DR1 Daily News - Wednesday, 28 November 2018

Dolores1

DR1
May 3, 2000
8,215
37
48
www.
Presidential Palace open to general public in Christmas
President Medina meets with Gloria Guevara of Would Council for Travel and Tourism, Asoleste rejects high rises in Punta Cana
Transport strike disrupts less than announced
Constitutional Court annuls Ministry of Energy and Mines new concession regime for mining operations
Focuses for 2020 general elections
Malaria and dengue on the rise
Many countries visa free for Dominicans
Super Tucano bribe suspect to stay in jail
High tech eye technology available at Dominican eye center
Most homicides happen on Sunday in DR
Dominicans arrested arriving with drugs to Boston
Coca Cola Christmas tree lit at Plaza España
How much does it cost for a family to go to the ballpark?



Presidential Palace open to general public in Christmas
Administrative Minister of the Presidency José Ramón Peralta announced that the doors of the Presidential Palace will be open for family visits starting Friday, 30 November 2018 until Monday, 7 January 2019 so that visitors can see the decorations close up. A giant Christmas tree has been placed in the lobby of the Presidential Palace and the gardens are lit up for the season.
Peralta said visits will be possible from 6:30pm through 9pm, except on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.

https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...nal-las-familias-dominicanas-por-motivo-de-la


President Medina meets with Gloria Guevara of Would Council for Travel and Tourism, Asoleste rejects high rises in Punta Cana
On Tuesday, 27 November 2018, President Danilo Medina received a courtesy visit from Gloria Guevara, president of the World Council for Travel and Tourism. The meeting took place at the Presidential Place. Also attending were Frank Rainieri, president of Grupo Puntacana and Simón Suárez, past president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism (Asonahores) and of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association. Rainieri highlighted the importance of the visit. He told the press, the future of tourism in the country and the president’s vision for the sector was discussed.

The Dominican Republic is the leading tourism destination in Central America and the Caribbean, and 17.2% of the nation’s GDP is tourism-related.

The meeting took place at a time when Asoleste, the association that represents the hotel industry in the east coast, and the National Hotel and Tourism Association (Asonahores) are disputing the merits of a unilateral decision from the Medina administration issued by the Ministry of Tourism on 12 October 2017 to change the land use of the Punta Cana area. From a maximum of 11 meters height, the government without consultations, authorized high rises of up to 22 floors in Cap Cana and Macao. Asonahores has called the resolution with the new heights “a clandestine resolution.” Asonahores and Asoleste have taken the case to the Higher Administrative Court on grounds that it violates Law 107-13 that obliges the government to allow access to the project by those interested during a minimum period of 25 days and that the resolution be published in a newspaper of national circulation.

Asonahores and Asoleste say the resolution violates land use law approved in 2012 for Punta Cana-Bavaro-Macao with a minimum time span of 10 years, as established in the National Development Strategy Law 2030. A technical study to support the change of the land use has not been presented by the government. The government did not publish the resolution in a national newspaper, nor informed the regional hoteliers of the decision until these inquired after a rumor was circulating on the resolution for over two months.

https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...denta-del-consejo-mundial-de-viajes-y-turismo


Transport strike disrupts less than announced
Fenatrano bus units took Tuesday, 27 November 2018 off, but most people got to work in Greater Santo Domingo after the government OMSA added 80 units to the main routes, and Conatra and Mochotran decided not to heed the call for transport work stoppage. Motorcycle taxis were busy and the Metro system operated as usual. In some areas, shared taxis did not operate. Fenatrano had called the strike to protest the high fuel prices.

The state UASD did not open, as a precaution to prevent unrest. But most schools and businesses in Greater Santo Domingo opened as usual. Effects of the strike were not felt in the Polígono Central, the main business and commercial center of Santo Domingo. Diario Libre reported that the Avenida Duarte commercial street stores were operating as usual.

Nevertheless, the Coordinator for the Rights of the People and the Decrease in Fuel Prices said that passenger transport was 90% paralyzed and commercial and education established some 70% closed, reporters observed that traffic flow and businesses were functioning normally in areas such as Villa Juana, Villa Consuelo,Villas Agrícolas Ensanche La Fe.

Socorro Monegro, the coordinator called on the public to intensify their efforts on a peaceful protest to fight for the community demands and a reduction in fuel costs.

Antonio Marte, president of Conatra denied he “sold out” to the government and that was why his transport affiliates did not back the strike. He cited the government’s decision to lower fuel prices over the past six weeks. Marte argued that December should be a time for peaceful activities, a prudent break from disruptive protests now that economic activities have picked up. He said his organization did not want to add votes to what he called a “political strike.”

Ramón Rogelio Genao, spokesman for the PRSC opposition party said that the strike only affects the vulnerable.
The director of the OMSA bus company announced that OMSA buses would not be charging fares on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

http://eldia.com.do/transporte-de-p...ordinadora-por-la-rebaja-de-los-combustibles/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...asajeros-y-vehiculos-privados-circulan-normal
http://hoy.com.do/video-antonio-mar...a-se-vendio-por-no-apoyar-paro-de-transporte/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/sucesos/el-comercio-funciona-de-manera-normal-AN11498019
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/11...sarrolla-de-forma-pacifica-en-el-kilometro-9/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...asajeros-y-vehiculos-privados-circulan-normal
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...registraron-protestas-apoyando-el-paro-de-hoy
http://eldia.com.do/paro-de-fenatrano-fue-poco-efectivo-en-santo-domingo/


Constitutional Court annuls Ministry of Energy and Mines new concession regime for mining operations
The Constitutional Court has struck down as non-constitutional the resolution of the Ministry of Energy and Mines that establishes the concession regime for mining operations in the Dominican Republic. The constitutional body declared resolution number R-MEM-REG-048-2017, which was issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mines on 13 October 2017, not in accordance with the 2015 Constitution. The ruling is contained in the communiqué 50/18, published on 23 November 2018.

The court says the resolution violates the principles of legality, regulatory subordination, and legal security provided in articles 40.15, 128.1.b and 138.2 of the Constitution, respectively.
In that sense, it accepted an action of unconstitutionality filed by the Oil Mining Chamber of the Dominican Republic (CAMIPE) and the Dominican Association of Portland Cement Producers (ADOCEM).

The resolution of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, whose annulment was ordered by the Constitutional Court, had established that exploitation concessions will be granted for the requested term up to a maximum of 25 years, counted from the date on which it is granted.

It contemplates that the area of an ordinary exploitation concession may not be greater than 5,000 mining hectares and that they will be granted according to the characteristics of the deposits or findings reported by the applicant. In addition, it indicates that the maximum allowed area that can receive a concession for the same natural or legal person will be 15,000 hectares.

https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/11/27/543412/tribunal-acoge-anular-resolucion-sobre-minas
https://www.tribunalconstitucional.gob.do/consultas/secretaría/sentencias/


Focuses for 2020 general elections
The main topics on the minds of Dominicans for the 2020 general election campaigns are corruption, the Odebrecht corruption case, the management of Haitian immigration, rising drug trafficking, rising cost of fuel and the rising public debt, says a feature in Diario Libre in its 27 November 2018 edition.

The opposition parties and the Green March movement are focusing on corruption, calling for a cessation of impunity and that justice be served for those unlawfully using public funds.

The case of Odebrecht is being used by the Green Movement as well as the Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM) and the opposition to question the seriousness of the implementation of anti-corruption policies by the Medina administration.

Border security also is tops on the political agenda, giving rise to much passion and all parties are demanding better border security. A significant number of politicians are emulating US President Trump’s bid for a wall to separate Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Some members of the Chamber of Deputies have said they would submit a proposal to build a wall at the 300+ km border with Haiti.

Combatting drug dealing is also perceived to be a weakness in the government, taking into account that the Dominican Republic continues to be a major drug transfer point. Making matters worse for the Medina administration is that spokesmen for the government has confirmed that Cuban drug dealer Augusto Falcón (Willie) was granted legal residence in the country after he was deported at the end of his jail sentence in the United States. The revelation by the government only came after the Miami Herald published the story.

The price of fuel is another area under discussion. This heated topic has led to a rash of transport strikes and marches throughout the country.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...aran-la-campana-electoral-del-2020-HN11494388


Malaria and dengue on the rise
According to the Ministry of Public Health, there has been an increase in the cases of dengue and malaria, over the last four weeks. Both tropical diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes.

In the last four weeks, health officials have registered 176 probable and confirmed case of dengue, a 21% increase over last year. The epidemiological bulletin for week 45 highlights that so far this year there have been 1,101 cases of dengue notified and in the last week, some 38 probable cases, with around half affecting minors under 10 years old.

As far as malaria is concerned, in the last four weeks there have been 15 cases confirmed, 13 within the country and two brought in from abroad. The locations of the outbreak of the disease were in La Ciénaga, in the neighborhoods of Hato Nuevo, Nigua and La Guáyiga, in Santo Domingo West.

The two cases brought into the country were a man and woman, aged 22 and 35 respectively who had arrived from Venezuela.

So far this year there have been 438 cases captured in the system, a number that is 78 more than at the same time last year.

Most of the malaria cases are coming from Santo Domingo west and Public Health is warning the population to keep water sources covered to prevent the mosquitoes from breeding.

https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ublica-recomienda-reforzar-medidas-antidengue


Many countries visa free for Dominicans
An editorial in El Dia on 28 November 2018 raises the national concern over the efforts of the Medina administration under Foreign Relations Miguel Vargas Maldonado to sign visa free travel relations with countries known for 24/7 security issues. Now, Dominicans can travel visa free to 27 countries around the world.

“Many of these are true paradises for sightseeing. Others, without the complete information being offered, present a level of violence more barbarous than in the Dominican Republic, and which translates into citizen insecurity at all hours of the day,” reads the editorial.

Since Monday, 26 November 2018, there is no need for Dominicans to have a tourist visa to go to Russia, bringing the total number of visa free countries for Dominicans to at least 27. During this year, the new countries to become visa free for Dominicans are Russia, Qatar, Uruguay, Brazil and Belize.

The other visa free countries are Korea, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Georgia, British Guyana, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Paraguay, Botswana, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Morocco, Ukraine and Vietnam.

https://listindiario.com/la-republi...s-que-los-dominicanos-pueden-visitar-sin-visa
http://eldia.com.do/haiti-con-visa/


Super Tucano bribe suspect to stay in jail
A National District Appeal court has confirmed preventive custody for Air Force Colonel Carlos Piccini Núñez, implicated in the case of the bribes paid by the Brazilian company Embraer for the purchase of eight Super Tucano aircraft. The airplanes were purchased to police Dominican skies to reduce drug trafficking.

Piccini, who has now been in jail for 27 months, alleges his time in jail has been too long, given that the Penal Process Code allows for a maximum preventive custody in jail prior to any conviction of 18 months. However the court said that the reasons for the preventive custody had not been changed and remanded him once again to remain in Najayo men’s jail.

He has been in preventive custody since August 2016, being the only one of the accused to be given those coercive measures. Also charged are the ex-Minister of the Air Force, Pedro Rafael Peña Antonio and businessmen Daniel Aquino Méndez and his son Daniel Aquino Hernández.

http://hoy.com.do/caso-super-tucano-ratifican-la-prision-preventiva-a-coronel-piccini/


High tech eye technology available at Dominican eye center
What is described as the world’s most advanced wearable assistive technology, the OrCam, is now available at the Centro Oftalmológico de Santo Domingo, a leading Santo Domingo city medical center. The artificial vision system sells abroad for US$2,500 to US$3,500. It is promoted as making the world accessible for the blind and visually impaired people and for those with reading difficulties.

http://clinicaoftalmologicasd.com
https://www.orcam.com/en/
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entr...ged-by-aid-device_us_5a2af4ece4b0d7c3f262228f


Most homicides happen on Sunday in DR
Sundays are considered by Dominicans as days of rest and peace for many, but Sundays are actually the day when the highest number of homicides take place, according to a statistical report on the homicides in the country from January to September this year. The data was provided by the Observatory of Citizen Safety and reveals that on Sundays at least 188 murders were committed across the country, out of a total of 801.

Mondays was second in number of murders for a weekday, with 122 through September. The list follows with 112 murders on Saturday, 111 on Friday, 108 on Tuesday, 82 on Wednesday and 78 on Thursday 78.

Most crimes, 48%, were committed with firearms and 37% the assailants used knives. Some 9% of victims were attacked with heavy instruments such as pipes and baseball bats, while weapons for the remaining 6% of assaults were not specified.

Compared to the same time period in 2017, there has been a reduction in reported homicides of 145, representing a 15% decrease.

The data goes on to show that more than half of the homicides, 505, happened between people who lived together, 237 were at the hands of criminals and 58 for unknown reasons.

Looking at the sex of the victims, 86% were men and 14% woman, and by ages, the highest group was the 15 to 29 age group with 276 homicides.

Most of the crimes took place on public roads with 587. One hundred seventeen murders were committed in homes, 48 in commercial centers, 23 in farms or scrubland, 6 inside jails, 3 in hotels and 18 in unknown areas.

http://mip.gob.do/observatoriodeseguridadciudadana/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...dias-donde-se-producen-mas-homicidios-en-2018


Dominicans arrested arriving with drugs to Boston
Two travelers from the Dominican Republic were arrested at Logan International Airport in Boston, United States, on Saturday 24 November 2018 after they were found to be in possession of 770 grams of cocaine.

A suspicious passenger, later identified as Vincent Antonio Jimenez Sanchez, 47, was referred to secondary screening shortly after arriving in Boston on a JetBlue flight from Santiago, Dominican Republic, officials said. During the search, customs officers from the US Customs and Border Protection said they found two packages containing cocaine sewn into his underwear and more packages hidden in the rails of his suitcases. His co-traveler, Nelly Diaz de Jimenez, 53, was also found to be in possession of cocaine in her pants.

https://whdh.com/news/authorities-drug-smugglers-nabbed-at-logan-airport-with-700-grams-of-cocaine/


Coca Cola Christmas tree lit at Plaza España
The traditional Coca Cola Christmas tree was lit on Sunday, 25 November 2018, on the grounds of the Plaza España facing the Alcazar de Colón in the Colonial City. Coke is manufactured in the Dominican Republic by Bepensa, a Mexican company. For the occasion, a section of the A section of the Nutcracker Suite Ballet was performed, typical Christmas carols were sung, and Santa Claus was there, too.

See https://www.instagram.com/p/BqsKKOKBUiv/


How much does it cost for a family to go to the ballpark?
This is one of the most contested of regular seasons of the Dominican Winter Professional Baseball Championship. The teams have been shuffling positions in the standings among themselves, keeping at most four games between the first and last place of the regular season of the six-team tournament that ends on 17 December 2018.

Now a story in Listin Diario looks into what it costs for a family to go to the ball park and estimates the outing for a family of five will be around RD$3,000-RD$3,500. The alternatives are many – colmadones with large screen TVs, and the games are televised. The high costs have kept attendance low.

Grand stand seats are RD$300, RD$500 each for a regular game, but when the Aguilas and Licey play, a ticket can sell for up to RD$2,000 each. Pizzas cost RD$100 for one person, popcorn is RD$75. A dish of fried chicken with fries is RD$200.

For instance: a bottle of water or a soft drink costs RD$50, a Motts Juice small bottle costs RD$110. Beer sells for RD$75 the small bottle. A bottle of 75cl of Brugal XV goes for RD$800, 35 ml is RD$400, with Brugal Extra Viejo RD$700/RD$350. A bottle of Dewars White Label 75cl sells for RD$750, RD$450 the smaller 37.5cl bottle. You can buy Grey Goose vodka 75cl for RD$2,000 or 5cl for RD$250, or Eristoff 75cl for RD$650 and 5cl for RD$100. Gin goes for RD$1,500 for a 75cl bottle of Bombay.

https://listindiario.com/el-deporte/2018/11/27/543426/cuanto-cuesta-la-canasta-familiar-en-la-pelota

See games schedule at:
http://www.lidom.com/home/calendario/