Less deaths and accidents this year than last over Christmas holidays
2019: Year of Innovation and Competitiveness
La Isabela celebrates 525th anniversary of Catholic mass in the Americas
Paving begins on Jamao Highway
DR to herald Caribbean and Latin American interests in UN Security Council
46% of Dominicans are affiliated to Senasa health plan
Electoral Regime and Penal Code unlikely to be passed this legislature
Reality proves: Haitians abound in Valle Nuevo
Stray dogs are becoming a national problem
Public Health shuts down esthetics clinic where woman died
CODIA says construction sector was strong in 2018
Hundreds of undocumented aliens detained in Dajabon
Release of x-rays could have consequences
Serious consequences for death of fugitive
Missing Venezuelan found dead in river
Ballplayers Federation accepts resignation of Mario Melvin Soto
Triple tie in Baseball Championship lead
Less deaths and accidents this year than last over Christmas holidays
The Center for Emergency Operations (COE) reported eight less deaths over the New Year holiday 2018 than in the previous year. Director Juan Manuel Mendez said that over the New Year festivities there were 12 deaths reported, all for traffic accidents. Another 681 persons were injured in traffic accidents. Most of the accidents happened in the National District, Santo Domingo, La Vega, Santiago, La Altagracia, San Juan de la Maguana and Azua provinces.
COE says that over the Christmas and New Year holidays, 24 persons died. The 2018-2019 Safe Christmas, a Pact for Life Operation ended with 22 fatalities due to traffic accidents, all motorcycles, and one from alcohol and another a pedestrian was killed by a moving vehicle.
General Mendez said that during the operation there were 152 accidents, affecting 1,176 persons. There were 811 persons suffering from alcoholic intoxication (poisoning), including 52 minors — something that the Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez has said will be strongly investigated. There were 143 persons suffered from food poisoning.
Mendez said that there was a 35% reduction in fatalities from last year. Even better, there was an 800% reduction in the number of accidents, with 152 down from 1,213 in 2017. There were also fewer persons injured, but Santo Domingo continued to be the epicenter of the accidents with 22.7% of the total, followed by Santiago with 14.5%.
During the 2017-2018 operation, 31 deaths were reported in traffic accidents. Statistics also showed there were 1,061 less traffic accidents than reported in the 2017-2018 operation.
https://www.metrord.do/do/destacado...-muertes-menos-accidentes-comparado-2017.html
http://eldia.com.do/asueto-de-navidad-y-ano-nuevo-deja-24-fallecidos/
2019: Year of Innovation and Competitiveness
The Executive Branch named 2019 the Year of Innovation and Competitiveness. The designation is explained as a continuation of the relaunching of the National Competitiveness Strategy in 2019 by the Presidency. In 2017 President Danilo Medina named eight businessmen to the board of the National Competitiveness Council to spearhead the adoption of new public policies to guide the productive sector and create institutional framework adequate for the achievement of national goals.
https://acento.com.do/2019/opinion/8639233-ano-la-innovacion-la-competitividad/
President Medina visits La Isabela for 525th anniversary of Catholic mass in the Americas
President Danilo Medina and cabinet ministers including Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo and Culture Minister Eduardo Selman and Puerto Plata governor Ivan Rivera were in Luperón, Puerto Plata for a mass to commemorate the 525th anniversary of the first mass in Villa La Isabela in Puerto Plata, the first European settlement in the New World.
The mass was given on Saturday, 5 January 2019 at the Santuario de las Americas, commemorating that first mass on 6 January 1494 by Fray Bernardo Boyl, who arrived with the second voyage of Christopher Columbus. The mass was presided over by Cardinal of El Salvador, Monsignor Gregorio Rosa Chavez, special envoy of Pope Francisco, who read a message sent by the Pope in which he called to proclaim the Catholic faith with bravery and to live this with love and good habits.
The bishop for the Diocese of Puerto Plata, Monsignor Julio Cesar Corniel Amaro also spoke of the reaffirming of the faith of the Dominican Republic. He highlighted the relevance of the historic anniversary not only for the Dominican Republic but for all of Latin America.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...a-isabela-misa-conmemorativa-525-anos-primera
Paving begins on Jamao Highway
Residents of the North Coast rejoice! Tourists from the Cibao, rejoice! The Ministry of Public Works has begun the repaving of the highway between Salcedo and Jamao, high in the Septentrional Mountains, between the Cibao Valley and the North Coast.
The director for Public Works Jamao District, Celso Núñez told reporters that this was the manifestation of the promise made by President Danilo Medina during one of his “surprise” visits to the area. Workers are repaving the road between Salcedo and Jamao at an accelerated pace, especially given the importance of the route for many hundreds of persons each day. The area between the two cities is famous for its coffee and cacao, and the new roadway will only improve the economic importance of these crops.
https://elnacional.com.do/inician-asfaltado-de-la-carretera-jamao/
DR to herald Caribbean and Latin American interests in UN Security Council
Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas announced the Dominican Republic would use its two years (2019-2020) at the United Nations Security Council to call global attention to the impacts of natural disasters on the environment, peace and security. Vargas spoke during the ceremony held in New York at the UN headquarters to welcome the new non-permanent members of the council. Vargas spoke of the high vulnerability of small insular states to natural disasters.
Vargas said for the Dominican Republic, the spotlight will be on climate change, but also promoting Caribbean and Latin American interests, as well on human rights, women's rights, food security and environmental protection.
He highlighted the Dominican Republic was a founder of the United Nations charter but this was the first time it held a seat in the United Nations Security Council. He said the country would use its seat to directly collaborate in the management and solution of major global issues. He defended the importance of multilateralism as an efficient way to achieve global stability and peaceful coexistence among states.
The Dominican Republic is holding the Security Council presidency for the month of January. Jose Singer, special envoy to the United Nations, has called a high-level open debate on the subject for 25 January. This will be presided over by President Danilo Medina.
Also speaking at the event was José Singer Weisinger, the special envoy for the Dominican Republic who will represent the country at the Security Council. "We do hope to, from within the Security Council, provide a modest contribution to fostering better understanding of new risks to peace and security -- these are risks which differ from the traditional risks we face: they are more complex and more global in nature. This issue (of climate change) is of particular relevance to our country, and to the Caribbean and Central America in general. It is also the case for many Pacific islands," said Singer when speaking at the ceremony. The country’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Francisco Cortorreal, will handle General Assembly affairs.
The Dominican Republic was chosen in June 2018 together with new representatives from Germany, Belgium, South Africa and Indonesia. The Security Council members also include in 2019 non-permanent members Peru, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait and Poland. The permanent members are United States, Russia, China, France, Great Britain that have veto votes.
http://hoy.com.do/esto-hara-republi...ncia-temporal-en-el-consejo-de-seguridad-onu/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...del-consejo-de-seguridad-de-la-onu-AB11765207
https://www.passblue.com/2019/01/03...ty-in-the-un-security-council-climate-change/
https://citizentruth.org/as-5-new-countries-join-the-un-security-council-can-it-be-saved/
https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d674e356b6a4e31457a6333566d54/share_p.html
46% of Dominicans are affiliated to Senasa health plan
Around 4,671,487 Dominicans, most of whom are from low income households, are affiliated to the Seguro Nacional de Salud (Senasa), the government-sponsored health plan. The coverage benefits many that are seniors, jobless, persons with disabilities, employed at domestic households, and other low-paying jobs and expats. Nevertheless, the Senasa health plan is known to offer better coverage for catastrophic illnesses than most private health plans and is accepted at the major Dominican-government operated health centers that also cater to the affluent.
Senasa executive director Mercedes Rodriguez Silver says that only one million of its affiliates are part of the so-named Regimen Contributivo, and therefore pay into the system. She highlighted in 2018 the health plan was certified ISO 9001:2015 becoming the only health provider (ARS) to have the international quality management system certification.
https://noticiassin.com/alrededor-del-46-de-los-dominicanos-esta-afiliado-en-ars-senasa/
Electoral Regime and Penal Code unlikely to be passed this legislature
Looks like two key bills will not make it through Congress and will have to be submitted again. The bills are the controversial Electoral Regime and the Penal Code. While the political parties reached a consensus to pass a Political Parties Law, the electoral regime bill has not garnered the same support of legislators. If it is not passed by 12 January, final date of the current legislative session, it is unlikely there will be time to apply the amendments to present legislature in the 2020 general election.
The next legislature opens on 27 February 2019. Each legislative session lasts for 150 days.
The president of the Chamber of Deputies Radhames Camacho said that if President Danilo Medina calls for an extraordinary legislative session, the bills could be studied and there would be time to apply the new electoral rules in the 2020 general elections.
Other bills that are languishing in Congress are the Water Code, Contraband Bill, Civil Penal Code, Civil Procedures Code, Commerce Code, Land Use Bill, among others.
https://elnacional.com.do/dos-proyectos-se-caerian-por-la-falta-de-consenso/
Reality proves: Haitians abound in Valle Nuevo
Over the holidays, Environment Minister Angel Estevez and the Ministry of Environment statements had firmly rejected press reports in Diario Libre and Listin Diario on the significant presence of Haitian farm laborers in protected areas of Valle Nuevo, Constanza province. Now other official sources are disputing the position of the minister and the ministry. Estevez is a former minister of agriculture who has openly spoken up in favor of farming, even in protected areas. He is also a major farm entrepreneur himself.
Listin Diario says that the Constanza prosecutor Miguel Collado Marte confirmed reports in Listin Diario and Dominican residents in Parque Nacional Juan Bautista Perez Rancier (Valle Nuevo) about the proliferation of Haitians in the area, indicating that in many areas the number of Haitian laborers is well above that of the Dominican population, including in the communities of La Palma, La Culata, La Descubierta, Tireo Abajo and Cruz de Cuaba. He said the judicial authorities would continue to back the Migration Agency in efforts to control undocumented Haitian immigration. He said estimates are there are 30,000 Haitians in the area. He said most of the Haitians run when there is a detention operation and in the 3 January 2019 operation, only 80 were arrested and 47 taken to Santiago for deportation.
Recently, the Superior Administrative Court (TSA) ordered the Ministry of Environment to exercise its role in impeding farming in the Valle Nuevo National Park. The Ministry of Environment under Minister Angel Estevez had denied the farming activities in Valle Nuevo. The environmentalists said they will also seek rulings in the cases of protected areas in Bahoruco and Los Haitises, where Ministry of Environment efforts to control agricultural activities have been practically abandoned by the pro-farming administration at the Ministry of Environment.
Ariel José (Chino) Sing, one of the plaintiffs in the legal case on which the TSA ruled the court against the Ministry, and member of the SOS AmbienteRD movement, announced that by 2019 they will have a rather aggressive agenda regarding compliance with environmental provisions in the National Parks. He warned that in the case of Valle Nuevo they will be vigilant that they comply with the ruling of the TSA that ordered the Ministry of the Environment to evict, within two months, all the agricultural activity within the park.
"If there is no change in attitude, the ministry and the minister will be named in a criminal complaint and we will exhaust all the tools we have and reach the ultimate consequences," he said.
Sing also understands that the country is currently suffering from an environmental crisis that manifests itself in the large amounts of plastics and solid waste dumped everywhere as well as the threats to protected areas and marine coastal resources, as reported in Diario Libre.
http://hoy.com.do/estudio-revela-ar...iones-que-impiden-su-administracion-efectiva/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...a-masiva-de-haitianos-ilegales-en-el-convento
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...s-van-por-defensa-de-otros-parques-JP11789716
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...tan-fase-desalojo-de-haitianos-en-valle-nuevo
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...nsa-de-valle-nuevo-y-otros-parques-IP11789661
Stray dogs are becoming a national problem
The proliferation of homeless dogs in recent years is becoming a matter of major concern of the general public. The matter has made headline news after there have been four deaths of persons who were bitten by dogs infected with rabies and died for lack of adequate medical attention.
While Padela, an association of veterinarians and volunteers, has conducted campaigns to vaccinate stray dogs, animal control experts point out that these efforts are not enough to stem the rising incidences of rabies in communities throughout the country.
A feature in El Nacional highlights that the stray dog population is out of control. Writer Jorge Gonzalez explains that the deaths recently reported are evidence that there is not a program to control the population of stray dogs (castration or sterilization), nor periodic vaccination of these by Public Health or by city governments. He said at present only natural conditions, malnourishment, illness and death by traffic accidents are the controls.
He is also critical of the shutdown of the Centro Antirrábico Nacional (CAN) that dealt with the issue in the past, delegating the role to public hospitals without previously training medical staff on handling of cases of persons bitten by animals resulted in four deaths in 2018. The protocol is that a person needs to receive four dose of anti-rabies vaccine to avoid contracting the potentially fatal disease.
Gonzalez alerts that if the animal population is not checked the country may have to confront major issues of many people being bitten by the dogs that could lead to an epidemic of canine rabies. He alerts the stray dogs reproduce rapidly and often roam city streets, feeding off garbage in improvised dumps.
In the last report before its shutdown, the CAN, reported that 35-40 persons were bitten daily by dogs in 2016. These cases were attended to by the specialized staff of the CAN. That means that in 2015, 16,310 persons were bitten by dogs. That same year, the CAN vaccinated 348,836 stray dogs. And during that period there were no reports of persons dying from dog rabies.
Gonzalez attributes the overpopulation of dogs and cats in Greater Santo Domingo to owners abandoning their pets. Many pet owners discover that they cannot maintain their dogs or cats and simply allow the animals to fend for themselves on the streets. There are also a large number of dogs that run away from their homes and end up on the streets.
While Law 248-12 on Animal Protection and Responsible Ownership has provisions for the safety and welfare of domestic animals and pets, the law is rarely enforced. There is also a Unidad de Proteccion Animal at the Attorney General Office, whose role is to prosecute those who mistreat animals.
Gonzalez called for city governments to create shelters for animals until adoption can be found for these. He said there is no department in the country to rescue sick or injured animals.
https://elnacional.com.do/perros-callejeros-poblacion-que-crece-sin-control-en-rd/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/salud/el-poco-control-de-los-perros-callejeros-KP11787872
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2019/01/03/547980/el-antirrabico-atendio-a-800-por-mordeduras
Public Health shuts down esthetics clinic where woman died
Foreigners and Dominicans are warned to not risk invasive operations in makeshift esthetics clinics. But once again, a woman is reported dead after undergoing a procedure this time at the Clinica de Cirugia Estetica Dermostetic.
The Ministry of Public Health and Attorney General acted and temporary shutdown the clinic, after the death of Julia Arias Almonte. The supervisors who visited the clinic after the death of Julia Arias Almonte on Wednesday, 2 January 2019, gave 48 hours to the patients to clear the center prior to its provisional closing. Those that were interned were allowed to remain until they are fit to leave, announced Bruno Calderon Troncoso, in charge of Habilitacion y Acreditacion for the Ministry of Public Health. Arias’ mother attributed the death of her daughter to negligence. She said that the clinic did not have the equipment to respond to a post-operation emergency. She said the liposculpture operation should not have proceeded because her daughter was phalcemic, a condition she had communicated to the physicians. Dr. Jesus Ramos, of the clinic, said that the studies carried out did not indicate she had the condition.
When requiring invasive services, the general public is advised to only request the services of physicians affiliated with the Dominican Society of Plastic Surgery that maintains high standards in the training and adequacy of clinics where they operate.
http://hoy.com.do/salud-y-mp-cierran-estetica-donde-murio-joven/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...clinica-estetica-donde-murio-joven-PP11787976
http://www.sodocipre.net/en/
CODIA says construction sector was strong in 2018
The Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (CODIA) took a serious look at what happened in the very active construction sector of the Dominican economy during 2018. According to the Central Bank, construction grew by 10.6%, the largest contributor to the nation’s sturdy improvement in GDP. In 2017, construction only grew by 3.75. The professional group said that they were confident that during 2019, construction would hit a 15% increase, since during the last 6 years construction has stayed as one of the sturdiest supports of the Dominican GDP growth. The CODIA stressed that with the start of the New Year there are hopes of reaching new economic levels that have long been sought by the building professionals.
https://elnacional.com.do/codia-pondera-crecimiento-de-la-construccion/
Hundreds of undocumented aliens detained in Dajabon
Members of the Specialized Corps of Frontier Security (Cesfront) detained 850 undocumented Haitians at the end of last week, as they tried to return illegally to Dominican territory after spending Christmas and New Years in Haiti. The men, women and children with illegal migratory status were detained in Manzanillo, Santa Maria, Loma de Cabrera and Dajabon, as they attempted to cross the border during daylight and night time hours, heading to different towns and cities in the area. The detentions are part of an on-going operation by Cesfront along the entire border region. The detainees were taken to shelters where they were turned over to the Migration Agency (DGM) for investigation and repatriation to Haiti.
https://elcaribe.com.do/2019/01/04/panorama/pais/cesfront-detiene-850-indocumentados-en-dajabon/
Release of x-rays could have consequences
The release of x-rays to social media could have dire consequences for the medical personnel as well as the Francisco Mocoso Puello Public Hospital. The x-ray showed a can of Glade air refreshener inserted into the rectum of an unnamed individual. As reported, the release of such private information, in the opinion of medical and legal experts, could have serious consequences for the people and the institution involved.
What is known is that a 40-year old male requested his wife to put the can up his bottom, while they were having sex. As reported, it reportedly took doctors around two hours to remove the spray can. The name of the person has not been released.
Well-known lawyer Julio Cury told reporters that Article 44 of the Dominican Constitution calls for “observing the right to honor, a good name and a proper image. And that all authorities or individuals that violate these rights are obliged to pay damages according to the Law.”
According to Cury, the patient in question has every right to proceed in civil court in order to be compensated for damages and prejudices incurred according to Article 1382 of the Civil Code.
Lawyer Enmanuel Rosario said that it is a shame that these cases occur, and he called the incident a serious violation of patient’s rights. He said that every person has the right to intimacy and that in this case there was a serious violation of that right, since not only is it a violation of the Constitution but also a violation of the Public Health Law.
While the victim was unnamed, the x-ray was uploaded to the Internet and the weird emergency surgery event has made global news.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...r-divulgar-informacion-de-paciente-KA11778013
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8112211/air-freshener-bum-sex-dominican-republic/
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/man-gets-glade-air-freshener-13809762
Serious consequences for death of fugitive
The Justice Department has postponed until Wednesday of this week the hearing regarding coercive measures against several members of the National Police involved in the death of the fugitive Jorge Gabriel Baez Acosta that occurred last week in Villa Gonzalez, province of Santiago. Previously, the convicted criminal had escaped custody by feigning illness, and when he was taken to a local clinic in Nagua, he was whisked away by armed persons and disappeared.
Several members of the Police are suspected of complicity, including a Lt. Colonel. Several police agents were caught on a cell phone video as they shot at Baez Abreu. Two other persons died in the shootout.
Judge Cirilo Salomon, of the Court of Permanent Attention in Santiago, said that at the request of the lawyers representing the police officers he was postponing the hearing until the day after tomorrow.
The family of the deceased fugitive is calling for justice in the face of what they call a cold-blooded killing.
https://elnacional.com.do/aplazan-coercion-a-coronel-y-policias-mataron-profugo-en-villa-gonzalez/
Missing Venezuelan found dead in river
A corpse found floating in Higuamo River in San Pedro de Macoris was identified as that of missing 28-year old Keila Andrea Pernia Alvares. She lived at Calle 2 de Julio in Buena Vista, Boca Chica. Forensic coroner Mari Santana said she had been strangled by an electrical cord. As reported in El Nacional, a friend said she had been reported missing on Sunday. Details on her stay in the Dominican Republic have not been shared in the media.
https://elnacional.com.do/hallan-muerta-venezolana-reportada-como-desaparecida-en-spm/
Ballplayers Federation accepts resignation of Mario Melvin Soto
In a press release sent to all the print and radio and television media outlets, the Dominican National Federation of Professional Baseball Players announced the resignation of former Cincinnati Reds star Mario Melvin Soto as president of the entity. The resignation comes after pressure from a group of players demanding that Soto step down.
The press communiqué also says that any attempt hold elections will be in violation of the agreements reached on December 13 during talks moderated by the Dominican Professional Baseball League (Lidom) and the Player’s Federation. Signing the communiqué are Miguel Dilone, George Bell, Jose (Mackey) Moreno and Adriano Rodriguez.
As a result of all of this, George Bell the current vice-president of the Federation will take over as president-pro-tem until elections are held next 15 November 2020. Apparently, all of the agreements between the group of dissidents and the federation as moderated by Lidom needed to be approved by the Board of Directors of the Federation, something that did not come to pass. And the new leadership of the federation will now move to be heard in court.
https://elnacional.com.do/mario-sot...documento-en-que-desconoce-proceso-electoral/
https://www.diariolibre.com/deporte...apepro-pero-no-reconocen-resultado-PP11787697
Triple tie in Baseball Championship lead
The Leones del Escogido, Estrellas Orientales and Toros del Este are tied for the first position in the 2018-2019 Dominican Winter Professional Baseball Championship. The teams have won seven games and lost 5 games in the 18-game round robin. Only the Tigres del Licey has lost nine games and only won three, making it difficult for that team to make the playoffs. The games continue on Tuesday, 8 January 2019.
See the schedule at:
http://www.lidom.com/home/calendario/
http://estadisticas.lidom.com/Estadisticas/Inicio
2019: Year of Innovation and Competitiveness
La Isabela celebrates 525th anniversary of Catholic mass in the Americas
Paving begins on Jamao Highway
DR to herald Caribbean and Latin American interests in UN Security Council
46% of Dominicans are affiliated to Senasa health plan
Electoral Regime and Penal Code unlikely to be passed this legislature
Reality proves: Haitians abound in Valle Nuevo
Stray dogs are becoming a national problem
Public Health shuts down esthetics clinic where woman died
CODIA says construction sector was strong in 2018
Hundreds of undocumented aliens detained in Dajabon
Release of x-rays could have consequences
Serious consequences for death of fugitive
Missing Venezuelan found dead in river
Ballplayers Federation accepts resignation of Mario Melvin Soto
Triple tie in Baseball Championship lead
Less deaths and accidents this year than last over Christmas holidays
The Center for Emergency Operations (COE) reported eight less deaths over the New Year holiday 2018 than in the previous year. Director Juan Manuel Mendez said that over the New Year festivities there were 12 deaths reported, all for traffic accidents. Another 681 persons were injured in traffic accidents. Most of the accidents happened in the National District, Santo Domingo, La Vega, Santiago, La Altagracia, San Juan de la Maguana and Azua provinces.
COE says that over the Christmas and New Year holidays, 24 persons died. The 2018-2019 Safe Christmas, a Pact for Life Operation ended with 22 fatalities due to traffic accidents, all motorcycles, and one from alcohol and another a pedestrian was killed by a moving vehicle.
General Mendez said that during the operation there were 152 accidents, affecting 1,176 persons. There were 811 persons suffering from alcoholic intoxication (poisoning), including 52 minors — something that the Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez has said will be strongly investigated. There were 143 persons suffered from food poisoning.
Mendez said that there was a 35% reduction in fatalities from last year. Even better, there was an 800% reduction in the number of accidents, with 152 down from 1,213 in 2017. There were also fewer persons injured, but Santo Domingo continued to be the epicenter of the accidents with 22.7% of the total, followed by Santiago with 14.5%.
During the 2017-2018 operation, 31 deaths were reported in traffic accidents. Statistics also showed there were 1,061 less traffic accidents than reported in the 2017-2018 operation.
https://www.metrord.do/do/destacado...-muertes-menos-accidentes-comparado-2017.html
http://eldia.com.do/asueto-de-navidad-y-ano-nuevo-deja-24-fallecidos/
2019: Year of Innovation and Competitiveness
The Executive Branch named 2019 the Year of Innovation and Competitiveness. The designation is explained as a continuation of the relaunching of the National Competitiveness Strategy in 2019 by the Presidency. In 2017 President Danilo Medina named eight businessmen to the board of the National Competitiveness Council to spearhead the adoption of new public policies to guide the productive sector and create institutional framework adequate for the achievement of national goals.
https://acento.com.do/2019/opinion/8639233-ano-la-innovacion-la-competitividad/
President Medina visits La Isabela for 525th anniversary of Catholic mass in the Americas
President Danilo Medina and cabinet ministers including Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo and Culture Minister Eduardo Selman and Puerto Plata governor Ivan Rivera were in Luperón, Puerto Plata for a mass to commemorate the 525th anniversary of the first mass in Villa La Isabela in Puerto Plata, the first European settlement in the New World.
The mass was given on Saturday, 5 January 2019 at the Santuario de las Americas, commemorating that first mass on 6 January 1494 by Fray Bernardo Boyl, who arrived with the second voyage of Christopher Columbus. The mass was presided over by Cardinal of El Salvador, Monsignor Gregorio Rosa Chavez, special envoy of Pope Francisco, who read a message sent by the Pope in which he called to proclaim the Catholic faith with bravery and to live this with love and good habits.
The bishop for the Diocese of Puerto Plata, Monsignor Julio Cesar Corniel Amaro also spoke of the reaffirming of the faith of the Dominican Republic. He highlighted the relevance of the historic anniversary not only for the Dominican Republic but for all of Latin America.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...a-isabela-misa-conmemorativa-525-anos-primera
Paving begins on Jamao Highway
Residents of the North Coast rejoice! Tourists from the Cibao, rejoice! The Ministry of Public Works has begun the repaving of the highway between Salcedo and Jamao, high in the Septentrional Mountains, between the Cibao Valley and the North Coast.
The director for Public Works Jamao District, Celso Núñez told reporters that this was the manifestation of the promise made by President Danilo Medina during one of his “surprise” visits to the area. Workers are repaving the road between Salcedo and Jamao at an accelerated pace, especially given the importance of the route for many hundreds of persons each day. The area between the two cities is famous for its coffee and cacao, and the new roadway will only improve the economic importance of these crops.
https://elnacional.com.do/inician-asfaltado-de-la-carretera-jamao/
DR to herald Caribbean and Latin American interests in UN Security Council
Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas announced the Dominican Republic would use its two years (2019-2020) at the United Nations Security Council to call global attention to the impacts of natural disasters on the environment, peace and security. Vargas spoke during the ceremony held in New York at the UN headquarters to welcome the new non-permanent members of the council. Vargas spoke of the high vulnerability of small insular states to natural disasters.
Vargas said for the Dominican Republic, the spotlight will be on climate change, but also promoting Caribbean and Latin American interests, as well on human rights, women's rights, food security and environmental protection.
He highlighted the Dominican Republic was a founder of the United Nations charter but this was the first time it held a seat in the United Nations Security Council. He said the country would use its seat to directly collaborate in the management and solution of major global issues. He defended the importance of multilateralism as an efficient way to achieve global stability and peaceful coexistence among states.
The Dominican Republic is holding the Security Council presidency for the month of January. Jose Singer, special envoy to the United Nations, has called a high-level open debate on the subject for 25 January. This will be presided over by President Danilo Medina.
Also speaking at the event was José Singer Weisinger, the special envoy for the Dominican Republic who will represent the country at the Security Council. "We do hope to, from within the Security Council, provide a modest contribution to fostering better understanding of new risks to peace and security -- these are risks which differ from the traditional risks we face: they are more complex and more global in nature. This issue (of climate change) is of particular relevance to our country, and to the Caribbean and Central America in general. It is also the case for many Pacific islands," said Singer when speaking at the ceremony. The country’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Francisco Cortorreal, will handle General Assembly affairs.
The Dominican Republic was chosen in June 2018 together with new representatives from Germany, Belgium, South Africa and Indonesia. The Security Council members also include in 2019 non-permanent members Peru, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait and Poland. The permanent members are United States, Russia, China, France, Great Britain that have veto votes.
http://hoy.com.do/esto-hara-republi...ncia-temporal-en-el-consejo-de-seguridad-onu/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...del-consejo-de-seguridad-de-la-onu-AB11765207
https://www.passblue.com/2019/01/03...ty-in-the-un-security-council-climate-change/
https://citizentruth.org/as-5-new-countries-join-the-un-security-council-can-it-be-saved/
https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d674e356b6a4e31457a6333566d54/share_p.html
46% of Dominicans are affiliated to Senasa health plan
Around 4,671,487 Dominicans, most of whom are from low income households, are affiliated to the Seguro Nacional de Salud (Senasa), the government-sponsored health plan. The coverage benefits many that are seniors, jobless, persons with disabilities, employed at domestic households, and other low-paying jobs and expats. Nevertheless, the Senasa health plan is known to offer better coverage for catastrophic illnesses than most private health plans and is accepted at the major Dominican-government operated health centers that also cater to the affluent.
Senasa executive director Mercedes Rodriguez Silver says that only one million of its affiliates are part of the so-named Regimen Contributivo, and therefore pay into the system. She highlighted in 2018 the health plan was certified ISO 9001:2015 becoming the only health provider (ARS) to have the international quality management system certification.
https://noticiassin.com/alrededor-del-46-de-los-dominicanos-esta-afiliado-en-ars-senasa/
Electoral Regime and Penal Code unlikely to be passed this legislature
Looks like two key bills will not make it through Congress and will have to be submitted again. The bills are the controversial Electoral Regime and the Penal Code. While the political parties reached a consensus to pass a Political Parties Law, the electoral regime bill has not garnered the same support of legislators. If it is not passed by 12 January, final date of the current legislative session, it is unlikely there will be time to apply the amendments to present legislature in the 2020 general election.
The next legislature opens on 27 February 2019. Each legislative session lasts for 150 days.
The president of the Chamber of Deputies Radhames Camacho said that if President Danilo Medina calls for an extraordinary legislative session, the bills could be studied and there would be time to apply the new electoral rules in the 2020 general elections.
Other bills that are languishing in Congress are the Water Code, Contraband Bill, Civil Penal Code, Civil Procedures Code, Commerce Code, Land Use Bill, among others.
https://elnacional.com.do/dos-proyectos-se-caerian-por-la-falta-de-consenso/
Reality proves: Haitians abound in Valle Nuevo
Over the holidays, Environment Minister Angel Estevez and the Ministry of Environment statements had firmly rejected press reports in Diario Libre and Listin Diario on the significant presence of Haitian farm laborers in protected areas of Valle Nuevo, Constanza province. Now other official sources are disputing the position of the minister and the ministry. Estevez is a former minister of agriculture who has openly spoken up in favor of farming, even in protected areas. He is also a major farm entrepreneur himself.
Listin Diario says that the Constanza prosecutor Miguel Collado Marte confirmed reports in Listin Diario and Dominican residents in Parque Nacional Juan Bautista Perez Rancier (Valle Nuevo) about the proliferation of Haitians in the area, indicating that in many areas the number of Haitian laborers is well above that of the Dominican population, including in the communities of La Palma, La Culata, La Descubierta, Tireo Abajo and Cruz de Cuaba. He said the judicial authorities would continue to back the Migration Agency in efforts to control undocumented Haitian immigration. He said estimates are there are 30,000 Haitians in the area. He said most of the Haitians run when there is a detention operation and in the 3 January 2019 operation, only 80 were arrested and 47 taken to Santiago for deportation.
Recently, the Superior Administrative Court (TSA) ordered the Ministry of Environment to exercise its role in impeding farming in the Valle Nuevo National Park. The Ministry of Environment under Minister Angel Estevez had denied the farming activities in Valle Nuevo. The environmentalists said they will also seek rulings in the cases of protected areas in Bahoruco and Los Haitises, where Ministry of Environment efforts to control agricultural activities have been practically abandoned by the pro-farming administration at the Ministry of Environment.
Ariel José (Chino) Sing, one of the plaintiffs in the legal case on which the TSA ruled the court against the Ministry, and member of the SOS AmbienteRD movement, announced that by 2019 they will have a rather aggressive agenda regarding compliance with environmental provisions in the National Parks. He warned that in the case of Valle Nuevo they will be vigilant that they comply with the ruling of the TSA that ordered the Ministry of the Environment to evict, within two months, all the agricultural activity within the park.
"If there is no change in attitude, the ministry and the minister will be named in a criminal complaint and we will exhaust all the tools we have and reach the ultimate consequences," he said.
Sing also understands that the country is currently suffering from an environmental crisis that manifests itself in the large amounts of plastics and solid waste dumped everywhere as well as the threats to protected areas and marine coastal resources, as reported in Diario Libre.
http://hoy.com.do/estudio-revela-ar...iones-que-impiden-su-administracion-efectiva/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...a-masiva-de-haitianos-ilegales-en-el-convento
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...s-van-por-defensa-de-otros-parques-JP11789716
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...tan-fase-desalojo-de-haitianos-en-valle-nuevo
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...nsa-de-valle-nuevo-y-otros-parques-IP11789661
Stray dogs are becoming a national problem
The proliferation of homeless dogs in recent years is becoming a matter of major concern of the general public. The matter has made headline news after there have been four deaths of persons who were bitten by dogs infected with rabies and died for lack of adequate medical attention.
While Padela, an association of veterinarians and volunteers, has conducted campaigns to vaccinate stray dogs, animal control experts point out that these efforts are not enough to stem the rising incidences of rabies in communities throughout the country.
A feature in El Nacional highlights that the stray dog population is out of control. Writer Jorge Gonzalez explains that the deaths recently reported are evidence that there is not a program to control the population of stray dogs (castration or sterilization), nor periodic vaccination of these by Public Health or by city governments. He said at present only natural conditions, malnourishment, illness and death by traffic accidents are the controls.
He is also critical of the shutdown of the Centro Antirrábico Nacional (CAN) that dealt with the issue in the past, delegating the role to public hospitals without previously training medical staff on handling of cases of persons bitten by animals resulted in four deaths in 2018. The protocol is that a person needs to receive four dose of anti-rabies vaccine to avoid contracting the potentially fatal disease.
Gonzalez alerts that if the animal population is not checked the country may have to confront major issues of many people being bitten by the dogs that could lead to an epidemic of canine rabies. He alerts the stray dogs reproduce rapidly and often roam city streets, feeding off garbage in improvised dumps.
In the last report before its shutdown, the CAN, reported that 35-40 persons were bitten daily by dogs in 2016. These cases were attended to by the specialized staff of the CAN. That means that in 2015, 16,310 persons were bitten by dogs. That same year, the CAN vaccinated 348,836 stray dogs. And during that period there were no reports of persons dying from dog rabies.
Gonzalez attributes the overpopulation of dogs and cats in Greater Santo Domingo to owners abandoning their pets. Many pet owners discover that they cannot maintain their dogs or cats and simply allow the animals to fend for themselves on the streets. There are also a large number of dogs that run away from their homes and end up on the streets.
While Law 248-12 on Animal Protection and Responsible Ownership has provisions for the safety and welfare of domestic animals and pets, the law is rarely enforced. There is also a Unidad de Proteccion Animal at the Attorney General Office, whose role is to prosecute those who mistreat animals.
Gonzalez called for city governments to create shelters for animals until adoption can be found for these. He said there is no department in the country to rescue sick or injured animals.
https://elnacional.com.do/perros-callejeros-poblacion-que-crece-sin-control-en-rd/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/salud/el-poco-control-de-los-perros-callejeros-KP11787872
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2019/01/03/547980/el-antirrabico-atendio-a-800-por-mordeduras
Public Health shuts down esthetics clinic where woman died
Foreigners and Dominicans are warned to not risk invasive operations in makeshift esthetics clinics. But once again, a woman is reported dead after undergoing a procedure this time at the Clinica de Cirugia Estetica Dermostetic.
The Ministry of Public Health and Attorney General acted and temporary shutdown the clinic, after the death of Julia Arias Almonte. The supervisors who visited the clinic after the death of Julia Arias Almonte on Wednesday, 2 January 2019, gave 48 hours to the patients to clear the center prior to its provisional closing. Those that were interned were allowed to remain until they are fit to leave, announced Bruno Calderon Troncoso, in charge of Habilitacion y Acreditacion for the Ministry of Public Health. Arias’ mother attributed the death of her daughter to negligence. She said that the clinic did not have the equipment to respond to a post-operation emergency. She said the liposculpture operation should not have proceeded because her daughter was phalcemic, a condition she had communicated to the physicians. Dr. Jesus Ramos, of the clinic, said that the studies carried out did not indicate she had the condition.
When requiring invasive services, the general public is advised to only request the services of physicians affiliated with the Dominican Society of Plastic Surgery that maintains high standards in the training and adequacy of clinics where they operate.
http://hoy.com.do/salud-y-mp-cierran-estetica-donde-murio-joven/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...clinica-estetica-donde-murio-joven-PP11787976
http://www.sodocipre.net/en/
CODIA says construction sector was strong in 2018
The Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (CODIA) took a serious look at what happened in the very active construction sector of the Dominican economy during 2018. According to the Central Bank, construction grew by 10.6%, the largest contributor to the nation’s sturdy improvement in GDP. In 2017, construction only grew by 3.75. The professional group said that they were confident that during 2019, construction would hit a 15% increase, since during the last 6 years construction has stayed as one of the sturdiest supports of the Dominican GDP growth. The CODIA stressed that with the start of the New Year there are hopes of reaching new economic levels that have long been sought by the building professionals.
https://elnacional.com.do/codia-pondera-crecimiento-de-la-construccion/
Hundreds of undocumented aliens detained in Dajabon
Members of the Specialized Corps of Frontier Security (Cesfront) detained 850 undocumented Haitians at the end of last week, as they tried to return illegally to Dominican territory after spending Christmas and New Years in Haiti. The men, women and children with illegal migratory status were detained in Manzanillo, Santa Maria, Loma de Cabrera and Dajabon, as they attempted to cross the border during daylight and night time hours, heading to different towns and cities in the area. The detentions are part of an on-going operation by Cesfront along the entire border region. The detainees were taken to shelters where they were turned over to the Migration Agency (DGM) for investigation and repatriation to Haiti.
https://elcaribe.com.do/2019/01/04/panorama/pais/cesfront-detiene-850-indocumentados-en-dajabon/
Release of x-rays could have consequences
The release of x-rays to social media could have dire consequences for the medical personnel as well as the Francisco Mocoso Puello Public Hospital. The x-ray showed a can of Glade air refreshener inserted into the rectum of an unnamed individual. As reported, the release of such private information, in the opinion of medical and legal experts, could have serious consequences for the people and the institution involved.
What is known is that a 40-year old male requested his wife to put the can up his bottom, while they were having sex. As reported, it reportedly took doctors around two hours to remove the spray can. The name of the person has not been released.
Well-known lawyer Julio Cury told reporters that Article 44 of the Dominican Constitution calls for “observing the right to honor, a good name and a proper image. And that all authorities or individuals that violate these rights are obliged to pay damages according to the Law.”
According to Cury, the patient in question has every right to proceed in civil court in order to be compensated for damages and prejudices incurred according to Article 1382 of the Civil Code.
Lawyer Enmanuel Rosario said that it is a shame that these cases occur, and he called the incident a serious violation of patient’s rights. He said that every person has the right to intimacy and that in this case there was a serious violation of that right, since not only is it a violation of the Constitution but also a violation of the Public Health Law.
While the victim was unnamed, the x-ray was uploaded to the Internet and the weird emergency surgery event has made global news.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...r-divulgar-informacion-de-paciente-KA11778013
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8112211/air-freshener-bum-sex-dominican-republic/
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/man-gets-glade-air-freshener-13809762
Serious consequences for death of fugitive
The Justice Department has postponed until Wednesday of this week the hearing regarding coercive measures against several members of the National Police involved in the death of the fugitive Jorge Gabriel Baez Acosta that occurred last week in Villa Gonzalez, province of Santiago. Previously, the convicted criminal had escaped custody by feigning illness, and when he was taken to a local clinic in Nagua, he was whisked away by armed persons and disappeared.
Several members of the Police are suspected of complicity, including a Lt. Colonel. Several police agents were caught on a cell phone video as they shot at Baez Abreu. Two other persons died in the shootout.
Judge Cirilo Salomon, of the Court of Permanent Attention in Santiago, said that at the request of the lawyers representing the police officers he was postponing the hearing until the day after tomorrow.
The family of the deceased fugitive is calling for justice in the face of what they call a cold-blooded killing.
https://elnacional.com.do/aplazan-coercion-a-coronel-y-policias-mataron-profugo-en-villa-gonzalez/
Missing Venezuelan found dead in river
A corpse found floating in Higuamo River in San Pedro de Macoris was identified as that of missing 28-year old Keila Andrea Pernia Alvares. She lived at Calle 2 de Julio in Buena Vista, Boca Chica. Forensic coroner Mari Santana said she had been strangled by an electrical cord. As reported in El Nacional, a friend said she had been reported missing on Sunday. Details on her stay in the Dominican Republic have not been shared in the media.
https://elnacional.com.do/hallan-muerta-venezolana-reportada-como-desaparecida-en-spm/
Ballplayers Federation accepts resignation of Mario Melvin Soto
In a press release sent to all the print and radio and television media outlets, the Dominican National Federation of Professional Baseball Players announced the resignation of former Cincinnati Reds star Mario Melvin Soto as president of the entity. The resignation comes after pressure from a group of players demanding that Soto step down.
The press communiqué also says that any attempt hold elections will be in violation of the agreements reached on December 13 during talks moderated by the Dominican Professional Baseball League (Lidom) and the Player’s Federation. Signing the communiqué are Miguel Dilone, George Bell, Jose (Mackey) Moreno and Adriano Rodriguez.
As a result of all of this, George Bell the current vice-president of the Federation will take over as president-pro-tem until elections are held next 15 November 2020. Apparently, all of the agreements between the group of dissidents and the federation as moderated by Lidom needed to be approved by the Board of Directors of the Federation, something that did not come to pass. And the new leadership of the federation will now move to be heard in court.
https://elnacional.com.do/mario-sot...documento-en-que-desconoce-proceso-electoral/
https://www.diariolibre.com/deporte...apepro-pero-no-reconocen-resultado-PP11787697
Triple tie in Baseball Championship lead
The Leones del Escogido, Estrellas Orientales and Toros del Este are tied for the first position in the 2018-2019 Dominican Winter Professional Baseball Championship. The teams have won seven games and lost 5 games in the 18-game round robin. Only the Tigres del Licey has lost nine games and only won three, making it difficult for that team to make the playoffs. The games continue on Tuesday, 8 January 2019.
See the schedule at:
http://www.lidom.com/home/calendario/
http://estadisticas.lidom.com/Estadisticas/Inicio