DR1 Daily News - Wednesday, 4 July 2018

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Inaugurals of public health centers in Santo Domingo East and Barahona
Vice President Margarita Cedeño’s father dies
Agriculture talks free zones
New study pushes for more male contraception responsibility
Call for meeting of the Political Committee
Fishermen threaten to block cruise port
Falpo calls strike in northwestern Valverde
Academy of Sciences urges to keep Cachón de la Rubia construction free
Archbishop Office removed from altar boy murder case
The high cost of corrupt police
Bank and exchange house robbery investigations continue
Military clothing used in bank robbery discovered in water tank
Metereologist John Morales talk at Downtown Center
Young Dominican prospect gets US$2.6 million deal from Giants
Best of regional volleyball at Norceca Pan Am



Inaugurals of public health centers in Santo Domingo East and Barahona
On Monday 2 July 2108, President Danilo Medina was in Villa Liberación in Santo Domingo East for the inauguration of a primary care center, the Center for Diagnostics and Primary Care. The center cost more than RD$88 million.

The director of the Office of Supervising Engineers for State Works (OISOE), Francisco Pagán, explained that the center is the 36th of 50 planned primary care centers the Presidency division is building across the country.

The director of the National Health Service (SNS), Chanel Rosa Chupani, said that centers such as this one are helping to reduce the burden at public hospitals.

On Tuesday, 3 July 2018, the President traveled to Cabral, Barahona for the inaugural of the Cabral Municipal Hospital. The government said that hospital is the 30th of 56 public hospitals intervened for modernization by the OISOE division of the Presidency.

https://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/07/03/522406/medina-entrega-centro-de-diagnostico
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...salud-danilo-medina-entrega-el-nuevo-hospital


Vice President Margarita Cedeño’s father dies
The father of Vice President Margarita Cedeño will be mourned at Funeraria Blandino funeral home on Av. Abraham Lincoln as of 8am on Wednesday, 4 July 2018. Luis Emilio Cedeño Matos passed away at the age of 92 at 7:40am. He leaves his wife of more than 50 years, Angela Margarita Lizardo Olivares, children, siblings, grandchildren, and other family members. He will be buried in a private ceremony at the Puerta del Cielo cemetery.

https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...e-padre-de-la-vicepresidenta-margarita-cedeno


Agriculture talks free zones
The executive director of the National Council of Export Free Zones (CNZFE), Luisa Fernández, and new Agriculture Minister Osmar Benítez sat down for serious talks last week. The two want to plan for joint actions to contribute to the strengthening and competitiveness of export free zones nationwide.

Also on the agenda was talk about the expediting of issuing of phytosanitary and zoosanitary certificates for the import of raw materials and inputs used by some free zones.

Fernandez says that the conversations will help to deal with inconveniences some free zones have been experiencing.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/07/03/directora-del-cnzfe-y-ministro-benitez-se-reunen/


New study pushes for more male contraception responsibility
Lilliam Fondeur, coordinator of the Office of Gender Equity and Development of the Ministry of Public Health, would like to see more public support for male contraceptives and pushed for their availability. She criticized that family planning has been left up to women, with anti-conception efforts by the Ministry targeted almost exclusively to women when men have 50% of the responsibility for family planning. She said that findings from a study carried out recently by the UASD Institute for Research, Gender and Family will be helpful in creating an awareness of the need to reach out to men and provide them with access to anti-conception.

She mentions that although social security will pay for vasectomies, studies have shown that only 0.2% of men chose the procedure (2013 Demographic and Health Poll). There are cultural prejudices against vasectomies that need to be tackled, she said.

The UASD research concluded that while the Family Planning Program of the Ministry of Public Health offers eight anti-conception alternatives to women there is little to no information on vasectomies despite these being covered by Social Security, consultations are during working hours and anti-conception information is only offered available in maternity ward areas.

Moreover, she says that only 2.6% of men regularly use condoms to avoid a pregnancy. New research shows there is little readily available information on the use of condoms to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancies. “47.3% of the men polled said they have never used condoms with their regular partner, 30.4% said only occasionally with regular partners and 35.5% said they would be concerned if their regular partner would propose this use,” said the study.

Another of the conclusions of the study "Gender and contraception in the Dominican Republic: a look at men" carried out by the UASD institute and presented by Mirna Jiménez, highlights the lack of sex education with gender equality in schools and in the first level of care, due to the resistance exercised by conservative groups and the Catholic Church.

The Minister of Health, Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas, said that the issue of gender is fundamental for health and stressed that cultural challenges persist that must be overcome with the application of public policies that help to tackle cross-cutting problems such as the high rate of teenage pregnancies and maternal-infant mortality.

http://hoy.com.do/estudio-el-47-3-d...s-no-usa-preservativos-con-su-pareja-estable/
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/07/03/la-planificacion-familiar-sigue-siendo-un-asunto-de-mujeres/


Call for meeting of the Political Committee
Jaime David Fernández Mirabal, member of the Political Committee (CP) and former vice president of the Republic, has called for the leaders of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) to meet to tackle key issues.

He said that it is a shame that the Political Committee has not met for five months despite the serious accusations of corruption involving senior party members and the additional fact that members of the CP have presidential aspirations, including the president and general secretary of the party. He made the comments in a press release sent to Diario Libre.

He said by not meeting, the ruling party is giving signals of institutional weakness that is dangerous for the country, as the party is a symbol to guarantee economic and social stability.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...onvocar-el-comite-politico-del-pld-AE10270563


Fishermen threaten to block cruise port
The Union of Fishermen in Puerto Plata has threatened to block the entrance to cruise ships in Maimon. They made the announcement responding to actions taken by Customs officers Narciso Tiburcio that is imposes restrictions on fishing on the north coast.

Union president Olivo Rodríguez said that the actions proposed by Tiburcio put the livelihood of the 1,700 member union in jeopardy and the fishermen would respond by preventing cruise ships from enter the port.

Rodríguez maintained that they would not allow the customs official to make the union disappear as he says they had already done with the Union of Loaders and Unloaders of Puerto Plata (Sidecarzopp).

http://hoy.com.do/pescadores-pp-bloquearian-llegada-cruceros/


Falpo calls strike in northwestern Valverde
The municipality of Esperanza, in Valverde province is under occupation by specialized National Police forces along with the military due to the strike called yesterday, Tuesday 3 July 2018, by the Popular Front (Falpo) calling for several improvements to the area.

All businesses were closed and there was no public transport. Hundreds of free zone industry workers were unable to get to work on time.

The only businesses open were the banks although there were very few clients.
The majority of the police and military presence were posted on Maria Trinidad Sanchez Avenue, the main road in the town.

Falpo is calling for roads to be paved in all neighborhoods; provide potable water for the residents and supply 24 hour electrical service for households and businesses of Jicomé, Boca de Mao, Damajagua and other communities. Finally, Falpo is demanding the completion of a health center.

Navarette is also seeing protests in support of the strike in Esperanza.

https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...plegados-en-esperanza-por-paro-de-actividades
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Academy of Sciences urges to keep Cachón de la Rubia construction free
The Academy of Sciences (ACRD) protests government authorization of the construction of a fuel station and a public school in the protected wetland area of Cachón de la Rubia in Santo Domingo. The park area is a vulnerable ecosystem part of the Green Belt of the city of Santo Domingo. The area was protected to ensure the keeping of eight crystal clear water springs. The park is also an important recreational area for the residents of Lucerna, Vietnam, Cancino, Los Minas Norte, Juan Pablo II and Katanga.

A press release from the ACRD urges the construction of the proposed works outside of the park limits. The Environmental Commission of the Academy of Sciences has identified several alternative sites for the construction without affecting the important water reserves and ecologically important site.

"Rescuing and giving value to the Cachón de la Rubia from the multiple threats to which it was subjected, including being used as a municipal garbage dump and the massive invasions that took place, cost the Ministry of Environment a lot of effort and sacrifice. The Ministry’s efforts received the unanimous support of the communities of the periphery”, adds the note.

The Academy of Sciences urges the ministries of Environment, Education, Public Works and Industry and Commerce support the long-term protection of site, and that the government reconsider locating of the polytechnical school, the grade school and the fueling station outside of the protected area. The group’s concern was also shared with the Mayor of Santo Domingo East who is asked to comply with the mandate of Environment Law 64-00 and ban these constructions. The Academy of Sciences also calls on community, environmental and national press organizations to be vigilant in the defense of the natural heritage of the city.

https://acento.com.do/2018/ecologia...-construcciones-en-parque-cachon-de-la-rubia/
http://hoy.com.do/academia-pide-no-levantar-obras-en-el-cachon-de-la-rubia/


Archbishop Office removed from altar boy murder case
Judge Máximo Saint Hilaire excluded the Archbishop Office of Santo Domingo from responsibility in the case against a priest accused of murder. The judge determined there were not ties of subordination. A date has yet to be set for the start of the hearings for the case.

The family of murdered altar boy 16-year old Fernelis Carrión Saviñón has sued the office of the Archbishop of Santo Domingo for RD$1 billion, of which 50% would be for local institutions that work with children, such as Unicef and Conani and the other 50% as indemnity to the damages inflicted on the family. Defense lawyer Marco Tulio Reyes had alerted that the Archbishop Office wanted to separate itself from the case. Taveras was murdered on 4 August 2017, with the accused priest, Elvin Taveras Duran, being held in preventive custody awaiting the start of his trial.

The Archbishop has requested the criminal case against the church be thrown out, along with any claims to financial retribution. The lawyer says that the appointment of Taveras was made by the predecessor of Archbishop Francisco Ozoria, Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus López Rodríguez. The lawyer rejected the priest be tried by canonic law.

"It is enough that the Catholic Church has mocked the ignorance of the Dominican people. There needs to come a regime of consequences for the Church not supervising their priests and that these use their hierarchical power to abuse, rape and murder children and adolescents who are vulnerable to their evil," he said.

The teenager was assassinated with hammer blows and stabs last August, and then his throat cut, in the curial house of the Santa Cecilia parish, Santo Domingo East municipality. The family accuses the priest of the crime and of sexual abuse.
The start of the trial has repeatedly been postponed.

https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...milia-monaguillo-asesinado-refuta-arzobispado
https://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/07/04/522585/juez-envia-a-sacerdote-a-juicio-de-fondo


The high cost of corrupt police
Deputy Francisco Matos (PLD-Santiago) denounced what he calls the system of corruption operating in the National Police. The news made the front page of Hoy newspaper on 3 July 2018.

Matos says that officers have to pay to be promoted in the Police. He said the cost of a regional command is up to RD$5 million, as in the case of Santiago. He said a monthly fee then is commanded to stay in the position. He said the cost of the Puerto Plata command is RD$2 million and RD$700,000 a month. The commands in La Vega and La Romana, among others, also have high price tags.

"Each command has a price. In the country there are 14 commands that have their price. If you want to be the police chief in Santiago, you have to pay so many millions of pesos. That everyone knows. " When asked who is paid the money, he said: "Oh, and who do you think, it goes up the chain of command" He argued that money has to reach the highest levels.

He said that the "Police corruption does not seem to be remedied”. He said no one is buying the story of the watchman Antonio Polonia Bueno, who the police say committed suicide while being handcuffed. Polonia is linked to the theft of more than RD$11 million from a Vimenca exchange house in Santiago. He said that four colonels operating out of their jurisdiction were those who pursued the suspects of committing the robbery in Ensanche La Isabelita in Santo Domingo East, with no prosecutor accompanying them. Matos said that as far as he can see those colonels were fishing for money. “The Police have lost the little credibility they had,” he said.

He requested President Medina take measures to deal with the Police that now has a new law, new uniform, new training, but there is lacking of commitment.

"A President who works until Sundays cannot permit corrupt policemen run amok. Dozens of serious police officers are pensioned at home and now we find the police barracks are full of corrupt," he stated.

http://hoy.com.do/diputado-denuncia-pn-cobra-por-designar-regionales/


Bank and exchange house robbery investigations continue
Investigations are continuing following the robberies at Banco Popular in Santo Domingo East and Vimenca, in Santiago.

The carrying out of a raid without the presence of a Public Prosecutor which left one Police Officer dead and four injured, along with the lack of following of protocol during the arrest of a security guard linked to the Vimenca robbery, who later supposedly committed suicide inside a police vehicle in the car park of the Prosecution service in Santiago, has led to a wave of criticism of the police.

Regional director for Cibao Central, General José Acosta Castellanos, has admitted the officers looking after security guard Antonio Polonia Bueno violated protocol handcuffing him in the front rather than the rear and the fact that he was related to the officer in charge of his arrest could also be a factor that led to the lack of protocol. He added that following his arrest, Polonia Bueno admitted that he had received RD$300,000 as payment for his help in planning the robbery.

In connection with the case, also arrested are Carlos Alfredo García Liriano (Aspirina), Basilio Encarnación Polanco, Emmanuel de Jesús Grullón and Andy de Jesús Gutiérrez Grullón. At the time of their arrest they had four pistols, a shot gun, more than US$51,000 and RD$200,000. Taken during the robbery on 23 June was RD$1,347,998 and US$203,254.

Regarding the Banco Popular robbery, police spokesman, Colonel Frank Félix Durán Mejía said that when the police officers went to the home in La Mina where the robbers were thought to be, they did not have a warrant for the raid but they were waiting for one. He said that this was often the case.

Durán Mejía said that the general director of the Police, Major General .Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte, had set up a commission to investigate the issue which will be headed up by Generals Rafael Cabrera Sarita, inspector general of the Police and Héctor García Cuevas, director of Internal Affairs.

During the raid, one of the assailants, only known as Francis, was killed and five police officers were injured. Lieutenant Rafael Tapia Rosario and Sergeant Biojary Antonio Pérez Colón are still in critical condition in Intensive Care and the former already had health problems so it will likely be more difficult for him to recover from his injuries. .

Others arrested in the case are Anyelina de los Santos, aged 29 and Alfredo Lorenzo Ramón, aged 28, who had in their possession a pistol, a shotgun taken from a security guard and an unspecified amount of money.

There are still three of the robbers at large including two Haitians.

https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...-mas-implicados-asalto-sucursal-banco-popular
http://eldia.com.do/incidentes-en-i...o-popular-y-vimenca-empanan-solucion-asaltos/


Military clothing used in bank robbery discovered in water tank
National Police officers carried out another raid in Los Mina and discovered the military clothing used during the robbery of Banco Popular.

The clothing was found inside a water tank only meters from the house in Katanga, Los Minos, where the shootout took place leaving two dead, including one policeman and another three policemen injured.

The house owner, Onia Marivel Suero, had called the police realizing her water had a strange smell and was affecting her skin and when she checked the water tank she found the clothing, bullet proof vests and boots.

https://elnuevodiario.com.do/polici...lan-pertrechos-militares-dentro-de-un-tinaco/
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/07/...de-hubo-enfrentamiento-entre-pn-y-asaltantes/


Metereologist John Morales talk at Downtown Center
Weather expert John Morales will be at Downtown Center on Av. Rómulo Betancourt and Av. Núñez de Cáceres in Santo Domingo for the conference “In the Eye of the Storm.” The conference will be in Spanish and seeks to provide professional guidance on tropical storms now that the Atlantic Hurricane Season has started.

Morales, who is the longest tenured TV weather anchor in Miami, and chief metereologist at WTVJ NBC-6, says the purpose of the talk is to help with prevention efforts. He will analyze the behavior of regional storms and provide perspectives through 2048. Morales is also founder and president of ClimaData.


Young Dominican prospect gets US$2.6 million deal from Giants
The San Francisco Giants announced the signing of 11 international prospects, including #2 rated prospect 16-year old outfielder Marco Luciano of Pimentel, Duarte province. Luciano got a US$2.6 million deal. Others Dominicans signed are: Melvin Marte of San Francisco de Macoris, Roberto Monegro of San Pedro de Macorís, and Aaron Peniche of San Isidro (Santo Domingo).

https://sports.yahoo.com/report-giants-sign-top-outfield-163108073.html


Best of regional volleyball at Norceca Pan Am
The 2018 Senior Women's Norceca Panamerican Volleyball Cup organized by NORCECA is bringing teams from all over the Americas (North-, South-and Central America, and the Caribbean) to Santo Domingo. The event grants five tickets to the Pan Am Games in Peru in 2019. It will take place 8-14 July 2018 at the Ricardo Arias Volleyball Pavilion in the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center in Santo Domingo.

Participating teams are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, and USA.

In a preparatory match, the Dominican team defeated the Cuban senior team 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-20) in a friendship match in Santiago de los Caballeros at the Arena del Cibao.
President Danilo Medina was named Patron of the Women’s Pan American Cup by Viva and will attend the opening ceremony on Sunday, 8 July at the Ricardo Arias Pavilion in Santo Domingo.

http://www.norceca.net/President Medina accepts to be Patron of the Pan Am Cup.htm
https://acento.com.do/2018/deportes...rrotaron-a-las-cubanas-en-la-arena-del-cibao/