Next DR1 Daily News update: Monday, 25 February 2019
Transparency International recommends not buying voting machines
Young voters could decide the 2020 general election
Corruption discourages foreign investors
Drones to be used to supervise public construction projects
Now three market days in Dajabón on the border with Haiti
CAASD sues Hormigones America
Guaido appoints Eusebio Carlino Linares ambassador to the DR
Venezuelans get sent to La Victoria for stealing designer watches
Manny Machado - US$300 million baseball contract
DR plays Venezuela to make FIBA World Cup
Kitesurfer Deury Corniel voted Best Athlete of the Year
Juan Luis Guerra to sing for Venezuela
Carnival coming to Santo Domingo
Next DR1 Daily News update: Monday, 25 February 2019
The next DR1 Daily News update will be published on Monday, 24 February 2019. The Monday issue will compile headline news for the previous Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Breaking news can be followed 24/7 in the Forums. the DR1 Forum at http://www.dr1.com
Transparency International recommends not buying voting machines
Delia Ferreira Rubio, chairman of Transparency International, criticized the Central Electoral Board’s (JCE) proposal to install automated voting equipment during her visit to Santo Domingo, 19 to 21 February 2019. She reiterated the comments in an interview with the Corripio media group.
During the 2016 election, a previous JCE board installed electronic vote counting equipment that cost the nation around US$45 million, but failed to serve its purpose on election day. The new JCE board has warehoused the equipment and discarded the use of the devices for the 2020 election.
Now, the new JCE board under president Julio Castaños Guzmán is proposing to install a more comprehensive electronic voting system. The system would be put to test for the 6 October 2019 primaries that five political parties have signed up for, including the ruling PLD party. The JCE has already announced it would open an international bidding process to choose the supplier of the estimated 5,000 automated voting devices.
But Ferreira Rubio alerts that automated voting have proven to be not trustworthy and this is why the system is only used in four countries – Venezuela, Congo, India and Brazil. When electronic voting was recently used in Venezuela, she said the vendors acknowledged fraudulent tallying was over one million votes.
Making matters worse, Ferreira said that the model proposed by the JCE connects the ID of the voter with the system device. She says all digital systems are hackable and this would put at risk the voter’s right to cast a secret ballot, a core value in democracy.
“There is no treaty that says that elections have to be fast and modern, what they say is that the vote needs to be secret to guarantee the free right of choice of the voter,” she explained.
Ferreira also downplayed the argument that electronic voting is better for the environment. She said that the batteries that the devices use are just as damaging as the cost in trees for the printing of the ballots.
Ferreira is a lawyer, author and professor of law at the Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires. During her visit, Ferreira attended various exchange activities, dialogues, talks with civil society organizations, women's organizations, businessmen, academics, political parties, the media, government representatives, public prosecutors and international organizations.
She also held meetings with members of the Citizen Participation, their local partner, to exchange views on future programs and processes in the Dominican Republic in the fight against corruption and impunity. She gave a presentation on 20 February 2019 about Citizen Action for Inclusive Public Administration that Guarantees Human Rights” hosted by Participación Ciudadana together with Oxfam RD, Ciudad Alternativa and Fundación Solidaridad.
On Thursday, 21 February at 5pm she is scheduled to speak at the UASD Law School on "Corruption and Impunity in the Region: Role of Civil Society.”
https://eldia.com.do/transparencia-internacional-afirma-el-voto-electrico-es-mas-vulnerable/
Young voters could decide the 2020 general election
Politicians are expected to focus much of their campaigning for the 2020 general election on young people, women and those living in Greater Santo Domingo. The Central Electoral Board (JCE) data shows that 28.7% of eligible voters are 18 to 30 years old. The JCE says that 16.8% of voters are 18 to 25 years, 11.9% are 26 to 30 years.
Some 7,414,000 voters will be eligible for the 2020 general elections. Of these 51.1% are women and 48.9% men. There are 841,000 more eligible voters than for the 2016 elections. This includes 100,434 first time voters that will just be turning 18.
The congressional and municipal elections are scheduled for 16 February 2020, while the presidential election is set for 17 May 2020.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ra-2020-seran-jovenes-mujeres-y-de-la-capital
Corruption discourages foreign investors
Delia Ferreira, chair of Transparency International, called for Dominicans to become more involved to reduce government corruption. “More information, more integrity, less impunity and less indifference; those are the four pillars with which our countries would overcome the stigma of corruption they bear,” she told El Dia journalists during an interview. Ferreira visited Santo Domingo for exchanges with their local partner, Citizen Participation, and for talks and other activities from 19 to 21 February 2019.
During the interview at El Día, she explained that corruption is everywhere, and the difference is in how the institutions and people in different countries react to it. "The day that citizens realize that the money that has gone to corrupt hands is what is missing in schools, they will ask more of the political parties and these will have to present other candidates," she said.
When asked about the Dominican judiciary handling of the US$92 million Odebrecht bribes scandal, she criticized that the financing of electoral campaigns and public works by the Brazilian construction company were not included in the file by the Attorney General. “This means a thorough investigation of the case has not been undertaken,” she stated. She described corruption in the Dominican Republic as “structural and systemic”. She remarked there is complicity to evade corrections.
She observed that independence is needed in the judicial system, better legal tools and resources. She also criticized the concentration of power in the present Dominican government.
Ferreira said that the Corruption Perceptions Index published by Transparency International is a tool used by investors when considering a country. For Dominicans administrative corruption is the biggest obstacle to doing business, followed by high taxes.
The 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published on 29 January 2019, by Transparency International shows the Dominican Republic improved one point, moving from 29 to 30 in the ranking. The DR is in 129th position and is listed 23rd of 31 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. This places the country in the bottom third of the most corrupt, well below the average score that is only 43. In the Americas, the DR only ranked higher than Bolivia, Honduras, Paraguay, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela.
https://eldia.com.do/transparencia-internacional-afirma-el-voto-electrico-es-mas-vulnerable/
Drones to be used to supervise public construction projects
The Santo Domingo Cyber Park and the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) have signed an agreement whereby drones will be used to supervise public works construction. Miguel Coronado for the IDB and Eddy Martinez for the Parque Cibernético de Santo Domingo signed the agreement on 19 February 2019. The agreement seeks to develop technical capacities in small and medium-sized enterprises, and encourage entrepreneurs to take advantage of robotics and communication technologies in infrastructure projects. The drone program will train staff in data capture, data processing and the use of specialized software to process the data captured by the little aircraft.
Eddy Martínez, of the Santo Domingo Cyber Park, said the IDB project would be run simultaneously in the Dominican Republic, Panama and Bolivia, lasting for 36 months at a cost of US$1,709,250, with a US$1,180,900 technical assistance grant provided by the IDB Lab. The remaining US$528,350 will be raised by a public-private partnership.
Martínez says the program seeks to promote the use of technology to increase business productivity, stimulate innovation within companies and at the same time, generate technological capabilities that allow access to new jobs with a greater added value.
On his behalf, Miguel Coronado, representative of the IDB Group revealed that the project is the first to be developed in Latin America. It seeks to change substantially the way in which the supervision of works in the region is carried out, with four primary objectives: the reduction of costs related to supervision, optimizing the analysis and calculation of civil works, minimizing errors during execution and improving the workforce with a higher level of technical ability.
https://acento.com.do/2019/economia...-firman-convenio-la-optimizacion-tecnologica/
Now three market days in Dajabón on the border with Haiti
Dajabón municipal authorities and area military agreed to add an additional day of operation to the Dajabón market to assuage the serious supply problems now affecting Haiti. The market had been held on Mondays and Fridays. On market days, the border gates in Dajabón are opened for Haitians to enter the Dominican Republic without presenting documentation. The Haitians then are expected to return with their purchases to resell in Haiti.
Dajabón mayor Miguel Andrés Jiménez and the military head of Cesfront in Dajabón, Colonel Rafael N. Gutiérrez agreed to the additional market day. Also present at the announcement were businessmen Abigaíl Bueno and Juan Liberato Mercado.
Listín Diario reports that this change arises from a suggestion made by President Danilo Medina to help mitigate the difficult circumstances faced by many Haitians.
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2019/02/20/554304/amplian-el-mercado-binacional-de-dajabon
CAASD sues Hormigones America
The Santo Domingo Aqueduct and Sewage Corporation (CAASD) announced it is filing a lawsuit against Hormigones America SRL and its partners for causing a major breakdown of the 67-inch Valdesia – Santo Domingo pipeline that left 80 neighborhoods in the National District without potable water service. The CAASD has included Gabino Aroldo Ramos Guzmán, Victor Ramón Ramos Guzmán, Isaías Ramos Guzmán and Isaías Odalis Ramos Ferreira in the lawsuit.
The CAASD accuses the company of violating the General Law of Environment 64-00 that prohibits the extraction of sand, gravel, gravel and stones contrary to regulation 1315.
When CAASD identified the source of the breakdown, the company did not allow repair crews access to the property. The CAASD was forced to waste time securing a court order to enter and carry out the necessary repairs.
Alejandro Montás, director of the CAASD, criticized the extensive operation of the gravel extractors in the Manoguayabo area, near the rivers, because of the negative effects on the environment.
The Ministry of Environment has since ordered the shutdown of the Hormigones America operations after determining that they were operating without the required government environmental authorization, following a request received from the CAASD.
https://elnacional.com.do/caasd-se-querella-contra-grancera-hormigones-america-por-causar-averia/
Guaido appoints Eusebio Carlino Linares ambassador to the DR
The head of the Venezuelan parliament, Juan Guaido announced appointments of 15 diplomatic representatives on Tuesday, 19 February 2019. Among these is Eusebio Carlino Linares as ambassador in the DR.
Diario Libre reports that Eusebio Carlino Linares had been living in the Dominican Republic for several years and is the advisor of the Banco de Ahorros y Crédito Empire.
Juan Guaido, the president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, declared himself interim president on 23 January 2019 and called on President Nicolas Maduro to order new elections, stating that last year’s national elections in Venezuela were fraudulent. Most countries in the Americas, including the Dominican Republic, have recognized Guaido as President. The country’s military remains loyal to Maduro, however.
https://listindiario.com/las-mundia...arlino-como-embajador-en-republica-dominicana
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...-varios-anos-residiendo-en-el-pais-DG12141651
Venezuelans get sent to La Victoria for stealing designer watches
Judge José Alejandro Vargas ordered Venezuelans Víctor Manuel Torres Espinoza, Ignacio Gutiérrez Díaz and Gliderman Domingo Cienfuego Castro to three-month pre-trial custody. They are accused of stealing expensive watches and jewelry. Two have been arrested on several previous occasions for the same crimes. The group was sent to the Penitenciaría Nacional La Victoria.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...nos-reincidentes-en-casos-de-robos-de-relojes
Manny Machado - US$300 million baseball contract
26-year old Manny Machado, who played for the Dominican Republic in the 2017 World Baseball Cup, now is the baseball player to have been offered the largest contract. Born and raised in Miami, Machado always felt close to his Dominican heritage. He credits his Dominican grandfather for his love of the game.
Manny Machado joined the MLB in 2010 when he was 18 and made his debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2012 until joining the Los Angeles Angels in 2018.
The White Sox had coveted him and signed his brother-in-law Yonder Alonso and his close friend Jon Jay. The White Sox reportedly had offered US$250 million for eight years. But the team with the best offer would be the San Diego Padres, setting a new record high for MLB’s free agency salary structure at US$300 million for a 10-year contract. The highest salary ever paid for a free agent in any American sport. The signing is dependent on a satisfactory medical examination.
Last season, Machado hit .297 with 37 home runs and 107 RBIs for the Orioles and Dodgers. The four-time All-Star shortstop and two-time winner of the golden glove award for third base was traded from Baltimore to Los Angeles just ahead of the July trade deadline. Machado spent the first six and a half seasons of his major league career with the Orioles, who selected him in the first round of the 2010 amateur draft.
In the Dominican Republic in 2011, Machado was signed by the Toros del Este but has never played in the Dominican Professional Winter League.
https://www.mlb.com/news/manny-machado-me-in-real-life/c-236802958
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/manny-machado-contract-padres-mlb-2019/
https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/01/19/m...million-deal-biggest-free-agent-contract-ever
DR plays Venezuela to make FIBA World Cup
Thursday, 21 February 2019 is the last chance for the Dominican Republic men’s basketball team to qualify for the FIBA World Basketball Cup. The game is scheduled for 8:30pm at the Palacio de los Deportes in the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center in Santo Domingo.
Coach Melvyn Lopez is counting on the local fans to energize the players to accomplish the feat of defeating the better-ranked Venezuelan team. Venezuela has already qualified for the FIBA tournament.
Dominican Republic team members are: Víctor Liz, Sadiel Rojas, Ronald Roerts Jr., Ronald Ramón, Rigoberto Mendoza, Juan Miguel Suero, Juan José García, Juan Guerrero, Juan Coronado, Jhonatan Araujo, Gelvis Solano, Eloy Vargas. Francisco García is the general manager of the team.
Playing for Venezuela are: Gregory Vargas, Gregory Echenique, Jhoman Zamora, Pedro Chourio, José Vargas, Luis Bethelmy, César García, Hindi Graterol, Elder Gimenez, Heissler Guillent, Dwight Lewis and Néstor Comenares.
The DR later plays the even more superior Team Brazil on 25 February at 8:30pm at the same venue.
Tickets to the game cost RD$450, RD$350 and RD$200.
Kitesurfer Deury Corniel voted Best Athlete of the Year
Cabarete, Puerto Plata kitesurfer, Deury Corniel won trophy and the RD$1 million cash prize for Best Athlete of the Year. The Dominican Olympic Committee, presided by Luisín Mejía, recognized the relevance of his winning gold in the Youth Olympics held in October 2018 in Argentina. Corniel competed in the Sailing Men’s Kiteboarding IKA Twin Tip of the Youth Olympics in Argentina. He attributed his win to “training a lot.” Corniel lives and trains in Cabarete Beach, Puerto Plata.
The awards ceremony this year took place at the Jaragua Renaissance Hotel.
Others winning Best Athlete of the Year were:
Archery: Anny Stefany Jerez
Athletics: Luguelín Santos
Badminton: César Brito
Baseball: Manuel Beltré Rivas
Basketball: Víctor Liz
Bowling: Rolando Antonio Sebelén
Boxing: Rodrigo Marte
Canoeing: Cristian Guerrero
Chess: Jennifer Almánzar
Cycling: Augusto Sánchez Beriguete
Equestrian: Yvonne Losos de Muñiz
Fencing: Rossy Félix
Field tennis: Roberto Cid
Football: Edipo Rodríguez
Golf: Yael Eun Kim
Gymnastics: Audrys Nin Reyes
Handball: Jorge Manzanillo
Hockey: Albania Marte
Judo: Medickson del Orbe
Karate: María Dimitrova
Modern Pentathlon: Brayan Almonte
Racquetball: Merynaely Delgado
Sailing: Deury Corniel
Shooting: Josué Hernández
Skating: Micaela Marcelilom Arias
Skeet: Julio Elizardo Dujarric
Softball: Geancarlos González Díaz
Swimming: Krystal Denise Lara
Taekwondo: Bernardo Pie
Table tennis: Emil Jesús Santos
Triathlon: Camila Romero
Volleyball: Priscilla Rivera
Weightlifting: Crismey Santana
Wrestling: Juan Ramírez
Wushu: Fernando Torres
ParaOlympics: Carlos Manuel Reynoso
Sports Medicine: Víctor Figueroa
The Dominican Olympic Committee also delivered special merit medals to athletes with outstanding performances in international and national competitions. These were delivered by Dominican Olympic medal-winners Félix Sánchez, Félix Manuel Díaz, Gabriel Mercedes, Luisito Pie among others. Those honored were tennis player Víctor Estrella, equestrian athlete Yvonne Losos de Muñiz; swimmer Denzel González; cyclist Ruth Santana; kitesurfer Deury Corniel and judo athlete Antonio Tornal.
https://eldia.com.do/deury-corniel-javier-de-vela-es-el-ganador-del-premio-atleta-del-ano/
https://colimdo.org/noticias/deury-corniel-gana-distincion-atleta-del-ano-gala-olimpica/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RKTr3xlyV8
Juan Luis Guerra to sing for Venezuela
Dominican contemporary singer, Juan Luis Guerra announces his participation in the Venezuela Aid Live Concert. He will join performers Alesso, Alejandro Sanz, Carlos Baute, Camilo Echeverry, Cholo Valderrama, Gusi, Lele Pons, Luis Fonsi, Maluma, Maná, Mau y Ricky, Nacho, Paulina Rubio, Reynaldo Armas, Reynaldo Amaroso and Santiago Cruz.
The concert is organized by Richard Branson and will be held on the border between Venezuela and Colombia at Cúcuta in the Simón Bolívar Bridge zone known as Tienditas where humanitarian aid is being received.
https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2019/02/...rto-para-recaudar-ayuda-para-los-venezolanos/
Carnival coming to Santo Domingo
The Santo Domingo Carnival Parade is scheduled for Sunday, 3 March 2019 on the sea-bordering Malecón at around 4pm. The Ministry of Culture is the organizer of the carnival parade that will start from the Av. Abraham Lincoln end of the Malecón and continue past Av. Maximo Gómez to its eastern extension near the Colonial City.
Carnival groups from the 32 provinces and the National District will be parading. Large crowds watch the parade from both sides of the sea-bordering boulevard.
For this year’s carnival, the Ministry of Culture hired Brazil carnival experts to add to the colorfulness and organization of the Santo Domingo carnival.
This year’s Desfile Nacional del Carnaval Santo Domingo 2019 is dedicated to Puerto Plata that will be sending their dancing troupes and carnival characters, too.
Carnival photography exhibitions are held at the Galeria 360 mall on Av. John F. Kennedy and at the outside gallery of the Parque Independencia in the Colonial City will remain open until 4 March 2019.
The Ministry of Culture this year is presenting the National Carnival Fair from 22 to 24 February at the Parque Colón in the Colonial City.
Carnival parades are also taking in Bonao, La Vega and Santiago this Sunday, 24 February 2019. The very popular events are also scheduled for the afternoon. Thousands travel from all over the country to watch the colorful carnival characters parade through city streets.
Transparency International recommends not buying voting machines
Young voters could decide the 2020 general election
Corruption discourages foreign investors
Drones to be used to supervise public construction projects
Now three market days in Dajabón on the border with Haiti
CAASD sues Hormigones America
Guaido appoints Eusebio Carlino Linares ambassador to the DR
Venezuelans get sent to La Victoria for stealing designer watches
Manny Machado - US$300 million baseball contract
DR plays Venezuela to make FIBA World Cup
Kitesurfer Deury Corniel voted Best Athlete of the Year
Juan Luis Guerra to sing for Venezuela
Carnival coming to Santo Domingo
Next DR1 Daily News update: Monday, 25 February 2019
The next DR1 Daily News update will be published on Monday, 24 February 2019. The Monday issue will compile headline news for the previous Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Breaking news can be followed 24/7 in the Forums. the DR1 Forum at http://www.dr1.com
Transparency International recommends not buying voting machines
Delia Ferreira Rubio, chairman of Transparency International, criticized the Central Electoral Board’s (JCE) proposal to install automated voting equipment during her visit to Santo Domingo, 19 to 21 February 2019. She reiterated the comments in an interview with the Corripio media group.
During the 2016 election, a previous JCE board installed electronic vote counting equipment that cost the nation around US$45 million, but failed to serve its purpose on election day. The new JCE board has warehoused the equipment and discarded the use of the devices for the 2020 election.
Now, the new JCE board under president Julio Castaños Guzmán is proposing to install a more comprehensive electronic voting system. The system would be put to test for the 6 October 2019 primaries that five political parties have signed up for, including the ruling PLD party. The JCE has already announced it would open an international bidding process to choose the supplier of the estimated 5,000 automated voting devices.
But Ferreira Rubio alerts that automated voting have proven to be not trustworthy and this is why the system is only used in four countries – Venezuela, Congo, India and Brazil. When electronic voting was recently used in Venezuela, she said the vendors acknowledged fraudulent tallying was over one million votes.
Making matters worse, Ferreira said that the model proposed by the JCE connects the ID of the voter with the system device. She says all digital systems are hackable and this would put at risk the voter’s right to cast a secret ballot, a core value in democracy.
“There is no treaty that says that elections have to be fast and modern, what they say is that the vote needs to be secret to guarantee the free right of choice of the voter,” she explained.
Ferreira also downplayed the argument that electronic voting is better for the environment. She said that the batteries that the devices use are just as damaging as the cost in trees for the printing of the ballots.
Ferreira is a lawyer, author and professor of law at the Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires. During her visit, Ferreira attended various exchange activities, dialogues, talks with civil society organizations, women's organizations, businessmen, academics, political parties, the media, government representatives, public prosecutors and international organizations.
She also held meetings with members of the Citizen Participation, their local partner, to exchange views on future programs and processes in the Dominican Republic in the fight against corruption and impunity. She gave a presentation on 20 February 2019 about Citizen Action for Inclusive Public Administration that Guarantees Human Rights” hosted by Participación Ciudadana together with Oxfam RD, Ciudad Alternativa and Fundación Solidaridad.
On Thursday, 21 February at 5pm she is scheduled to speak at the UASD Law School on "Corruption and Impunity in the Region: Role of Civil Society.”
https://eldia.com.do/transparencia-internacional-afirma-el-voto-electrico-es-mas-vulnerable/
Young voters could decide the 2020 general election
Politicians are expected to focus much of their campaigning for the 2020 general election on young people, women and those living in Greater Santo Domingo. The Central Electoral Board (JCE) data shows that 28.7% of eligible voters are 18 to 30 years old. The JCE says that 16.8% of voters are 18 to 25 years, 11.9% are 26 to 30 years.
Some 7,414,000 voters will be eligible for the 2020 general elections. Of these 51.1% are women and 48.9% men. There are 841,000 more eligible voters than for the 2016 elections. This includes 100,434 first time voters that will just be turning 18.
The congressional and municipal elections are scheduled for 16 February 2020, while the presidential election is set for 17 May 2020.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ra-2020-seran-jovenes-mujeres-y-de-la-capital
Corruption discourages foreign investors
Delia Ferreira, chair of Transparency International, called for Dominicans to become more involved to reduce government corruption. “More information, more integrity, less impunity and less indifference; those are the four pillars with which our countries would overcome the stigma of corruption they bear,” she told El Dia journalists during an interview. Ferreira visited Santo Domingo for exchanges with their local partner, Citizen Participation, and for talks and other activities from 19 to 21 February 2019.
During the interview at El Día, she explained that corruption is everywhere, and the difference is in how the institutions and people in different countries react to it. "The day that citizens realize that the money that has gone to corrupt hands is what is missing in schools, they will ask more of the political parties and these will have to present other candidates," she said.
When asked about the Dominican judiciary handling of the US$92 million Odebrecht bribes scandal, she criticized that the financing of electoral campaigns and public works by the Brazilian construction company were not included in the file by the Attorney General. “This means a thorough investigation of the case has not been undertaken,” she stated. She described corruption in the Dominican Republic as “structural and systemic”. She remarked there is complicity to evade corrections.
She observed that independence is needed in the judicial system, better legal tools and resources. She also criticized the concentration of power in the present Dominican government.
Ferreira said that the Corruption Perceptions Index published by Transparency International is a tool used by investors when considering a country. For Dominicans administrative corruption is the biggest obstacle to doing business, followed by high taxes.
The 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published on 29 January 2019, by Transparency International shows the Dominican Republic improved one point, moving from 29 to 30 in the ranking. The DR is in 129th position and is listed 23rd of 31 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. This places the country in the bottom third of the most corrupt, well below the average score that is only 43. In the Americas, the DR only ranked higher than Bolivia, Honduras, Paraguay, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela.
https://eldia.com.do/transparencia-internacional-afirma-el-voto-electrico-es-mas-vulnerable/
Drones to be used to supervise public construction projects
The Santo Domingo Cyber Park and the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) have signed an agreement whereby drones will be used to supervise public works construction. Miguel Coronado for the IDB and Eddy Martinez for the Parque Cibernético de Santo Domingo signed the agreement on 19 February 2019. The agreement seeks to develop technical capacities in small and medium-sized enterprises, and encourage entrepreneurs to take advantage of robotics and communication technologies in infrastructure projects. The drone program will train staff in data capture, data processing and the use of specialized software to process the data captured by the little aircraft.
Eddy Martínez, of the Santo Domingo Cyber Park, said the IDB project would be run simultaneously in the Dominican Republic, Panama and Bolivia, lasting for 36 months at a cost of US$1,709,250, with a US$1,180,900 technical assistance grant provided by the IDB Lab. The remaining US$528,350 will be raised by a public-private partnership.
Martínez says the program seeks to promote the use of technology to increase business productivity, stimulate innovation within companies and at the same time, generate technological capabilities that allow access to new jobs with a greater added value.
On his behalf, Miguel Coronado, representative of the IDB Group revealed that the project is the first to be developed in Latin America. It seeks to change substantially the way in which the supervision of works in the region is carried out, with four primary objectives: the reduction of costs related to supervision, optimizing the analysis and calculation of civil works, minimizing errors during execution and improving the workforce with a higher level of technical ability.
https://acento.com.do/2019/economia...-firman-convenio-la-optimizacion-tecnologica/
Now three market days in Dajabón on the border with Haiti
Dajabón municipal authorities and area military agreed to add an additional day of operation to the Dajabón market to assuage the serious supply problems now affecting Haiti. The market had been held on Mondays and Fridays. On market days, the border gates in Dajabón are opened for Haitians to enter the Dominican Republic without presenting documentation. The Haitians then are expected to return with their purchases to resell in Haiti.
Dajabón mayor Miguel Andrés Jiménez and the military head of Cesfront in Dajabón, Colonel Rafael N. Gutiérrez agreed to the additional market day. Also present at the announcement were businessmen Abigaíl Bueno and Juan Liberato Mercado.
Listín Diario reports that this change arises from a suggestion made by President Danilo Medina to help mitigate the difficult circumstances faced by many Haitians.
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2019/02/20/554304/amplian-el-mercado-binacional-de-dajabon
CAASD sues Hormigones America
The Santo Domingo Aqueduct and Sewage Corporation (CAASD) announced it is filing a lawsuit against Hormigones America SRL and its partners for causing a major breakdown of the 67-inch Valdesia – Santo Domingo pipeline that left 80 neighborhoods in the National District without potable water service. The CAASD has included Gabino Aroldo Ramos Guzmán, Victor Ramón Ramos Guzmán, Isaías Ramos Guzmán and Isaías Odalis Ramos Ferreira in the lawsuit.
The CAASD accuses the company of violating the General Law of Environment 64-00 that prohibits the extraction of sand, gravel, gravel and stones contrary to regulation 1315.
When CAASD identified the source of the breakdown, the company did not allow repair crews access to the property. The CAASD was forced to waste time securing a court order to enter and carry out the necessary repairs.
Alejandro Montás, director of the CAASD, criticized the extensive operation of the gravel extractors in the Manoguayabo area, near the rivers, because of the negative effects on the environment.
The Ministry of Environment has since ordered the shutdown of the Hormigones America operations after determining that they were operating without the required government environmental authorization, following a request received from the CAASD.
https://elnacional.com.do/caasd-se-querella-contra-grancera-hormigones-america-por-causar-averia/
Guaido appoints Eusebio Carlino Linares ambassador to the DR
The head of the Venezuelan parliament, Juan Guaido announced appointments of 15 diplomatic representatives on Tuesday, 19 February 2019. Among these is Eusebio Carlino Linares as ambassador in the DR.
Diario Libre reports that Eusebio Carlino Linares had been living in the Dominican Republic for several years and is the advisor of the Banco de Ahorros y Crédito Empire.
Juan Guaido, the president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, declared himself interim president on 23 January 2019 and called on President Nicolas Maduro to order new elections, stating that last year’s national elections in Venezuela were fraudulent. Most countries in the Americas, including the Dominican Republic, have recognized Guaido as President. The country’s military remains loyal to Maduro, however.
https://listindiario.com/las-mundia...arlino-como-embajador-en-republica-dominicana
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...-varios-anos-residiendo-en-el-pais-DG12141651
Venezuelans get sent to La Victoria for stealing designer watches
Judge José Alejandro Vargas ordered Venezuelans Víctor Manuel Torres Espinoza, Ignacio Gutiérrez Díaz and Gliderman Domingo Cienfuego Castro to three-month pre-trial custody. They are accused of stealing expensive watches and jewelry. Two have been arrested on several previous occasions for the same crimes. The group was sent to the Penitenciaría Nacional La Victoria.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...nos-reincidentes-en-casos-de-robos-de-relojes
Manny Machado - US$300 million baseball contract
26-year old Manny Machado, who played for the Dominican Republic in the 2017 World Baseball Cup, now is the baseball player to have been offered the largest contract. Born and raised in Miami, Machado always felt close to his Dominican heritage. He credits his Dominican grandfather for his love of the game.
Manny Machado joined the MLB in 2010 when he was 18 and made his debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2012 until joining the Los Angeles Angels in 2018.
The White Sox had coveted him and signed his brother-in-law Yonder Alonso and his close friend Jon Jay. The White Sox reportedly had offered US$250 million for eight years. But the team with the best offer would be the San Diego Padres, setting a new record high for MLB’s free agency salary structure at US$300 million for a 10-year contract. The highest salary ever paid for a free agent in any American sport. The signing is dependent on a satisfactory medical examination.
Last season, Machado hit .297 with 37 home runs and 107 RBIs for the Orioles and Dodgers. The four-time All-Star shortstop and two-time winner of the golden glove award for third base was traded from Baltimore to Los Angeles just ahead of the July trade deadline. Machado spent the first six and a half seasons of his major league career with the Orioles, who selected him in the first round of the 2010 amateur draft.
In the Dominican Republic in 2011, Machado was signed by the Toros del Este but has never played in the Dominican Professional Winter League.
https://www.mlb.com/news/manny-machado-me-in-real-life/c-236802958
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/manny-machado-contract-padres-mlb-2019/
https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/01/19/m...million-deal-biggest-free-agent-contract-ever
DR plays Venezuela to make FIBA World Cup
Thursday, 21 February 2019 is the last chance for the Dominican Republic men’s basketball team to qualify for the FIBA World Basketball Cup. The game is scheduled for 8:30pm at the Palacio de los Deportes in the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center in Santo Domingo.
Coach Melvyn Lopez is counting on the local fans to energize the players to accomplish the feat of defeating the better-ranked Venezuelan team. Venezuela has already qualified for the FIBA tournament.
Dominican Republic team members are: Víctor Liz, Sadiel Rojas, Ronald Roerts Jr., Ronald Ramón, Rigoberto Mendoza, Juan Miguel Suero, Juan José García, Juan Guerrero, Juan Coronado, Jhonatan Araujo, Gelvis Solano, Eloy Vargas. Francisco García is the general manager of the team.
Playing for Venezuela are: Gregory Vargas, Gregory Echenique, Jhoman Zamora, Pedro Chourio, José Vargas, Luis Bethelmy, César García, Hindi Graterol, Elder Gimenez, Heissler Guillent, Dwight Lewis and Néstor Comenares.
The DR later plays the even more superior Team Brazil on 25 February at 8:30pm at the same venue.
Tickets to the game cost RD$450, RD$350 and RD$200.
Kitesurfer Deury Corniel voted Best Athlete of the Year
Cabarete, Puerto Plata kitesurfer, Deury Corniel won trophy and the RD$1 million cash prize for Best Athlete of the Year. The Dominican Olympic Committee, presided by Luisín Mejía, recognized the relevance of his winning gold in the Youth Olympics held in October 2018 in Argentina. Corniel competed in the Sailing Men’s Kiteboarding IKA Twin Tip of the Youth Olympics in Argentina. He attributed his win to “training a lot.” Corniel lives and trains in Cabarete Beach, Puerto Plata.
The awards ceremony this year took place at the Jaragua Renaissance Hotel.
Others winning Best Athlete of the Year were:
Archery: Anny Stefany Jerez
Athletics: Luguelín Santos
Badminton: César Brito
Baseball: Manuel Beltré Rivas
Basketball: Víctor Liz
Bowling: Rolando Antonio Sebelén
Boxing: Rodrigo Marte
Canoeing: Cristian Guerrero
Chess: Jennifer Almánzar
Cycling: Augusto Sánchez Beriguete
Equestrian: Yvonne Losos de Muñiz
Fencing: Rossy Félix
Field tennis: Roberto Cid
Football: Edipo Rodríguez
Golf: Yael Eun Kim
Gymnastics: Audrys Nin Reyes
Handball: Jorge Manzanillo
Hockey: Albania Marte
Judo: Medickson del Orbe
Karate: María Dimitrova
Modern Pentathlon: Brayan Almonte
Racquetball: Merynaely Delgado
Sailing: Deury Corniel
Shooting: Josué Hernández
Skating: Micaela Marcelilom Arias
Skeet: Julio Elizardo Dujarric
Softball: Geancarlos González Díaz
Swimming: Krystal Denise Lara
Taekwondo: Bernardo Pie
Table tennis: Emil Jesús Santos
Triathlon: Camila Romero
Volleyball: Priscilla Rivera
Weightlifting: Crismey Santana
Wrestling: Juan Ramírez
Wushu: Fernando Torres
ParaOlympics: Carlos Manuel Reynoso
Sports Medicine: Víctor Figueroa
The Dominican Olympic Committee also delivered special merit medals to athletes with outstanding performances in international and national competitions. These were delivered by Dominican Olympic medal-winners Félix Sánchez, Félix Manuel Díaz, Gabriel Mercedes, Luisito Pie among others. Those honored were tennis player Víctor Estrella, equestrian athlete Yvonne Losos de Muñiz; swimmer Denzel González; cyclist Ruth Santana; kitesurfer Deury Corniel and judo athlete Antonio Tornal.
https://eldia.com.do/deury-corniel-javier-de-vela-es-el-ganador-del-premio-atleta-del-ano/
https://colimdo.org/noticias/deury-corniel-gana-distincion-atleta-del-ano-gala-olimpica/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RKTr3xlyV8
Juan Luis Guerra to sing for Venezuela
Dominican contemporary singer, Juan Luis Guerra announces his participation in the Venezuela Aid Live Concert. He will join performers Alesso, Alejandro Sanz, Carlos Baute, Camilo Echeverry, Cholo Valderrama, Gusi, Lele Pons, Luis Fonsi, Maluma, Maná, Mau y Ricky, Nacho, Paulina Rubio, Reynaldo Armas, Reynaldo Amaroso and Santiago Cruz.
The concert is organized by Richard Branson and will be held on the border between Venezuela and Colombia at Cúcuta in the Simón Bolívar Bridge zone known as Tienditas where humanitarian aid is being received.
https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2019/02/...rto-para-recaudar-ayuda-para-los-venezolanos/
Carnival coming to Santo Domingo
The Santo Domingo Carnival Parade is scheduled for Sunday, 3 March 2019 on the sea-bordering Malecón at around 4pm. The Ministry of Culture is the organizer of the carnival parade that will start from the Av. Abraham Lincoln end of the Malecón and continue past Av. Maximo Gómez to its eastern extension near the Colonial City.
Carnival groups from the 32 provinces and the National District will be parading. Large crowds watch the parade from both sides of the sea-bordering boulevard.
For this year’s carnival, the Ministry of Culture hired Brazil carnival experts to add to the colorfulness and organization of the Santo Domingo carnival.
This year’s Desfile Nacional del Carnaval Santo Domingo 2019 is dedicated to Puerto Plata that will be sending their dancing troupes and carnival characters, too.
Carnival photography exhibitions are held at the Galeria 360 mall on Av. John F. Kennedy and at the outside gallery of the Parque Independencia in the Colonial City will remain open until 4 March 2019.
The Ministry of Culture this year is presenting the National Carnival Fair from 22 to 24 February at the Parque Colón in the Colonial City.
Carnival parades are also taking in Bonao, La Vega and Santiago this Sunday, 24 February 2019. The very popular events are also scheduled for the afternoon. Thousands travel from all over the country to watch the colorful carnival characters parade through city streets.
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