Antonio Isa Conde: Negative effects of mining have discouraged new developments
Santo Domingo Skylift to close for maintenance
Interviews for Supreme Court Judges begin
Computerized voting system costing billions
Government to pick up tab for political party primaries
Nearly half of Dominicans live below poverty line
Abinader suggests change in tourism advertising
Scotiabank takeover completed
India invites the public to their stand at Feria Hub 2019
Milagros German announces she returns with Chevere Nights
Anthony Rios rest in peace
Soccer players die in Jarabacoa road tragedy
Dominican wife arrested in murder of Dutchman
Witch doctor arrested for fraud
Italian design in Santo Domingo
Dominican biographical-fiction film “Veneno” wins gets four awards in NYCIFF
Taekwondo Pan Am Games qualifier at the JPDuarte Olympic Center
Antonio Isa Conde: Negative effects of mining have discouraged new developments
Minister of Energy and Mines Antonio Isa Conde said that the low ranking of the Dominican Republic in the Fraser Institute 2018 annual survey of mining and exploration companies is due to the objectionable history of some mining companies that has led to a generalized rejection of mining operations in the country. The Dominican Republic is ranked 76th of 83 countries as one of the least attractive jurisdictions for mining in the world. Sharing the bottom 10 with the Dominican Republic are Neuquen, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Panama, China, Ethiopia, Dominican Republic, La Rioja, and Bolivia.
The survey is described by the institute as an attempt to assess how mineral endowments and public policy factors such as taxation and regulatory uncertainty affect exploration investment. The survey responses rank provinces, states, and countries according to the extent that public policy factors encourage or discourage mining investment.
Energy and Mines Minister Isa Conde explained the low ranking: “"The difficulties for investment in the mining sector have been generated by the anti-mining culture, fed by some political sectors and by environmental fundamentalists and that has its origin in a traumatic past, which has done a lot of damage to the this country and potential investors.
The Minister refers to the "the law of the funnel", in which the state has historically received little and the communities around these mines even less, as compensation for the exploitation of the riches of the earth. This has resulted in creating distrust among the local people and has affected the willingness of investor to commit.
In his opinion, another unfavorable factor has been the environmental liability left by the unchecked mining of the past. He said companies now are applying new technologies and production practices that impact less on the environment, allowing remediation at a quicker pace. He explained the Ministry is working on progressive legislation to give way to sustainability in the extractive industry.
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/annual-survey-of-mining-companies-2018.pdf
https://mem.gob.do/sala-informativa...s-del-pasado-para-atraer-inversiones-mineras/
Santo Domingo Skylift to close for maintenance
The Metro Office (Opret) announced the shutdown of the Santo Domingo Skylift for maintenance work from 16 to 31 March 2019. An estimated 12,000 users save time and reduce the commuting time between east and west Santo Domingo by using the cable car that rides over the Ozama River. The system operates from 6am to 10:30pm and the ride costs RD$20. The skylift will be closed for 15 days. Service resumes on 1 April 2019.
While the work is being done, Opret announced there would be express Omsa bus service from the Metro stations at Charles de Gaulle, Sabana Perdida and Los Tres Brazos. There will be no cost for the service.
Since start of operation in June 2018, the skylift has transported 2,133,187 passengers.
http://www.opret.gob.do/DetallesNoticias.aspx?IdLocal=1021
Interviews for Supreme Court Judges begin
On Monday, 4 March 2019, the members of the National Magistracy Council (CNM) began the performance interviews of 10 of the 12 judges of the Supreme Court of Justice who have completed their period in office as at 22 December 2018. The interviews were carried out in alphabetical order and each judge spoke about their work at the Supreme Court over the past seven years as well as responding to questions from the council. The interviews are being streamed online.
Of the 12 judges, there were two who declined to attend: Mariano Germán and Edgar Hernández.
The Supreme Court of Justice judges that seek to continue in their posts and are being interviewed are:
1-Agelán Casasnovas, Esther Elisa.
2. Cruceta Almánzar, José Alberto.
3. Germán Brito, Miriam Concepción.
4. Henríquez Marín, Sarah.
5. Herrera Carbuccia, Manuel Ramón.
6. Jerez Mena, Francisco Antonio.
7. Moscoso Segarra, Alejandro Adolfo.
8. Placencia Álvarez, Robert.
9. Reyes Cruz, Juan Hiroito.
10. Soto Sánchez, Fran Euclides.
The media would focus on the clash between Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez and judge Miriam Germán Brito. Rodríguez read from accusations in anonymous letters that German had interfered on the behalf of former Public Works Minister Víctor Díaz and accused drug trafficker Winston Rizik Rodríguez, as well as questioned her supposed ownership of a Gascue apartment and another in San Jose de Ocoa. German denied the accusations. German, a highly reputed judge, responded to Rodríguez: “If the questioning was two ways, we would be speaking about you.”
During the questioning, National Council of the Magistracy member Jose Paliza asked judge Alejandro Moscoso Segarra about his presence as a politician in the PLD member list. The judge said he was not affiliated with any political party for the past 20 years. President Danilo Medina defended the judge saying that the political lists of the PLD had not been corrected.
The assessment of the incumbent judges continues and is to be followed with questioning of around 90 other aspirants. The announcement of the Supreme Court of Justice judges will be made on 2 April 2019.
https://eldia.com.do/consejo-nacion...lua-diez-jueces-de-suprema-corte-de-justicia/
http://hoy.com.do/procurador-jean-a...-en-entrevista-consejo-nacional-magistratura/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...rentan-en-plena-evaluacion-del-cnm-LC12236148
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...s-acusaciones-contra-miriam-german-FC12239628
https://eldia.com.do/procurador-y-miriam-german-brito-se-enfrentaron-durante-evaluacion/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-jueza-miriam-german-fue-sometida-a-espionaje
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/editorial/primera-experiencia-JC12238919
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fmP-F-ZAnk
Computerized voting system costing billions
The attempts by the Central Electoral Court (JCE) since 2016 to computerize and automate the different phases of the general election, will have cost the state by 2020 more than RD$2.8 billion. In 2016, the JCE spent around US$39.7 million using equipment bought from Indra Sistema, but an evaluation carried out by the JCE Information Department established that the 49,200 pieces of equipment including scanners, printers and fingerprint readers were not suitable for using again and they are currently languishing in a warehouse at a storage fee of US$25,000 per month.
Now the JCE is proposing to use a different automated voting system, developed by their in-house technicians that will be used for the primaries and then rolled out for the full elections in 2020.
It is estimated that they will need around 55,000 pieces of equipment costing over RD$1 billion, which could increase if the parties agree to use them in the elections. It will mean buying 11,000 of each of five pieces of equipment for the automated vote, printers, code readers, elector identifications units as well as portable battery operated inverters.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...cciones-costaria-rd-2-800-millones-DD12227703
Government to pick up tab for political party primaries
While in the past, the cost of choosing their political candidates was the financial responsibility of the political parties themselves, now the Medina administration says it will be sending to Congress an amendment to the National Budget in order to add the needed funds to the Central Electoral Board (JCE) budget.
As reported in Diario Libre, Administrative Minister of the Presidency Jose Ramón Peralta said that the government reached the agreement with the JCE for it to cover the cost of the primaries. The primaries are scheduled for 6 October 2019. The government says the primaries will serve to test the automated voting system backed by the JCE. The primaries and the new automated voting system will cost taxpayers around RD$2.8 billion.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...-ira-al-presupuesto-complementario-GC12237551
Nearly half of Dominicans live below poverty line
A study carried out by the Juan Bosch Foundation and the Development Cooperation Institute (ISCOS in Italian) has revealed that 47% of Dominicans are living below the poverty line. The study is called “The analysis of the announcements made by President Danilo Medina and a comparison to the real numbers in terms of employment, salaries, poverty and pensions”, and is based on figures from the Central Bank. The report concluded that the , the average income per person/household was RD$4,644 in 2016.
The report states that between 2014 and 2017 some 380,608 new jobs were created, of which 47% were in the informal sector and in 2017, some 121,066 new jobs were created of which 66.7% were informal, that is they are part of an economy that is neither taxed nor monitored by any form of government.
Comparing the data provided by President Medina, in his state of the nation speech on 27 of February 2019, they said that 60% of people have an average income of RD$11,734 that is below the cost of the cheapest family basket which is RD$13,346.
Matías Bosch Carcuro, Edgar García and Cabrera Airon Fernández said that the majority of the Dominican working population earn much less than is needed to survive with 80% earning less than RD$17,000 that is much less than the average family basket estimated at RD$23,422. They criticized that President Danilo Medina had announced the public sector minimum wage would be doubled to RD$10,000 when the amount does not even cover the cheapest family basket.
https://eldia.com.do/47-de-los-dominicanos-vive-por-debajo-de-la-linea-de-pobreza/
Abinader suggests change in tourism advertising
Aspiring presidential candidate for the Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM), Luis Abinader, has said in New York that tourism in the Dominican Republic is only increasing in Punta Cana, while it is on the decline in Puerto Plata, Samaná and other tourist areas. He said that the reason was due to the poor promotion of tourism in the country and suggested they take an example from Mexico and promote different areas of the country, rather than simply a general promotion.
He made the comments having been asked about what President Danilo Medina said that tourism increase was up by 6.2% with a record 7.6 million visitors, maintaining the DR as the leader in Central America and the Caribbean and foreign investment in tourism had increased from US$340 million in 2017 to US$750 in 2018.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/abinad...en-punta-cana-y-no-en-otros-polos-turisticos/
Scotiabank takeover completed
Canada's Scotiabank announced the Superintendency of Banks and the Monetary Board of the Central Bank have cleared their acquisition of 97.44% stake in the Banco Dominicano del Progreso. The Scotiabank is now the fourth largest full-service bank in the Dominican Republic in terms of assets with a market share of 10%.
Scotiabank now expects to double its customer base through the transaction from about 250,000 to 500,000 and gain a third-place ranking in the credit card segment in the Caribbean country with a 17% share of the market.
Banco Dominicano del Progreso’s operations include 57 branches, 184 automated banking machines (ABMs) and over 160 banking sub-agents, serving over 250,000 personal and commercial banking customers.
https://compelo.com/banking/news/scotiabank-banco-dominicano-del-progreso/
India invites the public to their stand at Feria Hub 2019
The Embassy of India and the India Chamber of Commerce in the Dominican Republic are inviting the general public and businesses to their stand at Feria HUB 2019. The business fair will be held 6-8 March 2019 at the convention center of the Ministry of Foreign Relations that is located at Calle Ing. Huáscar Tejada 752 in Santo Domingo.
India ambassador Madhu Shetti will be at the stand to meet those interested in doing business with India. Those interested in setting up appointments can do so calling 829 585-1273 (Heidi Rodriguez) or writing to indiaaccrd@gmail.com
http://hubcamarasantodomingo.com/
Milagros German announces she returns with Chevere Nights
Sunday, 24 March 2019 is the target date for TV host Milagros German to return to local TV. The TV station had announced the suspension of the Monday to Friday variety show in December 2018, after 15 years on the air. It was replaced by a soap opera. Chevere Nights will now air on Telesistema, Channel 11 on Sundays.
Milagros German says the same team that made the program successful before will be returning; Including Luis Jose German, Jose Guillermo Cortines, Irving Alberti, Kenny Grullon and Sergio Carlo (transmitting from Atlanta, Georgia).
https://www.diariolibre.com/revista/farandula/milagros-german-regresa-con-chevere-nights-AD12220257
Anthony Rios rest in peace
The veteran bolero singer and composer, 68-year old Anthony Ríos (Froilán Antonio Jiménez) was pronounced dead on 4 March 2019. He had been in a delicate health situation and had been re-admitted to the Centro Cardio-Neuro Oftalmológico y Transplante (Cecanot) public hospital. He had been fitted with a pacemaker and discharged from the hospital on Saturday, 16 February 2019. Previously, he had had open heart surgery in August 2015.
The wake is at the Funeraria Blandino in Santo Domingo and he will be buried in his home town of Hato Mayor, in the east. He is a native of Sabana de la Mar.
Anthony Ríos had 26 children from 24 women. His last wife was Ana Julia de la Rosa.
Among his memorable boleros are: “Tengo una mancha,” “Señora tristeza”, “Viejo amigo,” “Si usted supiera señora”.
https://listindiario.com/entretenim...anthony-rios-esta-en-delicado-estado-de-salud
https://listindiario.com/entretenimiento/2019/03/04/556037/murio-anthony-rios
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF5XtB7BEuA
Soccer players die in Jarabacoa road tragedy
On Sunday night, 3 March 2019, five Haitian soccer players died and 38 were injured in a traffic accident on the Jarabacoa-La Vega road, when a bus full of passengers fell off a bridge. News reports say that the driver of the bus and another person were the only Dominicans accompanying the team.
The regional health director for Central Cibao, Freddy Abba confirmed that of the 38 injured 22 were taken to the Luis Morillo King Public Hospital, along with the deceased, and 16 went to the Juan Bosch Trauma Hospital. He said that several had serious and life-threatening head injuries.
Those who died were Haitians and it appears they were returning to Maimon, Monseñor Nouel after competing in Jarabacoa. They were identified as Peterson Clermont, Calix David, Jacques Joseph, Eventz Julmist. Joanes Augustin also died in the Morillo King Hospital in La Vega.
The accident occurred in the El Puerto de Jarabacoa area, when the driver lost control and the bus crashed into a tree. Reportedly, the bus driver was speeding and the bus was in deteriorated condition, including its aging tires.
The president of the Sporting Football Club Maimón, Celsius Amiscar called for an investigation of the 30-year old driver, Eddy Evaristo Peralta González. Reports are that the driver ejected himself from the bus, saving himself.
http://hoy.com.do/posibles-causas-de-accidente-en-jarabacoa-que-dejo-cinco-muertos/
https://elnacional.com.do/se-eleva-a-cinco-cifra-muertos-en-accidente/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...can-a-los-5-muertos-en-accidente-en-jarabacoa
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...s-muertos-y-39-heridos-en-accidente-jarabacoa
http://hoy.com.do/53-personas-fuero...-podrian-ser-dados-de-alta-en-proximas-horas/
Dominican wife arrested in murder of Dutchman
The National Police has announced that they have arrested the wife of a Dutchman who was found murdered last week in Puerto Plata along with two other men, who were in Los Alcarrizos. Two more are still being sought for the crime, Rafael Guzmán (Jordan) and Argenis Rojas (Chancletica). Those arrested are 22-year-old Jennifer Joaquín de Van Tinteren, spouse of the deceased, Marcos Gómez Cruz (Colita), 21, and Juan Alejandro Tavárez (El Jevo), aged 26.
According to the Police the woman told them that her husband, Roy Van Tinteren, aged 55, was shot several times when he was parking his vehicle in the garage of their home on 26 February 2019.
According to the police, Marcos Gómez Cruz (Colita) said that he had been having a romantic relationship with Jennifer for two months and that during a meeting at a hotel she asked him to kill her husband.
According to the Police he admitted that he agreed to RD$200,000 plus renting a car and in the morning of 26 February at 1am he, along with the three other suspects shot and killed the Dutchman in his car, allowing Jennifer to escape. They then fled the scene.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ata-habria-pagado-200-mil-pesos-por-la-muerte
Witch doctor arrested for fraud
The Department of Investigations into Human Trafficking of the National Police has arrested a supposed witch doctor who was being sought for defrauding a man of RD$5 million promising to multiply his money. The arrested man is Haitian Manel Dorancy (alias “Manuel”), aged 31, who was arrested in Santo Domingo North.
He was being sought for violations of the Penal Process Code, by defrauding Enerio Ramos Díaz, as he promised to multiply his RD$5 million. After receiving the money, the accused disappeared along with the money. Dorancy is currently being held at the Prosecutor’s office in Monte Plata where the crime was committed.
https://almomento.net/detienen-supu...stafo-dominicano-con-cinco-millones-de-pesos/
Italian design in Santo Domingo
Italian architect Luca Molinari will be in the Dominican Republic for the Italian DesignDay2019, a project that seeks to strengthen the presence of Italian design around the world.
Molinari is booked for a talk on restoration and reuse (“Restauracion y Reuso: la experiencia italiana en considerer la permanencia de los edificios y de los entornos urbanos”) on 7 March 2019 at the Centro de Altos Estudios Humanisticos del Idioma Español on Calle Las Damas in the Colonial City. Also participating in the talk is the director of the center Esteban Prieto and architect Jesus D’Alessandro of the City of Santo Domingo. They will talk about the importance of heritage conservation and how this can be an advantage in modern society.
On Friday, 8 March 2018, Molinari is scheduled for a talk at the PUCMM in Santo Domingo on Italian design (“Vivir y construir al estilo italiano. Diseño, arqutiectura y arte para vivir felicies”). The talk will be at 5pm.
http://www.lucamolinari.it/
Taekwondo Pan Am Games qualifier at the JPDuarte Olympic Center
Teams from 15 regional countries are in Santo Domingo for the Panamerican Taekwondo Qualifier that will take place at the Volleyball Pavilion of the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center from 7-10 March 2019.
The Dominican team members are Moisés Hernández, Bernardo Pié, Katehrine Rodríguez, Edward Espinosa, Fraylin Mora, Genesis Andújar and Madelín Rodríguez.
The tournament gathers more than 88 of the best regional athletes that seek slots to compete in the 18th Panamerican Games to take place in Lima, Peru from 26 July to 11 August 2019.
Santo Domingo Skylift to close for maintenance
Interviews for Supreme Court Judges begin
Computerized voting system costing billions
Government to pick up tab for political party primaries
Nearly half of Dominicans live below poverty line
Abinader suggests change in tourism advertising
Scotiabank takeover completed
India invites the public to their stand at Feria Hub 2019
Milagros German announces she returns with Chevere Nights
Anthony Rios rest in peace
Soccer players die in Jarabacoa road tragedy
Dominican wife arrested in murder of Dutchman
Witch doctor arrested for fraud
Italian design in Santo Domingo
Dominican biographical-fiction film “Veneno” wins gets four awards in NYCIFF
Taekwondo Pan Am Games qualifier at the JPDuarte Olympic Center
Antonio Isa Conde: Negative effects of mining have discouraged new developments
Minister of Energy and Mines Antonio Isa Conde said that the low ranking of the Dominican Republic in the Fraser Institute 2018 annual survey of mining and exploration companies is due to the objectionable history of some mining companies that has led to a generalized rejection of mining operations in the country. The Dominican Republic is ranked 76th of 83 countries as one of the least attractive jurisdictions for mining in the world. Sharing the bottom 10 with the Dominican Republic are Neuquen, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Panama, China, Ethiopia, Dominican Republic, La Rioja, and Bolivia.
The survey is described by the institute as an attempt to assess how mineral endowments and public policy factors such as taxation and regulatory uncertainty affect exploration investment. The survey responses rank provinces, states, and countries according to the extent that public policy factors encourage or discourage mining investment.
Energy and Mines Minister Isa Conde explained the low ranking: “"The difficulties for investment in the mining sector have been generated by the anti-mining culture, fed by some political sectors and by environmental fundamentalists and that has its origin in a traumatic past, which has done a lot of damage to the this country and potential investors.
The Minister refers to the "the law of the funnel", in which the state has historically received little and the communities around these mines even less, as compensation for the exploitation of the riches of the earth. This has resulted in creating distrust among the local people and has affected the willingness of investor to commit.
In his opinion, another unfavorable factor has been the environmental liability left by the unchecked mining of the past. He said companies now are applying new technologies and production practices that impact less on the environment, allowing remediation at a quicker pace. He explained the Ministry is working on progressive legislation to give way to sustainability in the extractive industry.
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/annual-survey-of-mining-companies-2018.pdf
https://mem.gob.do/sala-informativa...s-del-pasado-para-atraer-inversiones-mineras/
Santo Domingo Skylift to close for maintenance
The Metro Office (Opret) announced the shutdown of the Santo Domingo Skylift for maintenance work from 16 to 31 March 2019. An estimated 12,000 users save time and reduce the commuting time between east and west Santo Domingo by using the cable car that rides over the Ozama River. The system operates from 6am to 10:30pm and the ride costs RD$20. The skylift will be closed for 15 days. Service resumes on 1 April 2019.
While the work is being done, Opret announced there would be express Omsa bus service from the Metro stations at Charles de Gaulle, Sabana Perdida and Los Tres Brazos. There will be no cost for the service.
Since start of operation in June 2018, the skylift has transported 2,133,187 passengers.
http://www.opret.gob.do/DetallesNoticias.aspx?IdLocal=1021
Interviews for Supreme Court Judges begin
On Monday, 4 March 2019, the members of the National Magistracy Council (CNM) began the performance interviews of 10 of the 12 judges of the Supreme Court of Justice who have completed their period in office as at 22 December 2018. The interviews were carried out in alphabetical order and each judge spoke about their work at the Supreme Court over the past seven years as well as responding to questions from the council. The interviews are being streamed online.
Of the 12 judges, there were two who declined to attend: Mariano Germán and Edgar Hernández.
The Supreme Court of Justice judges that seek to continue in their posts and are being interviewed are:
1-Agelán Casasnovas, Esther Elisa.
2. Cruceta Almánzar, José Alberto.
3. Germán Brito, Miriam Concepción.
4. Henríquez Marín, Sarah.
5. Herrera Carbuccia, Manuel Ramón.
6. Jerez Mena, Francisco Antonio.
7. Moscoso Segarra, Alejandro Adolfo.
8. Placencia Álvarez, Robert.
9. Reyes Cruz, Juan Hiroito.
10. Soto Sánchez, Fran Euclides.
The media would focus on the clash between Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez and judge Miriam Germán Brito. Rodríguez read from accusations in anonymous letters that German had interfered on the behalf of former Public Works Minister Víctor Díaz and accused drug trafficker Winston Rizik Rodríguez, as well as questioned her supposed ownership of a Gascue apartment and another in San Jose de Ocoa. German denied the accusations. German, a highly reputed judge, responded to Rodríguez: “If the questioning was two ways, we would be speaking about you.”
During the questioning, National Council of the Magistracy member Jose Paliza asked judge Alejandro Moscoso Segarra about his presence as a politician in the PLD member list. The judge said he was not affiliated with any political party for the past 20 years. President Danilo Medina defended the judge saying that the political lists of the PLD had not been corrected.
The assessment of the incumbent judges continues and is to be followed with questioning of around 90 other aspirants. The announcement of the Supreme Court of Justice judges will be made on 2 April 2019.
https://eldia.com.do/consejo-nacion...lua-diez-jueces-de-suprema-corte-de-justicia/
http://hoy.com.do/procurador-jean-a...-en-entrevista-consejo-nacional-magistratura/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...rentan-en-plena-evaluacion-del-cnm-LC12236148
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...s-acusaciones-contra-miriam-german-FC12239628
https://eldia.com.do/procurador-y-miriam-german-brito-se-enfrentaron-durante-evaluacion/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-jueza-miriam-german-fue-sometida-a-espionaje
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/editorial/primera-experiencia-JC12238919
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fmP-F-ZAnk
Computerized voting system costing billions
The attempts by the Central Electoral Court (JCE) since 2016 to computerize and automate the different phases of the general election, will have cost the state by 2020 more than RD$2.8 billion. In 2016, the JCE spent around US$39.7 million using equipment bought from Indra Sistema, but an evaluation carried out by the JCE Information Department established that the 49,200 pieces of equipment including scanners, printers and fingerprint readers were not suitable for using again and they are currently languishing in a warehouse at a storage fee of US$25,000 per month.
Now the JCE is proposing to use a different automated voting system, developed by their in-house technicians that will be used for the primaries and then rolled out for the full elections in 2020.
It is estimated that they will need around 55,000 pieces of equipment costing over RD$1 billion, which could increase if the parties agree to use them in the elections. It will mean buying 11,000 of each of five pieces of equipment for the automated vote, printers, code readers, elector identifications units as well as portable battery operated inverters.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...cciones-costaria-rd-2-800-millones-DD12227703
Government to pick up tab for political party primaries
While in the past, the cost of choosing their political candidates was the financial responsibility of the political parties themselves, now the Medina administration says it will be sending to Congress an amendment to the National Budget in order to add the needed funds to the Central Electoral Board (JCE) budget.
As reported in Diario Libre, Administrative Minister of the Presidency Jose Ramón Peralta said that the government reached the agreement with the JCE for it to cover the cost of the primaries. The primaries are scheduled for 6 October 2019. The government says the primaries will serve to test the automated voting system backed by the JCE. The primaries and the new automated voting system will cost taxpayers around RD$2.8 billion.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...-ira-al-presupuesto-complementario-GC12237551
Nearly half of Dominicans live below poverty line
A study carried out by the Juan Bosch Foundation and the Development Cooperation Institute (ISCOS in Italian) has revealed that 47% of Dominicans are living below the poverty line. The study is called “The analysis of the announcements made by President Danilo Medina and a comparison to the real numbers in terms of employment, salaries, poverty and pensions”, and is based on figures from the Central Bank. The report concluded that the , the average income per person/household was RD$4,644 in 2016.
The report states that between 2014 and 2017 some 380,608 new jobs were created, of which 47% were in the informal sector and in 2017, some 121,066 new jobs were created of which 66.7% were informal, that is they are part of an economy that is neither taxed nor monitored by any form of government.
Comparing the data provided by President Medina, in his state of the nation speech on 27 of February 2019, they said that 60% of people have an average income of RD$11,734 that is below the cost of the cheapest family basket which is RD$13,346.
Matías Bosch Carcuro, Edgar García and Cabrera Airon Fernández said that the majority of the Dominican working population earn much less than is needed to survive with 80% earning less than RD$17,000 that is much less than the average family basket estimated at RD$23,422. They criticized that President Danilo Medina had announced the public sector minimum wage would be doubled to RD$10,000 when the amount does not even cover the cheapest family basket.
https://eldia.com.do/47-de-los-dominicanos-vive-por-debajo-de-la-linea-de-pobreza/
Abinader suggests change in tourism advertising
Aspiring presidential candidate for the Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM), Luis Abinader, has said in New York that tourism in the Dominican Republic is only increasing in Punta Cana, while it is on the decline in Puerto Plata, Samaná and other tourist areas. He said that the reason was due to the poor promotion of tourism in the country and suggested they take an example from Mexico and promote different areas of the country, rather than simply a general promotion.
He made the comments having been asked about what President Danilo Medina said that tourism increase was up by 6.2% with a record 7.6 million visitors, maintaining the DR as the leader in Central America and the Caribbean and foreign investment in tourism had increased from US$340 million in 2017 to US$750 in 2018.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/abinad...en-punta-cana-y-no-en-otros-polos-turisticos/
Scotiabank takeover completed
Canada's Scotiabank announced the Superintendency of Banks and the Monetary Board of the Central Bank have cleared their acquisition of 97.44% stake in the Banco Dominicano del Progreso. The Scotiabank is now the fourth largest full-service bank in the Dominican Republic in terms of assets with a market share of 10%.
Scotiabank now expects to double its customer base through the transaction from about 250,000 to 500,000 and gain a third-place ranking in the credit card segment in the Caribbean country with a 17% share of the market.
Banco Dominicano del Progreso’s operations include 57 branches, 184 automated banking machines (ABMs) and over 160 banking sub-agents, serving over 250,000 personal and commercial banking customers.
https://compelo.com/banking/news/scotiabank-banco-dominicano-del-progreso/
India invites the public to their stand at Feria Hub 2019
The Embassy of India and the India Chamber of Commerce in the Dominican Republic are inviting the general public and businesses to their stand at Feria HUB 2019. The business fair will be held 6-8 March 2019 at the convention center of the Ministry of Foreign Relations that is located at Calle Ing. Huáscar Tejada 752 in Santo Domingo.
India ambassador Madhu Shetti will be at the stand to meet those interested in doing business with India. Those interested in setting up appointments can do so calling 829 585-1273 (Heidi Rodriguez) or writing to indiaaccrd@gmail.com
http://hubcamarasantodomingo.com/
Milagros German announces she returns with Chevere Nights
Sunday, 24 March 2019 is the target date for TV host Milagros German to return to local TV. The TV station had announced the suspension of the Monday to Friday variety show in December 2018, after 15 years on the air. It was replaced by a soap opera. Chevere Nights will now air on Telesistema, Channel 11 on Sundays.
Milagros German says the same team that made the program successful before will be returning; Including Luis Jose German, Jose Guillermo Cortines, Irving Alberti, Kenny Grullon and Sergio Carlo (transmitting from Atlanta, Georgia).
https://www.diariolibre.com/revista/farandula/milagros-german-regresa-con-chevere-nights-AD12220257
Anthony Rios rest in peace
The veteran bolero singer and composer, 68-year old Anthony Ríos (Froilán Antonio Jiménez) was pronounced dead on 4 March 2019. He had been in a delicate health situation and had been re-admitted to the Centro Cardio-Neuro Oftalmológico y Transplante (Cecanot) public hospital. He had been fitted with a pacemaker and discharged from the hospital on Saturday, 16 February 2019. Previously, he had had open heart surgery in August 2015.
The wake is at the Funeraria Blandino in Santo Domingo and he will be buried in his home town of Hato Mayor, in the east. He is a native of Sabana de la Mar.
Anthony Ríos had 26 children from 24 women. His last wife was Ana Julia de la Rosa.
Among his memorable boleros are: “Tengo una mancha,” “Señora tristeza”, “Viejo amigo,” “Si usted supiera señora”.
https://listindiario.com/entretenim...anthony-rios-esta-en-delicado-estado-de-salud
https://listindiario.com/entretenimiento/2019/03/04/556037/murio-anthony-rios
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF5XtB7BEuA
Soccer players die in Jarabacoa road tragedy
On Sunday night, 3 March 2019, five Haitian soccer players died and 38 were injured in a traffic accident on the Jarabacoa-La Vega road, when a bus full of passengers fell off a bridge. News reports say that the driver of the bus and another person were the only Dominicans accompanying the team.
The regional health director for Central Cibao, Freddy Abba confirmed that of the 38 injured 22 were taken to the Luis Morillo King Public Hospital, along with the deceased, and 16 went to the Juan Bosch Trauma Hospital. He said that several had serious and life-threatening head injuries.
Those who died were Haitians and it appears they were returning to Maimon, Monseñor Nouel after competing in Jarabacoa. They were identified as Peterson Clermont, Calix David, Jacques Joseph, Eventz Julmist. Joanes Augustin also died in the Morillo King Hospital in La Vega.
The accident occurred in the El Puerto de Jarabacoa area, when the driver lost control and the bus crashed into a tree. Reportedly, the bus driver was speeding and the bus was in deteriorated condition, including its aging tires.
The president of the Sporting Football Club Maimón, Celsius Amiscar called for an investigation of the 30-year old driver, Eddy Evaristo Peralta González. Reports are that the driver ejected himself from the bus, saving himself.
http://hoy.com.do/posibles-causas-de-accidente-en-jarabacoa-que-dejo-cinco-muertos/
https://elnacional.com.do/se-eleva-a-cinco-cifra-muertos-en-accidente/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...can-a-los-5-muertos-en-accidente-en-jarabacoa
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...s-muertos-y-39-heridos-en-accidente-jarabacoa
http://hoy.com.do/53-personas-fuero...-podrian-ser-dados-de-alta-en-proximas-horas/
Dominican wife arrested in murder of Dutchman
The National Police has announced that they have arrested the wife of a Dutchman who was found murdered last week in Puerto Plata along with two other men, who were in Los Alcarrizos. Two more are still being sought for the crime, Rafael Guzmán (Jordan) and Argenis Rojas (Chancletica). Those arrested are 22-year-old Jennifer Joaquín de Van Tinteren, spouse of the deceased, Marcos Gómez Cruz (Colita), 21, and Juan Alejandro Tavárez (El Jevo), aged 26.
According to the Police the woman told them that her husband, Roy Van Tinteren, aged 55, was shot several times when he was parking his vehicle in the garage of their home on 26 February 2019.
According to the police, Marcos Gómez Cruz (Colita) said that he had been having a romantic relationship with Jennifer for two months and that during a meeting at a hotel she asked him to kill her husband.
According to the Police he admitted that he agreed to RD$200,000 plus renting a car and in the morning of 26 February at 1am he, along with the three other suspects shot and killed the Dutchman in his car, allowing Jennifer to escape. They then fled the scene.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ata-habria-pagado-200-mil-pesos-por-la-muerte
Witch doctor arrested for fraud
The Department of Investigations into Human Trafficking of the National Police has arrested a supposed witch doctor who was being sought for defrauding a man of RD$5 million promising to multiply his money. The arrested man is Haitian Manel Dorancy (alias “Manuel”), aged 31, who was arrested in Santo Domingo North.
He was being sought for violations of the Penal Process Code, by defrauding Enerio Ramos Díaz, as he promised to multiply his RD$5 million. After receiving the money, the accused disappeared along with the money. Dorancy is currently being held at the Prosecutor’s office in Monte Plata where the crime was committed.
https://almomento.net/detienen-supu...stafo-dominicano-con-cinco-millones-de-pesos/
Italian design in Santo Domingo
Italian architect Luca Molinari will be in the Dominican Republic for the Italian DesignDay2019, a project that seeks to strengthen the presence of Italian design around the world.
Molinari is booked for a talk on restoration and reuse (“Restauracion y Reuso: la experiencia italiana en considerer la permanencia de los edificios y de los entornos urbanos”) on 7 March 2019 at the Centro de Altos Estudios Humanisticos del Idioma Español on Calle Las Damas in the Colonial City. Also participating in the talk is the director of the center Esteban Prieto and architect Jesus D’Alessandro of the City of Santo Domingo. They will talk about the importance of heritage conservation and how this can be an advantage in modern society.
On Friday, 8 March 2018, Molinari is scheduled for a talk at the PUCMM in Santo Domingo on Italian design (“Vivir y construir al estilo italiano. Diseño, arqutiectura y arte para vivir felicies”). The talk will be at 5pm.
http://www.lucamolinari.it/
Taekwondo Pan Am Games qualifier at the JPDuarte Olympic Center
Teams from 15 regional countries are in Santo Domingo for the Panamerican Taekwondo Qualifier that will take place at the Volleyball Pavilion of the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center from 7-10 March 2019.
The Dominican team members are Moisés Hernández, Bernardo Pié, Katehrine Rodríguez, Edward Espinosa, Fraylin Mora, Genesis Andújar and Madelín Rodríguez.
The tournament gathers more than 88 of the best regional athletes that seek slots to compete in the 18th Panamerican Games to take place in Lima, Peru from 26 July to 11 August 2019.
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