D
Dolores
Guest
Next DR1 Daily News Update: Monday, 8 July 2019
Military and police leave Congress area
Rubenstein Public Relations to help build back DR reputation
127 fishermen return from The Bahamas after serving jail sentence
Deadline for registering to buy from Amazon is 28 July 2019
BVRD announces resignation of Gregory Salcedo Llibre
Puerto Plata court rejects building landfill in proposed site
Supreme Court orders Torre de Plata to be retried, case moves to Constitutional Court
US citizen deported for trafficking in drugs
Mother of seduced teen may be investigated for trafficking
Six Dominicans chosen for MLB All Star Game
Crismery Santana to carry DR flag in Pan Am opening parade
Two youngsters get US$5 million bonuses to start in Minor League Baseball
Santo Domingo 10K Race
Dominicana gets a good start at Hoerman Cup
Worldclass volleyball exhibition games in Santo Domingo!
National Youth Symphony goes on tour of Europe
Works of Antonio Guadalupe at the Quinta Dominica
"Caribbean Overture" gala in two performances at the National Theater
Next DR1 Daily News Update: Monday, 8 July 2019
The next DR1 Daily News update will be published on Monday, 8 July 2019. The Monday issue will compile headline news for the previous Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Breaking news can be followed 24/7 in the DR1 Forums. See DR1 Forum at https://dr1.com
Military and police leave Congress area
During the Wednesday 3 July 2019 session, the president of the Senate Reinaldo Pared Perez (PLD-National District) said that he had spoken with Defense Minister Ruben Dario Paulino Sem and the director of the National Police, Major General Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte, requesting the withdrawal of the units that have been reinforcing security outside the National Congress.
The order for the troops to leave the area comes after tensions had escalated at the National Congress as expectations that President Danilo Medina followers would convene legislators to amend the 2015 Constitution to enable Medina to run for a third time.
The president of the Senate and the president of the Chamber of Deputies Radhamés Camacho had requested the presence of the troops. They expressed concern that protestors would occupy the National Congress and impede congressional sessions from being held.
The troops were called to surround the area from Av. Independencia to the Malecon on 24 June 2019, and had remained at the site affecting city life. Congress is located in the Centro de los Héroes, a critical government office area.
In protest of the militarization, deputies loyal to the opposition party PRM, and those loyal to former President Leonel Fernandez of the PLD had said they would abstain from voting for legislative initiatives placed on the agenda of the day. On Wednesday, 3 July 2019 there was no quorum to vote on bills that were on the agenda.
After Pared Perez made the announcement, the media reported that later in the afternoon the troops were removed from the National Congress.
Time is running out for followers of President Danilo Medina to convene Congress to study a possible amendment of the Constitution to enable Medina to run for a third term. The present session of Congress closes on 26 July, and is not scheduled to reopen until 16 August. President Medina could convene an extraordinary session and order the legislators to keep open the present session.
The president of the Senate, Reinaldo Pared Perez (PLD-National District) stated yesterday that President Danilo Medina still has not decided to quick start efforts to achieve a third term in office.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...retiro-de-militares-y-policias-en-el-congreso
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...ra-y-se-acortan-plazos-para-el-pld-MH13274945
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...ision-sobre-reforma-a-constitucion-HH13278834
https://eldia.com.do/fin-del-cerco-a-la-sede-del-congreso/
Rubenstein Public Relations to help build back DR reputation
The Dominican Republic has hired New York-based Rubenstein Public Relations to reverse damages to the country's reputation. For weeks, leading US media has been keeping track of US citizen deaths in the Dominican Republic. The tracking has given the impression that tourists are dropping dead in the country for mysterious reasons. The uncertainty caused by all the hype has had a chilling effect on investment and travel to the country. The Dominican Republic is the preferred destination for US travelers, with over 3.3 million tourists visiting in 2018. It is also the principal investment and trading partner with the United States in the Caribbean.
Carlos Castillo, Consul General of the Dominican Republic in New York, signed the contract with Rubenstein. The firm is known for devising compelling campaigns for recognized luxury brands in sectors including real estate, fashion, design and consumer products. Its expertise is in building reputation. Clients represented by the firm are Jaguar and Land Rover Manhattan, Miss Universe Organization, the New York Yankees and several New York mayors, among others.
According to media reports, Rubenstein Public Relations has participated in helping New York City build back its reputation during various crises the city has faced, including the bankruptcy issues in the 70s, race disputes, several real estate crashes, and times when the city had such a terrible reputation they were losing tourism as a major form of revenue.
In one of the first moves by the agency, the company issued a press release with a statement from Dominican ambassador in the United States, José Tomás Pérez, welcoming Senator Chuck Schumer's recent suggestion of increased US involvement to bring further clarity to the recent cases involving American tourists.
https://www.rubensteinpr.com/
https://efile.fara.gov/docs/6691-Exhibit-AB-20190614-1.pdf
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dominican-republic-welcomes-senator-chuck-225127467.html
https://everything-pr.com/rubenstein-public-relations-dynasty/
127 fishermen return from The Bahamas after serving jail sentence
The Ministry of Foreign Relations announced that 127 Dominican fishermen who had been in jail in The Bahamas for alleged fishing in Bahamian waters have returned. 120 of the men had been in jail in The Bahamas since 13 October 2018. Another seven had been arrested in 2019. The three crews of the confiscated fishing boats are to remain in The Bahamas to fulfill their sentence.
The return of the fishermen was thanks to efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Relations, the Dominican Embassy in Jamaica, the Dominican honorary consulate in The Bahamas, the Association of Owners of Fishermen Boats in Puerto Plata, and other government organizations.
Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas said that the Ministry, the board of the Dominican Council for Fishing and Aquaculture (Codepesca) and the Association of Fishing Boat Owners of Puerto Plata signed an agreement in October 2018 to install fishing vessel monitoring systems (VMS) in Dominican fishing boats so they can know for sure when they are fishing outside Dominican territorial waters.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/07...-pais-de-127-pescadores-liberados-en-bahamas/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-pais-los-127-pescadores-liberados-en-bahamas
Deadline for registering to buy from Amazon is 28 July 2019
The Customs Agency (DGA) reminds users to register with the Single Customs Registry (RUA). The DGA is now requiring that all those making purchases online register to continue using express dispatch or courier services to receive the goods ordered abroad. The single customs record seeks to combat tax evasion.
The deadline expires on 28 July 2019, as established in DGA General Norm 01-2018 that regulates merchandise that enters the country via courier companies.
The norm is a follow up to Decree 402-05, which allows for duty-free import of items up to US$200 FOB value. General Norm 01-2018 was put into effect in April 2018 as a response to the irregularities the DGA said were occurring when users began to divide up imports to take advantage of the tax exemption of items for up to US$200, when these were intended for commercial purposes.
The DGA now requires all courier users to have a registration number to use the service. An online form needs to be completed. The file seeks to differentiate between those making online purchases for personal reasons and those done for commercial purchases.
The DGA says that as soon as the short form is filled out, the system will reply with an email sent to the email address included by the user to confirm the registration has been made by the owner and not a third party without their consent. This email contains a link, valid for 24 hours, which must be clicked to complete the registration and receive confirmation.
The DGA says that those who have not registered by 28 July could have their packages retained until they complete the registration.
https://dgii.gov.do/legislacion/reglamentos/Documents/402-05.pdf
https://www.aduanas.gob.do/de-interés/consultas/registro-courier/
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...uanero-o-te-retendran-los-paquetes-CH13270266
BVRD announces resignation of Gregory Salcedo Llibre
The Santo Domingo Stock Exchange (BVRD) announced that José Gregorio (Gregory) Salcedo Llibre has resigned from the position of chairman of the board. The position will temporarily be held by vice president Joel Santos Echavarría as of 3 July 2019.
The announcement comes after Salcedo Llibre was linked to covert transfers from the Brazilian construction firm, Odebrecht. Somos Pueblo online news service had reported that Salcedo Llibre is the president of the Value Added Finance Incorporated (codename Tigres) company that, according to the investigation by the ICIJ received secret payments from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht. Value Added Finance is on the list of companies included in the files leaked and reportedly received US$500,000 in transactions from the Structured Operations Division of Odebrecht handling bribe payments, as revealed by a New York Court case.
Salcedo Llibre is the second top ranking executive to resign after the revelations made by the ICIJ. The first was José Manuel Guzmán Ibarra of the Banco de Reservas.
Prior to his position at the Stock Market Board, Gregory Salcedo was external financial advisor to the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE) for the Punta Catalina thermoelectric power plant bidding progress, together with Magín Díaz, Carlos Contreras, Carmen Zaida Díaz, Danilo Santos and Manuel Rodríguez, from 18 June 2013 to the awarding of the contract to Odebrecht on 18 November 2013, reported Somos Pueblo.
Somos Pueblo reported that once the commission authorized the deal, the current president of the Dominican Stock Market received a secret payment of US$500,000.
https://bvrd.com.do/joel-santos-ech...ina-del-consejo-de-administracion-de-la-bvrd/
https://somospueblo.com/odebrecht-p...como-hizo-el-subadministrador-de-banreservas/
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/en-directo/catalina-la-punta-del-diablo-OH13275391
https://eldia.com.do/director-intento-desvincularse-de-empresa-recibio-pago-de-odebrecht/
Puerto Plata court rejects building landfill in proposed site
Judge Eduardo Nassin Ovalle Estévez of the Cámara Civil y Comercial del Juzgado del Distrito Judicial de Puerto Plata ordered the city government of Puerto Plata to desist from intentions of building a waste landfill in the community of Maggiolo, as reported in Diario Libre on 4 July 2019.
Neighborhood boards and business groups have rejected the location that is west of the city. Puerto Plata Mayor Walter Musa had announced the city government paid RD$52 million for the property.
Supreme Court orders Torre de Plata to be retried, case moves to Constitutional Court
The controversial case of a 31-level tower that was under construction without the adequate permissions was sent to be retried by a municipal court. The Torre de Plata had moved through the judicial system to the point where the Supreme Court ordered the construction to stop. Appeals were also won by the neighborhood groups that opposed the development of the tower in a residential area.
The tower is located next door to the Dominican Fiesta Hotel. The court had ordered the demolition of the construction because the construction practically kidnapped two city streets.
But now the Supreme Court is annulling all the procedures and sending the trial to be retried by a municipal court where there is only an interim judge. The National Council of the Magistracy recently made an overhaul to the Supreme Court that is now under a new president.
Neighborhood groups now suspect that powerful interests have permeated the judiciary, now that new judges were named. Lawyer Miriam Paulino, who has carried the case for the neighborhood groups, said that justice has taken steps backward in the process.
In the announcement calling for the case to be heard by the municipal court, the tower defendants argue that the affected parties were not heard. Lawyer Paulino says that the parties went all the way through the appeals system, proving they were present.
The lawyer says that there are no new elements in the case and thus have requested that the Constitutional Court annul the order to restart the case arguing the retrial violates the Constitution.
She explained that instead of the retrial, efforts should be on securing the demolition. She said the delay in the demolition has been because of the red tape involved and the cost.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS9vyeeCmQE
US citizen deported for trafficking in drugs
Officers of the National Drug Control Agency, with the support of US Marshals from the United States and the coordination of the Public Ministry arrested 29-year old Roger Clay Taylor Jr., in the eastern province of La Altagracia. The US citizen is accused of trafficking in drugs, conspiracy and criminal association by prosecutors in Maryland, US. He was deported on Wednesday, 3 July 2019 to the United States on a commercial flight out of Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo.
https://hoy.com.do/ciudadano-nortea...-y-conspiracion-es-apresado-en-la-altagracia/
Mother of seduced teen may be investigated for trafficking
National District Attorney Rosalba Ramos says the mother of a minor for whom a general and a colonel are being held accused of sexual abuse could also be investigated for alleged trafficking or complicity in her daughter's relations with the police officers, General José Alejandro Antonio Acosta Castellanos and Colonel Ángel Antonio Bautista Piña.
The prosecutor also reported that the alleged drug trafficker that the minor had visited in prison could also be investigated, on the assumption that he had given money to the minor to make the complaint against the police officers.
"In the end, the evidence will determine what we should do," said the prosecutor. The girl is now 17, but on social media several videos were circulated showing her having sex with the police officers. Reportedly, the sexual abuse with the police officers dates back to when she was 15 years old.
On Tuesday, the judge of Permanent Attention of the National District, José Alejandro Vargas, ruled three months of preventive prison against General Antonio Acosta Castellanos and Colonel Ángel Antonio Bautista Piña, who were sent to the Special Operations Prison of the National Police in Manoguayabo. At the time of his arrest, Acosta Castellanos was the police commander for the Cibao Central region, the second most important in the country.
General Acosta and Colonel Bautista are accused of seduction of the teen, even when the mother of the child did not formalize a complaint.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...nte-seducida-podria-ser-investigada-por-trata
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-la-pn-van-a-la-carcel-por-relacion-con-menor
https://hoy.com.do/someteran-a-la-madre-de-la-menor-en-caso-general-y-coronel-fiscal-responde/
Six Dominicans chosen for MLB All Star Game
Pitchers Sandy Alcántara of the Miami Marlins and Luis Castillo of the Cincinnati Reds, and fielder Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks were selected for the National League. For the American League, field players Gary Sanchez of the New York Yankees and Carlos Santana of the Cleveland Indians and Jorge Polanco of the Minnesota Twins will be playing in the 2019 Major League Baseball All Star Game.
The Midsummer Classic this year will be played at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday, 9 July 2019 at 7pm, Cleveland time. The game will be transmitted on Fox network.
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...onal-league-teams-starters-pitchers-reserves/
Crismery Santana to carry DR flag in Pan Am opening parade
The Dominican Olympic Committee chose weightlifter Crismery Santana to be the flag bearer for the Dominican delegation to the 28th Pan American Games to be held in Lima, Peru from 26 July to 11 August 2019. Santana is a gold medalist from the Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia in 2018. At those games, she set a record for her 90 kg category.
In 2018, she also won a silver medal in Snatch competing in the 87 kg category, lifting 116 kg, at the World Weightlifting Championships that were held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. She also won a bronze at that championship.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_World_Weightlifting_Championships#Women
Two youngsters get US$5 million bonuses to start in Minor League Baseball
Two Dominican 16-year olds cashed in signing MLB minor league contracts for upwards of US$5 million bonuses this week. Jasson Domínguez (The Martian) with the New York Yankees, a new record for a Dominican prospect. Domínguez will get a US$5.1 million and US$250,000 in potential scholarship money should he choose to further his education. The No. 2 prospect, The Oakland Athletics signed No. 2 international prospect, Robert Puason. Puason and Domínguez trained at the teams' baseball academies in the Dominican Republic.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27102677/yanks-ink-top-prospect-martian
https://www.diariolibre.com/deporte...a-danza-de-los-millones-en-julio-2-BG13260472
https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/07/02/yankees-sign-top-prospect-jasson-dominguez-5-million-bonus
https://www.mlb.com/news/a-s-to-sign-dominican-shortstop-robert-puason
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27102677/yanks-ink-top-prospect-martian
Santo Domingo 10K Race
Meet the Dominican marathon-running community that will gather for the Santo Domingo Corre 10K race this Sunday, 7 July 2019. The race kicks off at 7am from the Centro de los Heroes in Santo Domingo.
The participation is RD$1,100. Tickets are for sale at:
https://www.sdctickets.do/detail/131
Dominicana gets a good start at Hoerman Cup
The Dominican national golf team is leading Puerto Rico and Cayman Islands in the regional Hoerman Cup that is taking place at The Links in Casa de Campo, La Romana. The second round of the Caribbean Amateur Golf championships gathers seven countries and 73 players. Play by Juan Cayro Delgado put the Dominican team in first place on 3 July 2019.
Other participating teams are The Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Puerto Rico & Trinidad & Tobago.
The Dominican team members are Juan Cayro Delgado (national champion), Juan José Guerra, Enrique Valverde, Rodrigo Sánchez, Radhamés Peña and Ho Jing Kang. The women’s team members are Stephanie Kim, María Isabel Sánchez and Camila Yoo.
https://www.diariolibre.com/deporte...-el-primer-lugar-en-la-hoerman-cup-PH13277796
https://listindiario.com/el-deporte/2019/07/04/572625/criollos-son-los-lideres-en-hoerman-cup
World class volleyball exhibition games in Santo Domingo!
The national U20 women’s volleyball team of Italy is visiting to play exhibition games against the Dominican U20 team. The Dominican team is the 2015 world U20 champion, while Italy was champion in 2017. The games are a warm-up for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s U20 World Championship that will be held in Aguascalientes, Mexico 2019 from 12-21 July.
National Youth Symphony goes on tour of Europe
75 young men and women that make up the Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic are traveling to Europe to learn and play to European audiences and gain international experience. Alberto Rincón is conducting the orchestra. He says he had lived a similar experience in the 80s.
For most of the young musicians, this will be their first trip to Europe. For all, the trip is a dream come true. The youths are a select group of musicians from Santiago, La Vega, Baní, Moca, San Cristóbal, and San Pedro de Macoris.
They will give concerts in Hamburg and Berlin in Germany, and in Sens, a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France about 120 km from Paris. In Hamburg, the young musicians will play with the members of the Hamburg University Orchestra. They will receive classes at the university. In Paris, they will also attend classes at the Paris Music Conservatory.
They are scheduled to participate in the Young Euro Classic Festival from 19 July to 6 August 2019 at the Konzerthaus Berlin. This year, the Young Euro Classic, the world's most important festival for young international orchestra musicians, celebrates its 20th anniversary. The Dominican orchestra is one of 19 youth orchestras from all over the world that was invited to participate.
https://listindiario.com/entretenim...-la-otra-musica-de-los-jovenes-viaja-a-europa
https://www.artefakt-berlin.de/en/current-projects/young-euro-classic-2019/
Works of Antonio Guadalupe at the Quinta Dominica
One of the greatest masters of Dominican art, Antonio Guadalupe presents "Man and Fauna" exhibition on Wednesday, 10 July 2019 as of 7pm at the Quinta Dominica in the Colonial City.
Antonio Guadalupe, a faithful researcher of indigenous culture and the cultural values of Dominican identity, intertwines myths, symbols and legends of the Taino culture in his work. Likewise, folklore and magical-religious customs are very part of his art.
"Caribbean Overture" gala in two performances at the National Theater
The National School of Dance (Endanza) production, “Caribbean Overture” promises to be memorable when the dance group takes the stage at the Carlos Piantini Hall of the National Theater at 7pm on Saturday, 6 July and Sunday, 7 July 2019. The show is the graduation dance for the dance students. The Juan Pablo Duarte Symphony Orchestra is accompanying the performance. Entrance fee is RD$500 per person at the National Theater box office.
Endanza director Marianella Sallent says that the 11 graduate dancers will show off their technique in classical, contemporary and folkloric dance. The students will be performing “Swan Lake Suite” and will be accompanied by dance teachers Stephanie Bauger, Maykel Acosta, Armando González and Ivan Monreal.
Next is the contemporary dance performance of “Cimientos” with music by Gioel Martín and choreography by Dayme del Toro. The segment ends with an Afro dance choreographed by Manuela Féliz.
The folklore dance presentation is with choreography by Maritza Reyes. Five symphonic merengues will be danced: "Amapola" and "La bilirubina", by Juan Luis Guerra; "Compadre Pedro Juan" by Luis Alberti; "Liborio" by Luis Díaz, and "Caña Brava" by Toño Abreu, with musical arrangements by Jorge Taveras.
https://www.metrord.do/do/entretencion/2019/06/26/gala-graduacion-endanza-obertura-caribena.html
Military and police leave Congress area
Rubenstein Public Relations to help build back DR reputation
127 fishermen return from The Bahamas after serving jail sentence
Deadline for registering to buy from Amazon is 28 July 2019
BVRD announces resignation of Gregory Salcedo Llibre
Puerto Plata court rejects building landfill in proposed site
Supreme Court orders Torre de Plata to be retried, case moves to Constitutional Court
US citizen deported for trafficking in drugs
Mother of seduced teen may be investigated for trafficking
Six Dominicans chosen for MLB All Star Game
Crismery Santana to carry DR flag in Pan Am opening parade
Two youngsters get US$5 million bonuses to start in Minor League Baseball
Santo Domingo 10K Race
Dominicana gets a good start at Hoerman Cup
Worldclass volleyball exhibition games in Santo Domingo!
National Youth Symphony goes on tour of Europe
Works of Antonio Guadalupe at the Quinta Dominica
"Caribbean Overture" gala in two performances at the National Theater
Next DR1 Daily News Update: Monday, 8 July 2019
The next DR1 Daily News update will be published on Monday, 8 July 2019. The Monday issue will compile headline news for the previous Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Breaking news can be followed 24/7 in the DR1 Forums. See DR1 Forum at https://dr1.com
Military and police leave Congress area
During the Wednesday 3 July 2019 session, the president of the Senate Reinaldo Pared Perez (PLD-National District) said that he had spoken with Defense Minister Ruben Dario Paulino Sem and the director of the National Police, Major General Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte, requesting the withdrawal of the units that have been reinforcing security outside the National Congress.
The order for the troops to leave the area comes after tensions had escalated at the National Congress as expectations that President Danilo Medina followers would convene legislators to amend the 2015 Constitution to enable Medina to run for a third time.
The president of the Senate and the president of the Chamber of Deputies Radhamés Camacho had requested the presence of the troops. They expressed concern that protestors would occupy the National Congress and impede congressional sessions from being held.
The troops were called to surround the area from Av. Independencia to the Malecon on 24 June 2019, and had remained at the site affecting city life. Congress is located in the Centro de los Héroes, a critical government office area.
In protest of the militarization, deputies loyal to the opposition party PRM, and those loyal to former President Leonel Fernandez of the PLD had said they would abstain from voting for legislative initiatives placed on the agenda of the day. On Wednesday, 3 July 2019 there was no quorum to vote on bills that were on the agenda.
After Pared Perez made the announcement, the media reported that later in the afternoon the troops were removed from the National Congress.
Time is running out for followers of President Danilo Medina to convene Congress to study a possible amendment of the Constitution to enable Medina to run for a third term. The present session of Congress closes on 26 July, and is not scheduled to reopen until 16 August. President Medina could convene an extraordinary session and order the legislators to keep open the present session.
The president of the Senate, Reinaldo Pared Perez (PLD-National District) stated yesterday that President Danilo Medina still has not decided to quick start efforts to achieve a third term in office.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...retiro-de-militares-y-policias-en-el-congreso
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...ra-y-se-acortan-plazos-para-el-pld-MH13274945
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...ision-sobre-reforma-a-constitucion-HH13278834
https://eldia.com.do/fin-del-cerco-a-la-sede-del-congreso/
Rubenstein Public Relations to help build back DR reputation
The Dominican Republic has hired New York-based Rubenstein Public Relations to reverse damages to the country's reputation. For weeks, leading US media has been keeping track of US citizen deaths in the Dominican Republic. The tracking has given the impression that tourists are dropping dead in the country for mysterious reasons. The uncertainty caused by all the hype has had a chilling effect on investment and travel to the country. The Dominican Republic is the preferred destination for US travelers, with over 3.3 million tourists visiting in 2018. It is also the principal investment and trading partner with the United States in the Caribbean.
Carlos Castillo, Consul General of the Dominican Republic in New York, signed the contract with Rubenstein. The firm is known for devising compelling campaigns for recognized luxury brands in sectors including real estate, fashion, design and consumer products. Its expertise is in building reputation. Clients represented by the firm are Jaguar and Land Rover Manhattan, Miss Universe Organization, the New York Yankees and several New York mayors, among others.
According to media reports, Rubenstein Public Relations has participated in helping New York City build back its reputation during various crises the city has faced, including the bankruptcy issues in the 70s, race disputes, several real estate crashes, and times when the city had such a terrible reputation they were losing tourism as a major form of revenue.
In one of the first moves by the agency, the company issued a press release with a statement from Dominican ambassador in the United States, José Tomás Pérez, welcoming Senator Chuck Schumer's recent suggestion of increased US involvement to bring further clarity to the recent cases involving American tourists.
https://www.rubensteinpr.com/
https://efile.fara.gov/docs/6691-Exhibit-AB-20190614-1.pdf
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dominican-republic-welcomes-senator-chuck-225127467.html
https://everything-pr.com/rubenstein-public-relations-dynasty/
127 fishermen return from The Bahamas after serving jail sentence
The Ministry of Foreign Relations announced that 127 Dominican fishermen who had been in jail in The Bahamas for alleged fishing in Bahamian waters have returned. 120 of the men had been in jail in The Bahamas since 13 October 2018. Another seven had been arrested in 2019. The three crews of the confiscated fishing boats are to remain in The Bahamas to fulfill their sentence.
The return of the fishermen was thanks to efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Relations, the Dominican Embassy in Jamaica, the Dominican honorary consulate in The Bahamas, the Association of Owners of Fishermen Boats in Puerto Plata, and other government organizations.
Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas said that the Ministry, the board of the Dominican Council for Fishing and Aquaculture (Codepesca) and the Association of Fishing Boat Owners of Puerto Plata signed an agreement in October 2018 to install fishing vessel monitoring systems (VMS) in Dominican fishing boats so they can know for sure when they are fishing outside Dominican territorial waters.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/07...-pais-de-127-pescadores-liberados-en-bahamas/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-pais-los-127-pescadores-liberados-en-bahamas
Deadline for registering to buy from Amazon is 28 July 2019
The Customs Agency (DGA) reminds users to register with the Single Customs Registry (RUA). The DGA is now requiring that all those making purchases online register to continue using express dispatch or courier services to receive the goods ordered abroad. The single customs record seeks to combat tax evasion.
The deadline expires on 28 July 2019, as established in DGA General Norm 01-2018 that regulates merchandise that enters the country via courier companies.
The norm is a follow up to Decree 402-05, which allows for duty-free import of items up to US$200 FOB value. General Norm 01-2018 was put into effect in April 2018 as a response to the irregularities the DGA said were occurring when users began to divide up imports to take advantage of the tax exemption of items for up to US$200, when these were intended for commercial purposes.
The DGA now requires all courier users to have a registration number to use the service. An online form needs to be completed. The file seeks to differentiate between those making online purchases for personal reasons and those done for commercial purchases.
The DGA says that as soon as the short form is filled out, the system will reply with an email sent to the email address included by the user to confirm the registration has been made by the owner and not a third party without their consent. This email contains a link, valid for 24 hours, which must be clicked to complete the registration and receive confirmation.
The DGA says that those who have not registered by 28 July could have their packages retained until they complete the registration.
https://dgii.gov.do/legislacion/reglamentos/Documents/402-05.pdf
https://www.aduanas.gob.do/de-interés/consultas/registro-courier/
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...uanero-o-te-retendran-los-paquetes-CH13270266
BVRD announces resignation of Gregory Salcedo Llibre
The Santo Domingo Stock Exchange (BVRD) announced that José Gregorio (Gregory) Salcedo Llibre has resigned from the position of chairman of the board. The position will temporarily be held by vice president Joel Santos Echavarría as of 3 July 2019.
The announcement comes after Salcedo Llibre was linked to covert transfers from the Brazilian construction firm, Odebrecht. Somos Pueblo online news service had reported that Salcedo Llibre is the president of the Value Added Finance Incorporated (codename Tigres) company that, according to the investigation by the ICIJ received secret payments from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht. Value Added Finance is on the list of companies included in the files leaked and reportedly received US$500,000 in transactions from the Structured Operations Division of Odebrecht handling bribe payments, as revealed by a New York Court case.
Salcedo Llibre is the second top ranking executive to resign after the revelations made by the ICIJ. The first was José Manuel Guzmán Ibarra of the Banco de Reservas.
Prior to his position at the Stock Market Board, Gregory Salcedo was external financial advisor to the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE) for the Punta Catalina thermoelectric power plant bidding progress, together with Magín Díaz, Carlos Contreras, Carmen Zaida Díaz, Danilo Santos and Manuel Rodríguez, from 18 June 2013 to the awarding of the contract to Odebrecht on 18 November 2013, reported Somos Pueblo.
Somos Pueblo reported that once the commission authorized the deal, the current president of the Dominican Stock Market received a secret payment of US$500,000.
https://bvrd.com.do/joel-santos-ech...ina-del-consejo-de-administracion-de-la-bvrd/
https://somospueblo.com/odebrecht-p...como-hizo-el-subadministrador-de-banreservas/
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/en-directo/catalina-la-punta-del-diablo-OH13275391
https://eldia.com.do/director-intento-desvincularse-de-empresa-recibio-pago-de-odebrecht/
Puerto Plata court rejects building landfill in proposed site
Judge Eduardo Nassin Ovalle Estévez of the Cámara Civil y Comercial del Juzgado del Distrito Judicial de Puerto Plata ordered the city government of Puerto Plata to desist from intentions of building a waste landfill in the community of Maggiolo, as reported in Diario Libre on 4 July 2019.
Neighborhood boards and business groups have rejected the location that is west of the city. Puerto Plata Mayor Walter Musa had announced the city government paid RD$52 million for the property.
Supreme Court orders Torre de Plata to be retried, case moves to Constitutional Court
The controversial case of a 31-level tower that was under construction without the adequate permissions was sent to be retried by a municipal court. The Torre de Plata had moved through the judicial system to the point where the Supreme Court ordered the construction to stop. Appeals were also won by the neighborhood groups that opposed the development of the tower in a residential area.
The tower is located next door to the Dominican Fiesta Hotel. The court had ordered the demolition of the construction because the construction practically kidnapped two city streets.
But now the Supreme Court is annulling all the procedures and sending the trial to be retried by a municipal court where there is only an interim judge. The National Council of the Magistracy recently made an overhaul to the Supreme Court that is now under a new president.
Neighborhood groups now suspect that powerful interests have permeated the judiciary, now that new judges were named. Lawyer Miriam Paulino, who has carried the case for the neighborhood groups, said that justice has taken steps backward in the process.
In the announcement calling for the case to be heard by the municipal court, the tower defendants argue that the affected parties were not heard. Lawyer Paulino says that the parties went all the way through the appeals system, proving they were present.
The lawyer says that there are no new elements in the case and thus have requested that the Constitutional Court annul the order to restart the case arguing the retrial violates the Constitution.
She explained that instead of the retrial, efforts should be on securing the demolition. She said the delay in the demolition has been because of the red tape involved and the cost.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS9vyeeCmQE
US citizen deported for trafficking in drugs
Officers of the National Drug Control Agency, with the support of US Marshals from the United States and the coordination of the Public Ministry arrested 29-year old Roger Clay Taylor Jr., in the eastern province of La Altagracia. The US citizen is accused of trafficking in drugs, conspiracy and criminal association by prosecutors in Maryland, US. He was deported on Wednesday, 3 July 2019 to the United States on a commercial flight out of Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo.
https://hoy.com.do/ciudadano-nortea...-y-conspiracion-es-apresado-en-la-altagracia/
Mother of seduced teen may be investigated for trafficking
National District Attorney Rosalba Ramos says the mother of a minor for whom a general and a colonel are being held accused of sexual abuse could also be investigated for alleged trafficking or complicity in her daughter's relations with the police officers, General José Alejandro Antonio Acosta Castellanos and Colonel Ángel Antonio Bautista Piña.
The prosecutor also reported that the alleged drug trafficker that the minor had visited in prison could also be investigated, on the assumption that he had given money to the minor to make the complaint against the police officers.
"In the end, the evidence will determine what we should do," said the prosecutor. The girl is now 17, but on social media several videos were circulated showing her having sex with the police officers. Reportedly, the sexual abuse with the police officers dates back to when she was 15 years old.
On Tuesday, the judge of Permanent Attention of the National District, José Alejandro Vargas, ruled three months of preventive prison against General Antonio Acosta Castellanos and Colonel Ángel Antonio Bautista Piña, who were sent to the Special Operations Prison of the National Police in Manoguayabo. At the time of his arrest, Acosta Castellanos was the police commander for the Cibao Central region, the second most important in the country.
General Acosta and Colonel Bautista are accused of seduction of the teen, even when the mother of the child did not formalize a complaint.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...nte-seducida-podria-ser-investigada-por-trata
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-la-pn-van-a-la-carcel-por-relacion-con-menor
https://hoy.com.do/someteran-a-la-madre-de-la-menor-en-caso-general-y-coronel-fiscal-responde/
Six Dominicans chosen for MLB All Star Game
Pitchers Sandy Alcántara of the Miami Marlins and Luis Castillo of the Cincinnati Reds, and fielder Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks were selected for the National League. For the American League, field players Gary Sanchez of the New York Yankees and Carlos Santana of the Cleveland Indians and Jorge Polanco of the Minnesota Twins will be playing in the 2019 Major League Baseball All Star Game.
The Midsummer Classic this year will be played at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday, 9 July 2019 at 7pm, Cleveland time. The game will be transmitted on Fox network.
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...onal-league-teams-starters-pitchers-reserves/
Crismery Santana to carry DR flag in Pan Am opening parade
The Dominican Olympic Committee chose weightlifter Crismery Santana to be the flag bearer for the Dominican delegation to the 28th Pan American Games to be held in Lima, Peru from 26 July to 11 August 2019. Santana is a gold medalist from the Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia in 2018. At those games, she set a record for her 90 kg category.
In 2018, she also won a silver medal in Snatch competing in the 87 kg category, lifting 116 kg, at the World Weightlifting Championships that were held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. She also won a bronze at that championship.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_World_Weightlifting_Championships#Women
Two youngsters get US$5 million bonuses to start in Minor League Baseball
Two Dominican 16-year olds cashed in signing MLB minor league contracts for upwards of US$5 million bonuses this week. Jasson Domínguez (The Martian) with the New York Yankees, a new record for a Dominican prospect. Domínguez will get a US$5.1 million and US$250,000 in potential scholarship money should he choose to further his education. The No. 2 prospect, The Oakland Athletics signed No. 2 international prospect, Robert Puason. Puason and Domínguez trained at the teams' baseball academies in the Dominican Republic.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27102677/yanks-ink-top-prospect-martian
https://www.diariolibre.com/deporte...a-danza-de-los-millones-en-julio-2-BG13260472
https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/07/02/yankees-sign-top-prospect-jasson-dominguez-5-million-bonus
https://www.mlb.com/news/a-s-to-sign-dominican-shortstop-robert-puason
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27102677/yanks-ink-top-prospect-martian
Santo Domingo 10K Race
Meet the Dominican marathon-running community that will gather for the Santo Domingo Corre 10K race this Sunday, 7 July 2019. The race kicks off at 7am from the Centro de los Heroes in Santo Domingo.
The participation is RD$1,100. Tickets are for sale at:
https://www.sdctickets.do/detail/131
Dominicana gets a good start at Hoerman Cup
The Dominican national golf team is leading Puerto Rico and Cayman Islands in the regional Hoerman Cup that is taking place at The Links in Casa de Campo, La Romana. The second round of the Caribbean Amateur Golf championships gathers seven countries and 73 players. Play by Juan Cayro Delgado put the Dominican team in first place on 3 July 2019.
Other participating teams are The Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Puerto Rico & Trinidad & Tobago.
The Dominican team members are Juan Cayro Delgado (national champion), Juan José Guerra, Enrique Valverde, Rodrigo Sánchez, Radhamés Peña and Ho Jing Kang. The women’s team members are Stephanie Kim, María Isabel Sánchez and Camila Yoo.
https://www.diariolibre.com/deporte...-el-primer-lugar-en-la-hoerman-cup-PH13277796
https://listindiario.com/el-deporte/2019/07/04/572625/criollos-son-los-lideres-en-hoerman-cup
World class volleyball exhibition games in Santo Domingo!
The national U20 women’s volleyball team of Italy is visiting to play exhibition games against the Dominican U20 team. The Dominican team is the 2015 world U20 champion, while Italy was champion in 2017. The games are a warm-up for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s U20 World Championship that will be held in Aguascalientes, Mexico 2019 from 12-21 July.
National Youth Symphony goes on tour of Europe
75 young men and women that make up the Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic are traveling to Europe to learn and play to European audiences and gain international experience. Alberto Rincón is conducting the orchestra. He says he had lived a similar experience in the 80s.
For most of the young musicians, this will be their first trip to Europe. For all, the trip is a dream come true. The youths are a select group of musicians from Santiago, La Vega, Baní, Moca, San Cristóbal, and San Pedro de Macoris.
They will give concerts in Hamburg and Berlin in Germany, and in Sens, a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France about 120 km from Paris. In Hamburg, the young musicians will play with the members of the Hamburg University Orchestra. They will receive classes at the university. In Paris, they will also attend classes at the Paris Music Conservatory.
They are scheduled to participate in the Young Euro Classic Festival from 19 July to 6 August 2019 at the Konzerthaus Berlin. This year, the Young Euro Classic, the world's most important festival for young international orchestra musicians, celebrates its 20th anniversary. The Dominican orchestra is one of 19 youth orchestras from all over the world that was invited to participate.
https://listindiario.com/entretenim...-la-otra-musica-de-los-jovenes-viaja-a-europa
https://www.artefakt-berlin.de/en/current-projects/young-euro-classic-2019/
Works of Antonio Guadalupe at the Quinta Dominica
One of the greatest masters of Dominican art, Antonio Guadalupe presents "Man and Fauna" exhibition on Wednesday, 10 July 2019 as of 7pm at the Quinta Dominica in the Colonial City.
Antonio Guadalupe, a faithful researcher of indigenous culture and the cultural values of Dominican identity, intertwines myths, symbols and legends of the Taino culture in his work. Likewise, folklore and magical-religious customs are very part of his art.
"Caribbean Overture" gala in two performances at the National Theater
The National School of Dance (Endanza) production, “Caribbean Overture” promises to be memorable when the dance group takes the stage at the Carlos Piantini Hall of the National Theater at 7pm on Saturday, 6 July and Sunday, 7 July 2019. The show is the graduation dance for the dance students. The Juan Pablo Duarte Symphony Orchestra is accompanying the performance. Entrance fee is RD$500 per person at the National Theater box office.
Endanza director Marianella Sallent says that the 11 graduate dancers will show off their technique in classical, contemporary and folkloric dance. The students will be performing “Swan Lake Suite” and will be accompanied by dance teachers Stephanie Bauger, Maykel Acosta, Armando González and Ivan Monreal.
Next is the contemporary dance performance of “Cimientos” with music by Gioel Martín and choreography by Dayme del Toro. The segment ends with an Afro dance choreographed by Manuela Féliz.
The folklore dance presentation is with choreography by Maritza Reyes. Five symphonic merengues will be danced: "Amapola" and "La bilirubina", by Juan Luis Guerra; "Compadre Pedro Juan" by Luis Alberti; "Liborio" by Luis Díaz, and "Caña Brava" by Toño Abreu, with musical arrangements by Jorge Taveras.
https://www.metrord.do/do/entretencion/2019/06/26/gala-graduacion-endanza-obertura-caribena.html
Last edited: