DR1 Daily News - Monday, 10 June 2019

D

Dolores

Guest
Border “no man’s land” gets high-tech vigilance
ETED prepares for hurricanes
Deputies approve and urge Bible readings in classrooms
Isidoro Santana and Antonio Isa Conde are against reelection
Citizen Participation calls for correct application of 20% reserved election slot ruling
What became of the civic movement Marcha Verde?
Autopsies point to deceased at hotel being in bad health
David Ortiz injured when at Ave. Venezuela bar



Border “no man’s land” gets high-tech vigilance
President Danilo Medina cut the ribbon to the entranceway of the new Interagency Border Coordinated Management Post in Carrizal, Elias Piña on Thursday, 6 June 2019. The new installation is described as a step ahead in securing the border with Haiti. Likewise, President Medina said that the post would contribute to the economic and tourism development of the area.

The technological center is located in Carrizal, a community of the municipality of Comendador, in the Elias Piña province on the Haitian border. It has been fitted to coordinate joint operations and interagency affairs of security, intelligence and control of the border.

There are also customs controls and contraband safeguards. There is a particular interest in controlling the trans-border movement of narcotics and other smuggled goods.

Defense Minister Ruben Paulino Sem noted that officials from several government agencies would be on site, including Migration, Customs, Defense, Public Health and Agriculture. He said that before the opening of this facility, and in spite of the regulations governing the passage across the border, the entire area was considered to be a “no man’s land.” He says this will no longer be the case. The announcement comes at a time when violence is escalating in Haiti.

https://eldia.com.do/la-frontera-sera-vigilada-con-tecnlogia-de-punta/
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...agencial-de-gestion-coordinada-de-frontera-en


ETED prepares for hurricanes
The Dominican Power Line Company (ETED), which carries electricity from the big generating stations across the country to local distributors (the EDEs), has released a press communiqué explaining its contingency plans in case of a major hurricane. The communiqué summarizes actions regarding the transmission towers and cables and their telecommunication connections.

Julian Santana reported for the ETED that repair crews will be on standby 24/7 as soon as the National Emergency Commission (COE) establishes the emergency situation.

The roadways to the substations and the transmission towers are being closely monitored for any obstructions that would impede access during a weather event.

Finally, the ETED says it has inventories of poles, cables, and other equipment needed to restore power in case of a hurricane.

The hurricane season in the Caribbean began 1 June and officially ends on 30 November.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...encia-por-temporada-ciclonica-2019-PC13001871


Deputies approve and urge Bible readings in classrooms
The Chamber of Deputies approved a bill that requests that the Ministry of Education (Minerd) make obligatory the reading of the Bible in the nation’s schools after the singing of the National Anthem. This process is contemplated under Law 44-00 that amended General Education Law 66-97, and the deputies feel that such readings would contribute to a lower rate of vandalism and other anti-social acts by young persons.

The Ministry of Education has not made the measure obligatory on the grounds that Art. 45 of the Constitution establishes freedom of conscience and religion in the Dominican Republic. The article states: “The state guarantees the freedom of conscience and religion, subject to the need for public order and respect for public morals.”

The bill says that “the Christian development of the boys and girls and adolescents helps them form criteria and behavior that are capable of stopping influences and behavior models that lead to perversity and licentiousness.” The deputies emphasized that the Dominican educational system is based on the Christian principles seen in the Gospels as evidenced on the national shield that features an open Bible and the words “God, Fatherland and Freedom.”

The bill still has to pass in the Senate to become law.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...s-frenara-perversion-y-libertinaje-DC13008391
https://data.miraquetemiro.org/site...ruccion biblica en las escuelas publicas..pdf


Isidoro Santana and Antonio Isa Conde are against reelection
Economy Minister Isidoro Santana told reporters last week that President Danilo Medina should not seek to amend the Constitution so that he can run again for reelection. Santana spoke with reporters during an activity at the Embassy of China.

Santana said that he felt that any modification of the Constitution would not be correct and that President Medina, “after having carried out one of the best administrations in modern times, is not going to stain his name or his legacy, by seeking something of this nature.”

Santana criticized government officials that dedicate their time to politics rather than to their functions in the administration.

On Sunday, 9 June 2019, Energy & Mines Minister Antonio Isa Conde issued a statement expressing his backing for maintaining the US election model of two periods. This is the model incorporated in the 2015 Constitution.

The Santana and Isa Conde positions contradict at least five other ministers who have come out in favor of the constitutional amendment.

Ministers Jose Ramon Peralta, Francisco Javier Garcia, Jose Ramon Fadul, Ramon Ventura Camejo and Gonzalo Castillo have all issued statements of support for a modification of the Constitution which would allow Danilo Medina to run again for a third consecutive term as president.

Administrative Minister of the Presidency José Ramón Peralta and Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo called for Santana and Isa Conde to wait until Medina defines his position.

The Political Committee of the ruling PLD has scheduled a 17 June 2019 meeting. Medina had said he would express his position in March of this year. Political analysts say backers of reelection have not yet secured the necessary votes from followers of President Leonel Fernandez and the PRM opposition party to pass the amendment. Former President Leonel Fernández and his wife, Vice President Margarita Cedeño both seek to be chosen the PLD candidate to the Presidency, and have no constitutional impediments.

https://elcaribe.com.do/2019/06/07/...istro-santana-rompe-con-linea-pro-reeleccion/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...a-la-reeleccion-a-guardar-silencio-DA13027657
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/06...-conde-sobre-reeleccion-dos-periodos-y-basta/


Citizen Participation calls for correct application of 20% reserved election slot ruling
The civil society group Citizen Participation (PC), an affiliate of Transparency International, has called upon the Central Electoral Board (JCE) to ensure compliance with Article 58 of the Political Parties Law 38-18. The article establishes that parties can “reserve” up to 20% of the election spots for their candidates, releasing these from having to participate in the primaries.

The group is questioning the interpretation by the party whereby the reserved status would be applied to the totality of the 4,113 positions that are up for election in the 2020 general elections, rather than separately at the legislative and municipal levels.

Citizen Participation rejects the PLD announcement. PC says if it is approved, parties could reserve the nominations of senators, deputies, mayors, deputy mayors, and municipal directors, and leave the rank and file to elect city council members and the members of the directors of the city districts.

The civil society group asks: “Why to spend millions on a primary process to get candidates for the lowest of offices?” PC says the announcement by the PLD would just defeat any attempt at internal democracy among the political parties.

It calls for the JCE to act in the name of real democracy. “This is another brilliant opportunity for the JCE to take up the defense of the people’s interests….by preserving the rights of the electorate to choose the candidates,” concludes the electoral watchdog organization.

https://elnacional.com.do/participa...ar-reserva-del-20-por-cada-nivel-de-eleccion/


What became of the civic movement Marcha Verde?
Investigative journalist Nuria Piera asks the question that has been on many minds. What has happened to the civic movement Green March that so successfully had mobilized all classes to call for an end to government corruption impunity?

Movement leading member, former deputy Guadalupe Valdez says that the Marcha Verde is in a planning phase. Nevertheless, the analysis by Nuria Piera investigative team says the strong civic movement has fizzled out as the elections get closer. It says politician involvement, sectarianism and lengthy assemblies in which no consensus was reached have dampened the enthusiasm of followers. The last straw was when speeches were directed to motivate the resignation of President Danilo Medina.

The Medina administration covertly was concerned but chose to openly ignore and downplay the spontaneous marching of hundreds of thousands of people who had paid for their green shirts and marched on main avenues in an organized manner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=123&v=0EGewpl06k8


Autopsies point to deceased at hotel being in bad health
The Dominican Republic continues to be bad-mouthed abroad as other cases of tourists who have sued the Bahia Principe hotel chain are picked up by mainstream media abroad. The National Forensic Sciences revealed results of the autopsy of the three US citizens that died over two weeks at sister resorts at the Playa Nueva Romana hotel –Miranda Lynn Schaup Werner, and the couple Nathaniel Edward Holmes and Cynthia Ann Day.

The preliminary results of the autopsy of 41-year old Miranda Lynn Schaup Werner indicate she died on 25 May 2019 of pulmonary arrest after suffering a heart attack.

The preliminary results of the couple’s autopsies were:
63-year old Nathaniel Edward Holmes presented petechial hemorrhages in the pleural surface, cerebral and visceral generalized, as well as pulmonary edema, cardiomegaly, macroscopic hepatic cirrhosis, hemorrhagic gastritis, and pancreatic hemorrhage.

While 49-year old Cynthia Ann Day presented cerebral edema, petechial hemorrhages, brain, heart and lungs, pulmonary edema, cardiomegaly, besides chronic passive liver congestion, hemorrhagic gastritis, pancreatic hemorrhage, and hepatomegaly.

A Colorado couple says it has sued for suspicion of organophosphate poisoning from insecticides used in the extensive gardens of the complex.

The media reports that local investigators are assisted by officers of the FBI and CDC to close the cases.

https://listindiario.com/la-republi...das-en-el-mismo-hotel-donde-murieron-turistas
https://www.thedenverchannel.com/ne...ominican-republic-resort-where-americans-died
https://eldia.com.do/resultados-de-...fallecieron-en-hotel-de-san-pedro-de-macoris/


David Ortiz injured when at Ave. Venezuela bar
Iconic baseball player David Ortiz was wounded by bullet wound when seated having drinks at the terrace of the Dial Bar & Lounge of Avenida Venezuela in Santo Domingo East. The bullet entered through the right side of his back and exited by his abdomen. Preliminary reports are that the same bullet then injured TV producer and presenter Jhoel Lopez who was with him. Also having drinks with them was rapper “Secreto, el Famoso Biberón” who was not injured.

As reported Ortiz and Lopez survived the assault and are recovering. They were taken to the Abel González private clinic on Av. Abraham Lincoln.

There is speculation that the Ortiz was not the real target of the assault. Surveillance videos are circulating showing the incident and the capture of the assailant who was beaten. Reports are that he had arrived on a motorcycle accompanied by another person.

One of the assailants was held up by patrons at the site. Afterwards, he was taken to the nearby Dario Contreras Trauma Hospital. José Aponte, director of the Dario Contreras, said the unnamed suspect suffered severe head and thorax injuries that have required surgery.

The Red Sox had announced they had available an emergency plane to take him to medical care in Boston.

David Ortiz drives a Rolls Royce in Santo Domingo. He is expected to be inducted to the Cooperstown Hall of Famer.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...tiro-a-david-ortiz-en-la-venezuela-CA13029308
 
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