DR1 Daily News - Monday, 13 May 2019

D

Dolores

Guest
DR signs relations with Gambia
New stamp commemorates 30 years of DR-European Union relations
European Union donates RD$17 million to ONE
Will the CDEEE sell electricity to Haiti?
JCE judge Roberto Saladin explains why he voted “no”
Castaños family: It’s all in the family
Nuria Piera: Red flags in automated voting equipment contracted by JCE
April 2019 Gallup-Hoy poll wrap-up
They ran an earthquake drill on Friday. Did you feel it?
Business calls on people to save water
Once again, salary talks break down as management offers 8%
Dominican population getting older faster
Another year goes by with no report from Treasury
Landfill proposal goes to court
They are coming after your Amazon TV Fire Stick
Anadegas cries “foul” over fuel mafia
Cipla plastic surgery patient dies of operation complications
COE reports 3 dead in truck-bus crash on Baní highway
Drug trafficker threatens journalist; media to her defense



DR signs relations with Gambia
Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas announced the opening of diplomatic relations with the African nation of Gambia. The ambassador of Gambia in Havana, Cuba, Kujejatou K. F. Manneh, signed the agreement on relations between the two countries with Vargas at the Ministry of Foreign Relations in Santo Domingo.

Vargas said the intention is to foster relations based on trust, understanding and mutual respect. He called the event a “historic day” for the Dominican Republic. He said: “We want to explore with Gambia our relations in cooperation, trade, investment, culture, sport, among other areas.”

https://elnacional.com.do/canciller...miento-de-relaciones-diplomaticas-con-gambia/


New stamp commemorates 30 years of DR-European Union relations
The Ministry of Foreign Relations announced the issuance of a postal stamp commemorating the 30 years of relations between the Dominican Republic and the European Union. Some 25,000 units of the stamp by artist Randy Espaillat are in circulation.

Formal relations between the two began in 1989 with the signing of the Lomé IV Agreement. During the event, Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas highlighted the years of technical and financial cooperation in priority areas such as human rights, education, governance, and migration, among others.

Vargas said that the ministry is working with the European Union to be included in countries that are exempt from having to request the Schengen visa to travel to Europe.

Gianluca Grippa, European Union head of mission in the Dominican Republic, highlighted the close friendship ties with the European Union. He mentioned more than EUR1 billion have been contributed in donations for programs and projects.

http://www.mirex.gob.do/medios/noti...tal-conmemorativa-30-anos-de-relaciones-rd-ue


European Union donates RD$17 million to ONE
The National Statistical Office (ONE), charged with the National Census and many, many other number-oriented tasks, has received a RD$17 million donation from the European Union as part of a program to strengthen the agency and allow the dissemination of more and better economic indicators, as well as monitoring of the National Develop Strategy (END) and international commitments taken on by the Dominican Republic.

The contract includes updating information on all of the nation’s micro-, small and medium businesses who take out micro-loans, and finally to measure the impact of micro-financing.

The head of ONE, Alexandra Izquierdo, said that the agency faces the challenge of providing up-to-date information on economic indicators and official statistics, a way of providing surveillance of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Objectives and the other demands for precise information from local and international agencies.

https://eldia.com.do/union-europea-dona-a-la-one-rd17-millones/


Will the CDEEE sell electricity to Haiti?
Power supply has always been a problem in the Dominican Republic. Now, the executive vice president of the Dominican Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE) Ruben Jimenez Bichara understands that the new Punta Catalina coal-fired central and new renewable projects will mean there will be a surplus to sell power to Haiti. The government of China has signed for a US$600 million loan to improve transmission lines.

As reported in Haiti Libre, Jiménez Bichara says the operation could be viable and profitable for both countries thanks to the agreement with international organizations for the rehabilitation of distribution networks in the main Haitian cities.

The Punta Catalina thermoelectric power plant is in its test phase has generated up to 385 megawatts of power, or around half its capacity. Nevertheless, Jimenez Bichara said that in the next four to five years, the power generation park in the Dominican Republic will need 700 megawatts to 900 more megawatts to meet the growing demand for energy and that a tender will be launched this effect.

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-...-to-be-able-to-sell-electricity-to-haiti.html


JCE judge Roberto Saladin explains why he voted “no”
Former Central Bank governor and ambassador to the United States, today Central Electoral Board (JCE) judge Roberto Saladín Selín went public with a letter dated 9 May 2019 in which he explains the reasons why he dissented in a JCE decision on “the drag vote” for the 2020 general elections.

In response to a request made by 19 opposition parties, the plenary of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) had agreed to exclude the National District and five provinces from a measure to eliminate “the drag vote,” whereby votes cast for deputies are allocated to the senator of their province or the National District. The drag will be eliminated in 26 provinces for the 2020 general elections.

In his opinion, Saladín called the elimination of the drag vote in the 26 provinces a step ahead in the quality of Dominican democracy. Nevertheless, he considers this should have been in the National District and all 31 provinces. He stressed that Electoral Regime Law 15-19 establishes four levels of voting in the February and May 2020 general elections. He said this is based on constitutional, legal, doctrinal and expert dispositions, and expressions by the majority of organized society as received at the JCE and has been published in the media.

In the extensive dissenting opinion, Saladin argued the JCE decision to not eliminate the drag vote in the National District and five provinces is in violation of the Law 15-19 and the Constitution. To make clear what is at stake, Saladín pointed out in his dissenting opinion that the measure impedes that one political party be majority in the Senate and another in the Chamber of Deputies, thus weakening the role of Congress as check and balance to the Executive Branch.

https://acento.com.do/2019/politica...-del-arrastre-y-devolver-el-sufragio-directo/


It’s all in the family: Castaños family and more
The president of the Central Electoral Board (JCE), Julio Castaños Guzmán, has a salary of RD$375,000 a month plus benefits. But his son, Julio César Castaños Zouain, is also employed at the JCE as deputy director of the National Elections Directorate (deputy director, Dirección Nacional de Elecciones), making RD$158,125, a month. Another son, Julio Simón Castaño Zouain, is the Dominican ambassador in Switzerland, with a monthly stipend of US$10,400. Somos Pueblo highlights that the wages in the Castaños Zouain family receives from government are RD$1,053,125 per month plus benefits.

Somos Pueblo also published other cases of persons who have or have held high positions in government and have family members with high wages on the government payroll. Included among these is a sister of Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo, Miriam Celeste Castillo Terrero, who is employed in the Ministry of Foreign Relations with a wage of RD$130,000 and his daughter, Mónica Paola Castillo López, who is vice consul in Chicago, USA with a wage of US$1,750. Somos Pueblo mentions there are rumors the daughter is studying in Boston.

Somos Pueblo also highlights that six of seven brothers of the president of the Chamber of Deputies Radhames Camacho are employed in government. And his wife is a deputy minister of Education with a wage of RD$250,000.

http://somospueblo.com/familia-presidente-jce-cobra-rd1053125‬-en-el-gobierno/
http://somospueblo.com/hija-y-herma...00-pesos-en-ministerio-relaciones-exteriores/
http://somospueblo.com/seis-hermano...-camara-de-diputados-trabajan-en-el-gobierno/
http://somospueblo.com/esposa-del-p...obra-rd250000-como-viceministra-de-educacion/


Nuria Piera: Red flags in automated voting equipment contracted by JCE
Nuria Piera revealed on her TV investigative program details of irregularities in the US$20 million contract for automated voting equipment to be used in the primaries organized by the Central Electoral Board (JCE) for select political parties, including the ruling PLD on 6 October 2019. DigiWorld, a small company with only seven employees, won the tender last month.

The JCE had called an urgent bid on 28 February 2019 in order to expedite the procedure. The primaries would be a test run for the use of the equipment. Piera says the contract awarded commits the JCE to award the same company the contract for the automated voting devices for the legislative and municipal elections in February 2020 February and the May presidential election.

The investigative journalist said the tender was plagued by irregularities and questions left in the open. She hoped that the decision can be reversed. She said there are violations to the conditions of the tenders by the winner.

Piera said that several highly reputed computer providers told her they did not participate in the contest because they had information the JCE had already decided the contract would go to DigiWorld. Piera highlighted that the JCE went on record explaining the deciding factor to grant the contract for devices for the primaries was the extra briefcases in which to transport the equipment. Several other companies offered better prices in bidding for the same equipment. Piera says if the JCE had awarded the contract to different companies, in prices alone there would have been savings of RD$60 million, enough to cover the briefcases and more.

In the investigative report, Piera also presents that DigiWorld was the only company to offer a lower capacity portable battery of 500 watts, compared to other companies that complied with the bid requirement quoted of 1,000 watts for this equipment. Nevertheless, the JCE graded DigiWorld’s 500-watt inverters with the same points as those of 1,000 watts offered by other companies. Piera says that experts consulted say that as a minimum an inverter of 750 watts is needed to run the devices in case of power failure.

The investigative journalist revealed that in 2012 the same company had been suspended for not delivering computers purchased and paid for in a contract with the OPTIC, the information technology office of the Presidency. At the time OPTIC requested a permanent suspension of the permission for the company to sell to the government. Piera mentioned the equipment had been funded by a Taiwan government donation that requested the investigation. She noted the company was not sent to justice in the case.

She mentioned another inclusive case of a procurement contract with irregularities having to do with the Office of the First Lady.

Piera explains that without doubt, the company’s financial records show it has debt problems. This would be the biggest contract the company has landed.

Piera warned the financial difficulties could result in delays, as had happened with the 2016 general election and the previous JCE under judge Roberto Rosario.

Carlos Pimentel, executive director of Participación Ciudadana, warns about possibly repeating past JCE situations in which tech suppliers did not deliver. He said what is known is that DigiWorld does not have the proven financials to handle a contract of what it was awarded and that the JCE has violated its own rules in the granting of the contract.

But Piera says that regardless, the JCE has pre-authorized a millionaire purchase, a situation for which she says she is not aware there is a precedent. Carlos Pimentel of Participación Ciudadana explains that in the document where the JCE awards the contract to DigiWorld establishes that it commits to purchase the equipment needed for the 2020 general elections from the same company at these same prices or at prices that are to be discussed with the company and agreed upon with the company.

Pimentel is critical of the plenary of judges of the JCE that approved the contract. He said there is nothing in this contract that ensures that the negative past experiences with supplier companies will happen again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFZZlizsEEs
http://somospueblo.com/subdirectora...-empresa-digiworld-que-vendera-equipos-a-jce/


April 2019 Gallup-Hoy poll wrap-up
The April 2019 Gallup-Poll revealed that 51% of the Dominican people approve of the government of President Danilo Medina, but two-thirds of the population oppose him running for a third term. To do so, Medina would have to amend the Constitution. 68% of voters reject amending the Constitution to enable Medina to run again.

58% of the voters surveyed by Gallup-Hoy said they would prefer a different political party to win the 2020 general election. Despite the influential political patronage, only 35% expressed their preference for the PLD to stay in power.
Likewise, the poll revealed that while the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) continues to be the most popular political party, with 39% of preferences, followed by the PRM with 22%. But 24% of the population say they do not follow any political party. The PLD has been in power from 1996-2000, 2004-2008, 2008-2012, and 2012-2016.

Likewise, the poll revealed that if the election were held on the day of the poll, 38% would vote for the PLD, 25% for the PRM and 18% is undecided.

The Gallup poll was undertaken from 25-29 April 2019 with 1,200 participants, and a margin of error of +/- 2.8%.

http://hoy.com.do/por-si-se-lo-perd...dos-de-la-encuesta-gallup-hoy-de-esta-semana/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOqLe32xJBA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhjD0ytvqek


They ran an earthquake drill on Friday. Did you feel it?
On mid-Friday morning the Center for Emergency Operations (COE) ran an earthquake drill in parts of the National District to test protocols in place and create awareness in the population. The drill pretended the city had been affected by a 7.4 Richter Scale earthquake, similar to the one that killed over 300,000 persons in Haiti in 2010. United States Southern Command disaster teams assisted in the exercise. There are 14 major fault lines that run under the island. Last week, there was a 4.6 earthquake in southeastern San Pedro de Macoris.

General Juan Mendez, the commander of the COE, noted that there is a “before” and an “after” for seismic events. Within the “before” section, people should place heavy objects on lower shelves and make sure ceiling fans are well installed, bookcases and shelves with breakable items firmly secured to a wall. Mendez also spoke of removing big flowerpots from balcony railings, since in a strong tremor, these could fall on anyone below.

Other indications are for residents to inspect their gas lines and electrical installations and know where the master switches are located. Any corrosive or flammable liquids should be stored where they cannot spill. Other recommendations are to have ready an emergency kit with basic survival equipment: food, water and essential medicines and first aid items.

The “during” period requires a calm behavior where persons seek safety within the structure and then evacuate in an orderly fashion.

In the “after” period, persons should congregate in open spaces, as far as possible from any electric lines. People should not go barefoot. Boil water before consuming and phone use should be reduced to a minimum. Stay away from coastal areas.

The COE also recommends staying outside an affected building until the authorities give the all-clear and there is no danger of collapse.

Finally, people should be aware of aftershocks, oftentimes nearly a large as the original quake, and they should carry out practice evacuations in their homes.

COE has said it will carry out a free inspection of most buildings and family dwellings if requested to do so.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...e-7-4-este-viernes-sabes-que-hacer-AH12731098


Business calls on people to save water
Pedro Brache, the president of the National Business Council (CONEP), issued a call to everyone to save water. The current drought is nationwide, in spite of some recent rains. He stated the obvious on his Twitter account, saying “water is the most precious liquid of human beings.” He noted that water conservation during times of drought should be carried over to those times of abundant rains. He called for citizens to share the message.

The Dominican government has begun an awareness program for people to save water on the job and in their homes. Much of this program is being carried out on social media by the Office of the Presidency and asks people to check for leaks and repair them.
The drought is most severe in the northwest of the country.

https://www.diariolibre.com/economia/empresarios-llaman-a-ahorrar-agua-JH12730911


Once again, salary talks break down as management offers 8%
The talks regarding possible industry-wide minimum wage increases have once again broken off as management offered 8% against the 30% demanded by worker representatives in the talks.

As reported, one of the major stumbling blocks to a successful resolution of these discussions is the call by management to reclassify different enterprises before salary talks can begin in earnest. Management wants to introduce a new company category —the micro-enterprise— and labor flatly refuses to accept this and insists instead on the salary increases.

The head of the National Central for Dominican Workers (CNTD), Jacobo Ramos, said that management’s positions are purely “sectarian,” adding that his people are totally opposed to the reclassification of different businesses at this point, and will consider this only after wage talks conclude satisfactorily.

Rafael (Pepe) Abreu, another union leader, concurred that management’s insistence on the reclassification of companies makes an agreement impossible. According to reports, Gabriel del Rio, Ramos and Abreu have said that labor will, once again, take to the streets and call upon foreign, international agencies to intervene.

https://elnacional.com.do/una-vez-m...n-sobre-salarios-empresarios-ofrecen-8-de-30/


Dominican population getting older faster
The population of the Dominican Republic is, demographically speaking, getting old fast. While still within the moderate phase of what is known as “demographic transition,” the falling birth rate along with improved health care are seen as responsible for the changes.

A recent study “Misión República Dominicana Envejece” (Mission the Dominican Republic is Aging) is part of the work done by the NTD Foundation and the Saldarriaga Concha Foundation, with support from the International Aging Institute of the United Nations. The report reveals that the Dominican Republic has already passed the initial phase of the demographic transition marked by a high birth rate. Now there are fewer births and people living longer, thus bringing about an increase in the adult population.

This represents several new challenges. In 1960, the average number of children born to Dominican women was 7.6. The statistics for the 2015-2020 period show that the national fertility rate is now at 2.29, and will decline to 2.1 for the 2025-2030 period and 1.8 for 2050-2055, below the so-called “replacement level fertility” (whereby population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, without migration).

This represents a shrinking population, much like Spain and most West European countries today. This projects to a much older population by mid-century. This reality poses many challenges for the Dominican Republic since it affects the socioeconomic wellbeing of the population. This includes everything from empty schoolrooms, to overcrowded health facilities to serve the aging population.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...os-perdera-renovacion-generacional-OG12728677
(https://populationeducation.org/what-demographic-transition-model/),


Another year goes by with no report from the Treasury
A story in Diario Libre points out that the Medina administration is becoming routinely delinquent in reporting on remnants of the budget in the new budget. According to a report from the Chamber of Accounts, this happened in 2017, with RD$16 billion not executed in 2016, and in 2018 with regards to RD$25 billion not used in 2017. As reported, the lack of reporting is in violation of the constitutional requirement for the government to provide an annual report on the state of government financing in the budget. Budget expert Jose Rijo Presbot said that the most serious shortcoming is that the statement on government revenues (Estado de Recaudación) has routinely been discontinued when the Constitution establishes it needs to be presented and approved by Congress.

https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...no-sin-declarar-saldo-de-tesoreria-BG12728090


Landfill proposal goes to court
The announcement by Puerto Plata Mayor Walter Musa of a new site for the construction of the municipal garbage disposal landfill at Maggiolo Cofresi area is to be disputed in the courts. Legal representatives of the neighborhood housing board in the area of the new dump have deposited an appeal to halt the Puerto Plata municipal authorities from initiating works for the waste disposal in the area. Also represented by legal representation in this case, is the Puerto Plata Chamber of Commerce and members of the Cofresi business community. The site announced by Musa is nearby to the old site and is also located in an urban area.

https://elcaribe.com.do/2019/05/10/panorama/region-norte/proyecto-de-relleno-va-los-atribunales/


They are coming after your Amazon TV Fire Stick
Both Altice and Claro have sent a letter to the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) requesting the government agency halt sales of Blue Max in the Dominican Republic. The service comes with the installation of the Amazon TV Fire Stick. It has been gaining customers in the Dominican Republic.

The two telecom giants call for the end to the illegal streaming services. Altice and Claro complain they pay a lot of money for their cable content. Blue Max and Fire Stick offer more competitive costs to view thousands of movies and now offer Dominican channels, too. The service costs RD$2,500 and provides access to 1,200 live channels.

https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...-y-servicios-ilegales-de-streaming-KH12734428
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...-practica-ilegal-servicio-blue-max-MA12749702


Anadegas cries “foul” over fuel mafia
The National Association of Fuel Retailers (Anadegas) says an alleged mafia is operating in the retail fuel market with the backing of officials from the government and of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Small Business. Arnulfo Rivas, the Anadegas president, said the mafia makes it possible for more than 1,000 backyard fuel tanks to be selling fuel.

The Ministry challenged Anadegas to identify the officials involved in what they are calling illegal trafficking of fuel in the country. Rivas indicated that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce knows that contraband fuel enters the country at different points, including the Bay of Ocoa, Barahona, and even the Ozama River.

He said he would deliver proof within a few days of the smuggling of fuel. Rivas said these operators are unfair competition and have caused sales to drop by up to 50% in some gas stations.

Anadegas says that the Ministry knows more than they do regarding these back yard tanks since they were all authorized by the ministry itself. He also announced protest actions in Duarte province on Tuesday as part of a series of actions they will carry out.

https://elnacional.com.do/dice-aportara-las-pruebas-de-alegada-mafia-combustibles/


Cipla plastic surgery patient dies of operation complications
Ministry of Public Health is investigating the death of Altagracia Diaz Gonzalez, a patient at the International Center of Advanced Plastic Surgery (Centro Internacional de Cirugía Plástica Avanzada - CIPLA) in Santo Domingo. The doctor in charge of the surgery, Hector Cabral, said the patient died in the intensive care unit. He said the patient suffered pre-operatory complications, but did not give details. The patient had been admitted to the plastic surgery center on Thursday, 9 May 2019 at 9 am, and was declared dead by 9 pm that evening.

The center had reopened in 2017 after a two-year shut down ordered by the Ministry of Public Health for deficiencies in operation. In 2015, the Dominican Society of Plastic Surgeons removed his membership, but Dr. Cabral maintained his government authorization to practice.

The deceased is the mother of a social media influencer, Yatnna Rivera, who accused the physician of medical negligence.

https://elnuevodiario.com.do/hector-cabral-asegura-no-llego-a-intervenir-madre-de-yatnna-rivera/
https://elpregonerord.com/noticias/...eropuerto-acusado-muerte-madre-yatnna-rivera/
https://www.cdn.com.do/2019/05/09/fallece-una-cirugia-estetica-la-madre-la-instagramer-yatna-rivera/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...dades-investigan-la-muerte-de-altagracia-diaz
http://somospueblo.com/fallece-dura...clinica-habia-sido-cerrada-por-otras-muertes/


COE reports 3 dead in truck-bus crash on Baní highway
The Center for Emergency Operations (COE) said 29-year old Emmanuel Hernández, 52-year old María Jerez Peña and 40-year old Asony Denoe died in the Friday, 10 May 2019 crash between a passenger bus and a truck. There are several injured in the accident. The COE says defective tires on the truck caused the accident. According to preliminary reports, the driver of the truck lost control after a blow out of one of the truck tires.

The Listín Diario reports that on the El Número stretch of the Azua-Peravia province road where the accident occurred there have been at least 10 people have died in fatal traffic accidents.


Drug trafficker threatens journalist; media to her defense
El Dia journalist Teresa Casado has denounced life threats received from Sidney Rafael Matias Perez (El Fuerte) who is accused of being the head of a drug trafficking ring that introduced 363 kilos of cocaine in 2017. Matías is being tried in court for this case.

El Dia has carried the story to protect their journalist in an intent to avoid that the Dominican Republic suffers the plight of Mexico, where thousands of journalists have lost their lives after reporting on drug traffickers. Listín Diario recently carried the story in defense of the journalist.

Matías had sent a message to Casado that a recent attempt to rob her house at gunpoint was just a warning.

https://eldia.com.do/tribunal-revisa-coercion-narco-amenazo-periodista/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...arcotraficante-amenaza-a-periodista-de-el-dia