Energy Minister says focus is on finding petroleum
World Bank highlights the changing nature of work, DR does poorly in Human Capital Index
China and DR talks
Santiago renovates its historic heritage houses
Medical Guild: Governmental Sisaril acts as a middleman for health providers
Hubieres seeks to run for President in 2020
Newlink poll: Abinader 23%, Fernandez 19%
Divide and you will lose
Where’s the final count, says Xiomara Guante
Supreme Court orders Blas Peralta of Fenatrado to stay in jail
Earthquake expert promotes earthquake prevention
It’s raining
Anthony Santos and Don Miguelo show
Last chance to see the 11-foot faceless dolls at Agora Mall
Energy Minister says focus is on finding petroleum
Minister of Energy & Mines Antonio Isa Conde is optimistic companies will find oil to generate more income for the government. In an interview with Diario Libre, the minister says most of the focus of his department is on backing oil exploration efforts. Now the Dominican Republic wants to join the growing number of Caribbean countries where new oil discoveries have been found in recent years.
“It is the project that we are promoting with more value, with more vigor and that will have results faster, because we are in the last inning, that is, we are already in the bidding process and in the final stages of hiring the company that will collaborate with us,” he told journalist Tania Molina of Diario Libre. Isa Conde said this project could boost the Gross Domestic Product (PIB).
He said explorations have been carried out in the Charco Largo (Azua, an area of 13,470 sq km), Enriquillo (an area of 179,160 sq km), San Juan (13,852 sq km), San Pedro de Macoris (with 7,917,201 sq km), Ocoa Bay (436,931 sq km) and Cibao Oriental (with two areas that add up 177,123 sq km). Two of the areas, those of San Pedro and Ocoa Bay are maritime exploration concessions.
Isa Conde says that the government has also granted metallic mining concessions primarily to Falconbridge, Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corporation, Envirogold, Unigold and GoldQuest. Recently, inhabitants near to the GoldQuest exploration area in San Juan de la Maguana have objected the exploitation. The company says it will be carrying out underground mining and will rely on rainwater in the operation. The local residents and environmentalists observe the area is affected by frequent droughts. They oppose granting the needed social permit on grounds that the mining site is located in an area that is major source of fresh water.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ncesiones-para-repuntar-la-mineria-PB11015813
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-O...ised-To-Become-The-Next-Major-Oil-Region.html
World Bank highlights the changing nature of work, DR does poorly in Human Capital Index
A new report, the World Development Report, published by the World Bank on 12 October 2018, provides readers with a comprehensive treatise of the digital economy and its effects on employment, government policy and revenues. The report includes statistics in the Human Capital Index, which is a measurement of education and health outcomes that are correlated to the development of human capital and as a proxy for the impacts of policy interventions. In the index of 157 countries, the Dominican Republic is ranked 101th, only above Haiti (112th) and Honduras in the listing that includes 14 Latin American countries. The index is measured in terms of the productivity of the next generation of workers relative to the benchmark of complete education and full health.
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/pr...-the-future-require-more-investment-in-people
http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/816281518818814423/pdf/2019-WDR-Report.pdf
https://listindiario.com/economia/2...l-indice-del-capital-humano-del-banco-mundial
China and DR talks
During the “Dialogue between Think-Tanks and Media on the Dominican Republic and the People’s Republic of China organized by the Ministry of Foreign Relations, the Embassy of the PRC, and the Association of Public Diplomacy of China on Monday, focused on better understanding of mutual ties.
Deputy Minister Carlos Gabriel Garcia for the Ministry opened the event pointing out how the Ministry of Foreign Relations is supporting the building of two-way streets of progress between both countries. He said that exchanges between the media, academia, non-governmental organizations are important allies to obtain this objective.
Liu Biwei, vice presidents of the Public Diplomacy Association of PRC and China Ambassador Zhang Run coordinated the Chinese participation. Also speaking were Wang Xiaoyuan, former China ambassador in Colombia; Du Oiwen, former deputy director of the Office of Foreign Affairs of the Central Committee of the China Communist Party.
Du Quiwen spoke of the priority China sees in integrating the Dominican Republic into the China’s Belt and Silk Road. Previously, China has signed 11 Latin American countries, with the initiative promising infrastructure financing and development.
Also participating for the Ministry of Foreign Relations was ambassador Luis González, who is in charge of Asia and Oceania relations and Eduardo Klinger, member of the Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic.
Other speakers were Dao Shuming, vice president of the Public Diplomacy Association based in Shanghai who highlighted the importance of developing tourism exchanges between both countries.
One of the talks focused on cultural and humanitarian exchanges, and the cooperation of media between China, Latin America and the Caribbean. Speaking were José Monegro, director of El Día, and Arismendy Calderón, for Hoy newspaper. Su Quin, a Chinese writer, spoke for China.
The closing words were by Zhou Migwei, former director of the Administration of Foreign Languages Publication of China.
http://www.mirex.gob.do/medios/noti...re-relaciones-rd-y-la-republica-popular-china
http://eldia.com.do/china-y-republica-dominicana-buscan-rutas-para-comercio-y-turismo/
https://www.chinadialogue.net/artic...-China-s-Belt-and-Road-lands-in-Latin-America
Santiago renovates its historic heritage houses
The city government of Santiago announced the implementation of a program to salvage historical houses in the city center. Maintenance works and a paint facelift are being applied to around 100 properties in this first round of the program. A second phase will include improvements to buildings of the Republican period.
Already, 50 houses between 16 de Agosto, La Joya and other streets in the city center have been painted, said Yanilsa Cruz, coordinator for urban art of the culture department of the city government. Cruz said they have received the backing of Pinturas Tucan.
Among the houses being renovated is the original home of the family of former President, the late Joaquín Balaguer on Calle Máximo Gómez. The house had been donated to a congregation of Catholic nuns. Also contemplated in the program is salvaging the façade of the Hotel Mercedes, located on Calle 30 de Marzo, and that is in abandon.
A Santiago city government press release says that the renovations in the city center are part of a way of the preserving of local traditions and the beauty of the republican architecture of the area.
"We have instructed the brigades to work until all the houses are properly painted, as this returns the color and splendor to these homes that are part of the cultural and architectural heritage of Santiago," said Mayor Abel Martínez, when highlighting the initiative in the press release.
https://santiagodeloscaballeros.gob...s-antiguas-en-diferentes-puntos-de-la-ciudad/
Medical Guild: Governmental Sisaril acts as a middleman for health providers
The president of the Dominican Medical Guild (CMD) says that the association, private clinics and medical societies are united in requesting the authorities delay no more in implementing the primary care programs. Speaking on Monday, Dr. Wilson Roa Familia, president of the CMD disagrees with how the Superintendence of Health and Labor Risks (Sisalril) wants to start the program. Dr. Roa said the only winners of that situation are the health administrator companies (ARS) that are proposing a plan that would increase their revenues by almost RD$5 billion a year.
Instead, Dr. Roa calls for its start to benefit the 7.5 million poor persons that have subsidized affiliation. Dr. Roa says the primary care efforts should start by reaching out to the population at the public schools, with its 2.4 million students, in addition to employees and their relatives.
He said the measure that the Superintendent of Health wants to implement responds to business interests. He said the ARS, and politicians from the government and opposition are backing the change.
https://elnacional.com.do/ve-sisalril-es-intermediaria-de-las-ars/
Hubieres seeks to run for President in 2020
Transport businessman and former legislator, Juan Hubieres is now seeking to be the presidential candidate for the Frente Amplio. He ran for senator for that same minority party in the 2016 elections in an alliance with the Partido Revolucionario Moderno. He lost to the PLD candidate, Cristina Lizardo.
Hubieres is the president of the Federación Nacional de Transportistas La Nueva Opción (Fenatrano), the largest single affiliation of buses and minibuses that has exclusive rights to several key routes in Greater Santo Domingo. His affiliates have been known to maintain their virtual monopoly using strong-arm tactics.
Hubieres is on the warpath recently, demanding the government reduce the price of fuel for the vehicles that serve passengers. He has called for unannounced work stoppages by Fenatrano affiliates, primarily at peak hours. He has called for a change in the Hydrocarbons Law 112-00 and that the formula the government uses to decide on the weekly price of fuel be made public.
Hubieres has announced a transport work stoppage for Wednesday, 17 October 2018.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...candidatura-presidencial-por-el-frente-amplio
Newlink poll: Abinader 23%, Fernandez 19%
A Newlink poll carried out from 28 September to 5 October 2018, that asked who of a list of politicians the person would vote for showed these results:
Luis Abinader of the PRM would obtain 23.2% of the votes; Leonel Fernandez of the PLD, 19%; President Danilo Medina 18.1%, former President Hipólito Mejía 11.7%. 21.5% of voters said they wouldn’t vote for none of those, and 1.5% checked the “others” category. For the poll, 1,203 persons were surveyed nationwide.
The 2015 Constitution bans President Danilo Medina from running for a third term. Nevertheless, polls include him because the party has the majority in Congress to make a new change to the Constitution that would enable him to run for office.
Regarding to party preferences, the study showed that 37% identifies with the ruling PLD party, followed by 19.1% with the opposition leader PRM, 10.7% with the PRD that allied with the PLD in the 2016 election, and 2.7% with the PRSC. 28% of those polled does not have a preference for a political party.
The low vote numbers in the poll confirm what a Gallup poll in September also had revealed: Dominicans are not happy about the choice of politicians.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/10...y-leonel-son-favoritos-para-ganar-elecciones/
Abinader promises 30% reduction in food prices
On the pre-campaign trail in Villa Altagracia, PRM presidential candidate hopeful Luis Abinader told farmers that if he is elected President in 2020 he would make farming profitable. This would then result in an increase in production, bringing lower prices for consumers.
He announced he would create consensus for a strategic alliance among producers, consumers, farm sector professionals, manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers and retailers for a National Agropecuarian Development Plan.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...cio-de-los-alimentos-bajaria-un-30-CB11015667
Divide and you will lose
The group differences within the ruling PLD political party have resulted in the party losing two of the leading politicized elective positions that control unionized guilds. These are the Dominican Medical Association that in November 2017 went to Dr. Wilson Roa, who had the support of the opposition PRM party. And that of Xiomara Guante, also of the PRM, who defeated the PLD candidate, Eduardo Hidalgo for the presidency of the Public School Teachers Association.
Political analyst Henry Blanco believes the PLD is falling victim to a “divide and lose” strategy. He told Diario Libre reporter Tania Molina that the internal divide between PLD members that favor the faction of President Danilo Medina and those that favor former President Leonel Fernandez is what has made the difference in the recent union elections. Nevertheless, as has occurred in the past, he believes that into the 2020 electoral year, the various PLD factions will eventually reach a consensus and become unified. He discarded the notion that the people voting for the PRM are doing so because they see this as a guarantee for change.
Social media has also had a run at how the PLD divide and practices have lost favor with many in Dominican society and how this is evidenced by the loss of the ADP presidency.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...os-gremios-por-sus-luchas-internas-MB11015687
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...-en-la-adp-que-desato-los-demonios-DA11002652
Where’s the final count?, says Xiomara Guante
The president-elect of the Dominican Association of Public School Teachers (ADP) Xiomara Guante is questioning the delays in the electoral commission of the elections releasing the final vote count. The election took place on Wednesday, 10 October 2018. The ADP is the largest union in the country, with around 110,000 members.
On Friday, 12 October 2018, the ruling party PLD candidate in the election, Eduardo Hidalgo admitted his defeat, and that he did not get the votes to be reelected. Despite being the ruling party candidate, he did not have the favor of Education Minister Andres Navarro. Hidalgo opposed the merit-based election of new regional directors lead by Navarro. Hidalgo had been in the position for six years. It has also been said that many who favor the dissident faction of former President Leonel Fernandez in the PLD voted in favor of Guante.
"Actually, we all know the results,” said Guante speaking on the Huchi Lora and Amelia Deschamp El Dia talk show on Monday, 15 October. “They were duly reviewed by everyone, that's why our competitor admitted the victory of the change," she said.
She observed her supporters were in minority within the union, but now they will have a say in the positions and objectives of the ADP.
She said the faction backing ruling PLD party candidate, Eduardo Hidalgo, already has recognized its defeat. Guante said she expects the electoral commission to make public the numbers, even if they are still preliminary, so the ADP “can turn the page of its elections and elected officials can dedicate themselves to organize their work agenda.”
She said the priority of her presidency will be to improve the quality of public school education. She said the Ministry of Education also needs to take on the commitment of less propaganda and more effective changes in educational practices.
Guante had the backing of the largest opposition party, the PRM, and the minority parties Dominican Communist Labor Party (PC) and Frente Amplio.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...sultado-final-de-elecciones-de-adp-MC11023179
http://eldia.com.do/xiomara-le-metio-el-guante-al-pld/
Supreme Court orders Blas Peralta of Fenatrado to stay in jail
The Supreme Court of Justice confirmed the 30-years jail sentence issued by the First Collegiate Court of the National District to former president of the largest truckers association in the country, Fenatrado. The court ordered that Blas Peralta remain in jail for the murder of former rector of the UASD state university, Mateo Aquino Febrillet. The decision was taken by the judges of the Penal Hall of the Supreme Court of Justice.
The court also confirmed that Peralta pay RD$7 million to each of the three offspring of Aquino – David, Jonathan and Jessica Aquino, and another RD$10 million to Rita Solis, the wife of the murder victim.
The ruling was not unanimous. Judges Miriam Germán Brito and Juan Hiroito Reyes dissented, saying that the case should have been categorized as a homicide and not a murder.
Peralta’s lawyers have said they will appeal the case in the Constitutional Court.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/10...cia-blas-peralta-por-muerte-aquino-febrillet/
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ficacion-de-sentencia-en-su-contra-AD11032929
Earthquake expert promotes earthquake mitigation
Eugenio Polanco, director of the UASD state university Seismological Institute, the principal earthquake-monitoring center in the country, explains that every year 1,000-1,200 small tremors are recorded, around 1-20 a day, rendering a relatively low seismicity. Nevertheless, he said a significant earthquake can happen at any time and the population should take measures to mitigate damages.
Polanco says science cannot yet precisely forecast when and where an earthquake will take place, but it can identify the areas where this will occur. He explained around 1 to 20 micro earthquakes occur each day in the country, and areas such as the eastern, northern and southern zones are more prone to these tremors. He said that while the country has not suffered a major earthquake in a long time, the factors for a major earthquake occurring are in place.
Polanco was interviewed by Federico Méndez, for the TV program Esferas de Poder on Sunday, 14 October 2018.
He explained that the blocks that form both the tectonic plates and the geological faults are constantly interacting with each other, which causes deformations that cause accumulation of energy, which in turn generates ruptures that cause earthquakes.
Polanco explained that in the community of Villa Elisa, Montecristi, there have been more than 100 seismic events in a short time of between two and three weeks.
"The Dominican Republic is located exactly in the northern part of the Caribbean plate, where it interacts with the North American plate. That is the main reason why the earth trembles in the Dominican Republic," he said.
Polanco explained that the country has a series of geological faults that are also capable of generating significant earthquakes, which is corroborated by the occurrences of the past.
The last major earthquake to be felt in the country was on 22 September 2003, with a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter Scale. This had its epicenter in the northern province of Puerto Plata, where several buildings collapsed and caused three deaths and around 30 persons injured. It was also felt strongly in Santiago, in the center of the country.
Among recommendations for preventing damages in case of a big earthquake are:
Secure belongings.
Brace all bookcases, storage shelves, put latches on cabinet doors, file cabinets.
Fasten water containers, heaters and other appliances that could fall.
Store hazardous materials in a sturdy place.
Secure picture frames, bulletin boards and other wall-mounted equipment to the walls using closed screw-eyes to prevent falling.
Keep fire extinguishers handy.
Replace rigid plumbing supply lines and couplings with flexible braided lines and flexible couples to reduce the chance of rupture.
Brace mechanical equipment such as air conditioning equipment and water heaters to the wall/or floor to prevent overturning or shifting.
https://elnacional.com.do/cree-en-e...-por-cantidad-temblores-se-reportan-cada-ano/
It’s raining
The National Metereological Office (Onamet) is forecasting plenty of rain nationwide through Wednesday, 17 October 2018. A trough has combined with a passing tropical wave to bring all the rain.
Lows in the morning will be around 21-22C in Greater Santo Domingo, making for very agreeable weather in the early morning. The exceptions are Montecristi and Puerto Plata on the north coast, and La Romana in the east.
http://hoy.com.do/meteorologia-preve-lluvias-en-regiones-y-zona-fronteriza/
Anthony Santos and Don Miguelo show
Bachata-famous Anthony Santos is teaming up with rap singer Don Miguelo for a Saturday, 20 October 2018 show at the Port of Sans Souci fiesta hall. The show starts at 10pm, ending at 1am. Tickets are RD$1,300, RD$3,200 open bar.
Last chance to see the 11-foot faceless dolls at Agora Mall
Head to Agora Mall to take your photography alongside one of the 11-foot faceless dolls painted by well-known Dominican artists. The Urbe Iconica 2018 exhibition closes on 16 October 2018 at the main atrium of the shopping mall located on Av. Abraham Lincoln and Av. John F. Kennedy. The paintints are by Kilia Llano, Dovente, Elías Roedán, Angurria, Franz Caba, Luis Hidalgo, Pote leche, Willy Gómez, Ramón Emilio Jiménez, Colectivo Medio Peso, Hector Bolívar and Yojairah.
World Bank highlights the changing nature of work, DR does poorly in Human Capital Index
China and DR talks
Santiago renovates its historic heritage houses
Medical Guild: Governmental Sisaril acts as a middleman for health providers
Hubieres seeks to run for President in 2020
Newlink poll: Abinader 23%, Fernandez 19%
Divide and you will lose
Where’s the final count, says Xiomara Guante
Supreme Court orders Blas Peralta of Fenatrado to stay in jail
Earthquake expert promotes earthquake prevention
It’s raining
Anthony Santos and Don Miguelo show
Last chance to see the 11-foot faceless dolls at Agora Mall
Energy Minister says focus is on finding petroleum
Minister of Energy & Mines Antonio Isa Conde is optimistic companies will find oil to generate more income for the government. In an interview with Diario Libre, the minister says most of the focus of his department is on backing oil exploration efforts. Now the Dominican Republic wants to join the growing number of Caribbean countries where new oil discoveries have been found in recent years.
“It is the project that we are promoting with more value, with more vigor and that will have results faster, because we are in the last inning, that is, we are already in the bidding process and in the final stages of hiring the company that will collaborate with us,” he told journalist Tania Molina of Diario Libre. Isa Conde said this project could boost the Gross Domestic Product (PIB).
He said explorations have been carried out in the Charco Largo (Azua, an area of 13,470 sq km), Enriquillo (an area of 179,160 sq km), San Juan (13,852 sq km), San Pedro de Macoris (with 7,917,201 sq km), Ocoa Bay (436,931 sq km) and Cibao Oriental (with two areas that add up 177,123 sq km). Two of the areas, those of San Pedro and Ocoa Bay are maritime exploration concessions.
Isa Conde says that the government has also granted metallic mining concessions primarily to Falconbridge, Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corporation, Envirogold, Unigold and GoldQuest. Recently, inhabitants near to the GoldQuest exploration area in San Juan de la Maguana have objected the exploitation. The company says it will be carrying out underground mining and will rely on rainwater in the operation. The local residents and environmentalists observe the area is affected by frequent droughts. They oppose granting the needed social permit on grounds that the mining site is located in an area that is major source of fresh water.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ncesiones-para-repuntar-la-mineria-PB11015813
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-O...ised-To-Become-The-Next-Major-Oil-Region.html
World Bank highlights the changing nature of work, DR does poorly in Human Capital Index
A new report, the World Development Report, published by the World Bank on 12 October 2018, provides readers with a comprehensive treatise of the digital economy and its effects on employment, government policy and revenues. The report includes statistics in the Human Capital Index, which is a measurement of education and health outcomes that are correlated to the development of human capital and as a proxy for the impacts of policy interventions. In the index of 157 countries, the Dominican Republic is ranked 101th, only above Haiti (112th) and Honduras in the listing that includes 14 Latin American countries. The index is measured in terms of the productivity of the next generation of workers relative to the benchmark of complete education and full health.
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/pr...-the-future-require-more-investment-in-people
http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/816281518818814423/pdf/2019-WDR-Report.pdf
https://listindiario.com/economia/2...l-indice-del-capital-humano-del-banco-mundial
China and DR talks
During the “Dialogue between Think-Tanks and Media on the Dominican Republic and the People’s Republic of China organized by the Ministry of Foreign Relations, the Embassy of the PRC, and the Association of Public Diplomacy of China on Monday, focused on better understanding of mutual ties.
Deputy Minister Carlos Gabriel Garcia for the Ministry opened the event pointing out how the Ministry of Foreign Relations is supporting the building of two-way streets of progress between both countries. He said that exchanges between the media, academia, non-governmental organizations are important allies to obtain this objective.
Liu Biwei, vice presidents of the Public Diplomacy Association of PRC and China Ambassador Zhang Run coordinated the Chinese participation. Also speaking were Wang Xiaoyuan, former China ambassador in Colombia; Du Oiwen, former deputy director of the Office of Foreign Affairs of the Central Committee of the China Communist Party.
Du Quiwen spoke of the priority China sees in integrating the Dominican Republic into the China’s Belt and Silk Road. Previously, China has signed 11 Latin American countries, with the initiative promising infrastructure financing and development.
Also participating for the Ministry of Foreign Relations was ambassador Luis González, who is in charge of Asia and Oceania relations and Eduardo Klinger, member of the Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic.
Other speakers were Dao Shuming, vice president of the Public Diplomacy Association based in Shanghai who highlighted the importance of developing tourism exchanges between both countries.
One of the talks focused on cultural and humanitarian exchanges, and the cooperation of media between China, Latin America and the Caribbean. Speaking were José Monegro, director of El Día, and Arismendy Calderón, for Hoy newspaper. Su Quin, a Chinese writer, spoke for China.
The closing words were by Zhou Migwei, former director of the Administration of Foreign Languages Publication of China.
http://www.mirex.gob.do/medios/noti...re-relaciones-rd-y-la-republica-popular-china
http://eldia.com.do/china-y-republica-dominicana-buscan-rutas-para-comercio-y-turismo/
https://www.chinadialogue.net/artic...-China-s-Belt-and-Road-lands-in-Latin-America
Santiago renovates its historic heritage houses
The city government of Santiago announced the implementation of a program to salvage historical houses in the city center. Maintenance works and a paint facelift are being applied to around 100 properties in this first round of the program. A second phase will include improvements to buildings of the Republican period.
Already, 50 houses between 16 de Agosto, La Joya and other streets in the city center have been painted, said Yanilsa Cruz, coordinator for urban art of the culture department of the city government. Cruz said they have received the backing of Pinturas Tucan.
Among the houses being renovated is the original home of the family of former President, the late Joaquín Balaguer on Calle Máximo Gómez. The house had been donated to a congregation of Catholic nuns. Also contemplated in the program is salvaging the façade of the Hotel Mercedes, located on Calle 30 de Marzo, and that is in abandon.
A Santiago city government press release says that the renovations in the city center are part of a way of the preserving of local traditions and the beauty of the republican architecture of the area.
"We have instructed the brigades to work until all the houses are properly painted, as this returns the color and splendor to these homes that are part of the cultural and architectural heritage of Santiago," said Mayor Abel Martínez, when highlighting the initiative in the press release.
https://santiagodeloscaballeros.gob...s-antiguas-en-diferentes-puntos-de-la-ciudad/
Medical Guild: Governmental Sisaril acts as a middleman for health providers
The president of the Dominican Medical Guild (CMD) says that the association, private clinics and medical societies are united in requesting the authorities delay no more in implementing the primary care programs. Speaking on Monday, Dr. Wilson Roa Familia, president of the CMD disagrees with how the Superintendence of Health and Labor Risks (Sisalril) wants to start the program. Dr. Roa said the only winners of that situation are the health administrator companies (ARS) that are proposing a plan that would increase their revenues by almost RD$5 billion a year.
Instead, Dr. Roa calls for its start to benefit the 7.5 million poor persons that have subsidized affiliation. Dr. Roa says the primary care efforts should start by reaching out to the population at the public schools, with its 2.4 million students, in addition to employees and their relatives.
He said the measure that the Superintendent of Health wants to implement responds to business interests. He said the ARS, and politicians from the government and opposition are backing the change.
https://elnacional.com.do/ve-sisalril-es-intermediaria-de-las-ars/
Hubieres seeks to run for President in 2020
Transport businessman and former legislator, Juan Hubieres is now seeking to be the presidential candidate for the Frente Amplio. He ran for senator for that same minority party in the 2016 elections in an alliance with the Partido Revolucionario Moderno. He lost to the PLD candidate, Cristina Lizardo.
Hubieres is the president of the Federación Nacional de Transportistas La Nueva Opción (Fenatrano), the largest single affiliation of buses and minibuses that has exclusive rights to several key routes in Greater Santo Domingo. His affiliates have been known to maintain their virtual monopoly using strong-arm tactics.
Hubieres is on the warpath recently, demanding the government reduce the price of fuel for the vehicles that serve passengers. He has called for unannounced work stoppages by Fenatrano affiliates, primarily at peak hours. He has called for a change in the Hydrocarbons Law 112-00 and that the formula the government uses to decide on the weekly price of fuel be made public.
Hubieres has announced a transport work stoppage for Wednesday, 17 October 2018.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...candidatura-presidencial-por-el-frente-amplio
Newlink poll: Abinader 23%, Fernandez 19%
A Newlink poll carried out from 28 September to 5 October 2018, that asked who of a list of politicians the person would vote for showed these results:
Luis Abinader of the PRM would obtain 23.2% of the votes; Leonel Fernandez of the PLD, 19%; President Danilo Medina 18.1%, former President Hipólito Mejía 11.7%. 21.5% of voters said they wouldn’t vote for none of those, and 1.5% checked the “others” category. For the poll, 1,203 persons were surveyed nationwide.
The 2015 Constitution bans President Danilo Medina from running for a third term. Nevertheless, polls include him because the party has the majority in Congress to make a new change to the Constitution that would enable him to run for office.
Regarding to party preferences, the study showed that 37% identifies with the ruling PLD party, followed by 19.1% with the opposition leader PRM, 10.7% with the PRD that allied with the PLD in the 2016 election, and 2.7% with the PRSC. 28% of those polled does not have a preference for a political party.
The low vote numbers in the poll confirm what a Gallup poll in September also had revealed: Dominicans are not happy about the choice of politicians.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/10...y-leonel-son-favoritos-para-ganar-elecciones/
Abinader promises 30% reduction in food prices
On the pre-campaign trail in Villa Altagracia, PRM presidential candidate hopeful Luis Abinader told farmers that if he is elected President in 2020 he would make farming profitable. This would then result in an increase in production, bringing lower prices for consumers.
He announced he would create consensus for a strategic alliance among producers, consumers, farm sector professionals, manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers and retailers for a National Agropecuarian Development Plan.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...cio-de-los-alimentos-bajaria-un-30-CB11015667
Divide and you will lose
The group differences within the ruling PLD political party have resulted in the party losing two of the leading politicized elective positions that control unionized guilds. These are the Dominican Medical Association that in November 2017 went to Dr. Wilson Roa, who had the support of the opposition PRM party. And that of Xiomara Guante, also of the PRM, who defeated the PLD candidate, Eduardo Hidalgo for the presidency of the Public School Teachers Association.
Political analyst Henry Blanco believes the PLD is falling victim to a “divide and lose” strategy. He told Diario Libre reporter Tania Molina that the internal divide between PLD members that favor the faction of President Danilo Medina and those that favor former President Leonel Fernandez is what has made the difference in the recent union elections. Nevertheless, as has occurred in the past, he believes that into the 2020 electoral year, the various PLD factions will eventually reach a consensus and become unified. He discarded the notion that the people voting for the PRM are doing so because they see this as a guarantee for change.
Social media has also had a run at how the PLD divide and practices have lost favor with many in Dominican society and how this is evidenced by the loss of the ADP presidency.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...os-gremios-por-sus-luchas-internas-MB11015687
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...-en-la-adp-que-desato-los-demonios-DA11002652
Where’s the final count?, says Xiomara Guante
The president-elect of the Dominican Association of Public School Teachers (ADP) Xiomara Guante is questioning the delays in the electoral commission of the elections releasing the final vote count. The election took place on Wednesday, 10 October 2018. The ADP is the largest union in the country, with around 110,000 members.
On Friday, 12 October 2018, the ruling party PLD candidate in the election, Eduardo Hidalgo admitted his defeat, and that he did not get the votes to be reelected. Despite being the ruling party candidate, he did not have the favor of Education Minister Andres Navarro. Hidalgo opposed the merit-based election of new regional directors lead by Navarro. Hidalgo had been in the position for six years. It has also been said that many who favor the dissident faction of former President Leonel Fernandez in the PLD voted in favor of Guante.
"Actually, we all know the results,” said Guante speaking on the Huchi Lora and Amelia Deschamp El Dia talk show on Monday, 15 October. “They were duly reviewed by everyone, that's why our competitor admitted the victory of the change," she said.
She observed her supporters were in minority within the union, but now they will have a say in the positions and objectives of the ADP.
She said the faction backing ruling PLD party candidate, Eduardo Hidalgo, already has recognized its defeat. Guante said she expects the electoral commission to make public the numbers, even if they are still preliminary, so the ADP “can turn the page of its elections and elected officials can dedicate themselves to organize their work agenda.”
She said the priority of her presidency will be to improve the quality of public school education. She said the Ministry of Education also needs to take on the commitment of less propaganda and more effective changes in educational practices.
Guante had the backing of the largest opposition party, the PRM, and the minority parties Dominican Communist Labor Party (PC) and Frente Amplio.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...sultado-final-de-elecciones-de-adp-MC11023179
http://eldia.com.do/xiomara-le-metio-el-guante-al-pld/
Supreme Court orders Blas Peralta of Fenatrado to stay in jail
The Supreme Court of Justice confirmed the 30-years jail sentence issued by the First Collegiate Court of the National District to former president of the largest truckers association in the country, Fenatrado. The court ordered that Blas Peralta remain in jail for the murder of former rector of the UASD state university, Mateo Aquino Febrillet. The decision was taken by the judges of the Penal Hall of the Supreme Court of Justice.
The court also confirmed that Peralta pay RD$7 million to each of the three offspring of Aquino – David, Jonathan and Jessica Aquino, and another RD$10 million to Rita Solis, the wife of the murder victim.
The ruling was not unanimous. Judges Miriam Germán Brito and Juan Hiroito Reyes dissented, saying that the case should have been categorized as a homicide and not a murder.
Peralta’s lawyers have said they will appeal the case in the Constitutional Court.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/10...cia-blas-peralta-por-muerte-aquino-febrillet/
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ficacion-de-sentencia-en-su-contra-AD11032929
Earthquake expert promotes earthquake mitigation
Eugenio Polanco, director of the UASD state university Seismological Institute, the principal earthquake-monitoring center in the country, explains that every year 1,000-1,200 small tremors are recorded, around 1-20 a day, rendering a relatively low seismicity. Nevertheless, he said a significant earthquake can happen at any time and the population should take measures to mitigate damages.
Polanco says science cannot yet precisely forecast when and where an earthquake will take place, but it can identify the areas where this will occur. He explained around 1 to 20 micro earthquakes occur each day in the country, and areas such as the eastern, northern and southern zones are more prone to these tremors. He said that while the country has not suffered a major earthquake in a long time, the factors for a major earthquake occurring are in place.
Polanco was interviewed by Federico Méndez, for the TV program Esferas de Poder on Sunday, 14 October 2018.
He explained that the blocks that form both the tectonic plates and the geological faults are constantly interacting with each other, which causes deformations that cause accumulation of energy, which in turn generates ruptures that cause earthquakes.
Polanco explained that in the community of Villa Elisa, Montecristi, there have been more than 100 seismic events in a short time of between two and three weeks.
"The Dominican Republic is located exactly in the northern part of the Caribbean plate, where it interacts with the North American plate. That is the main reason why the earth trembles in the Dominican Republic," he said.
Polanco explained that the country has a series of geological faults that are also capable of generating significant earthquakes, which is corroborated by the occurrences of the past.
The last major earthquake to be felt in the country was on 22 September 2003, with a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter Scale. This had its epicenter in the northern province of Puerto Plata, where several buildings collapsed and caused three deaths and around 30 persons injured. It was also felt strongly in Santiago, in the center of the country.
Among recommendations for preventing damages in case of a big earthquake are:
Secure belongings.
Brace all bookcases, storage shelves, put latches on cabinet doors, file cabinets.
Fasten water containers, heaters and other appliances that could fall.
Store hazardous materials in a sturdy place.
Secure picture frames, bulletin boards and other wall-mounted equipment to the walls using closed screw-eyes to prevent falling.
Keep fire extinguishers handy.
Replace rigid plumbing supply lines and couplings with flexible braided lines and flexible couples to reduce the chance of rupture.
Brace mechanical equipment such as air conditioning equipment and water heaters to the wall/or floor to prevent overturning or shifting.
https://elnacional.com.do/cree-en-e...-por-cantidad-temblores-se-reportan-cada-ano/
It’s raining
The National Metereological Office (Onamet) is forecasting plenty of rain nationwide through Wednesday, 17 October 2018. A trough has combined with a passing tropical wave to bring all the rain.
Lows in the morning will be around 21-22C in Greater Santo Domingo, making for very agreeable weather in the early morning. The exceptions are Montecristi and Puerto Plata on the north coast, and La Romana in the east.
http://hoy.com.do/meteorologia-preve-lluvias-en-regiones-y-zona-fronteriza/
Anthony Santos and Don Miguelo show
Bachata-famous Anthony Santos is teaming up with rap singer Don Miguelo for a Saturday, 20 October 2018 show at the Port of Sans Souci fiesta hall. The show starts at 10pm, ending at 1am. Tickets are RD$1,300, RD$3,200 open bar.
Last chance to see the 11-foot faceless dolls at Agora Mall
Head to Agora Mall to take your photography alongside one of the 11-foot faceless dolls painted by well-known Dominican artists. The Urbe Iconica 2018 exhibition closes on 16 October 2018 at the main atrium of the shopping mall located on Av. Abraham Lincoln and Av. John F. Kennedy. The paintints are by Kilia Llano, Dovente, Elías Roedán, Angurria, Franz Caba, Luis Hidalgo, Pote leche, Willy Gómez, Ramón Emilio Jiménez, Colectivo Medio Peso, Hector Bolívar and Yojairah.
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