D
Dolores
Guest
President Medina opens book fair
Puerto Rico’s Secretary of State visits for Santo Domingo book fair
Check your tires
David Collado names José Luis Frometa fire chief
Opposition parties oppose deputy votes counting for senators
Presidency rejects Inter-American Court resolution, says Dominican Constitutional Court rulings are final
President of Constitutional Court responds to Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Dominican government keeps its differences with church position over abortion
Mustache-sans Leonel Fernández
Higher Electoral Court judge reports on visit by US ambassador
Miguel Vargas Maldonado: PRD is being reset
PLD selects electoral commission
PRSC: Elections may not be fair
La Stampa of Milan report on Punta Catalina powerplant
Long lines to retrieve confiscated motorcycles
Humano medical insurance suspended
Crash leaves five dead
Juan Luis Guerra honored during Billboard Latin Music Awards
President Medina opens book fair
On Saturday, 27 April 2019, President Danilo Medina inaugurated the 22nd International Book Fair in Santo Domingo at the National Theater.
The event opened when President Medina cut the ceremonial ribbon in the company of Vice President Margarita Cedeño; First Lady Cándida Montilla; Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo; Administrative Minister of the Presidency José Ramón Peralta, among others.
The invited guests of honor were from Puerto Rico and Culture Minister Eduardo Selman highlighted the historic relationship between the two countries including the links of culture, language and history.
He also highlighted the value of the Book Fair that lasts until 5 May and is dedicated to the writer Virgilio Díaz Grullón.
https://eldia.com.do/presidente-danilo-medina-inaugura-la-feria-internacional-del-libro-2019/
Puerto Rico’s Secretary of State visits for Santo Domingo book fair
Secretary of State of Puerto Rico Luis Rivera Marín was in Santo Domingo last week to inaugurate Puerto Rico’s participation as guest “country” at the Santo Domingo International Book Fair. He was accompanied by the secretary of the Department for Economic Development and Trade (DDEC), Manuel Laboy; the director of the Tourism Company, Carla Campos; insurance commissioner Javier Rivera; the executive director of the Puerto Rican Culture Institute (ICP), Carlos Ruiz Cortés; and the director of the Office for Historic Conservation, Carlos Rubio.
The mission held different meetings with the Dominican government. The Dominican Ministry of Foreign Relations announced that during Rivera Marín’s visit two memoranda of understanding (MOUs) regarding investment and trade promotion were signed. One MOU creates a Joint Dominican Republic- Puerto Rico Council for Attracting Investment and Promotion of Projects and Exports. The effort seeks to integrate investment promotion policies of both parties to attract investment in strategic sectors and design training programs in export and investment.
A second MOU establishes cooperation and joint participation in US programs to promote an increase in exports to the United States. Puerto Rico commits to train Dominican personnel in regulatory matters and procurement. The Ministry of Foreign Relations says that under DR-CAFTA (US- DR-Central America Free Trade Agreement) there are opportunities to be had in US procurement of which the DR has taken little advantage.
http://www.mirex.gob.do/medios/noticias/canciller-miguel-vargas-suscribe-memorandums-con-puerto-rico
http://hoy.com.do/gobierno-de-puerto-rico-destaca-acuerdos-economicos-con-republica-dominicana/
https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/f...fta-dr-dominican-republic-central-america-fta
Check your tires
From Saturday 27 April, drivers who are in vehicles with bald tires will be fined by agents from the Ground Transit and Transport Agency (Digesett) and can be fined between one and 10 minimum salaries and their vehicles could be confiscated.
The measure is in compliance with resolution 002-209 of the National Institute of Ground Transit and Transport (Intrant) issued on 25 February 2019 that gave drivers 60 days to ensure their tires are in good condition. The timeframe has now ended.
Tires now need to be inflated to the correct pressure. A minimum of 1.6 millimeters of tread for light vehicles and 2.5 millimeters for heavy vehicles has been set. Other requirements are that there should not be any deformities of the tires, no protuberances and the tires should not be more than four years old.
Intrant spokesman, Viviano de León, said that the Digesett agents had been trained and have the correct equipment for checking the tires.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...es-de-vehiculos-tengan-gomas-lisas-CG12636765
David Collado names José Luis Frometa fire chief
City Mayor David Collado named José Luis Frometa Herasme as the new chief of the firefighters for the National District. He replaces colonel Rafael del Rosario. Frometa who had been deputy chief for years. He has more than 30 years in the corps.
Collado also named Ricardo Koening Levy as deputy chief, and Aurelio Rodriguez Serrano was named chief of operations. Businessman Kai Shoenhals Garcia was appointed secretary of the business firefighters support group. The support group is presided by businessmen Jose Luis Corripio Estrada. The members are Juan Vicini, Ligia Bonetti, Hector Jose Rizek, Carlos Marti and Jeff Rannik among other business people. The group is active in seeking investment in equipment for each of the National District fire stations.
http://z101digital.com/david-collado-designa-nuevo-jefe-de-los-bomberos-del-distrito-nacional/
Opposition parties oppose deputy votes counting for senators
Opposition parties are united in their request for an opinion from the Central Electoral Board (JCE) to define what some understand is an ambiguity in the clause in the new Electoral Regime Law that calls for separating the senator and deputy election votes. In the 2016 elections, the votes for deputies of one party counted for the election of the senator of that same party.
Representatives of the Partido Revolucionario Moderno (PRM), Partido Revolucionario Social Demócrata (PRSD), Bloque Institucional Social Demócrata (BIS), Partido Quisqueyano Demócrata Cristiano (PQDC), Frente Amplio, Partido Verde and the Partido Unidad Nacional (PUN) filed a petition with the JCE for the separation of the votes. The Partido Revolucionario Social Cristiano (PRSC) president Federico Antún had separately advocated that voters be able to choose by direct vote both senators and deputies of their preference.
The JCE has requested that Congress send the notes and minutes of the bicameral meetings leading to the drafting of the changes in the Electoral Regime Law prior to issuing its interpretation of articles 92 and 130.
As reported, the present senators, most from the ruling PLD, would have the most to gain from maintaining the rule whereby the votes cast for deputies would count for the senators.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...o-de-arrastre-ante-la-junta-central-electoral
http://z101digital.com/quique-antun...es-del-pld-llevaria-al-pais-a-limbo-juridico/
https://www.notimas.net/nacionales/...se-mantenga-el-arrastre-en-boleta-congresual/
http://hoy.com.do/partidos-solicita...erten-actas-del-congreso-no-sustituyen-leyes/
http://hoy.com.do/partidos-solicita...erten-actas-del-congreso-no-sustituyen-leyes/
Presidency rejects Inter-American Court resolution, says Dominican Constitutional Court rulings are final
The Dominican government has rejected a recent ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (known by its Spanish acronym, CIDH) against it, arguing that the Dominican Republic is a sovereign nation responsible for its own immigration policies. CIDH issued a resolution on 13 March 2019 annulling Dominican Constitutional Court ruling TC256-14, which rejected the authority of the CIDH in its 2005 and 2014 rulings against the DR for violating the rights of Dominicans of Haitian descent to national citizenship and ordering reparation measures.
The latest CIDH ruling, published on 23 April 2019, says the Dominican Republic still must comply with its prior rulings in line with its obligations under the American Convention on Human Rights, which the DR is a party to.
Flavio Darío Espinal, the legal advisor to President Danilo Medina and a former Dominican ambassador to the United States and to the Organization of American States (OAS), asserted that ruling TC256-14 is definitive, citing Article 184 of the Constitution that states that the Constitutional Court’s decisions are final and irrevocable and constitute binding precedents for the branches of government and all state agencies.
Speaking in a press briefing at the Presidential Palace, Espinal stated:
“Contrary to what is stated by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the Dominican legal system does not generate statelessness. The Dominican state has provided itself with a normative base, both at the constitutional and legal level that responds to the different situations that may arise in the country regarding nationality. This has been recognized by other international organizations and agencies, as well as by different national and international players that follow up this issue.
“The Dominican government reiterates that regulation of how nationality is defined is a sovereign and inalienable attribute of the Dominican state, which objectively and impartially applies its constitutional and legal provisions on this matter.”
http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/supervisiones/yean_12_03_19.pdf
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...ia-y-normativa-sobre-nacionalidad-es-atributo
https://elnacional.com.do/gobierno-considera-injerencia-que-cidh-cuestione-tc-de-rd/
https://elcaribe.com.do/2019/04/26/panorama/pais/la-corteidh-dice-rd-esta-en-desacato/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...eidh-no-es-afrenta-a-ese-organismo-EG1263457/
https://www.tribunalconstitucional.gob.do/content/sentencia-tc025614
President of Constitutional Court responds to Inter-American Court of Human Rights
The president of the Constitutional Court (TC), Judge Milton Ray Guevara has confirmed that no national or international organization can ask for or try to impose anything on the Court that violates the Dominican Constitution or ignores constitutional procedures. He was referring to the decision by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights with regards to sentence TC-0256/14. and said that the Dominican States would adhere to any cooperation, regional integration agreements along with the protection of fundamental rights but with respect to the due constitutional procedures.
He said that given the resolution of the CIDH of 12 March 2019 it should be reminded how the Dominican people fought in 1965 for the defense of the Constitution and its reestablishment in 1963.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...icitarle-que-viole-la-constitucion-AB12648778
Dominican government keeps its differences with church position over abortion
“It was the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti in the Caribbean and is Roman Catholic, that stood up the tallest for the right of women and girls to have access to sexual reproductive health services,” reports Blue Pass, an online portal that covers the United Nations.
Blue Pass recently reported on the difficulties in getting the 15-member United Nations Security Council to issue a (nonbinding) resolution calling for prosecuting cases of sexual violence in conflict.
The online portal mentions that special envoy of President Danilo Medina at the Security Council, José Singer Weisinger, called access to sexual reproductive health services “non-negotiable” and that to refuse it is “tantamount to degrading cruel and inhuman treatment and greater suffering” to women.
President Danilo Medina on two occasions has vetoed proposed changes in the Dominican Penal Code, backed by the Catholic Church, to completely ban abortion in the Dominican Republic. Some speculate that this is one of the reasons the Catholic Church is now pressuring the government, equating it to a dictatorship, perhaps to get the President to abandon his support for exceptions to the abortion ban in the Penal Code.
https://www.passblue.com/2019/04/23/at-the-un-the-us-darkens-womens-right-to-abortion/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...ra-sobre-tema-del-aborto-en-la-onu-FG12630674
Mustache-sans Leonel Fernández
Throughout their political careers the two leaders of the ruling PLD, President Danilo Medina, age 67, and former President Leonel Fernández, age 65, both have sported mustaches, with most Dominicans unable to remember either of them as clean-shaven. Now, Fernández has removed his mustache. The change is seen as a way to look younger and upgrade his image now that he is competing for the PLD presidential nomination.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/politica/se-quito-leonel-el-bigote-FE12617013
Higher Electoral Court judge reports on visit by US ambassador
US Ambassador Robin Bernstein last week visited president of the Higher Electoral Court (TSE), Ramón Jáquez Liranzo. Jáquez is under pressure from the ruling PLD party after the court issued a ruling annulling the 2015 convention that elected Miguel Vargas Maldonado, president of the PRD, a leading PLD ally. As leader of the PRD, in 2015 Vargas would ally the party with the ruling PLD in its bid for amendments to the Constitution to enable the reelection of President Danilo Medina. President Medina then would name Vargas Maldonado as the DR’s foreign minister and PRD vice president Janet Camilo as the DR’s minister for women.
In the press release, the TSE reported that TSE President Jáquez Liranzo received the US Ambassador to discuss the challenges ahead in the primaries of the political parties, as well as general matters regarding the presidential, legislative and municipal elections set for 2020. PLD party secretary and president of the Senate, Reinaldo Pared Pérez, has called for the Chamber of Deputies to interpellate the judges that voted in favor of the TSE annulment, on the grounds that “one does not fool around with power.”
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-eeuu-visita-al-presionado-presidente-del-tse
Miguel Vargas Maldonado: PRD is being reset
The president of the PRD political party, Miguel Vargas Maldonado, called on Thursday, 25 April 2019, for the government and opposition to listen to the recent warning of the Roman Catholic Church Archbishop Francisco Ozoria that the country is headed to a dictatorship. "We must all listen to the positions of all sectors, analyze them and take the most appropriate decisions at the given moment," said Vargas Maldonado when questioned by journalists about the differences between the Catholic Church and the government.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting of the party’s political committee, Vargas said that while the party has petitioned the Constitutional Court to reverse the annulment of the 2015 party convention in which he was elected president of the party. Vargas has called the annulment decision by the Higher Electoral Court (TSE) “unfair and abusive,” but says that procedures have in parallel begun for the celebration of a convention to confirm who are the party’s leaders.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...aldonado-llama-al-gobierno-a-escuchar-iglesia
https://www.notimas.net/nacionales/...tencia-del-tse-en-el-tribunal-constitucional/
PLD selects electoral commission
The Central Committee of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) met on Saturday night, 27 April 2019 and in a session described as lasting around five minutes selected the four new members who will complete the National Electoral Commission that will direct the primaries that are scheduled to be held on 6 October 2019 in coordination with the Central Electoral Board (JCE).
The new commission members are Lupe Núñez, Henry Merán, Armando García and Robert de la Cruz. They will join the other members who are the president, Lidio Cadet, along with Alejandrina Germán, Rubén Bichara, Danilo Diaz, and Cesar Prieto.
The meeting was headed up by the president of the PLD and of the Republic, Leonel Fernández and Danilo Medina, respectively. Of the 606 members, attendance was 79.74%.
The electoral courts will be responsible for confirming the outcome of the 20 February 2020 municipal and legislative elections and the 17 May 2020 presidential elections.
https://eldia.com.do/comite-central...s-miembros-de-la-comision-nacional-electoral/
https://acento.com.do/2019/politica...osicion-partidos-respecto-juntas-electorales/
PRSC: Elections may not be fair
The Revolutionary Social Christian Party (PRSC) has confirmed that the electoral courts, elected by the Central Electoral Board (JCE) will have guarantees in the 2020 elections.
PRSC president, Federico Antún Batlle, said that the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) had imposed its control on the electoral courts, which put the legality, transparency and control in danger, along with the equality and impartiality of the next elections.
He went on to say that 95 officials of these courts were paid but not working (botellas) some with salaries around RD$60,000.
https://eldia.com.do/unos-95-funcio...-los-50-y-60-mil-pesos-denuncia-quique-antun/
La Stampa of Milan report on Punta Catalina powerplant
The leading Milan daily, La Stampa, published a report on 24 April 2019 on the Punta Catalina coal-powered power plant under construction by the Dominican government in the southwest. The newspaper says the plant is the result of “an avalanche of bribes paid to politicians of the highest profile.”
The report raises concerns that the operation of the coal-fired 720 MW plant will affect farm produce and tourism developments in the area. And states: “Punta Catalina, at full capacity capable of producing 720 MW of energy, is an obsolete type of plant, with the inefficient "sub-critical" technology, of those that even in China do not consider more appropriate to build any longer.”
The power plant is news in Italy after the Milan public prosecutor is acting on a complaint received by an Italian anti-corruption organization.
Italian company Tecnimont is a partner in the Odebrecht-Estrella-Tecnimont consortium that is building the power plant. The Italian company has publicly denied all corruption charges.
The power plant was said to cost Dominican taxpayers US$2 billion, but La Stampa reports the final bill is expected to overrun US$3 billion. In the tender process, a Chinese company had bid for US$1.2 billion, recalls La Stampa.
https://www.lastampa.it/2019/04/24/...-tropicale-oCsLYBvt7w1KHm9iJUL0vN/pagina.html
Long lines to retrieve confiscated motorcycles
The old dog racing track, called the Canódromo, is the site where motorcycles and other vehicles are taken by the authorities for infractions, or placed there after recovery. Motorcycle driver recklessness is known to cause upwards of 70% of traffic accidents in the country. The retaining of the motorcycles was to reduce accidents during the Easter Week.
But now, getting these back is a scene from Dante, as hundreds of persons try and find their motorized transportation, as reported in Diario Libre. The Ground Transit and Traffic Agency (Digesett), calls the area “the Coco,” and that is where the long lines of people go to get back their motorcycles after having them confiscated for any number of infractions of Law 63-17 (which replaced Law 241 on everything to do with traffic and vehicles).
Most of the vehicles were taken into custody during Holy Week, People with documentation, helmets, reflectors, light bulbs and other missing accessories congregated at the Canódromo, located at the intersection of Av. Monumental and Av. Colombia to show that they had paid their fines and obtained the needed items to validate repossession of the equipment.
People were lined up by the Digesett agents, who herded them to a small cubicle where each set of documents was examined. Then, ten by ten, with legal paperwork in hand, they were taken inside the area where they are checked once more and then proceeded to search for their property among the thousands that are parked there.
On the one hand, the owners complained that they lost hours trying to retrieve their property, which, in many cases, they claim was unjustifiably confiscated. On the other hand, the Digesett agents say that the confiscation of vehicles is covered by Art. 189 of Law 63-17 (the new traffic code) that permits removing a vehicle in violation of the code.
Humano medical insurance suspended
The Dominican Medical Guild (CMD) together with the Board of the Specialized Medical Societies (Conasomep) and the National Association of Private Clinics (Andeclip) have announced the suspension of consultations and elective procedures for those patients holding ARS Humano medical insurance. There has been no announcement as to the length of time this suspension will last. The boycott is to start on Wednesday, 1 May 2019 when only emergencies and those patients in intensive care will be able to claim under their insurance with Humano.
The announcement comes as the organizations say they will step up actions in favor of increases in the fees and tariffs for their services. The intention is to extend the boycott to the other around 20 medical insurance providers authorized in the Dominican Republic. CMD president Wilson Roa said that the physicians cannot take it anymore and that according to the CMD regulations they had no choice but to take corrective and disciplinary measures. Roa says that the ARS Humano has not complied with agreements that had been signed in 2017, as reported by Diario Libre.
ARS Humano is the country’s leading private medical insurance plan with around 33% of the medical insurance plan market, serving around 2.5 million people.
The other leading medical plans are Palic Salud, Universal and the governmental Senasa that covers those on the subsidized regime.
The Colegio Médico Dominicano, Consejo de Sociedades Médicas Especilizadas and the Asociación de Clínicas y Hospitales Privados say medical services fees have stagnated despite Social Security Law 87-01 ordering revisions every three years. Adjustments have mostly affected the difference patients pay that can range from RD$250 to RD$1,100 depending on the clinic and the plan. In most cases, the difference is more than they are paid by the medical plan companies.
The medical organizations also demand that patients maintain free choice in medical services, and that primary care begin with the subsidized regime. The insurance scheme has proven to be highly profitable for the medical plan operators. ARS Humano recently inaugurated a large office building on Av.. John F. Kennedy.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...s-de-ars-humano-desde-el-miercoles-LB12648065
http://www.sisalril.gov.do/pdf/leyes/ley_no_87-01.pdf
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...cot-a-ars-humano-genera-temor-entre-afiliados
https://humano.com.do/Paginas/default.aspx
https://eldia.com.do/pacientes-a-merced-de-mercaderes/
https://eldia.com.do/lucha-por-fondos-del-seguro-de-salud-deja-a-pacientes-sin-servicio/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...-humano-a-cumplimiento-de-acuerdos-LA12650193
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/editorial/un-conflicto-innecesario-CA12651829
Crash leaves five dead
On Friday night, 26 April, five people died in El Numero on the road between Azua and Baní. Four of the victims were from the same family and they were 47-year-old Nancy Josefina Felipe, Luis Alejandro Felipe, aged 20, the driver of the vehicle and 25-year-old Nicole Alejandra. The other two were not identified but they were Nicole’s boyfriend and his father. All were residents of Bayona, in Santo Domingo West. The accident happened at 9pm when it is assumed that the driver was attempting to overtake when he collided with another vehicle coming the other way.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...rretera-azua-bani-4-eran-de-una-misma-familia
Juan Luis Guerra honored during Billboard Latin Music Awards
Juan Luis Guerra received the Lifetime Achievement Honor at 2019 Billboard Latin Music Awards that took place on 25 April 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada for his many years of inspiring Latin songs.
For the occasion, Juanes of Colombia opened the segment with an introduction and speech before Kany García performed “Burbujas de Amor.” Then Pedro Capo gave what was described as a spirited rendition of “Ojalá que Llueva Café” and Fonseca finished with a heartfelt version of “La Traviesa” that brought a smile to Guerra’s face, as reported by Billboard.
Billboard recognized Guerra for his exceptional and enduring career. He is described as one of the most recognizable names in Latin music, one who has throughout his 35-year career launched 15 successful albums and sold over 30 million records worldwide.
Billboard recognized the Dominican musician, composer, singer and arranger for bringing the sounds of bachata and merengue to the world. Billboard highlights: Guerra has notched 42 songs on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart. Six of those songs hit No. 1, including the chart toppers “La Llave de Mi Corazón” which reigned for four weeks in 2007, and “Cuando Me Enamoro” the Enrique Iglesias song on which he is featured, which led for 17 non-consecutive weeks in 2010. On the Top Latin Albums chart, he’s placed 11 top 10 titles and three No. 1 albums. Guerra’s song “Ojala Que Llueva Café” is one of the best-known Latin songs of all time. His most recent "Kitipun," the first single from Guerra's upcoming album Literal, was released on Friday, 5 April 2019.
During the event, Ozuna was honored with 11 wins, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year. The previous week he had performed for Dominican audiences on 20 April 2019 at Casa de Campo’s Altos de Chavón Amphitheater.
https://www.billboard.com/articles/...ievement-tribute-billboard-latin-music-awards
https://www.etonline.com/2019-billboard-latin-music-awards-the-complete-list-of-winners-123905
https://www.diariolibre.com/revista...llboard-a-la-trayectoria-artistica-AG12632389
Puerto Rico’s Secretary of State visits for Santo Domingo book fair
Check your tires
David Collado names José Luis Frometa fire chief
Opposition parties oppose deputy votes counting for senators
Presidency rejects Inter-American Court resolution, says Dominican Constitutional Court rulings are final
President of Constitutional Court responds to Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Dominican government keeps its differences with church position over abortion
Mustache-sans Leonel Fernández
Higher Electoral Court judge reports on visit by US ambassador
Miguel Vargas Maldonado: PRD is being reset
PLD selects electoral commission
PRSC: Elections may not be fair
La Stampa of Milan report on Punta Catalina powerplant
Long lines to retrieve confiscated motorcycles
Humano medical insurance suspended
Crash leaves five dead
Juan Luis Guerra honored during Billboard Latin Music Awards
President Medina opens book fair
On Saturday, 27 April 2019, President Danilo Medina inaugurated the 22nd International Book Fair in Santo Domingo at the National Theater.
The event opened when President Medina cut the ceremonial ribbon in the company of Vice President Margarita Cedeño; First Lady Cándida Montilla; Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo; Administrative Minister of the Presidency José Ramón Peralta, among others.
The invited guests of honor were from Puerto Rico and Culture Minister Eduardo Selman highlighted the historic relationship between the two countries including the links of culture, language and history.
He also highlighted the value of the Book Fair that lasts until 5 May and is dedicated to the writer Virgilio Díaz Grullón.
https://eldia.com.do/presidente-danilo-medina-inaugura-la-feria-internacional-del-libro-2019/
Puerto Rico’s Secretary of State visits for Santo Domingo book fair
Secretary of State of Puerto Rico Luis Rivera Marín was in Santo Domingo last week to inaugurate Puerto Rico’s participation as guest “country” at the Santo Domingo International Book Fair. He was accompanied by the secretary of the Department for Economic Development and Trade (DDEC), Manuel Laboy; the director of the Tourism Company, Carla Campos; insurance commissioner Javier Rivera; the executive director of the Puerto Rican Culture Institute (ICP), Carlos Ruiz Cortés; and the director of the Office for Historic Conservation, Carlos Rubio.
The mission held different meetings with the Dominican government. The Dominican Ministry of Foreign Relations announced that during Rivera Marín’s visit two memoranda of understanding (MOUs) regarding investment and trade promotion were signed. One MOU creates a Joint Dominican Republic- Puerto Rico Council for Attracting Investment and Promotion of Projects and Exports. The effort seeks to integrate investment promotion policies of both parties to attract investment in strategic sectors and design training programs in export and investment.
A second MOU establishes cooperation and joint participation in US programs to promote an increase in exports to the United States. Puerto Rico commits to train Dominican personnel in regulatory matters and procurement. The Ministry of Foreign Relations says that under DR-CAFTA (US- DR-Central America Free Trade Agreement) there are opportunities to be had in US procurement of which the DR has taken little advantage.
http://www.mirex.gob.do/medios/noticias/canciller-miguel-vargas-suscribe-memorandums-con-puerto-rico
http://hoy.com.do/gobierno-de-puerto-rico-destaca-acuerdos-economicos-con-republica-dominicana/
https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/f...fta-dr-dominican-republic-central-america-fta
Check your tires
From Saturday 27 April, drivers who are in vehicles with bald tires will be fined by agents from the Ground Transit and Transport Agency (Digesett) and can be fined between one and 10 minimum salaries and their vehicles could be confiscated.
The measure is in compliance with resolution 002-209 of the National Institute of Ground Transit and Transport (Intrant) issued on 25 February 2019 that gave drivers 60 days to ensure their tires are in good condition. The timeframe has now ended.
Tires now need to be inflated to the correct pressure. A minimum of 1.6 millimeters of tread for light vehicles and 2.5 millimeters for heavy vehicles has been set. Other requirements are that there should not be any deformities of the tires, no protuberances and the tires should not be more than four years old.
Intrant spokesman, Viviano de León, said that the Digesett agents had been trained and have the correct equipment for checking the tires.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...es-de-vehiculos-tengan-gomas-lisas-CG12636765
David Collado names José Luis Frometa fire chief
City Mayor David Collado named José Luis Frometa Herasme as the new chief of the firefighters for the National District. He replaces colonel Rafael del Rosario. Frometa who had been deputy chief for years. He has more than 30 years in the corps.
Collado also named Ricardo Koening Levy as deputy chief, and Aurelio Rodriguez Serrano was named chief of operations. Businessman Kai Shoenhals Garcia was appointed secretary of the business firefighters support group. The support group is presided by businessmen Jose Luis Corripio Estrada. The members are Juan Vicini, Ligia Bonetti, Hector Jose Rizek, Carlos Marti and Jeff Rannik among other business people. The group is active in seeking investment in equipment for each of the National District fire stations.
http://z101digital.com/david-collado-designa-nuevo-jefe-de-los-bomberos-del-distrito-nacional/
Opposition parties oppose deputy votes counting for senators
Opposition parties are united in their request for an opinion from the Central Electoral Board (JCE) to define what some understand is an ambiguity in the clause in the new Electoral Regime Law that calls for separating the senator and deputy election votes. In the 2016 elections, the votes for deputies of one party counted for the election of the senator of that same party.
Representatives of the Partido Revolucionario Moderno (PRM), Partido Revolucionario Social Demócrata (PRSD), Bloque Institucional Social Demócrata (BIS), Partido Quisqueyano Demócrata Cristiano (PQDC), Frente Amplio, Partido Verde and the Partido Unidad Nacional (PUN) filed a petition with the JCE for the separation of the votes. The Partido Revolucionario Social Cristiano (PRSC) president Federico Antún had separately advocated that voters be able to choose by direct vote both senators and deputies of their preference.
The JCE has requested that Congress send the notes and minutes of the bicameral meetings leading to the drafting of the changes in the Electoral Regime Law prior to issuing its interpretation of articles 92 and 130.
As reported, the present senators, most from the ruling PLD, would have the most to gain from maintaining the rule whereby the votes cast for deputies would count for the senators.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...o-de-arrastre-ante-la-junta-central-electoral
http://z101digital.com/quique-antun...es-del-pld-llevaria-al-pais-a-limbo-juridico/
https://www.notimas.net/nacionales/...se-mantenga-el-arrastre-en-boleta-congresual/
http://hoy.com.do/partidos-solicita...erten-actas-del-congreso-no-sustituyen-leyes/
http://hoy.com.do/partidos-solicita...erten-actas-del-congreso-no-sustituyen-leyes/
Presidency rejects Inter-American Court resolution, says Dominican Constitutional Court rulings are final
The Dominican government has rejected a recent ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (known by its Spanish acronym, CIDH) against it, arguing that the Dominican Republic is a sovereign nation responsible for its own immigration policies. CIDH issued a resolution on 13 March 2019 annulling Dominican Constitutional Court ruling TC256-14, which rejected the authority of the CIDH in its 2005 and 2014 rulings against the DR for violating the rights of Dominicans of Haitian descent to national citizenship and ordering reparation measures.
The latest CIDH ruling, published on 23 April 2019, says the Dominican Republic still must comply with its prior rulings in line with its obligations under the American Convention on Human Rights, which the DR is a party to.
Flavio Darío Espinal, the legal advisor to President Danilo Medina and a former Dominican ambassador to the United States and to the Organization of American States (OAS), asserted that ruling TC256-14 is definitive, citing Article 184 of the Constitution that states that the Constitutional Court’s decisions are final and irrevocable and constitute binding precedents for the branches of government and all state agencies.
Speaking in a press briefing at the Presidential Palace, Espinal stated:
“Contrary to what is stated by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the Dominican legal system does not generate statelessness. The Dominican state has provided itself with a normative base, both at the constitutional and legal level that responds to the different situations that may arise in the country regarding nationality. This has been recognized by other international organizations and agencies, as well as by different national and international players that follow up this issue.
“The Dominican government reiterates that regulation of how nationality is defined is a sovereign and inalienable attribute of the Dominican state, which objectively and impartially applies its constitutional and legal provisions on this matter.”
http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/supervisiones/yean_12_03_19.pdf
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...ia-y-normativa-sobre-nacionalidad-es-atributo
https://elnacional.com.do/gobierno-considera-injerencia-que-cidh-cuestione-tc-de-rd/
https://elcaribe.com.do/2019/04/26/panorama/pais/la-corteidh-dice-rd-esta-en-desacato/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...eidh-no-es-afrenta-a-ese-organismo-EG1263457/
https://www.tribunalconstitucional.gob.do/content/sentencia-tc025614
President of Constitutional Court responds to Inter-American Court of Human Rights
The president of the Constitutional Court (TC), Judge Milton Ray Guevara has confirmed that no national or international organization can ask for or try to impose anything on the Court that violates the Dominican Constitution or ignores constitutional procedures. He was referring to the decision by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights with regards to sentence TC-0256/14. and said that the Dominican States would adhere to any cooperation, regional integration agreements along with the protection of fundamental rights but with respect to the due constitutional procedures.
He said that given the resolution of the CIDH of 12 March 2019 it should be reminded how the Dominican people fought in 1965 for the defense of the Constitution and its reestablishment in 1963.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...icitarle-que-viole-la-constitucion-AB12648778
Dominican government keeps its differences with church position over abortion
“It was the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti in the Caribbean and is Roman Catholic, that stood up the tallest for the right of women and girls to have access to sexual reproductive health services,” reports Blue Pass, an online portal that covers the United Nations.
Blue Pass recently reported on the difficulties in getting the 15-member United Nations Security Council to issue a (nonbinding) resolution calling for prosecuting cases of sexual violence in conflict.
The online portal mentions that special envoy of President Danilo Medina at the Security Council, José Singer Weisinger, called access to sexual reproductive health services “non-negotiable” and that to refuse it is “tantamount to degrading cruel and inhuman treatment and greater suffering” to women.
President Danilo Medina on two occasions has vetoed proposed changes in the Dominican Penal Code, backed by the Catholic Church, to completely ban abortion in the Dominican Republic. Some speculate that this is one of the reasons the Catholic Church is now pressuring the government, equating it to a dictatorship, perhaps to get the President to abandon his support for exceptions to the abortion ban in the Penal Code.
https://www.passblue.com/2019/04/23/at-the-un-the-us-darkens-womens-right-to-abortion/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...ra-sobre-tema-del-aborto-en-la-onu-FG12630674
Mustache-sans Leonel Fernández
Throughout their political careers the two leaders of the ruling PLD, President Danilo Medina, age 67, and former President Leonel Fernández, age 65, both have sported mustaches, with most Dominicans unable to remember either of them as clean-shaven. Now, Fernández has removed his mustache. The change is seen as a way to look younger and upgrade his image now that he is competing for the PLD presidential nomination.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/politica/se-quito-leonel-el-bigote-FE12617013
Higher Electoral Court judge reports on visit by US ambassador
US Ambassador Robin Bernstein last week visited president of the Higher Electoral Court (TSE), Ramón Jáquez Liranzo. Jáquez is under pressure from the ruling PLD party after the court issued a ruling annulling the 2015 convention that elected Miguel Vargas Maldonado, president of the PRD, a leading PLD ally. As leader of the PRD, in 2015 Vargas would ally the party with the ruling PLD in its bid for amendments to the Constitution to enable the reelection of President Danilo Medina. President Medina then would name Vargas Maldonado as the DR’s foreign minister and PRD vice president Janet Camilo as the DR’s minister for women.
In the press release, the TSE reported that TSE President Jáquez Liranzo received the US Ambassador to discuss the challenges ahead in the primaries of the political parties, as well as general matters regarding the presidential, legislative and municipal elections set for 2020. PLD party secretary and president of the Senate, Reinaldo Pared Pérez, has called for the Chamber of Deputies to interpellate the judges that voted in favor of the TSE annulment, on the grounds that “one does not fool around with power.”
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-eeuu-visita-al-presionado-presidente-del-tse
Miguel Vargas Maldonado: PRD is being reset
The president of the PRD political party, Miguel Vargas Maldonado, called on Thursday, 25 April 2019, for the government and opposition to listen to the recent warning of the Roman Catholic Church Archbishop Francisco Ozoria that the country is headed to a dictatorship. "We must all listen to the positions of all sectors, analyze them and take the most appropriate decisions at the given moment," said Vargas Maldonado when questioned by journalists about the differences between the Catholic Church and the government.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting of the party’s political committee, Vargas said that while the party has petitioned the Constitutional Court to reverse the annulment of the 2015 party convention in which he was elected president of the party. Vargas has called the annulment decision by the Higher Electoral Court (TSE) “unfair and abusive,” but says that procedures have in parallel begun for the celebration of a convention to confirm who are the party’s leaders.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...aldonado-llama-al-gobierno-a-escuchar-iglesia
https://www.notimas.net/nacionales/...tencia-del-tse-en-el-tribunal-constitucional/
PLD selects electoral commission
The Central Committee of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) met on Saturday night, 27 April 2019 and in a session described as lasting around five minutes selected the four new members who will complete the National Electoral Commission that will direct the primaries that are scheduled to be held on 6 October 2019 in coordination with the Central Electoral Board (JCE).
The new commission members are Lupe Núñez, Henry Merán, Armando García and Robert de la Cruz. They will join the other members who are the president, Lidio Cadet, along with Alejandrina Germán, Rubén Bichara, Danilo Diaz, and Cesar Prieto.
The meeting was headed up by the president of the PLD and of the Republic, Leonel Fernández and Danilo Medina, respectively. Of the 606 members, attendance was 79.74%.
The electoral courts will be responsible for confirming the outcome of the 20 February 2020 municipal and legislative elections and the 17 May 2020 presidential elections.
https://eldia.com.do/comite-central...s-miembros-de-la-comision-nacional-electoral/
https://acento.com.do/2019/politica...osicion-partidos-respecto-juntas-electorales/
PRSC: Elections may not be fair
The Revolutionary Social Christian Party (PRSC) has confirmed that the electoral courts, elected by the Central Electoral Board (JCE) will have guarantees in the 2020 elections.
PRSC president, Federico Antún Batlle, said that the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) had imposed its control on the electoral courts, which put the legality, transparency and control in danger, along with the equality and impartiality of the next elections.
He went on to say that 95 officials of these courts were paid but not working (botellas) some with salaries around RD$60,000.
https://eldia.com.do/unos-95-funcio...-los-50-y-60-mil-pesos-denuncia-quique-antun/
La Stampa of Milan report on Punta Catalina powerplant
The leading Milan daily, La Stampa, published a report on 24 April 2019 on the Punta Catalina coal-powered power plant under construction by the Dominican government in the southwest. The newspaper says the plant is the result of “an avalanche of bribes paid to politicians of the highest profile.”
The report raises concerns that the operation of the coal-fired 720 MW plant will affect farm produce and tourism developments in the area. And states: “Punta Catalina, at full capacity capable of producing 720 MW of energy, is an obsolete type of plant, with the inefficient "sub-critical" technology, of those that even in China do not consider more appropriate to build any longer.”
The power plant is news in Italy after the Milan public prosecutor is acting on a complaint received by an Italian anti-corruption organization.
Italian company Tecnimont is a partner in the Odebrecht-Estrella-Tecnimont consortium that is building the power plant. The Italian company has publicly denied all corruption charges.
The power plant was said to cost Dominican taxpayers US$2 billion, but La Stampa reports the final bill is expected to overrun US$3 billion. In the tender process, a Chinese company had bid for US$1.2 billion, recalls La Stampa.
https://www.lastampa.it/2019/04/24/...-tropicale-oCsLYBvt7w1KHm9iJUL0vN/pagina.html
Long lines to retrieve confiscated motorcycles
The old dog racing track, called the Canódromo, is the site where motorcycles and other vehicles are taken by the authorities for infractions, or placed there after recovery. Motorcycle driver recklessness is known to cause upwards of 70% of traffic accidents in the country. The retaining of the motorcycles was to reduce accidents during the Easter Week.
But now, getting these back is a scene from Dante, as hundreds of persons try and find their motorized transportation, as reported in Diario Libre. The Ground Transit and Traffic Agency (Digesett), calls the area “the Coco,” and that is where the long lines of people go to get back their motorcycles after having them confiscated for any number of infractions of Law 63-17 (which replaced Law 241 on everything to do with traffic and vehicles).
Most of the vehicles were taken into custody during Holy Week, People with documentation, helmets, reflectors, light bulbs and other missing accessories congregated at the Canódromo, located at the intersection of Av. Monumental and Av. Colombia to show that they had paid their fines and obtained the needed items to validate repossession of the equipment.
People were lined up by the Digesett agents, who herded them to a small cubicle where each set of documents was examined. Then, ten by ten, with legal paperwork in hand, they were taken inside the area where they are checked once more and then proceeded to search for their property among the thousands that are parked there.
On the one hand, the owners complained that they lost hours trying to retrieve their property, which, in many cases, they claim was unjustifiably confiscated. On the other hand, the Digesett agents say that the confiscation of vehicles is covered by Art. 189 of Law 63-17 (the new traffic code) that permits removing a vehicle in violation of the code.
Humano medical insurance suspended
The Dominican Medical Guild (CMD) together with the Board of the Specialized Medical Societies (Conasomep) and the National Association of Private Clinics (Andeclip) have announced the suspension of consultations and elective procedures for those patients holding ARS Humano medical insurance. There has been no announcement as to the length of time this suspension will last. The boycott is to start on Wednesday, 1 May 2019 when only emergencies and those patients in intensive care will be able to claim under their insurance with Humano.
The announcement comes as the organizations say they will step up actions in favor of increases in the fees and tariffs for their services. The intention is to extend the boycott to the other around 20 medical insurance providers authorized in the Dominican Republic. CMD president Wilson Roa said that the physicians cannot take it anymore and that according to the CMD regulations they had no choice but to take corrective and disciplinary measures. Roa says that the ARS Humano has not complied with agreements that had been signed in 2017, as reported by Diario Libre.
ARS Humano is the country’s leading private medical insurance plan with around 33% of the medical insurance plan market, serving around 2.5 million people.
The other leading medical plans are Palic Salud, Universal and the governmental Senasa that covers those on the subsidized regime.
The Colegio Médico Dominicano, Consejo de Sociedades Médicas Especilizadas and the Asociación de Clínicas y Hospitales Privados say medical services fees have stagnated despite Social Security Law 87-01 ordering revisions every three years. Adjustments have mostly affected the difference patients pay that can range from RD$250 to RD$1,100 depending on the clinic and the plan. In most cases, the difference is more than they are paid by the medical plan companies.
The medical organizations also demand that patients maintain free choice in medical services, and that primary care begin with the subsidized regime. The insurance scheme has proven to be highly profitable for the medical plan operators. ARS Humano recently inaugurated a large office building on Av.. John F. Kennedy.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...s-de-ars-humano-desde-el-miercoles-LB12648065
http://www.sisalril.gov.do/pdf/leyes/ley_no_87-01.pdf
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...cot-a-ars-humano-genera-temor-entre-afiliados
https://humano.com.do/Paginas/default.aspx
https://eldia.com.do/pacientes-a-merced-de-mercaderes/
https://eldia.com.do/lucha-por-fondos-del-seguro-de-salud-deja-a-pacientes-sin-servicio/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...-humano-a-cumplimiento-de-acuerdos-LA12650193
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/editorial/un-conflicto-innecesario-CA12651829
Crash leaves five dead
On Friday night, 26 April, five people died in El Numero on the road between Azua and Baní. Four of the victims were from the same family and they were 47-year-old Nancy Josefina Felipe, Luis Alejandro Felipe, aged 20, the driver of the vehicle and 25-year-old Nicole Alejandra. The other two were not identified but they were Nicole’s boyfriend and his father. All were residents of Bayona, in Santo Domingo West. The accident happened at 9pm when it is assumed that the driver was attempting to overtake when he collided with another vehicle coming the other way.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...rretera-azua-bani-4-eran-de-una-misma-familia
Juan Luis Guerra honored during Billboard Latin Music Awards
Juan Luis Guerra received the Lifetime Achievement Honor at 2019 Billboard Latin Music Awards that took place on 25 April 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada for his many years of inspiring Latin songs.
For the occasion, Juanes of Colombia opened the segment with an introduction and speech before Kany García performed “Burbujas de Amor.” Then Pedro Capo gave what was described as a spirited rendition of “Ojalá que Llueva Café” and Fonseca finished with a heartfelt version of “La Traviesa” that brought a smile to Guerra’s face, as reported by Billboard.
Billboard recognized Guerra for his exceptional and enduring career. He is described as one of the most recognizable names in Latin music, one who has throughout his 35-year career launched 15 successful albums and sold over 30 million records worldwide.
Billboard recognized the Dominican musician, composer, singer and arranger for bringing the sounds of bachata and merengue to the world. Billboard highlights: Guerra has notched 42 songs on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart. Six of those songs hit No. 1, including the chart toppers “La Llave de Mi Corazón” which reigned for four weeks in 2007, and “Cuando Me Enamoro” the Enrique Iglesias song on which he is featured, which led for 17 non-consecutive weeks in 2010. On the Top Latin Albums chart, he’s placed 11 top 10 titles and three No. 1 albums. Guerra’s song “Ojala Que Llueva Café” is one of the best-known Latin songs of all time. His most recent "Kitipun," the first single from Guerra's upcoming album Literal, was released on Friday, 5 April 2019.
During the event, Ozuna was honored with 11 wins, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year. The previous week he had performed for Dominican audiences on 20 April 2019 at Casa de Campo’s Altos de Chavón Amphitheater.
https://www.billboard.com/articles/...ievement-tribute-billboard-latin-music-awards
https://www.etonline.com/2019-billboard-latin-music-awards-the-complete-list-of-winners-123905
https://www.diariolibre.com/revista...llboard-a-la-trayectoria-artistica-AG12632389