DR1 Daily News next update on 26 November 2018
Christmas at the Presidential Palace
Ministry of Interior & Police: ‘Tis the season to be jolly
National Council of Magistracy publishes shortlist to replace Constitutional Court judges
Civil Aviation Board announces signing of eight more air services agreements
Proposal for 500,000 jobs in Haiti
FATCA is valid says Constitutional Court
Presidency says Willy Falcon is here temporarily
Willy Falcon deal is trending topic on social media
DNCD says 20 packages of cocaine seized at Las Americas
Is Johnny Abbes alive?
Osiris Guzman of Fedofutbol says he will appeal FIFA sentence
Winter Professional Baseball Championship update
It's all about Black Friday
Bacilos at Hard Rock Live
Listin Diario Christmas Gala on Friday, 30 November
Vive la Navidad lights up Parque del Este
DR1 Daily News next update on 26 November 2018
The next DR1 Daily News update will be published on Monday, 26 November 2018. The Monday issue will compile headline news for the previous Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Breaking news can be followed 24/7 in the Forums. See the DR1 Forum at http://www.dr1.com
Christmas at the Presidential Palace
President Danilo Medina and First Lady Cándida Montilla, Vice President Margarita Cedeño and their families were present for the turning on of the lights of the Christmas decorations at the Presidential Palace on 21 November 2018. In addition to the traditional Christmas tree inside, Nativity scene and the show of lights in the palace gardens, two decorated 20-foot “charamicos” (Dominican Christmas trees) were placed at both sides of the entrance to the Presidential Palace. Father Gerardo Ramírez (Jerry) gave the blessings. The Youth Choir Armonía Kids sang Christmas carols at the event. The folklore ballet of the Ministry of Tourism also performed.
Also attending the ceremony were Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo and his wife Aurora Mena, and Administrative Minister of the Presidency José Ramón Peralta, and his wife Patria Abreu. And Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo; Agriculture Minister Osmar Benítez; Environment Minister Angel Estevez; Youth Minister Robiamny Balcácer; Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García; and Women Minister Janet Camilo, among others.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...candida-montilla-de-medina-encienden-arbol-de
Ministry of Interior & Police: ‘Tis the season to be jolly
The Ministry of Interior & Police is giving green light for bars, discotheques and restaurants to stay open all night long. The curfew for alcohol sales is lifted from 1 December through 7 January 2018. He said the decision is part of a concession to businesses, recognizing the importance of the holidays for the food, beverage and entertainment industries when sales usually peak. However, the Ministry advised the public that the surveillance of these establishments would increase during the holidays to ensure a continued high level of public safety and order in the country.
http://www.mip.gob.do/index.php/not...orario-venta-de-alcohol-por-fiestas-navidenas
National Council of Magistracy publishes Constitutional Court pre-candidates
The National Council of the Magistracy (CNM) has published the shortlist of 47 pre-candidates for the four vacancies of the Constitutional Court.
These are: Cristian Aguiar Quezada, Braulio Alcántara, Agripino de la Cruz, judge Samuel Amaury Arias Arzeno, former prosecutor Máximo Aristy Caraballo, lawyer José Alejandro Ayuso de los Santos, María Batista Mejía, judge Alba Luisa Beard Marcos, lawyer Juan Alfredo Biaggi Lama, Elemér Tibor Borsos Rodríguez, Jazmín Brito Hernández, former judge Juan Miguel Castillo Pantaleón, adjunct prosecutor Juan Amado Santana.
Also judge Rafael Ciprián Lora, Karina Concepción Medina, Judith Contreras Esmurdoc, Marcos Cruz, Rosina Altagracia de la Cruz, Fernando Fernández Cruz, Francisca Gabiela García de Fadul, Antonio Gil, Alexis A. Gómez, el juez Manuel Hernández Victoria, Julio César Madera Arias, Claudio Aníbal Medrano Mejía and Yokaurys Morales Castillo.
Others are: Bernabel Moricete Fabián, Aldemaro José Muñiz Mena, Sergio Antonio Ortega, ONDA director Trajano Vidal Pontentini, Bolívar Reinoso Hinojosa, Fermina Reynoso, Elizabeth Rodríguez Díaz, Cristóbal Rodríguez Gómez, Julio José Rojas Báez, judge Eduardo Sánchez Ortiz and Luis Sánchez Pimentel.
And Gladys Esther Sánchez Ríchiez, Yildalina Tatem Brache, Edgar Torres Guzmán, Miguelina Ureña Núñez, Miguel Valera Montero, judge José Alejandro Vargas, María Vásquez, Dulce Josefina Victoria Yeb and Luis Sebastián Yépez Suncar.
The selection process now enters into a period when the pre-candidates can be contested until Friday, 23 November 2018.
There will be presentations in public hearings on 5, 6 and 7 December. Candidates will be interviewed in alphabetical order from 5-7 December.
The CNM will interview the candidates starting on 5 December and the announcement of the new judges will be made on 10 December 2018.
The list of 47 pre-candidates is published at http://www.cnm.gob.do
https://elnacional.com.do/cnm-publica-lista-de-47-aspiran-al-tc/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...s-politicos-finjus-apoya-inclusion-LA11444438
Civil Aviation Board announces signing of eight more air services agreements
Luis Ernesto Camilo, director of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC) announced the country will be signing eight new bilateral aviation agreements before the end of the year. He said agreements would be signed with Kenya, in Africa; Jamaica and Bahamas in the Caribbean region; the United Kingdom, North Ireland, Netherlands in Europe, South Korea and Jordania. He said he would visit these countries with Alejandro Herrera, director of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC).
https://elnacional.com.do/rd-suscribira-acuerdos-aereos-con-diez-paises/
Proposal for 500,000 jobs in Haiti
Local businessmen and economists met for the talk “The Border: From Problem to Opportunity” at the INTEC university in Santo Domingo. The talk focused on competitive advantages in both countries and what is needed to create half a million jobs on the border that would significantly reduce Haitian poverty and migration.
Fernando Capellan, president of Grupo M and the Codevi free zone on the border with Haiti, called for more awareness locally of the importance of the country to act before the social and economic situation in Haiti spins out of control that could lead to catastrophic consequences for the Dominican Republic. Capellan talks the talk and walks, the walk. He has a factory in Ouanaminthe on the border with Haiti, where 12,500 persons are employed, including 1,000 Dominicans who cross the border every day. The factories produce caps, bed covers and electrical parts. He says more companies for assembling toys and footwear can be installed on the border. He says improvements to the port of Manzanillo would make all the difference.
Economist Roberto Despradel spoke of the importance of the Dominican Republic acting before the gap between the two countries widens even more. He said every decade the gap of the GDP between both countries has been doubling and much can be done to improve the border. He says Haiti buys 24% of its imports from the Dominican Republic.
Juan Vicini, of the Binational Quisqueya Economic Council says that no single Dominican business group has the capital to create the needed 500,000 jobs on the border. He is proposing an injection of US$75 million from Haiti and from the DR to build a base of US$150 million to advance on a pilot plan for the development of the border that involves not only installing companies but also building infrastructure to increase the quality of life in the region. He says this effort could result in creating 300,000 to 500,000 jobs in the next six years. “It is a matter of sitting down and aligning interests,” said Vicini.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...fondo-para-desarrollar-la-frontera-NH11431286
FATCA goes, says Constitutional Court
The Constitutional Court validated the agreement signed by the Dominican Republic with the United States for international tax compliance and to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), signed in Santo Domingo on 15 September 2016. The ruling is TC/0404/18. The FATCA allows for the automatic exchange of information for taxation purposes.
FATCA is a 2010 United States federal law that requires all non-US financial institutions to search their records for US citizen status and report the assets and identities of these to the US Department of the Treasury for taxation purposes.
https://www.tribunalconstitucional.gob.do/consultas/secretaría/sentencias/tc040418/
https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-policy/treaties/Pages/FATCA.aspx
Presidency says Willy Falcon is here in transit
The Presidency website added a press release issued jointly by the Ministry of Interior & Police, the Attorney General Office and the National Police on 21 November 2018 whereby these indicate that deported Cuban convicted drug trafficker Augusto (Willie) Falcón is in the country only temporarily after the government accepted a request made by a security agency of the United States to the National Investigations Agency (DNI). Falcón reportedly is under custody until his final destination is known. Falcón arrived to the country on 6 November 2018, as part of a group of 60 deported Dominicans. His presence was known after reports appeared in Miami, Florida media.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...ia-en-republica-dominicana-esta-bajo-custodia
Willy Falcon deal is trending topic on social media
The executive vice president of the Foundation Institutionality and Justice (Finjus), Servio Tulio Castaños Guzmán said the authorities should offer a detailed explanation about the government’s deal with judicial institutions in the United States that allowed for the entry of convicted Cuban drug dealer Augusto (Willie) Falcón to enter and reside in the country. He said he is not questioning the authority of the government to reach such an agreement, but the lack of information shared with Dominican public about the case. As reported, Falcón has been in the Dominican Republic since 6 November 2018. The case was known after it was published abroad in the Miami Herald. The Presidency says Falcón is here temporarily until his final destination is known.
Meanwhile, the Falcón case is the trending topic on social media, with most commentary very much against the government’s decision. Former President Hipólito Mejía says he wouldn't have let Cuban Augusto (Willy) Falcon in. He said when he was President he would tell the US "no" if he felt it could harm the country's image.
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/miami-dade/fl-ne-willie-falcon-deportation-20181120-story.html
http://eldia.com.do/finjus-exige-gobierno-aclare-en-que-condicion-vino-narco-cubano-a-rd/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ipolito-yo-no-hubiera-aceptado-a-falcon-en-rd
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...n-rd-de-willy-falcon-el-vaquero-de-la-cocaina
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzm5fLl8eq0
DNCD says 20 packages of cocaine seized at Las Americas
The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) and Specialized Airport Security Corps (CESAC) agents announced 20 packages of cocaine weighing 20.8 kg were confiscated at the Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) on 20 November 2018. The drugs were stored in a suitcase one of the deposits of an airplane bound for Paris, France. A DNCD press release says the case is under investigation. No suspects involved in the incident have been publically identified.
http://dncd.gob.do/index.php/notici...aina-en-aeropuerto-internacional-las-americas
Is Johnny Abbes alive?
He was known as the head of the much-feared intelligence service of cruel Dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. For years people have accepted the story that Abbes was ambushed and killed by the Ton Ton Macoutes in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 1967, seven years after the Trujillo regime was toppled. However, the whereabouts of his remains have never been disclosed.
Fast forward to today: author Tony Raful is now claiming that Abbes is alive and residng in New York. Raful states that at the time the story was circulated that claimed Abbes was killed was a tale fabricated by the CIA of the United States as part of a protection deal after Abbes had become an informant. If true, Abbes would be 94 years old. Supposedly, Abbes lives a protected life in the United States, hiding as a Peruvian citizen.
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/11/15/541786/esta-vivo-johnny-abbes
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...solano-explica-no-vio-a-johnny-abbes-en-haiti
Osiris Guzman of Fedofutbol says he will appeal FIFA sentence
Osiris Guzman has proclaimed his innocence of charges of corruption while serving as president of the Dominican Football Federation. Guzman has said he will appeal FIFA’s decision.
On 12 October 2018, the adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has banned Osiris Guzmán, president of the Dominican Republic Football Association (Fedofutbol), for ten years from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level. He was also fined US$151,000 for violating articles 27 (bribery), 20 (accepting gifts), and 19 (conflicts of interest) of the Ethics Code of the FIFA. Guzmán had presided the Fedofutbol for more than 20 years, until the recent rulings by the FIFA put a stop to his administration.
Moreso, a report in Diario Libre says that the name of Felix Ledesma, who is director of the Dominican Football League, appears 11 times in the report in which FIFA details the irregularities committed by Osiris Guzman in the five years of audited finances. Ledesma was hand-picked by Guzman to head the Fedofutbol for the next four years, after FIFA ordered he step aside.
Unfortunately, Ledesma, at the head of the Dominican Football League did not register the Dominican clubs for the Caribbean Cup, despite receiving a three months extension. This means the local winning clubs, Cibao FC and Atletico SFM will not be able to participate in the regional tournament. As the rules go, the Dominican Football League is owned by Fedofutbol.
But with the takeover of the FIFA, Diario Libre reports that a new board of directors could be put into place by July 2019 to organize new elections.
Sports writer Hugo Lopez Morrobel asks in his column in El Dia on 21 November: “And will there not be other federations permeated by bad management?” He observes the FIFA had to come here to unravel the corruption at the local football federation, despite the case having been put in the hands of the local government corruption office (PEPCA) since March 2016.
https://www.diariolibre.com/deporte...a-ldf-sale-tocado-por-informe-fifa-GH11432334
https://www.fifa.com/governance/new...the-independent-ethics-committee-sanctio.html
https://listindiario.com/el-deporte...-haya-recibido-sobornos-ni-revendido-entradas
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...su-comite-de-etica-a-osiris-guzman-BH11437273
https://www.facebook.com/eldia.com.do/photos/a.258662327511180/2300634986647227/?type=3
Winter Professional Baseball Championship update
El Dia sports writer Renaldo Bodden says the regular season of the 2018-2019 Winter Professional Baseball Championship is the most hard-fought of tournaments that he recalls with all the teams bunched together in the standings. In fact, only two games separate the teams from the top to the bottom of the standings.
With slightly more than half of the regular season played, any of the six teams could qualify for the round-robin part of the season. The regular season ends on 17 December 2018.
The standing as of the games on 21 November is:
Estrellas Orientales (17-14)
Leones del Escogido (16-15)
Gigantes del Cibao (15-16)
Aguilas Cibaeñas (15-16)
Toros del Este (15-16)
Tigres del Licey (15-16)
http://www.lidom.com/home/calendario/
It's all about Black Friday
Ever since Plaza Lama joined the US Black Friday frenzy and had record sales, the last Friday in November has become the biggest sales day in the Dominican Republic. Leading up to Black Friday, several stores and shopping centers have been announcing sales. But many consumers have already checked out what they want to buy, in the hopes their favorite stores will have that item on sale.
Bacilos at Hard Rock Live
The popular Latin pop band Bacilos is booked for a performance at the Hard Rock Live on Friday, 23 November 2018 as of 10pm. The show, “Donde Nos Quedamos” is part of their 2018 Tour. Tickets start at RD$2,060.
The group has had several hits on the Billboard Latin charts and had considerable success in the Latin Grammies, most notably, their albums Caraluna and Sin Vergüenza won the 2003 and 2005 Grammy Awards for Best Latin Pop Album. The group was founded by Colombian musician Jorge Villamizar. Other members are André Lopez and José Javier Freire.
Listen to their music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JqnbsQpljU
Listin Diario Christmas Gala on Friday, 30 November
The National District municipality and the Listín Diario newspaper are inviting to a Christmas concert, “La Gran Gala de Navidad 2018” on Friday, 30 November 2018 at 8pm at the Plaza España in the Colonial City. Milly Quezada and Gabriel will be performing together with the Orquesta Filarmónica Molina, directed by Maestro José Antonio Molina.
Subscribers of the Listin Diario get four free tickets to the concert. The concert is in its third year. The event is sponsored by the city government, the Grupo Mejía Arcalá, Humano Seguros, Excel, the Ministry of Culture and Brugal.
https://listindiario.com/entretenim...isponibles-santo-domingo-para-gala-de-navidad
Vive la Navidad lights up Parque del Este
The city government of Santo Domingo East announced the opening of the “Vive la Navidad” lights spectacle at the Parque del Este. The event is staged from 7 December 2018 to 5 January 2019. Mayor Alfredo Martínez says the lit up park will be open to the public from 6pm to 12 midnight. The park is lit up with 2,400,000 little lights. The idea is to simulate a magical park with tunnels decorated by colorful lights.
http://ayuntamientosde.gob.do/alcal...talacion-parque-de-las-luces-vive-la-navidad/
Christmas at the Presidential Palace
Ministry of Interior & Police: ‘Tis the season to be jolly
National Council of Magistracy publishes shortlist to replace Constitutional Court judges
Civil Aviation Board announces signing of eight more air services agreements
Proposal for 500,000 jobs in Haiti
FATCA is valid says Constitutional Court
Presidency says Willy Falcon is here temporarily
Willy Falcon deal is trending topic on social media
DNCD says 20 packages of cocaine seized at Las Americas
Is Johnny Abbes alive?
Osiris Guzman of Fedofutbol says he will appeal FIFA sentence
Winter Professional Baseball Championship update
It's all about Black Friday
Bacilos at Hard Rock Live
Listin Diario Christmas Gala on Friday, 30 November
Vive la Navidad lights up Parque del Este
DR1 Daily News next update on 26 November 2018
The next DR1 Daily News update will be published on Monday, 26 November 2018. The Monday issue will compile headline news for the previous Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Breaking news can be followed 24/7 in the Forums. See the DR1 Forum at http://www.dr1.com
Christmas at the Presidential Palace
President Danilo Medina and First Lady Cándida Montilla, Vice President Margarita Cedeño and their families were present for the turning on of the lights of the Christmas decorations at the Presidential Palace on 21 November 2018. In addition to the traditional Christmas tree inside, Nativity scene and the show of lights in the palace gardens, two decorated 20-foot “charamicos” (Dominican Christmas trees) were placed at both sides of the entrance to the Presidential Palace. Father Gerardo Ramírez (Jerry) gave the blessings. The Youth Choir Armonía Kids sang Christmas carols at the event. The folklore ballet of the Ministry of Tourism also performed.
Also attending the ceremony were Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo and his wife Aurora Mena, and Administrative Minister of the Presidency José Ramón Peralta, and his wife Patria Abreu. And Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo; Agriculture Minister Osmar Benítez; Environment Minister Angel Estevez; Youth Minister Robiamny Balcácer; Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García; and Women Minister Janet Camilo, among others.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...candida-montilla-de-medina-encienden-arbol-de
Ministry of Interior & Police: ‘Tis the season to be jolly
The Ministry of Interior & Police is giving green light for bars, discotheques and restaurants to stay open all night long. The curfew for alcohol sales is lifted from 1 December through 7 January 2018. He said the decision is part of a concession to businesses, recognizing the importance of the holidays for the food, beverage and entertainment industries when sales usually peak. However, the Ministry advised the public that the surveillance of these establishments would increase during the holidays to ensure a continued high level of public safety and order in the country.
http://www.mip.gob.do/index.php/not...orario-venta-de-alcohol-por-fiestas-navidenas
National Council of Magistracy publishes Constitutional Court pre-candidates
The National Council of the Magistracy (CNM) has published the shortlist of 47 pre-candidates for the four vacancies of the Constitutional Court.
These are: Cristian Aguiar Quezada, Braulio Alcántara, Agripino de la Cruz, judge Samuel Amaury Arias Arzeno, former prosecutor Máximo Aristy Caraballo, lawyer José Alejandro Ayuso de los Santos, María Batista Mejía, judge Alba Luisa Beard Marcos, lawyer Juan Alfredo Biaggi Lama, Elemér Tibor Borsos Rodríguez, Jazmín Brito Hernández, former judge Juan Miguel Castillo Pantaleón, adjunct prosecutor Juan Amado Santana.
Also judge Rafael Ciprián Lora, Karina Concepción Medina, Judith Contreras Esmurdoc, Marcos Cruz, Rosina Altagracia de la Cruz, Fernando Fernández Cruz, Francisca Gabiela García de Fadul, Antonio Gil, Alexis A. Gómez, el juez Manuel Hernández Victoria, Julio César Madera Arias, Claudio Aníbal Medrano Mejía and Yokaurys Morales Castillo.
Others are: Bernabel Moricete Fabián, Aldemaro José Muñiz Mena, Sergio Antonio Ortega, ONDA director Trajano Vidal Pontentini, Bolívar Reinoso Hinojosa, Fermina Reynoso, Elizabeth Rodríguez Díaz, Cristóbal Rodríguez Gómez, Julio José Rojas Báez, judge Eduardo Sánchez Ortiz and Luis Sánchez Pimentel.
And Gladys Esther Sánchez Ríchiez, Yildalina Tatem Brache, Edgar Torres Guzmán, Miguelina Ureña Núñez, Miguel Valera Montero, judge José Alejandro Vargas, María Vásquez, Dulce Josefina Victoria Yeb and Luis Sebastián Yépez Suncar.
The selection process now enters into a period when the pre-candidates can be contested until Friday, 23 November 2018.
There will be presentations in public hearings on 5, 6 and 7 December. Candidates will be interviewed in alphabetical order from 5-7 December.
The CNM will interview the candidates starting on 5 December and the announcement of the new judges will be made on 10 December 2018.
The list of 47 pre-candidates is published at http://www.cnm.gob.do
https://elnacional.com.do/cnm-publica-lista-de-47-aspiran-al-tc/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...s-politicos-finjus-apoya-inclusion-LA11444438
Civil Aviation Board announces signing of eight more air services agreements
Luis Ernesto Camilo, director of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC) announced the country will be signing eight new bilateral aviation agreements before the end of the year. He said agreements would be signed with Kenya, in Africa; Jamaica and Bahamas in the Caribbean region; the United Kingdom, North Ireland, Netherlands in Europe, South Korea and Jordania. He said he would visit these countries with Alejandro Herrera, director of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC).
https://elnacional.com.do/rd-suscribira-acuerdos-aereos-con-diez-paises/
Proposal for 500,000 jobs in Haiti
Local businessmen and economists met for the talk “The Border: From Problem to Opportunity” at the INTEC university in Santo Domingo. The talk focused on competitive advantages in both countries and what is needed to create half a million jobs on the border that would significantly reduce Haitian poverty and migration.
Fernando Capellan, president of Grupo M and the Codevi free zone on the border with Haiti, called for more awareness locally of the importance of the country to act before the social and economic situation in Haiti spins out of control that could lead to catastrophic consequences for the Dominican Republic. Capellan talks the talk and walks, the walk. He has a factory in Ouanaminthe on the border with Haiti, where 12,500 persons are employed, including 1,000 Dominicans who cross the border every day. The factories produce caps, bed covers and electrical parts. He says more companies for assembling toys and footwear can be installed on the border. He says improvements to the port of Manzanillo would make all the difference.
Economist Roberto Despradel spoke of the importance of the Dominican Republic acting before the gap between the two countries widens even more. He said every decade the gap of the GDP between both countries has been doubling and much can be done to improve the border. He says Haiti buys 24% of its imports from the Dominican Republic.
Juan Vicini, of the Binational Quisqueya Economic Council says that no single Dominican business group has the capital to create the needed 500,000 jobs on the border. He is proposing an injection of US$75 million from Haiti and from the DR to build a base of US$150 million to advance on a pilot plan for the development of the border that involves not only installing companies but also building infrastructure to increase the quality of life in the region. He says this effort could result in creating 300,000 to 500,000 jobs in the next six years. “It is a matter of sitting down and aligning interests,” said Vicini.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...fondo-para-desarrollar-la-frontera-NH11431286
FATCA goes, says Constitutional Court
The Constitutional Court validated the agreement signed by the Dominican Republic with the United States for international tax compliance and to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), signed in Santo Domingo on 15 September 2016. The ruling is TC/0404/18. The FATCA allows for the automatic exchange of information for taxation purposes.
FATCA is a 2010 United States federal law that requires all non-US financial institutions to search their records for US citizen status and report the assets and identities of these to the US Department of the Treasury for taxation purposes.
https://www.tribunalconstitucional.gob.do/consultas/secretaría/sentencias/tc040418/
https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-policy/treaties/Pages/FATCA.aspx
Presidency says Willy Falcon is here in transit
The Presidency website added a press release issued jointly by the Ministry of Interior & Police, the Attorney General Office and the National Police on 21 November 2018 whereby these indicate that deported Cuban convicted drug trafficker Augusto (Willie) Falcón is in the country only temporarily after the government accepted a request made by a security agency of the United States to the National Investigations Agency (DNI). Falcón reportedly is under custody until his final destination is known. Falcón arrived to the country on 6 November 2018, as part of a group of 60 deported Dominicans. His presence was known after reports appeared in Miami, Florida media.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...ia-en-republica-dominicana-esta-bajo-custodia
Willy Falcon deal is trending topic on social media
The executive vice president of the Foundation Institutionality and Justice (Finjus), Servio Tulio Castaños Guzmán said the authorities should offer a detailed explanation about the government’s deal with judicial institutions in the United States that allowed for the entry of convicted Cuban drug dealer Augusto (Willie) Falcón to enter and reside in the country. He said he is not questioning the authority of the government to reach such an agreement, but the lack of information shared with Dominican public about the case. As reported, Falcón has been in the Dominican Republic since 6 November 2018. The case was known after it was published abroad in the Miami Herald. The Presidency says Falcón is here temporarily until his final destination is known.
Meanwhile, the Falcón case is the trending topic on social media, with most commentary very much against the government’s decision. Former President Hipólito Mejía says he wouldn't have let Cuban Augusto (Willy) Falcon in. He said when he was President he would tell the US "no" if he felt it could harm the country's image.
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/miami-dade/fl-ne-willie-falcon-deportation-20181120-story.html
http://eldia.com.do/finjus-exige-gobierno-aclare-en-que-condicion-vino-narco-cubano-a-rd/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ipolito-yo-no-hubiera-aceptado-a-falcon-en-rd
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...n-rd-de-willy-falcon-el-vaquero-de-la-cocaina
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzm5fLl8eq0
DNCD says 20 packages of cocaine seized at Las Americas
The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) and Specialized Airport Security Corps (CESAC) agents announced 20 packages of cocaine weighing 20.8 kg were confiscated at the Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) on 20 November 2018. The drugs were stored in a suitcase one of the deposits of an airplane bound for Paris, France. A DNCD press release says the case is under investigation. No suspects involved in the incident have been publically identified.
http://dncd.gob.do/index.php/notici...aina-en-aeropuerto-internacional-las-americas
Is Johnny Abbes alive?
He was known as the head of the much-feared intelligence service of cruel Dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. For years people have accepted the story that Abbes was ambushed and killed by the Ton Ton Macoutes in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 1967, seven years after the Trujillo regime was toppled. However, the whereabouts of his remains have never been disclosed.
Fast forward to today: author Tony Raful is now claiming that Abbes is alive and residng in New York. Raful states that at the time the story was circulated that claimed Abbes was killed was a tale fabricated by the CIA of the United States as part of a protection deal after Abbes had become an informant. If true, Abbes would be 94 years old. Supposedly, Abbes lives a protected life in the United States, hiding as a Peruvian citizen.
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/11/15/541786/esta-vivo-johnny-abbes
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...solano-explica-no-vio-a-johnny-abbes-en-haiti
Osiris Guzman of Fedofutbol says he will appeal FIFA sentence
Osiris Guzman has proclaimed his innocence of charges of corruption while serving as president of the Dominican Football Federation. Guzman has said he will appeal FIFA’s decision.
On 12 October 2018, the adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has banned Osiris Guzmán, president of the Dominican Republic Football Association (Fedofutbol), for ten years from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level. He was also fined US$151,000 for violating articles 27 (bribery), 20 (accepting gifts), and 19 (conflicts of interest) of the Ethics Code of the FIFA. Guzmán had presided the Fedofutbol for more than 20 years, until the recent rulings by the FIFA put a stop to his administration.
Moreso, a report in Diario Libre says that the name of Felix Ledesma, who is director of the Dominican Football League, appears 11 times in the report in which FIFA details the irregularities committed by Osiris Guzman in the five years of audited finances. Ledesma was hand-picked by Guzman to head the Fedofutbol for the next four years, after FIFA ordered he step aside.
Unfortunately, Ledesma, at the head of the Dominican Football League did not register the Dominican clubs for the Caribbean Cup, despite receiving a three months extension. This means the local winning clubs, Cibao FC and Atletico SFM will not be able to participate in the regional tournament. As the rules go, the Dominican Football League is owned by Fedofutbol.
But with the takeover of the FIFA, Diario Libre reports that a new board of directors could be put into place by July 2019 to organize new elections.
Sports writer Hugo Lopez Morrobel asks in his column in El Dia on 21 November: “And will there not be other federations permeated by bad management?” He observes the FIFA had to come here to unravel the corruption at the local football federation, despite the case having been put in the hands of the local government corruption office (PEPCA) since March 2016.
https://www.diariolibre.com/deporte...a-ldf-sale-tocado-por-informe-fifa-GH11432334
https://www.fifa.com/governance/new...the-independent-ethics-committee-sanctio.html
https://listindiario.com/el-deporte...-haya-recibido-sobornos-ni-revendido-entradas
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...su-comite-de-etica-a-osiris-guzman-BH11437273
https://www.facebook.com/eldia.com.do/photos/a.258662327511180/2300634986647227/?type=3
Winter Professional Baseball Championship update
El Dia sports writer Renaldo Bodden says the regular season of the 2018-2019 Winter Professional Baseball Championship is the most hard-fought of tournaments that he recalls with all the teams bunched together in the standings. In fact, only two games separate the teams from the top to the bottom of the standings.
With slightly more than half of the regular season played, any of the six teams could qualify for the round-robin part of the season. The regular season ends on 17 December 2018.
The standing as of the games on 21 November is:
Estrellas Orientales (17-14)
Leones del Escogido (16-15)
Gigantes del Cibao (15-16)
Aguilas Cibaeñas (15-16)
Toros del Este (15-16)
Tigres del Licey (15-16)
http://www.lidom.com/home/calendario/
It's all about Black Friday
Ever since Plaza Lama joined the US Black Friday frenzy and had record sales, the last Friday in November has become the biggest sales day in the Dominican Republic. Leading up to Black Friday, several stores and shopping centers have been announcing sales. But many consumers have already checked out what they want to buy, in the hopes their favorite stores will have that item on sale.
Bacilos at Hard Rock Live
The popular Latin pop band Bacilos is booked for a performance at the Hard Rock Live on Friday, 23 November 2018 as of 10pm. The show, “Donde Nos Quedamos” is part of their 2018 Tour. Tickets start at RD$2,060.
The group has had several hits on the Billboard Latin charts and had considerable success in the Latin Grammies, most notably, their albums Caraluna and Sin Vergüenza won the 2003 and 2005 Grammy Awards for Best Latin Pop Album. The group was founded by Colombian musician Jorge Villamizar. Other members are André Lopez and José Javier Freire.
Listen to their music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JqnbsQpljU
Listin Diario Christmas Gala on Friday, 30 November
The National District municipality and the Listín Diario newspaper are inviting to a Christmas concert, “La Gran Gala de Navidad 2018” on Friday, 30 November 2018 at 8pm at the Plaza España in the Colonial City. Milly Quezada and Gabriel will be performing together with the Orquesta Filarmónica Molina, directed by Maestro José Antonio Molina.
Subscribers of the Listin Diario get four free tickets to the concert. The concert is in its third year. The event is sponsored by the city government, the Grupo Mejía Arcalá, Humano Seguros, Excel, the Ministry of Culture and Brugal.
https://listindiario.com/entretenim...isponibles-santo-domingo-para-gala-de-navidad
Vive la Navidad lights up Parque del Este
The city government of Santo Domingo East announced the opening of the “Vive la Navidad” lights spectacle at the Parque del Este. The event is staged from 7 December 2018 to 5 January 2019. Mayor Alfredo Martínez says the lit up park will be open to the public from 6pm to 12 midnight. The park is lit up with 2,400,000 little lights. The idea is to simulate a magical park with tunnels decorated by colorful lights.
http://ayuntamientosde.gob.do/alcal...talacion-parque-de-las-luces-vive-la-navidad/