DR1 Daily News - Tuesday, 20 November 2018

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Amendment to add US$8 billion to 2019 National Budget
Constitutional Court judges to be chosen on 10 December
WoodMac to prepare DR for petrol exploration and exploitation
Another loan for energy
Road traffic deaths still high
Despite unrest in Haiti, bi-national market takes place
ECLAC: Concern over level of femicides in the region
Malaria on the increase in the region due to Venezuela
Protocol experts in Santo Domingo for congress
Bishop Pablo Cedano dies
Protests in San Cristobal for lack of water
Major cocaine haul, ship cleared to leave for Haiti
Two Russian honeymooners die in motorcycle accident
Daniil Trifonov to play at the National Theater
Ballads, boleros and Christmas songs at the Barceló Santo Domingo
Extra date for Amaury Sánchez’s “Mamma Mía”



Amendment to add US$8 billion to 2019 National Budget
The Executive Branch has submitted to the National Congress an amendment to the 2019 National Budget that is being reviewed by a bilateral commission of senators and deputies. The increase would be for RD$7.97 billion. The funds would be used to cover an expected increase in the price of fuel, the electricity sector deficit (RD$5,67 billion) and the purchase of cars for the Santo Domingo Metro (RD$1.02 billion) and would also be used for jail programs under the Attorney General Office (RD$1.27 billion). Likewise, the Presidency has requested an additional allotment of RD$1 billion for the second skylift line that would be built at Los Alcarrizos, in northern Santo Domingo.

http://eldia.com.do/poder-ejecutivo-pide-aumento-del-presupuesto-2019/


Constitutional Court judges to be chosen on 10 December
The National Council of the Magistracy (CNM) announced they have shortlisted 47 persons for interviews for four vacancies in the Constitutional Court. The new judges will replace Leyda Margarita Piña, Jottin Cury David, Idelfonso Reyes and Víctor Gómez Bergés.

The interviews will be carried out from Wednesday, 5 December to Friday, 7 December 2018. On Monday, 10 December, the CNM judges will meet to choose the four judges and the first replacement of the presiding judge of the higher court.

https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/11...tc-vistas-publicas-seran-56-y-7-de-diciembre/


WoodMac to prepare DR for petrol exploration and exploitation
Energy & Mines Minister Antonio Isa Conde announced US company Wood Mackenzie (WoodMac), the global energy consultancy firm, is the winner of the tender to oversee the selection of companies to exploit Dominican petroleum and gas deposits. WoodMac will be in charge of assessing and planning for the process in which companies could inquire about or formally request participation in the bidding process for the exploration and exploitation rights to Dominican deposits. Isa Conde says that the finding and exploiting petroleum deposits is the priority of his ministry.

Isa Conde says the plan is for the government to receive 40% of the yield from the exploitation. He says that the government has assessed the potential petroleum deposits are in the Cibao Oriental, San Juan, Enriquillo, Azua, Bahia de Ocoa and the San Pedro de Macoris basin.

http://eldia.com.do/antonio-isa-conde-el-pais-tiene-seis-cuencas-con-gas-y-petroleo/


Another loan for energy
The Ministry of Hacienda has announced yet another loan, this time from the Central American Bank of Economic Integration (BCIE) for US$54 million to build a pipeline. Hacienda Minister Donald Guerrero Ortiz has said that the loan will be for AES Dominicana to build a 50-kilometer pipeline from the AES Andrés natural gas terminal to San Pedro de Macorís. At the present time, AES Andrés is the only port of entrance in the country for natural liquid gas in the country.

https://almomento.net/ministro-de-hacienda-destaca-apoyo-gobierno-medina-al-sector-privado-rd/


Road traffic deaths still high
The director of the National Institute of Terrestrial Transit and Transport (Intrant), Claudia Franchesca de los Santos has said that the Dominican Republic has one of the highest rates of road traffic deaths in the Americas. She made the observation during a ceremony kicking off the First Road Safety Week. She said the first year of Intrant operations had been dedicated to develop the bases of the institution as designated in the National Road Safety Plan. She also released data from the Permanent Observatory for Road Safety (OPSEVI) that indicated during 2017 there were 2,804 road traffic deaths with the highest number at 270 being in the month of December.

She said that motorcyclists historically had the highest percentage of deaths with 1,452 in 2016 but this figure fell to 1,241 in 2017, accounting for a 14.5% decrease.

She announced a campaign in the provinces of Santo Domingo, San Cristóbal, La Altagracia, La Vega and Santiago that promotes the use of seatbelts, and warms about the danger of using a cellphone while driving.

The Road Safety data reveals that traffic accident deaths are higher than previously reported because the previous statistics did not include persons who had been injured and their deaths were later reported but not included as a traffic death statistics by the authorities.

https://intrant.gob.do/index.php/no...rio-de-seguridad-vial-en-republica-dominicana


Despite unrest in Haiti, bi-national market takes place
On Monday, 19 November 2018, the bi-national market in Dajabon was quieter than usual due to a reduced presence of Haitians. This was attributed to social unrest in Haiti. Many Dominicans did not participate concerned there could be problems with security and safety. According to an official from the shopkeepers of Dajabón, Abigail Bueno, the only thing lacking were tables to play dominos as the market was so quiet. At the same time, the military presence at the border was increased given the current volatile situation in Haiti.

https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ercado-de-dajabon-por-paralizaciones-en-haiti
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-...ed-across-the-country-partial-assessment.html


ECLAC: Concern over level of femicides in the region
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) meeting in Santiago, Chile, has expressed deep concern about what it regards as the increasing number of femicides in the region, urging governments to give priority to public policies aimed at preventing and eradicating all forms of violence against women. In a new report, released last Thursday, 15 November 2018, ECLAC said that at least 2,795 women were victims of femicide in 23 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2017.

ECLAC said its Gender Equality Observatory (GEO) reports annually on the number of homicides of women 15 years and older perpetrated for gender-related reasons in regional countries.

ECLAC said the list of the number of femicides is led by Brazil (with 1,133 victims confirmed in 2017).

“Nonetheless, if the rate per every 100,000 women is compared, the phenomenon has a scope in El Salvador that is seen nowhere else in the region: 10.2 femicides for every 100,000 women,” ECLAC said.

In 2016, Honduras recorded 5.8 femicides for every 100,000 women, while in Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and Bolivia, the commission said high rates were also seen in 2017, equal to or above two cases for every 100,000 women. In the region, only Panama, Peru and Venezuela have rates below 1.0, ECLAC said.

In the Caribbean, GEO report says four countries accounted for a total of 35 femicide victims in 2017: Belize (nine victims), the British Virgin Islands (one), St Lucia (four) and Trinidad and Tobago (21).

In the same year, the report says Guyana and Jamaica — which only have data on intimate femicides — reported the deaths of 34 and 15 women, respectively, at the hands of their current or former partners.

In 2017, the report says the rates of intimate femicides in Latin America ranged between a maximum of 1.98 for every 100,000 women in the Dominican Republic, to a minimum of 0.47 in Chile.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news...ing-femicide-in-caribbean_150020?profile=1373


Malaria on the increase in the region due to Venezuela
According to the annual malaria report from the World Health Organization (WHO), out of all of the regions in the world, the Americas is the one with the highest increase in deaths from malaria in 2017. Six regional countries, nevertheless, showed a decrease of over 20% from the previous year, including the Dominican Republic. Other regional countries posting declining malaria statistics were El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Surinam.

It is estimated that there were 630 deaths from malaria in the Americas in 2017, which includes Lain America, the Caribbean, United States and Canada, compared to 460 in 2016 and 480 in 2010.

WHO stated that there were 773,500 cases in the area, which is a 14% increase over 2010 and 72% higher than 2015.

The majority of cases reported were in Venezuela with 53%, followed by Brazil (22 %), Colombia (8 %) and Peru (7 %). Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, French Guyana, Nicaragua and Venezuela showed increases of over 20%.

In fact, Venezuela accounted for 84% of the increase in the region and is now one of the 10 countries in the world with more than 300,000 cases of malaria in the world in 2017.

However, there has been success in some of the countries, with Paraguay being the first country in the area, since Cuba some 45 years ago, to receive its certification of being malaria free and Argentina is in the process of obtaining the same certification.

http://www.who.int/docs/default-source/documents/key-messages.pdf?sfvrsn=73faaf09_0
http://www.who.int/malaria/publications/world-malaria-report-2018/en/


Protocol experts in Santo Domingo for congress
Santo Domingo city mayor David Collado inaugurated the 17th International Protocol Congress at the Hotel Embajador on 19 November 2018. The event is taking place in Santo Domingo at the Hotel Embajador from 19 to 21 November 2018. Experts from 400 delegates from 40 countries are participating. One of the opening talks was by Patrick Jephson, director of protocol for the late Princess Diana. The protocol director for the United Nations, D. Peter Van Leare, is also on the program.

https://elnuevodiario.com.do/inicia-xvii-congreso-internacional-de-protocolo-y-ceremonial/


Bishop Pablo Cedano dies
Monseñor Pablo Cedano Cedano, the auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Santo Domingo, died yesterday, Monday 19 November. He was 82. A mass was held for him in the Santa Maria Reyna church in Higuey and then his casket was taken to the Basilica in Higuey at midnight yesterday. Cedano Cedano is to lie in state at the Basilica until the burial today in the Bishops’ crypt.

http://eldia.com.do/fallece-monsenor-pablo-cedano-cedano-obispo-auxiliar-emerito-de-santo-domingo/


Protests in San Cristobal for lack of water
Yesterday, Monday 19 November 2018, there were protests in Hatillo, San Cristóbal, about the lack of provision of water, with residents saying they have had no water for around two months and that they have to purchase it for between RD$50 and RD$75 a tank. They protested in the streets, throwing bottles, stones and garbage and burned tires and threatened to continue to protest if they did not receive a water supply.

The National Police arrived at the scene to restore order but there were delays on the 6 November highway at the Hatillo bridge from San Cristóbal to Santo Domingo.

https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ectan-transito-en-la-autopista-6-de-noviembre


Major cocaine haul, ship cleared to leave for Haiti
The Dominican authorities have taken possession of 978 kilos of cocaine in two freight containers at the Port of Haina. As of Monday, 19 November 2018, there were not yet reports of any arrests in the case. A press release from the National Drug Control Agency, DNCD, said that the narcotics were found after 100 freight containers that had arrived from Colombia were inspected by specialized personnel using modern equipment.

The drugs were taken to the National Institute of Forensic Science (INACIF) for weighing and analysis. The investigation is ongoing and includes the determining the identification of the company that shipped the drugs.

El Dia reports that the San Amerigo ship was authorized the next day of the cocaine finding to continue on its way to Haiti “as if nothing had happened.” The ship had arrived to Santo Domingo from the Port of Barranquilla in Colombia.

http://dncd.gob.do/index.php/noticias/item/dncd-ocupa-978-paquetes-de-cocaina-en-puerto-de-haina
http://eldia.com.do/buque-transporto-978-kilos-coca-fue-liberado-y-siguio-hacia-haiti/


Two Russian honeymooners die in motorcycle accident
On Friday, 16 November, two Russians on honeymoon died following a motorcycle crash on the road from San Marcos Arriba to the Puerto Plata skylift. The victims are 28-year old Alexandra Sacha, and 32-year old Dimitry Onyshkevich who died when their motorcycle hit the protection barrier. Alexandra died instantly and Dimitry was taken to a hospital with serious injuries where he later passed away.

http://www.barrigaverde.net/?q=node/60258
https://en.crimerussia.com/gromkie-...-of-russian-newlyweds-in-dominican-republic-/
https://elnacional.com.do/mueren-dos-rusos-accidente-transito/


Daniil Trifonov to play at the National Theater
The National Theater Foundation announces a recital with 27-year old Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov to celebrate the Foundation’s 20th anniversary. The concert will be on 13 December 2018, at the main hall of the theater at 8:30pm. The event is backed by the Ministry of Culture and the Foundation Sinfonia. Tribute will be rendered to doña Margarita Copello de RodrΩíguez, president of Sinfonia. Trifonov is a winner of a Grammy Award winner and was the Gramophone's Artist of the Year in 2016.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCwwo_7KOYU
https://daniiltrifonov.com/about/


Ballads, boleros and Christmas songs at the Barceló Santo Domingo
Jacqueline Estevez, Ramon Orlando and Belkis Concepcion will be performing ballads, boleros and Christmas songs at the Barcelo Santo Domingo (former Hotel Lina). The performance is scheduled for Friday, 23 November 2018 as of 9:30pm.


Extra date for Amaury Sánchez’s “Mamma Mía”
After a successful first three performances, the producers of the Dominican version of the famous Broadway musical, "Mamma Mia" announced an extra showing on 23 November 2018 at the Escenario 360 at the Galerías 360 shopping mall.

The Dominican version of the musical stars Spanish actress Solange Freyre in the role of Donna. She is a finalist of the Spanish reality, Spain Got Talent 2017. The role of Donna is best remembered for its portrayal by Meryl Streep in the movie version.

Other roles are by stellar Dominican performers, including Mariasela Álvarez, Diomary La Mala, Karolyn Becker, Daniel Sarcos, Irving Alberti, José Guillermo Cortines, Javier Grullon, The Dominican musical is directed by Waddy Jaquez and musical direction is by Amaury Sánchez.

Tickets are for sale at the Escenario 360 box office and Tickets Express. For more information, call 829 953-0360.