DR1 Daily News breaks for Dia de la Altagracia
Guidelines for choosing 12 Supreme Court of Justice judges approved
Trucks ordered to drive only on the right
Vice President speaks out against re-election
The roads that are missing
Will the DR buy back Venezuela’s shares in Refidomsa?
Everton Resources mine in DR changes to Precipitate Gold
22,509 foreign children born November and December 2018
Fire scare at the Hotel Embajador
Fadul calls for follow up to statements on free drug trafficking in Baní
Baní police director removed, Finjus demands action from President Medina
Police reacts to announcement of private police to protect poultry farms
Neighbors say Cerantra was clandestine sales point for diesel
Clowns on a protest walk from Santiago to Higuey
He didn’t know how to shutdown the mobile
Drama week at the Casa de Teatro
Freezing temperatures in Valle Nuevo
Estrellas vs. Toros in San Pedro de Macorís
DR1 Daily News breaks for Dia de la Altagracia
The next DR1 Daily News update will be published on Tuesday, 22 January 2019. The Tuesday issue will compile headline news for the previous Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Monday commemorates the Day of Our Lady of High Grace (Virgin de la Altagracia), Roman Catholic Church religion protector of the Dominican people. Breaking news can be followed 24/7 in the Forums.
See the DR1 Forum at http://www.dr1.com
Guidelines for choosing 12 Supreme Court of Justice judges approved
The National Council of the Magistry (CNM) approved the ruling for the selection of 12 Supreme Court of Justice judges. The Wednesday, 16 January 2019 meeting of the CNM was presided by President Danilo Medina at the Presidential Palace.
Afterwards, in a press conference at the Presidential Palace, the spokesman for the CNM, Supreme Court of Justice judge Frank Soto said that the selection interviews with the judges would be public as the opposition party, PRM president and member of the CNM, Puerto Plata senator Jose Ignacio Paliza had requested. Likewise, the ruling would be published on Friday, 18 January 2019 in time for citizens to make objections.
"The Council approved the designation of a commission to start working on all the issues of the work schedule that we will be carrying out until the selection of the judges of the Supreme Court of Justice is made," he said.
Members of the commission are: senator Reinaldo Pared Pérez (PLD), president of the Senate; senator Jose Paliza (PRM), deputy Josefa Castillo (PRM), representing the largest opposition party, the PRM; Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez; Supreme Court of Justice judge Frank Soto, and the legal consultant to the Executive Branch, Flavio Darío Espinal, who is the commission's technical advisor.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 30 January 2019, when the work schedule and the observations made by the general public to the regulations for the assessment of the judges of the Supreme Court will be reviewed.
The CNM was convened to replace 12 of the 17 Supreme Court of Justice judges. These fulfilled their seven-year terms on 22 December 2018. Those that are up for replacement or confirmation are the president of the Supreme Court of Justice Mariano Germán Mejía. Also Manuel Ramón Herrera Carbuccia, Miriam Germán Brito, Frank Soto (secretary of the CNM), Alejandro Moscoso Segarra, Hiroíto Reyes, Esther Agelán Casasnovas, Francisco Antonio Jerez Mena, José Alberto Cruceta Almánzar, Robert Placencia Álvarez and Edgar Hernández Mejía.
To follow the procedures, see http://cnm.gob.do/
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2019/01/17/549736/aprueban-reglamento-para-escoger-12-jueces
Trucks ordered to drive only on the right
Digesett agents will be ensuring as of Friday, 17 January 2019 that truckers adhere to driving exclusively in the right lane on avenues and highways. Trucks and cargo vehicles are also now limited to driving at 70kph on highways and at a maximum of 55kph on other roads. The new ruling for Transit Law 63-17 establishes heavy fines for violation of these measures. The spokesman for Digesett, Hillman Pimentel said that the transit body would be using radars to control the speed limits. The cargo vehicles are also mandated to keep a distance of 150 meters from the vehicle in front of them. The fines are equal to two minimum decentralized public sector wages.
https://www.intrant.gob.do/transpar...ulacion y Medidas del Transporte de Carga.pdf
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2019/01/17/549760/digesett-saldra-a-poner-control-a-camioneros
Vice President speaks out against re-election
Vice President Margarita Cedeño went public on 16 January 2019 to say that the country is not prepared for a second constitutional reform just to enable the re-election of President Danilo Medina. "We must wait for the decision of President Danilo Medina, anyway Danilo is a man who knows his role in history and is willing to respect the country's institutions. I do not believe that the country is prepared for a second constitutional reform only for the issue of re-election. I do not believe that this is the message that we must send either," said Cedeño, who is the wife of former President Leonel Fernandez.
President Danilo Medina has said that he will speak out in March 2019 on whether he will choose to seek re-election into the 2020 general elections. The 2015 Constitution passed under the first government of Danilo Medina bans him from running for a second re-election.
Cedeño, who is in her second term as Vice President under a Medina administration, and who herself has aspired to be the PLD presidential candidate, argued that "the generational change has not been prepared and the leaders must allow and facilitate that other leaderships can emerge and continue the good work that the previous ones have done".
The statements of the Vice President follow remarks made by Administrative Minister of the Presidency Jose Ramon Peralta who stated that "danilismo" is the political force that prevails in the country. Peralta said that Medina controls 70% of the Central Committee of the ruling PLD party and even more in the Political Committee of the PLD, and thus calls the shots in politics.
A recent analysis published by PLD Central Committee member and Danilo Medina supporter, Gedeón Santos alerted that third consecutive periods are characterized by legitimacy crisis, political and social confrontations, as evidenced by the democratic history of the country. Santos is the Dominican Republic ambassador to the Organization of American States.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/01/17/destacado/margarita-pais-no-esta-preparado-para-reforma/
The roads that are missing
The Dominican Republic is featured among the top five countries in Latin America with the best ground road infrastructure. But there is always a wish list of more. Former Minister of Public Works, engineer Pedro Delgado Malagón (1982-1986) shares with readers the locations of missing roads in a report in El Caribe newspaper today.
He says a highway is needed to connect the northern beach destinations with the Cibao. Likewise, new tourism destinations in Azua and Peravia could benefit from better road connections.
He says a doubling in the number of lanes is needed for the roads connecting Puerto Plata to Nagua and to Samana and the construction of a new road connecting Puerto Plata and Montecristi to foster development of tourism potential of that northwestern province.
He would like to see the doubling of the lanes connecting Baní, San Juan de la Maguana and Elías Piña, as well as Baní, Barahona, Oviedo and Pedernales.
He would like to see the fast completion of the Azua bypass and the start of the construction of the bypass of Baní and those of San Juan de la Maguana and Barahona. And he says there is a need for bypasses regarding the cities of San Francisco de Macoris and Higuey.
The Dominican Republic has a road network of 5,400 km of highways, and 12,800 of rural roads.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/01...ctura-vial-el-pais-tiene-un-vacio-por-llenar/
Will the DR buy back Venezuela’s shares in Refidomsa?
News reports suggest that the Dominican authorities at the Dominican Petroleum Refinery (Refidomsa PDV), where the Venezuela state-owned PDVSA has 49% stake, would be interested in purchasing back the shares from PDV Caribe, the Venezuelan subsidiary. Similar negotiations are happening in Jamaica.
PDV Caribe has reportedly yet to agree to sell its stake and, "if the Venezuelan company doesn’t agree to the sale, the Dominican state would be forced into litigation declaring the country’s only refinery eminent domain and a matter of national security", Refidomsa PDV CEO Felix Jiménez is reported to have said.
Jimenez reportedly does not expect the process - initiated last December - to be affected by Santo Domingo’s decision not to recognize the legitimacy of Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro.
It is a similar situation to what is happening in Kingston, Jamaica which also did not recognize the legitimacy of Maduro’s second term as president.
Last week, Jamaica's Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Kamina Johnson Smith announced that the government will be moving to enact legislation to allow it to take ownership of the 49 per cent stake in Petrojam that is held by Venezuelan state-owned oil company, PDVSA, through PDV Caribe.
https://elnacional.com.do/rd-busca-via-comprar-acciones-venezuela-en-refineria/
http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/dom-rep-also-moving-take-back-venezuela-shares-refinery
Everton Resources mine in DR changes to Precipitate Gold
Precipitate Gold Corporation announced it is now the owner of all Everton Resources Inc. exploration concessions in the Dominican Republic. This includes Pueblo Grande Project, adjoining Barrick’s and Goldcorp’s world-class Pueblo Viejo gold-silver mine, and the Ponton Project located approximately 30 km east of Pueblo Grande. Precipitate said that Mejico Angeles-Lithgow, formerly president and executive director of the Barrick-Pueblo Viejo mining operation, has joined their advisory team.
The company announced that Pueblo Grande’s immediate exploration priority will be the area directly west of Barrick’s mining pits, where a notable geophysical magnetic high coincides with an equally substantial area of advanced argillic lithocap alteration. This highly prospective lithocap target area measuring approximately 2.5 km by 3 km has seen little systematic exploration and will be the focus of initial phases of work.
https://www.geologyforinvestors.com...-pueblo-grande-project-in-dominican-republic/
22,509 foreign children born November and December 2018
In November and December 2018, some 22,509 children were born to foreign parents and registered in the Libro de Extranjería, according to the Dirección del Servicio Nacional de Salud (SNS) that monitors hospitals around the country.
Of these, 669 were births at the country’s main maternity hospital, the Maternidad Nuestra Señora de La Altagracia, in the National District. In second place is the Presidente Estrella Ureña public hospital in Santiago with 519 births to foreigners. At the Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia public hospital in Higuey, some 384 children were born to foreigners. The report also says that 218 children were born to foreigners in those two months at the Jaime Mota hospital in Barahona.
https://elnacional.com.do/nacieron-22500-hijos-de-extranjeros-en-rd-en-ultimos-dos-meses/
Fire scare at the Hotel Embajador
A fire that affected the carpentry workshop at the Hotel Embajador in Santo Domingo caused concern among guests staying at the hotel. Preliminary reports are that there were no injuries and the firemen worked on the fire at midnight of 16 January 2019. A representative of the Ministry of Tourism assured that all is under control.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ndio-afecta-instalaciones-del-hotel-embajador
Fadul calls for follow up to statements on free drug trafficking in Baní
Interior and Police Minister José Ramón Fadul (Monchy) told Hoy reporters on 16 January 2019 that the authorities need to investigate Jesús Peña, brother of the drug trafficker Rafael Antonio Díaz (Buche) who is linked to the death of Police colonel Daniel Ramos Álvarez. Peña denounced Baní was an open market for drug trafficking. Fadul said if justice is not strong it is inevitable that drug vendors that are arrested return to the streets to continue operating.
Fadul responded well to being questioned about the statements of Peña, who said that his brother Rafael Antonio Díaz (Buche), was arrested for the death of the colonel, after owners of other drug spots operating in Baní put together a plot to harm Buche because he was always ahead and had the best sales point.
The statement of Fadul follows accusations of permissiveness in government institutions, referring to suspect complicity of he National Drug Control Agency (DNCD), Police and the Armed Forces in drug scandals made by Peravia senator, Wilton Guerrero.
The director of the Police, Major General Ney Aldrin Bautista said he is waiting for the report on the case prepared by the investigating commission. Senator Wilton Guerrero has said that two members of that commission are on the payroll of Buche.
http://hoy.com.do/fadul-declaraciones-de-pena-obligan-profundizar-caso-bani/
Baní police director removed, Finjus demands action from President Medina
The director of the Police, Major General Ney Aldrin Almonte announced the removal of General Juan Geronimo Brown Perez at the command of the south central region of the Police. He was reassigned to the southeastern region of the Police. He was replaced by General Eduardo Alberto Then in Baní. The announcement follows the murder of colonel Daniel Ramos Alvarez. Peravia senator Wilton Guerrero has stated Ramos was murdered as part of a complicity of the Police and the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) with drug vending and trafficking operations in Peravia.
Meanwhile, the executive vice president of the Fundación Institucionalidad y Justicia (Finjus), Servio Tulio Castaños Guzmán says that the accusations involving the murder of Ramos and the remarks by the brother of chief suspect, reportedly, owner of the drug sales point where Ramos was murdered, that drug sales have an open market in the province, lead him to suggest that President Danilo Medina should make a statement about the recent events. Castaños said that what occurred in Baní, with the death of the Police colonel Daniel Ramos Alvarez is serious and matter of concern and reflects the high level of permissiveness of the authorities.
Castaños said that criticism and reactions take place after Jesús Peña, brother of Rafael Antonio Díaz (Buche), one of those implicated in the death of Colonel Ramos Álvarez at a drug spot in Baní, told the press that the crime was the product of an arrangement between the officers who accompanied the colonel and other owners of drug points in that locality.
Castaños said in suggesting President Medina give a definitive response. “He will have to rally sufficient political will to put an end to the surreptitious behavior of officers in those institutions, " he stated.
Castaños Guzmán said that the aforementioned case is an example that in the Dominican Republic the consequences regime "does not work". "I would say that this is the product of the levels of impunity that have been lived in the country," he said. He emphasized that many of those people (drug traffickers) who are committing crimes in the streets have been subjected to justice on numerous occasions and have been released with amazing ease and have been criticized by the citizens themselves.
“How is it possible in the case of Baní, that this point of drugs denounced many times was still open?, he asks in a video published by El Nuevo Diario. He added in his statement: "There is no doubt that it remained open with the blessing of the authorities, then when a state behaves in that way, what can you demand of society?”
Castaños says: "The fact that members of institutions are involved in situations of that kind, should bring reflection to all Dominicans, I believe that those who direct those institutions will have to sit down on this occasion, to see how they can give an effective response, on all those who work as a member of the Police, the National Drug Directorate (DNCD), and the Armed Forces are the ones that are favoring drug lords of that nature. "
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/video-...medina-debe-actuar-en-caso-de-drogas-en-bani/
https://elnacional.com.do/sustituye...re-tras-muerte-coronel-ramos-alvarez-en-bani/
Police reacts to announcement of private police to protect poultry farms
The Police is attempting to get its act together after poultry farmers in the Moca-Licey area of Espaillat and Santiago province announced on Tuesday, 15 January 2019 that they were coordinating for armed service corps to patrol the chicken farms that as of late have suffered from several armed robberies, despite having security at the farms.
As reported in El Nacional, the director general of the Police, Major General Ney Bautista Almonte said that the announcement is unnecessary because the National Police is there to protect the farmers.
After the Asociación de Pequeños Productores Avícolas de Moca y Licey had announced the civilian armed groups on Tuesday, the police directed said he instructed the regional director of the Police, General Jose Acosta Castellanos to visit the poultry farm directors and coordinate new security actions to counteract the robberies.
“I spoke with Eric Rivero and we have coordinated for a meeting where I will be present to listen to the producers and touch upon issues and discuss actions to put into practice to reduce the robberies and assaults on the Moca poultry producres,” said Major General Bautista Almonte.
As reported in El Nacional, the robberies have affected the poultry and egg producers in Licey al Medio and Moca. In addition hog farms have also been affected, reported the newspaper.
Poultry producers Ambiórix Cabrera, José Marcano, Porfirio Cabrera, Miguel Marcano, Roberto Abreu and Víctor Cabrera denounced they had been victims of armed robberies at their farms.
"Given this reality of robberies and assaults in Licey al Medio, we have no choice but to take justice into our own hands," the poultry producers had announced in a press conference on Tuesday, 15 January 2019. Those affected urged producers to go ahead with the plan to form "armed patrols" to defend themselves against the criminals. They insisted in the need for civilian armed patrols to take care of themselves, “because we do not have a government that protests us from these criminals.”
https://elnacional.com.do/policia-reacciona-tras-anuncio-empresarios-de-formar-patrullas/
Neighbors say Cerantra was clandestine sales point for diesel
According to residents of the Nuevo Horizonte community in La Cienaga, Santo Domingo Oeste, the supposed Cerantra recycling plant was no such thing, but rather a clandestine fuel sales point located in a residential area in order to avoid being detected by the authorities. On Monday, two persons died after an explosion at the site on Monday, 14 January 2019. A third person died on Wednesday, 16 January 2019, but he has not been named.
"That's not a fuel recycler, they take diesel fuel there and sell it without the authorities knowing," said Luis Rodríguez, resident of that community. While Isidro Gómez, also a resident, told Listin Diario reporters that the center has been operating for a long time. He doubted it was a recycling plant. "That has always had a smell of diesel, like it was a gas station. Also many trucks enter and leave there, I really do not know why that it exploded, what I do know is that I felt that and I shook ... ", said Gomez.
The neighbors said they had not been visited by the firemen, nor had the owners of the business come forward. The neighbors say on repeated occasions they had protested the operation of the business but received no response from the Ministry of Environment.
Listin Diario reports that five large red cylinders with "Fuel Oil" signs on them are still intact and hidden behind a nearly impassable road in the Nuevo Horizonte community of La Ciénaga sector, in Santo Domingo Oeste, where the explosion occurred.
Preliminary, the authorities of the Cuerpo Especializado de Control de Combustibles (Ceccom) said the explosion occurred when employees of the company were testing a boiler and it overheated beyond control.
In the tragedy, 32-year old Juan Manuel Garcia and 48-year old Francisco Suero died. Four others were said to be seriously injured and are hospitalized at the Hospital Ney Arias Lora.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...reen-fabrica-exploto-es-clandestina-e-ilicita
https://elnacional.com.do/suben-a-tres-los-muertos-por-explosion-en-empresa-en-santo-domingo-oeste/
Clowns on a protest walk from Santiago to Higuey
A group of around 40 persons disguised as clowns have begun a protest walk from the Monumento a los Heroes de la Restauración in Santiago to the Basilica Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia in Higuey, a distance of approximately 317 km. The protest march is to call attention to the increasing number of sexual abuses to minors and child abuse.
The “Caminando por una sonrisa” (Walking for a Smile) expects to reach Higuey in time for the 21 January celebrations of the Day of the Lady of Altagracia at the basilica.
Joan Martínez, (Payamín), organizer of the protest march, says: "The message we want to deliver is that we as clowns are not just to make people laugh with joke after joke. Rather, we are also parents and social entities concerned about the degradation of seeing abused children walk the streets, homeless minors who are victims of exploitation," said Martínez.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/01...ta-higueycontra-abuso-infantil-y-violaciones/
He didn’t know how to shutdown the mobile
A thief took advantage of a packed court house to steal the cell phone from a journalist covering the case of the death of Colonel Daniel Ramos Alvarez at the Palacio de Justicia in Baní city on Tuesday, 15 January 2019. Eliana Cuevas, in Baní to cover the trial for Informativos Teleantillas (Channel 2), said that she did not notice when the mobile was stolen. But when she went to use her phone and couldn’t find it, she insistently started calling her number. Her insistence in repeatedly calling her number, lead the police agent who was his custody to remove the mobile, noting it was stolen.
The Police then called her to pick up her phone at the Dirección Sur Central of the Police. The Police have not identified the individual who stole the phone.
http://hoy.com.do/audio-escuche-com...el-robo-celular-a-periodista-en-pleno-juicio/
Drama week at the Casa de Teatro
Colonial City’s Casa de Teatro announces a week dedicated to Latin American drama at its Cristóbal de Llerena auditorium. “Pal’ gritadero” is an eight-day long showing of four well known Latin American theatrical presentations from Saturday, 26 January to Saturday, 2 February 2019.
The opening is by Producciones Noventu and the comedy, “Un Tonto en una Caja” by Argentinean Martín Giner on Saturday, 26 January and Sunday 27 January at 7pm.
Others are: “Cinco Minutos sin Respirar” by Venezuelan Gustavo Ott; “Penúltima Comedia Inglesa”, by Chilean Marco Antonio de la Parra; “Pal Gritadero”, original by Guy Foissy, in a Dominican version by Hamlet Bodden; and the puppet show, “Filipo, el Niño de la Cabeza Puntiaguda”, by Venezuelan Roblan Piñeiro.
The participating theater companies are: Improvisus Producciones, Producciones Noventu, Coturno Teatro, and Lúdico Teatro y Títeres.
https://listindiario.com/entretenimiento/2019/01/16/549563/semana-de-teatro-en-la-casa-de-la-zc
Freezing temperatures in Valle Nuevo
The national weather service, Onamet has confirmed temperatures dropped below zero Celsius in the Valle Nuevo mountain zones in the Central Mountain Range. Onamet reported temperatures 8ºC in Constanza, 15ºC in San Jose de Ocoa and Moncion.
Noontime temperatures of 28ºC to 30ºC are forecast for the capital city, while early morning temperatures are expected to drop to 19ºC and 21ºC. The same is forecast for most of the country, with the exception mainly being the mountain areas such as Constanza, San Jose de Ocoa and Monción.
Chilly mornings of around 20ºC -21ºC are forecast for most of the country. Rains are scarce, with only some forecasts of light rains for San Pedro de Macorís, Duarte, Samaná and Monseñor Nouel (Bonao) given the passing of a weak trough.
https://elnacional.com.do/temperatura-baja-a-0-grado-en-valle-nuevo/
Estrellas vs. Toros in San Pedro de Macorís
The Estrellas Orientales of San Pedro de Macoris are the favorite to win, but nothing is decided yet as the Toros del Este of La Romana, under Arturo de Freites, are sure to put up a worthy fight for the 2018-2019 Dominican Professional Winter Baseball Championship. The Estrellas won the regular season 29-21 and the round robin 11-7.
The playoffs are scheduled to go to the first team that wins five of the nine scheduled games. The calendar runs from 17 January to 27 January 2019. The winning team will then represent the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Series set for 2-8 February 2019 in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
This is the seventh final by the Estrellas Orientales that have not won a tournament in 50 years. The Toros won the championship for 2010-11 against the same Estrellas Orientales. They won that championship 5-0.
See the playoffs calendar at: http://www.lidom.com/home/calendario/
http://eldia.com.do/estrellas-y-toros-inician-final-de-beisbol-muy-equilibrada/
Guidelines for choosing 12 Supreme Court of Justice judges approved
Trucks ordered to drive only on the right
Vice President speaks out against re-election
The roads that are missing
Will the DR buy back Venezuela’s shares in Refidomsa?
Everton Resources mine in DR changes to Precipitate Gold
22,509 foreign children born November and December 2018
Fire scare at the Hotel Embajador
Fadul calls for follow up to statements on free drug trafficking in Baní
Baní police director removed, Finjus demands action from President Medina
Police reacts to announcement of private police to protect poultry farms
Neighbors say Cerantra was clandestine sales point for diesel
Clowns on a protest walk from Santiago to Higuey
He didn’t know how to shutdown the mobile
Drama week at the Casa de Teatro
Freezing temperatures in Valle Nuevo
Estrellas vs. Toros in San Pedro de Macorís
DR1 Daily News breaks for Dia de la Altagracia
The next DR1 Daily News update will be published on Tuesday, 22 January 2019. The Tuesday issue will compile headline news for the previous Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Monday commemorates the Day of Our Lady of High Grace (Virgin de la Altagracia), Roman Catholic Church religion protector of the Dominican people. Breaking news can be followed 24/7 in the Forums.
See the DR1 Forum at http://www.dr1.com
Guidelines for choosing 12 Supreme Court of Justice judges approved
The National Council of the Magistry (CNM) approved the ruling for the selection of 12 Supreme Court of Justice judges. The Wednesday, 16 January 2019 meeting of the CNM was presided by President Danilo Medina at the Presidential Palace.
Afterwards, in a press conference at the Presidential Palace, the spokesman for the CNM, Supreme Court of Justice judge Frank Soto said that the selection interviews with the judges would be public as the opposition party, PRM president and member of the CNM, Puerto Plata senator Jose Ignacio Paliza had requested. Likewise, the ruling would be published on Friday, 18 January 2019 in time for citizens to make objections.
"The Council approved the designation of a commission to start working on all the issues of the work schedule that we will be carrying out until the selection of the judges of the Supreme Court of Justice is made," he said.
Members of the commission are: senator Reinaldo Pared Pérez (PLD), president of the Senate; senator Jose Paliza (PRM), deputy Josefa Castillo (PRM), representing the largest opposition party, the PRM; Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez; Supreme Court of Justice judge Frank Soto, and the legal consultant to the Executive Branch, Flavio Darío Espinal, who is the commission's technical advisor.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 30 January 2019, when the work schedule and the observations made by the general public to the regulations for the assessment of the judges of the Supreme Court will be reviewed.
The CNM was convened to replace 12 of the 17 Supreme Court of Justice judges. These fulfilled their seven-year terms on 22 December 2018. Those that are up for replacement or confirmation are the president of the Supreme Court of Justice Mariano Germán Mejía. Also Manuel Ramón Herrera Carbuccia, Miriam Germán Brito, Frank Soto (secretary of the CNM), Alejandro Moscoso Segarra, Hiroíto Reyes, Esther Agelán Casasnovas, Francisco Antonio Jerez Mena, José Alberto Cruceta Almánzar, Robert Placencia Álvarez and Edgar Hernández Mejía.
To follow the procedures, see http://cnm.gob.do/
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2019/01/17/549736/aprueban-reglamento-para-escoger-12-jueces
Trucks ordered to drive only on the right
Digesett agents will be ensuring as of Friday, 17 January 2019 that truckers adhere to driving exclusively in the right lane on avenues and highways. Trucks and cargo vehicles are also now limited to driving at 70kph on highways and at a maximum of 55kph on other roads. The new ruling for Transit Law 63-17 establishes heavy fines for violation of these measures. The spokesman for Digesett, Hillman Pimentel said that the transit body would be using radars to control the speed limits. The cargo vehicles are also mandated to keep a distance of 150 meters from the vehicle in front of them. The fines are equal to two minimum decentralized public sector wages.
https://www.intrant.gob.do/transpar...ulacion y Medidas del Transporte de Carga.pdf
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2019/01/17/549760/digesett-saldra-a-poner-control-a-camioneros
Vice President speaks out against re-election
Vice President Margarita Cedeño went public on 16 January 2019 to say that the country is not prepared for a second constitutional reform just to enable the re-election of President Danilo Medina. "We must wait for the decision of President Danilo Medina, anyway Danilo is a man who knows his role in history and is willing to respect the country's institutions. I do not believe that the country is prepared for a second constitutional reform only for the issue of re-election. I do not believe that this is the message that we must send either," said Cedeño, who is the wife of former President Leonel Fernandez.
President Danilo Medina has said that he will speak out in March 2019 on whether he will choose to seek re-election into the 2020 general elections. The 2015 Constitution passed under the first government of Danilo Medina bans him from running for a second re-election.
Cedeño, who is in her second term as Vice President under a Medina administration, and who herself has aspired to be the PLD presidential candidate, argued that "the generational change has not been prepared and the leaders must allow and facilitate that other leaderships can emerge and continue the good work that the previous ones have done".
The statements of the Vice President follow remarks made by Administrative Minister of the Presidency Jose Ramon Peralta who stated that "danilismo" is the political force that prevails in the country. Peralta said that Medina controls 70% of the Central Committee of the ruling PLD party and even more in the Political Committee of the PLD, and thus calls the shots in politics.
A recent analysis published by PLD Central Committee member and Danilo Medina supporter, Gedeón Santos alerted that third consecutive periods are characterized by legitimacy crisis, political and social confrontations, as evidenced by the democratic history of the country. Santos is the Dominican Republic ambassador to the Organization of American States.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/01/17/destacado/margarita-pais-no-esta-preparado-para-reforma/
The roads that are missing
The Dominican Republic is featured among the top five countries in Latin America with the best ground road infrastructure. But there is always a wish list of more. Former Minister of Public Works, engineer Pedro Delgado Malagón (1982-1986) shares with readers the locations of missing roads in a report in El Caribe newspaper today.
He says a highway is needed to connect the northern beach destinations with the Cibao. Likewise, new tourism destinations in Azua and Peravia could benefit from better road connections.
He says a doubling in the number of lanes is needed for the roads connecting Puerto Plata to Nagua and to Samana and the construction of a new road connecting Puerto Plata and Montecristi to foster development of tourism potential of that northwestern province.
He would like to see the doubling of the lanes connecting Baní, San Juan de la Maguana and Elías Piña, as well as Baní, Barahona, Oviedo and Pedernales.
He would like to see the fast completion of the Azua bypass and the start of the construction of the bypass of Baní and those of San Juan de la Maguana and Barahona. And he says there is a need for bypasses regarding the cities of San Francisco de Macoris and Higuey.
The Dominican Republic has a road network of 5,400 km of highways, and 12,800 of rural roads.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/01...ctura-vial-el-pais-tiene-un-vacio-por-llenar/
Will the DR buy back Venezuela’s shares in Refidomsa?
News reports suggest that the Dominican authorities at the Dominican Petroleum Refinery (Refidomsa PDV), where the Venezuela state-owned PDVSA has 49% stake, would be interested in purchasing back the shares from PDV Caribe, the Venezuelan subsidiary. Similar negotiations are happening in Jamaica.
PDV Caribe has reportedly yet to agree to sell its stake and, "if the Venezuelan company doesn’t agree to the sale, the Dominican state would be forced into litigation declaring the country’s only refinery eminent domain and a matter of national security", Refidomsa PDV CEO Felix Jiménez is reported to have said.
Jimenez reportedly does not expect the process - initiated last December - to be affected by Santo Domingo’s decision not to recognize the legitimacy of Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro.
It is a similar situation to what is happening in Kingston, Jamaica which also did not recognize the legitimacy of Maduro’s second term as president.
Last week, Jamaica's Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Kamina Johnson Smith announced that the government will be moving to enact legislation to allow it to take ownership of the 49 per cent stake in Petrojam that is held by Venezuelan state-owned oil company, PDVSA, through PDV Caribe.
https://elnacional.com.do/rd-busca-via-comprar-acciones-venezuela-en-refineria/
http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/dom-rep-also-moving-take-back-venezuela-shares-refinery
Everton Resources mine in DR changes to Precipitate Gold
Precipitate Gold Corporation announced it is now the owner of all Everton Resources Inc. exploration concessions in the Dominican Republic. This includes Pueblo Grande Project, adjoining Barrick’s and Goldcorp’s world-class Pueblo Viejo gold-silver mine, and the Ponton Project located approximately 30 km east of Pueblo Grande. Precipitate said that Mejico Angeles-Lithgow, formerly president and executive director of the Barrick-Pueblo Viejo mining operation, has joined their advisory team.
The company announced that Pueblo Grande’s immediate exploration priority will be the area directly west of Barrick’s mining pits, where a notable geophysical magnetic high coincides with an equally substantial area of advanced argillic lithocap alteration. This highly prospective lithocap target area measuring approximately 2.5 km by 3 km has seen little systematic exploration and will be the focus of initial phases of work.
https://www.geologyforinvestors.com...-pueblo-grande-project-in-dominican-republic/
22,509 foreign children born November and December 2018
In November and December 2018, some 22,509 children were born to foreign parents and registered in the Libro de Extranjería, according to the Dirección del Servicio Nacional de Salud (SNS) that monitors hospitals around the country.
Of these, 669 were births at the country’s main maternity hospital, the Maternidad Nuestra Señora de La Altagracia, in the National District. In second place is the Presidente Estrella Ureña public hospital in Santiago with 519 births to foreigners. At the Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia public hospital in Higuey, some 384 children were born to foreigners. The report also says that 218 children were born to foreigners in those two months at the Jaime Mota hospital in Barahona.
https://elnacional.com.do/nacieron-22500-hijos-de-extranjeros-en-rd-en-ultimos-dos-meses/
Fire scare at the Hotel Embajador
A fire that affected the carpentry workshop at the Hotel Embajador in Santo Domingo caused concern among guests staying at the hotel. Preliminary reports are that there were no injuries and the firemen worked on the fire at midnight of 16 January 2019. A representative of the Ministry of Tourism assured that all is under control.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ndio-afecta-instalaciones-del-hotel-embajador
Fadul calls for follow up to statements on free drug trafficking in Baní
Interior and Police Minister José Ramón Fadul (Monchy) told Hoy reporters on 16 January 2019 that the authorities need to investigate Jesús Peña, brother of the drug trafficker Rafael Antonio Díaz (Buche) who is linked to the death of Police colonel Daniel Ramos Álvarez. Peña denounced Baní was an open market for drug trafficking. Fadul said if justice is not strong it is inevitable that drug vendors that are arrested return to the streets to continue operating.
Fadul responded well to being questioned about the statements of Peña, who said that his brother Rafael Antonio Díaz (Buche), was arrested for the death of the colonel, after owners of other drug spots operating in Baní put together a plot to harm Buche because he was always ahead and had the best sales point.
The statement of Fadul follows accusations of permissiveness in government institutions, referring to suspect complicity of he National Drug Control Agency (DNCD), Police and the Armed Forces in drug scandals made by Peravia senator, Wilton Guerrero.
The director of the Police, Major General Ney Aldrin Bautista said he is waiting for the report on the case prepared by the investigating commission. Senator Wilton Guerrero has said that two members of that commission are on the payroll of Buche.
http://hoy.com.do/fadul-declaraciones-de-pena-obligan-profundizar-caso-bani/
Baní police director removed, Finjus demands action from President Medina
The director of the Police, Major General Ney Aldrin Almonte announced the removal of General Juan Geronimo Brown Perez at the command of the south central region of the Police. He was reassigned to the southeastern region of the Police. He was replaced by General Eduardo Alberto Then in Baní. The announcement follows the murder of colonel Daniel Ramos Alvarez. Peravia senator Wilton Guerrero has stated Ramos was murdered as part of a complicity of the Police and the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) with drug vending and trafficking operations in Peravia.
Meanwhile, the executive vice president of the Fundación Institucionalidad y Justicia (Finjus), Servio Tulio Castaños Guzmán says that the accusations involving the murder of Ramos and the remarks by the brother of chief suspect, reportedly, owner of the drug sales point where Ramos was murdered, that drug sales have an open market in the province, lead him to suggest that President Danilo Medina should make a statement about the recent events. Castaños said that what occurred in Baní, with the death of the Police colonel Daniel Ramos Alvarez is serious and matter of concern and reflects the high level of permissiveness of the authorities.
Castaños said that criticism and reactions take place after Jesús Peña, brother of Rafael Antonio Díaz (Buche), one of those implicated in the death of Colonel Ramos Álvarez at a drug spot in Baní, told the press that the crime was the product of an arrangement between the officers who accompanied the colonel and other owners of drug points in that locality.
Castaños said in suggesting President Medina give a definitive response. “He will have to rally sufficient political will to put an end to the surreptitious behavior of officers in those institutions, " he stated.
Castaños Guzmán said that the aforementioned case is an example that in the Dominican Republic the consequences regime "does not work". "I would say that this is the product of the levels of impunity that have been lived in the country," he said. He emphasized that many of those people (drug traffickers) who are committing crimes in the streets have been subjected to justice on numerous occasions and have been released with amazing ease and have been criticized by the citizens themselves.
“How is it possible in the case of Baní, that this point of drugs denounced many times was still open?, he asks in a video published by El Nuevo Diario. He added in his statement: "There is no doubt that it remained open with the blessing of the authorities, then when a state behaves in that way, what can you demand of society?”
Castaños says: "The fact that members of institutions are involved in situations of that kind, should bring reflection to all Dominicans, I believe that those who direct those institutions will have to sit down on this occasion, to see how they can give an effective response, on all those who work as a member of the Police, the National Drug Directorate (DNCD), and the Armed Forces are the ones that are favoring drug lords of that nature. "
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/video-...medina-debe-actuar-en-caso-de-drogas-en-bani/
https://elnacional.com.do/sustituye...re-tras-muerte-coronel-ramos-alvarez-en-bani/
Police reacts to announcement of private police to protect poultry farms
The Police is attempting to get its act together after poultry farmers in the Moca-Licey area of Espaillat and Santiago province announced on Tuesday, 15 January 2019 that they were coordinating for armed service corps to patrol the chicken farms that as of late have suffered from several armed robberies, despite having security at the farms.
As reported in El Nacional, the director general of the Police, Major General Ney Bautista Almonte said that the announcement is unnecessary because the National Police is there to protect the farmers.
After the Asociación de Pequeños Productores Avícolas de Moca y Licey had announced the civilian armed groups on Tuesday, the police directed said he instructed the regional director of the Police, General Jose Acosta Castellanos to visit the poultry farm directors and coordinate new security actions to counteract the robberies.
“I spoke with Eric Rivero and we have coordinated for a meeting where I will be present to listen to the producers and touch upon issues and discuss actions to put into practice to reduce the robberies and assaults on the Moca poultry producres,” said Major General Bautista Almonte.
As reported in El Nacional, the robberies have affected the poultry and egg producers in Licey al Medio and Moca. In addition hog farms have also been affected, reported the newspaper.
Poultry producers Ambiórix Cabrera, José Marcano, Porfirio Cabrera, Miguel Marcano, Roberto Abreu and Víctor Cabrera denounced they had been victims of armed robberies at their farms.
"Given this reality of robberies and assaults in Licey al Medio, we have no choice but to take justice into our own hands," the poultry producers had announced in a press conference on Tuesday, 15 January 2019. Those affected urged producers to go ahead with the plan to form "armed patrols" to defend themselves against the criminals. They insisted in the need for civilian armed patrols to take care of themselves, “because we do not have a government that protests us from these criminals.”
https://elnacional.com.do/policia-reacciona-tras-anuncio-empresarios-de-formar-patrullas/
Neighbors say Cerantra was clandestine sales point for diesel
According to residents of the Nuevo Horizonte community in La Cienaga, Santo Domingo Oeste, the supposed Cerantra recycling plant was no such thing, but rather a clandestine fuel sales point located in a residential area in order to avoid being detected by the authorities. On Monday, two persons died after an explosion at the site on Monday, 14 January 2019. A third person died on Wednesday, 16 January 2019, but he has not been named.
"That's not a fuel recycler, they take diesel fuel there and sell it without the authorities knowing," said Luis Rodríguez, resident of that community. While Isidro Gómez, also a resident, told Listin Diario reporters that the center has been operating for a long time. He doubted it was a recycling plant. "That has always had a smell of diesel, like it was a gas station. Also many trucks enter and leave there, I really do not know why that it exploded, what I do know is that I felt that and I shook ... ", said Gomez.
The neighbors said they had not been visited by the firemen, nor had the owners of the business come forward. The neighbors say on repeated occasions they had protested the operation of the business but received no response from the Ministry of Environment.
Listin Diario reports that five large red cylinders with "Fuel Oil" signs on them are still intact and hidden behind a nearly impassable road in the Nuevo Horizonte community of La Ciénaga sector, in Santo Domingo Oeste, where the explosion occurred.
Preliminary, the authorities of the Cuerpo Especializado de Control de Combustibles (Ceccom) said the explosion occurred when employees of the company were testing a boiler and it overheated beyond control.
In the tragedy, 32-year old Juan Manuel Garcia and 48-year old Francisco Suero died. Four others were said to be seriously injured and are hospitalized at the Hospital Ney Arias Lora.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...reen-fabrica-exploto-es-clandestina-e-ilicita
https://elnacional.com.do/suben-a-tres-los-muertos-por-explosion-en-empresa-en-santo-domingo-oeste/
Clowns on a protest walk from Santiago to Higuey
A group of around 40 persons disguised as clowns have begun a protest walk from the Monumento a los Heroes de la Restauración in Santiago to the Basilica Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia in Higuey, a distance of approximately 317 km. The protest march is to call attention to the increasing number of sexual abuses to minors and child abuse.
The “Caminando por una sonrisa” (Walking for a Smile) expects to reach Higuey in time for the 21 January celebrations of the Day of the Lady of Altagracia at the basilica.
Joan Martínez, (Payamín), organizer of the protest march, says: "The message we want to deliver is that we as clowns are not just to make people laugh with joke after joke. Rather, we are also parents and social entities concerned about the degradation of seeing abused children walk the streets, homeless minors who are victims of exploitation," said Martínez.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/01...ta-higueycontra-abuso-infantil-y-violaciones/
He didn’t know how to shutdown the mobile
A thief took advantage of a packed court house to steal the cell phone from a journalist covering the case of the death of Colonel Daniel Ramos Alvarez at the Palacio de Justicia in Baní city on Tuesday, 15 January 2019. Eliana Cuevas, in Baní to cover the trial for Informativos Teleantillas (Channel 2), said that she did not notice when the mobile was stolen. But when she went to use her phone and couldn’t find it, she insistently started calling her number. Her insistence in repeatedly calling her number, lead the police agent who was his custody to remove the mobile, noting it was stolen.
The Police then called her to pick up her phone at the Dirección Sur Central of the Police. The Police have not identified the individual who stole the phone.
http://hoy.com.do/audio-escuche-com...el-robo-celular-a-periodista-en-pleno-juicio/
Drama week at the Casa de Teatro
Colonial City’s Casa de Teatro announces a week dedicated to Latin American drama at its Cristóbal de Llerena auditorium. “Pal’ gritadero” is an eight-day long showing of four well known Latin American theatrical presentations from Saturday, 26 January to Saturday, 2 February 2019.
The opening is by Producciones Noventu and the comedy, “Un Tonto en una Caja” by Argentinean Martín Giner on Saturday, 26 January and Sunday 27 January at 7pm.
Others are: “Cinco Minutos sin Respirar” by Venezuelan Gustavo Ott; “Penúltima Comedia Inglesa”, by Chilean Marco Antonio de la Parra; “Pal Gritadero”, original by Guy Foissy, in a Dominican version by Hamlet Bodden; and the puppet show, “Filipo, el Niño de la Cabeza Puntiaguda”, by Venezuelan Roblan Piñeiro.
The participating theater companies are: Improvisus Producciones, Producciones Noventu, Coturno Teatro, and Lúdico Teatro y Títeres.
https://listindiario.com/entretenimiento/2019/01/16/549563/semana-de-teatro-en-la-casa-de-la-zc
Freezing temperatures in Valle Nuevo
The national weather service, Onamet has confirmed temperatures dropped below zero Celsius in the Valle Nuevo mountain zones in the Central Mountain Range. Onamet reported temperatures 8ºC in Constanza, 15ºC in San Jose de Ocoa and Moncion.
Noontime temperatures of 28ºC to 30ºC are forecast for the capital city, while early morning temperatures are expected to drop to 19ºC and 21ºC. The same is forecast for most of the country, with the exception mainly being the mountain areas such as Constanza, San Jose de Ocoa and Monción.
Chilly mornings of around 20ºC -21ºC are forecast for most of the country. Rains are scarce, with only some forecasts of light rains for San Pedro de Macorís, Duarte, Samaná and Monseñor Nouel (Bonao) given the passing of a weak trough.
https://elnacional.com.do/temperatura-baja-a-0-grado-en-valle-nuevo/
Estrellas vs. Toros in San Pedro de Macorís
The Estrellas Orientales of San Pedro de Macoris are the favorite to win, but nothing is decided yet as the Toros del Este of La Romana, under Arturo de Freites, are sure to put up a worthy fight for the 2018-2019 Dominican Professional Winter Baseball Championship. The Estrellas won the regular season 29-21 and the round robin 11-7.
The playoffs are scheduled to go to the first team that wins five of the nine scheduled games. The calendar runs from 17 January to 27 January 2019. The winning team will then represent the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Series set for 2-8 February 2019 in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
This is the seventh final by the Estrellas Orientales that have not won a tournament in 50 years. The Toros won the championship for 2010-11 against the same Estrellas Orientales. They won that championship 5-0.
See the playoffs calendar at: http://www.lidom.com/home/calendario/
http://eldia.com.do/estrellas-y-toros-inician-final-de-beisbol-muy-equilibrada/