antonio Guzman (Privada) in Santo Domingo.

100 Montaditos explains that montaditos are a staple of the culinary arts from Spain. They are tapa-sized rolls of freshly baked French baguette or Italian chapata filled with a diversity of savory ingredients. They also sell the 11-inch montadito prepared for those with bigger appetites.

The Spanish franchise seeks to transport their customers to the experience of being in a typical Spanish tavern. In addition to the small sandwiches, on the menu are salads and variety of appetizers. Lauren Pou is the Dominican franchiser.

100 Montaditos is operated by the Spanish firm Restalia that has shops in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

https://www.metrord.do/do/destacado...itos-inauguro-su-primer-local-en-el-pais.html


San Francisco mayor Rodríguez sentenced to five years in jail
The Second Collegiate Court of Santo Domingo convicted former San Francisco de Macoris mayor, Felix Manuel Rodriguez Grullon and the payroll officer of his city government, Jerson Neris lLizardo for embezzlement to the state for more than RD$400 million. He was sentenced to five years in jail at the Centro de Correccion y Rehabilitacion Vista del Valle and to pay a fine of RD$5 million.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...fallas-de-gerencia-y-de-supervision-JY8742029


Police arrest Santo Cedano for rape and murder of 11-year old
The National Police arrested two men for rape and death of an 11-year old girl in the Mama Tingó neighborhood of Higuey, La Altagracia. The child, Rosairis Maite Gil Rivera, had been reported missing. Her decomposed body was found in a sugar cane field days after her disappearance reported by her parents on 30 November 2017.

The Police say that 32-year old mechanic Santo Cedano has admitted to the murder. He was a neighbor of the family. The Police reportedly stated that he invited the child to a soft drink in a nearby colmado, and then into his house where he raped and killed her by strangulation.

Also arrested in the case is 45-year old Miguel Angel Espiritu Santo, also a neighbor of the child, who is accused of helping hide the corpse after the crime. Santo was identified after Espiritu Santo in his defense had said that who he had seen with the child was the mechanic.

The investigation was under General Pablo Pujols, chief of the Criminal Investigations Divison of the Police (Dicrim)

According to the Police, Santo said he killed the girl because she had told him she would tell on him.

https://noticiassin.com/2017/12/mec...iolo-y-estrangulo-menor-de-11-anos-en-higuey/
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2017/12/...ato-nina-en-higuey-ayudo-su-familia-buscarla/


After his match with a Dominican went amiss, British citizen could be sent back
As the saga on British citizen Glyn Thomas Bailey continues, it is known that on Thursday, 7 December 2017, Cotui judge Mairelis Lazala ordered Thomas to be seen by psychologist at the Dr. Vinicio Calventi Public Hospital in Santo Domingo. Thomas is under pre-trial custody, after state prosecutors acted on a complaint placed by Wilfa Soto, a Cotui resident.

Soto had placed a claim for abusive treatment against Thomas. State prosecutors are now following up on the case of Thomas who had traveled to the DR to meet Soto, with whom he had been chatting online for six months. Upon arrival, Thomas has said he came to the Dominican Republic with only a one-way ticket and does not have the money to return to the UK. Soto has requested the assistance of the UK Embassy so that Thomas can return to the UK.

As a result of the legal complaint, Thomas was taken to the Santo Domingo hospital in a 911 ambulance. The psychologist Ana Reyes concluded that Thomas has a mental disorder. Thomas is being assisted by public defendant Almadamaris Rodriguez Peralta.

A follow up story in MetroRD says that psychological studies carried out at the Vinicio Calventi Public Hospital in Santo Domingo revealed Thomas is more like a “big boy” full of illusions and in need of a lot of attention.

Angel Almánzar, general director of Mental Health of the Ministry of Public Health, a unit that, on behalf of the British embassy in the country, has been assisting the foreigner in the Crisis Intervention Unit (UIC) at the Vinicio Calventi hospita, in Los Alcarrizos, northern Santo Domingo. Almanzar reported that Thomas suffers physical problems and also a severe depression as a result of the stress he has experienced after the story about the circumstances in which he arrived in the country captured the interest of the media.

"He has some physical health problems that began to be treated in the Calventi hospital. It was determined after the evaluation of a mental health team that in addition to the depression that needs to be treated, he has an intellectual disability that we could not initially identify. “

Diario Libre reported that Thomas would be further evaluated by psychologists and afterwards would be placed under the custody of the UK Embassy.

The case of Thomas went viral on social networks after the release of a video in which Soto asked for help so that the foreigner could return to his country.

Wilfa narrated in that video that Thomas only arrived with the departure ticket and that he even had to pay for transportation from the Punta Cana airport to his home in that community.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...l-pais-a-conocer-a-mujer-dominicana-AX8734471
https://noticiassin.com/2017/12/bri...-las-redes-es-acusado-de-violencia-de-genero/
http://dominicanosactivos.com/2017/...les-sin-dinero-y-quiere-devolverlo-a-su-pais/
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...nico-que-vino-sin-dinero-a-conocer-dominicana
https://www.metrord.do/do/destacado...nico-vino-conocer-dominicana-nino-grande.html


Drunken driver kills two in Puerto Plata
A drunken driver killed two in Altamira, Puerto Plata. Another 11 were injured after the drunken driver crashed into a group of friends that were playing domino on the roadside. One of the victims was identified as Wilson Ramon Vargas, who died after he was taken to the Hospital Cabral y Baez in Santiago. The drunken driver was arrested, it is reported.

https://noticiassin.com/2017/12/acc...al-menos-11-heridos-en-altamira-puerto-plata/


Licey Tigers and Escogido Lions struggle for survival
With two weeks to go for the regular season, the Licey Tigers, the most winning team in the history of Dominican winter professional baseball, is struggling to make the top four to play the next round robin after Christmas. This season has been one of the most tightly contested.

The Aguilas Cibaeñas are in the lead with 23 wins and 18 losses, but they are followed closely by the Gigantes del Cibao with 23-19, the Estrellas Orientales are 22-19 and the Leones del Escogido 21-21. The Tigres del Licey still have a chance to make the top four because they are 20-22.

This is an excellent time to head for the baseball parks, especially when the capital city teams Leones del Escogido and Tigres del Licey are playing for survival.

http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/163593-2017-18-Baseball-Season/page3

See the games calendar at: http://www.lidom.com/home/calendario/
See the team standings at: http://estadisticas.lidom.com/Estadisticas/Inicio


Parque del Este lit up for Christmas
The Parque del Este in eastern Santo Domingo is all lit up with a spectacle of lights and colors, “Vive la Navidad”. Mayor Alfredo Martinez has continued the tradition begun by former National District Mayor Roberto Salcedo. The Parque del Este, where the Panamerican Sports Games were held in 2003, has been lit up. The park is open for visitation from 6pm to midnight.


Frank Ceara and Danny Rivera Christmas concerts
Singers Frank Ceara and Danny Rivera have gotten together for wonderful Christmas spirit-filling concerts at the stage of the Escenario 360 in Galeria 360. Mondays 11 and 18 December, enjoy the “Navidad entre Amigos” shows. Guest artist appearances are promised, including Maridalia Hernandez, Adalgisa Pantaleon, Pavel Nuñez, Manny Cruz, Hector Anibal, among others. 8:30pm. Tickets RD$1,500-RD$3,500 (including snacks and open bar).


Anthony Santos in Lans Bar & Lounge
Bachata singer Anthony Santos will be performing on Friday, 15 December at Lans Bar & Lounge in Eastern Santo Domingo. His Christmas concert is a long awaited tradition for the Av. Venezuela entertainment area. Lans Bar & Lounge is located on Calle Jesús de Galindez 14, almost corner Club Rotario street in Ensanche Ozama, behind the Palacio del Cine of Avenida Venezuela.

Tickets are for sale online at Uepa Tickets and are selling at Jumbo and Super Mercados Nacional.


Alice in Wonderland at the Nuryn Sanlley Amphitheater
Karoline Becker stars as Alice in the Alice in Wonderland presentation at the Nuryn Sanlley Amphitheater of the Parque Iberoamericano. Shows are 16, 23 and 30 December at 6:30pm. Admission is free.


Punta Cana Blue Mall Christmas carols concert
There's a Christmas carol concert by the students of the Punta Cana Academy of Arts and Music bringing the Christmas spirit to shoppers at the Punta Cana Blue Mall on Saturday 16th at 6pm. Admission is free. The Punta Cana Blue Mall is located in the Punta Cana Village, a short distance from the Punta Cana International Airport.