Presidency sends pension plan bill to Congress, does not affect 30% yield of AFPs
Judge Miriam German Brito responds to Attorney General accusations
Judge Katia Jiménez says she is out; declines aspiring to the Supreme Court of Justice
Former Vice President, Participación Ciudadana and women’s groups call for dismissal of Attorney General
National District government signs transparency agreement with United Nations
Ministry of Public Works reveals works scheduled for 2019
National Health Service says neonatal mortality is down
Lack of law enforcement leads to traffic accidents
Bien Común criticizes free spending on events and propaganda compared to public health
New online citizenship service for children of Dominicans in the United States
Call to sort out Puerto Plata garbage dump
Changes in airport security
DR has the highest amount of confiscated heroin
Canadian embassy backs empowerment of young women
Helados Bon: Sweet plantain ice cream!
Fito Paez coming to Santo Domingo
Presidency sends pension plan bill to Congress, does not affect 30% yield of AFPs
The reduction in the commissions paid to the Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones (AFP) proposed by the Executive Branch in a new bill sent to Congress on Tuesday, 5 March 2019 does not meet the expectations created when the project was mentioned by President Danilo Medina in his 27 February Independence Day state of the nation address. There had been expectations that the amendment to Social Security Law 87-01 would reduce the high earnings reported by the primarily bank-owned pension plan administrators and that this would be redistributed to the individual pension plans. The way the system is, the banks are the big winners and critics say retirees would have been better off doing the savings on their own.
As reported in Diario Libre, pension plan expert Arismendi Díaz says that the AFPs will keep their “juicy profits.” Díaz says there is no incentive for the companies to effectively manage the plans. “Their profits do not depend on their performance, only on the exponential growth of the retirement fund,” he explained.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...s-afp-con-poco-efecto-en-ganancias-BF12246711
Judge Miriam German Brito responds to Attorney General accusations
Judge Miriam Germán Brito has described as “a dirty trick” her questioning by Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez, during the interview for the evaluation of Supreme Court of Justice judges on Monday, 4 March 2019. She seeks five more years at the Supreme Court of Justice.
Being interviewed by journalist Katherine Díaz, for Noticias SIN on Tuesday, 5 March 2019, Germán Brito asserted that the Attorney General wanted to damage her image. She spoke of how those in power are capable of all types of abuse.
The media has reported that the performance assessment began not with legitimate questions but when the Attorney General read three communications, two supposedly sent to his office anonymously and one by Judge José Gregorio Bautista of Santo Domingo province. The anonymous communications accused Judge Germán Brito of holding secret meetings with Víctor Díaz Rúa, one of the accused in the Odebrecht case and allegedly having properties she owned transferred to her son so as not to have to disclose her ownership of them. The Attorney General said videos were provided to support the allegations of irregularities in the judge’s actions.
Legal specialists have claimed the Attorney General violated the performance assessment ruling of the National Council of the Magistracy. Lawyers Miguel Valerio and Carlos Salcedo told Diario Libre that the violation of Art. 26 of the ruling, should annul the assessment and revert to the confirmation of the judge who serves as president of the Second Penal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice. Likewise, lawyer Nassef Perdomo says that the CNM norms do not contemplate what to do in case of the violation of the due process and thus the case must be deliberated by the CNM members. He was also critical of the participation of Attorney General Rodríguez during the assessment.
The National Council Magistracy ruling had obliged the Attorney General to previously submit the accusations to the judge with 24 hours in order for her to prepare to respond to these in the public hearing.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...eso-lo-escribieron-en-procuraduria-CF12248280
http://hoy.com.do/miriam-german-sob...prendi-el-poder-es-capaz-de-todos-los-abusos/
http://hoy.com.do/movimiento-de-muj...l-procurador-por-trato-a-jueza-miriam-german/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/03...o-una-canallada-trato-recibido-en-evaluacion/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/03...d-por-el-maltrato-recibido-por-miriam-german/
http://hoy.com.do/pc-explica-como-e...scj-durante-entrevista-a-miriam-german-brito/
https://eldia.com.do/el-desbarre-del-procurador/
Judge Katia Jiménez says she is out; declines aspiring to the Supreme Court of Justice
Constitutional Court Judge Katia Miguelina Jiménez has announced that she has withdrawn her candidacy for the position of Supreme Court of Justice judge due to the disrespectful and humiliating treatment by Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez towards Judge Miriam Germán Brito during the latter’s assessment hearing by the members of the National Magistracy Council (CNM).
She said in a letter to President Danilo Medina, in his role as president of the CNM, that the interview was supposed to be a performance assessment but instead turned into something else. Jiménez said that the ruling for the assessment is clear and that it was violated. She was critical that when the violation was pointed out by members Josefa Castillo and José Paliza, the protest was overruled by the ruling party-favorable majority of the Council. Jiménez said this is evidence there are no guarantees for a true performance assessment and the reason for her to desist from seeking a Supreme Court of Justice seat.
http://hoy.com.do/jueza-retira-su-c...-irrespetuoso-del-procurador-a-miriam-german/
Former Vice President, Participación Ciudadana and women’s groups call for dismissal of Attorney General
Former Vice President Rafael Alburquerque called for the removal of Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez for his questioning of Judge Miriam Germán Brito. "The country is outraged by the affront perpetrated on an icon of justice, as is Judge Miriam Germán,” he said. He said the questioning showed evidence of espionage and great arrogance on behalf of the prosecutor that should lead to his dismissal. Alburquerque served three terms under President Leonel Fernandez from 2004 to 2012.
Participación Ciudadana, the civic watchdog, also called for Rodríguez’s resignation, highlighting the questioning had violated the rules for the assessment. The nonpartisan civic movement, Participación Ciudadana, rejected the violations to the regulation for the selection of the judges of the Supreme Court of Justice, made by Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez against the judge Miriam Germán Brito, with which, they indicate, it is intended to damage, without presenting any evidence and without giving the opportunity for defense, the track record of a judge who is recognized for her clean record of service in the judiciary. "It is a pity that a process in which the whole country has placed hopes for the strengthening of justice begins with the total ignorance of the procedure by a subordinate to the President of the Republic, who is called to set the example of respect for due process," said the organization.
Women rights defenders were also prompt to respond. Vice President Margarita Cedeño said the words by the prosecutor were humiliating to women. Likewise, citing similar reasons, the Center for Gender Studies of the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) in a press conference also called for the resignation of Rodríguez.
Moreover, the Women with Luis Movement, from the Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM) have called for the dismissal of Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez following his performance at the National Magistracy Council towards Judge Miriam Germán Brito. The president of the movement, Yadhira Henríquez said that all Dominican women were represented in Judge German when the Attorney General tried to destroy her dignity and it was an act of aggression to all Dominican women that deserved punishment. She went on to say that his intention was not to question her but to damage a spotless reputation that she had gained over 40 years, giving her respect throughout the country.
A year ago on 8 March 2018, at the same stage of the Presidential Palace, Judge Miriam Germán Brito had received from President Danilo Medina the national medal of merit in legal sciences during the celebration of the International Women’s Day.
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2019/03/06/556275/reclaman-destitucion-del-procurador
http://z101digital.com/margarita-ce...idad-por-maltrato-recibido-por-miriam-german/
https://eldia.com.do/mujeres-del-prm-exigen-destitucion-del-procurador/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...l-escarnio-frente-al-presidente-danilo-medina
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-jueza-miriam-german-fue-sometida-a-espionaje
https://acento.com.do/2019/politica...iesaje-del-pgr-deberian-provocar-destitucion/
http://hoy.com.do/pc-explica-como-e...scj-durante-entrevista-a-miriam-german-brito/
National District government signs transparency agreement with United Nations
National District Mayor David Collado and UN Development Program resident representative signed an agreement to expand the transparency and institutional strengthening efforts at the capital city government. The program is part of the ongoing “Santo Domingo Siempre Transparente” (Always Transparent Santo Domingo) that extends now into 2023. The agreement calls for the managerial transformation of the departments and agencies that are part of the city government. Mayor David Collado’s term ends in 2020.
Ministry of Public Works reveals works scheduled for 2019
The Ministry of Public Works has announced several leading construction projects to be started in 2019.
For Greater Santo Domingo:
• The overpass for Isabel Aguilar and 27 de Febrero.
• The 6km long four-lane Los Alcarrizos bypass (La Avenida Nuevo Camino) from Puente Blanco to Km. 14 Duarte Highway, with an exit to the old Duarte Highway, in Greater Santo Domingo. The plan is to detour more than 60% of the traffic headed to Los Alcarrizos from the National District.
• Construction of the Avenida Interconexión Los Alcarrizos
• Construction of section two of the Santo Domingo bypass
• Andrés-Boca Chica overpass
• Construction of five urban transportation terminals
• Rehabilitation of Km. 9 Av. John F. Kennedy with Av. Luperón
• Rehab of the floating bridge over Ozama River
San Juan de la Maguana:
• Construction of the San Juan de la Maguana bypass
• Construction of 744 apartments in San Juan de la Maguana
Barahona:
• Ten baseball fields
• Reconstruction of the bridge to Polo
• Urban works for the neighborhoods of Ciudad Esperanza and Ciudad Larimar
• Renovations at the Barahona marketplace and the municipal slaughterhouse.
Azua:
• Remodeling of the Buen Pastor and Ministerio de las Carmelitas churches
• Renovation of the Plaza de los Pilones
• Construction of the Azua city bypass expressway
Peravia:
• Peravia bypass
Samaná:
• Las Terrenas public hospital
Monseñor Nouel:
• Cotuí-La Mata bridge
La Vega
• Producers warehousing in Villa Altagracia
Montecristi:
• Copey-Agrario-Caño Blanco road
Puerto Plata:
• Expansion of the highway linking Puerto Plata and María Trinidad Sánchez provinces on the north coast.
• The Ministry announced the intended completion of the 40 km Jarabacoa-Manabao-La Ciénaga road, facilitating mountain tourism and farming.
http://www.mopc.gob.do/noticias-mop...zo-la-carretera-jarabacoa-manabao-la-ciénaga/
http://www.mopc.gob.do/media/6513/librillo-mopc-obras.pdf
National Health Service says neonatal mortality is down
The director of the National Health Service (SNS), Chanel Rosa Chupany says that the 30% decline in neonatal deaths is evidence that the new protocols in place are working. He said that during the four weeks of January there were 224 deaths of babies in their first 28 days, that is 56 less than the 280 for the same month in 2018. Rosa Chupany said that the neonatology areas at public hospitals have been reinforced, with specialized staff, better equipment and the monitoring of compliance with medical protocols and care guidelines.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/03/05/panorama/pais/sns-destaca-reduccion-de-muertes-neonatales/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/03...ion-para-reducir-mortalidad-materno-infantil/
Lack of law enforcement leads to traffic accidents
The negligence by the National Transit and Ground Transportation Institute (Intrant) in applying Ground Transport Law 63-17 continues to result in traffic accidents. El Día says that the inobservance of the law and lack of state supervision of vehicles in circulation is why tragedies such as that of a bus carrying around 60 passengers crashed into a tree on the Jarabacoa mountain road, with a score of five dead and dozens seriously injured. The bus was transporting Haitian soccer athletes and fans back to Maimón in Monseñor Nouel province after these had participated in a competition in Jarabacoa. By the look of photographs taken of the totaled bus, it would not have passed inspection and should not have been in service.
The Presidency recently issued Decree 5-19 whereby it publishes the ruling for vehicular inspections (Reglamento de la Inspección Técnica-Vehicular), but this has yet to be implemented.
https://eldia.com.do/transporte-carece-de-sistema-de-inspeccion-que-regule-al-sector/
Bien Común criticizes free spending on events and propaganda compared to public health
The political organization Bien Común criticized the Medina administration for allotting RD$1.89 billion in 2019 for events and festivities and only RD$642.6 million to the Neonatal Maternal Health program. The organizations criticized that on average in January, 56 newborns died as well as four women due to pregnancy-related complications, according to a recent bulletin from the Epidemiology Agency (Digepi) of the Ministry of Public Health.
Speaking for the organization, activist Natalia Mármol criticized that the government will be spending 56% more on propaganda compared to the amount put towards collective health services.
"Only by reducing the unnecessary festivities, events and the daily propaganda of the government we could stop the death factories the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) has turned public hospitals into. Only by reducing the wasteful spending can there be enough resources to improve the care for pregnant women before, during and after the delivery," he said.
She criticized that the PLD governments have devoted more money to political patronage, corruption and merry-making than to social programs. Marmol pointed to the case of the deputy and sister of President Danilo Medina, deputy Lucía Medina whose foundation received an increase of RD$2 million in funding.
"With the resources received by the deputy and sister of President Lucía Medina of Public Health, the salary of 150 general practitioners or 100 perinatologists, the maternal and fetal medicine specialists who pay for the follow-up and control of pregnancies, could be paid for," added Kirssy Santana of Bien Comun.
They also criticized the delay in the simultaneous remodeling of 56 hospitals, including the La Altagracia Maternity Hospital.
Bien Común recalled that the Dominican Republic is ranked third in Latin America and the Caribbean that least invests in Public Health, only surpassed by Haiti and Guatemala, with only 1.8% of GDP in 2019. "The worst thing is that the government admits that during the period 2020-2022 investment in health will be reduced to 1.7% of GDP.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/03...ion-para-reducir-mortalidad-materno-infantil/
New online citizenship service for children of Dominicans in the United States
The Dominican Consulate in New York has announced the launch of a new online platform to facilitate the process for obtaining Dominican citizenship for those born in the United States.
Consul General Carlos Castillo launched the site YoSoyDominicano.org during a ceremony to pay homage to the Fathers of the Homeland, Juan Pablo Duarte, Matías Ramón Mella and Francisco del Rosario Sánchez on occasion of Independence Day on 27 February 2019.
Castillo said that all the children born in the United States of at least one Dominican parent have the right to be Dominican citizens and they do not need to go to the country to complete the process.
http://yosoydominicano.org/
Call to sort out Puerto Plata garbage dump
Environmental specialist José Luis Nazario Lora is calling for a combined effort from all sectors involved to come up with a definitive solution for the management of solid waste in the province of Puerto Plata and avoid the damage the current situation is causing to the population and tourism in the area due to the constant fires at the garbage dump.
Nazario Lora, a civil engineer with a master’s degree in Sanitary and Environmental Engineering from PUCMM, says that if the situation were to be managed properly the frequent fires would not happen. He said a definitive solution should be a plant for controlled incineration that would also generate electricity.
He said that even though a new port has been built and another is under construction, if the current situation is not controlled there will be a negative impact and permanent damage to the image of Puerto Plata as a destination for tourists. He pointed out that the design of a proper system has already been done and the treatment plant partially built but it lacked an evaporation system for heavy metals. However, even though the cost is reasonable at around RD$50 million, nothing has happened.
He reported a Spanish company was turned down with their offer for a garbage-fueled electricity plant. The authorities say they are in conversations with Koreans.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ta-pide-solucion-al-vertedero-de-puerto-plata
Changes in airport security
The heads of security at international airports have been changed. Brigadier General Aracelis Castillo de la Cruz, director of the Specialized Corps of Airport Security and Civil Aviation (Cesac), said that the changes are routine.
• Colonel Juan Ramón Lizardo is now director of security at the La Isabela International Airport.
• Colonel Roilan Santos Rivas is the new director of security at Cibao Airport in Santiago.
• Colonel Johajany Suriel Otañe is the new director of security at la Romana Airport.
• Colonel Francis Figueroa Roque is now at Gregorio Luperon Airport in Puerto Plata.
• Colonel Luis Ramírez Paulino is named at El Catey International Airport in Samana
• Colonel César Valenzuela was sent to Arroyo Barril Airport.
http://hoy.com.do/estos-son-los-cambios-de-jefes-de-seguridad-de-aeropuertos-del-pais/
DR has the highest amount of confiscated heroin
According to a report issued on Tuesday, 5 March 2019, by the Junta Internacional de Fiscalización de Estupefacientes (JIFE), the Dominican Republic and Guatemala are the two countries in Central America and the Caribbean where the highest quantity of heroin was confiscated in 2017. The countries are used as staging posts for drugs to be sent to the main markets in the United States and Europe.
JIFE cites there has been an increase in market share of cocaine and marihuana smuggling. Cannabis is the most used drug in the region with 2.8% of the population having used it. This is followed by cocaine at 0.7%, amphetamines with 0.2% and ecstasy 0.1%.
https://almomento.net/rd-y-guatemala-son-paises-de-la-region-donde-se-incauto-mas-heroina-en-2017/
Canadian embassy backs empowerment of young women
The Embassy of Canada is sponsoring the Future Leader Summit (Cumbre de Futuras Líderes) from 21 to 23 March 2019 at the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel in Santo Domingo. Twenty women, 18 to 22 years old, were selected to represent Dominican women in the initiative. The event is co-sponsored by the UN Women agency and the Vice Presidency of the Dominican Republic. The women were selected for their interest in participating in the development of their community.
The Embassy of Canada says the program is part of the #ÉlporEllaRD campaign to foster activism among Dominican youths.
During the three days, the women will participate in meetings with government officers, multilateral organizations, non-governmental organization officers, in panels with influencers and will work to hone their skills to present community projects to the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) in 2020.
Ambassador Hemingway also announced that Elaine Féliz won their Gender Equality Leadership Award.
CFLI provides direct funding assistance to local non-governmental organizations and, in exceptional cases, international NGOs and government institutions, for small projects addressing gender equality and women empowerment, democratic governance, climate change and environment.
Also participating in the event was Minister of Women Janet Camilo and Minister of Youth Robianny Balcácer, among others.
https://www.facebook.com/EmbCanRD/videos/1162061863966988/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/03...e-futuras-lideres-en-la-republica-dominicana/
Helados Bon: Sweet plantain ice cream!
It’s your chance to taste a delicious Dominican traditional sweet, “carmelized sweet plantains” now turned into a Bon ice cream. The new flavor is part of the company’s “Enamorao de lo nuestro” campaign that honors Dominican traditions on occasion of the celebrating of Independence Day on 27 February 2019. The new ice cream was named “Amor de Conuco” and it is part of the Etiqueta Negra premium flavors ice cream line.
Fito Paez coming to Santo Domingo
The popular Argentine rock and roll pianist, lyricist, singer-songwriter and film director, Fito Paez is bringing his “Ciudad Liberada” concert to Santo Domingo on Friday, 3 May 2019 at 9pm at the Jaragua Renaissance Hotel. He will be accompanied by his complete band and promises to delight audiences with his greatest hits and new songs from his 18-song album, “La Ciudad Liberada”. Tickets are for sale online at Uepa Tickets and at CCN, Supermercados Nacional and Jumbo stores.
Judge Miriam German Brito responds to Attorney General accusations
Judge Katia Jiménez says she is out; declines aspiring to the Supreme Court of Justice
Former Vice President, Participación Ciudadana and women’s groups call for dismissal of Attorney General
National District government signs transparency agreement with United Nations
Ministry of Public Works reveals works scheduled for 2019
National Health Service says neonatal mortality is down
Lack of law enforcement leads to traffic accidents
Bien Común criticizes free spending on events and propaganda compared to public health
New online citizenship service for children of Dominicans in the United States
Call to sort out Puerto Plata garbage dump
Changes in airport security
DR has the highest amount of confiscated heroin
Canadian embassy backs empowerment of young women
Helados Bon: Sweet plantain ice cream!
Fito Paez coming to Santo Domingo
Presidency sends pension plan bill to Congress, does not affect 30% yield of AFPs
The reduction in the commissions paid to the Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones (AFP) proposed by the Executive Branch in a new bill sent to Congress on Tuesday, 5 March 2019 does not meet the expectations created when the project was mentioned by President Danilo Medina in his 27 February Independence Day state of the nation address. There had been expectations that the amendment to Social Security Law 87-01 would reduce the high earnings reported by the primarily bank-owned pension plan administrators and that this would be redistributed to the individual pension plans. The way the system is, the banks are the big winners and critics say retirees would have been better off doing the savings on their own.
As reported in Diario Libre, pension plan expert Arismendi Díaz says that the AFPs will keep their “juicy profits.” Díaz says there is no incentive for the companies to effectively manage the plans. “Their profits do not depend on their performance, only on the exponential growth of the retirement fund,” he explained.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...s-afp-con-poco-efecto-en-ganancias-BF12246711
Judge Miriam German Brito responds to Attorney General accusations
Judge Miriam Germán Brito has described as “a dirty trick” her questioning by Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez, during the interview for the evaluation of Supreme Court of Justice judges on Monday, 4 March 2019. She seeks five more years at the Supreme Court of Justice.
Being interviewed by journalist Katherine Díaz, for Noticias SIN on Tuesday, 5 March 2019, Germán Brito asserted that the Attorney General wanted to damage her image. She spoke of how those in power are capable of all types of abuse.
The media has reported that the performance assessment began not with legitimate questions but when the Attorney General read three communications, two supposedly sent to his office anonymously and one by Judge José Gregorio Bautista of Santo Domingo province. The anonymous communications accused Judge Germán Brito of holding secret meetings with Víctor Díaz Rúa, one of the accused in the Odebrecht case and allegedly having properties she owned transferred to her son so as not to have to disclose her ownership of them. The Attorney General said videos were provided to support the allegations of irregularities in the judge’s actions.
Legal specialists have claimed the Attorney General violated the performance assessment ruling of the National Council of the Magistracy. Lawyers Miguel Valerio and Carlos Salcedo told Diario Libre that the violation of Art. 26 of the ruling, should annul the assessment and revert to the confirmation of the judge who serves as president of the Second Penal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice. Likewise, lawyer Nassef Perdomo says that the CNM norms do not contemplate what to do in case of the violation of the due process and thus the case must be deliberated by the CNM members. He was also critical of the participation of Attorney General Rodríguez during the assessment.
The National Council Magistracy ruling had obliged the Attorney General to previously submit the accusations to the judge with 24 hours in order for her to prepare to respond to these in the public hearing.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...eso-lo-escribieron-en-procuraduria-CF12248280
http://hoy.com.do/miriam-german-sob...prendi-el-poder-es-capaz-de-todos-los-abusos/
http://hoy.com.do/movimiento-de-muj...l-procurador-por-trato-a-jueza-miriam-german/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/03...o-una-canallada-trato-recibido-en-evaluacion/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/03...d-por-el-maltrato-recibido-por-miriam-german/
http://hoy.com.do/pc-explica-como-e...scj-durante-entrevista-a-miriam-german-brito/
https://eldia.com.do/el-desbarre-del-procurador/
Judge Katia Jiménez says she is out; declines aspiring to the Supreme Court of Justice
Constitutional Court Judge Katia Miguelina Jiménez has announced that she has withdrawn her candidacy for the position of Supreme Court of Justice judge due to the disrespectful and humiliating treatment by Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez towards Judge Miriam Germán Brito during the latter’s assessment hearing by the members of the National Magistracy Council (CNM).
She said in a letter to President Danilo Medina, in his role as president of the CNM, that the interview was supposed to be a performance assessment but instead turned into something else. Jiménez said that the ruling for the assessment is clear and that it was violated. She was critical that when the violation was pointed out by members Josefa Castillo and José Paliza, the protest was overruled by the ruling party-favorable majority of the Council. Jiménez said this is evidence there are no guarantees for a true performance assessment and the reason for her to desist from seeking a Supreme Court of Justice seat.
http://hoy.com.do/jueza-retira-su-c...-irrespetuoso-del-procurador-a-miriam-german/
Former Vice President, Participación Ciudadana and women’s groups call for dismissal of Attorney General
Former Vice President Rafael Alburquerque called for the removal of Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez for his questioning of Judge Miriam Germán Brito. "The country is outraged by the affront perpetrated on an icon of justice, as is Judge Miriam Germán,” he said. He said the questioning showed evidence of espionage and great arrogance on behalf of the prosecutor that should lead to his dismissal. Alburquerque served three terms under President Leonel Fernandez from 2004 to 2012.
Participación Ciudadana, the civic watchdog, also called for Rodríguez’s resignation, highlighting the questioning had violated the rules for the assessment. The nonpartisan civic movement, Participación Ciudadana, rejected the violations to the regulation for the selection of the judges of the Supreme Court of Justice, made by Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez against the judge Miriam Germán Brito, with which, they indicate, it is intended to damage, without presenting any evidence and without giving the opportunity for defense, the track record of a judge who is recognized for her clean record of service in the judiciary. "It is a pity that a process in which the whole country has placed hopes for the strengthening of justice begins with the total ignorance of the procedure by a subordinate to the President of the Republic, who is called to set the example of respect for due process," said the organization.
Women rights defenders were also prompt to respond. Vice President Margarita Cedeño said the words by the prosecutor were humiliating to women. Likewise, citing similar reasons, the Center for Gender Studies of the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) in a press conference also called for the resignation of Rodríguez.
Moreover, the Women with Luis Movement, from the Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM) have called for the dismissal of Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez following his performance at the National Magistracy Council towards Judge Miriam Germán Brito. The president of the movement, Yadhira Henríquez said that all Dominican women were represented in Judge German when the Attorney General tried to destroy her dignity and it was an act of aggression to all Dominican women that deserved punishment. She went on to say that his intention was not to question her but to damage a spotless reputation that she had gained over 40 years, giving her respect throughout the country.
A year ago on 8 March 2018, at the same stage of the Presidential Palace, Judge Miriam Germán Brito had received from President Danilo Medina the national medal of merit in legal sciences during the celebration of the International Women’s Day.
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2019/03/06/556275/reclaman-destitucion-del-procurador
http://z101digital.com/margarita-ce...idad-por-maltrato-recibido-por-miriam-german/
https://eldia.com.do/mujeres-del-prm-exigen-destitucion-del-procurador/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...l-escarnio-frente-al-presidente-danilo-medina
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-jueza-miriam-german-fue-sometida-a-espionaje
https://acento.com.do/2019/politica...iesaje-del-pgr-deberian-provocar-destitucion/
http://hoy.com.do/pc-explica-como-e...scj-durante-entrevista-a-miriam-german-brito/
National District government signs transparency agreement with United Nations
National District Mayor David Collado and UN Development Program resident representative signed an agreement to expand the transparency and institutional strengthening efforts at the capital city government. The program is part of the ongoing “Santo Domingo Siempre Transparente” (Always Transparent Santo Domingo) that extends now into 2023. The agreement calls for the managerial transformation of the departments and agencies that are part of the city government. Mayor David Collado’s term ends in 2020.
Ministry of Public Works reveals works scheduled for 2019
The Ministry of Public Works has announced several leading construction projects to be started in 2019.
For Greater Santo Domingo:
• The overpass for Isabel Aguilar and 27 de Febrero.
• The 6km long four-lane Los Alcarrizos bypass (La Avenida Nuevo Camino) from Puente Blanco to Km. 14 Duarte Highway, with an exit to the old Duarte Highway, in Greater Santo Domingo. The plan is to detour more than 60% of the traffic headed to Los Alcarrizos from the National District.
• Construction of the Avenida Interconexión Los Alcarrizos
• Construction of section two of the Santo Domingo bypass
• Andrés-Boca Chica overpass
• Construction of five urban transportation terminals
• Rehabilitation of Km. 9 Av. John F. Kennedy with Av. Luperón
• Rehab of the floating bridge over Ozama River
San Juan de la Maguana:
• Construction of the San Juan de la Maguana bypass
• Construction of 744 apartments in San Juan de la Maguana
Barahona:
• Ten baseball fields
• Reconstruction of the bridge to Polo
• Urban works for the neighborhoods of Ciudad Esperanza and Ciudad Larimar
• Renovations at the Barahona marketplace and the municipal slaughterhouse.
Azua:
• Remodeling of the Buen Pastor and Ministerio de las Carmelitas churches
• Renovation of the Plaza de los Pilones
• Construction of the Azua city bypass expressway
Peravia:
• Peravia bypass
Samaná:
• Las Terrenas public hospital
Monseñor Nouel:
• Cotuí-La Mata bridge
La Vega
• Producers warehousing in Villa Altagracia
Montecristi:
• Copey-Agrario-Caño Blanco road
Puerto Plata:
• Expansion of the highway linking Puerto Plata and María Trinidad Sánchez provinces on the north coast.
• The Ministry announced the intended completion of the 40 km Jarabacoa-Manabao-La Ciénaga road, facilitating mountain tourism and farming.
http://www.mopc.gob.do/noticias-mop...zo-la-carretera-jarabacoa-manabao-la-ciénaga/
http://www.mopc.gob.do/media/6513/librillo-mopc-obras.pdf
National Health Service says neonatal mortality is down
The director of the National Health Service (SNS), Chanel Rosa Chupany says that the 30% decline in neonatal deaths is evidence that the new protocols in place are working. He said that during the four weeks of January there were 224 deaths of babies in their first 28 days, that is 56 less than the 280 for the same month in 2018. Rosa Chupany said that the neonatology areas at public hospitals have been reinforced, with specialized staff, better equipment and the monitoring of compliance with medical protocols and care guidelines.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/03/05/panorama/pais/sns-destaca-reduccion-de-muertes-neonatales/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/03...ion-para-reducir-mortalidad-materno-infantil/
Lack of law enforcement leads to traffic accidents
The negligence by the National Transit and Ground Transportation Institute (Intrant) in applying Ground Transport Law 63-17 continues to result in traffic accidents. El Día says that the inobservance of the law and lack of state supervision of vehicles in circulation is why tragedies such as that of a bus carrying around 60 passengers crashed into a tree on the Jarabacoa mountain road, with a score of five dead and dozens seriously injured. The bus was transporting Haitian soccer athletes and fans back to Maimón in Monseñor Nouel province after these had participated in a competition in Jarabacoa. By the look of photographs taken of the totaled bus, it would not have passed inspection and should not have been in service.
The Presidency recently issued Decree 5-19 whereby it publishes the ruling for vehicular inspections (Reglamento de la Inspección Técnica-Vehicular), but this has yet to be implemented.
https://eldia.com.do/transporte-carece-de-sistema-de-inspeccion-que-regule-al-sector/
Bien Común criticizes free spending on events and propaganda compared to public health
The political organization Bien Común criticized the Medina administration for allotting RD$1.89 billion in 2019 for events and festivities and only RD$642.6 million to the Neonatal Maternal Health program. The organizations criticized that on average in January, 56 newborns died as well as four women due to pregnancy-related complications, according to a recent bulletin from the Epidemiology Agency (Digepi) of the Ministry of Public Health.
Speaking for the organization, activist Natalia Mármol criticized that the government will be spending 56% more on propaganda compared to the amount put towards collective health services.
"Only by reducing the unnecessary festivities, events and the daily propaganda of the government we could stop the death factories the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) has turned public hospitals into. Only by reducing the wasteful spending can there be enough resources to improve the care for pregnant women before, during and after the delivery," he said.
She criticized that the PLD governments have devoted more money to political patronage, corruption and merry-making than to social programs. Marmol pointed to the case of the deputy and sister of President Danilo Medina, deputy Lucía Medina whose foundation received an increase of RD$2 million in funding.
"With the resources received by the deputy and sister of President Lucía Medina of Public Health, the salary of 150 general practitioners or 100 perinatologists, the maternal and fetal medicine specialists who pay for the follow-up and control of pregnancies, could be paid for," added Kirssy Santana of Bien Comun.
They also criticized the delay in the simultaneous remodeling of 56 hospitals, including the La Altagracia Maternity Hospital.
Bien Común recalled that the Dominican Republic is ranked third in Latin America and the Caribbean that least invests in Public Health, only surpassed by Haiti and Guatemala, with only 1.8% of GDP in 2019. "The worst thing is that the government admits that during the period 2020-2022 investment in health will be reduced to 1.7% of GDP.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/03...ion-para-reducir-mortalidad-materno-infantil/
New online citizenship service for children of Dominicans in the United States
The Dominican Consulate in New York has announced the launch of a new online platform to facilitate the process for obtaining Dominican citizenship for those born in the United States.
Consul General Carlos Castillo launched the site YoSoyDominicano.org during a ceremony to pay homage to the Fathers of the Homeland, Juan Pablo Duarte, Matías Ramón Mella and Francisco del Rosario Sánchez on occasion of Independence Day on 27 February 2019.
Castillo said that all the children born in the United States of at least one Dominican parent have the right to be Dominican citizens and they do not need to go to the country to complete the process.
http://yosoydominicano.org/
Call to sort out Puerto Plata garbage dump
Environmental specialist José Luis Nazario Lora is calling for a combined effort from all sectors involved to come up with a definitive solution for the management of solid waste in the province of Puerto Plata and avoid the damage the current situation is causing to the population and tourism in the area due to the constant fires at the garbage dump.
Nazario Lora, a civil engineer with a master’s degree in Sanitary and Environmental Engineering from PUCMM, says that if the situation were to be managed properly the frequent fires would not happen. He said a definitive solution should be a plant for controlled incineration that would also generate electricity.
He said that even though a new port has been built and another is under construction, if the current situation is not controlled there will be a negative impact and permanent damage to the image of Puerto Plata as a destination for tourists. He pointed out that the design of a proper system has already been done and the treatment plant partially built but it lacked an evaporation system for heavy metals. However, even though the cost is reasonable at around RD$50 million, nothing has happened.
He reported a Spanish company was turned down with their offer for a garbage-fueled electricity plant. The authorities say they are in conversations with Koreans.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ta-pide-solucion-al-vertedero-de-puerto-plata
Changes in airport security
The heads of security at international airports have been changed. Brigadier General Aracelis Castillo de la Cruz, director of the Specialized Corps of Airport Security and Civil Aviation (Cesac), said that the changes are routine.
• Colonel Juan Ramón Lizardo is now director of security at the La Isabela International Airport.
• Colonel Roilan Santos Rivas is the new director of security at Cibao Airport in Santiago.
• Colonel Johajany Suriel Otañe is the new director of security at la Romana Airport.
• Colonel Francis Figueroa Roque is now at Gregorio Luperon Airport in Puerto Plata.
• Colonel Luis Ramírez Paulino is named at El Catey International Airport in Samana
• Colonel César Valenzuela was sent to Arroyo Barril Airport.
http://hoy.com.do/estos-son-los-cambios-de-jefes-de-seguridad-de-aeropuertos-del-pais/
DR has the highest amount of confiscated heroin
According to a report issued on Tuesday, 5 March 2019, by the Junta Internacional de Fiscalización de Estupefacientes (JIFE), the Dominican Republic and Guatemala are the two countries in Central America and the Caribbean where the highest quantity of heroin was confiscated in 2017. The countries are used as staging posts for drugs to be sent to the main markets in the United States and Europe.
JIFE cites there has been an increase in market share of cocaine and marihuana smuggling. Cannabis is the most used drug in the region with 2.8% of the population having used it. This is followed by cocaine at 0.7%, amphetamines with 0.2% and ecstasy 0.1%.
https://almomento.net/rd-y-guatemala-son-paises-de-la-region-donde-se-incauto-mas-heroina-en-2017/
Canadian embassy backs empowerment of young women
The Embassy of Canada is sponsoring the Future Leader Summit (Cumbre de Futuras Líderes) from 21 to 23 March 2019 at the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel in Santo Domingo. Twenty women, 18 to 22 years old, were selected to represent Dominican women in the initiative. The event is co-sponsored by the UN Women agency and the Vice Presidency of the Dominican Republic. The women were selected for their interest in participating in the development of their community.
The Embassy of Canada says the program is part of the #ÉlporEllaRD campaign to foster activism among Dominican youths.
During the three days, the women will participate in meetings with government officers, multilateral organizations, non-governmental organization officers, in panels with influencers and will work to hone their skills to present community projects to the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) in 2020.
Ambassador Hemingway also announced that Elaine Féliz won their Gender Equality Leadership Award.
CFLI provides direct funding assistance to local non-governmental organizations and, in exceptional cases, international NGOs and government institutions, for small projects addressing gender equality and women empowerment, democratic governance, climate change and environment.
Also participating in the event was Minister of Women Janet Camilo and Minister of Youth Robianny Balcácer, among others.
https://www.facebook.com/EmbCanRD/videos/1162061863966988/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/03...e-futuras-lideres-en-la-republica-dominicana/
Helados Bon: Sweet plantain ice cream!
It’s your chance to taste a delicious Dominican traditional sweet, “carmelized sweet plantains” now turned into a Bon ice cream. The new flavor is part of the company’s “Enamorao de lo nuestro” campaign that honors Dominican traditions on occasion of the celebrating of Independence Day on 27 February 2019. The new ice cream was named “Amor de Conuco” and it is part of the Etiqueta Negra premium flavors ice cream line.
Fito Paez coming to Santo Domingo
The popular Argentine rock and roll pianist, lyricist, singer-songwriter and film director, Fito Paez is bringing his “Ciudad Liberada” concert to Santo Domingo on Friday, 3 May 2019 at 9pm at the Jaragua Renaissance Hotel. He will be accompanied by his complete band and promises to delight audiences with his greatest hits and new songs from his 18-song album, “La Ciudad Liberada”. Tickets are for sale online at Uepa Tickets and at CCN, Supermercados Nacional and Jumbo stores.