Money talks: DR signs with People’s Republic of China
President Medina speaks on Labor Day
Three million are looking for jobs
Passport Agency rolls out mobile program
Small Business Week set for October 2018
Chamber of Deputies to review controversial open primaries bill
Environment Minister Francisco Domínguez Brito resigns
Illegal foreigners arrested in Santiago
Tunnels and overpasses to close
Infant deaths on the rise
You need identity card number to ship from the US to the DR
Sargassum returns to Dominican shores
Trial date set in case of Emely Peguero
Father of Emely Peguero warns family to leave
Family of murdered farmer threaten retribution
Godspell at Studio Theater-Acropolis
Money talks: DR signs with People’s Republic of China
The Medina administration announced on Monday, 30 April 2018 that the Dominican Republic has ended diplomatic ties with Republic of China-Taiwan to sign on with the People’s Republic of China. This after 69 years of ties with Taiwan.
As part of the agreement, the Dominican government recognizes there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China. Administrative Minister of the Presidency José Ramón Peralta and Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado traveled to Beijing to sign the agreement.
The announcement was made at a press conference by Legal Advisor to the President Flavio Darío Espinal. Questions were not allowed.
“This is a decision taken after an in depth study of our future perspectives,” legal advisor Espinal had tweeted earlier. “China is the second economy in the world, leader in manufacturing and exports at a global level, factors that will generate economic and social benefits for our country.”
China had a commercial representation in the country. Bilateral trade with the People’s Republic of China is at around US$2 billion a year, most imports. At the press conference, Espinal said that even without diplomatic relations bilateral trade has grown every year and today China is the second supplier of Dominican imports. He highlighted that now with full relations, the potential for growth of our commercial ties is immense.
He said the government sees in the large Dominican-Chinese community naturals for strengthening the new relations. He said the government has expectations for expectations for increased Chinese cooperation in finances, agriculture, technology, tourism, education and energy sectors.
Campos de Moya, president of the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic said the move is positive and remarked that the DR could become the bridge for Chinese manufacturing to the Americas, according to a statement published on the Presidency website.
Fernando Capellán of Grupo M, the leading developer of joint Dominican Republic and Haiti free zone ventures, forecast that the fruits of the decision would be seen in the short term. Capellán is also president of the Association for Development of Santiago. "We are aware that at the same speed as China took on the manufacturing of the world from 2000 to 2015, at that same speed that manufacturing has to leave. For obvious reasons, they are consuming a lot and have another type of manufacturing. " He added that, with the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Dominican Republic stands to gain by attracting light manufacturing that is leaving China.
Legal advisor Espinal expressed thanks to Taiwan for the cooperation received over years that has enabled the development of numerous important programs. "We deeply appreciate the cooperation that we have shared over the years and that has allowed the development of numerous programs of great importance for our country. However, history and socioeconomic reality now force us to change course," he said.
The Dominican Republic was the largest economy that still had maintained relations with Taiwan. Taiwan continues to maintain diplomatic ties with Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Paraguay, Haiti, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Taiwan Minister of Foreign Relations Joseph Wu announced the end to all Taiwan cooperation projects in the Dominican Republic. He said the government would close the embassy in the Dominican Republic. He blamed the switch on the more generous financial incentives and promises of investment and aid the Dominican government has received from the People’s Republic of China.
President Medina speaks on Labor Day
In commemoration of the International Labor Day, President Danilo Medina urged the Dominican people to keep working together for the prosperity of the country and for social justice, equality and respect for human dignity. While this labor day was celebrated on Monday, 30 April 2018, it is traditionally celebrated on 1 May.
President Medina sent a brotherly message to all men and women who, thanking them for their work and contributions to the growth of the country.
The President went on to remind the public that when he assumed the presidency in 2012, he set the goal of creating 400,000 formal jobs, equivalent to 100,000 jobs a year as the first step to help to decrease poverty. He said that each year this goal had been surpassed and by December 2017, there had been an average of 120,000 jobs per year created.
http://almomento.net/medina-afirma-que-durante-sus-mandatos-se-han-creado-mas-de-600-000-empleos/
Three million are looking for jobs
Three million people are looking for work in the Dominican Republic, according to Fulgencio Severino, president of the Movimiento Patria para Todos (MPT). He called the productive sectors and the general population to foster a national strategy for job creation and improvement of wages, as reported in Listin Diario on occasion of International Labor Day on 1 May 2018.
42% of the seven million of working age have not found jobs, says Severino. He said the Dominican economic model has collapsed because it is based on tax incentives to large companies, taxation on consumption that increases the prices of basic products, and excessive taxation to small and medium enterprises. He says there is a lack of initiatives for the implementation of new technologies, manufacturing and excessive international borrowing by the government.
He called for new strategies so that university graduates can find dignified jobs. He said the Superintendence of Pensions published in March 2018 that 68% of those who have jobs in the formal sector make less than RD$15,000 a month, this including government employees.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/05/01/512927/tres-millones-no-poseen-empleos
Passport Agency rolls out mobile program
The Passport Agency (DGP) announced a new mobile program for the renewal and issuing of Dominican passports. The service is targeted at residents in provinces where there is no passport agency branch.
The first location is in Loma de Cabrera in Dajabon province, where 128 people were given appointments to renew or obtain passports. The second was in Cotui, Sanchez Ramirez province where 381 new passports were issued, 14 due to loss, 360 for the standard timeframe and 22 VIP. In Samana, 342 passports were issued.
Director General of Passports, Ramón “Monchy” Rodríguez, said the local offices make it easier for people to renew or obtain passports without having to go long distances and it will continue to roll out across different provinces in the country.
http://hoy.com.do/dgp-entrega-851-documentos-de-viaje-durante-operativo/
http://www.pasaportes.gob.do/ws/ind...liza-con-exito-su-tercer-operativo-provincial
Small Business Week set for October 2018
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Small Business (MICM) announces the celebration of the 4th Small Business Week from 17-21 October 2018. The participation of more than 6,000 micro, small and medium sized enterprise directors is expected. The MICM says that there will be seminars and workshops with the participation of local and foreign experts. The theme for the event is “Promoting Innovation for MSMEs and Entrepreneurs”. Deputy Minister for MSMEs, Ignacio Mendez, said innovation is a challenge for MSMEs in such a changing and competitive domestic and international market environment.
As a country "we need to make the best efforts to take advantage of the creativity of Dominicans", emphasized the official when announcing the event to entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs and authorities of the country.
"Let’s be clear, innovation, along with productivity and quality, are the big challenges that MSMEs and entrepreneurs face in order to survive in a market with so many changes," he said.
He said 50 public and private sector institutions are expected to participate in the conference, along with more than 6,000 MSMEs and entrepreneurs. Over 300 participants are expected in the business meetings, while an additional 1,500 people are expected to attend the general sessions of the conference and special topic workshops during the MSMEs Week.
The guest institution of honor at this meeting will be the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Mendez explained the MICM has a strategic alliance with the UNDP to implement the Program for the Strengthening of Innovation Management in Small and Medium Size Enterprises (Innovate).
The program has funding from the Republic of China-Taiwan. With the ending of diplomatic relations with Taiwan, this program is affected. The government of Taiwan has announced the ending to all cooperation programs after the Medina government announced it had signed for diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.
https://micm.gob.do/noticias/micm-e...enos-y-medianos-empresarios-en-semana-mipymes
Chamber of Deputies to review controversial open primaries bill
The Senate submitted to the Chamber of Deputies on Friday, 27 April 2018 the Political Parties Bill. The bill includes the controversial article that would mandate that all political parties celebrate simultaneous and open primaries to choose their presidential candidates for the 2020 general elections.
The Chamber of Deputies has set the session for Thursday, 3 May 2018. The open primaries are backed by President Danilo Medina supporters, and opposed by former President Leonel Fernandez loyalists and opposition party members, including those of the leading opposition party, the PRM.
Luis Abinader, former presidential candidate for the PRM, says that the bill as sent to the Chamber of Deputies from the Senate is evidence of the intent of the government party to manipulate who the candidates of the opposition parties in the 2020 general election will be. Diario Libre reports on Tuesday, 1 May 2018, that the Political Parties Bill that was approved in the Senate removed paragraph II of Art. 42, a clause that would have ensured that one person could only vote in the primary of one political party on the day of the simultaneous open primaries. Abinader says that the paragraph contained the provision that would avoid that one person could vote for candidates of several parties.
The bill that mandates simultaneous open primaries also orders the political parties to fund these from their regular government fund allotments, with deductions made in order to fund the organization by the Central Electoral Board (JCE). The president of the JCE, Julio César Castaños Guzmán, has said that a preliminary estimate of the cost of the simultaneous open primaries is at RD$5.5 billion. In 2018, the political parties will receive RD$1.26 billion.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...ley-de-partidos-sesionara-el-jueves-3-de-mayo
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/04/30/fondos-de-partidos-no-alcanzan-para-las-primarias-abiertas/
https://www.diariolibre.com//noticias/politica/padron-genera-conflicto-en-ley-partidos-CI9758859
Environment Minister Francisco Domínguez Brito resigns
Environment Minister, Francisco Domínguez Brito, has resigned from his post in order to dedicate himself to his campaign as the nominee for president representing the Dominican Liberation Party in the 2020 elections. Reportedly, in a meeting with PLD presidential candidacy aspirants, President Medina requested PLD members in government posts who aspire for the presidency resign prior to beginning their campaigns.
Domínguez Brito said that he had handed in his formal resignations to President Danilo Medina to build a new political project that would allow the Dominican Republic to move forward in a new way. This is the second time that Domínguez Brito has sought the presidential candidacy of the PLD. The first time was in 2012.
Domínguez Brito said he was pleased to have worked with President Medina in what he called the “environmental revolution” being implemented by the government and thanked the President for the confidence he had placed in him and the opportunity to serve the Dominican people.
Tourism Minister, Francisco Javier García, said that his resignation was a loss for the government and took the opportunity to congratulate Domínguez Brito on his work and said he had contributed greatly towards the development of tourism in the country. García in 2012 also aspired to be the PLD presidential candidate. He is also included in the list of aspirants to be the PLD presidential candidate in 2020.
http://eldia.com.do/renuncia-francisco-dominguez-brito-como-ministro-de-medio-ambiente/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-se-pierde-un-gran-ministro-de-medio-ambiente
http://hoy.com.do/dominguez-brito-r...para-buscar-candidatura-presidencial-del-pld/
Illegal foreigners arrested in Santiago
The Migration Agency (DGM) has carried out raids in different parts of Santiago and arrested 630 foreigners of different nationalities who were in the country illegally. The were arrests in following sectors of Santiago: Los Guandules, Cañada del Diablo, Amansa Tigre, Multis de Pekin, Barrio Lindo, La Ceibita, Camboya, Hoya del Caimito, Don Pedro, Licey al Medio, Gurabo, Los Pérez, Tamboril, Cerro Alto, Cruce de Jacagua among others.
Following processing using biometrics and the DGM database, 279 Haitians were deported back to Haiti via Dajabon and Elias Piña, and another three were taken to the Investigation Department of the DGM, together with four Venezuelans.
There have been similar raids in another 22 provinces over the last few months as the DGM continues to look for those in the country illegally.
https://www.facebook.com/DGMRD/
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/migracion-detiene-a-830-extranjeros-en-santiago-FF9744403
Tunnels and overpasses to close
The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) has announced the closure of several tunnels and elevated sections from last Saturday, 28 April 2018, up until Friday 4 May.
On Tuesday 1 May the elevated section of John F. Kennedy with Abraham Lincoln will be closed and on Wednesday 27 February with Privada (Presidente Antonio Guzman Avenue) will be closed.
On Thursday it will be the turn of Gregorio Luperón with 30 de Mayo highway and on Friday the tunnel on Las Americas Avenue.
The closures are due to collection of garbage and cleaning as well as painting and checking the electrical items.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...uneles-y-elevados-por-mantenimiento-AJ9748750
Infant deaths on the rise
So far this year, there have been 917 infant deaths reported at public hospitals, 208 more than over the same period last year, when there were 709. In some provinces the situation is of greater concern. For instance, in Barahona, infant deaths are up 800%. In 2017 there were nine deaths, and so far this year the figure is 38.
According to official records, other provinces with significant increases are La Romana with 500% (from eight over the time period last year to 14 so far this year); La Vega with 150% (from 25 to 41); Santiago with 150% (from 76 to 126); Azua with 100% (from eight to 16) and Elias Piña with 200% going from 11 to 22.
Sánchez Ramírez went from 13 infant deaths year to date last year to 16 this year; Monte Plata from eight to 18; Hato Mayor from three to seven and Santo Domingo from 198 to 295.
However, some provinces have also showed a reduction over the same time period with the National District going from 87 last year to date to 56 this year. In Santo Domingo, at the Nuestra Señora de La Altagracia maternity hospital in there were 139 deaths so far this year and at the San Lorenzo de Los Mina Children’s hospital there were 73 infant deaths. These two combined have an infant mortality rate of 27 per thousand live births, the same rate as last year.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...no-van-208-muertes-infantiles-mas-que-en-2017
You need identity card number to ship from the US to the DR
The Customs Agency (DGA) has announced that from Monday, 1 May 2018 they will require the identity card (cedula) number of those who are receiving packages that should be on the invoice. The shippers will also have to provide a detailed list of what is being shipped. These actions have followed the discovery of US$1,456,570 that was inside a metal tube inside a barrel being sent to the Dominican Republic via Salcedo Cargo Express.
The freight shippers have agreed with the measure, to improve security so that the identification and location of the receivers of goods can be identified.
Secretary General of the Association of Cargo Providers in the Dominican Republic (ACOREDOM) Wilson Perez, has said that everyone from the United States who ships to the Dominican Republic has to provide the cedula number of the recipient in order that there can be more control over shipments. There is no need for an actual copy of the identification card (cedula), just the number and they hope that the number will be correct.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...-a-republica-dominicana-desde-ee-uu-ND9757249
Sargassum returns to Dominican shores
Green micro-algae, known as Sargassum, has returned to Dominican beaches, causing concern among beach hotels. Hotel employees and fisherman have confirmed that over the weekend the seaweed arrived in large quantities in the beaches on the east and south of the country.
In 2015, Sargassum first arrived en masse to the Dominican Republic, Mexico and almost all of the Caribbean countries and then miraculously disappeared in the September, after tropical storm Erika that brought heavy rains across the country.
Other countries in the Caribbean have been suffering from the algae bloom since February this year.
According to the Center for Marine Studies in Galveston, Texas, the reason for the arrival of the seaweed in 2015 was due to a change in the sea currents attributable to climate change.
While the reality is that the Sargassum seaweed a natural part of marine and coastal processes and provides habitat for over 250 animal species, the large amount floating to eastern shores detracts from the customary sandy appearance that tourists come for. Moreso, while the seaweed is biodegradable and harmless, it gives off a strong odor when it begins to decompose. Scientists say the Caribbean had not been affected until 2011, when climate change and shifting ocean currents made blooms of the seaweed more common.
Hotels in the country are concerned as tourists mainly come for the beaches and so they have invested in floating barriers to keep the Sargassum from reaching the beaches.
http://almomento.net/las-algas-vuelven-masivamente-a-playas-de-la-republica-dominicana/
Trial date set in case of Emely Peguero
The beginning of the preliminary trial against Marlon and Marilin Martínez, accused of the murder of pregnant teenager Emely Peguero, has been scheduled for 18 May 2018.The public prosecutors are asking for 30 years in prison for Marlon, who was Emely’s boyfriend and 20 years for his mother Marilin.
The mother and son are the only ones accused of the crime, as the case against Henry Martínez, Marlin’s brother, has been dropped and he will instead be a witness in the case.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...rlin-y-marlon-martinez-por-asesinato-de-emely
Father of Emely Peguero warns family to leave
Genaro Peguero, father of murdered teenage Emely Peguero, has revealed that he received telephone calls offering him RD$20 million not to pursue the case against the supposed murderers, Marilin Martínez and her son Marlon, but he has rejected the offer.
Peguero told Listín Diario that he would never negotiate with the body of his daughter and that no amount of money would compensate the pain his family is suffering following her death.
Peguero said that when people realized what had happened to his daughter, Marilin and Marlon went on the run, leaving two children and Marilin’s partner in her home. He said that more than 500 men armed with knives and other objects wanted to break into Marilin’s home to look for vengeance, by harming her children and partner, but that he and his wife, Adalgisa Claribel Polanco, stopped them saying that those children had nothing to do with the crime.
However, he did recommend that the children and their father should move, as people are still enraged over the murder of Emily and the situation could soon be out of control.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...frecieron-rd-20-mm-para-que-retirara-querella
Family of murdered farmer threaten retribution
The family members of farmer Juan de Dios Castro, who was murdered by Haitians in Azua last week, have warned that if the authorities do not arrest those responsible for the crime they will take justice in their own hands. According to the brothers of the murdered man, Ruddy and Juancito Castro Filpo, if there are no arrests for the crime over the next 24 hours they will take two shotguns and begin to kill Haitians just as Trujillo used to do.
The authorities in Azua said that they are investigating and one person is under arrest but the brothers say the authorities are not doing their job thoroughly.
A month ago, following the murder of a pair of farmers by Haitians in Pedernales, residents in the area gave Haitians an ultimatum to leave the province or face the consequences. Many Haitians left causing a tense atmosphere, which is ongoing, and the suspension of the bi-national market.
The daughter of the murdered farmer in Azua, María Castro Filpo, called on President Danilo Medina to help move the case forward.
Juan de Dios Castro arrived at his farm at 5am on Wednesday 25 April 2018, as he always did to check on his crops. It appears that three men were hiding in the bushes with the intention of stealing his firearm that he always carried.
He was attacked and died of wounds inflicted by machetes and his firearm was stolen. He did injure one of the men who subsequently went to the Taiwan Regional Hospital in Azua for treatment and was identified by the staff as 24-year old Ramsel Sejollr and was handed over to the Police.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...engar-asesinato-perpetrado-por-tres-haitianos
Godspell at Studio Theater-Acropolis
StudioTheater presents “Godspell” (in Spanish) at the Acropolis Center. The Dominican version of the long running Broadway show will be performed at the Acropolis theater starting 4 May 2018. This is a production by José Rafael Reyes and Joyce Roy, starring Javier Grullón. The show is a revival of a first presentation that was made of the show six years ago with much success.
Godspell is a musical, composed by Stephen Schwartz that opened off Broadway in New York City on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since. One of the play’s songs, "Day by Day" reached #13 on the Billboard pop singles chart in the summer of 1972. The musical is based on the Gospel of Matthew with parables interspersed with a variety of modern music set primarily to lyrics from traditional hymns.
In addition to Javier Grullón, who plays the role of Jesus, others are Vladimir Rodríguez, Karla Fatule, Alejandro Espino, Claudia González, Jared Gómez, Laura Guzmán, Carolina Jiménez, Mavel Paulino, Natacha Hernández and Rafael Pepén.
Godspell will be showing on Friday and Saturdays from 8pm and Sundays at 6pm. Tickets are for sale at the Studio Theater box office on the second floor of Acropolis Center, and online at Ticket Express.
Listen to Godspell’s hit song, Day by Day, from the original Broadway cast recording in English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWQEUzOACm4
Listen to other tracks from the original show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISKhtlg9R6I&list=PLBwgHQfohaRymFCGaqhM2l1FFgBSC3qd9
https://acento.com.do/2018/spk-espectaculo/8560256-revival-godspell-llega-studio-theater/
President Medina speaks on Labor Day
Three million are looking for jobs
Passport Agency rolls out mobile program
Small Business Week set for October 2018
Chamber of Deputies to review controversial open primaries bill
Environment Minister Francisco Domínguez Brito resigns
Illegal foreigners arrested in Santiago
Tunnels and overpasses to close
Infant deaths on the rise
You need identity card number to ship from the US to the DR
Sargassum returns to Dominican shores
Trial date set in case of Emely Peguero
Father of Emely Peguero warns family to leave
Family of murdered farmer threaten retribution
Godspell at Studio Theater-Acropolis
Money talks: DR signs with People’s Republic of China
The Medina administration announced on Monday, 30 April 2018 that the Dominican Republic has ended diplomatic ties with Republic of China-Taiwan to sign on with the People’s Republic of China. This after 69 years of ties with Taiwan.
As part of the agreement, the Dominican government recognizes there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China. Administrative Minister of the Presidency José Ramón Peralta and Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado traveled to Beijing to sign the agreement.
The announcement was made at a press conference by Legal Advisor to the President Flavio Darío Espinal. Questions were not allowed.
“This is a decision taken after an in depth study of our future perspectives,” legal advisor Espinal had tweeted earlier. “China is the second economy in the world, leader in manufacturing and exports at a global level, factors that will generate economic and social benefits for our country.”
China had a commercial representation in the country. Bilateral trade with the People’s Republic of China is at around US$2 billion a year, most imports. At the press conference, Espinal said that even without diplomatic relations bilateral trade has grown every year and today China is the second supplier of Dominican imports. He highlighted that now with full relations, the potential for growth of our commercial ties is immense.
He said the government sees in the large Dominican-Chinese community naturals for strengthening the new relations. He said the government has expectations for expectations for increased Chinese cooperation in finances, agriculture, technology, tourism, education and energy sectors.
Campos de Moya, president of the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic said the move is positive and remarked that the DR could become the bridge for Chinese manufacturing to the Americas, according to a statement published on the Presidency website.
Fernando Capellán of Grupo M, the leading developer of joint Dominican Republic and Haiti free zone ventures, forecast that the fruits of the decision would be seen in the short term. Capellán is also president of the Association for Development of Santiago. "We are aware that at the same speed as China took on the manufacturing of the world from 2000 to 2015, at that same speed that manufacturing has to leave. For obvious reasons, they are consuming a lot and have another type of manufacturing. " He added that, with the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Dominican Republic stands to gain by attracting light manufacturing that is leaving China.
Legal advisor Espinal expressed thanks to Taiwan for the cooperation received over years that has enabled the development of numerous important programs. "We deeply appreciate the cooperation that we have shared over the years and that has allowed the development of numerous programs of great importance for our country. However, history and socioeconomic reality now force us to change course," he said.
The Dominican Republic was the largest economy that still had maintained relations with Taiwan. Taiwan continues to maintain diplomatic ties with Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Paraguay, Haiti, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Taiwan Minister of Foreign Relations Joseph Wu announced the end to all Taiwan cooperation projects in the Dominican Republic. He said the government would close the embassy in the Dominican Republic. He blamed the switch on the more generous financial incentives and promises of investment and aid the Dominican government has received from the People’s Republic of China.
President Medina speaks on Labor Day
In commemoration of the International Labor Day, President Danilo Medina urged the Dominican people to keep working together for the prosperity of the country and for social justice, equality and respect for human dignity. While this labor day was celebrated on Monday, 30 April 2018, it is traditionally celebrated on 1 May.
President Medina sent a brotherly message to all men and women who, thanking them for their work and contributions to the growth of the country.
The President went on to remind the public that when he assumed the presidency in 2012, he set the goal of creating 400,000 formal jobs, equivalent to 100,000 jobs a year as the first step to help to decrease poverty. He said that each year this goal had been surpassed and by December 2017, there had been an average of 120,000 jobs per year created.
http://almomento.net/medina-afirma-que-durante-sus-mandatos-se-han-creado-mas-de-600-000-empleos/
Three million are looking for jobs
Three million people are looking for work in the Dominican Republic, according to Fulgencio Severino, president of the Movimiento Patria para Todos (MPT). He called the productive sectors and the general population to foster a national strategy for job creation and improvement of wages, as reported in Listin Diario on occasion of International Labor Day on 1 May 2018.
42% of the seven million of working age have not found jobs, says Severino. He said the Dominican economic model has collapsed because it is based on tax incentives to large companies, taxation on consumption that increases the prices of basic products, and excessive taxation to small and medium enterprises. He says there is a lack of initiatives for the implementation of new technologies, manufacturing and excessive international borrowing by the government.
He called for new strategies so that university graduates can find dignified jobs. He said the Superintendence of Pensions published in March 2018 that 68% of those who have jobs in the formal sector make less than RD$15,000 a month, this including government employees.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/05/01/512927/tres-millones-no-poseen-empleos
Passport Agency rolls out mobile program
The Passport Agency (DGP) announced a new mobile program for the renewal and issuing of Dominican passports. The service is targeted at residents in provinces where there is no passport agency branch.
The first location is in Loma de Cabrera in Dajabon province, where 128 people were given appointments to renew or obtain passports. The second was in Cotui, Sanchez Ramirez province where 381 new passports were issued, 14 due to loss, 360 for the standard timeframe and 22 VIP. In Samana, 342 passports were issued.
Director General of Passports, Ramón “Monchy” Rodríguez, said the local offices make it easier for people to renew or obtain passports without having to go long distances and it will continue to roll out across different provinces in the country.
http://hoy.com.do/dgp-entrega-851-documentos-de-viaje-durante-operativo/
http://www.pasaportes.gob.do/ws/ind...liza-con-exito-su-tercer-operativo-provincial
Small Business Week set for October 2018
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Small Business (MICM) announces the celebration of the 4th Small Business Week from 17-21 October 2018. The participation of more than 6,000 micro, small and medium sized enterprise directors is expected. The MICM says that there will be seminars and workshops with the participation of local and foreign experts. The theme for the event is “Promoting Innovation for MSMEs and Entrepreneurs”. Deputy Minister for MSMEs, Ignacio Mendez, said innovation is a challenge for MSMEs in such a changing and competitive domestic and international market environment.
As a country "we need to make the best efforts to take advantage of the creativity of Dominicans", emphasized the official when announcing the event to entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs and authorities of the country.
"Let’s be clear, innovation, along with productivity and quality, are the big challenges that MSMEs and entrepreneurs face in order to survive in a market with so many changes," he said.
He said 50 public and private sector institutions are expected to participate in the conference, along with more than 6,000 MSMEs and entrepreneurs. Over 300 participants are expected in the business meetings, while an additional 1,500 people are expected to attend the general sessions of the conference and special topic workshops during the MSMEs Week.
The guest institution of honor at this meeting will be the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Mendez explained the MICM has a strategic alliance with the UNDP to implement the Program for the Strengthening of Innovation Management in Small and Medium Size Enterprises (Innovate).
The program has funding from the Republic of China-Taiwan. With the ending of diplomatic relations with Taiwan, this program is affected. The government of Taiwan has announced the ending to all cooperation programs after the Medina government announced it had signed for diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.
https://micm.gob.do/noticias/micm-e...enos-y-medianos-empresarios-en-semana-mipymes
Chamber of Deputies to review controversial open primaries bill
The Senate submitted to the Chamber of Deputies on Friday, 27 April 2018 the Political Parties Bill. The bill includes the controversial article that would mandate that all political parties celebrate simultaneous and open primaries to choose their presidential candidates for the 2020 general elections.
The Chamber of Deputies has set the session for Thursday, 3 May 2018. The open primaries are backed by President Danilo Medina supporters, and opposed by former President Leonel Fernandez loyalists and opposition party members, including those of the leading opposition party, the PRM.
Luis Abinader, former presidential candidate for the PRM, says that the bill as sent to the Chamber of Deputies from the Senate is evidence of the intent of the government party to manipulate who the candidates of the opposition parties in the 2020 general election will be. Diario Libre reports on Tuesday, 1 May 2018, that the Political Parties Bill that was approved in the Senate removed paragraph II of Art. 42, a clause that would have ensured that one person could only vote in the primary of one political party on the day of the simultaneous open primaries. Abinader says that the paragraph contained the provision that would avoid that one person could vote for candidates of several parties.
The bill that mandates simultaneous open primaries also orders the political parties to fund these from their regular government fund allotments, with deductions made in order to fund the organization by the Central Electoral Board (JCE). The president of the JCE, Julio César Castaños Guzmán, has said that a preliminary estimate of the cost of the simultaneous open primaries is at RD$5.5 billion. In 2018, the political parties will receive RD$1.26 billion.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...ley-de-partidos-sesionara-el-jueves-3-de-mayo
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/04/30/fondos-de-partidos-no-alcanzan-para-las-primarias-abiertas/
https://www.diariolibre.com//noticias/politica/padron-genera-conflicto-en-ley-partidos-CI9758859
Environment Minister Francisco Domínguez Brito resigns
Environment Minister, Francisco Domínguez Brito, has resigned from his post in order to dedicate himself to his campaign as the nominee for president representing the Dominican Liberation Party in the 2020 elections. Reportedly, in a meeting with PLD presidential candidacy aspirants, President Medina requested PLD members in government posts who aspire for the presidency resign prior to beginning their campaigns.
Domínguez Brito said that he had handed in his formal resignations to President Danilo Medina to build a new political project that would allow the Dominican Republic to move forward in a new way. This is the second time that Domínguez Brito has sought the presidential candidacy of the PLD. The first time was in 2012.
Domínguez Brito said he was pleased to have worked with President Medina in what he called the “environmental revolution” being implemented by the government and thanked the President for the confidence he had placed in him and the opportunity to serve the Dominican people.
Tourism Minister, Francisco Javier García, said that his resignation was a loss for the government and took the opportunity to congratulate Domínguez Brito on his work and said he had contributed greatly towards the development of tourism in the country. García in 2012 also aspired to be the PLD presidential candidate. He is also included in the list of aspirants to be the PLD presidential candidate in 2020.
http://eldia.com.do/renuncia-francisco-dominguez-brito-como-ministro-de-medio-ambiente/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-se-pierde-un-gran-ministro-de-medio-ambiente
http://hoy.com.do/dominguez-brito-r...para-buscar-candidatura-presidencial-del-pld/
Illegal foreigners arrested in Santiago
The Migration Agency (DGM) has carried out raids in different parts of Santiago and arrested 630 foreigners of different nationalities who were in the country illegally. The were arrests in following sectors of Santiago: Los Guandules, Cañada del Diablo, Amansa Tigre, Multis de Pekin, Barrio Lindo, La Ceibita, Camboya, Hoya del Caimito, Don Pedro, Licey al Medio, Gurabo, Los Pérez, Tamboril, Cerro Alto, Cruce de Jacagua among others.
Following processing using biometrics and the DGM database, 279 Haitians were deported back to Haiti via Dajabon and Elias Piña, and another three were taken to the Investigation Department of the DGM, together with four Venezuelans.
There have been similar raids in another 22 provinces over the last few months as the DGM continues to look for those in the country illegally.
https://www.facebook.com/DGMRD/
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/migracion-detiene-a-830-extranjeros-en-santiago-FF9744403
Tunnels and overpasses to close
The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) has announced the closure of several tunnels and elevated sections from last Saturday, 28 April 2018, up until Friday 4 May.
On Tuesday 1 May the elevated section of John F. Kennedy with Abraham Lincoln will be closed and on Wednesday 27 February with Privada (Presidente Antonio Guzman Avenue) will be closed.
On Thursday it will be the turn of Gregorio Luperón with 30 de Mayo highway and on Friday the tunnel on Las Americas Avenue.
The closures are due to collection of garbage and cleaning as well as painting and checking the electrical items.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...uneles-y-elevados-por-mantenimiento-AJ9748750
Infant deaths on the rise
So far this year, there have been 917 infant deaths reported at public hospitals, 208 more than over the same period last year, when there were 709. In some provinces the situation is of greater concern. For instance, in Barahona, infant deaths are up 800%. In 2017 there were nine deaths, and so far this year the figure is 38.
According to official records, other provinces with significant increases are La Romana with 500% (from eight over the time period last year to 14 so far this year); La Vega with 150% (from 25 to 41); Santiago with 150% (from 76 to 126); Azua with 100% (from eight to 16) and Elias Piña with 200% going from 11 to 22.
Sánchez Ramírez went from 13 infant deaths year to date last year to 16 this year; Monte Plata from eight to 18; Hato Mayor from three to seven and Santo Domingo from 198 to 295.
However, some provinces have also showed a reduction over the same time period with the National District going from 87 last year to date to 56 this year. In Santo Domingo, at the Nuestra Señora de La Altagracia maternity hospital in there were 139 deaths so far this year and at the San Lorenzo de Los Mina Children’s hospital there were 73 infant deaths. These two combined have an infant mortality rate of 27 per thousand live births, the same rate as last year.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...no-van-208-muertes-infantiles-mas-que-en-2017
You need identity card number to ship from the US to the DR
The Customs Agency (DGA) has announced that from Monday, 1 May 2018 they will require the identity card (cedula) number of those who are receiving packages that should be on the invoice. The shippers will also have to provide a detailed list of what is being shipped. These actions have followed the discovery of US$1,456,570 that was inside a metal tube inside a barrel being sent to the Dominican Republic via Salcedo Cargo Express.
The freight shippers have agreed with the measure, to improve security so that the identification and location of the receivers of goods can be identified.
Secretary General of the Association of Cargo Providers in the Dominican Republic (ACOREDOM) Wilson Perez, has said that everyone from the United States who ships to the Dominican Republic has to provide the cedula number of the recipient in order that there can be more control over shipments. There is no need for an actual copy of the identification card (cedula), just the number and they hope that the number will be correct.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...-a-republica-dominicana-desde-ee-uu-ND9757249
Sargassum returns to Dominican shores
Green micro-algae, known as Sargassum, has returned to Dominican beaches, causing concern among beach hotels. Hotel employees and fisherman have confirmed that over the weekend the seaweed arrived in large quantities in the beaches on the east and south of the country.
In 2015, Sargassum first arrived en masse to the Dominican Republic, Mexico and almost all of the Caribbean countries and then miraculously disappeared in the September, after tropical storm Erika that brought heavy rains across the country.
Other countries in the Caribbean have been suffering from the algae bloom since February this year.
According to the Center for Marine Studies in Galveston, Texas, the reason for the arrival of the seaweed in 2015 was due to a change in the sea currents attributable to climate change.
While the reality is that the Sargassum seaweed a natural part of marine and coastal processes and provides habitat for over 250 animal species, the large amount floating to eastern shores detracts from the customary sandy appearance that tourists come for. Moreso, while the seaweed is biodegradable and harmless, it gives off a strong odor when it begins to decompose. Scientists say the Caribbean had not been affected until 2011, when climate change and shifting ocean currents made blooms of the seaweed more common.
Hotels in the country are concerned as tourists mainly come for the beaches and so they have invested in floating barriers to keep the Sargassum from reaching the beaches.
http://almomento.net/las-algas-vuelven-masivamente-a-playas-de-la-republica-dominicana/
Trial date set in case of Emely Peguero
The beginning of the preliminary trial against Marlon and Marilin Martínez, accused of the murder of pregnant teenager Emely Peguero, has been scheduled for 18 May 2018.The public prosecutors are asking for 30 years in prison for Marlon, who was Emely’s boyfriend and 20 years for his mother Marilin.
The mother and son are the only ones accused of the crime, as the case against Henry Martínez, Marlin’s brother, has been dropped and he will instead be a witness in the case.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...rlin-y-marlon-martinez-por-asesinato-de-emely
Father of Emely Peguero warns family to leave
Genaro Peguero, father of murdered teenage Emely Peguero, has revealed that he received telephone calls offering him RD$20 million not to pursue the case against the supposed murderers, Marilin Martínez and her son Marlon, but he has rejected the offer.
Peguero told Listín Diario that he would never negotiate with the body of his daughter and that no amount of money would compensate the pain his family is suffering following her death.
Peguero said that when people realized what had happened to his daughter, Marilin and Marlon went on the run, leaving two children and Marilin’s partner in her home. He said that more than 500 men armed with knives and other objects wanted to break into Marilin’s home to look for vengeance, by harming her children and partner, but that he and his wife, Adalgisa Claribel Polanco, stopped them saying that those children had nothing to do with the crime.
However, he did recommend that the children and their father should move, as people are still enraged over the murder of Emily and the situation could soon be out of control.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...frecieron-rd-20-mm-para-que-retirara-querella
Family of murdered farmer threaten retribution
The family members of farmer Juan de Dios Castro, who was murdered by Haitians in Azua last week, have warned that if the authorities do not arrest those responsible for the crime they will take justice in their own hands. According to the brothers of the murdered man, Ruddy and Juancito Castro Filpo, if there are no arrests for the crime over the next 24 hours they will take two shotguns and begin to kill Haitians just as Trujillo used to do.
The authorities in Azua said that they are investigating and one person is under arrest but the brothers say the authorities are not doing their job thoroughly.
A month ago, following the murder of a pair of farmers by Haitians in Pedernales, residents in the area gave Haitians an ultimatum to leave the province or face the consequences. Many Haitians left causing a tense atmosphere, which is ongoing, and the suspension of the bi-national market.
The daughter of the murdered farmer in Azua, María Castro Filpo, called on President Danilo Medina to help move the case forward.
Juan de Dios Castro arrived at his farm at 5am on Wednesday 25 April 2018, as he always did to check on his crops. It appears that three men were hiding in the bushes with the intention of stealing his firearm that he always carried.
He was attacked and died of wounds inflicted by machetes and his firearm was stolen. He did injure one of the men who subsequently went to the Taiwan Regional Hospital in Azua for treatment and was identified by the staff as 24-year old Ramsel Sejollr and was handed over to the Police.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...engar-asesinato-perpetrado-por-tres-haitianos
Godspell at Studio Theater-Acropolis
StudioTheater presents “Godspell” (in Spanish) at the Acropolis Center. The Dominican version of the long running Broadway show will be performed at the Acropolis theater starting 4 May 2018. This is a production by José Rafael Reyes and Joyce Roy, starring Javier Grullón. The show is a revival of a first presentation that was made of the show six years ago with much success.
Godspell is a musical, composed by Stephen Schwartz that opened off Broadway in New York City on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since. One of the play’s songs, "Day by Day" reached #13 on the Billboard pop singles chart in the summer of 1972. The musical is based on the Gospel of Matthew with parables interspersed with a variety of modern music set primarily to lyrics from traditional hymns.
In addition to Javier Grullón, who plays the role of Jesus, others are Vladimir Rodríguez, Karla Fatule, Alejandro Espino, Claudia González, Jared Gómez, Laura Guzmán, Carolina Jiménez, Mavel Paulino, Natacha Hernández and Rafael Pepén.
Godspell will be showing on Friday and Saturdays from 8pm and Sundays at 6pm. Tickets are for sale at the Studio Theater box office on the second floor of Acropolis Center, and online at Ticket Express.
Listen to Godspell’s hit song, Day by Day, from the original Broadway cast recording in English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWQEUzOACm4
Listen to other tracks from the original show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISKhtlg9R6I&list=PLBwgHQfohaRymFCGaqhM2l1FFgBSC3qd9
https://acento.com.do/2018/spk-espectaculo/8560256-revival-godspell-llega-studio-theater/