D
Dolores
Guest
Dominicans have busy schedule at the Cannes Film Festival
JCE denies direct vote for senators to half of voters
Little faith in the JCE to run elections
Winner of automated voting equipment bid had been penalized
JCE asked to explain about redundant equipment
HIV in children on the rise
DNI says Maduro’s wife never was in DR
Fedocámaras rejects Puerto Plata mayor’s landfill proposal
Few maximum convictions under the Arms Law
Thousands of counterfeited shoes confiscated
Dominicans excluded from US H-2B visa
Miami Herald: Trump sold property to Diosdado Cabello
Stranded Frenchman asking for embassy help
Chayanne to perform in Santo Domingo
Dominicans have busy schedule at the Cannes Film Festival
A delegation of the Dominican Republic is participating for the 10th time in the leading French festival, the Cannes Film Festival. Director of the Films Agency (DGCine) Yvette Marichal said that in the first years of the country’s participation in the festival, the delegation had lots of time on its hands. No longer. She says that during the 14-25 May 2019 festival more than 15 meetings are lined up with producers interested in filming in the country.
In addition to Marichal, others on the official Dominican delegation are actors, actresses and film directors, including Danilo Reynoso, Lia Chapman, Armando Guareño (Dominican Film Festival of New York), Ana Iris Gomez, Omar de la Cruz (Festival de Cine Global), Karla Groinzard, Marcos Moreno and Fernando Blanco.
The Dominican Republic has submitted the local film “Colours” by Luis Cepeda for consideration in the festival. The film did well during the Festival de Cine Funglode in the Dominican Republic.
Marichal said that thanks to past participation in the festival, the local directors José Maria Cabral and Carlos Lamarche connected with distribution companies for their films.
Marichal said that the Dominican Republic is an important emerging film country for international productions, noting that Netflix will be returning for another production. She said this has meant around RD$1 billion in revenues for the country.
https://www.diariolibre.com/revista...-al-mercado-del-festival-de-cannes-ME12703719
JCE denies direct vote for senators to half of voters
Following a plenary session of the Central Electoral Board (JCE), the members unanimously decided that the drag vote of deputies will not apply for the election of senators in 26 provinces in the February 2020 election. In these provinces there will be four ballots in use, one for each level of election (presidential, senators, deputies and municipal). The provision, nevertheless, will not apply to the larger voting population centers, those of the National District, Province of Santo Domingo, La Vega, Puerto Plata, San Cristóbal and Santiago. The JCE was acting on a request made by 17 political parties regarding new provisions in Art. 92 of the Electoral Regime Law 15-19 that call for separating the election levels.
The plenary of the JCE announced that it decided that, exceptionally and for the purposes of "complying with the provisions of Paragraph IV of Article 104 of Law No. 15-19, only in the National District and those provinces that are divided into electoral districts for the election of deputies and deputies by territorial constituency, all votes obtained by the party in the province will be computed for the election of the candidates for senators.
The six demarcations that are excluded concentrate 58.8% of the voters for the elections of 2020 or 4,371,033 eligible voters. The province of Santo Domingo has the highest number of voters, with 1,657,849 registered, equivalent to 22.3% of the electoral roll, which had 7,422,627 registered as of February 2019. The National District is the second most populated demarcation with 854,971 voters equivalent to 11.5%, followed by Santiago with 636,922 registered for a percentage of 11.2%. San Cristóbal is the fourth province with the highest number of voters and has 430,927 for 5.8%, followed by La Vega, 332,068 voters for 4.5%, and Puerto Plata with 258,296 registered.
The 26 provinces where four (4) ballots will now be used, one for each level of election, are Bahoruco, Dajabón, El Seibo, Elías Piña, Hato Mayor, Hermanas Mirabal, Independencia, Montecristi, Pedernales, Samaná, San José de Ocoa, Santiago Rodríguez, Barahona, María Trinidad Sánchez, Monseñor Nouel, Monte Plata, Peravia, Sánchez Ramírez, Valverde, Azua, Espaillat, La Romana, San Juan de la Maguana, Duarte, La Altagracia and San Pedro de Macorís. In these provinces, voters will be able to directly vote for the senators and the deputies of their preference.
Article 92 of the Organic Law of Electoral Regime No.15-19 states: "The following classification is established for the elections: (...) 5. Level of Elections. An election level shall be defined as one that contains indivisible or not fractionable candidacies in themselves. Presidential Level. This refers to the joint election of the President and Vice President of the Republic. 7. Senatorial Level. Refers to the election of senators. 8. Deputation level. It refers to the joint election of deputies by territorial demarcation, national deputies by the accumulation of votes and deputies representing the Dominican community abroad. 9. Municipal level. It refers to the joint election of mayors, councilmen and their respective alternates, as well as the directors, deputy directors and members of the municipal districts.
Article 104, paragraph IV, contained in Title X, on electoral districts, provides as follows: "Exceptions to this provision are senatorial candidates, to whom all the votes obtained by the party in the province shall be computed; in the case of mayors, the votes obtained in the entire municipality; and with respect to directors of municipal districts, those that have been obtained in the corresponding municipal district.
The plenary session of the JCE was presided over by judge Julio César Castaños Guzmán, with the participation of members Roberto Saladín Selin, Carmen Imbert Brugal, Rosario Graciano de los Santos and Henry Mejía Oviedo, assisted by the Secretary General of the JCE, Dr. Ramón Hilario.
The leading opposition party, Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) announced it would submit to the Constitutional Court on 15 May 2019 a motion against the decision that keeps the drag vote in the National District and five provinces. José Ignacio Paliza, the president of the PRM, understands that the measure creates first and second class senators and citizens.
Diario Libre reports that Federico Antún Batlle, spokesman for the PRSC, called the resolution unacceptable. “The Constitution is the same for all,” he said. Minority party leaders, Guillermo Moreno of Alianza País; Minou Tavarez of Opción Democrática; Vinicio Castillo Semán of the Fuerza Nacional Progresista (FNP) also rejected the decision by the JCE.
https://jce.gob.do/Noticias/pleno-jce-decide-a-unanimidad-sobre-eleccion-de-senadores-y-diputados
https://elcaribe.com.do/2019/05/08/panorama/politica/la-jce-deja-arrastre-en-seis-provincias-2/
http://z101digital.com/prm-recurrir...e-de-mantener-el-arrastre-en-seis-provincias/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...y-27-de-octubre-tras-las-primarias-JF12713587
https://eldia.com.do/la-jce-mantien...m-anuncia-que-ira-al-tribunal-constitucional/
Little faith in the JCE to run elections
According to the results of a Gallup-Hoy poll, 55% of Dominican citizens have very little faith in the Central Electoral Board (JCE), the body in charge of organizing the 2020 general elections. The percentage of those with little faith in the JCE is slightly higher, 59%, for sympathizers of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). 60% of those who sympathize with the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), a strong PLD ally, and the Reformist Social Christian Party (PRSC), a former PLD ally, expressed their own lack of faith in the JCE. 59% of the Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM) said they have little trust in the JCE.
Over half of the population (53.8%) believes that the JCE will manage the elections with impartiality and transparency. 40% believe it will not.
Looking at electronic voting, 64.7% of citizens think the technology will speed up the announcement of results and 30% think it will not. 51% of those polled believe that the results of the electronic vote will not be as trustworthy as a manual count.
The survey was carried out from 25 to 29 April, with 1,200 eligible voters surveyed. It has a plus/minus error margin of 2.8%.
https://eldia.com.do/encuesta-gallup-hoy-55-atribuye-poca-credibilidad-a-la-jce/
http://hoy.com.do/encuesta-gallup-hoy-el-55-atribuye-poca-credibilidad-a-la-jce/
http://hoy.com.do/encuesta-gallup-hoy-todo-lo-que-tienes-que-saber-te-lo-contamos-de-forma-breve/
Winner of automated voting equipment bid had been penalized
DigiWorld, the company that won the Central Electoral Board (JCE) contest to supply US$21 million in equipment for automating the primaries organized by the Central Electoral Board for 6 October 2019, has a bad mark on its procurement record with the government. On her Sin Maquillaje morning talk show, Altagracia Salazar reported the company did not meet contracted procurement requirements in 2011 and was banned from selling to the government for a year. In 2011, the company won a bid to supply 1,300 computers to OPTIC, the technology division of the Presidency. Despite having received payment of 85% of the contract, the computers were not supplied and OPTIC proceeded legally against the company.
Salazar said that abroad election organizers prefer to lease the equipment and not purchase them, as the elections are usually held at least every four years and technology quickly becomes obsolete.
Salazar points out that DigiWorld operates from a small office on Plaza Guridy on Av. 27 de Febrero.
Salazar wondered if a company that could not meet procurement for 1,300 computers will be able to come through with the US$21 million supply contract. The electronic equipment would be tested for the primary and then more equipment would be purchased for the general election in February and May 2020.
This would not be the first time that an equipment procurement order for the general elections may go sour. During the 2016 election, the JCE under Roberto Rosario insisted in purchasing electronic devices for US$49 million. The equipment was practically a failure during those elections and now the JCE pays thousands of dollars to store the equipment.
Meanwhile, the Gallup-Hoy April 2019 reveals only 40% of Dominicans believe in the credibility of the Central Electoral Board (JCE).
See 8:25am into the video for details on the DigiWorld.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY6ZAkl0upo&t=663s
JCE asked to explain about redundant equipment
Lawyer Franklin García Fermín, former rector of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) has asked the Central Electoral Board (JCE) to explain to the country who were the people and institutions sent to face justice for the purchase of useless electronic equipment for US$35.2 million. Garcia Fermin said it was surprising to learn that the JCE had paid off the debt to Indra, the Spanish company that supplied the goods, when the last he had heard about a report stating that the machines did not work and that there was a lawsuit against Indra.
He said that it was a crime that in a country where hospitals have neither sufficient medicines nor equipment and children are going hungry, that the JCE had paid more than RD$700 million for practically useless equipment which was not used in the past elections nor will be in the next ones.
It appears that not only did the JCE pay off the debt, but they are paying US$15,500 a month to store them, according to the report in Hoy.
http://hoy.com.do/emplaza-a-jce-a-e...-de-equipos-que-no-se-usaron-a-empresa-indra/
HIV in children on the rise
During 2018,857 children were born in the Dominican Republic to women with the HIV virus, according to the local AIDS/HIV council, Conavihsida. Of the children, 97 had contracted the disease from their mothers, a rate of 11.3%. Victor Terrero, director of Conavihsida, said that not long ago, the HIV infection rate from mothers was only 4%.
Terrero revealed that almost half of the HIV cases detected last year in those over 15 years old were Haitians. He said that of the 2,394 new cases identified, 1,300 were Haitian.
It is estimated that around 30% of all births in the country are to Haitian mothers. Terrero went on to say that 5.2% of the children born in the country are tested at 12 months old. Of these, 11.3% tested positive for the virus.
http://www.conavihsida.gob.do/index...il-del-vih-es-de-11-3-por-ciento-dice-terrero
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ra-de-ninos-haitianos-con-vih-nacidos-en-2018
http://www.conavihsida.gob.do/
DNI says Maduro’s wife never was in DR
The director of the National Investigations Agency (DNI), former Defense Minister Sigfrido Pared Perez said that it is confirmed that the wife of President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, Celia Flores, was not a passenger on board a plane that made a stopover in Punta Cana from Venezuela last week. He said on board was only the crew of the plane that had taken some businessmen from Russia to Venezuela. He said the airplane that had arrived from Russia is of Turkish registry. The owner of the airplane had instructed the crew to remain in Punta Cana due to the attempted coup etat in Venezuela on 1 May 2019.
https://eldia.com.do/el-dni-aclara-avion-turco-no-llego-a-punta-cana-con-familia-de-maduro/
Fedocámaras rejects Puerto Plata mayor’s landfill proposal
The Federation of Chamber of Commerce in the Dominican Republic (Fedocámaras) met in Santiago last week and issued a rejection of the landfill that Puerto Plata city mayor Walter Musa and Dominicana Limpia have proposed for Puerto Plata. The landfill would be located in Magiolo near Cofresí, just 700 meters from the present landfill that was just recently technically closed.
Claudio Fernandez Marti, president of Fedocamaras said another site needs to be found keeping in mind the collective interest of Puerto Plata. He said a public-private alliance is needed to build the new garbage deposit for the province.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/ciudad/rechazan-relleno-sanitario-en-p-plata-DE12704788
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTH0AR-KJU8&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-Xmv4ejGhg&feature=youtu.be
Few maximum convictions under the Arms Law
Law on Arms and Munitions 631-16 states that the jail sentence for use of an illegal weapon in murder is now 40 years. Those causing permanent injuries with the use of an illegal weapon can get up to 30 years in jail. Those who kill with a legal weapon can only get a 30 years maximum sentence. Those using an illegal weapon where the injuries are not permanent face 15 to 20 years in jail.
The law also states that if an illegal weapon is used in a kidnapping, the jail sentence is 40 years.
Murders during robberies and assaults with illegal firearms are not uncommon in the country, but rarely have the maximum sentences been applied.
In April this year, a Santo Domingo court sentenced two people, in separate cases, to the maximum 40-year sentence for murdering their victims with illegal weapons. The sentences surprised many Dominicans, who believed that the maximum jail term was 30 years as previously established in the Penal Code.
In addition, the law orders that public servants who lend their weapons to civilians and those civilians then commit a crime can get three to five years in jail.
The law also establishes that anyone who modifies a weapon in any way, be it removing the serial number, altering the ballistic fingerprint or any technical modification, will face up to 10 years in prison.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...aplicado-la-pena-maxima-de-40-anos-en-el-pais
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...arcel-a-quien-mate-con-arma-ilegal-AE12704598
Thousands of counterfeited shoes confiscated
The National Police and the Prosecution Service have confiscated 49,768 pairs of counterfeit shoes in a shop and two warehouses. According to the press release issued yesterday, Tuesday 7 May 2019, the first raid was at Importadora A.M.G, located on Duarte Avenue in the National District, where 124 pairs of shoes of different makes and models were confiscated.
The agents then went to Josefa Brea Avenue to a warehouse where another 45,768 pairs of tennis shoes and sandals were confiscated. In a second warehouse of the same importer on Federico Vasquez street in Villa Maria, another 4,036 pairs of tennis shoes and sandals of three different brands, national and international were confiscated.
https://almomento.net/incautan-casi...do-falsificado-en-una-tienda-y-dos-almacenes/
Dominicans excluded from US H-2B visa
In this year, 2019, citizens of the Dominican Republic have been excluded from the list of those countries who can apply for a H-2B visa for non-immigrants who are seeking temporary non-agricultural work in the United States. This visa will benefit 33,000 foreigners.
Also excluded from applying are citizens of Paraguay and Moldavia, the latter because it does not comply with the standards of the program. However, the citizens of the excluded countries are eligible to apply for the H-2A visa for agricultural work. In 2018 Dominicans were allowed to apply for both visas.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...sas-de-trabajos-temporales-en-eeuu-OE12708868
Miami Herald: Trump sold property to Diosdado Cabello
The Miami Herald is carrying a story on how the Trump Organization had sold a Cap Cana property in 2015 to a shell company that is now being linked to Venezuelans that are said to be close associates of Diosdado Cabello Rondón, described as the second most powerful man in the Nicolás Maduro administration. Cabello is the Maduro socialist party’s chief. The Trump Administration has accused Cabello of drug trafficking and money laundering.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/05...15-una-finca-dominicana-asociados-de-cabello/
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article230070829.html
Stranded Frenchman asking for embassy help
A Frenchman has complained that he was robbed near the municipal district of Caleta beach in La Romana after his boat ran aground, and he is asking the French Embassy for assistance.
The victim is Michel Brezki, who said that he left Boca Chica on his boat to go to San Pedro de Macoris and then Saona Island, but the boat ran into technical problems.
He said that early on Friday morning, 3 May 2019, his boat ran aground close to Caleta beach near Boca Chica. He claims that people approached him, he thought to help, but instead, they robbed him and damaged his boat. He is now hoping that the French Embassy will help him and that the Dominican Navy will move the boat so that it is no longer aground.
http://hoy.com.do/turista-frances-p...encallar-lancha-en-playa-caleta-de-la-romana/
Chayanne to perform in Santo Domingo
The Palacio de los Deportes in the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center is the venue for the Saturday, 25 May “Chayanne Desde el Alma Tour 2019” concert. The Puerto Rican Latin pop singer’s show is set for 8:30pm. Tickets are for sale at CCN Servicios, Supermercados Nacional, Jumbo stores and online at Uepa Tickets for prices ranging from RD$2,330 to RD$18,750.
Listen to his music at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3JSg3OviSM
JCE denies direct vote for senators to half of voters
Little faith in the JCE to run elections
Winner of automated voting equipment bid had been penalized
JCE asked to explain about redundant equipment
HIV in children on the rise
DNI says Maduro’s wife never was in DR
Fedocámaras rejects Puerto Plata mayor’s landfill proposal
Few maximum convictions under the Arms Law
Thousands of counterfeited shoes confiscated
Dominicans excluded from US H-2B visa
Miami Herald: Trump sold property to Diosdado Cabello
Stranded Frenchman asking for embassy help
Chayanne to perform in Santo Domingo
Dominicans have busy schedule at the Cannes Film Festival
A delegation of the Dominican Republic is participating for the 10th time in the leading French festival, the Cannes Film Festival. Director of the Films Agency (DGCine) Yvette Marichal said that in the first years of the country’s participation in the festival, the delegation had lots of time on its hands. No longer. She says that during the 14-25 May 2019 festival more than 15 meetings are lined up with producers interested in filming in the country.
In addition to Marichal, others on the official Dominican delegation are actors, actresses and film directors, including Danilo Reynoso, Lia Chapman, Armando Guareño (Dominican Film Festival of New York), Ana Iris Gomez, Omar de la Cruz (Festival de Cine Global), Karla Groinzard, Marcos Moreno and Fernando Blanco.
The Dominican Republic has submitted the local film “Colours” by Luis Cepeda for consideration in the festival. The film did well during the Festival de Cine Funglode in the Dominican Republic.
Marichal said that thanks to past participation in the festival, the local directors José Maria Cabral and Carlos Lamarche connected with distribution companies for their films.
Marichal said that the Dominican Republic is an important emerging film country for international productions, noting that Netflix will be returning for another production. She said this has meant around RD$1 billion in revenues for the country.
https://www.diariolibre.com/revista...-al-mercado-del-festival-de-cannes-ME12703719
JCE denies direct vote for senators to half of voters
Following a plenary session of the Central Electoral Board (JCE), the members unanimously decided that the drag vote of deputies will not apply for the election of senators in 26 provinces in the February 2020 election. In these provinces there will be four ballots in use, one for each level of election (presidential, senators, deputies and municipal). The provision, nevertheless, will not apply to the larger voting population centers, those of the National District, Province of Santo Domingo, La Vega, Puerto Plata, San Cristóbal and Santiago. The JCE was acting on a request made by 17 political parties regarding new provisions in Art. 92 of the Electoral Regime Law 15-19 that call for separating the election levels.
The plenary of the JCE announced that it decided that, exceptionally and for the purposes of "complying with the provisions of Paragraph IV of Article 104 of Law No. 15-19, only in the National District and those provinces that are divided into electoral districts for the election of deputies and deputies by territorial constituency, all votes obtained by the party in the province will be computed for the election of the candidates for senators.
The six demarcations that are excluded concentrate 58.8% of the voters for the elections of 2020 or 4,371,033 eligible voters. The province of Santo Domingo has the highest number of voters, with 1,657,849 registered, equivalent to 22.3% of the electoral roll, which had 7,422,627 registered as of February 2019. The National District is the second most populated demarcation with 854,971 voters equivalent to 11.5%, followed by Santiago with 636,922 registered for a percentage of 11.2%. San Cristóbal is the fourth province with the highest number of voters and has 430,927 for 5.8%, followed by La Vega, 332,068 voters for 4.5%, and Puerto Plata with 258,296 registered.
The 26 provinces where four (4) ballots will now be used, one for each level of election, are Bahoruco, Dajabón, El Seibo, Elías Piña, Hato Mayor, Hermanas Mirabal, Independencia, Montecristi, Pedernales, Samaná, San José de Ocoa, Santiago Rodríguez, Barahona, María Trinidad Sánchez, Monseñor Nouel, Monte Plata, Peravia, Sánchez Ramírez, Valverde, Azua, Espaillat, La Romana, San Juan de la Maguana, Duarte, La Altagracia and San Pedro de Macorís. In these provinces, voters will be able to directly vote for the senators and the deputies of their preference.
Article 92 of the Organic Law of Electoral Regime No.15-19 states: "The following classification is established for the elections: (...) 5. Level of Elections. An election level shall be defined as one that contains indivisible or not fractionable candidacies in themselves. Presidential Level. This refers to the joint election of the President and Vice President of the Republic. 7. Senatorial Level. Refers to the election of senators. 8. Deputation level. It refers to the joint election of deputies by territorial demarcation, national deputies by the accumulation of votes and deputies representing the Dominican community abroad. 9. Municipal level. It refers to the joint election of mayors, councilmen and their respective alternates, as well as the directors, deputy directors and members of the municipal districts.
Article 104, paragraph IV, contained in Title X, on electoral districts, provides as follows: "Exceptions to this provision are senatorial candidates, to whom all the votes obtained by the party in the province shall be computed; in the case of mayors, the votes obtained in the entire municipality; and with respect to directors of municipal districts, those that have been obtained in the corresponding municipal district.
The plenary session of the JCE was presided over by judge Julio César Castaños Guzmán, with the participation of members Roberto Saladín Selin, Carmen Imbert Brugal, Rosario Graciano de los Santos and Henry Mejía Oviedo, assisted by the Secretary General of the JCE, Dr. Ramón Hilario.
The leading opposition party, Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) announced it would submit to the Constitutional Court on 15 May 2019 a motion against the decision that keeps the drag vote in the National District and five provinces. José Ignacio Paliza, the president of the PRM, understands that the measure creates first and second class senators and citizens.
Diario Libre reports that Federico Antún Batlle, spokesman for the PRSC, called the resolution unacceptable. “The Constitution is the same for all,” he said. Minority party leaders, Guillermo Moreno of Alianza País; Minou Tavarez of Opción Democrática; Vinicio Castillo Semán of the Fuerza Nacional Progresista (FNP) also rejected the decision by the JCE.
https://jce.gob.do/Noticias/pleno-jce-decide-a-unanimidad-sobre-eleccion-de-senadores-y-diputados
https://elcaribe.com.do/2019/05/08/panorama/politica/la-jce-deja-arrastre-en-seis-provincias-2/
http://z101digital.com/prm-recurrir...e-de-mantener-el-arrastre-en-seis-provincias/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...y-27-de-octubre-tras-las-primarias-JF12713587
https://eldia.com.do/la-jce-mantien...m-anuncia-que-ira-al-tribunal-constitucional/
Little faith in the JCE to run elections
According to the results of a Gallup-Hoy poll, 55% of Dominican citizens have very little faith in the Central Electoral Board (JCE), the body in charge of organizing the 2020 general elections. The percentage of those with little faith in the JCE is slightly higher, 59%, for sympathizers of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). 60% of those who sympathize with the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), a strong PLD ally, and the Reformist Social Christian Party (PRSC), a former PLD ally, expressed their own lack of faith in the JCE. 59% of the Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM) said they have little trust in the JCE.
Over half of the population (53.8%) believes that the JCE will manage the elections with impartiality and transparency. 40% believe it will not.
Looking at electronic voting, 64.7% of citizens think the technology will speed up the announcement of results and 30% think it will not. 51% of those polled believe that the results of the electronic vote will not be as trustworthy as a manual count.
The survey was carried out from 25 to 29 April, with 1,200 eligible voters surveyed. It has a plus/minus error margin of 2.8%.
https://eldia.com.do/encuesta-gallup-hoy-55-atribuye-poca-credibilidad-a-la-jce/
http://hoy.com.do/encuesta-gallup-hoy-el-55-atribuye-poca-credibilidad-a-la-jce/
http://hoy.com.do/encuesta-gallup-hoy-todo-lo-que-tienes-que-saber-te-lo-contamos-de-forma-breve/
Winner of automated voting equipment bid had been penalized
DigiWorld, the company that won the Central Electoral Board (JCE) contest to supply US$21 million in equipment for automating the primaries organized by the Central Electoral Board for 6 October 2019, has a bad mark on its procurement record with the government. On her Sin Maquillaje morning talk show, Altagracia Salazar reported the company did not meet contracted procurement requirements in 2011 and was banned from selling to the government for a year. In 2011, the company won a bid to supply 1,300 computers to OPTIC, the technology division of the Presidency. Despite having received payment of 85% of the contract, the computers were not supplied and OPTIC proceeded legally against the company.
Salazar said that abroad election organizers prefer to lease the equipment and not purchase them, as the elections are usually held at least every four years and technology quickly becomes obsolete.
Salazar points out that DigiWorld operates from a small office on Plaza Guridy on Av. 27 de Febrero.
Salazar wondered if a company that could not meet procurement for 1,300 computers will be able to come through with the US$21 million supply contract. The electronic equipment would be tested for the primary and then more equipment would be purchased for the general election in February and May 2020.
This would not be the first time that an equipment procurement order for the general elections may go sour. During the 2016 election, the JCE under Roberto Rosario insisted in purchasing electronic devices for US$49 million. The equipment was practically a failure during those elections and now the JCE pays thousands of dollars to store the equipment.
Meanwhile, the Gallup-Hoy April 2019 reveals only 40% of Dominicans believe in the credibility of the Central Electoral Board (JCE).
See 8:25am into the video for details on the DigiWorld.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY6ZAkl0upo&t=663s
JCE asked to explain about redundant equipment
Lawyer Franklin García Fermín, former rector of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) has asked the Central Electoral Board (JCE) to explain to the country who were the people and institutions sent to face justice for the purchase of useless electronic equipment for US$35.2 million. Garcia Fermin said it was surprising to learn that the JCE had paid off the debt to Indra, the Spanish company that supplied the goods, when the last he had heard about a report stating that the machines did not work and that there was a lawsuit against Indra.
He said that it was a crime that in a country where hospitals have neither sufficient medicines nor equipment and children are going hungry, that the JCE had paid more than RD$700 million for practically useless equipment which was not used in the past elections nor will be in the next ones.
It appears that not only did the JCE pay off the debt, but they are paying US$15,500 a month to store them, according to the report in Hoy.
http://hoy.com.do/emplaza-a-jce-a-e...-de-equipos-que-no-se-usaron-a-empresa-indra/
HIV in children on the rise
During 2018,857 children were born in the Dominican Republic to women with the HIV virus, according to the local AIDS/HIV council, Conavihsida. Of the children, 97 had contracted the disease from their mothers, a rate of 11.3%. Victor Terrero, director of Conavihsida, said that not long ago, the HIV infection rate from mothers was only 4%.
Terrero revealed that almost half of the HIV cases detected last year in those over 15 years old were Haitians. He said that of the 2,394 new cases identified, 1,300 were Haitian.
It is estimated that around 30% of all births in the country are to Haitian mothers. Terrero went on to say that 5.2% of the children born in the country are tested at 12 months old. Of these, 11.3% tested positive for the virus.
http://www.conavihsida.gob.do/index...il-del-vih-es-de-11-3-por-ciento-dice-terrero
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ra-de-ninos-haitianos-con-vih-nacidos-en-2018
http://www.conavihsida.gob.do/
DNI says Maduro’s wife never was in DR
The director of the National Investigations Agency (DNI), former Defense Minister Sigfrido Pared Perez said that it is confirmed that the wife of President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, Celia Flores, was not a passenger on board a plane that made a stopover in Punta Cana from Venezuela last week. He said on board was only the crew of the plane that had taken some businessmen from Russia to Venezuela. He said the airplane that had arrived from Russia is of Turkish registry. The owner of the airplane had instructed the crew to remain in Punta Cana due to the attempted coup etat in Venezuela on 1 May 2019.
https://eldia.com.do/el-dni-aclara-avion-turco-no-llego-a-punta-cana-con-familia-de-maduro/
Fedocámaras rejects Puerto Plata mayor’s landfill proposal
The Federation of Chamber of Commerce in the Dominican Republic (Fedocámaras) met in Santiago last week and issued a rejection of the landfill that Puerto Plata city mayor Walter Musa and Dominicana Limpia have proposed for Puerto Plata. The landfill would be located in Magiolo near Cofresí, just 700 meters from the present landfill that was just recently technically closed.
Claudio Fernandez Marti, president of Fedocamaras said another site needs to be found keeping in mind the collective interest of Puerto Plata. He said a public-private alliance is needed to build the new garbage deposit for the province.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/ciudad/rechazan-relleno-sanitario-en-p-plata-DE12704788
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTH0AR-KJU8&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-Xmv4ejGhg&feature=youtu.be
Few maximum convictions under the Arms Law
Law on Arms and Munitions 631-16 states that the jail sentence for use of an illegal weapon in murder is now 40 years. Those causing permanent injuries with the use of an illegal weapon can get up to 30 years in jail. Those who kill with a legal weapon can only get a 30 years maximum sentence. Those using an illegal weapon where the injuries are not permanent face 15 to 20 years in jail.
The law also states that if an illegal weapon is used in a kidnapping, the jail sentence is 40 years.
Murders during robberies and assaults with illegal firearms are not uncommon in the country, but rarely have the maximum sentences been applied.
In April this year, a Santo Domingo court sentenced two people, in separate cases, to the maximum 40-year sentence for murdering their victims with illegal weapons. The sentences surprised many Dominicans, who believed that the maximum jail term was 30 years as previously established in the Penal Code.
In addition, the law orders that public servants who lend their weapons to civilians and those civilians then commit a crime can get three to five years in jail.
The law also establishes that anyone who modifies a weapon in any way, be it removing the serial number, altering the ballistic fingerprint or any technical modification, will face up to 10 years in prison.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...aplicado-la-pena-maxima-de-40-anos-en-el-pais
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...arcel-a-quien-mate-con-arma-ilegal-AE12704598
Thousands of counterfeited shoes confiscated
The National Police and the Prosecution Service have confiscated 49,768 pairs of counterfeit shoes in a shop and two warehouses. According to the press release issued yesterday, Tuesday 7 May 2019, the first raid was at Importadora A.M.G, located on Duarte Avenue in the National District, where 124 pairs of shoes of different makes and models were confiscated.
The agents then went to Josefa Brea Avenue to a warehouse where another 45,768 pairs of tennis shoes and sandals were confiscated. In a second warehouse of the same importer on Federico Vasquez street in Villa Maria, another 4,036 pairs of tennis shoes and sandals of three different brands, national and international were confiscated.
https://almomento.net/incautan-casi...do-falsificado-en-una-tienda-y-dos-almacenes/
Dominicans excluded from US H-2B visa
In this year, 2019, citizens of the Dominican Republic have been excluded from the list of those countries who can apply for a H-2B visa for non-immigrants who are seeking temporary non-agricultural work in the United States. This visa will benefit 33,000 foreigners.
Also excluded from applying are citizens of Paraguay and Moldavia, the latter because it does not comply with the standards of the program. However, the citizens of the excluded countries are eligible to apply for the H-2A visa for agricultural work. In 2018 Dominicans were allowed to apply for both visas.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...sas-de-trabajos-temporales-en-eeuu-OE12708868
Miami Herald: Trump sold property to Diosdado Cabello
The Miami Herald is carrying a story on how the Trump Organization had sold a Cap Cana property in 2015 to a shell company that is now being linked to Venezuelans that are said to be close associates of Diosdado Cabello Rondón, described as the second most powerful man in the Nicolás Maduro administration. Cabello is the Maduro socialist party’s chief. The Trump Administration has accused Cabello of drug trafficking and money laundering.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/05...15-una-finca-dominicana-asociados-de-cabello/
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article230070829.html
Stranded Frenchman asking for embassy help
A Frenchman has complained that he was robbed near the municipal district of Caleta beach in La Romana after his boat ran aground, and he is asking the French Embassy for assistance.
The victim is Michel Brezki, who said that he left Boca Chica on his boat to go to San Pedro de Macoris and then Saona Island, but the boat ran into technical problems.
He said that early on Friday morning, 3 May 2019, his boat ran aground close to Caleta beach near Boca Chica. He claims that people approached him, he thought to help, but instead, they robbed him and damaged his boat. He is now hoping that the French Embassy will help him and that the Dominican Navy will move the boat so that it is no longer aground.
http://hoy.com.do/turista-frances-p...encallar-lancha-en-playa-caleta-de-la-romana/
Chayanne to perform in Santo Domingo
The Palacio de los Deportes in the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center is the venue for the Saturday, 25 May “Chayanne Desde el Alma Tour 2019” concert. The Puerto Rican Latin pop singer’s show is set for 8:30pm. Tickets are for sale at CCN Servicios, Supermercados Nacional, Jumbo stores and online at Uepa Tickets for prices ranging from RD$2,330 to RD$18,750.
Listen to his music at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3JSg3OviSM