18-floor tower in Punta Cana gets its start, East Coast hotels ask TSA to annul green light to build
Montalvo announces steps to better Yaque River
DR signs MoUs with UAE
MEM takes control of amber and larimar development
Alcohol has killed 900 so far this year in DR road accidents as Public Health refutes removing drinking curfew
JCE tries out automated vote in retired military election
PRSC opts for holding delegates convention to choose 2020 candidates
Santo Domingo land use plan presented for approval of city councilors in December
The CODIA warns 12 bridges in Santiago need repairs
FNP objects candidacy of Cristóbal Rodríguez to Constitutional Court judge
Former migration director says entry authorized to Willie Falcon violates the law; visa free travel with El Salvador criticized
Mob tries to lynch thief in Sosua
First Dominican-American NY senator dies
Thanksgiving Day tragedy: helicopter crash kills 5
Corpse of woman found in a bag in Villa Juana
Winter baseball update
18-floor tower in Punta Cana gets its start, East Coast hotels ask TSA to annul green light to build
President Danilo Medina was in Macao, in northern Punta Cana for the ground breaking of the controversial Moon Palace Punta Cana. This would be the tallest structure in the eastern beach coastline. The high rise, funded by Mexican investors, will be built 500 meters inland from the ocean line and will have 2,149 hotel rooms in 18 floors.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, the Association of Hotels & Tourism Projects of the East (Asoleste) filed a request to the Higher Administrative Court (TSA) to annul the Ministry of Tourism resolution that authorizes the construction of high-rises of up to 22 floors in Punta Cana. The resolution was issued in October 2017, and is in contradiction with the 11-meter previous height for constructions in the area.
The construction of buildings in the east of the country radically changes the successful development model that has made Punta Cana and its surroundings a prosperous tourist destination and leader in the Caribbean, with growth for 40 years and that continues to expand, the National Hotel & Tourism Association (Asonahores) has argued.
The member of Asonahores that groups hotels in the east, Asoleste says that the Ministry of Tourism did not publish the resolution as established by Art. 31 of Law 107-13, amends the land use for the eastern coastline. Thus, Asoleste should have been consulted prior to the approval of project. Asoleste says that the resolution does not provide security to the investors.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...on-palace-punta-cana-inversion-superara-us600
http://eldia.com.do/hoteleros-piden-tsa-anule-resolucion-autoriza-torres/
Montalvo announces steps to better Yaque River
Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo met late last week with members of the commission that coordinates the Plan for the Improvement and Management of the Yaque River Watershed (CRYN). The area in the past has suffered from flooding.
Montalvo reported that some 10,500 tareas (1 tarea = 629 square meters) in the watershed would be reforested with coffee, cacao and macadamia plants.
Together with this effort, the program calls for developing 400 agro-forest family-run systems for rural communities in the watershed. Montalvo also spoke about the construction of some small reservoirs and improvements in forage for cattle ranching in the area. He added funding would be provided by the government for improvements in infrastructure at dairy farms in the region in coordination with cattle ranching associations. In a visit to San Jose de las Matas in Santiago, he delivered a check for RD$14,132,426 to complete the construction of the Planta de Lácteos La Sierra, part of the government’s Sustainable Cattleranching Development Program underway jointly with the Plan Sierra.
During the visit to San Jose de las Matas, the Minister of the Presidency also visited the La Loma macadamia processing plant in Loma Bajita, Los Montones.
In addition to cash from the Presidency, the program also has resources from the French Development Agency for specific projects in the smaller watersheds of the Guayubin, Maguaca and Chacuey rivers.
Montalvo said that the project budget for 2019 also includes a loan from the World Bank for RD$274 million. As the financing process is developing, the government is continuing its work on the next phase that includes completing the management models, and the design for long-term organization.
The minister said that the government will begin early education in some 20 schools in the area. He attended the graduation of 306 youths that took technical courses at the Armed Forces Vocational School in San Jose de las Matas.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...ativas-en-mejora-para-la-cuenca-del-rio-yaque
http://hoy.com.do/montalvo-entrega-fondos-para-planta/
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...cion-de-escuela-vocacional-de-san-jose-de-las
DR signs MoUs with UAE
Dominican Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado was in Abu Dhabi to meet with his colleague from the United Arabian Emirates, 46-year old Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan born 30 April 1972) is the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates. He is the son of the founder of UAE. The meetings were coordinated by Dominican ambassador to the UAE, Clara Martínez Thedy.
As reported, the ministers discussed ways of promoting bilateral relations across all domains. Likewise, during the meeting reportedly the ministers reviewed political, economic and cultural cooperation and the exchange of expertise and transfer of knowledge in areas of renewable energy.
Sheikh Abdullah during the meeting affirmed that the UAE has privileged relations with the Dominican Republic and that the country is keen to foster these ties across various fields.
As reported, the top diplomat for the Dominican Republic hailed the prestigious status enjoyed by the UAE at the regional and international levels and affirmed his country's determination to accelerate bilateral relations.
At the end of the meeting, the two ministers signed four memoranda of understanding on promoting cultural cooperation; strengthening political consultations; forming a task force to promote investments; and advancing cooperation between the Emirates Diplomatic academy and its counterpart in Dominican. The Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic revealed the MoUs cover diplomacy, economic, cultural and academic areas.
The memorandums of understanding signed are:
The Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations between the ministries of foreign relations of the two states establishes a mechanism for the exchange of information through which both countries will hold regular consultation meetings on the bilateral agenda and international issues of common interest.
The Memorandum of Understanding for the Promotion of Trade and Investment and Productive Linkages creates a Joint Council for cooperation in those areas.
The Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Culture will foster exchanges to increase mutual knowledge, in the interest of promoting the promotion and preservation of the cultural heritage. The memorandum was signed by Minister of Culture Eduardo Selman for the Dominican Republic and Minister of Culture of the UAE Nouba Al Kaabi.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Diplomatic Academy of the United Arab Emirates and the Institute of Higher Education in Diplomatic and Consular Training (Inesdyc) of the Dominican Republic proposes a strategic partnership for the training of human resources of the foreign service.
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/middle-east/abdullah-bin-zayed-meets-dominican-republic-f-488620.html
http://hoy.com.do/miguel-vargas-suscribe-cuerdos-con-los-emiratos-arabes-unidos/
https://elnacional.com.do/rd-y-emiratos-arabe-unidos-suscriben-acuerdo-sobre-cooperacion-cultural/
MEM takes control of amber and larimar development
The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) has committed to develop the mining of Larimar and Amber under strict environmental, social and economic sustainable criteria in order to create a chain of value that benefits the miners, the artisans and the mining communities. During the celebration of the first anniversary of the National Larimar Day, Energy and Mines Minister Antonio Isa Conde said that the mining of these stones has to be a productive activity that is capable of sustaining itself, of taking the necessary decisions to protect the environment in benefit of the productive and of the generations that will follow.
Isa Conde said: “We cannot pretend to improve this activity based on a paternalistic vision of the state. Thinking that the state is the one who has the obligation to take care of everything and the producers remain as mere passive agents or receptors of state assistance.”
President Danilo Medina recently issued Decree 431-18, which orders the MEM to regulate, supervise, authorize and take care of everything relating to the exploitation, extraction, permits, processing and export of larimar and amber in a natural state or semi-processed.
https://elcaribe.com.do/2018/11/23/panorama/dinero/mem-asume-el-desarrollo-de-ambar-y-larimar/
Alcohol has killed 900 so far this year in DR road accidents as Public Health refutes removing drinking curfew
As of September 2018, 949 persons have died in traffic accidents related to alcoholic drink consumptions. Sunday has accounted for the greatest number of deaths, 225.
In a general sense more than 2,000 persons die each year in this country in different traffic accidents, of which 60% are caused by human error such as a lack of prudence. This places the Dominican Republic in the second place among 182 nations belonging to the United Nations in traffic accident deaths. The DR has an accident death rate of 41.7%.
Likewise, accidents are consuming nearly 60% of the budgets of the nation’s, hospitals, and in the case of the Dario Contreras Hospital this percentage equal some RD$12 million pesos a month, according to the trauma hospital’s director José Aponte.
Directors of the Alcohol Cluster at the Ministry of Public Health reject the decision by the Ministry of Interior and Police to remove the drinking restrictions imposed on alcoholic consumption during the Christmas holidays. Based on the publications of the National Statistical Office (ONE) that shows that the total alcohol-related traffic accident deaths in the Dominican Republic during 2016, 2017 and as of September 2018 total 1414, with Sundays averaging 2,019 fatalities during that period.
Elias Tejada, the representative of the cluster, said that before relaxing the restrictions on drinking hours on weekends and during the Christmas season, authorities at the ministry should consider the data that shows that just between Friday and Sunday 551 persons died from alcohol in 2016. In 2017, the number was 404 fatalities and as of September of this year there have been 459 fatalities directly related to alcoholic consumption. In total and by year, accident fatalities related to alcohol consumption totaled 1049 in 2016 of which 250 occurred on Sundays. In 2017 the statistics show a total of 788 fatalities of which 144 occurred on Sunday, and during the first nine months of 2018, alcohol has caused 949 deaths of which 225 were on a Sunday.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...accidentes-este-ano-por-el-alcohol-MB11453852
JCE tries out automated vote in retired military election
The Central Electoral Board implemented its proposal for the 2020 general election on a small scale during the election of the board of directors of the Hermandad de Veteranos Pensionados de las Fuerzas Armadas y Policía. The organization groups retired military and police.
The pilot election plan was carried out in eight voting stations nationwide. The results were known 18 minutes after the closing of the election. 3,881 votes were issued in 23 voting stations.
Julio César Castaños Guzmán, president of the JCE, says implementation of the new computerized system “is part of the construction of a solution.” He said the system worked flawlessly and there were no complaints.
The winner of the retired military and police organization was retired General Jose Ramón López Peralta, who received 41.64% of the votes.
http://hoy.com.do/jce-aplica-voto-automatizado-en-las-elecciones-de-pensionados/
PRSC opts for holding delegates convention to choose 2020 candidates
The Executive Commission of the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) decided that its candidates (presidential, legislative and municipal levels) for the 2020 general elections would be chosen during a convention of party delegates. Secretary general of the PRSC, Ramon Rogelio Genao said only registered party members would vote for the PRSC candidates.
The commission also said that on 16 December 2018 a National Extraordinary assembly would be held to amend the statues of the political organization to the new Political Parties Law 33-18.
http://eldia.com.do/prsc-decide-hacer-convencion-de-militantes-para-elecciones/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...datos-via-convencion-de-militantes-AM11486745
http://hoy.com.do/prsc-opta-militantes-escojan-candidatos-en-convencion/
Santo Domingo land use plan presented for approval of city councilors in December
National District Mayor David Collado says works are advancing for the capital city to have its Land Use Plan prepared by the National District Municipal Government (ADN) with the backing of the US Embassy, the Bloomberg Foundation and the United Nations Development Plan.
The plan is prepared by the professionals at the AND Urban Planning Department under architects Amín Abel Santos, Jesús D’Alessandro, and advisor architect Juan Mubarak. He is confident the plan will be the beginning of the end to problems that have affected the city over the past 30 years.
In an interview with the Grupo Corripio, he explained the plan has been harmonized with 280 organizations, including neighborhood groups, professional unions, and other stakeholders. He said it would be presented to the city government’s Board of Councilors in December 2018. He announced it would be accompanied by a city strategic plan prepared by a team of architects under Jesus D’Alessandro.
He said the plan would encourage vertical growth in areas where there is already infrastructure, such as in the Ensanche La Fe and the Malecón.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...pital-tendra-primer-plan-de-orden-territorial
The CODIA warns 12 bridges in Santiago need repairs
The leaders of the North Region of the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors expressed concern for the advanced deterioration of 12 bridges in the Santiago and Puerto Plata areas. The areas mentioned are located in Arroyo Hondo, to the south of Santiago, and on the highways between Santiago and San Jose de las Matas, on the Gregorio Luperon Highway between Santiago and Puerto Plata. There are other bridges in bad shape in Gurabo, Jacagua, Puñal and La Delgada. The majority of these bridges show wear and tear on the beams and the railings while some of the bridges show erosion around the base.
Roberto Duron, who spoke during an activity celebrating the 52nd anniversary of the CODIA, said that the majority of the road structures affected are long past their useful life. He called upon the Ministry of Public Works to begin replacing the structures.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...do-estado-de-deterioro-en-santiago-LD11474681
FNP objects candidacy of Cristóbal Rodríguez to Constitutional Court judge
The Fuerza Nacional Progresista (FNP) rejected the pre-candidate Cristóbal Rodríguez as a candidate for the Constitutional Court replacement. The political party says that Rodríguez “was the principal expert that testified before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, supporting the slanderous anti-nationalist arguments that allowed this court to dare order the Dominican State to revoke Constitutional Court ruling 168-13 on nationality and migration.”
The spokesmen for the FNP say that Rodriguez is an advisor to eight organizations that are financed by foreign money and conspire to take from the Dominican Republic its faculty to sovereignly define who is a national. The opposition party alerted that nobody who has been part of this anti-national plot, independent of their professional qualifications, should become a member of the Constitutional Court.
Rodriguez was on the list of candidates proposed by the civic society group, Finjus. Others were Bernabel Moricete Fabián, Claudio Aníbal Medrano, Cristóbal Rodríguez, Domingo Antonio Gil, Gladys Sánchez Richiez, José Alejandro Ayuso, Juan Alfredo Biaggi, Julio José Rojas Báez, Miguel Valera, Rafael Ciprián Lora, Rosina de la Cruz Cabrera, Sergio Antonio Ortega and Yokaurys Morales Castillo.
https://elnacional.com.do/ven-tratan-llevar-al-tc-personas-apoyan-planes-desconocer-soberania-rd/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...os-para-el-tribunal-constitucional-OH11438868
http://www.cnm.gob.do
Former migration director says entry authorized to Willie Falcon violates the law; visa free travel with El Salvador criticized
Former Migration Director José Ricardo Taveras says that Art. 15 of the Migration Law 285-04 reads that foreigners with criminal records are banned from legal entry to the country. He made the comment when interviewed by Héctor Herrera Cabral for D´Agenda on Channel 11 on Sunday, 25 November 2018. He was referring to the government authorization for Cuban drug capo Willie Falcon to be authorized to “transitory residence” in the country. The presence of Falcon was known after media in Miami published the news two weeks after he had arrived on 6 November together with Dominicans deported for having committed crimes in the United States. He said that Falcon managed the cocaine cartel in Miami at a time when that city suffered from peak levels of crime.
Taveras said the case of Willie Falcón, cannot be compared to that transitory residence authorized to members of the Spanish ETA group.
The admitting of Willie Falcon has been highly criticized in the Dominican Republic.
Orlando Espinosa, president of the Interior & Police Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, last week also criticized the Ministry of Foreign Relations negotiating visa free entry for persons from El Salvador. "The Dominican Republic has become a waste disposal site,” he said. He criticized orders for Congress to approve the visa free entry with El Salvador. “The initiative was not allowed to be examined by the security agencies, instead a “machete” order was lowered for its approval,” he complained. “When the Salvadorans gangs get going here, then there will be protests,” the legislator said in a tone of complaint.
https://elnacional.com.do/exdirecto...de-entrada-personas-con-antecedentes-penales/
https://elnacional.com.do/ven-convierten-a-rd-en-deposito-de-desechos/
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/11/22/542731/dni-actuo-en-caso-de-seis-etarras-en-1998
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...rno-informa-falcon-esta-bajo-custodia-del-dni
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/noticiero-poteleche/imagen-img_6554-jpg-HD11472041
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/11/22/542732/los-reyes-del-trafico-de-drogas-en-el-pais
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...sangre-balas-y-drogas-en-la-miami-paradisiaca
Mob tries to lynch thief in Sosua
An angry mob of people nearly lynched an alleged criminal in the sector of Maranatha in the tourist community of Sosua. The unfortunate individual was severely beaten after he had been trapped stealing electric wiring and cables. The thief’s identity is still unknown. After he was caught, his hands and feet were tied and he placed facedown on the pavement. His pants were lowered to uncover the gluteus maximus and with a piece of the same wiring that he had stolen minutes before he was given a serious whipping. All of this was taped by a young man with a telephone and the video was uploaded to social media. The thief was saved from a near lynching because of the intervention by a National Police patrol who took the individual to a medical facility where he received attention. So far the authorities have said nothing about the incident. It should be noted that because of the increase in robberies and the lack of security, many citizens have opted to take justice in their own hands, although they have been warned that these actions violate judicial norms in the country.
http://eldia.com.do/multitud-atrapa-y-tortura-hombre-que-robaba-alambres-electricos-en-sosua/
First Dominican-American NY senator dies
He had been feverish for two weeks but still had plans for Thanksgiving, but didn’t make it. The 47-year old first Dominican-American New York State senator, José R. Peralta was taken on Wednesday, 21 November in the evening to Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens where he died. It is expected that an autopsy will determine the causes of his death. Peralta had lost his re-election bid in September after serving for eight years in the State Senate and another eight years in the state Assembly before that representing Queens. He was set to leave office at the end of December.
https://www.syracuse.com/state/index.ssf/2018/11/jose_peralta_dead_ny_state_senator.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/22/nyregion/jose-peralta-dominican-american-senator-dead.html
Thanksgiving Day tragedy: helicopter crash kills 5
A tragic accident occurred on Thanksgiving Day marring the celebration for many in Casa de Campo community. Villa owner French racecar driver 28-year old Richard Philippe and his guests, his grandfather 78-year old Louis Paul Guitay, Swiss architect Jean-Pierre Emery and Geraldine Moschovis died in a helicopter crash when making their way back from Rio San Juan on the north coast to Casa de Campo. The helicopter was commanded by 38-year old Air Force pilot Roberto Lanfranco Ureña.
Guitay was the inventor of the Endermologie treatment that is used in Europe to get rid of stubborn fat and cellulite and for skin tone. And 70-year Jean-Pierre Emery was a well-known architect from Crans-Montana in Switzerland. 46-year old Moschovis, a textiles expert, was his companion. The Swiss were Phillippe’s guests in Casa de Campo.
The five died of multiple fractures when the helicopter they were flying crashed in a field in Batey Cacata in La Romana. They were on board the US registry N124M EC20 helicopter shortly before arriving to the La Romana International Airport.
A report in El Nacional details the speculation that the accident occurred because of insufficient fuel when flying in adverse flying conditions (nighttime and weather). This is because the aircraft did not go up in flames after the crash and the pilot never notified aviation authorities he was in an emergency. The pilot had left at 5:48pm when the sunset was for 6:01pm that evening.
A commission head by Colonel Pilot Emmanuel Souffront Tamayo, president of the Commission for Investigating Aircraft Accidents of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC) was named. An autopsy is being carried out by the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF). There is speculation the pilot over trusted his flight abilities when flying from Rio San Juan to La Romana despite the late hour.
The aircraft was reported missing at 6:37pm on Thursday, 22 November 2018 when the helicopter did not arrive as per the flight plan.
Lanfranco Ureña was buried with honors by the Air Force at the Parque del Prado cemetery. He had 19 years and 9 months of service in the Air Force.
https://elnacional.com.do/helicoptero-caeria-combustible/
https://elnacional.com.do/sepultan-con-honores-piloto-murio-accidente/
https://www.metrord.do/do/destacado...tripulantes-fallecidos-caida-helicoptero.html
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/11...-fallecidos-al-caer-helicoptero-en-la-romana/
https://www.lenouvelliste.ch/articl...e-jeudi-dans-un-accident-d-helicoptere-801923
https://www.metrord.do/do/destacado...tripulantes-fallecidos-caida-helicoptero.html
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/11...-fallecidos-al-caer-helicoptero-en-la-romana/
https://elnacional.com.do/sepultan-con-honores-piloto-murio-accidente/
https://elnacional.com.do/helicoptero-caeria-combustible/
Corpse of Woman found in a bag in Villa Juana
The Police has identified as 30-year old Yonaika Elizabeth Espinosa Beltré, the corpse of a woman found in a bag behind the Máximo Gómez National Cemetery in Villa Juana, National District. The woman resided in Las Matas de Farfán, San Juan de la Maguana province. An autopsy was ordered.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/11...ontrada-muerta-dentro-de-saco-en-villa-juana/
Winter baseball update
This is the most closely contested baseball regular season that anyone can remember. The six Dominican teams have been switching back and forth the lead but keeping within two games of each other. Any of the six teams could still make the next phase, the Christmas time round robin. As of games played on Sunday, 25 November 2018, the standings is:
Estrellas Orientales (18-16)
Leones del Escogido (18-16)
Gigantes del Cibao (17-17)
Tigres del Licey (17-17)
Aguilas Cibaeñas (16-18)
Toros del Este (16-18)
See calendar for upcoming games at:
http://www.lidom.com/home/calendario/
Montalvo announces steps to better Yaque River
DR signs MoUs with UAE
MEM takes control of amber and larimar development
Alcohol has killed 900 so far this year in DR road accidents as Public Health refutes removing drinking curfew
JCE tries out automated vote in retired military election
PRSC opts for holding delegates convention to choose 2020 candidates
Santo Domingo land use plan presented for approval of city councilors in December
The CODIA warns 12 bridges in Santiago need repairs
FNP objects candidacy of Cristóbal Rodríguez to Constitutional Court judge
Former migration director says entry authorized to Willie Falcon violates the law; visa free travel with El Salvador criticized
Mob tries to lynch thief in Sosua
First Dominican-American NY senator dies
Thanksgiving Day tragedy: helicopter crash kills 5
Corpse of woman found in a bag in Villa Juana
Winter baseball update
18-floor tower in Punta Cana gets its start, East Coast hotels ask TSA to annul green light to build
President Danilo Medina was in Macao, in northern Punta Cana for the ground breaking of the controversial Moon Palace Punta Cana. This would be the tallest structure in the eastern beach coastline. The high rise, funded by Mexican investors, will be built 500 meters inland from the ocean line and will have 2,149 hotel rooms in 18 floors.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, the Association of Hotels & Tourism Projects of the East (Asoleste) filed a request to the Higher Administrative Court (TSA) to annul the Ministry of Tourism resolution that authorizes the construction of high-rises of up to 22 floors in Punta Cana. The resolution was issued in October 2017, and is in contradiction with the 11-meter previous height for constructions in the area.
The construction of buildings in the east of the country radically changes the successful development model that has made Punta Cana and its surroundings a prosperous tourist destination and leader in the Caribbean, with growth for 40 years and that continues to expand, the National Hotel & Tourism Association (Asonahores) has argued.
The member of Asonahores that groups hotels in the east, Asoleste says that the Ministry of Tourism did not publish the resolution as established by Art. 31 of Law 107-13, amends the land use for the eastern coastline. Thus, Asoleste should have been consulted prior to the approval of project. Asoleste says that the resolution does not provide security to the investors.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...on-palace-punta-cana-inversion-superara-us600
http://eldia.com.do/hoteleros-piden-tsa-anule-resolucion-autoriza-torres/
Montalvo announces steps to better Yaque River
Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo met late last week with members of the commission that coordinates the Plan for the Improvement and Management of the Yaque River Watershed (CRYN). The area in the past has suffered from flooding.
Montalvo reported that some 10,500 tareas (1 tarea = 629 square meters) in the watershed would be reforested with coffee, cacao and macadamia plants.
Together with this effort, the program calls for developing 400 agro-forest family-run systems for rural communities in the watershed. Montalvo also spoke about the construction of some small reservoirs and improvements in forage for cattle ranching in the area. He added funding would be provided by the government for improvements in infrastructure at dairy farms in the region in coordination with cattle ranching associations. In a visit to San Jose de las Matas in Santiago, he delivered a check for RD$14,132,426 to complete the construction of the Planta de Lácteos La Sierra, part of the government’s Sustainable Cattleranching Development Program underway jointly with the Plan Sierra.
During the visit to San Jose de las Matas, the Minister of the Presidency also visited the La Loma macadamia processing plant in Loma Bajita, Los Montones.
In addition to cash from the Presidency, the program also has resources from the French Development Agency for specific projects in the smaller watersheds of the Guayubin, Maguaca and Chacuey rivers.
Montalvo said that the project budget for 2019 also includes a loan from the World Bank for RD$274 million. As the financing process is developing, the government is continuing its work on the next phase that includes completing the management models, and the design for long-term organization.
The minister said that the government will begin early education in some 20 schools in the area. He attended the graduation of 306 youths that took technical courses at the Armed Forces Vocational School in San Jose de las Matas.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...ativas-en-mejora-para-la-cuenca-del-rio-yaque
http://hoy.com.do/montalvo-entrega-fondos-para-planta/
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...cion-de-escuela-vocacional-de-san-jose-de-las
DR signs MoUs with UAE
Dominican Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado was in Abu Dhabi to meet with his colleague from the United Arabian Emirates, 46-year old Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan born 30 April 1972) is the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates. He is the son of the founder of UAE. The meetings were coordinated by Dominican ambassador to the UAE, Clara Martínez Thedy.
As reported, the ministers discussed ways of promoting bilateral relations across all domains. Likewise, during the meeting reportedly the ministers reviewed political, economic and cultural cooperation and the exchange of expertise and transfer of knowledge in areas of renewable energy.
Sheikh Abdullah during the meeting affirmed that the UAE has privileged relations with the Dominican Republic and that the country is keen to foster these ties across various fields.
As reported, the top diplomat for the Dominican Republic hailed the prestigious status enjoyed by the UAE at the regional and international levels and affirmed his country's determination to accelerate bilateral relations.
At the end of the meeting, the two ministers signed four memoranda of understanding on promoting cultural cooperation; strengthening political consultations; forming a task force to promote investments; and advancing cooperation between the Emirates Diplomatic academy and its counterpart in Dominican. The Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic revealed the MoUs cover diplomacy, economic, cultural and academic areas.
The memorandums of understanding signed are:
The Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations between the ministries of foreign relations of the two states establishes a mechanism for the exchange of information through which both countries will hold regular consultation meetings on the bilateral agenda and international issues of common interest.
The Memorandum of Understanding for the Promotion of Trade and Investment and Productive Linkages creates a Joint Council for cooperation in those areas.
The Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Culture will foster exchanges to increase mutual knowledge, in the interest of promoting the promotion and preservation of the cultural heritage. The memorandum was signed by Minister of Culture Eduardo Selman for the Dominican Republic and Minister of Culture of the UAE Nouba Al Kaabi.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Diplomatic Academy of the United Arab Emirates and the Institute of Higher Education in Diplomatic and Consular Training (Inesdyc) of the Dominican Republic proposes a strategic partnership for the training of human resources of the foreign service.
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/middle-east/abdullah-bin-zayed-meets-dominican-republic-f-488620.html
http://hoy.com.do/miguel-vargas-suscribe-cuerdos-con-los-emiratos-arabes-unidos/
https://elnacional.com.do/rd-y-emiratos-arabe-unidos-suscriben-acuerdo-sobre-cooperacion-cultural/
MEM takes control of amber and larimar development
The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) has committed to develop the mining of Larimar and Amber under strict environmental, social and economic sustainable criteria in order to create a chain of value that benefits the miners, the artisans and the mining communities. During the celebration of the first anniversary of the National Larimar Day, Energy and Mines Minister Antonio Isa Conde said that the mining of these stones has to be a productive activity that is capable of sustaining itself, of taking the necessary decisions to protect the environment in benefit of the productive and of the generations that will follow.
Isa Conde said: “We cannot pretend to improve this activity based on a paternalistic vision of the state. Thinking that the state is the one who has the obligation to take care of everything and the producers remain as mere passive agents or receptors of state assistance.”
President Danilo Medina recently issued Decree 431-18, which orders the MEM to regulate, supervise, authorize and take care of everything relating to the exploitation, extraction, permits, processing and export of larimar and amber in a natural state or semi-processed.
https://elcaribe.com.do/2018/11/23/panorama/dinero/mem-asume-el-desarrollo-de-ambar-y-larimar/
Alcohol has killed 900 so far this year in DR road accidents as Public Health refutes removing drinking curfew
As of September 2018, 949 persons have died in traffic accidents related to alcoholic drink consumptions. Sunday has accounted for the greatest number of deaths, 225.
In a general sense more than 2,000 persons die each year in this country in different traffic accidents, of which 60% are caused by human error such as a lack of prudence. This places the Dominican Republic in the second place among 182 nations belonging to the United Nations in traffic accident deaths. The DR has an accident death rate of 41.7%.
Likewise, accidents are consuming nearly 60% of the budgets of the nation’s, hospitals, and in the case of the Dario Contreras Hospital this percentage equal some RD$12 million pesos a month, according to the trauma hospital’s director José Aponte.
Directors of the Alcohol Cluster at the Ministry of Public Health reject the decision by the Ministry of Interior and Police to remove the drinking restrictions imposed on alcoholic consumption during the Christmas holidays. Based on the publications of the National Statistical Office (ONE) that shows that the total alcohol-related traffic accident deaths in the Dominican Republic during 2016, 2017 and as of September 2018 total 1414, with Sundays averaging 2,019 fatalities during that period.
Elias Tejada, the representative of the cluster, said that before relaxing the restrictions on drinking hours on weekends and during the Christmas season, authorities at the ministry should consider the data that shows that just between Friday and Sunday 551 persons died from alcohol in 2016. In 2017, the number was 404 fatalities and as of September of this year there have been 459 fatalities directly related to alcoholic consumption. In total and by year, accident fatalities related to alcohol consumption totaled 1049 in 2016 of which 250 occurred on Sundays. In 2017 the statistics show a total of 788 fatalities of which 144 occurred on Sunday, and during the first nine months of 2018, alcohol has caused 949 deaths of which 225 were on a Sunday.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...accidentes-este-ano-por-el-alcohol-MB11453852
JCE tries out automated vote in retired military election
The Central Electoral Board implemented its proposal for the 2020 general election on a small scale during the election of the board of directors of the Hermandad de Veteranos Pensionados de las Fuerzas Armadas y Policía. The organization groups retired military and police.
The pilot election plan was carried out in eight voting stations nationwide. The results were known 18 minutes after the closing of the election. 3,881 votes were issued in 23 voting stations.
Julio César Castaños Guzmán, president of the JCE, says implementation of the new computerized system “is part of the construction of a solution.” He said the system worked flawlessly and there were no complaints.
The winner of the retired military and police organization was retired General Jose Ramón López Peralta, who received 41.64% of the votes.
http://hoy.com.do/jce-aplica-voto-automatizado-en-las-elecciones-de-pensionados/
PRSC opts for holding delegates convention to choose 2020 candidates
The Executive Commission of the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) decided that its candidates (presidential, legislative and municipal levels) for the 2020 general elections would be chosen during a convention of party delegates. Secretary general of the PRSC, Ramon Rogelio Genao said only registered party members would vote for the PRSC candidates.
The commission also said that on 16 December 2018 a National Extraordinary assembly would be held to amend the statues of the political organization to the new Political Parties Law 33-18.
http://eldia.com.do/prsc-decide-hacer-convencion-de-militantes-para-elecciones/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...datos-via-convencion-de-militantes-AM11486745
http://hoy.com.do/prsc-opta-militantes-escojan-candidatos-en-convencion/
Santo Domingo land use plan presented for approval of city councilors in December
National District Mayor David Collado says works are advancing for the capital city to have its Land Use Plan prepared by the National District Municipal Government (ADN) with the backing of the US Embassy, the Bloomberg Foundation and the United Nations Development Plan.
The plan is prepared by the professionals at the AND Urban Planning Department under architects Amín Abel Santos, Jesús D’Alessandro, and advisor architect Juan Mubarak. He is confident the plan will be the beginning of the end to problems that have affected the city over the past 30 years.
In an interview with the Grupo Corripio, he explained the plan has been harmonized with 280 organizations, including neighborhood groups, professional unions, and other stakeholders. He said it would be presented to the city government’s Board of Councilors in December 2018. He announced it would be accompanied by a city strategic plan prepared by a team of architects under Jesus D’Alessandro.
He said the plan would encourage vertical growth in areas where there is already infrastructure, such as in the Ensanche La Fe and the Malecón.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...pital-tendra-primer-plan-de-orden-territorial
The CODIA warns 12 bridges in Santiago need repairs
The leaders of the North Region of the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors expressed concern for the advanced deterioration of 12 bridges in the Santiago and Puerto Plata areas. The areas mentioned are located in Arroyo Hondo, to the south of Santiago, and on the highways between Santiago and San Jose de las Matas, on the Gregorio Luperon Highway between Santiago and Puerto Plata. There are other bridges in bad shape in Gurabo, Jacagua, Puñal and La Delgada. The majority of these bridges show wear and tear on the beams and the railings while some of the bridges show erosion around the base.
Roberto Duron, who spoke during an activity celebrating the 52nd anniversary of the CODIA, said that the majority of the road structures affected are long past their useful life. He called upon the Ministry of Public Works to begin replacing the structures.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...do-estado-de-deterioro-en-santiago-LD11474681
FNP objects candidacy of Cristóbal Rodríguez to Constitutional Court judge
The Fuerza Nacional Progresista (FNP) rejected the pre-candidate Cristóbal Rodríguez as a candidate for the Constitutional Court replacement. The political party says that Rodríguez “was the principal expert that testified before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, supporting the slanderous anti-nationalist arguments that allowed this court to dare order the Dominican State to revoke Constitutional Court ruling 168-13 on nationality and migration.”
The spokesmen for the FNP say that Rodriguez is an advisor to eight organizations that are financed by foreign money and conspire to take from the Dominican Republic its faculty to sovereignly define who is a national. The opposition party alerted that nobody who has been part of this anti-national plot, independent of their professional qualifications, should become a member of the Constitutional Court.
Rodriguez was on the list of candidates proposed by the civic society group, Finjus. Others were Bernabel Moricete Fabián, Claudio Aníbal Medrano, Cristóbal Rodríguez, Domingo Antonio Gil, Gladys Sánchez Richiez, José Alejandro Ayuso, Juan Alfredo Biaggi, Julio José Rojas Báez, Miguel Valera, Rafael Ciprián Lora, Rosina de la Cruz Cabrera, Sergio Antonio Ortega and Yokaurys Morales Castillo.
https://elnacional.com.do/ven-tratan-llevar-al-tc-personas-apoyan-planes-desconocer-soberania-rd/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...os-para-el-tribunal-constitucional-OH11438868
http://www.cnm.gob.do
Former migration director says entry authorized to Willie Falcon violates the law; visa free travel with El Salvador criticized
Former Migration Director José Ricardo Taveras says that Art. 15 of the Migration Law 285-04 reads that foreigners with criminal records are banned from legal entry to the country. He made the comment when interviewed by Héctor Herrera Cabral for D´Agenda on Channel 11 on Sunday, 25 November 2018. He was referring to the government authorization for Cuban drug capo Willie Falcon to be authorized to “transitory residence” in the country. The presence of Falcon was known after media in Miami published the news two weeks after he had arrived on 6 November together with Dominicans deported for having committed crimes in the United States. He said that Falcon managed the cocaine cartel in Miami at a time when that city suffered from peak levels of crime.
Taveras said the case of Willie Falcón, cannot be compared to that transitory residence authorized to members of the Spanish ETA group.
The admitting of Willie Falcon has been highly criticized in the Dominican Republic.
Orlando Espinosa, president of the Interior & Police Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, last week also criticized the Ministry of Foreign Relations negotiating visa free entry for persons from El Salvador. "The Dominican Republic has become a waste disposal site,” he said. He criticized orders for Congress to approve the visa free entry with El Salvador. “The initiative was not allowed to be examined by the security agencies, instead a “machete” order was lowered for its approval,” he complained. “When the Salvadorans gangs get going here, then there will be protests,” the legislator said in a tone of complaint.
https://elnacional.com.do/exdirecto...de-entrada-personas-con-antecedentes-penales/
https://elnacional.com.do/ven-convierten-a-rd-en-deposito-de-desechos/
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/11/22/542731/dni-actuo-en-caso-de-seis-etarras-en-1998
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...rno-informa-falcon-esta-bajo-custodia-del-dni
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/noticiero-poteleche/imagen-img_6554-jpg-HD11472041
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/11/22/542732/los-reyes-del-trafico-de-drogas-en-el-pais
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...sangre-balas-y-drogas-en-la-miami-paradisiaca
Mob tries to lynch thief in Sosua
An angry mob of people nearly lynched an alleged criminal in the sector of Maranatha in the tourist community of Sosua. The unfortunate individual was severely beaten after he had been trapped stealing electric wiring and cables. The thief’s identity is still unknown. After he was caught, his hands and feet were tied and he placed facedown on the pavement. His pants were lowered to uncover the gluteus maximus and with a piece of the same wiring that he had stolen minutes before he was given a serious whipping. All of this was taped by a young man with a telephone and the video was uploaded to social media. The thief was saved from a near lynching because of the intervention by a National Police patrol who took the individual to a medical facility where he received attention. So far the authorities have said nothing about the incident. It should be noted that because of the increase in robberies and the lack of security, many citizens have opted to take justice in their own hands, although they have been warned that these actions violate judicial norms in the country.
http://eldia.com.do/multitud-atrapa-y-tortura-hombre-que-robaba-alambres-electricos-en-sosua/
First Dominican-American NY senator dies
He had been feverish for two weeks but still had plans for Thanksgiving, but didn’t make it. The 47-year old first Dominican-American New York State senator, José R. Peralta was taken on Wednesday, 21 November in the evening to Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens where he died. It is expected that an autopsy will determine the causes of his death. Peralta had lost his re-election bid in September after serving for eight years in the State Senate and another eight years in the state Assembly before that representing Queens. He was set to leave office at the end of December.
https://www.syracuse.com/state/index.ssf/2018/11/jose_peralta_dead_ny_state_senator.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/22/nyregion/jose-peralta-dominican-american-senator-dead.html
Thanksgiving Day tragedy: helicopter crash kills 5
A tragic accident occurred on Thanksgiving Day marring the celebration for many in Casa de Campo community. Villa owner French racecar driver 28-year old Richard Philippe and his guests, his grandfather 78-year old Louis Paul Guitay, Swiss architect Jean-Pierre Emery and Geraldine Moschovis died in a helicopter crash when making their way back from Rio San Juan on the north coast to Casa de Campo. The helicopter was commanded by 38-year old Air Force pilot Roberto Lanfranco Ureña.
Guitay was the inventor of the Endermologie treatment that is used in Europe to get rid of stubborn fat and cellulite and for skin tone. And 70-year Jean-Pierre Emery was a well-known architect from Crans-Montana in Switzerland. 46-year old Moschovis, a textiles expert, was his companion. The Swiss were Phillippe’s guests in Casa de Campo.
The five died of multiple fractures when the helicopter they were flying crashed in a field in Batey Cacata in La Romana. They were on board the US registry N124M EC20 helicopter shortly before arriving to the La Romana International Airport.
A report in El Nacional details the speculation that the accident occurred because of insufficient fuel when flying in adverse flying conditions (nighttime and weather). This is because the aircraft did not go up in flames after the crash and the pilot never notified aviation authorities he was in an emergency. The pilot had left at 5:48pm when the sunset was for 6:01pm that evening.
A commission head by Colonel Pilot Emmanuel Souffront Tamayo, president of the Commission for Investigating Aircraft Accidents of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC) was named. An autopsy is being carried out by the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF). There is speculation the pilot over trusted his flight abilities when flying from Rio San Juan to La Romana despite the late hour.
The aircraft was reported missing at 6:37pm on Thursday, 22 November 2018 when the helicopter did not arrive as per the flight plan.
Lanfranco Ureña was buried with honors by the Air Force at the Parque del Prado cemetery. He had 19 years and 9 months of service in the Air Force.
https://elnacional.com.do/helicoptero-caeria-combustible/
https://elnacional.com.do/sepultan-con-honores-piloto-murio-accidente/
https://www.metrord.do/do/destacado...tripulantes-fallecidos-caida-helicoptero.html
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/11...-fallecidos-al-caer-helicoptero-en-la-romana/
https://www.lenouvelliste.ch/articl...e-jeudi-dans-un-accident-d-helicoptere-801923
https://www.metrord.do/do/destacado...tripulantes-fallecidos-caida-helicoptero.html
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/11...-fallecidos-al-caer-helicoptero-en-la-romana/
https://elnacional.com.do/sepultan-con-honores-piloto-murio-accidente/
https://elnacional.com.do/helicoptero-caeria-combustible/
Corpse of Woman found in a bag in Villa Juana
The Police has identified as 30-year old Yonaika Elizabeth Espinosa Beltré, the corpse of a woman found in a bag behind the Máximo Gómez National Cemetery in Villa Juana, National District. The woman resided in Las Matas de Farfán, San Juan de la Maguana province. An autopsy was ordered.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/11...ontrada-muerta-dentro-de-saco-en-villa-juana/
Winter baseball update
This is the most closely contested baseball regular season that anyone can remember. The six Dominican teams have been switching back and forth the lead but keeping within two games of each other. Any of the six teams could still make the next phase, the Christmas time round robin. As of games played on Sunday, 25 November 2018, the standings is:
Estrellas Orientales (18-16)
Leones del Escogido (18-16)
Gigantes del Cibao (17-17)
Tigres del Licey (17-17)
Aguilas Cibaeñas (16-18)
Toros del Este (16-18)
See calendar for upcoming games at:
http://www.lidom.com/home/calendario/