DR1 Daily News - Monday, 17 June 2019

D

Dolores

Guest
Cleanup of the Ozama and Isabela rivers
DR does well in Madrid Book Fair
JCE continues to suspend untimely political ads
PLD Political Committee meeting today
Mark Penn poll June 2019 results released
Soeci says no to expanding Rafey Jail
Thousands live in highly dangerous areas of Santiago
New street directions in Naco postponed until 30 June
CDEEE buys coal, a whole lot of coal
Defense minister says there are 7,800 troops stationed at the Haitian border
Fenatrado halts service to government projects
Merengue stars sing to Dominican Republic
Recidivism marks the David Ortiz case
Six months in prison for two men for cargo that turned out not to be drugs
Memorial Museum presents human rights exhibition



Cleanup of the Ozama and Isabela rivers
The project called "The Shoreline Collector Boats,” conceived to reduce the contamination levels of the Ozama and Isabela rivers, is stepping up to collect 18,000 tons of solid wastes and floating vegetation. This includes the prevailing common water hyacinth.

Over the initial pilot program, the first vessels collected over 1,200 tons of material and vegetation. Now the Tropigas Foundation and the Ministry of the Environment say five more boats with up to 10 times the capacity of the first one used in the pilot program will be added to the task. Environment Minister Angel Estevez and the owner of Tropigas, Carlos José Martí, made the announcement.

The program began some eight months ago with the education of the people who are living along the riverfront to create an awareness of the issues at hand. The work includes placing filters and nets to catch the water hyacinths as they float down the river, ending up along the Santo Domingo waterfront. A boat collected natural and human-made debris floating down the river.

The Tropigas Foundation that is funding the environmental action says that the five new boats will be ready within a few months and will have onboard conveyor belts that will carry the refuse from the boats to dump trucks on shore. The boats are not cheap at around US$400,000 each, but running costs are quite low since the boats use a small diesel engine.

As reported, the contamination situation will also improve even more when a water treatment plant currently under construction by the Santo Domingo Water & Sewage Corporation (CAASD) enters into operation later this year. The water treatment plant has the capacity to process 28 million gallons of sewage.

The green riverside project started with six focus points: environmental education; management of solid waste; clean up and improvement of the creeks; reforestation; preventive health care and community participation. Hundreds of families that live in the La Ciénaga barrio have benefited.

https://elnacional.com.do/proyecto-devolvera-vida-a-rios-ozama-e-isabela/


DR does well in Madrid Book Fair
Reports are of the successful participation of the Dominican delegation to the Madrid Book Fair 2019 that ended this Sunday, with the notable involvement of the Dominican Republic as this year's guest country. Dominicans who traveled to Madrid presented a varied program with all literary genres, historical themes and other cultural manifestations such as music and dance for the duration of the 17-day cultural event.

"The Dominican Republic pavilion was probably the best pavilion of a guest country in the history of the Madrid Book Fair," said Pablo Bonet Ayllóm, secretary of the Madrid Booksellers Guild and the Madrid Book Fair, on Friday, 14 June 2019 for M21 Radio.

https://www.diariolibre.com/revista...-la-feria-del-libro-de-madrid-2019-OL13098006


JCE continues to suspend untimely political ads
The Central Electoral Board (JCE) continues to order the suspension of political propaganda for candidates who are trying to gain space for the 2020 elections. The JCE says the ads are in violation of the laws and regulations governing the "pre-campaign" in the period leading up to the official beginning of the nomination process on 7 July 2019.

The JCE says it will hear and deal with any of the complaints about these unruly advertisements and have them removed from the air. They are currently evaluating several of these "spots" and will have them removed if they are in violation of the rules.

After complaints from civil watch groups, the JCE expressly prohibited other mass political meetings be held (such as the one in the Olympic Stadium held by former President Leonel Fernandez). Now the political activists, for the most part, are refraining from placing advertisements in the different media.

However, there have been a string of public political pronouncements, such as the ones by Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo, praising the administration of Danilo Medina, and telling other ministers who do not favor the re-election to shut up. This sort of action has been cataloged as a violation of Resolution 10-19 by the JCE. The civil watch group Civilian Participation has heatedly rejected these violations of the Political Parties and Electoral Regime laws.

https://eldia.com.do/jce-advierte-a-los-que-insisten-con-campana/


PLD Political Committee meeting today
Media reports continue to make the point that the time is running out for the ruling PLD political party to resolve the impasse between the followers of President Danilo Medina and those of former President Leonel Fernández.

In 2015, the followers of Fernández voted for a one-time reelection amendment that enabled Medina to run for the Presidency in 2016. But now, Medina’s followers want to change the constitution again to enable him to be the PLD candidate in the 2020 presidential election.

A recent Mark Penn poll indicates that Medina has a 61% satisfaction rate, despite being in power for seven years. Nevertheless, leading polls indicate a majority of the population is against a second constitutional amendment to favor President Danilo Medina.

As reported in Diario Libre, the ruling PLD has to decide soon to give time for the constitutional change to pass in Congress in time for the 22 August 2019 deadline to present pre-candidates to the Central Electoral Board (JCE). Likewise, Diario Libre mentions that the constitutional amendment procedure will take 30 to 40 days. The party primary is scheduled for 6 October 2019.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...e-agota-el-tiempo-para-una-reforma-FD13104045
https://eldia.com.do/abinader-acusa-leonel-y-danilo-de-negociar-modificacion-constitucion/


Mark Penn poll June 2019 results released
Vice President Margarita Cedeño is ranked the highest in the favorability rating of the Mark Penn June 2019 poll. She scored 65% in favor and 31% against.

In second place was President Danilo Medina (who is constitutionally banned from running for President again), who scored 56% in favor and 42% against, after seven years in government. According ot the same poll, satisfaction with the performance of the President of the Republic rose to the levels it had in August 2018. 60% say they are satisfied with their government's performance and 39 are dissatisfied.

Mayor of the National District David Collado has a favorable popularity of 53% against 25%, the latter being the lowest of all measured. 86% of National District voters say they are satisfied with the work of David Collado in the National District. His approval was 61% outside the municipality.

In the favorability rating, former PRM presidential candidate Luis Abinader, scored 50% favorable and 40% unfavorable; former President Leonel Fernández with 40% favorable and 56% unfavorable; and former President Hipolito Mejia with 34% favorable and 6% unfavorable.

The survey was carried out from 1 to 5 June 2019 and has a margin of error of 3.1%. A total of 1,000 potential voters were interviewed in the 2020 general election.

https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ta-danilo-y-collado-las-figuras-mas-populares


Soeci says no to expanding Rafey Jail
The Cibao Ecological Society (Soeci) has rejected the expansion of the Rafey Prison and Rehabilitation Center in Santiago. Instead, the environmental group says that the facility should be moved entirely because it sits on the riverbanks of the Yaque River and is highly susceptible to flooding.

The Soeci executives called the land where the proposed expansion would sit "extremely dangerous" because it would occupy a section of the riverbank that is known to be part of the flood plain of the river during the rainy season or in the event of tropical storms. The prison itself sits within the 30-meter buffer zone at the precise center of where the river runs the fastest when the rains are falling.

Belkis Garcia, the Soeci president, noted that every time the river rises, Civil Defense and Judicial officials, supported by elements of the National Police need to transfer all of the inmates to safer confines. She called on the authorities to relocate the facility to safer ground.

The civic environmental group told reporters that the Attorney General has turned a deaf ear to their warnings and complaints. She says Rafey jail at present is in violation of the very laws that the Attorney General is called upon to enforce.

The deterioration of the riverside and the entire Yaque River watershed now results in even more destructive flooding during the hurricane and rainy seasons.

https://elcaribe.com.do/2019/06/14/...asladar-la-carcel-de-rafey-pero-no-ampliarla/


Thousands live in highly dangerous areas of Santiago
More than 3,000 families live in 52 areas known to be highly vulnerable to flooding and landslides in the city of Santiago. This has been going on for over a decade and a half, but neither national nor local government have acted to stop the poor from moving into the areas.

Francisco Arias, the Civil Defense national deputy director, told reporters recently that with the start of the hurricane season (from 1 June to 30 November) all of the local rescue and relief groups have been reactivated under the aegis of the provincial governor. The Disaster Prevention and Relief Committee is composed of some 30 local entities, both public and private.

Because the Yaque River flows around the city of Santiago, the Civil Defense people have identified 137 shelters for the vulnerable people. These include community centers, social and sports facilities and as a last resort, with the permission of the Ministry of Education, the local schools. The city also has 27 community networks that have been trained by the Red Cross and the Fire Department, and are trained about what to do before, during and after a natural disaster.

The vulnerable barrios have picturesque names such as the Devil's Canyon, the Bottom of the Barrel, Puchula and Borbon Alley. The people who live there are very vulnerable to both flooding and landslides, especially during heavy rains from tropical storms.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...n-en-zonas-vulnerables-de-santiago-PK13081824


New street directions in Naco postponed until 30 June
The city government's realignment of the crowded streets of Naco has been delayed until the end of the month. The National District government has not given a reason for the postponement of the plans to revamp the vehicular traffic in the area. The residents and merchants of the area had already received letters from the city government explaining the process and why it is necessary.

A three-month pilot program had established that many two-way streets would become one-way streets to avoid traffic snarls. Several government agencies such as Intrant, Digesett and the Mayor's Office have worked on the project. The first phase of the program, a 90-trial period would have begun on 30 June. After an evaluation process, the definitive changes would be enforced place. Naco was once a residential area for single-family dwellings but is now a mixed residential and commercial hub in the center of the National District.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...-que-haran-cambios-de-vias-en-naco-CK13086554


CDEEE buys coal, a whole lot of coal
The Dominican Public Corporation (CDEEE) has just signed a contract with Xcoal Energy of Latrobe, Pennsylvania for the supply of 788,000 metric tons of coal for the Punta Catalina power thermocentral.

Details on the coal to be supplied reveal that some 308,000 MT will be Type A, or high sulfur bituminous coal (soft coal) and a further 480,000 MT of low-sulfur coal. The prices obtained during the international tender were significantly below what was projected, and represent a considerable saving for the CDEEE, as reported.

Ruben Jimenez Bichara signed for the CDEEE and Victor Manuel Rocha for Xcoal Energy.

US ambassador Robin Bernstein was present for the signing. She spoke about bilateral commerce and solutions to the local energy crisis.

There was high praise for the CDEEE and the new coal-fired generation facility, both from the ambassador as well as the Xcoal Energy representative who has been visiting and working in the country, off and on, since 1982. Rocha has been Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy (1991-1994) and president of Barrick Gold, among other positions primarily in Latin America.

https://elcaribe.com.do/2019/06/14/...-energy-para-compra-carbon-de-punta-catalina/


Defense minister says there are 7,800 troops stationed at the Haitian border
With the onset of the violent protests in Haiti, Defense Minister Lt. General Ruben Paulino Sem told reporters that he has 7,800 troops patrolling the border region. He stressed that there are several inter-agency offices along the border, where as many as 10 government ministries and agencies work to keep commerce and immigration under control.

Paulino Sem also noted that he has several thousand military personnel working together with the National Police to improve public safety. He said that some 3,700 of his men and women are collaborating with the Police.

https://elnacional.com.do/defensa-asegura-tiene-en-frontera-7800-soldados/


Fenatrado halts service to government projects
The Dominican National Transportation Federation (Fenatrado), the trade association that dominates freight hauling in the Dominican Republic, has ordered its members to stop work on government construction projects.

According to Ricardo de los Santos, the Fenatrado president, some of the contractors are violating Law 315-73 that establishes the distribution of freight and hauling on construction sites. He said that in Dajabón, the Inroca company has refused to acknowledge their right to participate in the hauling of materials for the highway construction between Dajabón and Clavelina Las Pinas.

According to reports, the 22-kilometer stretch was assigned by the director of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI), Olgo Fernandez, to the Inroca company of Santo Domingo, and the company only uses its own trucks for hauling materials.

De los Santos argues that contractors for government projects cannot use their own equipment for more than 50% of their hauling needs, and the other 50% must be portioned out to private entities. The work boycott by Fenatrado is said to be of indefinite duration and will affect projects such as the Santo Domingo Beltway.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...construcciones-de-obras-del-estado-IK13083319


Merengue stars sing to Dominican Republic
Dominicans are mobilizing to shake the negative perception that hundreds of headline news have spread in the country and abroad. Local law enforcement agencies and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents have yet to reveal the motive and intellectual author to explain the assault on baseball icon David Ortiz. Toxicology results on recent cases of sudden deaths of tourists are still pending to close these cases. Preliminary autopsy reports are that the tourists died from natural causes.

Juan Luis Guerra, Peña Suazo, Sergio Vargas, Milly Quezada, Eddy Herrera, Rubby Pérez and Kinito Méndez are asking their social network followers to make viral the message "YoTeAmoRepúblicaDominicana", besides inviting these to visit the country.

Meanwhile, editorial writer Ines Aizpún of Diario Libre urges the authorities to share the truth to put an end to the trail of rumors on social media and in the press.

https://acento.com.do/2019/economia/8695234-mi-isla-tiene-quien-le-escriba-befairwithdr/
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/am/sociedades-paralelas-PK13085309
https://www.diariolibre.com/revista...en-defensa-de-republica-dominicana-AL13092992


Recidivism marks the David Ortiz case
The brutal assault on David Ortiz has galvanized public attention around the world. There are currently some 10 or 11 or 12 suspects, the count varies with the news outlet, most of whom are already in custody and others yet to be apprehended.

The Listin Diario says that recidivism is a key element among all of those currently in custody. The newspaper notes in bold letters that two of the suspects in the planning of the crime are now in prison in southwestern Azua for murder. Another served a five years sentence for the illegal possession of a firearm, and who was accused of killing five persons. Others have criminal records in the United States for robbery and assault.

According to Listin Diario, one of the two in the Azua prison is serving a 20-year sentence for homicide and the other is awaiting trial on the same charge. According to police sources, these were the persons who received the money involved, even though they are in jail.

Oliver Mirabal served five years, and got out of prison in 2017, although he has other issues pending with the courts. Luis Rivas Clase (a.k.a. "El Cirujano") currently a fugitive in the case, is accused of shooting a person in Reading, Pennsylvania in 2018. According to the Berks County Sheriff's Department, "El Cirujano" conspired with another person to kill the victim, who told police that they had previously threatened him, without giving any motive.

Rolfi Ferreiras Cruz, the person who the Police says fired the shot at Ortiz, is a fugitive from the United States where he is accused of armed robbery, possession of a firearm and resisting arrest.

The judiciary ordered a year's preventive custody for nine of those apprehended.

https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ncial-el-factor-que-marca-el-caso-david-ortiz
http://z101digital.com/imponen-1-an...a-9-acusados-de-participar-en-ataque-a-ortiz/
https://nypost.com/2019/06/16/domin...al-motive-mastermind-in-david-ortiz-shooting/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...to-domingo-para-conocerles-medida-de-coercion
https://nypost.com/2019/06/16/domin...al-motive-mastermind-in-david-ortiz-shooting/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...to-domingo-para-conocerles-medida-de-coercion
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...tor-intelectual-ataque-david-ortiz-HD13104113


Six months in prison for two men for cargo that turned out not to be drugs
A Santo Domingo court ordered six months in jail for two men for a cargo that turned out not to be cocaine. The National Narcotics Control Agency (DNCD) and the Public Prosecutor's Office suspect those in custody are members of a network that is dedicated to scam drug traffickers. The 510 packets of white power were seized in a residence in the Cancino sector of Santo Domingo East municipality.

Two out of four people that were apprehended in that case were sent to prison on 15 June 2019. Gregorio Martínez López and Nelson Gregorio Martínez Santos (father and son) were sent to La Victoria prison for six months of pretrial detention, while Ruthmery Peña Santos and Johanny Santos Martínez were sent to the Permanent Attention Office of Santo Domingo province for a periodical presentation and an impediment to leaving the country.

The DNCD and the Public Ministry handle intelligence reports that it could be a criminal structure dedicated to preparing false narcotics and then sell it to other groups dedicated to this illegal practice, both in the country and abroad, reports a press release from the DNCD.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...argamento-que-resulto-no-ser-droga-GL13099483
http://dncd.gob.do/index.php/notici...-resultaron-negativo-a-sustancias-controladas


Memorial Museum presents human rights exhibition
"Under the Lens of Latin Americans" is the name of the exhibition at the Memorial Museum of Dominican Resistance (MMRD) that will be shown through the end of the year. The images presented, about 30 in total, correspond to events that have occurred in different countries of Latin America where dictatorial regimes have been lived, and in which human rights have been violated considerably.

The exhibition reflects different views on the level of compliance in Latin America of Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is taking place in collaboration with the International Federation of Human Rights Museums, in its chapter for Latin America (Fihrm-LA).

The public will have the opportunity to learn about the reality of the Declaration in the region, captured through the lens of a group of photojournalists, whose images were finalists in the "Article 25" contest, held by Fihrm-LA, which promotes education in museums for the understanding and respect of the rights that have been declared inalienable for all humans.

The exhibition has already been presented in Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala and Mexico, the MMRD explained in a statement.

The photos were selected from more than 300 photographs taken by amateurs and professional photographers in 15 Latin American countries. In the case of the Dominican Republic, the images that were selected as winners were Rosalina Perdomo, Melisa Guillén and one by Maria José García and Tulio Martí together, who received a cash prize.

Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, medical care and necessary social services.

https://eldia.com.do/santo-domingo-acoge-muestra-fotografica-sobre-derechos-humanos/