DR1 Daily News - Thursday, 7 March 2019

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Next DR1 Daily News update: Monday, 11 March 2019
Amendments to Noise Pollution Law pass in Congress
143,000 to benefit from pension plan increases in government
Isa Conde calls for end to wasteful energy use
EU$14.8 million to foster transparency in government
US contributes US$1.6 million to combat people trafficking
Qatar wants to sell natural gas to the Dominican Republic
Judge Miriam Germán Brito recuses Jean-Alain Rodríguez
National District Prosecutor Rosalba Ramos defends her boss
Former colleague criticizes Attorney General’s accumulated wealth
Italian fugitives deported
Talk on the Venezuela crisis
Braulio de España at the Barceló Santo Domingo
Diomary “La Mala” at the Jaragua


Next DR1 Daily News update: Monday, 11 March 2019
The next DR1 Daily News update will be published on Monday, 11 March 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. See DR1 Forum at http://www.dr1.com


Amendments to Noise Pollution Law pass in Congress
Congress has passed a bill that strengthens provisions to combat noise in the Dominican Republic. The bill amends Noise Pollution Law 287-04. The bill that was drafted by Samaná senator Prim Pujals Nolasco now moves to the Executive Branch for signing and publishing.

The Ministry of Environment sets the maximum decibels that are allowed. The amendment seeks to extend coverage of the law to “colmadones”, that are former grocery stores turned into primarily liquor-vending lounges, liquor stores, and other ventures that disturb with their loud music devices and noisy power plants. The amendments also specifically penalize the use of loudspeakers or music equipment in vehicles or the lack of mufflers for exhaust.

The amendments address excessive noise on streets in residential areas, near hospitals, schools, churches, the use of burglar alarms lasting more than 60 minutes, and generators. Fines range from 3 to 30 minimum government wages or approximately RD$30,000 to RD$300,000.

https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2019/03/06/556257/amplian-sancion-en-ley-antirruidos


143,000 to benefit from pension plan increases in government
The director general of the Pension and Retirement Plan Agency (DGJP), Germán Nova says that more than 143,000 persons will receive the raises in their government pension plans as of 1 April 2019. The raises for government retirees would benefit those receiving RD$5,117 to RD$30,000 a month. President Danilo Medina had announced the raises in his 27 February 2019 state of the nation address.

Some 107,137 former government employees and 9,030 former police making RD$5,117 will now receive payments of RD$8,000. Likewise, 13,079 civilians and 6,667 former police receiving RD$8,000 to RD$20,000 in retirement payments will receive 10% wage increase on these payments. 5,654 civilians and 1,578 former police receiving RD$20,001 to RD$30,000 will receive 5% increases.

http://hoy.com.do/1883127-2/


Isa Conde calls for end to wasteful energy use
Energy and Mines Minister Antonio Isa Conde called for an end to wasteful consumption of energy. He announced the Ministry has prepared the National Plan for Energy Efficiency that seeks to reduce energy consumption 13.2% by 2030. He called for the signing of the Electricity Pact by all sectors.

For the World Day of Energy Efficiency on 6 March 2019, Deputy Minister Petrouschka Muñoz said that energy efficiency is the main tool the country has to confront climate change. A proposed new initiative will promote efficient energy use and greater production efficiency to achieve favorable overall energy supply conditions. This will also foster the use of alternative and renewable sources over oil-based energy.


Muñoz said that the Ministry is focusing on drafting the Energy Efficiency Bill of the Dominican Republic that will be the legal framework to regulate the efficient use of energy resources. The Ministry also seeks to achieve the Medina administration’s goal to reduce energy consumption by select government entities by year 2020 by at least 10%.

https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/03...e-pide-revertir-cultura-del-derroche-energia/


EU$14.8 million to foster transparency in government
The European Union has agreed to donate EU$14.8 million over the next three years to promote efficiency, transparency and goal-oriented spending in the Dominican public administration. Signing the agreement on 6 March 2019 were Hacienda Minister Donald Guerrero, European Union delegation head, Gianluca Grippa and Antonio Vargas, national authorizing officer for the European Development Fund.

The funding will be used to foster a results-oriented national budget, public procurement, greater participation of women in public procurement, accounting based on international standards for the public sector, management of financial assets and liabilities and strengthening of the government property records and administration of national assets.

https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/...o-presupuestario-por-148-millones-de-euros_en


US contributes US$1.6 million to combat people trafficking
US Ambassador Robin Bernstein said the US government has donated US$1.6 million to the Dominican Republic to back the efforts of the Inter-Institutional Commission to Combat Trafficking in Persons (CITIM). Bernstein made the observation when participating in the presentation of “Una nueva forma de esclavitud: la trata de personas. Una guía para su derrota”, a book on people trafficking at the Ministry of Foreign Relations on 6 March 2019 with the collaboration of the civic group, Participación Ciudadana.

The ambassador said that combatting people trafficking is one of her priorities as ambassador. Ambassador Robin Bernstein said that the Trump administration understands that cooperation is needed to end human trafficking. "No government or individual can fight on its own," she reflected. "Governments, religious organizations, civil society and survivors must work together," she said.

During the presentation, Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas said that national statistics for 2018 reveal that 50% of the victims are adult women and 25% are minor girls. Vargas called the publication a practical tool to be consulted by those working to eradicate trafficking in the Dominican Republic. Vargas is the president of the CITIM.

http://www.mirex.gob.do/medios/noti...na-presentan-guia-contra-la-trata-de-personas
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/03/07/panorama/pais/ee-uu-apoya-la-lucha-contra-trata-de-personas/


Will the DR buy natural gas from Qatar?
The Dominican Republic purchases natural gas from the United States and Trinidad & Tobago. Now,
Qatar wants to sell its natural gas to the Dominican Republic. Qatar is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas.

In an interview published in El Dia, the business attache for the Qatar Embassy in Santo Domingo, Khalid Al Sharshani said that the country is the third largest producer of gas in the world and the largest producer of liquefied natural gas with 79 million tonnes a year. He said the possibility of starting Qatar natural gas exports to the Dominican Republic will be discussed during the scheduled visit of Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas to Qatar.

The Dominican Republic has had an embassy in Qatar since 2005. Two years later, in 2007, Qatar became the first Arab state to open an embassy in the Dominican Republic. Seven bilateral agreements have been signed in education, tourism, business, tax evasion and aviation services.

The Medina administration recently appointed experienced Dominican ambassador Federico Cuello to be ambassador in Qatar. Cuello for years had served as Dominican ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Saad al-Kaabi, the country’s energy minister, recently said in a press conference that the gulf state had reviewed ways to enhance its role internationally, and would be focusing on its gas industry. Qatar wants to ramp up liquefied natural gas production from 77m to 110m tonnes a year.

https://eldia.com.do/qatar-busca-colocar-su-gas-natural-en-el-pais/
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/dec/03/qatar-pulls-out-of-opec-to-focus-on-gas-production


Judge Miriam Germán Brito recuses Jean-Alain Rodríguez
Supreme Court of Justice judge Miriam Germán Brito has asked Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez to remove himself from voting on her assessment on grounds that he violated the National Council of the Magistracy ruling for the assessment of Supreme Court of Justice aspiring judges. It is known that Rodríguez did not previously notify Germán Brito that he would be presenting allegedly anonymous letters to sustain accusations that she has ties to former Public Works Minister Víctor Díaz Rúa, who is accused in the Odebrecht bribes scandal, or to question the origin of her assets and that she had used her son as a front for these, or to share accusations made by judge Jose Gregorio Bautista Vargas that Germán Brito had acted to favor drug trafficker Winston Rizik.

In her recusal request, judge Germán Brito argues that Rodríguez’s assessment of her shows that he has a lack of objectivity and impartiality to carry out a fair assessment adhering to the legal framework and this should not be tolerated in a state of law. Elected to the Supreme Court of Justice in 2011, Germán Brito aspires to continue as a Supreme Court of Justice judge for five more years.

https://eldia.com.do/ataque-a-jueza-en-el-cnm-deviene-en-escandalo-arrastra-la-procuraduria/


National District Prosecutor Rosalba Ramos defends her boss
National District prosecutor Rosalba Ramos came to the defense of her boss on Wednesday, 6 February 2019, after widespread rejection of Attorney General Jean-Alain Rodríguez of Supreme Court of Justice assessment to judge Miriam Germán Brito during the National Council of the Magistracy hearings. Rodríguez accused Germán Brito of hiding assets and associating with criminals. His statements were met with criticism for violating the established rules in the performance assessment of the aspiring Supreme Court judges. A campaign has begun to seek his firing by President Danilo Medina.

Prosecutor Ramos said that the replacement of Jean Alain Rodríguez would be a great loss for the country because “he has been the best prosecutor we have had so far.” Ramos was interviewed when attending the presentation of the book “Una nueva forma de esclavitud: la trata de personas. Una guía para su derrota”, a book on people trafficking at the Ministry of Foreign Relations. She said to say he was wrong in his questioning is to say that public officers are not subject to scrutiny. She said this is a time to speak about transparency and honesty. She says that Judge Miriam Germán should respond to the accusations. She said that the Attorney General acted correctly.

Judge Miriam Germán has responded on several radio and TV talk shows to the inquiries by Attorney General Rodríguez. Edith Febles, the journalist who was ejected from CDN for covering irregularities in the recent fast-tracked overhaul of the Public Ministry by Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez, interviewed the judge for her La Cosa Como Es program on TeleRadio America.

https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/03...ocurador-seria-una-gran-perdida-para-el-pais/
http://somospueblo.com/jean-alain-violo-el-reglamento-del-consejo-nacional-de-la-magistratura/
http://hoy.com.do/lea-aqui-las-cart...ocurador-contra-la-jueza-miriam-german-brito/
http://hoy.com.do/miriam-german-da-...ropiedades-y-su-declaracion-jurada-de-bienes/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29xATaaAmr0


Focus on Attorney General’s accumulated wealth
Identifying himself as a colleague from their starting years in law, a lawyer is circulating an "anonymous" questioning the wealth accumulated by Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez and business deals of his companies. The contribution was also circulated in Somos Pueblo website. The lawyer protests the Attorney General presenting two anonymous documents as evidence of irregularities in the personal wealth of Supreme Court of Justice judge Miriam German Brito. Germán Brito aspires to five more years in the court.

Attorney General Rodríguez is a member of the National Council of the Magistracy that is assessing the aspirants. The observations by Rodriguez were made during his questioning of judge Germán Brito.

Later Germán Brito would say she suspects the anonymous letters were drafted at the Attorney General Office as she says they appear to be in the same style as that of the prosecutor. She says he has no sense of humor.

Somos Pueblo, an opposition movement, shared the contribution that presents the names of several companies that the lawyer says benefited from lucrative business deals with the government when allegedly Rodríguez took advantage of his position in government.

At the conclusion of Attorney General Rodríguez statements, Germán Brito had responded: “If things were equal, on this same stage we would also be talking about you.”

Somos Pueblo is also promoting a protest in front of the Attorney General Office in the Centro de los Héroes on Friday, 8 March 2019, International Woman’s Day.

Politician Claudio Caamaño Vélez also appealed to social media to reveal that the attorney general accumulates wealth of RD$224 million and shared the wealth statement of the 44-year old lawyer in which several items are blacked out.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...rentan-en-plena-evaluacion-del-cnm-LC12236148
http://somospueblo.com/haganle-llegar-al-cnm-este-anonimo-de-jean-alain-rodriguez/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...iam-german-leida-por-el-procurador-JC12237853
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...eso-lo-escribieron-en-procuraduria-CF12248280
http://somospueblo.com/si-esto-fuer...e-usted-miriam-german-a-jean-alain-rodriguez/
http://somospueblo.com/jean-alain-violo-el-reglamento-del-consejo-nacional-de-la-magistratura/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-el-reglamento-del-consejo-de-la-magistratura
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29xATaaAmr0


Italian fugitives deported
The National Police and the Santo Domingo office of Interpol announced the arrest and deporting via Las Americas International Airport of several Italian fugitives of justice on Tuesday, 6 March 2019. Those deported to Italy are 71-year old Lucio Galli, 71; 42-year old Buobanno Salvatore; 52-year old Ferrari Massimo; 78-year old Abele Chiarolini; and 55-year old Nadalin Mauro. Also arrested but not yet deported was 62-year old Giacometti Giovanni.

The Police said that Salvatore was sought for sexual crimes and was arrested in Jarabacoa. Nadalin Mauro was arrested in the Colonial City and is accused of financial crimes in Italy. In Samaná, Ferrari Massimo was arrested. Abele Chiarolini was arrested in Santo Domingo. And Lucio Galli was arrested in La Romana.

The deportations follow the signing of an extradition agreement between the Dominican Republic and Italy during the recent visit of Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas and President Danilo Medina to Italy in mid-February. The agreements seek to advance collaboration of both countries to combat organized crime and drug trafficking.

The agreements were negotiated in 2018 and are part of efforts of the Italian government to reinforce collaboration with Latin America. From 2016 to 2017, the Italian authorities presented 12 requests for extradition to the Dominican Republic.

https://elnacional.com.do/apresa-rd-grupo-por-delitos-italia/


Talk on the Venezuela crisis
Economist Julio Ortega Tous, Venezuelan business consultant Emilio Berrizbeitia and former Dominican OAS ambassador Roberto Alvarez Gil will be panelists on Wednesday, 13 March 2019 at 7:30pm for a discussion about the Venezuelan political crisis at Quinta Dominica. The origin and background of the Chavist revolution, the political crisis and present economic situation, and the regional impact of the Venezuelan crisis will be discussed by the panelists. The talk promises to be a heated debate.


Braulio de España at the Barceló Santo Domingo
Spanish singer-songwriter Braulio will be performing at 10pm on Friday, 8 March 2019 in the Salon La Mancha of the Barceló Santo Domingo (former Lina Hotel). Tickets RD$2,165 to RD$4,330 online at Uepa Tickets.


Diomary “La Mala” at the Jaragua
Singer Diomary “La Mala” presents “Quisqueyanas” at the Teatro La Fiesta of the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel. During the concert she will delight her fans with her deep voice and renditions of dozens of legendary Latin American boleros. Saturday, 9 March at 9pm. Tickets are available online at Uepa Tickets in prices ranging from RD$1,085 to RD$3,790.
 
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