Process begins to choose 4 Constitutional Court judges
Luciano Nitrini Guidolin of Odebrecht expected Monday in Santo Domingo
Environmental impact and land use studies yet to be presented for Mirador del Este bus terminal
Gallup-Hoy: Medina government gets 47.8% approval, down from 62.7% in 2017
Electoral activity to concentrate in 10 provinces
Eurona: New Internet provider approved
Odebrecht trial continues
Too many people in jail
Garlic haul confiscated
Complaints about Haitian motorcycle taxis
Fundación Brugal award winners
Provinces on alert for rains
DR wins first game in Women’s World Volleyball Championship
Neal Gittleman to conduct National Symphony Orchestra
Joan Manuel Serrat brings his “Mediterraneo Da Capo” concert to Santo Domingo
Process begins to choose 4 Constitutional Court judges
The National Council of the Magistracy meets today at 4pm to choose four new Constitutional Court judges. Flavio Darío Espinal, legal advisor to President Danilo Medina, said the meeting is to determine when to open the summons for candidates. The candidates can be presented by civil society organizations, academic organizations and individuals and require the previous consent of the candidates. Espinal explained that after the summons of the candidates, a pre-selection will be made and a final list will be published. The candidates will later be assessed.
The National Council of the Magistracy is made up by President Danilo Medina, the president and judge of the Supreme Court of Justice, the presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, as well as two representaives of the PRM and the Attorney General of the Republic.
A separate process will be carried out in December to choose the replacements for judges in the Supreme Court of Justice.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...ceso-participativo-riguroso-y-transparente-en
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...s-primeros-en-ser-elegidos-por-cnm-MJ10918545
Luciano Nitrini Guidolin of Odebrecht expected Monday in Santo Domingo
The CEO of the Brazilian construction firm, Odebrecht, Luciano Nitrini Guidolin, was expected to arrive in Santo Domingo on 1 October 2018, for a meeting with President Danilo Medina, according to the National Committee to Combat Climate Change (CNLCC), as reported in Acento.com.do
As reported, he was due to arrive at 4pm to the Las Americas International Airport and make his way to the National Palace. The Presidency has not confirmed the meeting.
“President Danilo Medina and the president of Odebrecht will undoubtedly discuss the current state of accounts for the Punta Catalina power plant, which represents one of the largest investments in our nation’s history", says the CNLCC release.
The CNLCC is critical of the lack of transparency surrounding the meeting they expect will be about the Punta Catalina coal-fired plant under construction by Odebrecht.
The CNLCC has raised concerns about a range of issues with the plant, including from the bidding process to the recent announcement of the creation of a contingency fund for US$336 million to complete construction of the facility. The CNLCC says that these uncertainties suggest that the deal for the expenditure of the US$336 million is not closed.
The CNLCC expects the authorities to inform the country about the details of the meeting and any outcomes.
https://acento.com.do/2018/ecologia...pm-inmediato-se-reunira-danilo-afirma-comite/
Environmental impact and land use studies yet to be presented for Mirador del Este bus terminal
Judges of the Third Hall of the Superior Administrative Court (TSA), the government court that reviews government agencies, postponed the hearing to review the case of the construction by the Ministry of Public Works of a bus terminal on grounds of the Parque Mirador del Este.
The lawyer and former candidate to mayor for Santo Domingo East, Manuel Jiménez, and community activisit Claudio Caamaño Velez complained that the Ministry of Public Works did not deposit the land use or environmental studies requested by the court to continue the case. Jiménez said that the letter of no objection from the Ministry of Environment is in violation to their own rules because it should be backed by an environmental study that has yet to be presented by the builders of the terminal.
“From the start we have shown that the Ministry of Public Works has acted illegally. The court has given two opportunities for the Ministry to present the land use permits and the environmental impact study. Neither of these documents has not been presented,” said Jiménez.
But the defense lawyers for the Ministry of Public Works insist the documents have been presented. They also say the case presented by Jiménez would be rejected because the lawyers presented a recourse for not compliance of requirements instead of an ordinary recourse.
The community opposes the construction of the terminal on grounds of the Mirador del Este Park arguing that it would affect the Los Tres Ojos natural attraction and would bring congestion to the environs of the Mirador del Este Park.
The Ministry of Public Works has said the terminal will go up on an area of 25,000 square meters. It will serve 17 bus routes. On the premises, there will be 26 shops and fixed parking for 90 buses.
http://eldia.com.do/promotores-terminal-de-autobuses-en-sde-aun-no-presentan-estudios/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...construccion-de-autobuses-en-mirador-del-este
https://elnacional.com.do/tribunal-conoce-fondo-parada-de-autobuses/
https://elnacional.com.do/convencer-no-vencer/
Gallup-Hoy: Medina government gets 47.8% approval, down from 62.7% in 2017
President Danilo Medina’s government has the approval of 47.8% of eligible voters, according to the Gallup-Hoy poll that was carried out 16-21 September 2018 nationwide. Residents in rural areas are more supportive, with backing from 57.8%. In the north and southern regions, his backing is 49.3% and 51.4% respectively.
Despite having the backing of around half of voters, this support is a significant drop from the 87.4% a Gallup-Hoy poll registered in February 2014. By February 2017, Medina’s popularity had already dropped to 62.7%. Medina has been President since August 2012.
43% of voters answered to the question on Medina’s government performance that it had been positive, 30% gave Medina a negative, and 24% said regular. Nevertheless, 40% said that he did not meet their expectations.
http://hoy.com.do/encuesta-hoy-la-poblacion-se-divide-sobre-el-desempeno-dm/
Electoral activity to concentrate in 10 provinces
70.46% of voters eligible to participate in the 2020 general elections live in 10 provinces. These provinces will decide the election. The JCE reports there are 7,340,868 persons on the voting list. Of these 5,172,009 live in 9 provinces and the National District.
The vote is concentrated:
Santo Domingo: 1,633,870 (22.26%)
National District: 845,813 (11.52%
Santiago: 825,365 (11.24%)
San Cristóbal: 425,380 (5.79%)
La Vega: 328,412 (4.47)
Puerto Plata: 255,038 (3.47%)
Duarte: 251,220 (3.42%)
San Pedro de Macoris: 224,902 (3.06%)
Espaillat (Moca): 195,895 (2.67%)
La Romana: 186,124 (2.54%)
San Juan de la Maguana: 184,894 (2.52%)
Azua: 168,676 (2.30%)
La Altagracia (2.28%)
Monseñor Nouel: 148,183 (2.02%)
Peravia: 146,326 (1.99%)
Eurona: New Internet provider approved
Spanish telecommunications services provider Eurona has been awarded a license to provide a satellite-based voice and broadband service throughout the Dominican Republic. Eurona said the license awarded by Indotel allows it to install, operate and maintain fixed voice and internet services via satellite for 20 years. Under the terms of the concession, Eurona must launch services within 12 months and will also offer free access to its network via the country’s National Emergency and Security System 911 and backing the government’s “Digital Republic" Wi-Fi initiative.
https://www.telecompaper.com/news/s...ernet-services-in-dominican-republic--1262855
Odebrecht trial continues
On Monday, 1 October 2018, Supreme Court judge, Francisco Ortega Polanco, reconvened the trial against the seven accused in the Odebrecht bribery case. The judge reiterated his decision to reject three expert witnesses to analyze the evidence submitted by the public prosecution service. At the last hearing on 22 August, Judge Ortega Polanco declared these witnesses to be inadmissible including one who would have been able to translate the documents from Portuguese to Spanish. Ortega Polanco decided not to allow Odebrecht executives to be witnesses as well as President Dãnilo Medina and the Attorney General, Jean Alain Rodríguez.
This request had been made by Jesús Vásquez, who asks that Odebrecht president Marcelo Bahia Odebrecht, ex manager Marco Vasconcelos Cruz, and Luis Eduardo Da Roicha Soares be called as witnesses having had admitted to the Brazilian authorities that they had paid bribes to obtain contracts for state works. He also asked that other called as witnesses should be ex-presidents Hipólito Mejía and Leonel Fernández, who were in office when 17 contracts were awarded to Odebrecht.
In another development, defense lawyers for Angel Rondón, Victor Díaz Rua, Andres Bautista García, Juan Roberto Rodríguez, Conrado Pittaluga Arzeno and Jesús Vásquez requested that their clients’ cases be separate from the case against senator Tommy Galán. They argue their case should be heard by ordinary justice and not by the Supreme Court of Justice, as is required in the case of the senator.
The hearings will be resumed at 2pm by judge Francisco Ortega.
http://eldia.com.do/los-abogados-piden-separar-expediente/
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/10/01/535458/juez-reanudara-hoy-el-juicio-caso-odebrecht
Too many people in jail
According to data included in an Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) report, on average, 72% of inmates in the Dominican Republic jails between 1999 and 2017 had not been tried and convicted but being held in custody on remand. This is significantly higher than the regional average of 44% for the same time period. Out of the 24 countries in the region, the Dominican Republic shared third place with Bolivia with the highest percentages being Paraguay with 78% and Haiti with 79%.
The report says that despite penal reform that is meant to speed up trials, the data suggests that the chronic delays in court proceedings are still increasing. According to the Attorney General’s office as of 31 August 2018, of the 26,286 persons in jail some 60.3% were in preventive custody and the rest had been convicted.
The IDB report, “Better Spending for Better Lives” (Mejor Gasto para Mejores Vidas) highlights three reasons for the overwhelming number of preventive custody decision: either there was sufficient evidence that the accused could cause harm or damage to the community, was a flight risk or would interfere with the investigation. However, the report suggests that many judges in Latin America apply more subjective reasons for remanding custody suspects, rather than using the clear criteria outlined above.
The report also examined the amount of money each country is spending on the police, prisons and he justice system and points out that while nations such as Argentina and Jamaica spend more on the police, Brazil and he Dominican Republic spend more on the Judicial system.
The report concludes that the region should prioritize limited jail space and the imposition of long sentences should be reserved for the serious criminals and that alternative sanctions for the non violent criminals should be considered. If the prison population continued to increase at the current rate of 8% a year, by 2030 there would be nearly 3.4 million in jail in the region, which would cost at least US$3.4 million more than in 2014.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...-region-con-mas-presos-sin-condena-AJ10915306
https://publications.iadb.org/bitst...para-mejores-vidas.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=4
http://www.prisonstudies.org/country/dominican-republic
Garlic haul confiscated
On Sunday 30 September 2018, the Dominican Armada arrested four men who were transporting 125 sacks of garlic from Haiti aboard a boat which ran aground on the reefs surrounding the Cayos Siete Hermanos, off the coast Montecristi.
Those arrested were Francisco José Silvestre, Francisco Antonio Veras, Juan Bautista Ortiz and Jonathan Amezquita Soriano, who are now under investigation by Naval Intelligence. The boat is allegedly owned by Ramón Silvero and Jamil Walter Macdougal. The men were rescued by a yacht when the boat run aground and were taken to Paroli in Montecristi before being transferred to Santo Domingo.
In the last few weeks there have been four boats in the area of Manzanillo and Montecristi that have been caught by the Armada transporting illegal shipments of garlic.
http://hoy.com.do/decomisan-cargamento-de-ajo-y-detienen-cuatro/
Complaints about Haitian motorcycle taxis
Dozens of members of the military were on the access road to the bi-national market in Pedernales yesterday, Monday 1 October, to look for illegal Haitian motorcycle taxi drivers, contraband and violations of the Dominican migration law.
Colonel Belén Pichargo of the Fifth Infantry Brigade based in Barahona, said to Listin Diario he was supervising the area and met with motorcycle taxi drivers to hear their complaints.
The president of the Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Association, Andy Misael Féliz Fernández said that the Haitian motorcycle taxi drivers were allowed by migration and customs authorities to cross the border to take passengers to Pedernales, without the corresponding documents, which was a violation of the Dominican law.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...itianos-y-motoconcho-en-mercado-de-pedernales
Fundación Brugal award winners
The Fundación Brugal has announced the winners of its Brugal Cree en su Gente awards. These are Sociedad Cultural Renovación de Puerto Plata won in the Arts and Culture category. Fundación La Merced de Santo Domingo won in the social assistance category. The Fondo Peregrino república Dominicana won in defense and protection of the environment. Radio Seibo won the community development award. Fudanción Alexia de Puerto Plata won in education. Fundación Operación Sonrisa won in health.
Provinces on alert for rains
The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) has informed that due to a weather front, it will continue to rain in the northwest, northeast, southeast, southwest, border area and central mountain area. Onamet alerts to possible mudslides and flooding in the provinces of La Altagracia, El Seibo, Greater Santo Domingo, La Romana, Hato Mayor, San Cristóbal, San José de Ocoa, Monte Plata, San Pedro de Macorís and Monseñor Nouel.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...rta-para-9-provincias-y-el-gran-santo-domingo
DR wins first game in Women’s World Volleyball Championship
The Dominican Republic women’s volleyball team (ranked 9th by FIVB) won its first match during the FIVB Women's World Championship taking place in Hamamatsu, Japan. The Dominican team had lost its matches to Serbia (ranked 3rd) and Brazil (ranked 4th), but defeated Kazakhstan (ranked 40th) 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-19). The Dominican Republic is playing in Pool D. Coach Marcos Kwiek said he relied on his experienced players to win the match.
The Dominican Republic is competing against 24 teams in the event that started on 29 September and continues through 20 October 2018. The Dominican team has pending to play Puerto Rico (ranked 13th) and Kenya (ranked 33rd).
FIVB shared the coaches and player comments:
Marcos Kwiek, coach DR: We are very happy to get our first win of the tournament. We had some good points, but we need to address our mistakes that led to easy points for the opposition. The goal is to improve our performance from here one. It is important to use veteran players in a big event like this. They were good on receiving and attacking.
Shapran Vyacheslav, coach Kazakhstan: They are a good team. I have watched them play many times. They are physical and tall and better than us. I like their style. They have good technique in service, attack and blocking, which is quite beyond us. This is the reason for the result.
Dominican Republic captain Bethania De La Cruz: We are happy with the victory. We passed and set well today. We still have some elements to improve. We had to win this game.
Kazakhstan captain Radmila Beresneva: They played stable through the match and did a good job. Their reserve players also played well.
Dominican team members are: Brenda Castillo, Larysmer Martinez, Prisilla Rivera Brens, Bethania de la Cruz, Yonkaira Peña, Isabel and Brayelin Martinez, Gina Mambru, Gaila González, Annerys Valdez, Candida Arias Perez, Lisvel Eve Mejia, Jineiry Martínez, Niverka Marte and Camil Dominguez.
The best the Dominican Republic senior team has done in the world championship is 5th place.
http://japan2018.fivb.com/en/news/dominican-coach-says-veteran-players-are-important?id=79210
Neal Gittleman to conduct National Symphony Orchestra
Neal Gittleman, artistic director of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, will be conducting the National Symphony Orchestra in its performance at the National Theater on Wednesday, 3 October 2018 at 8:30pm. The soloists for the concert are Serbian cellist Milena Zivkovic and bassist Velibor Veljkovic. The program honors the memory of Maestro Pavle Vujcic. The closing of the concert will feature compositions by Leonard Bernstein.
http://www.parkerartists.com/Neal-Gittleman.html
Joan Manuel Serrat brings his “Mediterraneo Da Capo” concert to Santo Domingo
Spanish balladist, Joan Manuel Serrat will be presenting his Mediterraneo Da Capo concert in Santiago and Santo Domingo. On Friday, 25 January 2019, the show will be at the Gran Teatro del Cibao at 8:30pm and on Saturday, 26 January 2018 at the Teatro La Fiesta of the Jaragua Renaissance at 9pm.
Luciano Nitrini Guidolin of Odebrecht expected Monday in Santo Domingo
Environmental impact and land use studies yet to be presented for Mirador del Este bus terminal
Gallup-Hoy: Medina government gets 47.8% approval, down from 62.7% in 2017
Electoral activity to concentrate in 10 provinces
Eurona: New Internet provider approved
Odebrecht trial continues
Too many people in jail
Garlic haul confiscated
Complaints about Haitian motorcycle taxis
Fundación Brugal award winners
Provinces on alert for rains
DR wins first game in Women’s World Volleyball Championship
Neal Gittleman to conduct National Symphony Orchestra
Joan Manuel Serrat brings his “Mediterraneo Da Capo” concert to Santo Domingo
Process begins to choose 4 Constitutional Court judges
The National Council of the Magistracy meets today at 4pm to choose four new Constitutional Court judges. Flavio Darío Espinal, legal advisor to President Danilo Medina, said the meeting is to determine when to open the summons for candidates. The candidates can be presented by civil society organizations, academic organizations and individuals and require the previous consent of the candidates. Espinal explained that after the summons of the candidates, a pre-selection will be made and a final list will be published. The candidates will later be assessed.
The National Council of the Magistracy is made up by President Danilo Medina, the president and judge of the Supreme Court of Justice, the presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, as well as two representaives of the PRM and the Attorney General of the Republic.
A separate process will be carried out in December to choose the replacements for judges in the Supreme Court of Justice.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...ceso-participativo-riguroso-y-transparente-en
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...s-primeros-en-ser-elegidos-por-cnm-MJ10918545
Luciano Nitrini Guidolin of Odebrecht expected Monday in Santo Domingo
The CEO of the Brazilian construction firm, Odebrecht, Luciano Nitrini Guidolin, was expected to arrive in Santo Domingo on 1 October 2018, for a meeting with President Danilo Medina, according to the National Committee to Combat Climate Change (CNLCC), as reported in Acento.com.do
As reported, he was due to arrive at 4pm to the Las Americas International Airport and make his way to the National Palace. The Presidency has not confirmed the meeting.
“President Danilo Medina and the president of Odebrecht will undoubtedly discuss the current state of accounts for the Punta Catalina power plant, which represents one of the largest investments in our nation’s history", says the CNLCC release.
The CNLCC is critical of the lack of transparency surrounding the meeting they expect will be about the Punta Catalina coal-fired plant under construction by Odebrecht.
The CNLCC has raised concerns about a range of issues with the plant, including from the bidding process to the recent announcement of the creation of a contingency fund for US$336 million to complete construction of the facility. The CNLCC says that these uncertainties suggest that the deal for the expenditure of the US$336 million is not closed.
The CNLCC expects the authorities to inform the country about the details of the meeting and any outcomes.
https://acento.com.do/2018/ecologia...pm-inmediato-se-reunira-danilo-afirma-comite/
Environmental impact and land use studies yet to be presented for Mirador del Este bus terminal
Judges of the Third Hall of the Superior Administrative Court (TSA), the government court that reviews government agencies, postponed the hearing to review the case of the construction by the Ministry of Public Works of a bus terminal on grounds of the Parque Mirador del Este.
The lawyer and former candidate to mayor for Santo Domingo East, Manuel Jiménez, and community activisit Claudio Caamaño Velez complained that the Ministry of Public Works did not deposit the land use or environmental studies requested by the court to continue the case. Jiménez said that the letter of no objection from the Ministry of Environment is in violation to their own rules because it should be backed by an environmental study that has yet to be presented by the builders of the terminal.
“From the start we have shown that the Ministry of Public Works has acted illegally. The court has given two opportunities for the Ministry to present the land use permits and the environmental impact study. Neither of these documents has not been presented,” said Jiménez.
But the defense lawyers for the Ministry of Public Works insist the documents have been presented. They also say the case presented by Jiménez would be rejected because the lawyers presented a recourse for not compliance of requirements instead of an ordinary recourse.
The community opposes the construction of the terminal on grounds of the Mirador del Este Park arguing that it would affect the Los Tres Ojos natural attraction and would bring congestion to the environs of the Mirador del Este Park.
The Ministry of Public Works has said the terminal will go up on an area of 25,000 square meters. It will serve 17 bus routes. On the premises, there will be 26 shops and fixed parking for 90 buses.
http://eldia.com.do/promotores-terminal-de-autobuses-en-sde-aun-no-presentan-estudios/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...construccion-de-autobuses-en-mirador-del-este
https://elnacional.com.do/tribunal-conoce-fondo-parada-de-autobuses/
https://elnacional.com.do/convencer-no-vencer/
Gallup-Hoy: Medina government gets 47.8% approval, down from 62.7% in 2017
President Danilo Medina’s government has the approval of 47.8% of eligible voters, according to the Gallup-Hoy poll that was carried out 16-21 September 2018 nationwide. Residents in rural areas are more supportive, with backing from 57.8%. In the north and southern regions, his backing is 49.3% and 51.4% respectively.
Despite having the backing of around half of voters, this support is a significant drop from the 87.4% a Gallup-Hoy poll registered in February 2014. By February 2017, Medina’s popularity had already dropped to 62.7%. Medina has been President since August 2012.
43% of voters answered to the question on Medina’s government performance that it had been positive, 30% gave Medina a negative, and 24% said regular. Nevertheless, 40% said that he did not meet their expectations.
http://hoy.com.do/encuesta-hoy-la-poblacion-se-divide-sobre-el-desempeno-dm/
Electoral activity to concentrate in 10 provinces
70.46% of voters eligible to participate in the 2020 general elections live in 10 provinces. These provinces will decide the election. The JCE reports there are 7,340,868 persons on the voting list. Of these 5,172,009 live in 9 provinces and the National District.
The vote is concentrated:
Santo Domingo: 1,633,870 (22.26%)
National District: 845,813 (11.52%
Santiago: 825,365 (11.24%)
San Cristóbal: 425,380 (5.79%)
La Vega: 328,412 (4.47)
Puerto Plata: 255,038 (3.47%)
Duarte: 251,220 (3.42%)
San Pedro de Macoris: 224,902 (3.06%)
Espaillat (Moca): 195,895 (2.67%)
La Romana: 186,124 (2.54%)
San Juan de la Maguana: 184,894 (2.52%)
Azua: 168,676 (2.30%)
La Altagracia (2.28%)
Monseñor Nouel: 148,183 (2.02%)
Peravia: 146,326 (1.99%)
Eurona: New Internet provider approved
Spanish telecommunications services provider Eurona has been awarded a license to provide a satellite-based voice and broadband service throughout the Dominican Republic. Eurona said the license awarded by Indotel allows it to install, operate and maintain fixed voice and internet services via satellite for 20 years. Under the terms of the concession, Eurona must launch services within 12 months and will also offer free access to its network via the country’s National Emergency and Security System 911 and backing the government’s “Digital Republic" Wi-Fi initiative.
https://www.telecompaper.com/news/s...ernet-services-in-dominican-republic--1262855
Odebrecht trial continues
On Monday, 1 October 2018, Supreme Court judge, Francisco Ortega Polanco, reconvened the trial against the seven accused in the Odebrecht bribery case. The judge reiterated his decision to reject three expert witnesses to analyze the evidence submitted by the public prosecution service. At the last hearing on 22 August, Judge Ortega Polanco declared these witnesses to be inadmissible including one who would have been able to translate the documents from Portuguese to Spanish. Ortega Polanco decided not to allow Odebrecht executives to be witnesses as well as President Dãnilo Medina and the Attorney General, Jean Alain Rodríguez.
This request had been made by Jesús Vásquez, who asks that Odebrecht president Marcelo Bahia Odebrecht, ex manager Marco Vasconcelos Cruz, and Luis Eduardo Da Roicha Soares be called as witnesses having had admitted to the Brazilian authorities that they had paid bribes to obtain contracts for state works. He also asked that other called as witnesses should be ex-presidents Hipólito Mejía and Leonel Fernández, who were in office when 17 contracts were awarded to Odebrecht.
In another development, defense lawyers for Angel Rondón, Victor Díaz Rua, Andres Bautista García, Juan Roberto Rodríguez, Conrado Pittaluga Arzeno and Jesús Vásquez requested that their clients’ cases be separate from the case against senator Tommy Galán. They argue their case should be heard by ordinary justice and not by the Supreme Court of Justice, as is required in the case of the senator.
The hearings will be resumed at 2pm by judge Francisco Ortega.
http://eldia.com.do/los-abogados-piden-separar-expediente/
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/10/01/535458/juez-reanudara-hoy-el-juicio-caso-odebrecht
Too many people in jail
According to data included in an Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) report, on average, 72% of inmates in the Dominican Republic jails between 1999 and 2017 had not been tried and convicted but being held in custody on remand. This is significantly higher than the regional average of 44% for the same time period. Out of the 24 countries in the region, the Dominican Republic shared third place with Bolivia with the highest percentages being Paraguay with 78% and Haiti with 79%.
The report says that despite penal reform that is meant to speed up trials, the data suggests that the chronic delays in court proceedings are still increasing. According to the Attorney General’s office as of 31 August 2018, of the 26,286 persons in jail some 60.3% were in preventive custody and the rest had been convicted.
The IDB report, “Better Spending for Better Lives” (Mejor Gasto para Mejores Vidas) highlights three reasons for the overwhelming number of preventive custody decision: either there was sufficient evidence that the accused could cause harm or damage to the community, was a flight risk or would interfere with the investigation. However, the report suggests that many judges in Latin America apply more subjective reasons for remanding custody suspects, rather than using the clear criteria outlined above.
The report also examined the amount of money each country is spending on the police, prisons and he justice system and points out that while nations such as Argentina and Jamaica spend more on the police, Brazil and he Dominican Republic spend more on the Judicial system.
The report concludes that the region should prioritize limited jail space and the imposition of long sentences should be reserved for the serious criminals and that alternative sanctions for the non violent criminals should be considered. If the prison population continued to increase at the current rate of 8% a year, by 2030 there would be nearly 3.4 million in jail in the region, which would cost at least US$3.4 million more than in 2014.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...-region-con-mas-presos-sin-condena-AJ10915306
https://publications.iadb.org/bitst...para-mejores-vidas.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=4
http://www.prisonstudies.org/country/dominican-republic
Garlic haul confiscated
On Sunday 30 September 2018, the Dominican Armada arrested four men who were transporting 125 sacks of garlic from Haiti aboard a boat which ran aground on the reefs surrounding the Cayos Siete Hermanos, off the coast Montecristi.
Those arrested were Francisco José Silvestre, Francisco Antonio Veras, Juan Bautista Ortiz and Jonathan Amezquita Soriano, who are now under investigation by Naval Intelligence. The boat is allegedly owned by Ramón Silvero and Jamil Walter Macdougal. The men were rescued by a yacht when the boat run aground and were taken to Paroli in Montecristi before being transferred to Santo Domingo.
In the last few weeks there have been four boats in the area of Manzanillo and Montecristi that have been caught by the Armada transporting illegal shipments of garlic.
http://hoy.com.do/decomisan-cargamento-de-ajo-y-detienen-cuatro/
Complaints about Haitian motorcycle taxis
Dozens of members of the military were on the access road to the bi-national market in Pedernales yesterday, Monday 1 October, to look for illegal Haitian motorcycle taxi drivers, contraband and violations of the Dominican migration law.
Colonel Belén Pichargo of the Fifth Infantry Brigade based in Barahona, said to Listin Diario he was supervising the area and met with motorcycle taxi drivers to hear their complaints.
The president of the Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Association, Andy Misael Féliz Fernández said that the Haitian motorcycle taxi drivers were allowed by migration and customs authorities to cross the border to take passengers to Pedernales, without the corresponding documents, which was a violation of the Dominican law.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...itianos-y-motoconcho-en-mercado-de-pedernales
Fundación Brugal award winners
The Fundación Brugal has announced the winners of its Brugal Cree en su Gente awards. These are Sociedad Cultural Renovación de Puerto Plata won in the Arts and Culture category. Fundación La Merced de Santo Domingo won in the social assistance category. The Fondo Peregrino república Dominicana won in defense and protection of the environment. Radio Seibo won the community development award. Fudanción Alexia de Puerto Plata won in education. Fundación Operación Sonrisa won in health.
Provinces on alert for rains
The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) has informed that due to a weather front, it will continue to rain in the northwest, northeast, southeast, southwest, border area and central mountain area. Onamet alerts to possible mudslides and flooding in the provinces of La Altagracia, El Seibo, Greater Santo Domingo, La Romana, Hato Mayor, San Cristóbal, San José de Ocoa, Monte Plata, San Pedro de Macorís and Monseñor Nouel.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...rta-para-9-provincias-y-el-gran-santo-domingo
DR wins first game in Women’s World Volleyball Championship
The Dominican Republic women’s volleyball team (ranked 9th by FIVB) won its first match during the FIVB Women's World Championship taking place in Hamamatsu, Japan. The Dominican team had lost its matches to Serbia (ranked 3rd) and Brazil (ranked 4th), but defeated Kazakhstan (ranked 40th) 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-19). The Dominican Republic is playing in Pool D. Coach Marcos Kwiek said he relied on his experienced players to win the match.
The Dominican Republic is competing against 24 teams in the event that started on 29 September and continues through 20 October 2018. The Dominican team has pending to play Puerto Rico (ranked 13th) and Kenya (ranked 33rd).
FIVB shared the coaches and player comments:
Marcos Kwiek, coach DR: We are very happy to get our first win of the tournament. We had some good points, but we need to address our mistakes that led to easy points for the opposition. The goal is to improve our performance from here one. It is important to use veteran players in a big event like this. They were good on receiving and attacking.
Shapran Vyacheslav, coach Kazakhstan: They are a good team. I have watched them play many times. They are physical and tall and better than us. I like their style. They have good technique in service, attack and blocking, which is quite beyond us. This is the reason for the result.
Dominican Republic captain Bethania De La Cruz: We are happy with the victory. We passed and set well today. We still have some elements to improve. We had to win this game.
Kazakhstan captain Radmila Beresneva: They played stable through the match and did a good job. Their reserve players also played well.
Dominican team members are: Brenda Castillo, Larysmer Martinez, Prisilla Rivera Brens, Bethania de la Cruz, Yonkaira Peña, Isabel and Brayelin Martinez, Gina Mambru, Gaila González, Annerys Valdez, Candida Arias Perez, Lisvel Eve Mejia, Jineiry Martínez, Niverka Marte and Camil Dominguez.
The best the Dominican Republic senior team has done in the world championship is 5th place.
http://japan2018.fivb.com/en/news/dominican-coach-says-veteran-players-are-important?id=79210
Neal Gittleman to conduct National Symphony Orchestra
Neal Gittleman, artistic director of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, will be conducting the National Symphony Orchestra in its performance at the National Theater on Wednesday, 3 October 2018 at 8:30pm. The soloists for the concert are Serbian cellist Milena Zivkovic and bassist Velibor Veljkovic. The program honors the memory of Maestro Pavle Vujcic. The closing of the concert will feature compositions by Leonard Bernstein.
http://www.parkerartists.com/Neal-Gittleman.html
Joan Manuel Serrat brings his “Mediterraneo Da Capo” concert to Santo Domingo
Spanish balladist, Joan Manuel Serrat will be presenting his Mediterraneo Da Capo concert in Santiago and Santo Domingo. On Friday, 25 January 2019, the show will be at the Gran Teatro del Cibao at 8:30pm and on Saturday, 26 January 2018 at the Teatro La Fiesta of the Jaragua Renaissance at 9pm.