DR1 Daily News next update on 3 September 2018
911 starts in Bonao and Villa Altagracia
National District city government tries to educate public regarding refuse
New Chinese ambassador introduces himself
Almagro warns that organized crime has gained political power like never before
Dominican Academy of Sciences points to massive deforestation in Mulito River basin area
Former election judge wants PLD to nominate Fernandez
UN issues alert on Haitian deportations
Bernardo Vega: “It’s not the economy, stupid!
Many Dominican brands now in foreign hands
Community activist promotes motorcycle safety in Monte Plata
Alicia Ortega joins Odebrecht bribes international investigative network
Trial date set for OMSA murder
Rustlers take an entire herd of cattle in Hato Mayor
Case of murdered pregnant teenager begins in San Francisco de Macorís
DNCD seizes 193 kilos of cocaine
Onamet forecasts rain for today and tomorrow
Long Night of Museums in the Colonial City
Marc Anthony at the Estadio Quisqueya
The DR1 Daily News next update on 3 September 2018
The next DR1 Daily News update will be published on Monday, 3 September 2018. The Monday issue will compile headline news for the previous Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Breaking news can be followed 24/7 in the Forums. See the DR1 Forum at http://www.dr1.com
911 starts in Bonao and Villa Altagracia
President Danilo Medina was in Bonao, Monseñor Nouel province, on Wednesday, 30 August 2018, for the official start of the 911 Emergency System in that province. The coverage has also been arranged for populations living in Bonao, Maimón, Piedra Blanca and San Cristóbal municipalities of Villa Altagracia, Sabana Grande de Palenque and Yaguate.
Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo gave the inaugural speech. He explained the health service has been assigned a staff of 192, including 24 physicians, 84 nurses. The service is equipped with eight advanced services ambulances, nine ambulances with basic services and 14 motorcycle ambulances.
Montalvo said that security has been enhanced with the appointment of 182 new police agents that will be assisted by 15 pickups, 32 motorcycles. The Ministry of Defense Fuerza de Tarea Ciudad Tranquila (Ciutran) military patrol service is added, with 75 men on three pickups and 14 motorcycles. Montalvo said that plans are to install surveillance systems to prevent crime and assist in bringing criminals to justice. Another 50 agents of the Dirección General de Seguridad de Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre (Digesett), the ground transport agency, are on call with three pickups and five motorcycles. This is in addition to the 96 men assigned to the Ministry of Public Works highway patrol that operates 24/7.
Montalvo said that the service has answered 18.5 million calls for help and assisted in more than 1.4 million emergency situations since it began in January 2013.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...villa-altagracia-y-otros-puntos-san-cristobal
National District city government tries to educate public regarding refuse
The Ayuntamiento of the National District (ADN) seeks to encourage cooperation from residents to make garbage collection much more efficient. This news comes in a press release from Mayor David Collado the Mayor, who explains he hopes to instill civic pride in the city, by launching the “I am Santo Domingo” campaign.
The mayor says they are trying to create sensitivity among city residents so that garbage is taken out at a certain hour, according to a system of routes and frequencies that have been established for each sector. The plan calls for civic and environmental education as part of the overall plan of municipal management.
Collado said that they are trying to overcome the habit of people taking out garbage at any hour of the day or night that obliges the city government to send trucks 304 times a day to keep the city clean. He says the situation is terribly inefficient and financially unsustainable.
The young mayor said that for the initial phase of this project, which includes a series of visits house by house throughout the National District on 8 and 9 September 2018, the city government is counting on the collaboration of the nation’s print media to strengthen this effort and help create a social response of commitment with cleaning up the city. He noted that his efforts have received the support of hundreds of community, social, business and academic entities throughout the nation’s capital.
http://elnacional.com.do/cabildo-dn-busca-mayor-eficiencia-recogida-basura/
US Ambassador arrives on Thursday, 30 August 2018
US Ambassador Robin Bernstein is scheduled to arrive to the Dominican Republic the afternoon of Thursday, 30 August 2018 from Miami, Florida. She has already been introducing herself to Dominicans with an Instagram video. She replaces Ambassador James (Wally) Brewster who ended his term just when President Donald Trump took the Presidency, on 20 January 2017. Robert Copley has served as acting ambassador.
Bernstein is the second woman to hold the position of US ambassador in the country. Her predecessor was Donna Hrinak, a career diplomat who held the post for three years, from 1994-1997.
http://hoy.com.do/robin-bernstein-la-nueva-embajadora-de-estados-unidos-llega-manana-a-rd/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BnAD2pWjbCU/?hl=en&taken-by=embajadausaenrd
New Chinese ambassador Zhang Run introduces himself to Dominicans
Chinese ambassador in the Dominican Republic, Zhang Run introduces himself to the Dominican people in a contribution featured on the front page of the Listin Diario on 30 August 2018. Run arrived to the country on Sunday, 19 August 2018 and is the first People’s Republic of China ambassador to the country. He said he has come to “embrace” the Dominican people and brings the salutes from Chinese President Xi Jinping and the friendship of the 1.3 billion Chinese, as he takes on “glorious mission of writing a new chapter in Dominican and Chinese relations.”
He explains he has worked many years in Latin America and feels at home in the continent. He says his mission is to achieve three objectives – solid trust, fair communication and win-win cooperation.
He said there is a need to improve communication and mutual understanding, reduce the deficit of knowledge given historical and geographical reasons, increase common language and strengthen shared interests. He said China is an enormous market, and has strong technology and capital, and the Dominican Republic has a privileged geographical position and good yields on investment.
“Between our two countries there are enormous natural complementary advantages to cooperation. We need to take full advantage of the potential and open doors to opportunities for cooperation. I believe the bilateral relationship should be comprehensive and diverse,” he writes.
He proposes that in addition to contributions to the economy and trade, infrastructure and other fields, there be cooperation for mutual gain in science, technology, culture, education, tourism and more. He forecast that more Chinese companies will have a presence in Dominican ports, highways, bridges and electric power centrals in the Dominican Republic. That there will be more Chinese tourists enjoying Dominican sun and beaches such as Punta Cana and that more local produce such as cacao, pineapple, tobacco and others be appreciated by Chinese consumers.
He summed up: “China is willing to contribute to the development of the Dominican Republic, following principals of fairness and mutual respect and in win-win conditions. We welcome Dominicans to actively participate in the new process of relations between China and the Dominican Republic to create together opportunities, prosperity and happiness.”
He ended his introduction [as the new US ambassador had also done so in her introductory video] saying that the Chinese are a humble people that want to learn from Dominicans, even about baseball. “Let us work together to give more home runs!”
https://listindiario.com/puntos-de-vista/2018/08/30/530909/vengo-para-dar-jonrones-mancomunados
Almagro warns that organized crime has gained political power like never before
The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, pointed out the weakness in political parties in the region in terms of lack of transparency and accountability, as reported in Listin Diario. He noted that in the countries of the region, there is a systemic corruption that has not been able to prevent the coexistence of pacts between politicians and power groups, noting that in the worst case with organized crime has acquired unprecedented economic and political power.
Speaking at the XXVI Central American and Caribbean Conference of Political Parties taking place in Santo Domingo, he said that the parties must reinvent themselves and give clear signals to the population that they want to provide solutions to the problems of the population and regain their credibility.
He explained that the parties should strengthen civic participation in governance in the region and assure transparency and accountability in government, eliminating any impunity.
Almargo urged political parties to review their objectives and missions so that they use their power to improve the effectiveness of democratic institutions. He points out that the parties must use digital technological platform more effectively to communicate their ideas to the population and have a greater civic engagement.
When referring to the different public powers, he observed that there is a problem because the legislative and judicial branches are subordinated to the Executive Branch.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...do-ha-adquirido-un-poder-politico-nunca-visto
Dominican Academy of Sciences points to massive deforestation in Mulito River basin area
The Dominican Academy of Science alerted to the massive deforestation of the forest area in the Mulito River basin in southwestern Pedernales province. In a press release, the Academy reports that only 30% of the forest area remains despite the river being essential source of water for human consumption for both the Dominican Republic (Pedernales) and Haiti (Anse a Pitre). The reason: agriculture practices in Aguas Negras, Mencia, La Altagracia and Los Arroyos.
The Academy alerts that this is the reality and disproved recent government reports that indicate that the Mulito River has plenty of water and there is no deforestation in the area.
Recently, ecologists have revved up their activism and have accused the new Minister of Environment, Angel Estevez of encouraging farming in protected areas. Estevez has not yet accepted to meet with the ecologists.
http://eldia.com.do/la-academia-pide-frenar-cultivos-en-rio/
Former election judge wants PLD to nominate Fernandez
The former district attorney for the National District, José Manuel Hernandez Peguero, called on the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) to select former President Leonel Fernandez as their candidate in the presidential elections in 2020. What makes this news interesting is the fact that Hernandez Peguero, the technical delegate of the PLD at the Central Electoral Board (JCE), is also a former judge on the Superior Electoral Tribunal that is charged with rendering decisions concerning election results or processes.
According to the former judge, the quick proclamation of Fernandez as the party’s candidate would unify the party and avoid useless confrontations. He said: “The government has polls that show the former President at above 50% in the preferences of the national electorate and this is more than sufficient for us to be convinced of the election triumph guaranteed by the President of the PLD.”
Hernandez Peguero also noted that once Fernandez is nominated as their presidential candidate, the PLD can then get on with the process of choosing more than 4,000 party members, allies and sympathizers to be placed on the municipal and congressional ballots.
http://elnacional.com.do/ex-juez-del-tribunal-electoral-pide-el-pld-proclame-a-leonel/
UN issues alert on Haitian deportations
The national representative of the United Nations Population Fund, Sonia Vasquez, said on Wednesday, 29 August 2018, that the deportation of Haitians who did not register for the National Foreigner Status Legalization Plan (PNRE) will have serious consequences for the productive sectors that rely heavily on Haitian labor, and therefore she recommended that the Dominican government address this issue.
In her remarks to reporters, she said that deportation does not resolve the problem of undocumented people in the Dominican Republic. She said that deportations are certainly the right of any government, but that beyond this the Dominican Republic has a workforce that is principally Haitian and upon which several sectors are dependent. She noted that 26% of the Haitian immigrants working construction, 32% work in agriculture and there are many Haitians who take part in commercial and tourist activity.
She noted that the PNRE fulfilled its objective, but nevertheless it has had limitations since there are Haitians who continue to have serious problems with the documentation from their country of origin and many others did not take advantage of the program.
Sociologist Wilfredo Lozano says that the program has begun to establish order in the process of regulating the immigration process, above all with regard to Haitian workers. He noted quite pointedly that the program is not a panacea aimed at resolving all the problems.
http://eldia.com.do/onu-alerta-impacto-deportar-a-haitianos/
Bernardo Vega: “It’s not the economy, stupid!
In an op-ed contribution to Hoy newspaper, former governor of the Central Bank and former Dominican ambassador to the United States, economist Bernardo Vega highlights how the Dominican economy leads in Latin America and the Caribbean, with low inflation and a very modest currency devaluation. He mentions how the government constantly points to achievements in education, health and transportation. How the international bonds buyers grab all the sovereign bonds placed on the market, and foreign investors continue to invest their money here. Remittances and tourism are also on the rise.
Vega says that all that make Dominicans optimistic. But then the most recent Mark Penn/Noticias SIN poll says all the contrary. 71%, a record number, of Dominicans told the pollsters that the Dominican Republic is headed in the wrong direction.
Vega says that while in April 2016, 82% said they were satisfied with the government of President Medina, today only 59% think the same way, and 71% of those identifying themselves as members of the ruling party. Party support has declined from 41% in April 2016 to 23% at present.
Vega writes that the political parties system is in crisis because only 10% say they are partisan to a political party. 59% declare themselves as independent, and among the young, 67%. The ruling party, the PLD has garnered a following of only 23%, according to the poll.
Vega tries to answer to why the pessimism when government numbers show the economy is doing so well. He says the answer can be found in the main problem affecting the country - that is the response of the government to crime and corruption in government.
62% said they do not believe the judges will sentence those accused in the Odebrecht case. And almost half of those that are members of the ruling PLD party, say so, too. When those polled were asked if those sent to justice are all those that are involved, 82% says there are others, including 73% of those identifying with the PLD.
76% said they favor measures taken by the US government by revoking the US visas to Ángel Rondón, Félix Bautista and Víctor Díaz Rúa, despite Bautista being a senator and key party member, and Díaz Rúa having been a public works minister and party treasurer.
Vega says that in the same way that in the United States the famous phrase “It’s the economy, stupid! Came about to get US political candidates to focus on the economy, here the contrary is true. He stresses that in the Dominican case: “It is not the economy, it is crime and government corruption!”
He observes that to reverse the situation the Brazilians had a judge Sergio Moro, who with the backing of the attorney general prosecuted and achieved sentences in the Lava Jato case. But he wonders if there is the local political will to achieve this.
http://hoy.com.do/no-es-la-economia-estupido/
Many Dominican brands now in foreign hands
The creation of alliances, merges or the sale of shares of local companies to foreign companies has been a frequent practice over the last 18 years with very well-known brands passing into the hands of foreign companies. Among the most noteworthy of these companies is León Jimenes, that sold 100% of its shares to Philip Morris International in 2006 for the sum of US$427 million; the Brugal rum company sold 83% of its shares to the Edrington company from Great Britain for some US$400 million in 2008. The local ice cream leading company Helados Bon sold 73.1% of its shares to the Compañía Nacional de Chocolates from Colombia for US $38.7 million. The hallmark Presidente brand and the National Dominican Brewery (Cerveceria) was sold to Ambev in Brazil; Orange and Tricom became part of Altice; Metaldom was fused with the Brazilian company Gerdau, creating Gerdau-Metaldom, and most recently the Banco del Progreso was absorbed by Scotiabank of Canada.
According to the economist Pavel Isa Contreras, these transactions took place because these were established brands and were attractive to foreign consortiums. The distribution channels, customer recognition and their clients represented added value to remain in the market and increase distribution. According to Isa Contreras, this is why companies pay more than the face value for these different brands and represent foreign investment in the Dominican Republic.
http://eldia.com.do/las-marcas-dominicanas-estan-en-manos-de-consorcios-extranjeros/
Community activist promotes motorcycle safety in Monte Plata
One of the good things that are often overlooked by the media are the actions such as the one taken by Oscar Morel, a young community activist and leader in the town of Monte Plata. Morel, like most of us, was worried about motorcycle safety, so he acquired 70 helmets and gave them to moto concho drivers together with a talk on accident prevention in his province. He told reporters in the Diario Libre that this was just part of what he called “Operation 5 of 5” that he is trying to develop to create a consciousness and awareness so that people don’t keep dying on the streets.
The young engineer said that the delivery of the 70 motorcycle helmets was a complement to the first phase that included 40 helmets. Operation 5 of 5 consists in providing a safety helmet to each moto concho driver and provide continuity to a campaign to create awareness, education and avoid pain in the population which is been greatly affected this year and every year by fatal motorcycle accidents. The safety talk included the participation of facilitators from the National Traffic and Transportation Institute (Intrant) presented videos and statistics about the high risk associated with not using a helmet.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...vincia-mas-segura-y-sin-accidentes-DB10663123
Alicia Ortega joins Odebrecht bribes international investigative network
TV investigative journalist Alicia Ortega of El Informe has joined the Car Wash Investigative Journalism Network (Investiga Lava Jato) that groups journalists from 11 Latin American and African countries. The team has since June 2017 been publishing their findings that follow up on Brazilian justice investigations on payment and bribes schemes of the Brazilian construction company. The network also investigates the financing of political campaigns and the ties to contracting in each country.
The network is made up of reporters from 15 countries in the Latin America and Africa. Also recently joining the group were Guillermo Draper and Raul Santopietro of the Semanario Busqueda in Uruguay; Nelfi Fernandez of the El Deber newspaper in Bolivia and Rafael Marques de Moerais of Angola.
The press release making the announcement highlights that since its start, 'Investigate Lava Jato' has enabled its members to analyze thousands of documents, build relevant databases of the countries under investigation, track offshore companies in tax havens, carry out dozens of requests for information to governments and Interview the key characters of the stories.
Most of the journalists had already collaborated in the global investigation that lead to the publishing of the Panama Papers that won a Pulitzer Prize. The journalists are also members of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). The project is coordinated by the director of Convoca in Peru, Milagros Salazar and Flavio Ferreira of the Folha de Sao Paulo in Brazil.
http://hoy.com.do/red-investiga-lava-jato-suma-a-cinco-periodistas-una-de-rd/
https://www.icij.org/
Trial date set for OMSA murder
The Third Court of Instruction established on Wednesday, 29 August 2018, that 18 September will be the beginning date for the preliminary process against the persons indicted for the death of the lawyer and university professor Yuniol Ramirez Ferreras. The case had first been heard in the province of Santo Domingo.
Last 14 August, the coordinating judge for the Courts of Instruction in the National District, José Alejandro Vargas, assigned by means of a random drawing this case to the Third Court of Instruction of the National District. That court will now carry out the preliminary hearings involving persons indicted for this murder. Involved in this case are the former director of the Metropolitan Office of Bus Service (OMSA) and several other officials of the transportation entity. Readers might remember that the Second Penal Chamber of the Court of Appeals of the province of Santo Domingo declined to hear the case and referred it to the National District, but the files were returned to the former court because they had not been delivered in their entirety to judge Vargas.
The lawyer and university professor was kidnapped and murdered. His body was found in October 2017 with a single gunshot wound to the head and tied to two concrete blocks in the bottom of a creek in West Santo Domingo. He had been investigating administrative corruption at the Omsa at the time of his death.
http://elnacional.com.do/fijan-para-18-de-septiembre-juicio-asesinato-Yuniol/
Rustlers take an entire herd of cattle in Hato Mayor
Rancher Carlos Abreu complained that rustlers took his entire herd of 14 milk cows and a bull from his farm in the community of La Jagua, some 3 km north of Hato Mayor. Abreu says this must be the biggest theft of cattle in the entire area. He said his losses were over RD$500,000. He called the theft “extraordinary” because among the animals taken was the prize bull used for reproduction. Abreu is offering a reward of RD$5,000 pesos to anyone who can help locate the animals.
Abreu told reporters from the Diario Libre that in over 70 years of working with milk and meat cattle he had never experienced something like this. He says this rustling had been planned and he called on the police and judicial authorities of the province to help him find the people responsible. He said that among the animals taken were six pregnant cows and the bull.
Abreu is also a cacao farmer. He warned that the theft of cattle in the east is growing and he called on the director of the National Police to intervene in the police detachments in Hato Mayor where he said they had done nothing to recover his cattle.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...do-completo-en-finca-de-hato-mayor-CB10664341
Case of murdered pregnant teenager begins in San Francisco de Macorís
At the opening of the Emely Peguero (Emi del Carmen Peguero Polanco), murder case on Wednesday, 29 August 2018, Marlin Martínez, mother of chief suspect of the murder, her son Marlon Martínez, once again declared her innocence of the charges of complicity in the death of the 16-year old. She said she was scared and acted from the anxiety at finding herself in the situation where everything had gone wrong. She denied that she was incriminating her son.
The hearing was held at the Palacio de Justicia in San Francisco de Macorís on Wednesday, 29 August 2018. The case start had been delayed on numerous occasions.
The remains of the body of 16-year old Peguero were found on 31 August 2017 in a suitcase in a lot in Espaillat province. She had been missing since 23 August 2017. The Public Ministry accuses the teenager’s then boyfriend Marlon Martínez and his mother as accomplice. The teenager was several months pregnant. The autopsy revealed the Peguero had died from the consequences of an abortion gone wrong and head injuries.
The defense lawyer of Marlon Martínez says there is only evidence that an abortion took place that lead to an involuntary death.
The prosecutors have requested 30 year sentence for the son and 20 years for the mothers in the case being heard in the Segundo Tribunal Colegiado in Duarte province. The mother is accused of hiding the evidence of the crime. The judges are María de los Ángeles Concepción, Carminia Caminero Sosa and Víctor Inoa.
The case, nevertheless, was postponed for 14 September 2018, after the defense bar for Marlon Martínez recused the judges, citing these lacked impartiality in the case.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...z-yo-soy-inocente-de-los-hechos-que-me-acusan
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...juicio-de-fondo-para-marlon-y-marlin-martinez
http://hoy.com.do/conocen-juicio-de...n-martinez-por-el-asesinato-de-emely-peguero/
http://eldia.com.do/abogada-de-marl...ar-una-decision-basados-en-la-presion-social/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/08...etio-ninguno-de-los-hechos-que-se-le-imputan/
https://acento.com.do/2018/actualid...-fondo-imputados-del-asesinato-emely-peguero/
DNCD seizes 193 kilos of cocaine
The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) with the backing of the Dominican Armada and the coordination of the Public Ministry seized 193 kilos of cocaine in an operation on coastal waters of La Altagracia province in the east. The cocaine was seized in a boat that suffered mechanical failure and was stalled just off the coast. The Armada activated ground forces that located six packages containing 183 packs of cocaine, with the weight of 193.02 kilograms, according to the National Institute of Forensic Services (Inacif).
Two armed Venezuelans were arrested. The Armada seized four outboard motors, navigation equipment and other evidence. The DNCD and Public Ministry is looking for other suspects involved in the international drug trafficking ring to bring them to justice.
http://dncd.gob.do/index.php/notici...3-kilos-de-cocaina-en-provincia-la-altagracia
https://www.metrord.do/do/destacado...-kilos-cocaina-detienen-2-venezolanos-rd.html
Onamet forecasts rain for today and tomorrow
The Center of Emergency Operations (COE) ordered a green alert for 12 provinces because of the forecast made by the National Meteorological Office (Onamet) for heavy rains over the next 48 hours the result of a tropical wave and a low pressure trough. The heavy rains are going to be felt over the entire country including the central mountains and the frontier. The provinces that are now under a green alert our Hato Mayor, Monsignor Nouel, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Espaillat, Sánchez Ramirez, El Seibo, Santo Domingo, La Vega, Monte Plata, San Pedro de Macoris, Duarte and Hermanas Mirabal.
Follow the bad weather reports on DR1 Forums at:
https://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/171769-2018-Hurricane-Season?p=1908500#post1908500
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...y-emiten-alerta-para-12-provincias-PB10666832
Long Night of Museums in the Colonial City
This Saturday, 1 September 2018, the Ministry of Culture celebrates the Long Night of Museums in the Colonial City. The summer event is an opportunity to visit free of charge the most popular museums and cultural centers in the historic center. The event will take place all day and night until midnight.
A late night closing show is set for the Plaza España with the performances of singers Pamel Mancebo and Manny Cruz. A second show with Héctor González, Omar Quezada, Vic Contreras and La Alucinante Banda, directed by Luis Tomás Oviedo, is set to take place at the Fortaleza de Santo Domingo (Fortaleza Ozama), as of 7:30pm on Saturday. Also performing that evening is singer Nathalie Hazim at the Museum of Casas Reales shortly after 6pm.
Long Night of Museums will also celebrate the National Dominican Folklore Day, with presentations of authentic rural groups at the frontal areas of the Casa de Tostado, Fortaleza de Santo Domingo and Plaza España from 5pm through 8pm, organized by the National Folklore Agency.
For children, on the program is the showing of the short animated film “Una aventura por el sur”, and puppet shows at the Colonial Gate theater from 5pm to 7:30pm in the Colonial City.
The performance of live statues at the Plaza España and Maria de Toledo plazas has also been arranged.
http://eldia.com.do/anuncian-atractivos-artisticos-para-la-noche-larga-de-los-museos/
Marc Anthony at the Estadio Quisqueya
Puerto Rican singer Marc Anthony is performing this Saturday, 1 September 2018 at the Quisqueya Ball Park in Santo Domingo. Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all times. He is a two-time Grammy Award winner and has won five Latin Grammy Awards.
Opening the evening is Manuel Turizo, the Colombian reggaeton singer. Tickets are for sale online at Uepa Tickets and at Jumbo and Supermercados Nacional.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYtJAuoZxcc
911 starts in Bonao and Villa Altagracia
National District city government tries to educate public regarding refuse
New Chinese ambassador introduces himself
Almagro warns that organized crime has gained political power like never before
Dominican Academy of Sciences points to massive deforestation in Mulito River basin area
Former election judge wants PLD to nominate Fernandez
UN issues alert on Haitian deportations
Bernardo Vega: “It’s not the economy, stupid!
Many Dominican brands now in foreign hands
Community activist promotes motorcycle safety in Monte Plata
Alicia Ortega joins Odebrecht bribes international investigative network
Trial date set for OMSA murder
Rustlers take an entire herd of cattle in Hato Mayor
Case of murdered pregnant teenager begins in San Francisco de Macorís
DNCD seizes 193 kilos of cocaine
Onamet forecasts rain for today and tomorrow
Long Night of Museums in the Colonial City
Marc Anthony at the Estadio Quisqueya
The DR1 Daily News next update on 3 September 2018
The next DR1 Daily News update will be published on Monday, 3 September 2018. The Monday issue will compile headline news for the previous Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Breaking news can be followed 24/7 in the Forums. See the DR1 Forum at http://www.dr1.com
911 starts in Bonao and Villa Altagracia
President Danilo Medina was in Bonao, Monseñor Nouel province, on Wednesday, 30 August 2018, for the official start of the 911 Emergency System in that province. The coverage has also been arranged for populations living in Bonao, Maimón, Piedra Blanca and San Cristóbal municipalities of Villa Altagracia, Sabana Grande de Palenque and Yaguate.
Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo gave the inaugural speech. He explained the health service has been assigned a staff of 192, including 24 physicians, 84 nurses. The service is equipped with eight advanced services ambulances, nine ambulances with basic services and 14 motorcycle ambulances.
Montalvo said that security has been enhanced with the appointment of 182 new police agents that will be assisted by 15 pickups, 32 motorcycles. The Ministry of Defense Fuerza de Tarea Ciudad Tranquila (Ciutran) military patrol service is added, with 75 men on three pickups and 14 motorcycles. Montalvo said that plans are to install surveillance systems to prevent crime and assist in bringing criminals to justice. Another 50 agents of the Dirección General de Seguridad de Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre (Digesett), the ground transport agency, are on call with three pickups and five motorcycles. This is in addition to the 96 men assigned to the Ministry of Public Works highway patrol that operates 24/7.
Montalvo said that the service has answered 18.5 million calls for help and assisted in more than 1.4 million emergency situations since it began in January 2013.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...villa-altagracia-y-otros-puntos-san-cristobal
National District city government tries to educate public regarding refuse
The Ayuntamiento of the National District (ADN) seeks to encourage cooperation from residents to make garbage collection much more efficient. This news comes in a press release from Mayor David Collado the Mayor, who explains he hopes to instill civic pride in the city, by launching the “I am Santo Domingo” campaign.
The mayor says they are trying to create sensitivity among city residents so that garbage is taken out at a certain hour, according to a system of routes and frequencies that have been established for each sector. The plan calls for civic and environmental education as part of the overall plan of municipal management.
Collado said that they are trying to overcome the habit of people taking out garbage at any hour of the day or night that obliges the city government to send trucks 304 times a day to keep the city clean. He says the situation is terribly inefficient and financially unsustainable.
The young mayor said that for the initial phase of this project, which includes a series of visits house by house throughout the National District on 8 and 9 September 2018, the city government is counting on the collaboration of the nation’s print media to strengthen this effort and help create a social response of commitment with cleaning up the city. He noted that his efforts have received the support of hundreds of community, social, business and academic entities throughout the nation’s capital.
http://elnacional.com.do/cabildo-dn-busca-mayor-eficiencia-recogida-basura/
US Ambassador arrives on Thursday, 30 August 2018
US Ambassador Robin Bernstein is scheduled to arrive to the Dominican Republic the afternoon of Thursday, 30 August 2018 from Miami, Florida. She has already been introducing herself to Dominicans with an Instagram video. She replaces Ambassador James (Wally) Brewster who ended his term just when President Donald Trump took the Presidency, on 20 January 2017. Robert Copley has served as acting ambassador.
Bernstein is the second woman to hold the position of US ambassador in the country. Her predecessor was Donna Hrinak, a career diplomat who held the post for three years, from 1994-1997.
http://hoy.com.do/robin-bernstein-la-nueva-embajadora-de-estados-unidos-llega-manana-a-rd/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BnAD2pWjbCU/?hl=en&taken-by=embajadausaenrd
New Chinese ambassador Zhang Run introduces himself to Dominicans
Chinese ambassador in the Dominican Republic, Zhang Run introduces himself to the Dominican people in a contribution featured on the front page of the Listin Diario on 30 August 2018. Run arrived to the country on Sunday, 19 August 2018 and is the first People’s Republic of China ambassador to the country. He said he has come to “embrace” the Dominican people and brings the salutes from Chinese President Xi Jinping and the friendship of the 1.3 billion Chinese, as he takes on “glorious mission of writing a new chapter in Dominican and Chinese relations.”
He explains he has worked many years in Latin America and feels at home in the continent. He says his mission is to achieve three objectives – solid trust, fair communication and win-win cooperation.
He said there is a need to improve communication and mutual understanding, reduce the deficit of knowledge given historical and geographical reasons, increase common language and strengthen shared interests. He said China is an enormous market, and has strong technology and capital, and the Dominican Republic has a privileged geographical position and good yields on investment.
“Between our two countries there are enormous natural complementary advantages to cooperation. We need to take full advantage of the potential and open doors to opportunities for cooperation. I believe the bilateral relationship should be comprehensive and diverse,” he writes.
He proposes that in addition to contributions to the economy and trade, infrastructure and other fields, there be cooperation for mutual gain in science, technology, culture, education, tourism and more. He forecast that more Chinese companies will have a presence in Dominican ports, highways, bridges and electric power centrals in the Dominican Republic. That there will be more Chinese tourists enjoying Dominican sun and beaches such as Punta Cana and that more local produce such as cacao, pineapple, tobacco and others be appreciated by Chinese consumers.
He summed up: “China is willing to contribute to the development of the Dominican Republic, following principals of fairness and mutual respect and in win-win conditions. We welcome Dominicans to actively participate in the new process of relations between China and the Dominican Republic to create together opportunities, prosperity and happiness.”
He ended his introduction [as the new US ambassador had also done so in her introductory video] saying that the Chinese are a humble people that want to learn from Dominicans, even about baseball. “Let us work together to give more home runs!”
https://listindiario.com/puntos-de-vista/2018/08/30/530909/vengo-para-dar-jonrones-mancomunados
Almagro warns that organized crime has gained political power like never before
The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, pointed out the weakness in political parties in the region in terms of lack of transparency and accountability, as reported in Listin Diario. He noted that in the countries of the region, there is a systemic corruption that has not been able to prevent the coexistence of pacts between politicians and power groups, noting that in the worst case with organized crime has acquired unprecedented economic and political power.
Speaking at the XXVI Central American and Caribbean Conference of Political Parties taking place in Santo Domingo, he said that the parties must reinvent themselves and give clear signals to the population that they want to provide solutions to the problems of the population and regain their credibility.
He explained that the parties should strengthen civic participation in governance in the region and assure transparency and accountability in government, eliminating any impunity.
Almargo urged political parties to review their objectives and missions so that they use their power to improve the effectiveness of democratic institutions. He points out that the parties must use digital technological platform more effectively to communicate their ideas to the population and have a greater civic engagement.
When referring to the different public powers, he observed that there is a problem because the legislative and judicial branches are subordinated to the Executive Branch.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...do-ha-adquirido-un-poder-politico-nunca-visto
Dominican Academy of Sciences points to massive deforestation in Mulito River basin area
The Dominican Academy of Science alerted to the massive deforestation of the forest area in the Mulito River basin in southwestern Pedernales province. In a press release, the Academy reports that only 30% of the forest area remains despite the river being essential source of water for human consumption for both the Dominican Republic (Pedernales) and Haiti (Anse a Pitre). The reason: agriculture practices in Aguas Negras, Mencia, La Altagracia and Los Arroyos.
The Academy alerts that this is the reality and disproved recent government reports that indicate that the Mulito River has plenty of water and there is no deforestation in the area.
Recently, ecologists have revved up their activism and have accused the new Minister of Environment, Angel Estevez of encouraging farming in protected areas. Estevez has not yet accepted to meet with the ecologists.
http://eldia.com.do/la-academia-pide-frenar-cultivos-en-rio/
Former election judge wants PLD to nominate Fernandez
The former district attorney for the National District, José Manuel Hernandez Peguero, called on the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) to select former President Leonel Fernandez as their candidate in the presidential elections in 2020. What makes this news interesting is the fact that Hernandez Peguero, the technical delegate of the PLD at the Central Electoral Board (JCE), is also a former judge on the Superior Electoral Tribunal that is charged with rendering decisions concerning election results or processes.
According to the former judge, the quick proclamation of Fernandez as the party’s candidate would unify the party and avoid useless confrontations. He said: “The government has polls that show the former President at above 50% in the preferences of the national electorate and this is more than sufficient for us to be convinced of the election triumph guaranteed by the President of the PLD.”
Hernandez Peguero also noted that once Fernandez is nominated as their presidential candidate, the PLD can then get on with the process of choosing more than 4,000 party members, allies and sympathizers to be placed on the municipal and congressional ballots.
http://elnacional.com.do/ex-juez-del-tribunal-electoral-pide-el-pld-proclame-a-leonel/
UN issues alert on Haitian deportations
The national representative of the United Nations Population Fund, Sonia Vasquez, said on Wednesday, 29 August 2018, that the deportation of Haitians who did not register for the National Foreigner Status Legalization Plan (PNRE) will have serious consequences for the productive sectors that rely heavily on Haitian labor, and therefore she recommended that the Dominican government address this issue.
In her remarks to reporters, she said that deportation does not resolve the problem of undocumented people in the Dominican Republic. She said that deportations are certainly the right of any government, but that beyond this the Dominican Republic has a workforce that is principally Haitian and upon which several sectors are dependent. She noted that 26% of the Haitian immigrants working construction, 32% work in agriculture and there are many Haitians who take part in commercial and tourist activity.
She noted that the PNRE fulfilled its objective, but nevertheless it has had limitations since there are Haitians who continue to have serious problems with the documentation from their country of origin and many others did not take advantage of the program.
Sociologist Wilfredo Lozano says that the program has begun to establish order in the process of regulating the immigration process, above all with regard to Haitian workers. He noted quite pointedly that the program is not a panacea aimed at resolving all the problems.
http://eldia.com.do/onu-alerta-impacto-deportar-a-haitianos/
Bernardo Vega: “It’s not the economy, stupid!
In an op-ed contribution to Hoy newspaper, former governor of the Central Bank and former Dominican ambassador to the United States, economist Bernardo Vega highlights how the Dominican economy leads in Latin America and the Caribbean, with low inflation and a very modest currency devaluation. He mentions how the government constantly points to achievements in education, health and transportation. How the international bonds buyers grab all the sovereign bonds placed on the market, and foreign investors continue to invest their money here. Remittances and tourism are also on the rise.
Vega says that all that make Dominicans optimistic. But then the most recent Mark Penn/Noticias SIN poll says all the contrary. 71%, a record number, of Dominicans told the pollsters that the Dominican Republic is headed in the wrong direction.
Vega says that while in April 2016, 82% said they were satisfied with the government of President Medina, today only 59% think the same way, and 71% of those identifying themselves as members of the ruling party. Party support has declined from 41% in April 2016 to 23% at present.
Vega writes that the political parties system is in crisis because only 10% say they are partisan to a political party. 59% declare themselves as independent, and among the young, 67%. The ruling party, the PLD has garnered a following of only 23%, according to the poll.
Vega tries to answer to why the pessimism when government numbers show the economy is doing so well. He says the answer can be found in the main problem affecting the country - that is the response of the government to crime and corruption in government.
62% said they do not believe the judges will sentence those accused in the Odebrecht case. And almost half of those that are members of the ruling PLD party, say so, too. When those polled were asked if those sent to justice are all those that are involved, 82% says there are others, including 73% of those identifying with the PLD.
76% said they favor measures taken by the US government by revoking the US visas to Ángel Rondón, Félix Bautista and Víctor Díaz Rúa, despite Bautista being a senator and key party member, and Díaz Rúa having been a public works minister and party treasurer.
Vega says that in the same way that in the United States the famous phrase “It’s the economy, stupid! Came about to get US political candidates to focus on the economy, here the contrary is true. He stresses that in the Dominican case: “It is not the economy, it is crime and government corruption!”
He observes that to reverse the situation the Brazilians had a judge Sergio Moro, who with the backing of the attorney general prosecuted and achieved sentences in the Lava Jato case. But he wonders if there is the local political will to achieve this.
http://hoy.com.do/no-es-la-economia-estupido/
Many Dominican brands now in foreign hands
The creation of alliances, merges or the sale of shares of local companies to foreign companies has been a frequent practice over the last 18 years with very well-known brands passing into the hands of foreign companies. Among the most noteworthy of these companies is León Jimenes, that sold 100% of its shares to Philip Morris International in 2006 for the sum of US$427 million; the Brugal rum company sold 83% of its shares to the Edrington company from Great Britain for some US$400 million in 2008. The local ice cream leading company Helados Bon sold 73.1% of its shares to the Compañía Nacional de Chocolates from Colombia for US $38.7 million. The hallmark Presidente brand and the National Dominican Brewery (Cerveceria) was sold to Ambev in Brazil; Orange and Tricom became part of Altice; Metaldom was fused with the Brazilian company Gerdau, creating Gerdau-Metaldom, and most recently the Banco del Progreso was absorbed by Scotiabank of Canada.
According to the economist Pavel Isa Contreras, these transactions took place because these were established brands and were attractive to foreign consortiums. The distribution channels, customer recognition and their clients represented added value to remain in the market and increase distribution. According to Isa Contreras, this is why companies pay more than the face value for these different brands and represent foreign investment in the Dominican Republic.
http://eldia.com.do/las-marcas-dominicanas-estan-en-manos-de-consorcios-extranjeros/
Community activist promotes motorcycle safety in Monte Plata
One of the good things that are often overlooked by the media are the actions such as the one taken by Oscar Morel, a young community activist and leader in the town of Monte Plata. Morel, like most of us, was worried about motorcycle safety, so he acquired 70 helmets and gave them to moto concho drivers together with a talk on accident prevention in his province. He told reporters in the Diario Libre that this was just part of what he called “Operation 5 of 5” that he is trying to develop to create a consciousness and awareness so that people don’t keep dying on the streets.
The young engineer said that the delivery of the 70 motorcycle helmets was a complement to the first phase that included 40 helmets. Operation 5 of 5 consists in providing a safety helmet to each moto concho driver and provide continuity to a campaign to create awareness, education and avoid pain in the population which is been greatly affected this year and every year by fatal motorcycle accidents. The safety talk included the participation of facilitators from the National Traffic and Transportation Institute (Intrant) presented videos and statistics about the high risk associated with not using a helmet.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...vincia-mas-segura-y-sin-accidentes-DB10663123
Alicia Ortega joins Odebrecht bribes international investigative network
TV investigative journalist Alicia Ortega of El Informe has joined the Car Wash Investigative Journalism Network (Investiga Lava Jato) that groups journalists from 11 Latin American and African countries. The team has since June 2017 been publishing their findings that follow up on Brazilian justice investigations on payment and bribes schemes of the Brazilian construction company. The network also investigates the financing of political campaigns and the ties to contracting in each country.
The network is made up of reporters from 15 countries in the Latin America and Africa. Also recently joining the group were Guillermo Draper and Raul Santopietro of the Semanario Busqueda in Uruguay; Nelfi Fernandez of the El Deber newspaper in Bolivia and Rafael Marques de Moerais of Angola.
The press release making the announcement highlights that since its start, 'Investigate Lava Jato' has enabled its members to analyze thousands of documents, build relevant databases of the countries under investigation, track offshore companies in tax havens, carry out dozens of requests for information to governments and Interview the key characters of the stories.
Most of the journalists had already collaborated in the global investigation that lead to the publishing of the Panama Papers that won a Pulitzer Prize. The journalists are also members of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). The project is coordinated by the director of Convoca in Peru, Milagros Salazar and Flavio Ferreira of the Folha de Sao Paulo in Brazil.
http://hoy.com.do/red-investiga-lava-jato-suma-a-cinco-periodistas-una-de-rd/
https://www.icij.org/
Trial date set for OMSA murder
The Third Court of Instruction established on Wednesday, 29 August 2018, that 18 September will be the beginning date for the preliminary process against the persons indicted for the death of the lawyer and university professor Yuniol Ramirez Ferreras. The case had first been heard in the province of Santo Domingo.
Last 14 August, the coordinating judge for the Courts of Instruction in the National District, José Alejandro Vargas, assigned by means of a random drawing this case to the Third Court of Instruction of the National District. That court will now carry out the preliminary hearings involving persons indicted for this murder. Involved in this case are the former director of the Metropolitan Office of Bus Service (OMSA) and several other officials of the transportation entity. Readers might remember that the Second Penal Chamber of the Court of Appeals of the province of Santo Domingo declined to hear the case and referred it to the National District, but the files were returned to the former court because they had not been delivered in their entirety to judge Vargas.
The lawyer and university professor was kidnapped and murdered. His body was found in October 2017 with a single gunshot wound to the head and tied to two concrete blocks in the bottom of a creek in West Santo Domingo. He had been investigating administrative corruption at the Omsa at the time of his death.
http://elnacional.com.do/fijan-para-18-de-septiembre-juicio-asesinato-Yuniol/
Rustlers take an entire herd of cattle in Hato Mayor
Rancher Carlos Abreu complained that rustlers took his entire herd of 14 milk cows and a bull from his farm in the community of La Jagua, some 3 km north of Hato Mayor. Abreu says this must be the biggest theft of cattle in the entire area. He said his losses were over RD$500,000. He called the theft “extraordinary” because among the animals taken was the prize bull used for reproduction. Abreu is offering a reward of RD$5,000 pesos to anyone who can help locate the animals.
Abreu told reporters from the Diario Libre that in over 70 years of working with milk and meat cattle he had never experienced something like this. He says this rustling had been planned and he called on the police and judicial authorities of the province to help him find the people responsible. He said that among the animals taken were six pregnant cows and the bull.
Abreu is also a cacao farmer. He warned that the theft of cattle in the east is growing and he called on the director of the National Police to intervene in the police detachments in Hato Mayor where he said they had done nothing to recover his cattle.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...do-completo-en-finca-de-hato-mayor-CB10664341
Case of murdered pregnant teenager begins in San Francisco de Macorís
At the opening of the Emely Peguero (Emi del Carmen Peguero Polanco), murder case on Wednesday, 29 August 2018, Marlin Martínez, mother of chief suspect of the murder, her son Marlon Martínez, once again declared her innocence of the charges of complicity in the death of the 16-year old. She said she was scared and acted from the anxiety at finding herself in the situation where everything had gone wrong. She denied that she was incriminating her son.
The hearing was held at the Palacio de Justicia in San Francisco de Macorís on Wednesday, 29 August 2018. The case start had been delayed on numerous occasions.
The remains of the body of 16-year old Peguero were found on 31 August 2017 in a suitcase in a lot in Espaillat province. She had been missing since 23 August 2017. The Public Ministry accuses the teenager’s then boyfriend Marlon Martínez and his mother as accomplice. The teenager was several months pregnant. The autopsy revealed the Peguero had died from the consequences of an abortion gone wrong and head injuries.
The defense lawyer of Marlon Martínez says there is only evidence that an abortion took place that lead to an involuntary death.
The prosecutors have requested 30 year sentence for the son and 20 years for the mothers in the case being heard in the Segundo Tribunal Colegiado in Duarte province. The mother is accused of hiding the evidence of the crime. The judges are María de los Ángeles Concepción, Carminia Caminero Sosa and Víctor Inoa.
The case, nevertheless, was postponed for 14 September 2018, after the defense bar for Marlon Martínez recused the judges, citing these lacked impartiality in the case.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...z-yo-soy-inocente-de-los-hechos-que-me-acusan
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...juicio-de-fondo-para-marlon-y-marlin-martinez
http://hoy.com.do/conocen-juicio-de...n-martinez-por-el-asesinato-de-emely-peguero/
http://eldia.com.do/abogada-de-marl...ar-una-decision-basados-en-la-presion-social/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/08...etio-ninguno-de-los-hechos-que-se-le-imputan/
https://acento.com.do/2018/actualid...-fondo-imputados-del-asesinato-emely-peguero/
DNCD seizes 193 kilos of cocaine
The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) with the backing of the Dominican Armada and the coordination of the Public Ministry seized 193 kilos of cocaine in an operation on coastal waters of La Altagracia province in the east. The cocaine was seized in a boat that suffered mechanical failure and was stalled just off the coast. The Armada activated ground forces that located six packages containing 183 packs of cocaine, with the weight of 193.02 kilograms, according to the National Institute of Forensic Services (Inacif).
Two armed Venezuelans were arrested. The Armada seized four outboard motors, navigation equipment and other evidence. The DNCD and Public Ministry is looking for other suspects involved in the international drug trafficking ring to bring them to justice.
http://dncd.gob.do/index.php/notici...3-kilos-de-cocaina-en-provincia-la-altagracia
https://www.metrord.do/do/destacado...-kilos-cocaina-detienen-2-venezolanos-rd.html
Onamet forecasts rain for today and tomorrow
The Center of Emergency Operations (COE) ordered a green alert for 12 provinces because of the forecast made by the National Meteorological Office (Onamet) for heavy rains over the next 48 hours the result of a tropical wave and a low pressure trough. The heavy rains are going to be felt over the entire country including the central mountains and the frontier. The provinces that are now under a green alert our Hato Mayor, Monsignor Nouel, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Espaillat, Sánchez Ramirez, El Seibo, Santo Domingo, La Vega, Monte Plata, San Pedro de Macoris, Duarte and Hermanas Mirabal.
Follow the bad weather reports on DR1 Forums at:
https://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/171769-2018-Hurricane-Season?p=1908500#post1908500
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...y-emiten-alerta-para-12-provincias-PB10666832
Long Night of Museums in the Colonial City
This Saturday, 1 September 2018, the Ministry of Culture celebrates the Long Night of Museums in the Colonial City. The summer event is an opportunity to visit free of charge the most popular museums and cultural centers in the historic center. The event will take place all day and night until midnight.
A late night closing show is set for the Plaza España with the performances of singers Pamel Mancebo and Manny Cruz. A second show with Héctor González, Omar Quezada, Vic Contreras and La Alucinante Banda, directed by Luis Tomás Oviedo, is set to take place at the Fortaleza de Santo Domingo (Fortaleza Ozama), as of 7:30pm on Saturday. Also performing that evening is singer Nathalie Hazim at the Museum of Casas Reales shortly after 6pm.
Long Night of Museums will also celebrate the National Dominican Folklore Day, with presentations of authentic rural groups at the frontal areas of the Casa de Tostado, Fortaleza de Santo Domingo and Plaza España from 5pm through 8pm, organized by the National Folklore Agency.
For children, on the program is the showing of the short animated film “Una aventura por el sur”, and puppet shows at the Colonial Gate theater from 5pm to 7:30pm in the Colonial City.
The performance of live statues at the Plaza España and Maria de Toledo plazas has also been arranged.
http://eldia.com.do/anuncian-atractivos-artisticos-para-la-noche-larga-de-los-museos/
Marc Anthony at the Estadio Quisqueya
Puerto Rican singer Marc Anthony is performing this Saturday, 1 September 2018 at the Quisqueya Ball Park in Santo Domingo. Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all times. He is a two-time Grammy Award winner and has won five Latin Grammy Awards.
Opening the evening is Manuel Turizo, the Colombian reggaeton singer. Tickets are for sale online at Uepa Tickets and at Jumbo and Supermercados Nacional.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYtJAuoZxcc