President Medina visits solar and laminates plants in Montecristi
Negotiations on trade with Haiti continue
IMF downgrades growth forecast
New rector at UASD criticizes former administration
Judge Ortega sets Odebrecht case start for 7 August
Will the JCE be obligated by law to organize political party primaries?
Chinese to install 1,200 MW natural gas central in Montecristi?
Presidency admits paying Joao Santana
Rogelio Veisca Arrache is new Claro boss
Metro bus shut down for non-compliance with tax law
Suspected villa robber escapes from police station
Fake visa office closed down
1,200 slot machines destroyed
Man on motorcycle caught with 22 guns in a backpack
Alert for heavy rains
Music and dances of Israel
President Medina visits solar and laminates plants in Montecristi
President Danilo Medina was in Guayubín, in the northwestern province of Montecristi, where he was present for the inauguration of the Montecristi Solar on Tuesday, 17 July 2018, a US$100 million investment. The renewable energy facility is designed to supply electricity to more than 50,000 households. The installation is by F&S Solar Caribe, a German company. The company is installing solar panels. In a first phase, 58 megawatts will be generated of 103 megawatts to be installed.
The installation brings solar energy to be 2.33% of the national energy matrix. Margin Wagner, president of Montecristi Solar said this is still below the global standard of 5%.
The Montecristi Solar plant is financed by 65% by the German fund Blue Elephant Energy AG (BEE). It calls for the installation of Chinese-made Astronergy solar panels and German-made central inverters of 2.5 MW.
During his trip to the northwest, President Danilo Medina also visited the installations of the laminates industry, Northwest Industries, of the Grupo Estrella in Villa Vásquez. This company is operated under the incentives scheme of Border Development Law 28-01. Grupo Estrella president, Manuel Estrella hosted President Medina during the visit. Northwest Industries manufactures solutions in aluminum for roofing, mezzanines and interiors.
http://eldia.com.do/nueva-planta-solar-de-montecristi-producira-58-megas/
https://www.diariolibre.com/economia/medina-inaugura-parque-de-energia-solar-montecristi-LE10368614
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/07/18/medina-inaugura-parque-de-energia-solar-en-montecristi/
https://www.blueelephantenergy.com/en/portfolio_en/index.php
Negotiations on trade with Haiti continue
The Ministry of Foreign Relations has appealed to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to resolve a number of bilateral commerce conflicts with Haiti. The Haitian government has proposed increases in tariffs by more than 40% for certain goods, taking advantage of its position as an impoverished nation and its recently achieved full member status in the Caribbean Common Market (Caricom).
Until now, Haiti has traditionally applied low tariff rates to goods imported from the Dominican Republic and not the Common External Tariff (CET) that Caricom members apply to third party countries. But on 10 April 2017, Haiti presented its intention to apply Caricom tariffs by means of the notification to the WTO and conversations are still ongoing.
With this measure, the member countries of Caricom would enjoy preferential tariffs of zero percent for products such as cement and metal bars that are also imported from the Dominican Republic.
The members of Caricom are: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Granada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, San St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, the British Virgin Isles, Turks and Caicos Isles and Haiti (admitted in 1997).
The Dominican negotiators argue that if the new tariffs are allowed to be enacted, market access would be severely affected. This type of a tariff-imposed trade barrier has a remedy as contemplated in the Trade Facilitation Agreement of which Haiti is also a member, as part of the WTO.
https://www.listindiario.com/economia/2018/07/17/524472/haiti-insiste-en-subir-aranceles-a-rd
IMF downgrades growth forecast
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has decreased its forecast for economic growth for Latin America and the Caribbean for 2018 and 2019, mainly due to the recent appreciation in the US dollar and an increase in the petrol prices.
The IMF estimates that the economies of the region will grow by 1.6% this year and 2.6% the following year. This is a decrease in the forecast of 0.4% and 0.2% respectively over the forecast issued in April.
Despite this downward adjustment, the growth projection for Latin America still represents an increase over the 1.3% reached in 2017.
https://www.listindiario.com/las-mu.../fmi-pronostica-que-crecimiento-bajara-a-1-6-
New rector at UASD criticizes former administration
On taking over as the new rector of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), Emma Polanco made remarks that contained a series of criticisms of the previous management. She accused the outgoing authorities of not managing the resources at their disposal with due transparency and administering the affairs of the university in a manner that did not earn the trust of either students of faculty. In her inaugural speech, Polanco said that she would be scrupulous, rational and transparent in the use of the university’s human and financial resources.
Polanco announced her first step was to contract financial and personnel audits to allow positions at the UASD to be reclassified and salary distortions corrected, to get rid of the duplicity of functions and salaries and to identify unnecessary costs.
She also promised to eliminate the financial debt of the university that now stands at RD$426 million as of 30 June 2018. Polanco said despite the critical financial situation, she would lead the UASD to become the quality higher education institution she promised in her electoral campaign. In her academic plan, she committed to increase the research budget from less than 2% to 15%.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/07/17/524508/emma-halla-deuda-de-426-millones-en-uasd
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...como-la-primera-rectora-de-la-uasd-HE10363532
Judge Ortega sets Odebrecht case start for 7 August
The Special Instruction Judge of the Supreme Court of Justice Francisco Ortega Polanco has set for 7 August 2018, the opening of the trial against seven defendants accused of receiving $ 92 million in bribes for the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.
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. The defendants must answer to accusations of bribery, prevarication, illicit enrichment, forgery and asset laundering.
The investigations began after in December 2017, when a New York City judicial court revealed that Odebrecht officials had 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.
Will the JCE be obligated by law to organize political party primaries?
The directors of the ruling PLD and the leading opposition party PRM have agreed that the Central Electoral Board (JCE) be in charge of organizing the political primaries to choose the presidential candidates of the political parties in the Dominican Republic for the 2020 general election. This is different from the traditional supervisory role of past elections. The editorialist forecasts this would lead to the discredit of the JCE and to electoral chaos.
The new measure would be included in the Political Parties Bill that is being discussed in the Chamber of Deputies. There is pressure to pass the bill in this legislature that ends in August 2018, so the regulations can be applied to the preparations for the 2020 general elections. The political party and electoral discussions have been going on for over 20 years in Congress. The bill needs two thirds of the vote to pass, but if the PRM and the PLD agree, it will be a given.
Both the PLD and the PRM are divided among their party leaders and who should be the presidential candidate. President Danilo Medina and Leonel Fernández have split the PLD, and Luis Abinader and Hipólito Mejía, the PRM. The new backing to passing the primaries organization to the JCE is equal to passing the hot potato on and hoping for the best.
An editorial in El Día raises red flags and alerts to the trouble ahead. The editorial observes that political parties have recognized their incapacity to organize the primaries themselves. “More than striving to become capable, the political parties have now decided to drag everyone into chaos,” writes the editorialist.
It says the JCE is being asked to do the absurd and impossible that is to organize simultaneous primaries for all the political parties. The Political Parties Bill would also allow the political parties to choose the modality. The editorialist says that taxpayers will then have to pay for the broken dishes.
“You hear all the time these politicians saying that democracy is costly and we say our democracy costs too much and often smells bad. Those parties, pro-government and opposition, have no right to lead us into chaos,” concludes the editorialist.
The measure is opposed by the minority political parties. Guillermo Moreno (Alianza Pais), Pelegrin Castillo (Fuerza Nacional Progresista) and Max Puig (Partido Alianza por la Democracia) favor political parties being in charge of their own primaries and alerted to the high cost of passing this task onto the JCE.
http://eldia.com.do/esos-partidos-no-tienen-derecho-de-llevarnos-al-caos/
http://eldia.com.do/partidos-emergentes-se-oponen-a-que-jce-organice-primarias/
Chinese to install 1,200 MW natural gas central in Montecristi?
Inframation News that covers major infrastructure construction deals around the world has reported that the Dominican Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE) has signed a memorandum of understanding with China Huayang for the installation of a natural gas power generation plant in Manzanillo Bay, as reported in El Dia. This would be a public-private concession for 30 years.
China Huayang Economic and Trade Group Co. is a Chinese state-owned company under the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
But after the news was published, CDEEE executive vice president Ruben Jimenez Bichara was prompt to deny the talks. He said the government has not reached any agreement of intent on future power generation plants with a Chinese corporation.
http://eldia.com.do/chinos-contemplan-instalar-1200-megavatios-en-republica-dominicana/
https://www.diariolibre.com/cronologia/ver/****/cdeee
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...rdo-con-generadora-de-origen-chino-IF10372082
http://hoy.com.do/cdeee-aclara-no-firmo-acuerdo-con-empresa-generadora-china/
Presidency admits paying Joao Santana
The Presidency of the Republic has replied to PRM Deputy Faride Raful in regards to her request that legislators investigate why the government continued paying corporations tied to Joao Santana and his wife Monica Moura, after they had been arrested in Brazil, accused of administrative corruption.
According to a letter sent to the Chamber of Deputies that was read out in the session on Tuesday 17 July 2018, the payment was confirmed and was due to pre-established contracts. The letter said that the government paid was a little more than RD$430 million and not the RD$1.4 billion requested to be investigated. The letter was not accompanied by attachments confirming the statements. The letter was signed by José Ramón Peralta, Administrative Minister to the Presidency and government spokesman, Roberto Rodríguez Marchena.
According to the Medina administration, the payments were for advertising campaigns on prevention of traffic accidents, prevention of Chikungunya outbreak and mosquito bites, the inauguration of the Nueva Barquita, among other government campaigns.
Both Santana and his partner Moura were advisers to President Medina’s election campaigns for both the 2012-2016 and 2016-2020 terms in office.
When journalists asked the President directly, he referred the questions to Congress. President Medina has been criticized for not being accessible to the press.
Meanwhile, legislator Faride Raful has denied that she had details on the payments made by the government to the companies of Santana and Moura.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/peralt...o-santana-y-no-1400-como-denunciara-diputada/
http://almomento.net/en-carta-a-diputados-presidencia-rd-admite-pagos-a-joao-santana/
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...e-pagos-a-joao-santana-eran-deudas-pendientes
http://hoy.com.do/gobierno-envia-carta-donde-explica-pagos-a-empresas-de-joao-santana-y-su-esposa/
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...ungunya-y-programas-e-inauguraciones-de-obras
http://eldia.com.do/danilo-medina-rehusa-hablar-sobre-contrataciones-de-joao-santana/
http://eldia.com.do/el-fantasma-de-joao-pervive-en-politica-rd/
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/07/...ormacion-completa-sobre-pagos-a-joao-santana/
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...0-millones-que-pago-a-joao-santana-LE10368993
Rogelio Veisca Arrache is new Claro boss
Juan Rogelio Viesca Arrache was appointed to head Claro in Dominican Republic, effective 16 September 2018. Prior to his appointment in the Dominican Republic, Viesca was director of operations of Claro Brazil, and CEO in Ecuador and Argentina. At present he was director of the regional division of Telcel Mexico where he was responsible for Puebla, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Tlaxcala and Guerrero states.
He has over 20 years experience in the telecommunications sector.
The present top executive of America Movil that operates the Claro brand in the Dominican Republic, Oscar Peña was promoted to chief executive officer of Claro for the entire region of Central America. He will now be responsible for Claro operations in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Panama and Costa Rica.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/07/17/524525/claro-cambia-a-su-presidente
https://www.telcel.com/mundo_telcel/quienes-somos/corporativo/directivos
Metro bus shut down for non-compliance with tax law
On Monday afternoon, 16 July 2018, the Tax Agency (DGII) closed the terminal of the Metro buses located on Winston Churchill Avenue with Francisco Prats Ramírez, for violations of the Tax Law 11-92. The Metro bus operation continued closed throughout Tuesday.
The officials from the DGII arrived around 6:30pm and ordered the doors closed and the personnel to leave. They then stuck notices saying “Closed by the DGII” on the perimeter fence and on the doors. The incoming buses were allowed to enter the premises. The operation affected Metro offices’ operations nationwide.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...metro-por-violacion-a-la-ley-11-92-BE10364454
https://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/172551-Metro-bus-shut-down
Suspected villa robber escapes from police station
One of the three men arrested in connection with the attack on a villa in Casa de Campo last week, has escaped from the police station in Higuey.
Silvio Javier César, alias Tomás or Tomasito, escaped from the police station in Savica. Police offered no details as to how Cesar escaped.
Two others arrested in the robbery, Orlando Soriano (Orlando), 26 and Oscar de Jesús Gil Rodríguez (El Cuñao), remain in custody.
Besides Cesar, there are two other suspects being sought by police in relation to the case: Johan, alias Bojote and Juan Francisco, alias Checo.
The villa was robbed on Saturday 7 July 2018, and money and jewelry taken along with four cell phones.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...-de-cuartel-un-acusado-del-asalto-a-una-villa
http://hoy.com.do/acusado-del-asalt...-de-las-autoridades-para-fugarse-del-cuartel/
Fake visa office closed down
A clandestine office used for producing fake US visas was dismantled during an operation during which a woman was arrested. The office was located in Don Gregorio residency, Pantoja, Santo Domingo West and the woman arrested was 50-year old Yaniris del Carmen Clase Reyes, who, according to the police was under investigation for fraud, document forgery and human trafficking.
During the search of the premises, authorities seized a printer, two laptops, 30 Dominican passports, several rubber stamps along with stamps from different public and private institutions, including universities. US visa application forms, business cards, copies of vehicle registration documents and a large quantity of Dominican identity cards were also found in the office of Clase Reyes.
During the sweep of the facility officers also found property title deeds, bank statements, sales contracts for real estate and several cases of whisky.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...-oficina-clandestina-donde-falsificaban-visas
1,200 slot machines destroyed
Authorities destroyed around 1,200 slot machines on Monday, 16 July 2018, after having been seized for being illegally operated in businesses nationwide. At the televised event, Attorney General of the Republic Jean Alain Rodriguez, the Minister of Interior & Police José Ramón Fadul and the Director of the National Police Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte witnessed the equipment being completely destroyed by two bulldozers.
The attorney explained that during the operation to seize the slot machines some 4,000 public servants were mobilized, including more than 1,000 prosecutors, 1,500 soldiers and 1,000 auxiliaries, who visited more than 1,500 locations in the country.
In addition, he reported that as part of the operation, the Public Prosecutor's Office of Espaillat successfully petitioned for three months of preventive detention for Ángel Manuel Almonte and his partner Hilda Pérez Isleta, both of Moca.
Roodriguez also said that Jose Luis Lisandro was ordered to serve three months in preventive custody in La Vega.
Man on motorcycle caught with 22 guns in a backpack
Police arrested in Villa María, National District, Ricardo Beltré Beltré, resident in Barrio 27 de Febrero, during a random search. A search revealed that the man, who driving on a motorcycle, had 22 firearms of different kinds in a backpack. The arrest took place on Av. Duarte corner Ana Valverde Street.
Among the firearms there were nine revolvers and 13 pistols of different brands and calibers. Beltre Beltre claimed that the firearms were property of a private security company, owned by Chinese nationals.
The Police report indicated that two of the 22 firearms seized were registered, eight other munitions were registered for shooting practice only, while serial numbers of the rest of the firearms not found in the registration database at the Ministry of Interior and Police are being traced in international databases. The Police are investigating whether any of the firearms were used in crimes.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...0-maquinas-tragamonedas-y-cajones-confiscados
Alert for heavy rains
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) has issued a green alert for six provinces in the country due to a weather front that is expected to produce moderate to strong rainfall and electrical storms especially in the afternoon and evening. Those provinces under alert are San Cristóbal, San Pedro de Macorís, Monte Plata, Monseñor Nouel and Sánchez Ramírez in addition to Greater Santo Domingo.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...colocan-seis-provincias-en-alerta-por-vaguada
Music and dances of Israel
The Embassy of Israel is inviting to an evening of music and dances from Israel. The Zemer Israeli Concert will take place on Thursday, 26 July 2018 starting at 7pm at the UNPHU auditorium. It marks the end of the mission of Israel Ambassador Daniel Saban. The Dominican choir, Kajol Ve Lavan will be directed by Franklin Suazo. The UNPHU is located at Km. 7-1/2 Av. John F. Kennedy.
Negotiations on trade with Haiti continue
IMF downgrades growth forecast
New rector at UASD criticizes former administration
Judge Ortega sets Odebrecht case start for 7 August
Will the JCE be obligated by law to organize political party primaries?
Chinese to install 1,200 MW natural gas central in Montecristi?
Presidency admits paying Joao Santana
Rogelio Veisca Arrache is new Claro boss
Metro bus shut down for non-compliance with tax law
Suspected villa robber escapes from police station
Fake visa office closed down
1,200 slot machines destroyed
Man on motorcycle caught with 22 guns in a backpack
Alert for heavy rains
Music and dances of Israel
President Medina visits solar and laminates plants in Montecristi
President Danilo Medina was in Guayubín, in the northwestern province of Montecristi, where he was present for the inauguration of the Montecristi Solar on Tuesday, 17 July 2018, a US$100 million investment. The renewable energy facility is designed to supply electricity to more than 50,000 households. The installation is by F&S Solar Caribe, a German company. The company is installing solar panels. In a first phase, 58 megawatts will be generated of 103 megawatts to be installed.
The installation brings solar energy to be 2.33% of the national energy matrix. Margin Wagner, president of Montecristi Solar said this is still below the global standard of 5%.
The Montecristi Solar plant is financed by 65% by the German fund Blue Elephant Energy AG (BEE). It calls for the installation of Chinese-made Astronergy solar panels and German-made central inverters of 2.5 MW.
During his trip to the northwest, President Danilo Medina also visited the installations of the laminates industry, Northwest Industries, of the Grupo Estrella in Villa Vásquez. This company is operated under the incentives scheme of Border Development Law 28-01. Grupo Estrella president, Manuel Estrella hosted President Medina during the visit. Northwest Industries manufactures solutions in aluminum for roofing, mezzanines and interiors.
http://eldia.com.do/nueva-planta-solar-de-montecristi-producira-58-megas/
https://www.diariolibre.com/economia/medina-inaugura-parque-de-energia-solar-montecristi-LE10368614
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/07/18/medina-inaugura-parque-de-energia-solar-en-montecristi/
https://www.blueelephantenergy.com/en/portfolio_en/index.php
Negotiations on trade with Haiti continue
The Ministry of Foreign Relations has appealed to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to resolve a number of bilateral commerce conflicts with Haiti. The Haitian government has proposed increases in tariffs by more than 40% for certain goods, taking advantage of its position as an impoverished nation and its recently achieved full member status in the Caribbean Common Market (Caricom).
Until now, Haiti has traditionally applied low tariff rates to goods imported from the Dominican Republic and not the Common External Tariff (CET) that Caricom members apply to third party countries. But on 10 April 2017, Haiti presented its intention to apply Caricom tariffs by means of the notification to the WTO and conversations are still ongoing.
With this measure, the member countries of Caricom would enjoy preferential tariffs of zero percent for products such as cement and metal bars that are also imported from the Dominican Republic.
The members of Caricom are: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Granada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, San St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, the British Virgin Isles, Turks and Caicos Isles and Haiti (admitted in 1997).
The Dominican negotiators argue that if the new tariffs are allowed to be enacted, market access would be severely affected. This type of a tariff-imposed trade barrier has a remedy as contemplated in the Trade Facilitation Agreement of which Haiti is also a member, as part of the WTO.
https://www.listindiario.com/economia/2018/07/17/524472/haiti-insiste-en-subir-aranceles-a-rd
IMF downgrades growth forecast
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has decreased its forecast for economic growth for Latin America and the Caribbean for 2018 and 2019, mainly due to the recent appreciation in the US dollar and an increase in the petrol prices.
The IMF estimates that the economies of the region will grow by 1.6% this year and 2.6% the following year. This is a decrease in the forecast of 0.4% and 0.2% respectively over the forecast issued in April.
Despite this downward adjustment, the growth projection for Latin America still represents an increase over the 1.3% reached in 2017.
https://www.listindiario.com/las-mu.../fmi-pronostica-que-crecimiento-bajara-a-1-6-
New rector at UASD criticizes former administration
On taking over as the new rector of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), Emma Polanco made remarks that contained a series of criticisms of the previous management. She accused the outgoing authorities of not managing the resources at their disposal with due transparency and administering the affairs of the university in a manner that did not earn the trust of either students of faculty. In her inaugural speech, Polanco said that she would be scrupulous, rational and transparent in the use of the university’s human and financial resources.
Polanco announced her first step was to contract financial and personnel audits to allow positions at the UASD to be reclassified and salary distortions corrected, to get rid of the duplicity of functions and salaries and to identify unnecessary costs.
She also promised to eliminate the financial debt of the university that now stands at RD$426 million as of 30 June 2018. Polanco said despite the critical financial situation, she would lead the UASD to become the quality higher education institution she promised in her electoral campaign. In her academic plan, she committed to increase the research budget from less than 2% to 15%.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/07/17/524508/emma-halla-deuda-de-426-millones-en-uasd
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...como-la-primera-rectora-de-la-uasd-HE10363532
Judge Ortega sets Odebrecht case start for 7 August
The Special Instruction Judge of the Supreme Court of Justice Francisco Ortega Polanco has set for 7 August 2018, the opening of the trial against seven defendants accused of receiving $ 92 million in bribes for the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.
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. The defendants must answer to accusations of bribery, prevarication, illicit enrichment, forgery and asset laundering.
The investigations began after in December 2017, when a New York City judicial court revealed that Odebrecht officials had 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.
Will the JCE be obligated by law to organize political party primaries?
The directors of the ruling PLD and the leading opposition party PRM have agreed that the Central Electoral Board (JCE) be in charge of organizing the political primaries to choose the presidential candidates of the political parties in the Dominican Republic for the 2020 general election. This is different from the traditional supervisory role of past elections. The editorialist forecasts this would lead to the discredit of the JCE and to electoral chaos.
The new measure would be included in the Political Parties Bill that is being discussed in the Chamber of Deputies. There is pressure to pass the bill in this legislature that ends in August 2018, so the regulations can be applied to the preparations for the 2020 general elections. The political party and electoral discussions have been going on for over 20 years in Congress. The bill needs two thirds of the vote to pass, but if the PRM and the PLD agree, it will be a given.
Both the PLD and the PRM are divided among their party leaders and who should be the presidential candidate. President Danilo Medina and Leonel Fernández have split the PLD, and Luis Abinader and Hipólito Mejía, the PRM. The new backing to passing the primaries organization to the JCE is equal to passing the hot potato on and hoping for the best.
An editorial in El Día raises red flags and alerts to the trouble ahead. The editorial observes that political parties have recognized their incapacity to organize the primaries themselves. “More than striving to become capable, the political parties have now decided to drag everyone into chaos,” writes the editorialist.
It says the JCE is being asked to do the absurd and impossible that is to organize simultaneous primaries for all the political parties. The Political Parties Bill would also allow the political parties to choose the modality. The editorialist says that taxpayers will then have to pay for the broken dishes.
“You hear all the time these politicians saying that democracy is costly and we say our democracy costs too much and often smells bad. Those parties, pro-government and opposition, have no right to lead us into chaos,” concludes the editorialist.
The measure is opposed by the minority political parties. Guillermo Moreno (Alianza Pais), Pelegrin Castillo (Fuerza Nacional Progresista) and Max Puig (Partido Alianza por la Democracia) favor political parties being in charge of their own primaries and alerted to the high cost of passing this task onto the JCE.
http://eldia.com.do/esos-partidos-no-tienen-derecho-de-llevarnos-al-caos/
http://eldia.com.do/partidos-emergentes-se-oponen-a-que-jce-organice-primarias/
Chinese to install 1,200 MW natural gas central in Montecristi?
Inframation News that covers major infrastructure construction deals around the world has reported that the Dominican Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE) has signed a memorandum of understanding with China Huayang for the installation of a natural gas power generation plant in Manzanillo Bay, as reported in El Dia. This would be a public-private concession for 30 years.
China Huayang Economic and Trade Group Co. is a Chinese state-owned company under the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
But after the news was published, CDEEE executive vice president Ruben Jimenez Bichara was prompt to deny the talks. He said the government has not reached any agreement of intent on future power generation plants with a Chinese corporation.
http://eldia.com.do/chinos-contemplan-instalar-1200-megavatios-en-republica-dominicana/
https://www.diariolibre.com/cronologia/ver/****/cdeee
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...rdo-con-generadora-de-origen-chino-IF10372082
http://hoy.com.do/cdeee-aclara-no-firmo-acuerdo-con-empresa-generadora-china/
Presidency admits paying Joao Santana
The Presidency of the Republic has replied to PRM Deputy Faride Raful in regards to her request that legislators investigate why the government continued paying corporations tied to Joao Santana and his wife Monica Moura, after they had been arrested in Brazil, accused of administrative corruption.
According to a letter sent to the Chamber of Deputies that was read out in the session on Tuesday 17 July 2018, the payment was confirmed and was due to pre-established contracts. The letter said that the government paid was a little more than RD$430 million and not the RD$1.4 billion requested to be investigated. The letter was not accompanied by attachments confirming the statements. The letter was signed by José Ramón Peralta, Administrative Minister to the Presidency and government spokesman, Roberto Rodríguez Marchena.
According to the Medina administration, the payments were for advertising campaigns on prevention of traffic accidents, prevention of Chikungunya outbreak and mosquito bites, the inauguration of the Nueva Barquita, among other government campaigns.
Both Santana and his partner Moura were advisers to President Medina’s election campaigns for both the 2012-2016 and 2016-2020 terms in office.
When journalists asked the President directly, he referred the questions to Congress. President Medina has been criticized for not being accessible to the press.
Meanwhile, legislator Faride Raful has denied that she had details on the payments made by the government to the companies of Santana and Moura.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/peralt...o-santana-y-no-1400-como-denunciara-diputada/
http://almomento.net/en-carta-a-diputados-presidencia-rd-admite-pagos-a-joao-santana/
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...e-pagos-a-joao-santana-eran-deudas-pendientes
http://hoy.com.do/gobierno-envia-carta-donde-explica-pagos-a-empresas-de-joao-santana-y-su-esposa/
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...ungunya-y-programas-e-inauguraciones-de-obras
http://eldia.com.do/danilo-medina-rehusa-hablar-sobre-contrataciones-de-joao-santana/
http://eldia.com.do/el-fantasma-de-joao-pervive-en-politica-rd/
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/07/...ormacion-completa-sobre-pagos-a-joao-santana/
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...0-millones-que-pago-a-joao-santana-LE10368993
Rogelio Veisca Arrache is new Claro boss
Juan Rogelio Viesca Arrache was appointed to head Claro in Dominican Republic, effective 16 September 2018. Prior to his appointment in the Dominican Republic, Viesca was director of operations of Claro Brazil, and CEO in Ecuador and Argentina. At present he was director of the regional division of Telcel Mexico where he was responsible for Puebla, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Tlaxcala and Guerrero states.
He has over 20 years experience in the telecommunications sector.
The present top executive of America Movil that operates the Claro brand in the Dominican Republic, Oscar Peña was promoted to chief executive officer of Claro for the entire region of Central America. He will now be responsible for Claro operations in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Panama and Costa Rica.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/07/17/524525/claro-cambia-a-su-presidente
https://www.telcel.com/mundo_telcel/quienes-somos/corporativo/directivos
Metro bus shut down for non-compliance with tax law
On Monday afternoon, 16 July 2018, the Tax Agency (DGII) closed the terminal of the Metro buses located on Winston Churchill Avenue with Francisco Prats Ramírez, for violations of the Tax Law 11-92. The Metro bus operation continued closed throughout Tuesday.
The officials from the DGII arrived around 6:30pm and ordered the doors closed and the personnel to leave. They then stuck notices saying “Closed by the DGII” on the perimeter fence and on the doors. The incoming buses were allowed to enter the premises. The operation affected Metro offices’ operations nationwide.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...metro-por-violacion-a-la-ley-11-92-BE10364454
https://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/172551-Metro-bus-shut-down
Suspected villa robber escapes from police station
One of the three men arrested in connection with the attack on a villa in Casa de Campo last week, has escaped from the police station in Higuey.
Silvio Javier César, alias Tomás or Tomasito, escaped from the police station in Savica. Police offered no details as to how Cesar escaped.
Two others arrested in the robbery, Orlando Soriano (Orlando), 26 and Oscar de Jesús Gil Rodríguez (El Cuñao), remain in custody.
Besides Cesar, there are two other suspects being sought by police in relation to the case: Johan, alias Bojote and Juan Francisco, alias Checo.
The villa was robbed on Saturday 7 July 2018, and money and jewelry taken along with four cell phones.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...-de-cuartel-un-acusado-del-asalto-a-una-villa
http://hoy.com.do/acusado-del-asalt...-de-las-autoridades-para-fugarse-del-cuartel/
Fake visa office closed down
A clandestine office used for producing fake US visas was dismantled during an operation during which a woman was arrested. The office was located in Don Gregorio residency, Pantoja, Santo Domingo West and the woman arrested was 50-year old Yaniris del Carmen Clase Reyes, who, according to the police was under investigation for fraud, document forgery and human trafficking.
During the search of the premises, authorities seized a printer, two laptops, 30 Dominican passports, several rubber stamps along with stamps from different public and private institutions, including universities. US visa application forms, business cards, copies of vehicle registration documents and a large quantity of Dominican identity cards were also found in the office of Clase Reyes.
During the sweep of the facility officers also found property title deeds, bank statements, sales contracts for real estate and several cases of whisky.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...-oficina-clandestina-donde-falsificaban-visas
1,200 slot machines destroyed
Authorities destroyed around 1,200 slot machines on Monday, 16 July 2018, after having been seized for being illegally operated in businesses nationwide. At the televised event, Attorney General of the Republic Jean Alain Rodriguez, the Minister of Interior & Police José Ramón Fadul and the Director of the National Police Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte witnessed the equipment being completely destroyed by two bulldozers.
The attorney explained that during the operation to seize the slot machines some 4,000 public servants were mobilized, including more than 1,000 prosecutors, 1,500 soldiers and 1,000 auxiliaries, who visited more than 1,500 locations in the country.
In addition, he reported that as part of the operation, the Public Prosecutor's Office of Espaillat successfully petitioned for three months of preventive detention for Ángel Manuel Almonte and his partner Hilda Pérez Isleta, both of Moca.
Roodriguez also said that Jose Luis Lisandro was ordered to serve three months in preventive custody in La Vega.
Man on motorcycle caught with 22 guns in a backpack
Police arrested in Villa María, National District, Ricardo Beltré Beltré, resident in Barrio 27 de Febrero, during a random search. A search revealed that the man, who driving on a motorcycle, had 22 firearms of different kinds in a backpack. The arrest took place on Av. Duarte corner Ana Valverde Street.
Among the firearms there were nine revolvers and 13 pistols of different brands and calibers. Beltre Beltre claimed that the firearms were property of a private security company, owned by Chinese nationals.
The Police report indicated that two of the 22 firearms seized were registered, eight other munitions were registered for shooting practice only, while serial numbers of the rest of the firearms not found in the registration database at the Ministry of Interior and Police are being traced in international databases. The Police are investigating whether any of the firearms were used in crimes.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...0-maquinas-tragamonedas-y-cajones-confiscados
Alert for heavy rains
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) has issued a green alert for six provinces in the country due to a weather front that is expected to produce moderate to strong rainfall and electrical storms especially in the afternoon and evening. Those provinces under alert are San Cristóbal, San Pedro de Macorís, Monte Plata, Monseñor Nouel and Sánchez Ramírez in addition to Greater Santo Domingo.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...colocan-seis-provincias-en-alerta-por-vaguada
Music and dances of Israel
The Embassy of Israel is inviting to an evening of music and dances from Israel. The Zemer Israeli Concert will take place on Thursday, 26 July 2018 starting at 7pm at the UNPHU auditorium. It marks the end of the mission of Israel Ambassador Daniel Saban. The Dominican choir, Kajol Ve Lavan will be directed by Franklin Suazo. The UNPHU is located at Km. 7-1/2 Av. John F. Kennedy.