D
Dolores
Guest
President Medina was in Boca Chica to inaugurate two schools
Microsoft’s Cesar Cernuda visits President Medina
Automated external defibrillators installed on all floors at Ney Arias Lora Trauma Hospital
The Dominican energy matrix
Central Bank proud of CFI.co award
Schools of economics forecast good year for 2019, pinpoint challenges
More information on Easter Week accidents
Why JCE should rule against deputies dragging senators
Buy your vegetables in the markets
Divorce rate at 44%
Water scarcity continues
DR ranks low in safe walking at night
US Embassy helps Samaná coral reef
Conflict continues at Punta Catalina
Death of businessman ruled a suicide
Does the oldest person in the world live in Santo Domingo?
President Medina was in Boca Chica to inaugurate two schools
On Monday, 22 April 2019, President Danilo Medina visited the municipality of Boca Chica where he handed over two new primary schools that will benefit 1,890 students. The schools will operate on the extended school day plan. They have facilities for serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks.
President Medina was accompanied by Education Minister Antonio Peña Mirabal. The schools are the Genesis Education Center in El Valiente in La Caleta, and the Teresa Mirabal school.
https://eldia.com.do/presidente-danilo-medina-entrega-dos-centros-educativos-en-boca-chica/
Microsoft’s Cesar Cernuda visits President Medina
President Danilo Medina received at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday, 23 April 2019 the visit of César Cernuda, president of Microsoft Latin America. Spaniard Cernuda is also global corporate vice president for Microsoft Corporation and oversees more than 2,500 employees and 80,000 partnerships in his region.
As reported by the Presidency, during the meeting with President Medina he spoke of Microsoft’s commitment and backing of the Medina administration’s República Digital (Digital Republic) program. In a press release, the Presidency reported that Microsoft has been an ally to government efforts to reduce the digital gap to guarantee that Dominicans be part of the new era and to make the country more competitive.
Also present in the meeting with the President was Herbert Lewy, general manager of Microsoft for the Caribbean Ana Patricia Mejía, Microsoft representative in the Dominican Republic, and Nanda Pou, in charge of Microsoft Dominicana government relations. Medina met with Cernuda accompanied by Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo and the vice president for governmental coordination of the Ministry of the Presidency, Zoraima Cuello.
During his visit to Santo Domingo, Cernuda was the keynote speaker at the monthly luncheon of the American Chamber of Commerce. At the talk, he stressed that artificial intelligence is a competitive advantage and a real opportunity to accelerate economic growth in the Dominican Republic. He characterized it as a tool that is transforming business in many markets. He said artificial intelligence is helping solve many fundamental challenges of society today, contrary to those that see digital transformation as a futuristic matter.
Cernuda also spoke on Tuesday, 24 April at the Presidency on: “Disruptive Technologies and their Transforming Effect on Economic and Social Development.”
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/04...al-es-clave-para-crecimiento-economico-de-rd/
https://n.com.do/2019/04/23/el-presidente-de-microsoft-para-america-latina-visita-a-danilo-medina/
https://www.information-age.com/how-will-technology-shape-future-economy-123462990/
Automated external defibrillators installed on all floors at Ney Arias Lora Trauma Hospital
The director of the National Health Service (SNS) Chanel Rosa Chupany proudly announced last week that the Ney Arias Lora Trauma Hospital is the first Latin American hospital to be fitted with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for cardiac reanimation. Dr. Ysabel Santana, director of the hospital, said the reanimation system and a personalized program have converted the leading public hospital into a cardiac protected medical facility. AEDs have been strategically placed on all floors to help ensure a rapid response to cardiac arrest no matter where in the hospital it happens.
http://z101digital.com/ney-arias-dice-ser-el-primer-hospital-hemocardioprotegido-de-america-latina/
The Dominican energy matrix
As of 2018, fuel oil, natural gas and coal made up 79% of the Dominican energy matrix. Of this 33.2% is fuel oil No. 6; natural gas is 26.7%, a mix of natural gas and fuel oil is 7.1%, and coal is 12%. Renewables represent 14.99%, consisting of hydro 10.5%, solar 0.49%, biomass 1.2%, wind 2.8%. The data is from the Coordinating Body of the National Interconnected Electrical System (OC-SENI), dated February 2019 and reported in Listín Diario. The same report reveals that energy served in 2018 was 15,701.68 gigawatts/hour (GWh), a 2.74% increase over 2017.
https://listindiario.com/economia/2...-carbon-dominan-la-matriz-energetica-del-pais
Central Bank proud of CFI.co award
The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) has been recognized by the international publication Capital Finance International (CFI) with the 2018 Best Central Bank Governance (Central America and the Caribbean) award. The CFI.co Awards 2019 are handed by readers and a panel of judges to recognize entities considered worthy of special recognition.
Central Bank Governor Héctor Valdez Albizu said that he was pleased with the recognition. He received the recognition in the name of the Monetary Board, as the key organization of the BCRD, pointing out that the country was also considered by the IMF and the World Bank as a stellar destination for investment, given the strength of the economy and its growth, which he suggested should make all Dominicans feel proud.
The evaluation judges for the award said that since 2012 the BCRD has operated under an Inflation Targeting Scheme that has reduced the level and volatility of inflation in the Dominican Republic, helping to anchor expectations of economic agents around BCRD inflation targets and to increase the credibility of its monetary policy. The publication acknowledges that responsible fiduciary models employed by the BCRD have delivered stable economic growth to the country, averaging around 6% over the past four years.
In addition, the judging panel of the CFI thought that the employees of the BCRD were their best asset, citing the training and the financing facilities for graduate study, and that 450 employees hold masters and doctorate degrees.
https://listindiario.com/economia/2019/04/23/562429/bancentral-es-reconocido-por-la-mejor-gobernanza
https://cfi.co/
Schools of economics forecast good year for 2019, pinpoint challenges
Students and professors of the schools of Economy of the INTEC, UASD and PUCMM universities met on Monday, 23 April 2019 to discuss the economy. They observed advances are needed for changes in government spending, tax collection, the Labor Code, the pension fund system, the Central Bank Capitalization Law, and the signing of the Electricity Pact between private sector and government. They expect GDP growth to stay high, albeit at lesser levels than in the past two years.
The schools of economy also concurred that the openness of the Dominican economy makes it vulnerable to economic shocks, including the rising price of fuel and raw materials and the impact of the US economy, the Dominican Republic’s leading trade partner.
Economist Antonio Ciriaco Cruz for the UASD said the Dominican economy is on a trend towards a moderate slowdown in growth that is more compatible with available resources after a year of whirlwind growth.
Rafael Espinal of INTEC says the Dominican economy is characterized by high growth, controlled inflation and a diversity of sectors that stimulate growth, making it less vulnerable to adverse international cycles. He described this as an active resilience to negative cycles. Nevertheless, he said that the country is very vulnerable to external shocks because of its low levels of savings, which make it dependent on remittances, foreign investment, manufacturing free zone exports and tourism, as well as on imports of fuel and food. He observed there has been a lack of political capacity to carry out the fiscal reforms, given the high burden the paying of interest rates has on the public debt, and the effects on the exchange rate.
Martin Franco Rodríguez for the PUCMM urged the start of discussions for the Fiscal Pact, for a more fair distribution of tax revenues and government spending. He also spoke of the importance of reforms to the Labor Code and the Electricity Pact, mentioning that just as important is the implementation of the pacts.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/04...icen-faltan-mas-reformas-para-economia-de-rd/
More information on Easter Week accidents
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) has issued more information on the deaths and accidents during the past Easter Week. Overall there were 33 fatalities, divided into two groups; those who died within the area of the program to supervise activities and attempt to prevent accidents and fatalities, which accounted for 18 of the deaths and those who died outside the operation days, who totalled 15.
According to COE director, General Juan Manuel Méndez, during the holiday there were 181 traffic accidents affecting 1,900 people. There were 760 cases of alcohol intoxications and 296 cases of intoxication due to food. He said that this year the traffic accidents reduced by 75% as last year there were 741.
In addition, he said that in 2018, there were more people affected by traffic accidents than this year, and that this year from the Thursday to the Sunday of Easter Week there were 81,542 cases of assistance on the roads, 2,956 cases of medical assistance, 57 rescued from drowning and 63 cases of missing children who were found.
He went on to say that it was difficult to quantify the cost of the operation as each of the 22 participating institutions brought their own resources, both human and equipment as well as paying their own expenses for the staff.
He concluded by saying that from 2013 to 2019, a total of 200 people had died during Easter weeks, mostly in traffic accidents and mainly on motorcycles.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...res-muertos-mas-que-en-la-del-2018-OF12604903
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...ue-los-accidentes-cayeron-en-un-75-JE12615738
Why JCE should rule against deputies dragging senators
Constitutional lawyer Cristobal Rodriguez Gómez writes in the Diario Libre editorial page section this 24 April 2019 that both the 2015 Constitution and the recently passed Electoral Regime Law 15-19 establish the bases for direct vote in the cases of presidential, congressional and municipal votes. Advocates of a change argue this would be in the spirit of true democracy.
In the 2016 election, votes cast for deputies were added to the senator of the party. But sectors within the ruling PLD party and opposition party members say the new electoral law provides the base to change this, returning more power to the voters to choose their preferred candidates.
His argument is that Art. 92 of the Electoral Regime Law eliminated the drag when it established that the vote would be separate in the cases of senators, deputies. The consultation was called because defenders of keeping the drag rule for 2020 argue that Art. 104 of the same law indicates that the candidates of senators will receive all the votes received by the party for the province.
Rodríguez says this cannot be read as meaning that the votes of deputies will be added to the senators because this is in contradiction with articles 77 and 208 of the Constitution that gives voters the right to a direct vote.
A ruling from the JCE is pending on the matter. The JCE has requested the notes and minutes recorded by Congress to assist it in its decision. The JCE has said that the installation of an automated voting system would facilitate direct voting. A test of the system is being scheduled for the 6 October 2019 primaries.
Earlier this month, a feature in Diario Libre had mentioned that the ruling PLD party stands to gain the most by keeping the drag rule, as the party has 28 of the 32 senator seats.
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion...-inconstitucionalidad-del-arrastre-NE12614898
https://eldia.com.do/jce-recurre-a-...inir-el-arrastre-entre-diputados-y-senadores/
https://eldia.com.do/congreso-prepara-actas-pidio-la-jce-sobre-la-ley-electoral/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...el-arrastre-en-el-nivel-congresual-EG12504404
Buy your vegetables in the markets
The prices of vegetables that are consumed in high quantities in the country are up to 35% cheaper in the municipal markets. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and confirmed by Diario Libre, last week the main foodstuffs sold in the markets in Plaza Conaprope, Los Mina, Villa Consuelo, Cristo Rey and the Mercado Nuevo in Santo Domingo had prices well below those in the supermarkets.
The largest differences were in tubers, with sweet potatoes and yuca at 35% less, around RD$15 a pound, potatoes at 23% cheaper at an average of RD$16.8 a pound compared to RD$21.72 in the supermarkets. Black beans were almost a third cheaper in the markets than in the supermarkets at RD$39 a pound and red beans at 22% less at RD$49.6 a pound.
Even chicken was marginally more expensive in the supermarkets at RD$57 a pound in the markets and RD$57.59 in the supermarkets.
When it comes to the prices of beef and pork, once again the markets were cheaper, with beef RD$113 a pound in the markets and RD$153,59 in the supermarkets and fresh pork chops at RD$85.4 a pound in the markets and RD$105.74 in the supermarkets. At RD$6.44 each, eggs were 10% more expensive in the supermarkets.
However, the access routes and sanitary conditions of the municipal markets put some people off buying there, with narrow access roads full of garbage and a lack of maintenance inside the markets themselves.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...as-baratos-en-mercados-municipales-OF12604947
Divorce rate at 44%
In the Dominican Republic the rate of divorce has now reached 44%. The main factors affecting the rate of divorces are infidelity, lack of responsibility towards children, financial problems and lack of affection. According to data from the Central Electoral Board (JCE), from 2013 to 2019, there have been more than 316,000 marriages and 140,000 divorces, which leads to the divorce rate of 44%, around 20,000 a year.
The highest percentage of divorces is in the municipality of La Vega at 78% and Santiago is in second place with 71%, followed by the National District at 68%. The DN has registered the highest number of divorces during the same time period at 31,013, representing 22% of the national total.
According to the coordinator of family therapy at the Family Institute (Idefa), Rosa Julia Martínez, the majority of couples do not discuss important issues before they marry, just hoping they will solve them as the issues arise. However, when problems do arise, they often lead to conflict and the lack of ability to resolve them in turn leads to disenchantment and the marriage then ends in divorce.
Divorces have been increasing an average of 6% over the last seven years.
https://eldia.com.do/el-44-de-los-matrimonios-termina-en-divorcio/
Water scarcity continues
The Santo Domingo Corporation of Aqueducts and Sewers (CAASD) has informed that there is a 35-million-gallon daily deficit of drinking water as a consequence of the drought continuing to affect the systems of Duey, Isa, Mana, Isabela, and Haina Manoguayabo.
Operations’ director Luis Salcedo said that the rains falling over the last few days have not been sufficient and production on Monday, 22 April 2019 was only 385 million gallons when the normal level is 420 million. He said that although Haina was operating at acceptable levels if there was not more rain this week then it would have to decrease. He added they would continue to deliver water in cistern trucks to sectors such as Pedro Brand, the upper part of Herrera, Pantoja, Alcarrizos and other places in the west of Santo Domingo.
He also said that they had taken advantage of the lack of traffic in Easter Week to carry out works throughout Santo Domingo such as replacing valves in Máximo Gómez with Nicolás Ovando and laying pipes in Av. Ortega y Gasset in the National District.
http://hoy.com.do/1903819-2/
DR ranks low in safe walking at night
According to research carried out by the Global Peace Index (GPI), the Dominican Republic is third on the list for people who do not feel safe walking outside at night. The country with the highest percentage of insecurity for walking at night was Venezuela, with 88 %; followed by El Salvador, with 72 % In the Dominican Republic, some 67 % of Dominicans do not feel safe walking in their neighborhoods at night.
In the same list, the DR is followed by Liberia (65 %), Brazil (64 %), Afghanistan (64 %), South Africa (63 %), Botswana (62 %) and Mauritania (61 %).
Looking at other indicators of the GPI, the highest increases registered in the country where the rate of homicides with a 4.7-point increase, perception of crime with a 4-point increase and domestic violence increase by three points.
http://visionofhumanity.org/app/uploads/2018/06/Global-Peace-Index-2018-2.pdf
https://www.cdn.com.do/2019/04/23/r...o-de-los-paises-mas-inseguros-por-las-noches/
US Embassy helps Samaná coral reef
As part of the celebration of Earth Day, on 22 April 2019, the United States Embassy in the country warned about the decrease in the fish population on the coral reefs in northeastern Samaná Bay. The US Embassy publication in Instagram said that the condition of the coral reef was declining both in terms of coral amount and in fish population.
In order to reverse this situation, the US Embassy is proposing to support the local authorities in complying with the regulation, increasing the conservation activities such as the reforestation of the mangrove swamps, controlling the ban on fishing for certain species at specific times of the year, increasing terrestrial and aquatic conservation, promoting the sustainable use of resources and involving the tourism businesses in the activities of conservation and education.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-coral-en-la-bahia-de-samana-va-en-decadencia
Conflict continues at Punta Catalina
Diario Libre in its print edition of 24 April 2019 reports that the government-owned Punta Catalina thermoelectric power plant construction workers are demanding to be paid a bonus equivalent to 45 to 60 days of wages. The Labor Code establishes companies need to distribute 10% of the annual profits to the workers, but Punta Catalina declared losses.
Diario Libre reports the continued protest by the workers reveals the company’s labor representatives are divided. On Monday, 22 April 2019, labor representatives had signed an agreement accepting the payment of a month wage this 30 April.
Death of businessman ruled a suicide
The National Police has said that no one has been arrested in the case of the death of Cuban-American Joaquín Miguel Perea Jr, who was found dead on Easter Thursday at 4.45pm on the roof of a shop warehouse. According to Police spokesman, Frank Félix Durán the case is presumed to be a suicide and no one has been arrested, however, they are interviewing people known to be close to the victim. Perea Jr., was the general manager of a chain of restaurants and died when he fell from the eighth floor of an apartment building in the Piantini sector of the National District.
The preliminary report says that the head of one of the restaurant locations told authorities that he had received a text message from the wife of the deceased, who is in the United States, asking him to go to the apartment as she found it strange that her husband had not answered calls nor messages since 7 pm on Wednesday 18 April 2019.
He went to the apartment, where one of the security guards, having received permission from the wife of the victim by phone, took him to the apartment that was locked from the inside. The wife gave permission to break in and see if there were any signs of forced entry or an open window. At that stage. the body was seen on the roof below.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...en-caso-de-empresario-que-cayo-de-octavo-piso
https://actualidad.com.do/muere-emp...erea-jr-tras-caer-de-octavo-piso-en-piantini/
Does the oldest person in the world live in Santo Domingo?
Natividad Martínez de la Cruz, aged 119 and resident in the community of Santana de La Victoria, in the northern part of Santo Domingo, could be the oldest person in the world. According to her identity card, she was born in 1901. She is currently cared for by her daughter, Cipriano, who says her mother’s only problem is insomnia, but that the doctors say her mother has better health than she does.
The 119-year old woman still carries out the household tasks in her humble home with a zinc roof. She attributes her long life to her belief in God and eating everything. She explains that she worked like a man, when she was younger, tending the land.
https://almomento.net/con-119-anos-...-tiene-energia-para-los-quehaceres-del-hogar/
Microsoft’s Cesar Cernuda visits President Medina
Automated external defibrillators installed on all floors at Ney Arias Lora Trauma Hospital
The Dominican energy matrix
Central Bank proud of CFI.co award
Schools of economics forecast good year for 2019, pinpoint challenges
More information on Easter Week accidents
Why JCE should rule against deputies dragging senators
Buy your vegetables in the markets
Divorce rate at 44%
Water scarcity continues
DR ranks low in safe walking at night
US Embassy helps Samaná coral reef
Conflict continues at Punta Catalina
Death of businessman ruled a suicide
Does the oldest person in the world live in Santo Domingo?
President Medina was in Boca Chica to inaugurate two schools
On Monday, 22 April 2019, President Danilo Medina visited the municipality of Boca Chica where he handed over two new primary schools that will benefit 1,890 students. The schools will operate on the extended school day plan. They have facilities for serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks.
President Medina was accompanied by Education Minister Antonio Peña Mirabal. The schools are the Genesis Education Center in El Valiente in La Caleta, and the Teresa Mirabal school.
https://eldia.com.do/presidente-danilo-medina-entrega-dos-centros-educativos-en-boca-chica/
Microsoft’s Cesar Cernuda visits President Medina
President Danilo Medina received at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday, 23 April 2019 the visit of César Cernuda, president of Microsoft Latin America. Spaniard Cernuda is also global corporate vice president for Microsoft Corporation and oversees more than 2,500 employees and 80,000 partnerships in his region.
As reported by the Presidency, during the meeting with President Medina he spoke of Microsoft’s commitment and backing of the Medina administration’s República Digital (Digital Republic) program. In a press release, the Presidency reported that Microsoft has been an ally to government efforts to reduce the digital gap to guarantee that Dominicans be part of the new era and to make the country more competitive.
Also present in the meeting with the President was Herbert Lewy, general manager of Microsoft for the Caribbean Ana Patricia Mejía, Microsoft representative in the Dominican Republic, and Nanda Pou, in charge of Microsoft Dominicana government relations. Medina met with Cernuda accompanied by Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo and the vice president for governmental coordination of the Ministry of the Presidency, Zoraima Cuello.
During his visit to Santo Domingo, Cernuda was the keynote speaker at the monthly luncheon of the American Chamber of Commerce. At the talk, he stressed that artificial intelligence is a competitive advantage and a real opportunity to accelerate economic growth in the Dominican Republic. He characterized it as a tool that is transforming business in many markets. He said artificial intelligence is helping solve many fundamental challenges of society today, contrary to those that see digital transformation as a futuristic matter.
Cernuda also spoke on Tuesday, 24 April at the Presidency on: “Disruptive Technologies and their Transforming Effect on Economic and Social Development.”
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/04...al-es-clave-para-crecimiento-economico-de-rd/
https://n.com.do/2019/04/23/el-presidente-de-microsoft-para-america-latina-visita-a-danilo-medina/
https://www.information-age.com/how-will-technology-shape-future-economy-123462990/
Automated external defibrillators installed on all floors at Ney Arias Lora Trauma Hospital
The director of the National Health Service (SNS) Chanel Rosa Chupany proudly announced last week that the Ney Arias Lora Trauma Hospital is the first Latin American hospital to be fitted with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for cardiac reanimation. Dr. Ysabel Santana, director of the hospital, said the reanimation system and a personalized program have converted the leading public hospital into a cardiac protected medical facility. AEDs have been strategically placed on all floors to help ensure a rapid response to cardiac arrest no matter where in the hospital it happens.
http://z101digital.com/ney-arias-dice-ser-el-primer-hospital-hemocardioprotegido-de-america-latina/
The Dominican energy matrix
As of 2018, fuel oil, natural gas and coal made up 79% of the Dominican energy matrix. Of this 33.2% is fuel oil No. 6; natural gas is 26.7%, a mix of natural gas and fuel oil is 7.1%, and coal is 12%. Renewables represent 14.99%, consisting of hydro 10.5%, solar 0.49%, biomass 1.2%, wind 2.8%. The data is from the Coordinating Body of the National Interconnected Electrical System (OC-SENI), dated February 2019 and reported in Listín Diario. The same report reveals that energy served in 2018 was 15,701.68 gigawatts/hour (GWh), a 2.74% increase over 2017.
https://listindiario.com/economia/2...-carbon-dominan-la-matriz-energetica-del-pais
Central Bank proud of CFI.co award
The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) has been recognized by the international publication Capital Finance International (CFI) with the 2018 Best Central Bank Governance (Central America and the Caribbean) award. The CFI.co Awards 2019 are handed by readers and a panel of judges to recognize entities considered worthy of special recognition.
Central Bank Governor Héctor Valdez Albizu said that he was pleased with the recognition. He received the recognition in the name of the Monetary Board, as the key organization of the BCRD, pointing out that the country was also considered by the IMF and the World Bank as a stellar destination for investment, given the strength of the economy and its growth, which he suggested should make all Dominicans feel proud.
The evaluation judges for the award said that since 2012 the BCRD has operated under an Inflation Targeting Scheme that has reduced the level and volatility of inflation in the Dominican Republic, helping to anchor expectations of economic agents around BCRD inflation targets and to increase the credibility of its monetary policy. The publication acknowledges that responsible fiduciary models employed by the BCRD have delivered stable economic growth to the country, averaging around 6% over the past four years.
In addition, the judging panel of the CFI thought that the employees of the BCRD were their best asset, citing the training and the financing facilities for graduate study, and that 450 employees hold masters and doctorate degrees.
https://listindiario.com/economia/2019/04/23/562429/bancentral-es-reconocido-por-la-mejor-gobernanza
https://cfi.co/
Schools of economics forecast good year for 2019, pinpoint challenges
Students and professors of the schools of Economy of the INTEC, UASD and PUCMM universities met on Monday, 23 April 2019 to discuss the economy. They observed advances are needed for changes in government spending, tax collection, the Labor Code, the pension fund system, the Central Bank Capitalization Law, and the signing of the Electricity Pact between private sector and government. They expect GDP growth to stay high, albeit at lesser levels than in the past two years.
The schools of economy also concurred that the openness of the Dominican economy makes it vulnerable to economic shocks, including the rising price of fuel and raw materials and the impact of the US economy, the Dominican Republic’s leading trade partner.
Economist Antonio Ciriaco Cruz for the UASD said the Dominican economy is on a trend towards a moderate slowdown in growth that is more compatible with available resources after a year of whirlwind growth.
Rafael Espinal of INTEC says the Dominican economy is characterized by high growth, controlled inflation and a diversity of sectors that stimulate growth, making it less vulnerable to adverse international cycles. He described this as an active resilience to negative cycles. Nevertheless, he said that the country is very vulnerable to external shocks because of its low levels of savings, which make it dependent on remittances, foreign investment, manufacturing free zone exports and tourism, as well as on imports of fuel and food. He observed there has been a lack of political capacity to carry out the fiscal reforms, given the high burden the paying of interest rates has on the public debt, and the effects on the exchange rate.
Martin Franco Rodríguez for the PUCMM urged the start of discussions for the Fiscal Pact, for a more fair distribution of tax revenues and government spending. He also spoke of the importance of reforms to the Labor Code and the Electricity Pact, mentioning that just as important is the implementation of the pacts.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/04...icen-faltan-mas-reformas-para-economia-de-rd/
More information on Easter Week accidents
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) has issued more information on the deaths and accidents during the past Easter Week. Overall there were 33 fatalities, divided into two groups; those who died within the area of the program to supervise activities and attempt to prevent accidents and fatalities, which accounted for 18 of the deaths and those who died outside the operation days, who totalled 15.
According to COE director, General Juan Manuel Méndez, during the holiday there were 181 traffic accidents affecting 1,900 people. There were 760 cases of alcohol intoxications and 296 cases of intoxication due to food. He said that this year the traffic accidents reduced by 75% as last year there were 741.
In addition, he said that in 2018, there were more people affected by traffic accidents than this year, and that this year from the Thursday to the Sunday of Easter Week there were 81,542 cases of assistance on the roads, 2,956 cases of medical assistance, 57 rescued from drowning and 63 cases of missing children who were found.
He went on to say that it was difficult to quantify the cost of the operation as each of the 22 participating institutions brought their own resources, both human and equipment as well as paying their own expenses for the staff.
He concluded by saying that from 2013 to 2019, a total of 200 people had died during Easter weeks, mostly in traffic accidents and mainly on motorcycles.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...res-muertos-mas-que-en-la-del-2018-OF12604903
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...ue-los-accidentes-cayeron-en-un-75-JE12615738
Why JCE should rule against deputies dragging senators
Constitutional lawyer Cristobal Rodriguez Gómez writes in the Diario Libre editorial page section this 24 April 2019 that both the 2015 Constitution and the recently passed Electoral Regime Law 15-19 establish the bases for direct vote in the cases of presidential, congressional and municipal votes. Advocates of a change argue this would be in the spirit of true democracy.
In the 2016 election, votes cast for deputies were added to the senator of the party. But sectors within the ruling PLD party and opposition party members say the new electoral law provides the base to change this, returning more power to the voters to choose their preferred candidates.
His argument is that Art. 92 of the Electoral Regime Law eliminated the drag when it established that the vote would be separate in the cases of senators, deputies. The consultation was called because defenders of keeping the drag rule for 2020 argue that Art. 104 of the same law indicates that the candidates of senators will receive all the votes received by the party for the province.
Rodríguez says this cannot be read as meaning that the votes of deputies will be added to the senators because this is in contradiction with articles 77 and 208 of the Constitution that gives voters the right to a direct vote.
A ruling from the JCE is pending on the matter. The JCE has requested the notes and minutes recorded by Congress to assist it in its decision. The JCE has said that the installation of an automated voting system would facilitate direct voting. A test of the system is being scheduled for the 6 October 2019 primaries.
Earlier this month, a feature in Diario Libre had mentioned that the ruling PLD party stands to gain the most by keeping the drag rule, as the party has 28 of the 32 senator seats.
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion...-inconstitucionalidad-del-arrastre-NE12614898
https://eldia.com.do/jce-recurre-a-...inir-el-arrastre-entre-diputados-y-senadores/
https://eldia.com.do/congreso-prepara-actas-pidio-la-jce-sobre-la-ley-electoral/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...el-arrastre-en-el-nivel-congresual-EG12504404
Buy your vegetables in the markets
The prices of vegetables that are consumed in high quantities in the country are up to 35% cheaper in the municipal markets. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and confirmed by Diario Libre, last week the main foodstuffs sold in the markets in Plaza Conaprope, Los Mina, Villa Consuelo, Cristo Rey and the Mercado Nuevo in Santo Domingo had prices well below those in the supermarkets.
The largest differences were in tubers, with sweet potatoes and yuca at 35% less, around RD$15 a pound, potatoes at 23% cheaper at an average of RD$16.8 a pound compared to RD$21.72 in the supermarkets. Black beans were almost a third cheaper in the markets than in the supermarkets at RD$39 a pound and red beans at 22% less at RD$49.6 a pound.
Even chicken was marginally more expensive in the supermarkets at RD$57 a pound in the markets and RD$57.59 in the supermarkets.
When it comes to the prices of beef and pork, once again the markets were cheaper, with beef RD$113 a pound in the markets and RD$153,59 in the supermarkets and fresh pork chops at RD$85.4 a pound in the markets and RD$105.74 in the supermarkets. At RD$6.44 each, eggs were 10% more expensive in the supermarkets.
However, the access routes and sanitary conditions of the municipal markets put some people off buying there, with narrow access roads full of garbage and a lack of maintenance inside the markets themselves.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...as-baratos-en-mercados-municipales-OF12604947
Divorce rate at 44%
In the Dominican Republic the rate of divorce has now reached 44%. The main factors affecting the rate of divorces are infidelity, lack of responsibility towards children, financial problems and lack of affection. According to data from the Central Electoral Board (JCE), from 2013 to 2019, there have been more than 316,000 marriages and 140,000 divorces, which leads to the divorce rate of 44%, around 20,000 a year.
The highest percentage of divorces is in the municipality of La Vega at 78% and Santiago is in second place with 71%, followed by the National District at 68%. The DN has registered the highest number of divorces during the same time period at 31,013, representing 22% of the national total.
According to the coordinator of family therapy at the Family Institute (Idefa), Rosa Julia Martínez, the majority of couples do not discuss important issues before they marry, just hoping they will solve them as the issues arise. However, when problems do arise, they often lead to conflict and the lack of ability to resolve them in turn leads to disenchantment and the marriage then ends in divorce.
Divorces have been increasing an average of 6% over the last seven years.
https://eldia.com.do/el-44-de-los-matrimonios-termina-en-divorcio/
Water scarcity continues
The Santo Domingo Corporation of Aqueducts and Sewers (CAASD) has informed that there is a 35-million-gallon daily deficit of drinking water as a consequence of the drought continuing to affect the systems of Duey, Isa, Mana, Isabela, and Haina Manoguayabo.
Operations’ director Luis Salcedo said that the rains falling over the last few days have not been sufficient and production on Monday, 22 April 2019 was only 385 million gallons when the normal level is 420 million. He said that although Haina was operating at acceptable levels if there was not more rain this week then it would have to decrease. He added they would continue to deliver water in cistern trucks to sectors such as Pedro Brand, the upper part of Herrera, Pantoja, Alcarrizos and other places in the west of Santo Domingo.
He also said that they had taken advantage of the lack of traffic in Easter Week to carry out works throughout Santo Domingo such as replacing valves in Máximo Gómez with Nicolás Ovando and laying pipes in Av. Ortega y Gasset in the National District.
http://hoy.com.do/1903819-2/
DR ranks low in safe walking at night
According to research carried out by the Global Peace Index (GPI), the Dominican Republic is third on the list for people who do not feel safe walking outside at night. The country with the highest percentage of insecurity for walking at night was Venezuela, with 88 %; followed by El Salvador, with 72 % In the Dominican Republic, some 67 % of Dominicans do not feel safe walking in their neighborhoods at night.
In the same list, the DR is followed by Liberia (65 %), Brazil (64 %), Afghanistan (64 %), South Africa (63 %), Botswana (62 %) and Mauritania (61 %).
Looking at other indicators of the GPI, the highest increases registered in the country where the rate of homicides with a 4.7-point increase, perception of crime with a 4-point increase and domestic violence increase by three points.
http://visionofhumanity.org/app/uploads/2018/06/Global-Peace-Index-2018-2.pdf
https://www.cdn.com.do/2019/04/23/r...o-de-los-paises-mas-inseguros-por-las-noches/
US Embassy helps Samaná coral reef
As part of the celebration of Earth Day, on 22 April 2019, the United States Embassy in the country warned about the decrease in the fish population on the coral reefs in northeastern Samaná Bay. The US Embassy publication in Instagram said that the condition of the coral reef was declining both in terms of coral amount and in fish population.
In order to reverse this situation, the US Embassy is proposing to support the local authorities in complying with the regulation, increasing the conservation activities such as the reforestation of the mangrove swamps, controlling the ban on fishing for certain species at specific times of the year, increasing terrestrial and aquatic conservation, promoting the sustainable use of resources and involving the tourism businesses in the activities of conservation and education.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-coral-en-la-bahia-de-samana-va-en-decadencia
Conflict continues at Punta Catalina
Diario Libre in its print edition of 24 April 2019 reports that the government-owned Punta Catalina thermoelectric power plant construction workers are demanding to be paid a bonus equivalent to 45 to 60 days of wages. The Labor Code establishes companies need to distribute 10% of the annual profits to the workers, but Punta Catalina declared losses.
Diario Libre reports the continued protest by the workers reveals the company’s labor representatives are divided. On Monday, 22 April 2019, labor representatives had signed an agreement accepting the payment of a month wage this 30 April.
Death of businessman ruled a suicide
The National Police has said that no one has been arrested in the case of the death of Cuban-American Joaquín Miguel Perea Jr, who was found dead on Easter Thursday at 4.45pm on the roof of a shop warehouse. According to Police spokesman, Frank Félix Durán the case is presumed to be a suicide and no one has been arrested, however, they are interviewing people known to be close to the victim. Perea Jr., was the general manager of a chain of restaurants and died when he fell from the eighth floor of an apartment building in the Piantini sector of the National District.
The preliminary report says that the head of one of the restaurant locations told authorities that he had received a text message from the wife of the deceased, who is in the United States, asking him to go to the apartment as she found it strange that her husband had not answered calls nor messages since 7 pm on Wednesday 18 April 2019.
He went to the apartment, where one of the security guards, having received permission from the wife of the victim by phone, took him to the apartment that was locked from the inside. The wife gave permission to break in and see if there were any signs of forced entry or an open window. At that stage. the body was seen on the roof below.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...en-caso-de-empresario-que-cayo-de-octavo-piso
https://actualidad.com.do/muere-emp...erea-jr-tras-caer-de-octavo-piso-en-piantini/
Does the oldest person in the world live in Santo Domingo?
Natividad Martínez de la Cruz, aged 119 and resident in the community of Santana de La Victoria, in the northern part of Santo Domingo, could be the oldest person in the world. According to her identity card, she was born in 1901. She is currently cared for by her daughter, Cipriano, who says her mother’s only problem is insomnia, but that the doctors say her mother has better health than she does.
The 119-year old woman still carries out the household tasks in her humble home with a zinc roof. She attributes her long life to her belief in God and eating everything. She explains that she worked like a man, when she was younger, tending the land.
https://almomento.net/con-119-anos-...-tiene-energia-para-los-quehaceres-del-hogar/