DR1 Daily News - Wednesday, 13 February 2019

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Vice President presents plan to reduce teenage pregnancies
Inflation is negative in January 2019
Chamber of Deputies donates RD$100,000 to dancer cause
Chamber of Deputies passes contraband bill
Army reinforces border with Haiti
JCE formally asks government for funds for primaries
President of Chamber of Deputies say JCE is like women, always asking for more
Drought catching up with Santo Domingo water supply
PLD sets bosses meeting for 4 March 2019
Bien Común accuses education minister of campaigning for himself
Andres Bautista defense accuses prosecutor of filing a weak case
Body of one of two missing Italian divers located in El Dudú cave
Former cop sent to justice for punching a woman to her death
Judge who helped Quirinito said to have had his US visa cancelled
Five arrested in 707 kilos of cocaine operation
Four arrested in brutal murder of 9-year old
US Coast Guard repatriates 20 of 24 Dominican migrants caught at sea
Mirabal Sisters Way commemorates Dominican visionary activists
Singing Latin classics for St. Valentine’s Day



Vice President presents plan to reduce teenage pregnancies
Vice President Margarita Cedeño presented the National Plan for Reduction of Teenage Pregnancies 2019-2023 (PREA-RD). The plan seeks to reduce teenage pregnancies by expanding opportunities available to young people. The effort is a coordination of the Vice President Office, the Social Policies Coordination Cabinet (GCPS) of the Presidency, Ministry of Public Health (MSP) and the Inter American Development Bank (IDB).

A Vice President Office press release explains that it is a comprehensive multi-sectorial plan that attacks the main causes that trigger teenage pregnancies such as poverty, social exclusion, inequalities and lack of education. The project focuses on prevention, care and response, protection and political advocacy to ensure that adolescents have a life project, receive sex education and contraceptive methods, stay in school despite being pregnant or if they have children provide these with access to quality health services.

The Vice President’s Office says that there are on average 110 teenage pregnancies per 1,000 children in the Dominican Republic from 2010 to 2015, well above the Latin American average. 22% of the 127,279 births average a year in the country are to children 15 to 19 years old that is 34% more than the Latin American average.

Studies indicate that early sex is epidemic in the Dominican Republic with 12% of women 20 to 24 years having been in their first sexual relationship before they were 15 years old, and 36% before they were 18 years of age. This is 29% more than the regional average.

Vice President Margarita Cedeño says the plan is a priority in the understanding that children of teenage parents are more likely to have problems and to eventually become teenage parents themselves, thus perpetuating the cycle of poverty begun by a teenage birth.

The effort is backed by the Inter-institutional Commission for the Reduction of Teenage Pregnancies 2019-2023 that is made up by 27 government institutions, 10 non-governmental organizations, nine agencies of the UNDP and international cooperation, 11 universities, scientific societies and guilds.

The lack of sexual education in schools in the Dominican Republic has been routinely identified as one of the reasons for the high teenage pregnancy rate. For years, the influential Catholic Church and evangelical churches have impeded sexual education from being an integral part of the curriculum.

https://vicepresidencia.gob.do/vice...uscan-reducir-embarazo-adolescente-y-pobreza/
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/presentan-plan-nacional-para-la-reduccion-de-embarazos-en-adolescentes/
http://www.do.undp.org/content/domi...desarrollo-humano-2017---embarazo-adolescent/
https://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/young-motherhood-dominican-republic
https://acento.com.do/2018/opinion/...os-la-educacion-sexual-integral-las-escuelas/
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/sp.ado.tfrt


Inflation is negative in January 2019
The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic reported on 12 February 2019 that the Consumer Price Index in January 2019 registered a -0.17% variation. Increases in food items (0.13%), restaurants and hotels (0.25%), education (0.47%) health (0.31%), recreation and culture (0.43%) items were compensated by declines in transport (-1.45%) and housing (-0.34%) for the negative inflation rate.

The Central Bank says that interannual inflation, measured from January 2018 to January 2019 was 0.71%.

https://www.bancentral.gov.do/a/d/4...l-ipc-de-enero-registro-una-variacion-de-017-


Chamber of Deputies donates RD$100,000 to dancer cause
The president of the Chamber of Deputies Radhamés Camacho donated RD$100,000 to dancer José Luis Gutiérrez, after his stellar performance on Spain’s Got Talent. Gutiérrez, who eight years ago lost his left leg in a traffic accident, is now opting to make it to the finals of the show. The funds will be used to help him pay for his training and trip to Spain to continue in the reality show.

https://elnuevodiario.com.do/cd-don...o-con-su-baile-en-programa-got-talent-espana/


Chamber of Deputies passes contraband bill
The Chamber of Deputies passed the bill for Eradication of Illicit Commerce, Contraband and Forgery of Regulated Products. The bill drafted by senators Charles Mariotti Tapia and Jose Ignacio Paliza passed on Saturday, 10 February 2019 in two readings. It offers new penalization for contraband of pharmaceuticals, fuel, alcoholic drinks, tobacco and by products. The bill now moves to the Presidency for signing and publishing to become law.

https://elnacional.com.do/diputados...ito-contrabando-y-falsificacion-de-productos/


Army reinforces border with Haiti
Concerned there could be an increase in migratory pressures at the border with Haiti, the Army announced it was stepping up border patrols. Army commander Major General Estanislao Gonell Regalado said a special force patrol was sent to the key points of the border in the provinces of Pedernales, Independencia (Jimaní), Elías Piña and Dajabón. "Due to the situation in the neighboring Republic of Haiti, the commander-in-chief of the Army ordered the sending of special units of the military institution to the border line," he said.

The troops were sent following instructions by Defense Minister Major General Rubén Darío Paulino Sem. They will join the different infantry brigades and the Border Task Force.

During four days of protests against the government of Haiti, at least five people have been killed. Hundreds of people in Haiti are demanding the resignation of President Jovenel Moise, in demonstrations where violence has escalated. Protesters have blocked roads, burned vehicles, attacked businesses and the presidential house. As reported, the protests have taken place in Gonaives, Cap Haitien, Los Cayos, Jacmel, as well as in Port-au-Prince, in the areas of Delmas, Pétion-Ville, Carrefour and the center of the city. In Haiti, the mayors of several cities were forced to cancel the carnival festivities to be held in early March, due to violent protests.

On Monday, 11 February 2019, President Jovenel Moise suspended his trip to Italy due to acts of violence. He would have met in Italy with President Danilo Medina who is attending the 42nd International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Governors Council on 14-15 February 2019 in Rome.

https://elnacional.com.do/republica-dominicana-envia-a-la-frontera-fuerzas-especiales/


JCE formally asks government for funds for primaries
While initially the Minister of Hacienda and Minister of Economy said no way to the allotment of RD$1.25 billion to the JCE to cover the primaries of five political parties, now Administrative Minister of the Presidency José Ramón Peralta is more open and says there might be a way. The point is that after a meeting with the five political parties, the president of the JCE has gone ahead to formally make the request to the central government. A good part of the funding would be used to test the automated voting system the JCE wants to implement for the 2020 general election.

The JCE is open to picking up the tab for RD$1.25 billion of RD$1.45 billion to help the political parties organize their primaries to choose their candidates for the 2020 general election. In the past, the cost of the primaries had been covered by the political parties themselves.


President of Chamber of Deputies say JCE is like women, always asking for more
He already has a reputation as a old style macho man, and now the president of the Chamber of Deputies Radhamés Camacho has dropped another line that is rubbing Dominican women the wrong way.

Camacho compared the request of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) for RD$1.25 billion more to fund primaries of five political parties to Dominican women: “No matter what you give them, the money will never be enough.”

He perhaps thought about what he had said, and then added. “And they manage well, because they keep everything, they buy clothes for the children, they go to the beauty parlor and they are always well dressed. They always make us the request and we allot them money, and they meet their needs and always can save a bit,” Camacho would add to his first statement.

https://eldia.com.do/por-mas-que-us...ro-asi-opina-radhames-camacho-de-las-mujeres/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...as-de-casa-porque-nunca-les-alcanza-el-dinero
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...nistrar-el-dinero-como-las-mujeres-GL12080732


Drought catching up with Santo Domingo water supply
The director of the Santo Domingo Aqueduct and Sewage Corporation (CAASD), Alejandro Montás warned on Tuesday, 12 February 2019 that the sources of the Isa Mana, Haina-Manoguayabo and Duey aqueducts are drying out. He said this means that western Santo Domingo will start to see a reduction in piped water. He called for people to ration their use of water.

http://hoy.com.do/director-de-la-caasd-alerta-escasez-agua-en-sd-por-sequia/


PLD sets bosses meeting for 4 March 2019
The secretary of organization of the ruling PLD political party, Reinaldo Pared Perez announced the influential Political Committee of the PLD was convened for a meeting on 4 March 2019 to discuss key issues. Pared Perez is also president of the Senate.

Pared Perez explained the creation of a commission of leaders to recommend the mechanisms to adapt the statutes of the ruling party to the new Political Parties and Electoral Regime laws.

He assured that the maturity and experience of the leadership would prevail in order to keep the unity of the party. The PLD is divided among the followers of incumbent President Danilo Medina and those of former President Leonel Fernandez.

https://almomento.net/comite-politi...ara-tratar-los-temas-pendientes-de-su-agenda/
https://pld.org.do/estructura/comite-politico/miembros-del-comite-politico/


Bien Común accuses education minister of campaigning for himself
The political initiative Bien Común called for the resignation of Education Minister Andrés Navarro for spending millions on a media campaign to back his own aspirations to be the PLD presidential candidate for the 2020 general election. Bien Común, in a press conference, complained the Ministry of Education spends millions on propaganda when public schools show dramatic deficiencies in supplies and services administration.

Bien Común called for an audit of the Ministry of Education under the management of Navarro and his predecessor, Carlos Amarante, who is also carrying a PLD pre-candidate for the presidency.

"In this country we can not speak of an educational revolution when the most basic supplies are lacking in schools, the food supply constantly fails and numerous facilities show a clear deterioration. This country took to the streets to demand 4% for dignified and quality education, not to finance campaign expenses of Dominican Liberation Party politicians," as explained in the Bien Común press release.

https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/02...-de-andres-navarro-y-auditoria-del-uso-del-4/


Andres Bautista defense accuses prosecutor of filing a weak case
The defense of former senator Andrés Bautista accused Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez of a media campaign to pressure Judge Francisco Ortega Polanco to send his defendant to trial based on a weak case so that he can “wash his hands like Pontius Pilate, saying he did his part.“ He said the prosecutor knows the case will fall through.

The state prosecutors accuse Bautista of being incidental in the approval of the initial financing for the Northwest Aqueduct by overseeing the passing of a loan for US$129 million, and a complementary loan for US$32.67 million on the same day on 20 March 2002. And on 30 August 2005, with Bautista presiding the Senate, of the unanimous approval of financing for the expansion of the aqueduct of the Northwest for US$89.9 million.

https://elnacional.com.do/denuncian-presionan-juez-caso-odebrecht/


Body of one of two missing Italian divers located in El Dudú cave
The team working to rescue two missing Italian divers in Laguna Dudú in Cabrera, in northeastern province María Trinidad Sánchez said they have located a corpse deep inside the cave. The corpse was located in a high-risk area where a large amount of sediment makes visibility very scarce. Two Italians divers, 57-year old Carlos Barbieri and 44-year old Carlos Basso went missing in the cave on Saturday, 9 February 2019. The rescue efforts will continue as soon as the waters clear.

Director general of the Specialized Corps for Touristic Security, General Juan Carlos Torres Robiou explained the team is made up by Phillip Lehman and Angel Comprés of the Dominican Republic Speleological Society (DRSS) and Sergio Yipola, certified diver of the Auxiliares Navales who joined the search.

Environmentalist Luis Carvajal ured the Ministry of Environment to intervene and establish strict security measures to avoid accidents in the future. A sign in El Dudú alerts to the ban on diving without adequate cave diving certification.

https://eldia.com.do/autoridades-hallan-el-cadaver-de-un-buzo-italiano-en-la-laguna-dudu/


Former cop sent to justice for punching a woman to her death
Former National Police sergeant Julio Angel Díaz Guzmán was sentenced to three months pre-trial custody at Najayo Jail by National District judge José Alejandro Vargas on Tuesday, 12 February 2019. He is accused of the murder of 32-year old Paola Gisselle Rojas Santana who died after receiving a fist blow from Díaz Guzmán on Saturday, 9 February. The blow was given by the policeman after he took the woman’s mobile, slammed it into a wall and the woman slapped him on his face. The man would call 911 after delivering the lethal blow. A video that has circulated online shows the moment of the blow.

The husband of Rojas Santana, Manuel Cabrera said that the former police had an obsession with his wife, whom he had met many years ago. He lamented the report from the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif) that said his wife had died of non-violent death.

http://hoy.com.do/someten-a-exsargento-mato-a-mujer-de-un-punetazo/


Judge who helped Quirinito said to have had his US visa cancelled
A creditable source revealed to El Nacional newspaper that the United States government has cancelled the tourist visa to San Cristóbal judge Willy de Jesus Núñez, who was suspended by the Judicial Branch Council for investigations into the escape of drug trafficker Alejandro Castillo Paniagua (Quirinito). The man’s nickname is because he is a nephew of convicted drug trafficker Quirino Ernesto Paulino Castillo.

The judge who has had his visa cancelled had authorized the transfer of Quirinito to the San Francisco de Macorís jail from where he later would get a court order allowing him to remain in domiciliary arrest, and from where he eventually was declared dead and reported missing when his cadaver was never located. Quirinito built a fake case through different levels of the the judiciary until he was declared terminally ill and then disappeared.

El Nacional said the same source did not reveal if San Francisco de Macorís judge Aleida Jiménez Acosta, who authorized the domiciliary arrest, also had her US visa cancelled.

On 5 July 2017 Quirinito would be declared dead by heart attack by forensic physician Orlando Herrera Robles. His medical report said he suffered from mouth cancer. This all turned out to be false, as later investigations would determine.

Quirinito had been sentenced to 30 years for the murder of Spanish citizen Gustavo Adolfo Cervantes (Waikikí) in San Cristóbal in September 2008. In 2013, he obtained a reduction of the sentence to 20 years by judges Orquis Celado González, Maria Cordero Segura and Niurka Laucer Martínez in Peravia province court. Cervantes had been suspect of the death of Army first lieutenant Guillermo Antonio Tejeda Kranwinkel, of the National Drug Control Agency who had been on his trail.

Afterwards, Quirinito would build a case for himself where his supposed terminal mouth cancer would enable him to receive domiciliary arrest, and then be declared dead for heart attack, enabling him to escape from the radar of local security forces that say his whereabouts are unknown.

https://elnacional.com.do/eu-cancela-visado-juez-favorecio-a-quirinito/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...condena-a-quirinito-de-30-a-20-aos-AMDL406116


Five arrested in 707 kilos of cocaine operation
The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) announced it arrested the lead suspects of a gang that attempted to smuggle in 707 kilos of cocaine last weekend that were seized in a operation in Bayahibe, La Altagracia province. Arrested are Eliezer Antonio Nivar Ruiz and Pascual Morales de Jesus, who were arrested in a search at the Residencial Vista Catalina in La Romana. Also under arrest in the case are Colombians Emmanuel Mota, Hilario Castro and Armando Cabeza.

http://dncd.gob.do/index.php/notici...etes-presumiblemente-cocaina-en-la-altagracia


Four arrested in brutal murder of 9-year old
The National Police announced it arrested a man who confessed to the murder of nine-year-old boy in the El Hoyo de María in Isabelita district in eastern Santo Domingo on Monday, 11 February 2019. 28-year old Miguel Ángel Reynoso Jiménez (a) El Negro, when questioned by the investigators, admitted to stabbing, sexually violating and then burning the corpse of nine-year-old Leonardo Montero inside the boy’s humble home. He also admitted to having committed the rape of an eight-year old girl.

The investigators suspect that a brawl the man had had with the mother of the child was the reason for the brutal murder of the child.

Also under arrest for investigations are Cristian Feliz (a) El Pájaro, 18 years old; Chayanne Enmanuel Vargas Cuevas (a) Leito, 23, and Yeicol Amabel Contreras (a) El Pulpo, 24, all residents of the aforementioned sector.

http://www.policianacional.gob.do/n...-nino-de-nueve-anos-en-el-ensanche-isabelita/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...inato-de-nino-confeso-que-lo-violo-CL12083607


US Coast Guard repatriates 20 of 24 Dominican migrants caught at sea
The US Coast Guard repatriated 20 of 24 Dominican migrants interdicted from a makeshift boat on Saturday, 9 February 2019, approximately five nautical miles west of Mona Island, Puerto Rico. They were transported back to the DR on board a Dominican navy vessel on Monday, 11 February 2019, the US Coast Guard reported. Four other men were transported to Puerto Rico for federal prosecution for illegally attempting to reenter the United States.

The US Coast Guard reports that since October 2018, US Coast Guard, US federal and Puerto Rico law enforcement partners have interdicted at least 969 migrants and stopped several narcotics smuggling attempts throughout the Sector San Juan area of responsibility.

As reported by the US Coast Guard, the crew of an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Miami, while on a routine patrol of the Mona Passage, detected a 22-foot makeshift wooden boat late Friday night with an undetermined number of passengers aboard transiting towards Puerto Rico. The migrants were continuously bailing out water to prevent their vessel from sinking. On board were 20 men and four women.

https://coastguardnews.com/coast-gu...rants-off-mona-island-puerto-rico/2019/02/11/


Mirabal Sisters Way commemorates Dominican visionary activists
A Washington Heights street intersection in Manhattan now Mirabal Sisters Way commemorates the Mirabal sisters (Las Mariposas). The corner of Amsterdam Avenue and West 168th Street is now named after Dominican sisters Minerva, María Teresa and Patria Mirabal, the three activists who were assassinated in 1960 during Dictator Trujillo’s regime. Their death detonated widespread indignation that brought about the end to the cruel regime.

The street was named for the sisters to stand as inspirational and visionary activists for social and political justice and role models to generations of women since their untimely death, as Ydanis Rodríguez, a New York City Council Member wrote in the co-naming ceremony’s invitation.

The three sisters were murdered by Trujillo henchmen on 25 November 1960. The day today is a UN named holiday, marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

http://gothamist.com/2019/02/11/mirabal_sisters_heights_street.php


Singing Latin classics for St. Valentine’s Day
The Barceló Santo Domingo’s Salón La Mancha is staging the presentation of singers Jacqueline Estevez and Vickiana and the Orquesta de los Clásicos with Henry García, Fenix Ortiz and Raphy Matías on Saturday, 16 February 2019. Tickets for the show are for sale online at Uepa Tickets and Ticket Express or at the ticket offices of CCN, Supermercados Nacional, and Jumbo stores.

See more Valentine’s Day events at https://www.dr1.com/calendar