President Medina promises Tamboril tobacco producers low cost loan
Government ministers against financing primaries
Electoral Regime Bill passes in Congress
Advances for the Los Alcarrizos skylift
Dominicans with US or EU visas can apply online to travel to Argentina
Dajabon market day suspended
Population increases 23.35% in almost 20 years
The most repeated question at the Odebrecht trial: Why is he out of the case, and not me
Two divers go missing in Laguna Dudu
Court sentences priest to 30 years for murder of 16-year old
Drug Control Agency seizes cocaine in Bayahibe
Police says Venezuelans are behind robbery of expensive jewelry in public places
Senator calls for protection for police patrol
Cardi B gets Grammy
Eddy Herrera romantic songs concert
The Caveman at Escenario 360
The Upstairs Neighbors at Palacio de Bellas Artes
President Medina promises Tamboril tobacco producers low cost loan
President Danilo Medina promised Tamboril, Santiago tobacco producers and tobacco makers RD$45 million in funding at the below market interest rate of 5% a year during his visit there on Sunday, 10 February 2019, the Presidency announced. The farmers are members of the recently-created Asociación de Productores y Artesanos de Cigarro de Tamboril, a local tobacco and cigar producers association. Medina also promised to donate a product warehouse and a truck to transport the goods to the factories and for export.
The producers say this will enable them to increase their production to 4,800,000 cigars a year, for a net yield of RD$150 million, creating 800 direct jobs and 1,600 indirect jobs primarily in the communities of Canca la Piedra, La Piedra, Don Pedro, Beajó, Pontezuela, Guazumal, Costa Honda, Los Polanco, Barrio de Loco, Felipe Durán and Nigua.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...ra-pequenos-y-medianos-productores-de-cigarro
Government ministers against financing primaries
Minister of Hacienda, Administrative Minister of the Presidency and Minister of Economy rejected the decision by the Central Electoral Board (JCE) by which the Dominican government would need to pick up most of the cost for the organization of the primaries for the political parties to choose their candidates for the 2020 general election. The JCE has committed to cover around RD$1.25 billion of the estimated RD$1.5 billion cost of the simultaneous primaries that are set for 6 October 2019.
During a meeting held on Monday, 11 February 2019 at the JCE, five political parties (PLD, PRM, PRD, Al Pais, Opción Democrática) again agreed that the JCE lobby for the around RD$1.25 billion needed from the central government.
https://elnacional.com.do/dice-partidos-deben-pagar-costo-primarias/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...s-hay-que-modificar-el-presupuesto-IH12049203
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ran-con-gobierno-por-presupuesto-de-primarias
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...n-rd-1-249-millones-para-primarias-IE12071786
Electoral Regime Bill passes in Congress
The Chamber of Deputies fast-tracked on Monday, 11 February 2019 the Electoral Regime Bill that had just been passed on Saturday, 9 February 2019 by the Senate in another single day of two vote calls. The bill was passed just as it was received from the Senate in the two readings. The PLD party is majority in both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
The amendments that had been suggested by deputies were rejected, including one that would eliminate coat tailing that at present benefits senate candidates. The bill calls for the restriction of the use of government funds for the political campaigns of government officers and establishes that these leave their posts when their candidacy is cleared by the Central Electoral Board (JCE).
The bill establishes that politicians are impeded from moving from one to another political party after they have been officially nominated to a position. It also establishes that the political parties are responsible for removing political propaganda in coordination with the JCE. The JCE is authorized to regulate polling companies that will not be able to publish poll results eight days before the election. It also regulates electoral propaganda.
The bill now moves to the Presidency for signing and enactment into law.
http://www.senado.gob.do/senado/Ini...to-de-Ley-Organica-del-Regimen-Electoral.aspx
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...prueban-proyecto-de-ley-del-regimen-electoral
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...lecturas-pese-a-reclamos-por-prisa-FE12072700
Advances for the Los Alcarrizos skylift
President Danilo Medina expropriated land along the 14.3km route the to-be-built Los Alcarrizos skylift would cover into Santo Domingo. The executive order is Decree 51-19. It would cover the land under and at both sides of the second skylift line to be built in Greater Santo Domingo. The fast transit system would link the municipalities of Los Alcarrizos in Santo Domingo West with the National District.
The skylift would have six stations and cover an actual route of 11 km. The planned stations are: Puente Blanco; Terminal Interurbana del Cibao (Los Alcarrizos); Avenida Monumental; Manoguayabo and Prolongacion 27 de Febrero; Duarte Highway Km 9 (at the Maria Montez metro station); and Herrera.
President Danilo Medina announced the start of the skylift in June 2018. It is planned to serve more than 400,000 inhabitants and feed into the Santo Domingo metro system.
Dominicans with US or EU visas can apply online to travel to Argentina
Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas announced that the government of Argentina is now allowing Dominicans that have received a United States B1/B2 or a European Union Schengen C visa to travel to Argentina without having to request a visa to do so. This applies only to those traveling for tourism to Argentina. The visa less travel is for stays of up to 90 days in Argentina.
Dominicans can now use the Sistema de Autorización de Viaje Electrónico (AVE) and apply online for the travel authorization. The online application needs to be made 20 days in advance of the planned travel date.
See https:// www.migraciones.gov.ar/ave/index.htm
Dajabon market day suspended, border security stepped up
Turmoil in Ouanaminthe, Haiti on the border with Dajabón led the authorities to suspend the Monday market day on 11 February 2019. The Dominican government announced the staff of the Dominican consulate in Ouanaminthe was evacuated given the increased violent unreset. At the same time, border security was enhanced, according to the Dominican Army.
Market days are held Mondays and Fridays in Dajabón, when Haitians are admitted through the main border gate without documentation so these can trade their goods and later return to Haiti. As reported, the market opened as usual at 6am but was closed reportedly for low attendance of buyers and vendors from Haiti. Dominican vendors complained of millionaire losses when the buyers did not attend.
Unrest in Haiti is at a new high due to violent protests against the President Jovenel Moise government. These request his resignation and a clarification of where the Petrocaribe funds received from Venezuela were used by the Haitian government.
President Moise was scheduled to leave for Italy to participate in the 42nd International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Governors Council on 14-15 February 2019. Also scheduled to participate was Prime Minister of Italy Giuseppe Conte. The press has reported that Moise would not be traveling to Rome due to the unrest in Haiti.
Meanwhile, Air Century announced the temporary suspension of its daily flights to Haiti from the La Isabela International Airport.
http://hoy.com.do/capital-haitiana-...as-contra-jovenel-moise-por-crisis-economica/
https://elnacional.com.do/suspenden-mercado-binacional-dajabon/
https://elnacional.com.do/compania-...-republica-dominicana-y-haiti-por-disturbios/
https://listindiario.com/las-mundia...edio-de-las-protestas-por-la-crisis-economica
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...icano-en-juana-mendez-y-refuerzan-la-frontera
https://listindiario.com/las-mundia...celaria-viaje-a-roma-por-protestas-en-su-pais
Population increases 23.35% in almost 20 years
Dominican population increased 1,960,518 persons from 8,397,802 inhabitants to 10,358,320 at the end of 2018, reported the National Statistics Office (ONE). That is a 23.35% increase from 2000 to 2018, or an annual population increase of around 1.17%. The increase is almost equal for men (5,174,343 – 49.95%) and women (5,183,977 – 50.05%). There are slightly more women now than in the past. The ratio in the past was 50.2% men and 49.8% women.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...acion-crecio-casi-dos-millones-en-veinte-anos
The most repeated question at the Odebrecht trial: Why is he out of the case, and I’m included?
A feature in Hoy captures the most asked question by the seven that made it to the final hearing from a short list of 14 accused by the Attorney General Office’s of taking bribes for US$92 million that executives of the Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht admitted to paying for securing contract work in the Dominican Republic.
Presiding Judge Francisco Ortega Polanco is hearing this week the defense statements by the seven accused after presenting the accusations in court during the past two weeks. None of the accused is in jail.
In the hearing on Monday, 11 February, Carlos Salcedo, the defense of former president of the Senate Andrés Bautista García, a higher up member of the PRM opposition party, criticized that the prosecutors removed the president of the Senate Reinaldo Pared Perez (PLD-National District) from the case when the latter has more ties to the Odebrecht contracts than his client.
Salcedo explained on Monday that of the 16 contracts approved from 2010 to 2016 by the Senate that benefited Odebrecht, 13 were approved with Reinaldo Pared Pérez acting as president of the Senate. He said that Pared Pérez presided over the Senate that approved more than US$3 billion in contract work, while Bautista presided over the approval of about US$266 million.
Salcedo also argued that it is not true that Bautista influenced the approval of Pinalito dam’s financing on 6 January 2007, nor Palomino and the aqueduct of Samaná on 29 May 2007, because on those dates he was not president of the Senate or member of the Finance Committee or attended those sessions, and that the president of the Senate at the time was Reinaldo Pared Pérez.
Pared Pérez was president of the Senate twice, between 2006 and 2014, and since 2016. A high-ranking member of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party, he was named general-secretary in 2001 and continues in the position. Pared Pérez is also a pre-candidate for the PLD presidential candidacy in the 2020 general election.
State prosecutors argued that since Pared Pérez was not being tried, the arguments should not be allowed. The opinion was overturned by Judge Ortega.
http://hoy.com.do/y-por-que-sacaron...regunta-mas-reiterada-en-audiencia-odebrecht/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/02...red-perez-aprobo-13-de-16-obras-de-odebrecht/
https://elnacional.com.do/bautista-ve-estrafalaria-acusacion-en-su-contra/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-contratos-aprobados-por-reinaldo-pared-perez
Two divers go missing in Laguna Dudu
Two Italian divers, 57-year old Carlos Barbieri and 44-year old Carlos Basso, are missing after going for a cave dive on Saturday, 9 February 2019 in El Dudú in Cabrera, in northeastern María Trinidad Sánchez province. The Dominican Republic Speleological Society (DRSS) said that two of their experts, Phillip Lehman and Ángel Compres have joined the rescue team and are working in collaboration with Cabrera authorities and the owners of the Laguna El Dudú recreational area. The search, nevertheless, was suspended on Monday, 11 February 2019 due to reduced visibility in the lagoon waters.
Gerge Martínez, manager of El Dudú, explained that it appears that the Italians ignored the sign posted at the entrance to the cave that warns about the hazards of diving in the cave without adequate international cave diving certification. The society says that diving in a cave requires different training than what is needed to dive in the sea or open water. Likewise, different equipment is required for cave diving. Martínez said that the wife of one of the missing divers said they have dived at the site on many occasions in the past.
El Dudú has a maximum depth of 25 meters and has 800 meters extension.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...uzos-italianos-desaparecidos-en-cueva-el-dudu
https://eldia.com.do/aguas-turbias-afectan-la-busqueda-de-buzos/
Court sentences priest to 30 years for murder of 16-year old
The Second Collegiate Tribunal of the Santo Domingo East sentenced priest Elvin Taveras Duran to 30 years in jail for the murder of 16-year old altar boy Fernelis Carrion in 2017. Taveras will serve the sentence at the Najayo jail in San Cristobal. The court determined that the priest killed Carrion of a hammer blow and several knife injuries because he was being blackmailed for publishing sexual relations with the child during a three-year period.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...-a-sacerdote-que-mato-exmonaguillo-FG12053503
Drug Control Agency seizes cocaine in Bayahibe
The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) reported the seizing of 689 cocaine packages in Bayahibe in eastern La Altagracia province. Under arrest are two Colombians and a Dominican. The raid was carried out at dawn by DNCD units with the backing of the Dominican Armada and the coordination of Public Ministry prosecutors. The shipment of the drugs was received by sea, said DNCD spokesman Carlos Devers.
http://dncd.gob.do/index.php/notici...etes-presumiblemente-cocaina-en-la-altagracia
Police says Venezuelans are behind robbery of expensive jewelry in public places
The National Police suspect Venezuelans are behind the assault and robbery of a Richard Miller watch of a customer at the La Dolcerie in Piantini neighborhood of Santo Domingo on Saturday, 9 February 2019. Police director, General Ney Aldrin Bautista said that investigations so far lead to a Venezuelan gang. Surveillance camera footage is being analyzed, he said.
The Police said the person wearing the watch was a Russian-American DJ who has been living the in the Dominican Republic for the past four months. The watch sells for around US$2 million.
Last week the Police had arrested members of a Venezuelan gang that robbed customers in malls. The Police shared a video that showed how the criminals would choose their victims and set up the robbery. The victims wore expensive jewelry and watches.
http://hoy.com.do/policia-analiza-v...8-millones-asaltante-tenia-acento-venezolano/
http://hoy.com.do/identifican-a-qui...eloj-de-13-millones-el-sabado-en-la-dolcerie/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...ue-asaltaban-en-plazas-comerciales-GF12064020
Senator calls for protection for police patrol
Senator for Peravia province, Wilton Guerrero went public to ask the director of the Police, Major General Ney Aldrin Bautista to guarantee the lives of members of a Police patrol that seized a lot of cocaine in San Cristobal on 6 December 2019. The patrol members now fear for their lives. The shipment that was seized, according to Guerrero, was of 2,000 kilos. This was not reported by the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD). Guerrero said that not all the cocaine of the operation is in control of the authorities.
"The police patrol headed by Second Lieutenant Isabel has stated that they fear for their lives. We ask the director of the Police to preserve the life of these agents. This is a bigger stash than the one seized from Quirino that was about a thousand kilos, this stash is about 2 thousand kilos of cocaine," said the legislator speaking at the Senate session last Saturday.
Guerrero explained that the officer he only identified as Isabel asks to be assured of her physical integrity, after the disappearance of the cocaine was known. Guerrero also pointed out that it is necessary to protect the agents of the police patrol that transported a part of the drugs to another van for transport to a place yet unknown.
Reports are that the agents seized from a Daihatsu truck that consisted of 14 bags containing 337 packages of a white powder, presumably cocaine. Also seized were two black rifles, three loaders, 68 bullets, and a set of rocking chairs. But it was later known that the shipment was of more than 50 bags and part of the goods were stolen. On 7 February, Interior and Police Minister Jose Ramón Fadul had reported the suspending of six police involved in the stealing of an undetermined amount of narcotics.
https://elnacional.com.do/amenazan-patrulla-incauto-cocaina-en-san-cristobal/
Cardi B gets Grammy
26-year old rapper Cardi B (Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar) won her first Grammy Award on Sunday, 10 February 2019 and became the first solo woman to win a Grammy for a rap album. She won the best rap album award for “Invasion of Privacy” during the 61st Grammy Awards. “It was very long nights,” she said about making her album while pregnant with her daughter, Kulture Kiari.
Receiving the award, she thanked artists that had collaborated with her including J Balvin, Kehlani, Bad Bunny and the Migos. Cardi B in 2017 had earned her first two Grammy nominations at the 60th Grammy Awards.
Cardi B was born and raised in The Bronx, New York and her biography says she spent a lot of time with her Dominican grandmother in neighboring Washington Heights. She is the daughter of a Trinidadian mother and Dominican father. She became an Internet celebrity after several of her posts and videos went viral on Vine and Instagram.
https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/cardi-b-wins-best-rap-album-invasion-privacy-2019-grammys
https://listindiario.com/entretenim...imera-mujer-en-llevarse-el-mejor-album-de-rap
Eddy Herrera romantic songs concert
Eddy Herrera sings his romantic merengues and boleros on 13 February 2019 at Chao Café Teatro at Agora Mall, third level. Tickets are RD$1,200 at the door. Online with discount at Uepa Tickets, CCN, Supermercados Nacional and Jumbo megastores.
The Caveman at Escenario 360
Carlos Sanchez plays the caveman, in the Dominican version of the “Defending the Caveman” (El Cavernicola), the Broadway comedy on the misunderstanding between men and women, winner of the Olivier award. The Dominican version of the play by Rob Becker is directed by Manuel Chapuseaux. It will be showing at the Escenario 360, the show room of the Galeria 360 shopping mall on Av. John F. Kennedy, starting Thursday, 14 February 2019.
The Upstairs Neighbors at Palacio de Bellas Artes
Luis Jose German, Pamela Sued, Nashla Bogaert, Jose Guillermo Cortines star in The Upstairs Neighbors (“Los Vecinos de Arriba”), a play on being a couple and sexuality. This is the award-winning first play by Cesc Gay, the Spanish film-maker and screenwriter. The play is booked for the Palacio de Bellas Artes starting on Thursday, 14 February 2019, St. Valentine’s Day. 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24 February 2019. Tickets RD$1,500 to RD$1,300.
Government ministers against financing primaries
Electoral Regime Bill passes in Congress
Advances for the Los Alcarrizos skylift
Dominicans with US or EU visas can apply online to travel to Argentina
Dajabon market day suspended
Population increases 23.35% in almost 20 years
The most repeated question at the Odebrecht trial: Why is he out of the case, and not me
Two divers go missing in Laguna Dudu
Court sentences priest to 30 years for murder of 16-year old
Drug Control Agency seizes cocaine in Bayahibe
Police says Venezuelans are behind robbery of expensive jewelry in public places
Senator calls for protection for police patrol
Cardi B gets Grammy
Eddy Herrera romantic songs concert
The Caveman at Escenario 360
The Upstairs Neighbors at Palacio de Bellas Artes
President Medina promises Tamboril tobacco producers low cost loan
President Danilo Medina promised Tamboril, Santiago tobacco producers and tobacco makers RD$45 million in funding at the below market interest rate of 5% a year during his visit there on Sunday, 10 February 2019, the Presidency announced. The farmers are members of the recently-created Asociación de Productores y Artesanos de Cigarro de Tamboril, a local tobacco and cigar producers association. Medina also promised to donate a product warehouse and a truck to transport the goods to the factories and for export.
The producers say this will enable them to increase their production to 4,800,000 cigars a year, for a net yield of RD$150 million, creating 800 direct jobs and 1,600 indirect jobs primarily in the communities of Canca la Piedra, La Piedra, Don Pedro, Beajó, Pontezuela, Guazumal, Costa Honda, Los Polanco, Barrio de Loco, Felipe Durán and Nigua.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...ra-pequenos-y-medianos-productores-de-cigarro
Government ministers against financing primaries
Minister of Hacienda, Administrative Minister of the Presidency and Minister of Economy rejected the decision by the Central Electoral Board (JCE) by which the Dominican government would need to pick up most of the cost for the organization of the primaries for the political parties to choose their candidates for the 2020 general election. The JCE has committed to cover around RD$1.25 billion of the estimated RD$1.5 billion cost of the simultaneous primaries that are set for 6 October 2019.
During a meeting held on Monday, 11 February 2019 at the JCE, five political parties (PLD, PRM, PRD, Al Pais, Opción Democrática) again agreed that the JCE lobby for the around RD$1.25 billion needed from the central government.
https://elnacional.com.do/dice-partidos-deben-pagar-costo-primarias/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...s-hay-que-modificar-el-presupuesto-IH12049203
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ran-con-gobierno-por-presupuesto-de-primarias
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...n-rd-1-249-millones-para-primarias-IE12071786
Electoral Regime Bill passes in Congress
The Chamber of Deputies fast-tracked on Monday, 11 February 2019 the Electoral Regime Bill that had just been passed on Saturday, 9 February 2019 by the Senate in another single day of two vote calls. The bill was passed just as it was received from the Senate in the two readings. The PLD party is majority in both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
The amendments that had been suggested by deputies were rejected, including one that would eliminate coat tailing that at present benefits senate candidates. The bill calls for the restriction of the use of government funds for the political campaigns of government officers and establishes that these leave their posts when their candidacy is cleared by the Central Electoral Board (JCE).
The bill establishes that politicians are impeded from moving from one to another political party after they have been officially nominated to a position. It also establishes that the political parties are responsible for removing political propaganda in coordination with the JCE. The JCE is authorized to regulate polling companies that will not be able to publish poll results eight days before the election. It also regulates electoral propaganda.
The bill now moves to the Presidency for signing and enactment into law.
http://www.senado.gob.do/senado/Ini...to-de-Ley-Organica-del-Regimen-Electoral.aspx
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...prueban-proyecto-de-ley-del-regimen-electoral
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...lecturas-pese-a-reclamos-por-prisa-FE12072700
Advances for the Los Alcarrizos skylift
President Danilo Medina expropriated land along the 14.3km route the to-be-built Los Alcarrizos skylift would cover into Santo Domingo. The executive order is Decree 51-19. It would cover the land under and at both sides of the second skylift line to be built in Greater Santo Domingo. The fast transit system would link the municipalities of Los Alcarrizos in Santo Domingo West with the National District.
The skylift would have six stations and cover an actual route of 11 km. The planned stations are: Puente Blanco; Terminal Interurbana del Cibao (Los Alcarrizos); Avenida Monumental; Manoguayabo and Prolongacion 27 de Febrero; Duarte Highway Km 9 (at the Maria Montez metro station); and Herrera.
President Danilo Medina announced the start of the skylift in June 2018. It is planned to serve more than 400,000 inhabitants and feed into the Santo Domingo metro system.
Dominicans with US or EU visas can apply online to travel to Argentina
Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas announced that the government of Argentina is now allowing Dominicans that have received a United States B1/B2 or a European Union Schengen C visa to travel to Argentina without having to request a visa to do so. This applies only to those traveling for tourism to Argentina. The visa less travel is for stays of up to 90 days in Argentina.
Dominicans can now use the Sistema de Autorización de Viaje Electrónico (AVE) and apply online for the travel authorization. The online application needs to be made 20 days in advance of the planned travel date.
See https:// www.migraciones.gov.ar/ave/index.htm
Dajabon market day suspended, border security stepped up
Turmoil in Ouanaminthe, Haiti on the border with Dajabón led the authorities to suspend the Monday market day on 11 February 2019. The Dominican government announced the staff of the Dominican consulate in Ouanaminthe was evacuated given the increased violent unreset. At the same time, border security was enhanced, according to the Dominican Army.
Market days are held Mondays and Fridays in Dajabón, when Haitians are admitted through the main border gate without documentation so these can trade their goods and later return to Haiti. As reported, the market opened as usual at 6am but was closed reportedly for low attendance of buyers and vendors from Haiti. Dominican vendors complained of millionaire losses when the buyers did not attend.
Unrest in Haiti is at a new high due to violent protests against the President Jovenel Moise government. These request his resignation and a clarification of where the Petrocaribe funds received from Venezuela were used by the Haitian government.
President Moise was scheduled to leave for Italy to participate in the 42nd International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Governors Council on 14-15 February 2019. Also scheduled to participate was Prime Minister of Italy Giuseppe Conte. The press has reported that Moise would not be traveling to Rome due to the unrest in Haiti.
Meanwhile, Air Century announced the temporary suspension of its daily flights to Haiti from the La Isabela International Airport.
http://hoy.com.do/capital-haitiana-...as-contra-jovenel-moise-por-crisis-economica/
https://elnacional.com.do/suspenden-mercado-binacional-dajabon/
https://elnacional.com.do/compania-...-republica-dominicana-y-haiti-por-disturbios/
https://listindiario.com/las-mundia...edio-de-las-protestas-por-la-crisis-economica
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...icano-en-juana-mendez-y-refuerzan-la-frontera
https://listindiario.com/las-mundia...celaria-viaje-a-roma-por-protestas-en-su-pais
Population increases 23.35% in almost 20 years
Dominican population increased 1,960,518 persons from 8,397,802 inhabitants to 10,358,320 at the end of 2018, reported the National Statistics Office (ONE). That is a 23.35% increase from 2000 to 2018, or an annual population increase of around 1.17%. The increase is almost equal for men (5,174,343 – 49.95%) and women (5,183,977 – 50.05%). There are slightly more women now than in the past. The ratio in the past was 50.2% men and 49.8% women.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...acion-crecio-casi-dos-millones-en-veinte-anos
The most repeated question at the Odebrecht trial: Why is he out of the case, and I’m included?
A feature in Hoy captures the most asked question by the seven that made it to the final hearing from a short list of 14 accused by the Attorney General Office’s of taking bribes for US$92 million that executives of the Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht admitted to paying for securing contract work in the Dominican Republic.
Presiding Judge Francisco Ortega Polanco is hearing this week the defense statements by the seven accused after presenting the accusations in court during the past two weeks. None of the accused is in jail.
In the hearing on Monday, 11 February, Carlos Salcedo, the defense of former president of the Senate Andrés Bautista García, a higher up member of the PRM opposition party, criticized that the prosecutors removed the president of the Senate Reinaldo Pared Perez (PLD-National District) from the case when the latter has more ties to the Odebrecht contracts than his client.
Salcedo explained on Monday that of the 16 contracts approved from 2010 to 2016 by the Senate that benefited Odebrecht, 13 were approved with Reinaldo Pared Pérez acting as president of the Senate. He said that Pared Pérez presided over the Senate that approved more than US$3 billion in contract work, while Bautista presided over the approval of about US$266 million.
Salcedo also argued that it is not true that Bautista influenced the approval of Pinalito dam’s financing on 6 January 2007, nor Palomino and the aqueduct of Samaná on 29 May 2007, because on those dates he was not president of the Senate or member of the Finance Committee or attended those sessions, and that the president of the Senate at the time was Reinaldo Pared Pérez.
Pared Pérez was president of the Senate twice, between 2006 and 2014, and since 2016. A high-ranking member of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party, he was named general-secretary in 2001 and continues in the position. Pared Pérez is also a pre-candidate for the PLD presidential candidacy in the 2020 general election.
State prosecutors argued that since Pared Pérez was not being tried, the arguments should not be allowed. The opinion was overturned by Judge Ortega.
http://hoy.com.do/y-por-que-sacaron...regunta-mas-reiterada-en-audiencia-odebrecht/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/02...red-perez-aprobo-13-de-16-obras-de-odebrecht/
https://elnacional.com.do/bautista-ve-estrafalaria-acusacion-en-su-contra/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-contratos-aprobados-por-reinaldo-pared-perez
Two divers go missing in Laguna Dudu
Two Italian divers, 57-year old Carlos Barbieri and 44-year old Carlos Basso, are missing after going for a cave dive on Saturday, 9 February 2019 in El Dudú in Cabrera, in northeastern María Trinidad Sánchez province. The Dominican Republic Speleological Society (DRSS) said that two of their experts, Phillip Lehman and Ángel Compres have joined the rescue team and are working in collaboration with Cabrera authorities and the owners of the Laguna El Dudú recreational area. The search, nevertheless, was suspended on Monday, 11 February 2019 due to reduced visibility in the lagoon waters.
Gerge Martínez, manager of El Dudú, explained that it appears that the Italians ignored the sign posted at the entrance to the cave that warns about the hazards of diving in the cave without adequate international cave diving certification. The society says that diving in a cave requires different training than what is needed to dive in the sea or open water. Likewise, different equipment is required for cave diving. Martínez said that the wife of one of the missing divers said they have dived at the site on many occasions in the past.
El Dudú has a maximum depth of 25 meters and has 800 meters extension.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...uzos-italianos-desaparecidos-en-cueva-el-dudu
https://eldia.com.do/aguas-turbias-afectan-la-busqueda-de-buzos/
Court sentences priest to 30 years for murder of 16-year old
The Second Collegiate Tribunal of the Santo Domingo East sentenced priest Elvin Taveras Duran to 30 years in jail for the murder of 16-year old altar boy Fernelis Carrion in 2017. Taveras will serve the sentence at the Najayo jail in San Cristobal. The court determined that the priest killed Carrion of a hammer blow and several knife injuries because he was being blackmailed for publishing sexual relations with the child during a three-year period.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...-a-sacerdote-que-mato-exmonaguillo-FG12053503
Drug Control Agency seizes cocaine in Bayahibe
The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) reported the seizing of 689 cocaine packages in Bayahibe in eastern La Altagracia province. Under arrest are two Colombians and a Dominican. The raid was carried out at dawn by DNCD units with the backing of the Dominican Armada and the coordination of Public Ministry prosecutors. The shipment of the drugs was received by sea, said DNCD spokesman Carlos Devers.
http://dncd.gob.do/index.php/notici...etes-presumiblemente-cocaina-en-la-altagracia
Police says Venezuelans are behind robbery of expensive jewelry in public places
The National Police suspect Venezuelans are behind the assault and robbery of a Richard Miller watch of a customer at the La Dolcerie in Piantini neighborhood of Santo Domingo on Saturday, 9 February 2019. Police director, General Ney Aldrin Bautista said that investigations so far lead to a Venezuelan gang. Surveillance camera footage is being analyzed, he said.
The Police said the person wearing the watch was a Russian-American DJ who has been living the in the Dominican Republic for the past four months. The watch sells for around US$2 million.
Last week the Police had arrested members of a Venezuelan gang that robbed customers in malls. The Police shared a video that showed how the criminals would choose their victims and set up the robbery. The victims wore expensive jewelry and watches.
http://hoy.com.do/policia-analiza-v...8-millones-asaltante-tenia-acento-venezolano/
http://hoy.com.do/identifican-a-qui...eloj-de-13-millones-el-sabado-en-la-dolcerie/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...ue-asaltaban-en-plazas-comerciales-GF12064020
Senator calls for protection for police patrol
Senator for Peravia province, Wilton Guerrero went public to ask the director of the Police, Major General Ney Aldrin Bautista to guarantee the lives of members of a Police patrol that seized a lot of cocaine in San Cristobal on 6 December 2019. The patrol members now fear for their lives. The shipment that was seized, according to Guerrero, was of 2,000 kilos. This was not reported by the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD). Guerrero said that not all the cocaine of the operation is in control of the authorities.
"The police patrol headed by Second Lieutenant Isabel has stated that they fear for their lives. We ask the director of the Police to preserve the life of these agents. This is a bigger stash than the one seized from Quirino that was about a thousand kilos, this stash is about 2 thousand kilos of cocaine," said the legislator speaking at the Senate session last Saturday.
Guerrero explained that the officer he only identified as Isabel asks to be assured of her physical integrity, after the disappearance of the cocaine was known. Guerrero also pointed out that it is necessary to protect the agents of the police patrol that transported a part of the drugs to another van for transport to a place yet unknown.
Reports are that the agents seized from a Daihatsu truck that consisted of 14 bags containing 337 packages of a white powder, presumably cocaine. Also seized were two black rifles, three loaders, 68 bullets, and a set of rocking chairs. But it was later known that the shipment was of more than 50 bags and part of the goods were stolen. On 7 February, Interior and Police Minister Jose Ramón Fadul had reported the suspending of six police involved in the stealing of an undetermined amount of narcotics.
https://elnacional.com.do/amenazan-patrulla-incauto-cocaina-en-san-cristobal/
Cardi B gets Grammy
26-year old rapper Cardi B (Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar) won her first Grammy Award on Sunday, 10 February 2019 and became the first solo woman to win a Grammy for a rap album. She won the best rap album award for “Invasion of Privacy” during the 61st Grammy Awards. “It was very long nights,” she said about making her album while pregnant with her daughter, Kulture Kiari.
Receiving the award, she thanked artists that had collaborated with her including J Balvin, Kehlani, Bad Bunny and the Migos. Cardi B in 2017 had earned her first two Grammy nominations at the 60th Grammy Awards.
Cardi B was born and raised in The Bronx, New York and her biography says she spent a lot of time with her Dominican grandmother in neighboring Washington Heights. She is the daughter of a Trinidadian mother and Dominican father. She became an Internet celebrity after several of her posts and videos went viral on Vine and Instagram.
https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/cardi-b-wins-best-rap-album-invasion-privacy-2019-grammys
https://listindiario.com/entretenim...imera-mujer-en-llevarse-el-mejor-album-de-rap
Eddy Herrera romantic songs concert
Eddy Herrera sings his romantic merengues and boleros on 13 February 2019 at Chao Café Teatro at Agora Mall, third level. Tickets are RD$1,200 at the door. Online with discount at Uepa Tickets, CCN, Supermercados Nacional and Jumbo megastores.
The Caveman at Escenario 360
Carlos Sanchez plays the caveman, in the Dominican version of the “Defending the Caveman” (El Cavernicola), the Broadway comedy on the misunderstanding between men and women, winner of the Olivier award. The Dominican version of the play by Rob Becker is directed by Manuel Chapuseaux. It will be showing at the Escenario 360, the show room of the Galeria 360 shopping mall on Av. John F. Kennedy, starting Thursday, 14 February 2019.
The Upstairs Neighbors at Palacio de Bellas Artes
Luis Jose German, Pamela Sued, Nashla Bogaert, Jose Guillermo Cortines star in The Upstairs Neighbors (“Los Vecinos de Arriba”), a play on being a couple and sexuality. This is the award-winning first play by Cesc Gay, the Spanish film-maker and screenwriter. The play is booked for the Palacio de Bellas Artes starting on Thursday, 14 February 2019, St. Valentine’s Day. 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24 February 2019. Tickets RD$1,500 to RD$1,300.