DR1 Daily News - Thursday, 11 April 2019

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Next DR1 Daily News update: Monday, 15 April 2019
Exports up 8% in Jan-Feb 2019
IMF forecasts DR to grow 5.1% in 2019
Central Bank announces Foreign Exchange Transactions Platform for May 2019
Punta Catalina is generating, concerns over smoke contamination
After death of wrestler, ambulance would be stationed permanently at Olympic Sports Center
Divorce could be easier for many in Dominican Republic
Navy rescues sports fishermen in Montecristi, one dies
Manuel Rivas ordered to stay in jail
Police identifies body of missing US tourist
Merengue/bachata category back in Latin Grammys
La Traviata at the National Theater this 12 and 14 April
"The Owl and the Pussycat” at Sala Ravelo of the National Theater
Santiago Cruz booked for show in May


Next DR1 Daily News update: Monday, 15 April 2019
The next DR1 Daily News update will be published on Monday, 15 April 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


Exports up 8% in Jan-Feb 2019
Economist Pavel Isa Contreras says Dominican exports for the first two months of the year were up 8.3% compared to the same period in 2018. Exports reached US$1.5 billion, or US$116 million more than for Jan-Feb 2018. The data is from the Dominican Customs Agency (DGA) and reported in the newsletter of the Dominican Observatory of International Trade (Observatorio Dominicano de Comercio Internacional - ODCI) at INTEC university for the January-March 2019 quarter. The export watch group follows Dominican exports. The Central Bank has forecast exports this year will reach a record US$12 billion.

The ODCI highlights that exports need to grow at a pace of 10% through 2030, or two times the average growth of the past decade, in order to catch up with the average pace of Latin American countries. Isa said that even when low the recent 8.3% growth is considerably higher than export growth in previous years. Exports with largest growth were gold (US$327 million), electric devices (US$160 million), cigars (US$137 million), medical devices (US$134 million), iron and steel (US$76 million) fruits (US$60 million) and plastics (US$50 million).

https://odci.org.do/


IMF forecasts DR to grow 5.1% in 2019
The International Monetary Fund has revised its 2019 projected real GDP growth rate for the Dominican Republic. This is now at 5.1%, compared to an earlier estimate of 5.5%. This is down from growth in 2018 that at 7% was the highest in the Americas. The data is contained in the World Economic Outlook Report issued by the IMF on 10 April 2019.

Likewise, it has reported a projected consumer prices rate of 1.4%, significantly lower than the forecasted inflation rate of 4%. This is up from 1.2% at year’s end 2018. The Central Bank reported first quarter 2019 inflation of 0.86%.

The slowdown is comparable with global forecasts in general. The IMF report states: “After strong growth in 2017 and early 2018, global economic activity slowed notably in the second half of last year, reflecting a confluence of factors affecting major economies. Global growth is now projected to slow from 3.6 percent in 2018 to 3.3 percent in 2019, before returning to 3.6 percent in 2020.”

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Article...2019-article-iv-mission-to-dominican-republic
https://www.imf.org/en/Countries/DOM
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/Issues/2019/01/11/weo-update-january-2019


Central Bank announces Foreign Exchange Transactions Platform for May 2019
The Central Bank is working on an Electronic Platform for Hard Currency Transactions as part of efforts to increase efficiency and transparency of the Dominican foreign exchange market. To this end, Central Bank Governor Hector Valdez Albizu met last week with the treasurers of financial entities transacting in foreign exchange. He said in February, loans and savings bank personnel were trained in the platform use.

According to Valdez Albizu, the Central Bank is finalizing ruling and guidelines for use of the system. The installation of the Plataforma Electrónica de Negociación de Divisas would begin this April 2019, and the system would begin to be implemented in May by phases. The first phase would be that of US dollar cash operations.

Assisting the Central Bank in this effort is the IMF through the Regional Center for Technical Assistance of Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic (CAPTAC-RD). The Central Bank also has studied the experiences in implementing similar platforms in Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Argentina.

https://www.bancentral.gov.do/a/d/4...taforma-electronica-de-negociacion-de-divisas


Punta Catalina is generating, concerns over smoke contamination
The Punta Catalina coal-fired thermoelectric power plant has been generating upwards of 158.21 MW this April 2019 as it begins its test run, according to reports posted by the Coordinating Body of the National Interconnected Electrical System of the Dominican Republic (OC-SENI).

Rubén Jiménez Bichara, head of the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE), owner of the Dominican government power plant, says it has been generating continuously 215 megawatts since Monday, 8 April 2019. He made the remarks when attending the inauguration of the first phase of the 50MW Aguas Claras wind farm in northwestern Montecristi.

Journalist Altagracia Salazar of the Sin Maquillaje news commentary show presented a photo showing major smoke contamination coming from the Punta Catalina power plant and expressed concern on how this would affect those who live and work in the area. She speculated the filters could have not yet been installed.

https://eldia.com.do/punta-catalina-genera-215-megavatios-estables/
http://www.oc.org.do/Reportes/postdespacho.aspx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLJoiKaZPuQ&t=1159s


After death of wrestler, ambulance would be stationed permanently at Olympic Sports Center
The Ministry of Sports has recommended the permanent stationing of a fully-equipped ambulance at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center. Sports Minister Danilo Diaz announced the recommenation after a wrestler practicing in the sports center died of pulmonary edema.

The president of the national Olympic Committee, Luisin Mejia, also agreed that a 911 unit should be permanently parked at the Olympic Center to assist athletes that practice or compete in the most important sports venue of Santo Domingo.

While it is a general practice for competition organizers to factor in the cost of an ambulance during these events, during practice days apparently an ambulance has not been on site. After the death of athlete Juan Carlos Daiz Mordan of heart failure, this could be corrected.

https://www.diariolibre.com/deporte...ego-del-deceso-del-atleta-de-lucha-BE12524342


Divorce could be easier for many in Dominican Republic
A First Instance Santo Domingo Court has ruled that the different rules that apply to men and women in the Divorce Law violate the Constitution. The rules restrict those who can petition a fast-track divorce on grounds of mutual consent. As reported in Diario Libre, the ruling of the Cuarta Sala para Asuntos de Familia of the Cámara Civil y Comercial del Juzgado de Primera Instancia of the province of Santo Domingo East would be setting a positive precedent for family cases. Lawyers explain it will make it possible to save time and the cost of litigation.

Divorce Law 1306-Bis, in its Art. 27, does not allow for the fast-tracked mutual consent divorces in the cases when the marriage is less than two years, when the couple has been married for 30 years, or when the husband is 60 years old or more and the wife is 50 years old.

Judge Altagracia Mendoza made the ruling when hearing the case presented by an Italian man married to a Dominican where age would have been an impediment to the mutual consent divorce.

As reported in Diario Libre, in her ruling (903-2016), the judge said that the Dominican Constitution outlaws gender discrimination.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...o-consentimiento-por-edad-y-tiempo-LE12524285


Navy rescues sports fishermen in Montecristi, one dies
The Navy reported that 65-year old Lucas Santana Medina, a native of Montecristi, died while fishing at sea. Three other persons who had accompanied him survived. Of these, two were rescued by the Navy, while a fourth swam to safety. They were fishing on board Zeus II. The fishermen were rescued by the Navy Denebola LI-166. The fishermen had headed to the Los 7 Hermanos out island when their boat was impacted by a heavy waves in the Atlantic Ocean.

http://hoy.com.do/un-pescador-muere-y-dos-son-rescatados-con-vida-por-la-armada/
http://z101digital.com/un-pescador-...ientes-en-naufragio-en-costas-de-montecristi/


Manuel Rivas ordered to stay in jail
The Cuarto Juzgado de la Instrucción of the National District ordered that Manuel Rivas, the former director of the Metropolitan Bus Services (OMSA) government entity, remain in jail. He had been accused of the murder of lawyer Yuniol Ramírez, but in a late development in the case, that accusation was dropped, leaving just a charge of corruption, which carries a much lighter sentence.

He had been in jail on pre-trial custody. His lawyer Carlos Salcedo had requested the court vary the pre-trial custody conditions given that his client is no longer accused of murder. Ramírez had been investigating corruption at OMSA.

On 7 March 2019, National District prosecutor Rosalba Ramos had stated that the prosecution was not able to establish direct ties between Manuel Rivas and the lawyer, while maintaining the ties with accusations for corruption and fraud against the state.

https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2019/04/10/560719/tribunal-prolonga-la-prision-contra-rivas


Police identifies body of missing US tourist
Police says they have partially resolved the case of the missing US tourists. Spokesman for the police colonel Frank Durán Mejía said on La Cuestion radio talk show of 107.7FM that an autopsy carried out at the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif) identified the fingerprints of the body of US citizen Portia Ravenelle.

The woman had been treated at the Darío Contreras Trauma Hospital where she was hospitalized for several days in the intensive care unit until dying on 4 April 2019. At the time she had not yet been identified, since the ambulance took her to the hospital without identification after assisting her at Km 19 of the Las Americas Expressway between the Samaná highway and the Las Americas toll.

Regarding the body that is suspected to be that of Orlando Moore recovered from the sea near Sans Souci, photographs with a tattoo he had on his arm were sent to the Police in Mount Vernon, New York so that a brother of his can assist in the identification. Durán said that the drafting of the scenario of the tragedy still needs to be worked up, but that to conclude the investigation the rental car needs to be hauled from where it is located at Km 19 of the Las Americas Expressway. Rough seas have impeded the recovery of the vehicle from where it is expected to be located.

What is known is that the couple had passed the Marbella toll station on the Samaná to Santo Domingo highway that is about 6 km from the Las Americas International Airport. The couple had been booked to take a 2am flight back to Newark International on 27 March and crossed the toll station at 1:41am.

On Wednesday, 10 April, Police investigators from the Dicrim division and transit specialists from the Digesett, accompanied by prosecutors surveyed the area where it is presumed the car slid into the sea. The Police says that agents from the FBI are collaborating in the case.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...-es-extranjera-estuvo-desaparecida-HF12530340
https://eldia.com.do/policia-confirma-norteamericana-fallecio-en-accidente/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...saparecida-en-republica-dominicana-HE12529934


Merengue/bachata category back in Latin Grammys
The good news is that the organizers of the Latin Grammy Awards are incorporating a Best Merengue/Bachata category, honoring the two Dominican music genres. This coincides with the launching of new albums by Juan Luis Guerra and Romeo Santos. The requirement is for at least 51% of the content of the albums to be new material.

The last time that a Latin Grammy for Best Merengue Album was awarded occurred in 2003. In 2004, merengue was grouped with salsa, and later it could be awarded in the Contemporary Tropical category. In 2012 Mily Quezada won with her merengue track “Aquí estoy yo.”

Wilfrido Vargas, a legend in merengue production, celebrated by saying: “The makers of Dominican music are celebrated by the reinstatement of merengue in the Latin Grammy, a category shared with bachata.

Frank Reyes, one of the leading bachata singers, also praised the Latin Grammy academy for taking into consideration the work of Dominican artists. “Now, the exponents of bachata and merengue should worry about making good recordings, taking into account the mix, mastering and other details,” he said.

https://www.diariolibre.com/revista...ejor-album-de-merengue-y-o-bachata-GH12516101


La Traviata at the National Theater this 12 and 14 April
The Dominican version of Giuseppe Verdi's three-act opera "La Traviata" is scheduled to be presented by Opera RD on 10, 12 and 14 April 2019 at the National Theater. The Dominican version is set in Santo Domingo in the mid-50s.

A dream team of leading Dominican artistic producers is bringing the classic opera to new audiences. The musical direction is by Maestro José Antonio Molina, production by Fidel López, costumes by Leonel Lirio, choreography by Carlos Veitia and the stage is by Eduardo Villanueva.

The lyrical performances will be by a stellar lineup that includes Maria Karatsava, Nathalie Pena-Comas, David Astorga, Pedro Carrillo, Glemmer Perez, Pura Tyson, Sibelle Marquez, Sayli Perez, Eduardo Mejía, Kenny Gomez, Alberto Duran and Edison Feliz.

Based on a novel and play by Alexandre Dumas, "La Traviata" tells the story of a turbulent romance that faces resistance from family, social, and class barriers and chronic health problems.


"The Owl and the Pussycat” at Sala Ravelo of the National Theater
The theatrical work, “The Owl and the Pussycat” (Una intrusa a medio noche) will be presented on weekends from 9 to 19 May, at the Sala Ravelo of the Eduardo Brito National Theater. It is a production by Raúl Méndez. This is one of the best comedies presented on Broadway, written by Bill Manhoff. The stellar roles are by Cheddy Garcia and José Guillermo Cortines.

The play tells the story of Doris, a prostitute who calls herself an actress and model, who bursts into the house of Felix at midnight, a neurotic and repressed writer. It is when a strange love-hate relationship is generated between them, since both come from different worlds, but they also have much in common.

https://listindiario.com/entretenim...-intrusa-a-medianoche-a-la-sala-ravelo-del-tn


Santiago Cruz booked for show in May
Colombian singer Santiago Cruz will be performing on Friday, 24 May at the Gran Teatro del Cibao in Santiago and Saturday, 25 May, at the Teatro La Fiesta of the Hotel Jaragua Renaissance. His performance includes bachatas that he included in his “Elementales” album that he is promoting with the concerts.

https://listindiario.com/entretenimiento/2019/04/10/560676/santiago-cruz-le-coquetea-a-la-bachata
Listen to his music: “Vida de mis Vidas.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAXgq_X7F3c
 
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