President Medina congratulates López Obrador
GDP grows 7.8%, public debt 14%
National District government is proud of achievements
Community Police to be set up
Supreme Court president annoyed in Odebrecht case
Judge Ortega keeps 6 July date for start of Odebrecht trial
Environmentalists warn of backtracking at Valle Nuevo Park
Simón Súarez: Government is violating its own rules
Poll shows close race for 2020 presidency
Gay Pride in Santo Domingo
Security guard accused of being robbery mastermind
Haitian and Dominican police work together to solve Banco Popular robbery
Greedy town government holds up renewable energy project
Movie-maker Fernando Báez dies in traffic accident
Restaurant Week Santo Domingo ongoing this week
Maglio Perez’s Cartagena photo exhibition at Casa de Teatro
Danny Daniel booked for concert
Big Capital, contemporary drama at Sala Ravelo
President Medina congratulates López Obrador
Yesterday, Monday 2 July 2018, President Danilo Medina congratulated Andrés Manuel López Obrador following his election as the President of Mexico and took the opportunity to propose enhanced diplomatic relations between the Dominican Republic and Mexico. He sent a letter to Lopez Obrador expressing his congratulations in the name of the Dominican people. Medina said that he was sure that the relationship between the two countries would prosper and proposed new commercial and cultural exchanges to bring the countries even closer together.
Andrés Manuel López Obrador won the elections last Sunday, 1 July, and will be sworn in as president on 1 December 2018.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...n-fortalecimiento-de-las-relaciones-rd-mexico
GDP grows 7.8%, public debt 14%
Dominican governments over the past 10 years have proudly reported that the economy has grown 3.5% to 7.8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But Diario Libre reported on Monday, 2 July 2018, that this has come at a high and unsustainable cost. The rate of the increase in public debt is twice the rate of growth of the overall GDP over the same period of time.
Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (Intec) economist, Rafael Espinal considers that a balanced growth of both the debt and GDP would have been good. As matters stand, warnings are out that in the medium term the external debt situation is not sustainable because the present fiscal structure of the Dominican Republic cannot resist the debt service increasing year after year.
"This implies that the growth of the debt almost doubles the growth of GDP given the consolidated debt has risen to 50% or more of the GDP," said the professor. In that sense, he said: "And with interest rates in the international market rising, treasury bonds are already at 3%, which implies an upward trend in international interest rates," said the economist, warning that this situation would also have a negative impact on the country.
Espinal says there is no justification to maintain the high levels of debt taken on by the government. He advocates for a more modest growth of GDP and a reduction of the pace of public indebtedness. He said that at present, 20 to 23% of public revenues are needed just to make interest payments on the national debt.
"We continue to take on debt to pay debt. That pace cannot be sustained,” he said. He urged a decrease in the annual debt increase and an agreement on a fiscal pact for greater efficiency in government spending and taxation.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...mo-de-hasta-7-8-deuda-lo-hace-a-14-JG10253569
National District government is proud of achievements
The city government of Mayor David Collado published on 2 July 2018, a paid advertisement highlighting six of his administration’s biggest achievements in the first six months of the year. The highlights include: the construction of the sidewalk outside of Agencia Bella on the Av. John F. Kennedy and along San José Km 7. These works have improved the safety of 10,000 people. In addition, the city government has paved streets and sidewalks and constructed sewers for El Manguito, benefitting 14,000 persons. Collado’s administration has refurbished sidewalks, repaved streets and constructed storm sewers for residents in Km. 9 of Duarte Highway. Also, construction of 11 drainage structures for La Castellana neighborhood, and reconstruction of drainage structures for the 24 de Abril neighborhood. Many of these public works had been pending for upwards of 40 years.
http://adn.gob.do/
Community Police to be set up
The Ministry of Interior and Police will implement a plan to recruit young people from different neighborhoods with the aim of incorporating then into the Community Police division of the National Police to contribute towards citizen safety. According to Inteior & Police Minister, José Ramón Fadul , the project will being today, Tuesday, 3 July 2018 with a pilot plan in Santiago. This first phase will be to recruit 50 young people from the Cienfuegos barrio, between the ages of 12 and 17, who will be trained and equipped to serve as community police.
According to Juston Guzmán, Deputy Minister of Social Management and Citizen Education, the plan will reach 21 neighborhoods in Santiago and other provinces and there will also be workshops and training courses.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...s-barrios-para-policia-comunitaria-DF10262463
Supreme Court president annoyed in Odebrecht case
The president of the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ), Mariano Germán, has warned that he will not accept meddling from anyone within the Judicial Branch, emphasizing that he is the spokesperson for the court.
He called the comments made by Laura Guerrero, Specialized Prosecutor for the Persecution of Administrative Corruption (PEPCA) and Supreme Court judge, Miriam Germán Brito impertinent.
His reaction came following a letter from Germán Brito asking that he comment on the statement made by Guerrero that if he did not leave Judge Francisco Ortega in charge of the Odebrecht trial, there would be no guarantee of justice.
He said that as he is the one who represents the Judicial Branch no others should make impudent comments related to the issue.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...as-declaraciones-de-pelletier-y-mirian-german
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...diza-confrontacion-en-torno-al-caso-odebrecht
http://hoy.com.do/german-brito-pide-presidente-scj-deje-actitud-permisiva/
http://hoy.com.do/finjus-respalda-a-miriam-dice-mariano-tiene-que-defender/
Judge Ortega keeps 6 July date for start of Odebrecht trial
Supreme Court of Justice judge, Francisco Ortega Polanco confirmed the start of the Odebrecht bribes corruption case for Friday, 6 July 2018. There had been doubts whether the judge would be who would hear the case after being objected by trial defendants Andrés Bautista, Conrado Pittaluga and Angel Rondon. The Supreme Court of Justice did not accept the objection and Judge Ortega chose to continue the case.
On 7 June 2018, Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez formally accused Bautista, Pittaluga and Rondón in addition to Víctor Díaz Rúa, Tommy Galán, Roberto Rodríguez and Jesús Vásquez. These need to answer to accusations of bribery, prevarication, illicit enrichment, forgery and asset laundering.
The investigations began after in December 2017 a New York City court said that Odebrecht admitted to paying US$788 million in bribes in 12 countries in Latin America and Africa. This included US$92 million paid for the company to secure contract work from the Dominican government from 2001 to 2014.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ncia-preliminar-del-caso-odebrecht-HF10267819
Environmentalists warn of backtracking at Valle Nuevo Park
One of the recognized achievements of past Environment Minister Francisco Domínguez Brito was the order to end farming activities in the Valle Nuevo National Park near the mountain town of Constanza. The reason given by Domínguez Brito to prohibit farming at the time was that the mountain area is an essential source for river waters. The order for compliance was in process of being executed. But now that former Agriculture Minister Angel Estévez has been appointed Minister of the Environment, environmentalists say he is giving green light to allow farming in the protected area.
Environmentalists point to a recent meeting of Estevez with San José de Ocoa producers, members of Asoprohorma (Asociacion de Productores Horticolas de La Horma), many of whom continue to farm in Parque Nacional Valle Nuevo area, despite the order to desist. San Jose de Ocoa is adjacent to Constanza, where the eviction efforts primarily took place.
As reported, the minister told the farmers he would assist them in making the transition from farming short cycle crops to avocado farming. “It is evident the new minister is unaware that it is illegal to farm in a National Park, but we cannot help but be surprised that he ignores and intentionally abandons the recent plan to rescue Valle Nuevo underway by the Ministry and that was implemented on the side of Constanza,” reports SOS Ambiente RD environmental group online.
The environmentalist group reminded the minister that Valle Nuevo is the source of water for seven of every 10 Dominicans and it is his constitutional mandate to protect the area.
Environmentalists say that avocado trees do not contribute to water sources and on the contrary are detrimental to the production of water.
See: #sosvallenuevo, @sosambienterd
https://www.diariolibre.com/medioam...a-a-ambientalistas-por-valle-nuevo-PG10258676
https://www.facebook.com/sosambienterd/
http://www.accionverde.com/en-valle-nuevo-no-hay-vuelta-atras/
Simón Súarez: Government is violating its own rules
Simon Súarez, former president of the National Hotel & Tourism Association (Asonahores), criticized the present lack of respect to the zoning laws in the Bávaro-Punta Cana-Macao tourist area. He said that there is complicity by the authorities to allow the illegal commercial use of space less than 60 meters from high tide on the area’s beaches, the removal of dunes and extraction of sand, damage to coastal mangroves, damage to coral reefs, elimination of wetlands and lagoons and the extraction of construction materials from local rivers. Suarez is especially critical of an unexpected resolution issued by the Ministry of Tourism that has allowed the construction of buildings of up to 22 stories in the Punta Cana area.
He warned construction of 22 story buildings in the eastern beach area threatens the sustainability of tourism. Suarez noted that the resolution is not supported by scientific studies that can justify the change and without taking into account the arguments of those who oppose the recent decision.
Súarez spoke during the First International Coastal and Tourism Biodiversity Symposium.” He is vice president for institutional relations of the Punta Cana Group.
In addition to damage to tourism in Punta Cana, he mentioned a recent approval of tax incentives in Juan Dolio beach area for a 121 apartments just 30 meters from high tide. He said this is in disregard with resolutions that have been issued by both the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Environment.
"Shortcuts are being taken and due process is not fulfilled, such as the obligation to listen to the communities and other stakeholders involved who are affected by the decisions of the authorities, whose regulatory power does not supersede the collective voice of the community," he said.
https://acento.com.do/2018/economia...orial-en-el-polo-turistico-bavaro-punta-cana/
Poll shows close race for 2020 presidency
According to a poll carried out by CID Gallup Latin America, former President Leonel Fernández would have one percentage point lead over the presidential candidate for the Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM), former presidential candidate Luis Abinader, if they were to compete for the presidency in the 2020 general election. Fernández is the leading pre-candidate for the ruling PLD party.
Fernández, a member of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), would obtain 34% of the vote versus Abinader, with 33% of the vote.
The poll showed that Ramfis Trujillo, who proposes to run for the Institutional Democratic Party (PDI); Guillermo Moreno, of Alianza Pais and Ito Bisonó, for the Social Christian Reform Party (PRSC), would not receive sufficient votes to gain the presidency.
CID Gallup Latinoamérica (Gallup Latinoamérica) polling company says that the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) is the political party with the largest number of followers in the Dominican Republic. 53% of those polled said they are partisans of the ruling party. Next in order of followers is the PRM with 22% and the PRD with 7%. 15% says they are not followers of any political party.
The CID Gallup Latinoamerica poll shows growing support to pre-candidates Francisco Domínguez Brito and Andres Navarro. Navarro has yet to formally announced his aspirations.
Leonel Fernández is the leading pre-candidate for the PLD with 37% to 35% of Francisco Domínguez Brito. When compared to Fernández, Fernández received 40% to 30% for Navarro.
The poll was carried out nationwide from 9 to 12 June among 1,225 people aged over 18 and eligible to vote.
According to the 1 July bulletin by CID Latinoamérica, three of every 10 persons are undecided as to which pre-candidate they would favor.
http://almomento.net/leonel-34-luis-abinader-33-segun-encuesta-realizada-por-la-cid/
Gay Pride in Santo Domingo
On Sunday, 1 July 2018, the community of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals, transgender, intersexual and queer (GLBTIQ) held their eleventh Gay Pride march in Santo Domingo, through much of Greater Santo Domingo and demanding more guarantees of their fundamental rights. The march began at around 3pm in Francisco Alberto Caamaño Deñó Avenue and continued along George Washington Avenue (the Malecon), then Máximo Gómez, Tunti Cáceres, 27 de Febrero, París, up to José Martí and then went along Duarte up to el Puerto Avenue ending in the Eugenio María de Hostos Park with a concert.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/celebraron-caravana-del-orgullo-glbt-HF10261240
Security guard accused of being robbery mastermind
According to General José Acosta Castellanos, regional director of the Cibao-Central of the Police, the security guard who was found dead in the back of a police truck as a result of a shot to the head is considered the architect of the robbery of Banco Vimenca.
Acosta Castellanos confirmed that the death of the security guard was a suicide, and that the officers who carried out the arrest are being investigated by the Public Prosecution Service, as they did not apply the correct protocol, handcuffing him with his hands in front rather than behind. This supposedly allowed the security guard to use a gun to shoot himself.
He said that according to preliminary information, security guard Antonio Polonia Bueno was in constant communication with the criminals who carried out the robbery and giving the assailants instructions on how and when to carry out the crime.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...nte-fue-el-artifice-del-robo-al-banco-vimenca
Haitian and Dominican police work together to solve Banco Popular robbery
Following information that the rifle used in the attack on a Banco Popular bank branch in La Isabelita belonged to the Haitian Police, the National Police spokesman said that the authorities from the Dominican Republic and Haiti are working together to work out how the high caliber weapon entered the country.
Meanwhile, the police are continuing to search for the remaining three people implicated in the assault, together with two Haitian men linked to the crime.
Colonel Frank Duran said that the Galil rifle belonged to the Haitian police and they are currently trying to identify where it came from and who may have been involved in the crime.
The robbery was carried out by five heavily armed men in police uniforms with military equipment on two high cylinder motorcycles like those used by the Dominican police.
During the robbery RD$5.2 million was stolen but to date only one member of the gang has been found and he was killed during a raid and shoot out on Saturday 30 June that also led to the injury of several police officers, one of whom died the following morning.
It is now known that the police were not accompanied by a prosecutor when participating in the search after the suspects were located, in violation of police protocols.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...entro-al-pais-el-fusil-usado-en-robo-bancario
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...-mas-implicados-asalto-sucursal-banco-popular
Greedy town government holds up renewable energy project
Emerald Solar Energy SRL had begun the installation of a US$40 million solar energy park in Barahona, but they are now stalled after refusing to comply with demands to pay RD$33 million in alleged taxes. The case is in court, and is being heard by Judge Sofia Bruno of the Civil, Commercial and Labor Court of First Instance in Barahona city. The judge has scheduled arguments to be heard by both parties this week.
The city government of Vicente Noble is demanding the taxes for the construction of the Parque Solar Canoa. The project would generate MWh a year once both phases are completed. President Danilo Medina attended the ground-breaking ceremony for the project. The city government says the taxes are “negotiable.” The company says the charge should be just US$30,000 or RD$1.5 million.
https://www.diariolibre.com/medioam...eclipsa-el-proyecto-solar-en-canoa-CF10262365
Movie-maker Fernando Báez dies in traffic accident
Movie producer 61-year old Fernando Báez died on Monday, 2 July 2018 in the evening in a traffic accident at Km. 85 of the Duarte Highway when he was on the way to his vacation home in the mountain town of Jarabacoa. His driver survived the accident.
Báez was president of Unicornio Films, a leading film and commercials producer. He was responsible for the long-running tourism promotional and many environmental awareness videos and documentaries.
During his career he carried out more than 300 movies, short films, documentaries. Among his films are: “Imágenes para un testimonio, República Dominicana (1990), “Canto a la luz, República Dominicana” (1993), “El color de la esperanza, República Dominicana” (1994); “Una imagen para un nuevo siglo, República Dominicana” (1999), “Un pueblo con alma de carnaval” (2005), “Tiempo para cosechar” (2009), “Rey de Najayo” (2012); República Dominicana: La Bella” (2013), “Lago Enriquillo: Preludio del Cambio Climático” (2014). “Flor de Azúcar” (2016) y “Misión Estrella” (2017).
His wake is at Funeraria Blandino in Santo Domingo on 3 July as of 11am. He is survived by his widow, Maria Cordero and six children.
http://cinemadominicano.com/biografia-de-la-semana-fernando-baez-mella
http://hoy.com.do/fernando-baezel-privilegio-de-ser-padre/
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ando-baez-en-accidente-de-transito-IF10269634
Motor vehicle accident leaves four dead
Four people died and another four were injured in an accident that occurred on Sunday afternoon, 1 July 2018, on the road between Nagua and San Franciscio in the community of El Bombillo, Villa Riva municipality.
According to witnesses, the accident happened when the driver of the vehicle lost control, flipped and collided with an abandoned house, leaving the victims trapped inside the vehicle.
Two of the victims were identified as Francisco Alberto Núñez Liriano, age 33 and Anselmo Tiburcio Abreu, age 55. A minor also died and a 23 year old female who has not yet been identified. The injured were taken to the municipal hospital Alicia de Legendre and then to the regional hospital San Vicente de Paúl in San Francisco de Macorís. Apparently they were returning from a beach in Nagua.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/accide...tro-heridos-en-carretera-nagua-san-francisco/
Restaurant Week Santo Domingo ongoing this week
This is your chance to taste some of the best fare in Santo Domingo. A selection of city restaurants in Santo Domingo is celebrating the SDQ Gastronómico Restaurant Week 2018 and offering three course lunches and dinners for bargain prices of RD$1,275 including taxes and legal gratuity per person from Monday, 2 July to Sunday, 8 July. There is a passport that costs RD$200 and includes deals sponsored by American Express and El Catador wine and spirits distributor.
Participating this year are: Asian Market, Barloa, Bistro KC, Bottega Fratelli, Buche Perico, Café SBG, Gloria Bendita by Casa Mencía, Carne & Co, Chilli’s, Cantin, Ciro Cucina e Bar, Dos Mundos by Hodelpa Nicolas de Ovando, Francesco Trattoria, Fridays, Hotel Billini, Hotel Courtyard, Luna at Renaissance Jaragua Hotel, Hotel JW Marriott, Aromas at Hotel Holiday Inn, Hotel Radisson, Factory at Hotel Intercontinental Real, Jalao, Juicy Life Foods, Julieta Brasserie, La Cassina, La Dolcerie, La Forchetta, Limao, Meson Iberia, Mijas, Mitre, Nipau, O.livia, Outback Steakhouse, Pat’e Palo, PF Changs, Qero Gastro Bar, Samurai, Santoña, Sonoma, Shibuya, Takumi at Weston.
The event is a benefit for the chefs’ foundation under two Michelin stars Dominican chef Maria Marte.
https://www.sdqgastronomico.com/
Maglio Perez’s Cartagena photo exhibition at Casa de Teatro
Chilean photographer Maglio Perez is exhibiting his photographs at Casa de Teatro on occasion of the celebration of the 44 years of the cultural center. The photographs are of Cartagena in Colombia, a colonial city with many similarities to the Colonial City of Santo Domingo. The exhibition opens on Wednesday, 4 July 2018, at 7pm.
Maglio Perez lived in Santo Domingo starting 2000, when he served as editor and photographer for Revista Rumbo, later as photography editor at El Caribe newspaper and then in 2003 he held the same position at Diario Libre.
Danny Daniel booked for concert
Acclaimed Spanish singer Danny Daniel returns to the Dominican Republic for a concert on Saturday, 28 July 2018, at the Santo Domingo Barceló (former Hotel Lina). Daniel is one of the most prolific Spanish bolero singers of all times. Some of his best known ballads are: “El vals de las mariposas,” “Por el amor de una mujer”, “Viento de otoño” among others. His Dominican counterpart will be young Dominican singer Yohanna Almanzar. Tickets are for sale online at Tickets Express.
Big Capital, contemporary drama at Sala Ravelo
Germana Quintana brings to the stage of the Sala Ravelo at the National Theater the comedy-drama “Big Capital.” Starring Gianni Paulino and Giamilka Román, the play will be shown Thursday, 16 August through Sunday, 19 August 2018 at 8:30pm and 6:30pm on Sunday. The play is by Dominican Ivan Alcantara and it presents the ambivalence facing Dominican women today, when dealing with a multitasking life, being a CEO, clients, husbands and technology. Tickets for sale at the National Theater box office.
GDP grows 7.8%, public debt 14%
National District government is proud of achievements
Community Police to be set up
Supreme Court president annoyed in Odebrecht case
Judge Ortega keeps 6 July date for start of Odebrecht trial
Environmentalists warn of backtracking at Valle Nuevo Park
Simón Súarez: Government is violating its own rules
Poll shows close race for 2020 presidency
Gay Pride in Santo Domingo
Security guard accused of being robbery mastermind
Haitian and Dominican police work together to solve Banco Popular robbery
Greedy town government holds up renewable energy project
Movie-maker Fernando Báez dies in traffic accident
Restaurant Week Santo Domingo ongoing this week
Maglio Perez’s Cartagena photo exhibition at Casa de Teatro
Danny Daniel booked for concert
Big Capital, contemporary drama at Sala Ravelo
President Medina congratulates López Obrador
Yesterday, Monday 2 July 2018, President Danilo Medina congratulated Andrés Manuel López Obrador following his election as the President of Mexico and took the opportunity to propose enhanced diplomatic relations between the Dominican Republic and Mexico. He sent a letter to Lopez Obrador expressing his congratulations in the name of the Dominican people. Medina said that he was sure that the relationship between the two countries would prosper and proposed new commercial and cultural exchanges to bring the countries even closer together.
Andrés Manuel López Obrador won the elections last Sunday, 1 July, and will be sworn in as president on 1 December 2018.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...n-fortalecimiento-de-las-relaciones-rd-mexico
GDP grows 7.8%, public debt 14%
Dominican governments over the past 10 years have proudly reported that the economy has grown 3.5% to 7.8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But Diario Libre reported on Monday, 2 July 2018, that this has come at a high and unsustainable cost. The rate of the increase in public debt is twice the rate of growth of the overall GDP over the same period of time.
Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (Intec) economist, Rafael Espinal considers that a balanced growth of both the debt and GDP would have been good. As matters stand, warnings are out that in the medium term the external debt situation is not sustainable because the present fiscal structure of the Dominican Republic cannot resist the debt service increasing year after year.
"This implies that the growth of the debt almost doubles the growth of GDP given the consolidated debt has risen to 50% or more of the GDP," said the professor. In that sense, he said: "And with interest rates in the international market rising, treasury bonds are already at 3%, which implies an upward trend in international interest rates," said the economist, warning that this situation would also have a negative impact on the country.
Espinal says there is no justification to maintain the high levels of debt taken on by the government. He advocates for a more modest growth of GDP and a reduction of the pace of public indebtedness. He said that at present, 20 to 23% of public revenues are needed just to make interest payments on the national debt.
"We continue to take on debt to pay debt. That pace cannot be sustained,” he said. He urged a decrease in the annual debt increase and an agreement on a fiscal pact for greater efficiency in government spending and taxation.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...mo-de-hasta-7-8-deuda-lo-hace-a-14-JG10253569
National District government is proud of achievements
The city government of Mayor David Collado published on 2 July 2018, a paid advertisement highlighting six of his administration’s biggest achievements in the first six months of the year. The highlights include: the construction of the sidewalk outside of Agencia Bella on the Av. John F. Kennedy and along San José Km 7. These works have improved the safety of 10,000 people. In addition, the city government has paved streets and sidewalks and constructed sewers for El Manguito, benefitting 14,000 persons. Collado’s administration has refurbished sidewalks, repaved streets and constructed storm sewers for residents in Km. 9 of Duarte Highway. Also, construction of 11 drainage structures for La Castellana neighborhood, and reconstruction of drainage structures for the 24 de Abril neighborhood. Many of these public works had been pending for upwards of 40 years.
http://adn.gob.do/
Community Police to be set up
The Ministry of Interior and Police will implement a plan to recruit young people from different neighborhoods with the aim of incorporating then into the Community Police division of the National Police to contribute towards citizen safety. According to Inteior & Police Minister, José Ramón Fadul , the project will being today, Tuesday, 3 July 2018 with a pilot plan in Santiago. This first phase will be to recruit 50 young people from the Cienfuegos barrio, between the ages of 12 and 17, who will be trained and equipped to serve as community police.
According to Juston Guzmán, Deputy Minister of Social Management and Citizen Education, the plan will reach 21 neighborhoods in Santiago and other provinces and there will also be workshops and training courses.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...s-barrios-para-policia-comunitaria-DF10262463
Supreme Court president annoyed in Odebrecht case
The president of the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ), Mariano Germán, has warned that he will not accept meddling from anyone within the Judicial Branch, emphasizing that he is the spokesperson for the court.
He called the comments made by Laura Guerrero, Specialized Prosecutor for the Persecution of Administrative Corruption (PEPCA) and Supreme Court judge, Miriam Germán Brito impertinent.
His reaction came following a letter from Germán Brito asking that he comment on the statement made by Guerrero that if he did not leave Judge Francisco Ortega in charge of the Odebrecht trial, there would be no guarantee of justice.
He said that as he is the one who represents the Judicial Branch no others should make impudent comments related to the issue.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...as-declaraciones-de-pelletier-y-mirian-german
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...diza-confrontacion-en-torno-al-caso-odebrecht
http://hoy.com.do/german-brito-pide-presidente-scj-deje-actitud-permisiva/
http://hoy.com.do/finjus-respalda-a-miriam-dice-mariano-tiene-que-defender/
Judge Ortega keeps 6 July date for start of Odebrecht trial
Supreme Court of Justice judge, Francisco Ortega Polanco confirmed the start of the Odebrecht bribes corruption case for Friday, 6 July 2018. There had been doubts whether the judge would be who would hear the case after being objected by trial defendants Andrés Bautista, Conrado Pittaluga and Angel Rondon. The Supreme Court of Justice did not accept the objection and Judge Ortega chose to continue the case.
On 7 June 2018, Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez formally accused Bautista, Pittaluga and Rondón in addition to Víctor Díaz Rúa, Tommy Galán, Roberto Rodríguez and Jesús Vásquez. These need to answer to accusations of bribery, prevarication, illicit enrichment, forgery and asset laundering.
The investigations began after in December 2017 a New York City court said that Odebrecht admitted to paying US$788 million in bribes in 12 countries in Latin America and Africa. This included US$92 million paid for the company to secure contract work from the Dominican government from 2001 to 2014.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ncia-preliminar-del-caso-odebrecht-HF10267819
Environmentalists warn of backtracking at Valle Nuevo Park
One of the recognized achievements of past Environment Minister Francisco Domínguez Brito was the order to end farming activities in the Valle Nuevo National Park near the mountain town of Constanza. The reason given by Domínguez Brito to prohibit farming at the time was that the mountain area is an essential source for river waters. The order for compliance was in process of being executed. But now that former Agriculture Minister Angel Estévez has been appointed Minister of the Environment, environmentalists say he is giving green light to allow farming in the protected area.
Environmentalists point to a recent meeting of Estevez with San José de Ocoa producers, members of Asoprohorma (Asociacion de Productores Horticolas de La Horma), many of whom continue to farm in Parque Nacional Valle Nuevo area, despite the order to desist. San Jose de Ocoa is adjacent to Constanza, where the eviction efforts primarily took place.
As reported, the minister told the farmers he would assist them in making the transition from farming short cycle crops to avocado farming. “It is evident the new minister is unaware that it is illegal to farm in a National Park, but we cannot help but be surprised that he ignores and intentionally abandons the recent plan to rescue Valle Nuevo underway by the Ministry and that was implemented on the side of Constanza,” reports SOS Ambiente RD environmental group online.
The environmentalist group reminded the minister that Valle Nuevo is the source of water for seven of every 10 Dominicans and it is his constitutional mandate to protect the area.
Environmentalists say that avocado trees do not contribute to water sources and on the contrary are detrimental to the production of water.
See: #sosvallenuevo, @sosambienterd
https://www.diariolibre.com/medioam...a-a-ambientalistas-por-valle-nuevo-PG10258676
https://www.facebook.com/sosambienterd/
http://www.accionverde.com/en-valle-nuevo-no-hay-vuelta-atras/
Simón Súarez: Government is violating its own rules
Simon Súarez, former president of the National Hotel & Tourism Association (Asonahores), criticized the present lack of respect to the zoning laws in the Bávaro-Punta Cana-Macao tourist area. He said that there is complicity by the authorities to allow the illegal commercial use of space less than 60 meters from high tide on the area’s beaches, the removal of dunes and extraction of sand, damage to coastal mangroves, damage to coral reefs, elimination of wetlands and lagoons and the extraction of construction materials from local rivers. Suarez is especially critical of an unexpected resolution issued by the Ministry of Tourism that has allowed the construction of buildings of up to 22 stories in the Punta Cana area.
He warned construction of 22 story buildings in the eastern beach area threatens the sustainability of tourism. Suarez noted that the resolution is not supported by scientific studies that can justify the change and without taking into account the arguments of those who oppose the recent decision.
Súarez spoke during the First International Coastal and Tourism Biodiversity Symposium.” He is vice president for institutional relations of the Punta Cana Group.
In addition to damage to tourism in Punta Cana, he mentioned a recent approval of tax incentives in Juan Dolio beach area for a 121 apartments just 30 meters from high tide. He said this is in disregard with resolutions that have been issued by both the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Environment.
"Shortcuts are being taken and due process is not fulfilled, such as the obligation to listen to the communities and other stakeholders involved who are affected by the decisions of the authorities, whose regulatory power does not supersede the collective voice of the community," he said.
https://acento.com.do/2018/economia...orial-en-el-polo-turistico-bavaro-punta-cana/
Poll shows close race for 2020 presidency
According to a poll carried out by CID Gallup Latin America, former President Leonel Fernández would have one percentage point lead over the presidential candidate for the Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM), former presidential candidate Luis Abinader, if they were to compete for the presidency in the 2020 general election. Fernández is the leading pre-candidate for the ruling PLD party.
Fernández, a member of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), would obtain 34% of the vote versus Abinader, with 33% of the vote.
The poll showed that Ramfis Trujillo, who proposes to run for the Institutional Democratic Party (PDI); Guillermo Moreno, of Alianza Pais and Ito Bisonó, for the Social Christian Reform Party (PRSC), would not receive sufficient votes to gain the presidency.
CID Gallup Latinoamérica (Gallup Latinoamérica) polling company says that the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) is the political party with the largest number of followers in the Dominican Republic. 53% of those polled said they are partisans of the ruling party. Next in order of followers is the PRM with 22% and the PRD with 7%. 15% says they are not followers of any political party.
The CID Gallup Latinoamerica poll shows growing support to pre-candidates Francisco Domínguez Brito and Andres Navarro. Navarro has yet to formally announced his aspirations.
Leonel Fernández is the leading pre-candidate for the PLD with 37% to 35% of Francisco Domínguez Brito. When compared to Fernández, Fernández received 40% to 30% for Navarro.
The poll was carried out nationwide from 9 to 12 June among 1,225 people aged over 18 and eligible to vote.
According to the 1 July bulletin by CID Latinoamérica, three of every 10 persons are undecided as to which pre-candidate they would favor.
http://almomento.net/leonel-34-luis-abinader-33-segun-encuesta-realizada-por-la-cid/
Gay Pride in Santo Domingo
On Sunday, 1 July 2018, the community of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals, transgender, intersexual and queer (GLBTIQ) held their eleventh Gay Pride march in Santo Domingo, through much of Greater Santo Domingo and demanding more guarantees of their fundamental rights. The march began at around 3pm in Francisco Alberto Caamaño Deñó Avenue and continued along George Washington Avenue (the Malecon), then Máximo Gómez, Tunti Cáceres, 27 de Febrero, París, up to José Martí and then went along Duarte up to el Puerto Avenue ending in the Eugenio María de Hostos Park with a concert.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/celebraron-caravana-del-orgullo-glbt-HF10261240
Security guard accused of being robbery mastermind
According to General José Acosta Castellanos, regional director of the Cibao-Central of the Police, the security guard who was found dead in the back of a police truck as a result of a shot to the head is considered the architect of the robbery of Banco Vimenca.
Acosta Castellanos confirmed that the death of the security guard was a suicide, and that the officers who carried out the arrest are being investigated by the Public Prosecution Service, as they did not apply the correct protocol, handcuffing him with his hands in front rather than behind. This supposedly allowed the security guard to use a gun to shoot himself.
He said that according to preliminary information, security guard Antonio Polonia Bueno was in constant communication with the criminals who carried out the robbery and giving the assailants instructions on how and when to carry out the crime.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...nte-fue-el-artifice-del-robo-al-banco-vimenca
Haitian and Dominican police work together to solve Banco Popular robbery
Following information that the rifle used in the attack on a Banco Popular bank branch in La Isabelita belonged to the Haitian Police, the National Police spokesman said that the authorities from the Dominican Republic and Haiti are working together to work out how the high caliber weapon entered the country.
Meanwhile, the police are continuing to search for the remaining three people implicated in the assault, together with two Haitian men linked to the crime.
Colonel Frank Duran said that the Galil rifle belonged to the Haitian police and they are currently trying to identify where it came from and who may have been involved in the crime.
The robbery was carried out by five heavily armed men in police uniforms with military equipment on two high cylinder motorcycles like those used by the Dominican police.
During the robbery RD$5.2 million was stolen but to date only one member of the gang has been found and he was killed during a raid and shoot out on Saturday 30 June that also led to the injury of several police officers, one of whom died the following morning.
It is now known that the police were not accompanied by a prosecutor when participating in the search after the suspects were located, in violation of police protocols.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...entro-al-pais-el-fusil-usado-en-robo-bancario
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...-mas-implicados-asalto-sucursal-banco-popular
Greedy town government holds up renewable energy project
Emerald Solar Energy SRL had begun the installation of a US$40 million solar energy park in Barahona, but they are now stalled after refusing to comply with demands to pay RD$33 million in alleged taxes. The case is in court, and is being heard by Judge Sofia Bruno of the Civil, Commercial and Labor Court of First Instance in Barahona city. The judge has scheduled arguments to be heard by both parties this week.
The city government of Vicente Noble is demanding the taxes for the construction of the Parque Solar Canoa. The project would generate MWh a year once both phases are completed. President Danilo Medina attended the ground-breaking ceremony for the project. The city government says the taxes are “negotiable.” The company says the charge should be just US$30,000 or RD$1.5 million.
https://www.diariolibre.com/medioam...eclipsa-el-proyecto-solar-en-canoa-CF10262365
Movie-maker Fernando Báez dies in traffic accident
Movie producer 61-year old Fernando Báez died on Monday, 2 July 2018 in the evening in a traffic accident at Km. 85 of the Duarte Highway when he was on the way to his vacation home in the mountain town of Jarabacoa. His driver survived the accident.
Báez was president of Unicornio Films, a leading film and commercials producer. He was responsible for the long-running tourism promotional and many environmental awareness videos and documentaries.
During his career he carried out more than 300 movies, short films, documentaries. Among his films are: “Imágenes para un testimonio, República Dominicana (1990), “Canto a la luz, República Dominicana” (1993), “El color de la esperanza, República Dominicana” (1994); “Una imagen para un nuevo siglo, República Dominicana” (1999), “Un pueblo con alma de carnaval” (2005), “Tiempo para cosechar” (2009), “Rey de Najayo” (2012); República Dominicana: La Bella” (2013), “Lago Enriquillo: Preludio del Cambio Climático” (2014). “Flor de Azúcar” (2016) y “Misión Estrella” (2017).
His wake is at Funeraria Blandino in Santo Domingo on 3 July as of 11am. He is survived by his widow, Maria Cordero and six children.
http://cinemadominicano.com/biografia-de-la-semana-fernando-baez-mella
http://hoy.com.do/fernando-baezel-privilegio-de-ser-padre/
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ando-baez-en-accidente-de-transito-IF10269634
Motor vehicle accident leaves four dead
Four people died and another four were injured in an accident that occurred on Sunday afternoon, 1 July 2018, on the road between Nagua and San Franciscio in the community of El Bombillo, Villa Riva municipality.
According to witnesses, the accident happened when the driver of the vehicle lost control, flipped and collided with an abandoned house, leaving the victims trapped inside the vehicle.
Two of the victims were identified as Francisco Alberto Núñez Liriano, age 33 and Anselmo Tiburcio Abreu, age 55. A minor also died and a 23 year old female who has not yet been identified. The injured were taken to the municipal hospital Alicia de Legendre and then to the regional hospital San Vicente de Paúl in San Francisco de Macorís. Apparently they were returning from a beach in Nagua.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/accide...tro-heridos-en-carretera-nagua-san-francisco/
Restaurant Week Santo Domingo ongoing this week
This is your chance to taste some of the best fare in Santo Domingo. A selection of city restaurants in Santo Domingo is celebrating the SDQ Gastronómico Restaurant Week 2018 and offering three course lunches and dinners for bargain prices of RD$1,275 including taxes and legal gratuity per person from Monday, 2 July to Sunday, 8 July. There is a passport that costs RD$200 and includes deals sponsored by American Express and El Catador wine and spirits distributor.
Participating this year are: Asian Market, Barloa, Bistro KC, Bottega Fratelli, Buche Perico, Café SBG, Gloria Bendita by Casa Mencía, Carne & Co, Chilli’s, Cantin, Ciro Cucina e Bar, Dos Mundos by Hodelpa Nicolas de Ovando, Francesco Trattoria, Fridays, Hotel Billini, Hotel Courtyard, Luna at Renaissance Jaragua Hotel, Hotel JW Marriott, Aromas at Hotel Holiday Inn, Hotel Radisson, Factory at Hotel Intercontinental Real, Jalao, Juicy Life Foods, Julieta Brasserie, La Cassina, La Dolcerie, La Forchetta, Limao, Meson Iberia, Mijas, Mitre, Nipau, O.livia, Outback Steakhouse, Pat’e Palo, PF Changs, Qero Gastro Bar, Samurai, Santoña, Sonoma, Shibuya, Takumi at Weston.
The event is a benefit for the chefs’ foundation under two Michelin stars Dominican chef Maria Marte.
https://www.sdqgastronomico.com/
Maglio Perez’s Cartagena photo exhibition at Casa de Teatro
Chilean photographer Maglio Perez is exhibiting his photographs at Casa de Teatro on occasion of the celebration of the 44 years of the cultural center. The photographs are of Cartagena in Colombia, a colonial city with many similarities to the Colonial City of Santo Domingo. The exhibition opens on Wednesday, 4 July 2018, at 7pm.
Maglio Perez lived in Santo Domingo starting 2000, when he served as editor and photographer for Revista Rumbo, later as photography editor at El Caribe newspaper and then in 2003 he held the same position at Diario Libre.
Danny Daniel booked for concert
Acclaimed Spanish singer Danny Daniel returns to the Dominican Republic for a concert on Saturday, 28 July 2018, at the Santo Domingo Barceló (former Hotel Lina). Daniel is one of the most prolific Spanish bolero singers of all times. Some of his best known ballads are: “El vals de las mariposas,” “Por el amor de una mujer”, “Viento de otoño” among others. His Dominican counterpart will be young Dominican singer Yohanna Almanzar. Tickets are for sale online at Tickets Express.
Big Capital, contemporary drama at Sala Ravelo
Germana Quintana brings to the stage of the Sala Ravelo at the National Theater the comedy-drama “Big Capital.” Starring Gianni Paulino and Giamilka Román, the play will be shown Thursday, 16 August through Sunday, 19 August 2018 at 8:30pm and 6:30pm on Sunday. The play is by Dominican Ivan Alcantara and it presents the ambivalence facing Dominican women today, when dealing with a multitasking life, being a CEO, clients, husbands and technology. Tickets for sale at the National Theater box office.
Last edited: