President Medina meets President Xi Jinping
President Medina inaugurates Dominican Embassy in Beijing
List of agreements hints to what’s coming for DR-China relations
China could hold DR to Political Consultations Agreement
Chinese goodwill ship docks in Santo Domingo for free medical services
2019 budget has funds to recapitalize Central Bank
72 persons signed on for Constitutional Court judges
Dominican legislators love travel
Odebrecht bribes case to resume on 29 November 2018
Former senator Jose Rafael Abinader passes away
Tragic car accident kills Cleveland baseball prospect
Two men dead and two more injured in McDonalds squabble
The frailty of restraint orders or jail time for abusers
DR is now one hour behind US East Coast
President Medina meets President Xi Jinping
President Danilo Medina met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 2 November 2018. Medina led a large public-private mission to China. In the evening, President Xi Jinping hosted a gala dinner for the Dominican mission.
Upon arriving to the Great Hall of the People, a state-sponsored concert band played the national anthems of both the Dominican Republic and China. Later, Xi Jinping and Danilo Medina reviewed the Chinese troops. Later in the evening, the concert band played a stanza of the famous merengue Cañabrava.
Medina was also received in Beijing by the Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Li Keqiang and held talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The Dominican Republic is China's biggest trade partner in the Caribbean region. In 2017, two-way trade reached US$1.871 billion, but almost all are imports from China.
Medina also was received at the National Assembly by Li Zhanshu, president of the Permanent Committee of the National Assembly. Zhanshu praised the “miraculous” growth of the Dominican Republic drawing parallels to the formidable growth in China over the past 40 years.
Medina and the delegation are in China for a weeklong visit during the first week of November 2018. It was also announced that President Xi Jinping would visit the Dominican Republic.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...i-zhanshu-crecimiento-republica-dominicana-es
President Medina inaugurates Dominican Embassy in Beijing
President Danilo Medina and the Dominican government mission attended the formal opening of the Dominican Embassy in Beijing, a day after meeting President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, on 2 November 2018. Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi spoke of how the new bilateral ties serve the fundamental interests of the Dominican people and is in step to the trend of the times.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/presidenciard
http://hoy.com.do/dominicana-abre-embajada-en-beijing-tras-alejarse-de-taiwan/
List of agreements hints to what’s coming for DR-China relations
On occasion of the visit of President Danilo Medina and a cabinet delegation to China, the Ministry of Foreign Relations has published the list of 19 memorandums of understanding and agreements the Dominican mission to the People’s Republic of China signed in Beijing during the first official visit. Details on the arrangements have not been released to the press.
The agreements cover cooperation in infrastructure construction, finance, commerce, immigration, agriculture, education, tourism, aviation, sports, among others. They were signed on 2 November 2018 in the presence of Dominican and Chinese Presidents, Danilo Medina and Xi Jinping, after their formal talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, reportedly on issues of the bilateral and global agenda.
They are the named:
Memorandum of Cooperation in the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives. In an interview with Xinhuanet, President Medina stated: “The Dominican Republic, which is situated in the heart of Central America and the Caribbean, boasts one of the region's most well-connected port networks, as well as a highly trained work force in production, transport and logistics. I believe we are a natural ally for joining the Belt and Road Initiative as a regional center for trade between China and the rest of the Americas."
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic and the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Administrative Ministry of the Presidency of the Dominican Republic and the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China in Strengthening Cooperation in Infrastructure.
Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Cooperation in Economic and Commercial Areas between the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic and the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China.
Memorandum of Understanding in Mechanism of Cooperation between the Export-Import Bank of China and the Ministry of Finance of the Dominican Republic. The Export-Import Bank of China is a state-funded and state-owned policy bank with the status of an independent legal entity. It is a bank directly under the leadership of the State Council and dedicated to supporting China’s foreign trade, investment and international economic cooperation. With the Chinese government’s credit support, the Bank plays a crucial role in promoting steady economic growth and structural adjustment, supporting foreign trade, and implementing the “going global” strategy of the Chinese government.
Agreement of Cultural Cooperation between the Government of the Dominican Republic and the Government of the People's Republic of China.
Memorandum of Understanding in Strategic Cooperation between the Ministry of Finance of the Dominican Republic and the China Development Bank. CDB is the world’s largest development finance institution, and the largest Chinese bank for foreign investment and financing cooperation, long-term lending and bond issuance. CDB provides medium- to long-term financing facilities that serve China’s major long-term economic and social development strategies.
Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation for the Development of Human Resources between the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic and the People's Republic of China International Development Cooperation Agency. The agency is responsible for strategic guidelines and policies on foreign aid; coordinating and making suggestions on major related issues; reforming the foreign aid system; and making plans and overseeing their implementation. The move is to give full play to foreign aid as a key means of major-country diplomacy, enhance strategic planning and coordination of foreign aid, and better serve the country’s overall diplomatic layout and the Belt and Road Initiative.
Educational Plan between the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic and the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China for the years 2018-2023.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic and the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, in the Area of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China. The ministry is responsible for the study and implementation of strategies, plans and policies on agriculture, rural areas and rural people, according to the plan on institutional restructuring of the State Council, or the cabinet. It also regulates crop farming, husbandry, fishery, agricultural mechanization and quality of farm produces.
Protocol of the Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Tobacco Leaves for Cigars from the Dominican Republic to the People's Republic of China, between the Ministries of Agriculture of both countries. Cigars, together with rum and cacao, were mentioned as possible export products to the Chinese market.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic on the facilitation of group travel of Chinese tourists to the Dominican Republic. Frank Rainieri, of Puntacana Group, who was part of the mission to China, said the country would go after the Chinese middle class traveler.
Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Foreign Affairs of China and the Institute of Higher Education Specialized in Diplomatic and Consular Training (INESDyC).
Agreement between the Government of the Dominican Republic and the Government of the People's Republic of China Concerning Civilian Aviation Transport Services.
Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Baseball Matters between the Government of the Dominican Republic and the Government of the People's Republic of China.
Memorandum of Understanding of Sports Cooperation, between the General Sports Administration of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic.
Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the Joint Commission on Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation.
Agreement on the Mutual Exemption of Visas for Diplomatic Passport Holders, Official Passports, Services Passports and Public Affairs Passports.
Also mentioned is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Administrative Ministry of the President and the Center for Research on Public Safety of the University of Tsingua.
Medina also has stated the country, previous to the mission to China, had signed a Political Consultation Agreement “focused on working together at multilateral forums”.
In addition to these, earlier the government admitted to signing a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of a mega port and power installations in Manzanillo, in the north coast of the country, and a political consultations agreement.
http://www.mirex.gob.do/medios/noti...dieciocho-acuerdos-rd-republica-popular-china
http://eldia.com.do/los-acuerdos-firmados-entre-china-y-republica-dominicana/
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-11/02/c_137577128.htm
https://www.caribbean-council.org/chinas-rapidly-advancing-caribbean-role/
China could hold DR to Political Consultations Agreement
Former legislator Vinicio Castillo Seman says the Political Consultation Agreement President Danilo Medina says the government has signed with China is in violation of the Constitution. The terms of the agreement are not publicly known. The Fuerza Nacional Progresista (FNP) politician alerted the Chinese government had the Dominican government enter into the agreement prior to the signing of 19 bilateral agreements as a result of the official government mission to China on 1 November
In an interview with Xinhuanet, the official Chinese news agency, President Danilo Medina stated: "We have already signed a Political Consultation Agreement focused on working together at multilateral forums, and very soon we will have a mixed bilateral commission," said Medina.
But Castillo expresses his concern that the agreement commits the absolute sovereignty that the Dominican state should have in making its own foreign policy decisions.
Castillo said the announcement of the signing of the Political Consultation Agreement comes at a time when precisely China takes on the presidency of the United Nations Security Council and the DR begins its term as a non-permanent member on the council. He said that decisions on foreign policy before the UN Security Council and before any other multilateral body cannot be subject to any consultations agreement with a foreign power because this is in violation to Art. 3 of the Dominican Constitution.
“No matter how important the Chinese investment projects in the DR can be and the loans that may be taken on in the future, President Medina cannot commit foreign policy positions by our country in any political consultations agreement,” he said. He added: “At a time when China has unfolded a regional political offensive, which is supporting dictatorships in Latin America such as Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, it is extremely serious that our country assume a commitment to act jointly and in consultation with China in matters of its foreign policy," Castillo alerts.
Castillo called for the Constitutional Court to scrutinize the Political Consultation Agreement with China, before the National Congress ratifies it. He warned that the Chinese government had the government sign the political consultation agreement that commits foreign policy prior to the signing of the other agreements in Beijing.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...onal-acuerdo-rd-china-sobre-consulta-politica
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-11/02/c_137577128.htm
Chinese goodwill ship docks in Santo Domingo for free medical services
When President Danilo Medina and the Dominican government mission was beginning his first official visit to China, the Chinese naval hospital ship, Peace Ark (Daishan Dao), Beijing’s 584-foot long goodwill ambassador, was docking in Santo Domingo at the Don Diego Terminal of Sansouci Port.
The Peace Ark is also described as “a well outfitted symbol of Beijing’s growing “soft power.” The ship primarily offers conventional medicine services, but there is a clinic on board for traditional Chinese medicine including acupuncture, massage and cupping therapy.
As reported, the hospital ship is offering free medical services to upwards of 4,000 persons from 1-7 November 2018. The ship has capacity to service around 600 persons a day in 21 medical specialties with 57 doctors, 27 nurses and 36 pharmacists on board, in addition to other medical technicians.
OMSA provided free transportation to the hospital ship from five public hospitals -- Marcelino Velez Santana, Salvador B Gautier, Ney Arias Lora, and Dario Contreras.
The ship visit is coordinated with the Ministry of Public Health, the Dominican Armada and the Dominican Port Authority.
The stopover in Santo Domingo is part of the ship’s Harmony Mission 2018 that began in June 2018 and has planned stops in Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Papúa Nueva Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Granada, Dominica, Antigua y Barbuda, Yibuti, Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles, Bangladesh, Cuba, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...uque-hospital-chino-arca-de-la-paz-MH11162583
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...asistencia-en-buque-hospital-chino-BG11172102
http://hoy.com.do/llega-a-santo-domingo-buque-hospital-de-china-arca-de-la-paz/
http://hoy.com.do/llega-a-santo-domingo-buque-hospital-de-china-arca-de-la-paz/
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-08/26/c_137420656.htm
https://warisboring.com/we-got-a-peek-inside-china-s-hospital-ship/
2019 budget has funds to recapitalize Central Bank
The president of the joint commission of Congress that is studying the 2019 National Budget Law revealed last week that the budget contains 0.7% of the GDP for the re-capitalizing of the Central Bank. Senator Dionis Sanchez said that the members of the committee will be inviting bank authorities to a meeting to discuss the subject. Sanchez said that the joint committee has some questions about Law 167-07 regarding the Recapitalization of the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic.
Regarding this, Ervin Novas Bello, the manager of the Central Bank, explained that it is necessary to modify Law 167-07 that stated that between 2007 and 2016 RD$320 billion would be injected to recapitalize the bank. According to the official, so far only RD$132 billion has been documented, and the bank now needs to find a solution for the difference between what was stipulated and what was received.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ara-recapitalizar-el-banco-central-HH11166735
72 persons signed on for Constitutional Court judges
The National Council of the Magistracy (CNM) will be reviewing credentials of a preliminary list of 72 pre-candidates registered to replace retiring judges in the Constitutional Court. The CNM said that Constitutional judges Idelfonso Reyes, Leyda Piña and Jottin Cury declined to continue in their posts and Victor Gomez Berges is of retiring age. The judges served a six-year term.
The CNM said it will post the list on Friday, 9 November 2018. Citizens will have until 23 November to openly express opposition to any of those that have been proposed. Any statements in opposition to a particular candidate cannot be made anonymously. Candidates will have three days to respond to the any statement made in opposition to their selection. On 13 November, the CNM will meet to decide the date for the pre-selection of the candidates.
Those pre-candidates need to announce if they would accept the nomination. Already constitutional expert, Nassef Perdomo Cordero has declined the pre-candidacy.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...a-con-72-candidatos-lista-de-aspirantes-al-tc
https://acento.com.do/2018/actualid...a-aspirar-a-juez-del-tribunal-constitucional/
Dominican legislators love travel
Investigative TV reporter Alicia Ortega says that Dominican Chamber of Deputies legislators have spent almost RD$300 million in airline tickets and travel expenses in less than six years. Dominican taxpayers have foot the bill for these expenses that included more than 1,500 trips abroad.
The authorized trips included attending courses on how to win an election, to neonatology and artificial intelligence conferences. Other authorized trips have been to attend gala dinners, technology fair in Las Vegas, festivals, medical checkups and meetings with Dominicans abroad.
See the investigative news show at:
https://elinformeconaliciaortega.co...ones-en-boletos-aereos-en-menos-de-seis-anos/
Odebrecht bribes case to resume on 29 November 2018
Supreme Court Judge Francisco Ortega set for 29 November 2018 the continuing of the Odebrecht US$92 million bribes case. The Attorney General has brought charges against eight men in the case: Senator Tommy Alberto Galán, businessman Ángel Rondón Rijo; former Public Works Minister Víctor José Díaz Rúa, former INAPA director Juan Roberto Rodríguez Hernández, former president of the Senate Porfirio Andrés Bautista García, former senator Jesús Antonio Vásquez Martínez and lawyer Conrado Enrique Pittaluga Arzeno.
http://hoy.com.do/caso-odebrecht-va-el-29-noviembre/
Former senator Jose Rafael Abinader passes away
Businessman and politician José Rafael Abinader died on Sunday, 4 November 2018 at around 6:45am. He suffered from liver cancer. Abinader is the founder of the Universidad Dominicana O&M University. He served as minister of finance and senator to Santiago.
He is the father of the former presidential candidate for the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), Luis Abinader.
"The death was caused by health complications that the senior Abinader had been enduring in recent times," reported a press release from his son, Luis Abinader, former presidential candidate for the PRM.
https://elnacional.com.do/murio-la-manana-de-hoy-el-politico-jose-rafael-abinader/
Tragic car accident kills Cleveland baseball prospect
19-year old Cleveland baseball prospect Jairo Capellan died in a tragic accident on Las Americas Expressway on Saturday around noon near the toll booth. Others that were injured were fellow Cincinnati Baseball Academy students, Raul Hernandez and Emilio Garcia. They were driving in a Kia K5 that crashed into the lane divider.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/11...en-accidente-en-las-americas-otros-2-heridos/
Two men dead and two more injured in McDonalds squabble
On Thursday, 2 November 2018 at around 5am, a man was killed and several others injured at the 24/7 MacDonald’s located on Av. Abraham Lincoln Avenue in Santo Domingo. The victims were identified as 38-year old Ariel Rodríguez Serrata, injured in a shootout in the parking lot around 5am between customers. Rodríguez was diagnosed with brain death at the Ney Arias Lora Trauma Hospital. The other deceased is 48-year old Venezuelan show business promoter Eduardo Luis Martinez. The injured were identified as Venezuelan Minerva Patricia Chivico Rivas and Dominican 19-year old Starlin Contreras, an employee at MacDonalds. At the scene of the crime the Police reported 36 shots were fired.
The Police said the brawl occurred after a bullying-kind discussion ended with the shootout.
http://hoy.com.do/video-policia-ofr...y-varios-heridos-en-mcdonald-de-la-lincoln-2/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/11...ido-en-tiroteo-en-parqueo-de-establecimiento/
http://hoy.com.do/testigo-narra-pas...-lincoln-donde-hubo-un-muerto-y-tres-heridos/
The frailty of restraint orders or jail time for abusers
A man who killed his 15-year old ex-girlfriend in Gualey had been detained the previous weekend for allegedly committing physical abuse. After his release, the local community prosecutor issued an order of Protection for the girl, but this was not worth much, as things turned out. He borrowed a pistol from a brother to commit his terrible crime.
According to Ivelice Felix, the foster mother and aunt of Gabrieli Sanchez, Orlando Adams Flete, 23, who committed suicide with the same weapon used to kill the young girl, had been arrested the week before for abusing the young girl. Adams Flete killed Sanchez when he found her sitting in front of a colmado, shooting her twice. Flete also injured a woman who was purchasing food. Then he killed himself with the same firearm.
Felix, the stepmother, added that the pistol used to commit these terrible acts have been stolen from a brother who is a policeman. As reported, the brother was taking a shower, when the pistol was stolen.
According to the aunt and stepmother, the couple had been together for a little over a year and a half. The victim was then only 13 years and four months of age at the time she began “dating” her eventual killer. The aunt told reporters that she objected strongly to the relationship because of the violence demonstrated by Adams Flete.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ro-detenido-dos-dias-por-golpearla-DH11163246
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ra-a-dos-jovenes-del-sector-gualey-AH11167142
DR is now one hour behind US East Coast
As of Sunday, when it is 9am in the US it will be 8am in the Dominican Republic. Time in the Dominican Republic doesn’t change so when clocks in the US turned backward, ending daylight savings time on Sunday, 4 November, when the difference in time went into effect. The DR stays on standard time.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/11...ario-este-domingo-en-ee-uu-retrasan-una-hora/
President Medina inaugurates Dominican Embassy in Beijing
List of agreements hints to what’s coming for DR-China relations
China could hold DR to Political Consultations Agreement
Chinese goodwill ship docks in Santo Domingo for free medical services
2019 budget has funds to recapitalize Central Bank
72 persons signed on for Constitutional Court judges
Dominican legislators love travel
Odebrecht bribes case to resume on 29 November 2018
Former senator Jose Rafael Abinader passes away
Tragic car accident kills Cleveland baseball prospect
Two men dead and two more injured in McDonalds squabble
The frailty of restraint orders or jail time for abusers
DR is now one hour behind US East Coast
President Medina meets President Xi Jinping
President Danilo Medina met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 2 November 2018. Medina led a large public-private mission to China. In the evening, President Xi Jinping hosted a gala dinner for the Dominican mission.
Upon arriving to the Great Hall of the People, a state-sponsored concert band played the national anthems of both the Dominican Republic and China. Later, Xi Jinping and Danilo Medina reviewed the Chinese troops. Later in the evening, the concert band played a stanza of the famous merengue Cañabrava.
Medina was also received in Beijing by the Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Li Keqiang and held talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The Dominican Republic is China's biggest trade partner in the Caribbean region. In 2017, two-way trade reached US$1.871 billion, but almost all are imports from China.
Medina also was received at the National Assembly by Li Zhanshu, president of the Permanent Committee of the National Assembly. Zhanshu praised the “miraculous” growth of the Dominican Republic drawing parallels to the formidable growth in China over the past 40 years.
Medina and the delegation are in China for a weeklong visit during the first week of November 2018. It was also announced that President Xi Jinping would visit the Dominican Republic.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...i-zhanshu-crecimiento-republica-dominicana-es
President Medina inaugurates Dominican Embassy in Beijing
President Danilo Medina and the Dominican government mission attended the formal opening of the Dominican Embassy in Beijing, a day after meeting President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, on 2 November 2018. Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi spoke of how the new bilateral ties serve the fundamental interests of the Dominican people and is in step to the trend of the times.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/presidenciard
http://hoy.com.do/dominicana-abre-embajada-en-beijing-tras-alejarse-de-taiwan/
List of agreements hints to what’s coming for DR-China relations
On occasion of the visit of President Danilo Medina and a cabinet delegation to China, the Ministry of Foreign Relations has published the list of 19 memorandums of understanding and agreements the Dominican mission to the People’s Republic of China signed in Beijing during the first official visit. Details on the arrangements have not been released to the press.
The agreements cover cooperation in infrastructure construction, finance, commerce, immigration, agriculture, education, tourism, aviation, sports, among others. They were signed on 2 November 2018 in the presence of Dominican and Chinese Presidents, Danilo Medina and Xi Jinping, after their formal talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, reportedly on issues of the bilateral and global agenda.
They are the named:
Memorandum of Cooperation in the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives. In an interview with Xinhuanet, President Medina stated: “The Dominican Republic, which is situated in the heart of Central America and the Caribbean, boasts one of the region's most well-connected port networks, as well as a highly trained work force in production, transport and logistics. I believe we are a natural ally for joining the Belt and Road Initiative as a regional center for trade between China and the rest of the Americas."
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic and the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Administrative Ministry of the Presidency of the Dominican Republic and the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China in Strengthening Cooperation in Infrastructure.
Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Cooperation in Economic and Commercial Areas between the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic and the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China.
Memorandum of Understanding in Mechanism of Cooperation between the Export-Import Bank of China and the Ministry of Finance of the Dominican Republic. The Export-Import Bank of China is a state-funded and state-owned policy bank with the status of an independent legal entity. It is a bank directly under the leadership of the State Council and dedicated to supporting China’s foreign trade, investment and international economic cooperation. With the Chinese government’s credit support, the Bank plays a crucial role in promoting steady economic growth and structural adjustment, supporting foreign trade, and implementing the “going global” strategy of the Chinese government.
Agreement of Cultural Cooperation between the Government of the Dominican Republic and the Government of the People's Republic of China.
Memorandum of Understanding in Strategic Cooperation between the Ministry of Finance of the Dominican Republic and the China Development Bank. CDB is the world’s largest development finance institution, and the largest Chinese bank for foreign investment and financing cooperation, long-term lending and bond issuance. CDB provides medium- to long-term financing facilities that serve China’s major long-term economic and social development strategies.
Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation for the Development of Human Resources between the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic and the People's Republic of China International Development Cooperation Agency. The agency is responsible for strategic guidelines and policies on foreign aid; coordinating and making suggestions on major related issues; reforming the foreign aid system; and making plans and overseeing their implementation. The move is to give full play to foreign aid as a key means of major-country diplomacy, enhance strategic planning and coordination of foreign aid, and better serve the country’s overall diplomatic layout and the Belt and Road Initiative.
Educational Plan between the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic and the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China for the years 2018-2023.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic and the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, in the Area of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China. The ministry is responsible for the study and implementation of strategies, plans and policies on agriculture, rural areas and rural people, according to the plan on institutional restructuring of the State Council, or the cabinet. It also regulates crop farming, husbandry, fishery, agricultural mechanization and quality of farm produces.
Protocol of the Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Tobacco Leaves for Cigars from the Dominican Republic to the People's Republic of China, between the Ministries of Agriculture of both countries. Cigars, together with rum and cacao, were mentioned as possible export products to the Chinese market.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic on the facilitation of group travel of Chinese tourists to the Dominican Republic. Frank Rainieri, of Puntacana Group, who was part of the mission to China, said the country would go after the Chinese middle class traveler.
Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Foreign Affairs of China and the Institute of Higher Education Specialized in Diplomatic and Consular Training (INESDyC).
Agreement between the Government of the Dominican Republic and the Government of the People's Republic of China Concerning Civilian Aviation Transport Services.
Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Baseball Matters between the Government of the Dominican Republic and the Government of the People's Republic of China.
Memorandum of Understanding of Sports Cooperation, between the General Sports Administration of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic.
Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the Joint Commission on Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation.
Agreement on the Mutual Exemption of Visas for Diplomatic Passport Holders, Official Passports, Services Passports and Public Affairs Passports.
Also mentioned is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Administrative Ministry of the President and the Center for Research on Public Safety of the University of Tsingua.
Medina also has stated the country, previous to the mission to China, had signed a Political Consultation Agreement “focused on working together at multilateral forums”.
In addition to these, earlier the government admitted to signing a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of a mega port and power installations in Manzanillo, in the north coast of the country, and a political consultations agreement.
http://www.mirex.gob.do/medios/noti...dieciocho-acuerdos-rd-republica-popular-china
http://eldia.com.do/los-acuerdos-firmados-entre-china-y-republica-dominicana/
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-11/02/c_137577128.htm
https://www.caribbean-council.org/chinas-rapidly-advancing-caribbean-role/
China could hold DR to Political Consultations Agreement
Former legislator Vinicio Castillo Seman says the Political Consultation Agreement President Danilo Medina says the government has signed with China is in violation of the Constitution. The terms of the agreement are not publicly known. The Fuerza Nacional Progresista (FNP) politician alerted the Chinese government had the Dominican government enter into the agreement prior to the signing of 19 bilateral agreements as a result of the official government mission to China on 1 November
In an interview with Xinhuanet, the official Chinese news agency, President Danilo Medina stated: "We have already signed a Political Consultation Agreement focused on working together at multilateral forums, and very soon we will have a mixed bilateral commission," said Medina.
But Castillo expresses his concern that the agreement commits the absolute sovereignty that the Dominican state should have in making its own foreign policy decisions.
Castillo said the announcement of the signing of the Political Consultation Agreement comes at a time when precisely China takes on the presidency of the United Nations Security Council and the DR begins its term as a non-permanent member on the council. He said that decisions on foreign policy before the UN Security Council and before any other multilateral body cannot be subject to any consultations agreement with a foreign power because this is in violation to Art. 3 of the Dominican Constitution.
“No matter how important the Chinese investment projects in the DR can be and the loans that may be taken on in the future, President Medina cannot commit foreign policy positions by our country in any political consultations agreement,” he said. He added: “At a time when China has unfolded a regional political offensive, which is supporting dictatorships in Latin America such as Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, it is extremely serious that our country assume a commitment to act jointly and in consultation with China in matters of its foreign policy," Castillo alerts.
Castillo called for the Constitutional Court to scrutinize the Political Consultation Agreement with China, before the National Congress ratifies it. He warned that the Chinese government had the government sign the political consultation agreement that commits foreign policy prior to the signing of the other agreements in Beijing.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...onal-acuerdo-rd-china-sobre-consulta-politica
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-11/02/c_137577128.htm
Chinese goodwill ship docks in Santo Domingo for free medical services
When President Danilo Medina and the Dominican government mission was beginning his first official visit to China, the Chinese naval hospital ship, Peace Ark (Daishan Dao), Beijing’s 584-foot long goodwill ambassador, was docking in Santo Domingo at the Don Diego Terminal of Sansouci Port.
The Peace Ark is also described as “a well outfitted symbol of Beijing’s growing “soft power.” The ship primarily offers conventional medicine services, but there is a clinic on board for traditional Chinese medicine including acupuncture, massage and cupping therapy.
As reported, the hospital ship is offering free medical services to upwards of 4,000 persons from 1-7 November 2018. The ship has capacity to service around 600 persons a day in 21 medical specialties with 57 doctors, 27 nurses and 36 pharmacists on board, in addition to other medical technicians.
OMSA provided free transportation to the hospital ship from five public hospitals -- Marcelino Velez Santana, Salvador B Gautier, Ney Arias Lora, and Dario Contreras.
The ship visit is coordinated with the Ministry of Public Health, the Dominican Armada and the Dominican Port Authority.
The stopover in Santo Domingo is part of the ship’s Harmony Mission 2018 that began in June 2018 and has planned stops in Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Papúa Nueva Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Granada, Dominica, Antigua y Barbuda, Yibuti, Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles, Bangladesh, Cuba, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...uque-hospital-chino-arca-de-la-paz-MH11162583
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...asistencia-en-buque-hospital-chino-BG11172102
http://hoy.com.do/llega-a-santo-domingo-buque-hospital-de-china-arca-de-la-paz/
http://hoy.com.do/llega-a-santo-domingo-buque-hospital-de-china-arca-de-la-paz/
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-08/26/c_137420656.htm
https://warisboring.com/we-got-a-peek-inside-china-s-hospital-ship/
2019 budget has funds to recapitalize Central Bank
The president of the joint commission of Congress that is studying the 2019 National Budget Law revealed last week that the budget contains 0.7% of the GDP for the re-capitalizing of the Central Bank. Senator Dionis Sanchez said that the members of the committee will be inviting bank authorities to a meeting to discuss the subject. Sanchez said that the joint committee has some questions about Law 167-07 regarding the Recapitalization of the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic.
Regarding this, Ervin Novas Bello, the manager of the Central Bank, explained that it is necessary to modify Law 167-07 that stated that between 2007 and 2016 RD$320 billion would be injected to recapitalize the bank. According to the official, so far only RD$132 billion has been documented, and the bank now needs to find a solution for the difference between what was stipulated and what was received.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ara-recapitalizar-el-banco-central-HH11166735
72 persons signed on for Constitutional Court judges
The National Council of the Magistracy (CNM) will be reviewing credentials of a preliminary list of 72 pre-candidates registered to replace retiring judges in the Constitutional Court. The CNM said that Constitutional judges Idelfonso Reyes, Leyda Piña and Jottin Cury declined to continue in their posts and Victor Gomez Berges is of retiring age. The judges served a six-year term.
The CNM said it will post the list on Friday, 9 November 2018. Citizens will have until 23 November to openly express opposition to any of those that have been proposed. Any statements in opposition to a particular candidate cannot be made anonymously. Candidates will have three days to respond to the any statement made in opposition to their selection. On 13 November, the CNM will meet to decide the date for the pre-selection of the candidates.
Those pre-candidates need to announce if they would accept the nomination. Already constitutional expert, Nassef Perdomo Cordero has declined the pre-candidacy.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...a-con-72-candidatos-lista-de-aspirantes-al-tc
https://acento.com.do/2018/actualid...a-aspirar-a-juez-del-tribunal-constitucional/
Dominican legislators love travel
Investigative TV reporter Alicia Ortega says that Dominican Chamber of Deputies legislators have spent almost RD$300 million in airline tickets and travel expenses in less than six years. Dominican taxpayers have foot the bill for these expenses that included more than 1,500 trips abroad.
The authorized trips included attending courses on how to win an election, to neonatology and artificial intelligence conferences. Other authorized trips have been to attend gala dinners, technology fair in Las Vegas, festivals, medical checkups and meetings with Dominicans abroad.
See the investigative news show at:
https://elinformeconaliciaortega.co...ones-en-boletos-aereos-en-menos-de-seis-anos/
Odebrecht bribes case to resume on 29 November 2018
Supreme Court Judge Francisco Ortega set for 29 November 2018 the continuing of the Odebrecht US$92 million bribes case. The Attorney General has brought charges against eight men in the case: Senator Tommy Alberto Galán, businessman Ángel Rondón Rijo; former Public Works Minister Víctor José Díaz Rúa, former INAPA director Juan Roberto Rodríguez Hernández, former president of the Senate Porfirio Andrés Bautista García, former senator Jesús Antonio Vásquez Martínez and lawyer Conrado Enrique Pittaluga Arzeno.
http://hoy.com.do/caso-odebrecht-va-el-29-noviembre/
Former senator Jose Rafael Abinader passes away
Businessman and politician José Rafael Abinader died on Sunday, 4 November 2018 at around 6:45am. He suffered from liver cancer. Abinader is the founder of the Universidad Dominicana O&M University. He served as minister of finance and senator to Santiago.
He is the father of the former presidential candidate for the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), Luis Abinader.
"The death was caused by health complications that the senior Abinader had been enduring in recent times," reported a press release from his son, Luis Abinader, former presidential candidate for the PRM.
https://elnacional.com.do/murio-la-manana-de-hoy-el-politico-jose-rafael-abinader/
Tragic car accident kills Cleveland baseball prospect
19-year old Cleveland baseball prospect Jairo Capellan died in a tragic accident on Las Americas Expressway on Saturday around noon near the toll booth. Others that were injured were fellow Cincinnati Baseball Academy students, Raul Hernandez and Emilio Garcia. They were driving in a Kia K5 that crashed into the lane divider.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/11...en-accidente-en-las-americas-otros-2-heridos/
Two men dead and two more injured in McDonalds squabble
On Thursday, 2 November 2018 at around 5am, a man was killed and several others injured at the 24/7 MacDonald’s located on Av. Abraham Lincoln Avenue in Santo Domingo. The victims were identified as 38-year old Ariel Rodríguez Serrata, injured in a shootout in the parking lot around 5am between customers. Rodríguez was diagnosed with brain death at the Ney Arias Lora Trauma Hospital. The other deceased is 48-year old Venezuelan show business promoter Eduardo Luis Martinez. The injured were identified as Venezuelan Minerva Patricia Chivico Rivas and Dominican 19-year old Starlin Contreras, an employee at MacDonalds. At the scene of the crime the Police reported 36 shots were fired.
The Police said the brawl occurred after a bullying-kind discussion ended with the shootout.
http://hoy.com.do/video-policia-ofr...y-varios-heridos-en-mcdonald-de-la-lincoln-2/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/11...ido-en-tiroteo-en-parqueo-de-establecimiento/
http://hoy.com.do/testigo-narra-pas...-lincoln-donde-hubo-un-muerto-y-tres-heridos/
The frailty of restraint orders or jail time for abusers
A man who killed his 15-year old ex-girlfriend in Gualey had been detained the previous weekend for allegedly committing physical abuse. After his release, the local community prosecutor issued an order of Protection for the girl, but this was not worth much, as things turned out. He borrowed a pistol from a brother to commit his terrible crime.
According to Ivelice Felix, the foster mother and aunt of Gabrieli Sanchez, Orlando Adams Flete, 23, who committed suicide with the same weapon used to kill the young girl, had been arrested the week before for abusing the young girl. Adams Flete killed Sanchez when he found her sitting in front of a colmado, shooting her twice. Flete also injured a woman who was purchasing food. Then he killed himself with the same firearm.
Felix, the stepmother, added that the pistol used to commit these terrible acts have been stolen from a brother who is a policeman. As reported, the brother was taking a shower, when the pistol was stolen.
According to the aunt and stepmother, the couple had been together for a little over a year and a half. The victim was then only 13 years and four months of age at the time she began “dating” her eventual killer. The aunt told reporters that she objected strongly to the relationship because of the violence demonstrated by Adams Flete.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ro-detenido-dos-dias-por-golpearla-DH11163246
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...ra-a-dos-jovenes-del-sector-gualey-AH11167142
DR is now one hour behind US East Coast
As of Sunday, when it is 9am in the US it will be 8am in the Dominican Republic. Time in the Dominican Republic doesn’t change so when clocks in the US turned backward, ending daylight savings time on Sunday, 4 November, when the difference in time went into effect. The DR stays on standard time.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/11...ario-este-domingo-en-ee-uu-retrasan-una-hora/
