D
Dolores
Guest
Puerto Rico advocates for removal of 25% tariff on Dominican steel imports
Family farming gets FAO global support
Waste Free Oceans to help clean up Ozama and Isabela rivers
Political consultations in Doha
World Bank visits the Ministry of the Environment
PLD Political Committee majority insists on reelection bid
Municipal leadership backs constitutional reform
Congress militarized once more
Mejía and Abinader register to run for President
Francisco Domínguez Brito campaigns for PLD candidacy
Santiago's new Jardín de las Gomas
Informal jobs on the rise for young people
Trade with the USA increases
Promoting trade and investment in Trinidad & Tobago
Tropical music mastermind Victor Waill dies
Tragedy: Car carrying 17 people plunges into an irrigation canal
20-year old Vladimir Guerrero was the show at the Homerun Derby
Puerto Rico advocates for removal of 25% tariff on Dominican steel imports
Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas was in Puerto Rico on 8 July 2019. There he met Puerto Rico Secretary of State Luis Rivera Marin and together they signed a joint resolution asking the United States to release the Dominican imported steel from paying the present 25% tariff.
The joint action comes after on 8 March 2019 the US Congress approved an amendment to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 that allows the US President to adjust tariffs on articles that threaten US security. Among these articles is steel. The joint resolution warns that the duty increases the cost of recovery projects executed by the Puerto Rican government after Hurricane Maria.
The text highlights that Puerto Rico imported US$55.8 million in steel from the Dominican Republic in 2018. The amount, though, is barely equivalent to 0.01% of the total imported by the United States. Therefore, Dominican steel imports do not represent a threat to the security of that country.
Rivera Marin explained that while the percentage seems low, it has a significant economic impact because Puerto Rico is the largest buyer of Dominican-made steel products.
The resolution highlights the historical ties between the two peoples, in which there is a mutual interest in strengthening trade relations and intensifying cooperation, as well as the economic and commercial relationship of both countries with the United States.
http://www.mirex.gob.do/medios/noti...icitan-ee-uu-elimine-tarifa-importacion-acero
Family farming gets FAO global support
Agriculture Minister Osmar Benítez announced the launching of the national action plan for the Dominican Republic's participation in the Decade of Family Farming in late August. The Decade of Family Farming is a campaign under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to promote and support family farming worldwide. Benítez was present for the global launching of the 2019-2028 campaign at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy on 29 May 2019.
Benítez made the announcement of the forthcoming national plan when speaking during the "Milagros desde la Z" radio talk show produced by Milagros Ortiz Bosch and Julio Cordero on Z101.3FM. Benítez did not specify the date of the event.
http://z101digital.com/rd-sera-anfi...mundial-de-decada-de-la-agricultura-familiar/
http://www.fao.org/family-farming/decade/en/
https://www.familyfarmingcampaign.org/en/home
Waste Free Oceans to help clean up Ozama and Isabela rivers
The Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development announced the signing of a cooperation agreement with Waste Free Oceans (WFO) for the cleanup of the Ozama and Isabela rivers. The agreement also contemplates the construction of low-cost housing in the area.
WFO will assist the government in developing a master plan for the cleanup of the Ozama and Isabela rivers. The agreement will provide recommendations about how to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of surrounding areas.
Working in collaboration with other private and public partners under the Coalición Río (River Coalition), WFO Americas aims to restore the Ozama and Isabela rivers and develop treatment systems for industrial water so that locals can enjoy their beauty again.
The project includes providing technical assistance and education to improve the capacity of communities to collect, recycle and reuse material, and the development of a master plan to identify best practices and opportunities to implement a more circular economy.
Waste Free Oceans collects and transforms ocean plastic into new, innovative products. They partner with recyclers, converters and brands to make optimal use of available resources and to raise awareness on the issue of ocean plastic. Based in Brussels, it also operates in the Americas, Asia and Turkey.
WFO Americas is also contributing to community-led development in the La Nueva Barquita housing development where many impoverished dwellers of the area were relocated to advance on the restoring of the Ozama and Isabela rivers and the sustainable development of the area.
https://www.wastefreeoceans.org/projects
https://www.wastefreeoceans.org/coalicionrio
Political consultations in Doha
The ministries of Foreign Relations of Qatar and the Dominican Republic have held a round of political consultations in Doha. The Qatari side was chaired by HE Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi, while the Dominican side was headed by Carlos Gabriel Garcia, Vice-Minister for Economic Affairs and Relations with the Dominican Community Abroad.
During the round of political consultations, bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and ways of supporting and developing them, in addition to several issues of common concern, were discussed as reported in The Gulf Times.
https://www.gulf-times.com/story/636066/Qatar-Dominican-Republic-hold-political-consultati
World Bank visits the Ministry of the Environment
Minister of the Environment Angel Estévez received a delegation from the World Bank, headed by the regional director for the Caribbean, Tahseen Sayed Khan. As reported, they discussed cooperation for projects and financial support from the World Bank for the management of solid wastes, mainly the problem of plastics contamination.
Also present at the meeting was the World Bank representative for the Dominican Republic, Alessandro Legrottaglie.
The representatives of the World Bank said that they were interested in deepening the cooperation with the Dominican government to develop programs to safeguard the natural resources of the country and the environment.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/minist...al-abordan-temas-referentes-a-la-cooperacion/
PLD Political Committee majority insists on reelection bid
Members of the Political Committee of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) advocated on Monday, 8 July 2019 at the headquarters of the party that President Danilo Medina and former President Leonel Fernández should compete in the 6 October 2019 primary. The president of the Senate, Reinaldo Pared Pérez spoke for the Committee members. He left open the possibility the party would push to amend the 2015 Constitution so that President Danilo Medina can participate in the primary and run for the top office again.
As reported, 22 of the 34 members of the influential Political Committee attended the press announcement. On the presiding table were Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo, Culture Minister Eduardo Selman, Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García and Interior & Police Minister Monchi Fadul. Questions were not taken from journalists.
Pared Pérez criticized former President Leonel Fernández for his "belligerent attitude." Fernández is the president of the ruling PLD. He was President of the Republic from 1996-2000, 2004-2008 and 2008-2012.
Pared Pérez told reporters that Fernández should instruct his followers to take the debate on constitutional reform to Congress.
"A sector of our party, led by party member President Dr. Leonel Fernandez, has adopted a belligerent position before the National Congress to prevent the convening of the National Revising Assembly to reform the Constitution and allow President Danilo Medina to opt for a new presidential term. We regret that this belligerent attitude is adopted when the two chambers of the legislative branch are presided by two prominent members of the Political Committee of our organization," said Pared Perez.
"We respect the right of every member of our party to have and express their positions on this or any other issue that affects the life of the nation. However, we wish to call on party member Leonel Fernández and his followers to express their positions within the framework of the normal debate within the legislative chambers," he said.
He added: "For this reason, if the Constitution were to be modified to enable party member Danilo Medina [to run again], he would also have to submit to the competitive process of the open primaries, in which all who aspire to run for President on our party's ballot in the 2020 elections would participate."
Legislator Juan Carlos Quiñones, a Fernández follower, said that the Medina followers are offering legislators anything they may ask for to get their vote for the reelection. Quiñones said he would tell on legislators that take bribes to vote for the amendment.
Former President Leonel Fernández said he would set his position to the press that was convened for 4pm on Tuesday, 9 July 2019. "We value the unprecedented effort made by the Dominican people in defense of our Constitution. Let's continue this struggle, peacefully and legally, to leave embodied the desire of the great national majority that demands respect for the Constitution," said the former President on Twitter. Fernández has called the general public to sign a petition that was opened against constitutional reform in front of the National Congress.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...eforma-pasa-danilo-debera-competir-LA13315178
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...o-rueda-de-prensa-en-la-casa-nacional-del-pld
https://hoy.com.do/advierte-pondran...on-visa-de-funcionarios-compren-legisladores/
https://hoy.com.do/bauta-rojas-modi...al-no-se-lo-va-a-aceptar-absolutamente-nadie/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...a-leonel-a-respetar-los-organismos-DA13317206
https://n.com.do/2019/07/08/leonel-...de-dominicanos-en-defensa-de-la-constitucion/
Municipal leadership backs constitutional reform
The secretary general of the Dominican Municipal League (LMD), Johnny Jones and the presidents of several municipal associations held a press conference on 8 July 2019 to announce that they would back a single date for elections in 2020 in "an eventual amendment of the 2015 Constitution."
For the 2020 general election, the municipal election is scheduled to be separate from the presidential election. The municipal election is scheduled for 16 February 2020, while the presidential and congressional election is set for 17 May of the same year.
Speaking at the press conference, LMD secretary general Johnny Jones said the municipal organizations have already sent the motion to merge the election dates to the president of the Senate, Reinaldo Pared Perez; the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Radhamés Camacho; the president of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) and the president of the Superior Electoral Court Roman Jaquez.
"It is our main interest to request from you that in an eventual revision of the Constitution, there is the urgent need to review the provisions contained in Articles 209 and 274 of the Constitution, with the wise purpose of unifying the election processes foreseen for 2020, maintaining the different levels of election," Jones said the municipal organizations had communicated to the top-ranking officers of the Legislative Branch and the electoral authorities.
The motion also argues: "February is the month of our nationality, of our main regional festivities, of carnival and its impact on the tourism sector, as well as the patriotic value of our celebrations. No doubt that an electoral process on such dates would be affected and significantly affect such ancestral celebrations."
Political analyst Altagracia Salazar speculates that a negative outcome in the municipal election could affect aspirations of presidential and legislative candidates in the May 2020 election. Most of the standing PLD government officers seek to be reelected in the 2020 general election.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...ipalidad-piden-unificar-elecciones-OA13318611
Congress militarized once more
Police and military are once again stationed outside the National Congress. The barricade was called back to protect the legislature from possible demonstrations after former President Leonel Fernández called on citizens to sign a petition against constitutional reform. Fernández has called Monday, 8 July, "D Day for the defense of democracy and the Constitution", highlighting that there are only 18 more days for the legislature to approve the amendment. The legislature ends on 26 July. Nevertheless, President Danilo Medina could extend the legislative period.
Former President Fernández said on Sunday, 7 July 2019, that the Constitution could not be amended since the people were against this. Most polls show there is majority opposition to changing the 2015 Constitution to enable President Danilo Medina from running for a third term. This would be the second constitutional amendment rushed through Congress by Medina followers.
The police and military had been stationed in the area since 24 June, or for around 10 days. The cordoning off of the area had been lifted on Friday, 5 July, following orders from Senate president, Reinaldo Pared Pérez.
The impasse between Medina and Fernández followers has affected the country and is already showing in economic numbers and indicators. TV investigative journalist Nuria Piera used a section of her show on Saturday evening to call for President Medina to desist from his aspirations for amending the Constitution.
https://eldia.com.do/militarizan-alrededores-del-congreso-nacional-ante-anuncio-de-protestas/
https://n.com.do/2019/07/08/vuelven...firma-de-libro-contra-reforma-constitucional/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=82&v=dOgy-F6CQL8
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-la-reforma-constitucional-frente-al-congreso
Mejía and Abinader register to run for President
Former President Hipólito Mejía (2000-2004) and Luis Abinader, who was the PRM presidential candidate in the 2016 presidential election, have both registered for the opposition party, the Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM) to run for President in the PRM primary set for 6 October 2019.
Mejía reached the Presidency in 2000, when he defeated Danilo Medina in a runoff election when he first ran for President. Abinader ran as Mejía's vice presidential candidate in the 2012 presidential election. They lost to present incumbent, President Danilo Medina.
Mejia registered at 10 am on Monday 8 July, while Abinader did so at 5:30pm.
https://almomento.net/hipolito-mejia-inscribira-el-lunes-su-precandidatura-presidencial-en-el-prm/
Francisco Domínguez Brito campaigns for PLD candidacy
Former prosecutor and minister of environment, lawyer Francisco Domínguez Brito was at the ruling PLD headquarters on 8 July when he notified the party's electoral commission he aspires to be the party's presidential candidate in the 2020 May election. He said that he will launch his campaign for the PLD presidential candidacy on Wednesday, 17 July 2019 at 8pm in an event at the Parque Iberoamericano in Santo Domingo. He said his candidacy stands for unity, hope and guarantees of both stability and development for the Dominican Republic.
"It's time to build a new country," he said. "We all need to build that country we all dream of. It is time to rescue our values, to straighten roads that have been twisted for some time, to banish the impunity that hits us. To overcome insecurity, but above all to continue with the best of our harvests, discarding the bad," he said.
https://eldia.com.do/domiguez-brito-da-inicio-a-su-campana/
Santiago's new Jardín de las Gomas
Mayor Abel Martínez of Santiago announced the completion of the first recycled tired garden area in the Nibaje city area, off Avenida Circunvalación Sur. Recycled tires were planted with ornamental plants. The city government has placed benches for city residents to relax and contemplate the innovative garden. The area is described as part of the "Urban Acupuncture" project by the city government. Ten locations have been chosen for the recycled city gardens.
https://santiagodeloscaballeros.gob...a-ejecuta-alcalde-abel-martinez/#.XSOsC5NKiNY
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/07/08/edicion-impresa/alcaldia-inaugura-el-jardin-de-las-gomas/
Informal jobs on the rise for young people
If you are young or a senior, finding a job in the Dominican Republic is difficult. Now Labor Minister Winston Santos Ureña says that this reflects a global trend. Work in the informal sector is becoming every day more common.
"There is a trend inspired by digital media, whereby young people are no longer looking for formal jobs. They want to be youtubers, to create informal jobs for themselves on platforms that can be more profitable than a job. The issue is global," said Santos Ureña. He said times are changing and mentioned atypical situations that are becoming every day more common. He observed many young people are working as Uber drivers.
Santos lamented that two bills that would stimulate companies to hire unskilled young workers have not moved in Congress.
Nevertheless, he admitted this is not a good situation for the government because fewer taxes are paid.
https://eldia.com.do/la-tendencia-laboral-del-mundo-es-hacia-el-empleo-informal/
Trade with the USA increases
The National Statistics' Office (ONE) reports that trade between the Dominican Republic and the United States reached US$13.8 billion in 2018. Of the total US$5.21 billion were Dominican exports, or 37.5%, and US$8.67 billion were imports from the US. The Dominican trade deficit with the US is now at US$3.45 billion. The figures showed that there was an increase in trade between the two countries of 9.41% for 2018 over 2017.
Alexandra Izquierdo, director of ONE, highlighted the importance of the trade relationships between the two countries, stating that the USA has historically been the main trading partner of the Dominican Republic. Of total Dominican exports of US$9.39 billion, 55.53% was exported to the United States.
As for visitors from the United States, in 2018, 2.23 million US tourists visited the Dominican Republic. Leisure was the main reason for the visits.
https://almomento.net/one-dice-intercambio-comercial-con-eeuu-supero-us13800-millones-en-el-2018/
http://z101digital.com/intercambio-...s13800-mm-en-2018-deficit-fue-de-us3457-9-mm/
Promoting trade and investment in Trinidad & Tobago
A mission from the Dominican Republic traveled to Trinidad & Tobago to participate in the 2019 Trade and Investment Conference (TIC), held 3-7 July 2019, sponsored by the Trade and Investment Convention and hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Trinidad & Tobago. The event took place at the Center of Excellence in Tunapuna, Trinidad.
Dominican ambassador in Trinidad and Tobago, José A. Serulle Ramia, coordinated the Dominican participation. Serulle is the dean of the diplomatic corps in T&T.
Ambassador Serulle said that the Dominican booth was one of the most visited. He said this year more than 3,000 buyers and vendors from the Caribbean participated in the event. There were around 220 booths overall.
Serulle explained that exporters of coffee, avocados, coconuts, yams, bananas and ginger were part of the Dominican delegation. The ambassador said that Dominican bananas are those consumed in T&T.
Among participating companies were Molinos Modernos, that offered wheat and corn flour, crackers and cereals. Dominican packaging and printing companies also participated. Khoury marketed its building blocks. Hard Rock Punta Cana participated inviting Caribbean visitors to the leading northern Punta Cana resort.
Ambassador Serulle announced the Dominican Embassy in Trinidad & Tobago will hold events in the T&T cities of San Fernando and Chaguanas to promote Dominican products and investment opportunities later in the year.
Tropical music mastermind Victor Waill dies
Early on Monday morning, 8 July 2019, the body of 67-year old salsa, merengue and ballad composer and singer Victor Waill was discovered by Jorge Luis Báez. Báez had found it strange, Waill hadn't gone for coffee. The cause of death is as yet unknown, but it is believed to have been of natural causes. He was found dead on his bed with a hand on his chest. He had been living in the Ensanche Luperon address for over 40 years.
Waill is recognized for helping make salsa popular again in the country. Always the innovator, Waill is one of the founders of different types of tropical musical fusion, including merenhouse.
A native of southcentral Bani, he had begun his career in 1974 with the band "Tino Peña y su combo salsa". He was discovered by Wilfrido Vargas, who made him part of his world touring orchestra, Los Beduinos. Together they created many salsa and ballad hits, including "Charo, charo," "Cachita," "Enrique Blanco", "Amigos míos me enamoré," among others.
https://listindiario.com/entretenim.../encuentran-muerto-al-compositor-victor-waill
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/07/08/destacado/muere-el-salsero-victor-waill/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...ar-sobre-la-muerte-de-victor-waill-FA13313350
https://listindiario.com/entretenim...-deja-uno-de-los-mejores-capitulos-en-el-pais
Tragedy: Car carrying 17 people plunges into an irrigation canal
On Monday, 8 July 2019, nine people drowned (eight Haitians and one Dominican), when a car they were traveling in, a Toyota Camry, fell into the Ulises Francisco Espaillat irrigation canal, in the community of Barrero, in the municipality of Navarrete, Santiago province. Those who died were three women and six men. There were five people injured and two of them were taken to hospital in Santiago.
The bodies were recovered from the canal, but have not yet been identified. An investigation is ongoing to determine how the tragedy occurred. As reported, it is usual that a large number of illegal Haitians be transported in sedan cars, many hidden in the truck to avoid immigration checks. As reported, the vehicle was evading military patrols in the area to prevent people-smuggling through Dajabón.
Apparently, there were 17 people in the car, including the nine who died, five who are injured and three who fled the scene. Preliminary reports say the driver was Dominican and the passengers were undocumented Haitians.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...aer-vehiculo-en-un-canal-de-riego-en-santiago
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...navarrete-la-mayoria-son-haitianos-NA13312791
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...esta-evadiendo-controles-militares-JA13315480
https://hoy.com.do/estos-son-los-pr...nte-en-navarrete-que-dejo-al-menos-9-muertos/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...aer-vehiculo-en-un-canal-de-riego-en-santiago
20-year old Vladimir Guerrero was the show at the Homerun Derby
The son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, Blue Jays star Vlad Guerrero Jr. set new records at the MLB power exhibition on Monday, 8 July 2019. Guerrero Jr. would finish with 91 home runs, losing to Pete Alonso in the final. Nevertheless, his 91 homes are a new single derby record, surpassing Giancarlo Stanton's 61 from 2016, according to MLB.
He set another record as the youngest derby competitor at the Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. He delivered two solid rounds of 29 home runs. He surpassed the record for most home runs in a single round that had been set by Josh Hamilton's 28 at the old Yankee Stadium in 2008.
https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/07/08/vladimir-guerrero-jr-home-run-derby-record
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...-in-91-homer-onslaught-finishes-as-runner-up/
https://www.mlb.com/cut4/vladimir-guerrero-jr-sets-home-run-derby-record
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...-in-91-homer-onslaught-finishes-as-runner-up/
https://www.mlb.com/video/pete-bests-vlad-jr-in-hrd-finals
https://www.12up.com/posts/video-vl...ecord-with-29-dingers-in-a-round-01dfa2tx366y
Family farming gets FAO global support
Waste Free Oceans to help clean up Ozama and Isabela rivers
Political consultations in Doha
World Bank visits the Ministry of the Environment
PLD Political Committee majority insists on reelection bid
Municipal leadership backs constitutional reform
Congress militarized once more
Mejía and Abinader register to run for President
Francisco Domínguez Brito campaigns for PLD candidacy
Santiago's new Jardín de las Gomas
Informal jobs on the rise for young people
Trade with the USA increases
Promoting trade and investment in Trinidad & Tobago
Tropical music mastermind Victor Waill dies
Tragedy: Car carrying 17 people plunges into an irrigation canal
20-year old Vladimir Guerrero was the show at the Homerun Derby
Puerto Rico advocates for removal of 25% tariff on Dominican steel imports
Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas was in Puerto Rico on 8 July 2019. There he met Puerto Rico Secretary of State Luis Rivera Marin and together they signed a joint resolution asking the United States to release the Dominican imported steel from paying the present 25% tariff.
The joint action comes after on 8 March 2019 the US Congress approved an amendment to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 that allows the US President to adjust tariffs on articles that threaten US security. Among these articles is steel. The joint resolution warns that the duty increases the cost of recovery projects executed by the Puerto Rican government after Hurricane Maria.
The text highlights that Puerto Rico imported US$55.8 million in steel from the Dominican Republic in 2018. The amount, though, is barely equivalent to 0.01% of the total imported by the United States. Therefore, Dominican steel imports do not represent a threat to the security of that country.
Rivera Marin explained that while the percentage seems low, it has a significant economic impact because Puerto Rico is the largest buyer of Dominican-made steel products.
The resolution highlights the historical ties between the two peoples, in which there is a mutual interest in strengthening trade relations and intensifying cooperation, as well as the economic and commercial relationship of both countries with the United States.
http://www.mirex.gob.do/medios/noti...icitan-ee-uu-elimine-tarifa-importacion-acero
Family farming gets FAO global support
Agriculture Minister Osmar Benítez announced the launching of the national action plan for the Dominican Republic's participation in the Decade of Family Farming in late August. The Decade of Family Farming is a campaign under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to promote and support family farming worldwide. Benítez was present for the global launching of the 2019-2028 campaign at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy on 29 May 2019.
Benítez made the announcement of the forthcoming national plan when speaking during the "Milagros desde la Z" radio talk show produced by Milagros Ortiz Bosch and Julio Cordero on Z101.3FM. Benítez did not specify the date of the event.
http://z101digital.com/rd-sera-anfi...mundial-de-decada-de-la-agricultura-familiar/
http://www.fao.org/family-farming/decade/en/
https://www.familyfarmingcampaign.org/en/home
Waste Free Oceans to help clean up Ozama and Isabela rivers
The Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development announced the signing of a cooperation agreement with Waste Free Oceans (WFO) for the cleanup of the Ozama and Isabela rivers. The agreement also contemplates the construction of low-cost housing in the area.
WFO will assist the government in developing a master plan for the cleanup of the Ozama and Isabela rivers. The agreement will provide recommendations about how to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of surrounding areas.
Working in collaboration with other private and public partners under the Coalición Río (River Coalition), WFO Americas aims to restore the Ozama and Isabela rivers and develop treatment systems for industrial water so that locals can enjoy their beauty again.
The project includes providing technical assistance and education to improve the capacity of communities to collect, recycle and reuse material, and the development of a master plan to identify best practices and opportunities to implement a more circular economy.
Waste Free Oceans collects and transforms ocean plastic into new, innovative products. They partner with recyclers, converters and brands to make optimal use of available resources and to raise awareness on the issue of ocean plastic. Based in Brussels, it also operates in the Americas, Asia and Turkey.
WFO Americas is also contributing to community-led development in the La Nueva Barquita housing development where many impoverished dwellers of the area were relocated to advance on the restoring of the Ozama and Isabela rivers and the sustainable development of the area.
https://www.wastefreeoceans.org/projects
https://www.wastefreeoceans.org/coalicionrio
Political consultations in Doha
The ministries of Foreign Relations of Qatar and the Dominican Republic have held a round of political consultations in Doha. The Qatari side was chaired by HE Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi, while the Dominican side was headed by Carlos Gabriel Garcia, Vice-Minister for Economic Affairs and Relations with the Dominican Community Abroad.
During the round of political consultations, bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and ways of supporting and developing them, in addition to several issues of common concern, were discussed as reported in The Gulf Times.
https://www.gulf-times.com/story/636066/Qatar-Dominican-Republic-hold-political-consultati
World Bank visits the Ministry of the Environment
Minister of the Environment Angel Estévez received a delegation from the World Bank, headed by the regional director for the Caribbean, Tahseen Sayed Khan. As reported, they discussed cooperation for projects and financial support from the World Bank for the management of solid wastes, mainly the problem of plastics contamination.
Also present at the meeting was the World Bank representative for the Dominican Republic, Alessandro Legrottaglie.
The representatives of the World Bank said that they were interested in deepening the cooperation with the Dominican government to develop programs to safeguard the natural resources of the country and the environment.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/minist...al-abordan-temas-referentes-a-la-cooperacion/
PLD Political Committee majority insists on reelection bid
Members of the Political Committee of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) advocated on Monday, 8 July 2019 at the headquarters of the party that President Danilo Medina and former President Leonel Fernández should compete in the 6 October 2019 primary. The president of the Senate, Reinaldo Pared Pérez spoke for the Committee members. He left open the possibility the party would push to amend the 2015 Constitution so that President Danilo Medina can participate in the primary and run for the top office again.
As reported, 22 of the 34 members of the influential Political Committee attended the press announcement. On the presiding table were Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo, Culture Minister Eduardo Selman, Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García and Interior & Police Minister Monchi Fadul. Questions were not taken from journalists.
Pared Pérez criticized former President Leonel Fernández for his "belligerent attitude." Fernández is the president of the ruling PLD. He was President of the Republic from 1996-2000, 2004-2008 and 2008-2012.
Pared Pérez told reporters that Fernández should instruct his followers to take the debate on constitutional reform to Congress.
"A sector of our party, led by party member President Dr. Leonel Fernandez, has adopted a belligerent position before the National Congress to prevent the convening of the National Revising Assembly to reform the Constitution and allow President Danilo Medina to opt for a new presidential term. We regret that this belligerent attitude is adopted when the two chambers of the legislative branch are presided by two prominent members of the Political Committee of our organization," said Pared Perez.
"We respect the right of every member of our party to have and express their positions on this or any other issue that affects the life of the nation. However, we wish to call on party member Leonel Fernández and his followers to express their positions within the framework of the normal debate within the legislative chambers," he said.
He added: "For this reason, if the Constitution were to be modified to enable party member Danilo Medina [to run again], he would also have to submit to the competitive process of the open primaries, in which all who aspire to run for President on our party's ballot in the 2020 elections would participate."
Legislator Juan Carlos Quiñones, a Fernández follower, said that the Medina followers are offering legislators anything they may ask for to get their vote for the reelection. Quiñones said he would tell on legislators that take bribes to vote for the amendment.
Former President Leonel Fernández said he would set his position to the press that was convened for 4pm on Tuesday, 9 July 2019. "We value the unprecedented effort made by the Dominican people in defense of our Constitution. Let's continue this struggle, peacefully and legally, to leave embodied the desire of the great national majority that demands respect for the Constitution," said the former President on Twitter. Fernández has called the general public to sign a petition that was opened against constitutional reform in front of the National Congress.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...eforma-pasa-danilo-debera-competir-LA13315178
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...o-rueda-de-prensa-en-la-casa-nacional-del-pld
https://hoy.com.do/advierte-pondran...on-visa-de-funcionarios-compren-legisladores/
https://hoy.com.do/bauta-rojas-modi...al-no-se-lo-va-a-aceptar-absolutamente-nadie/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...a-leonel-a-respetar-los-organismos-DA13317206
https://n.com.do/2019/07/08/leonel-...de-dominicanos-en-defensa-de-la-constitucion/
Municipal leadership backs constitutional reform
The secretary general of the Dominican Municipal League (LMD), Johnny Jones and the presidents of several municipal associations held a press conference on 8 July 2019 to announce that they would back a single date for elections in 2020 in "an eventual amendment of the 2015 Constitution."
For the 2020 general election, the municipal election is scheduled to be separate from the presidential election. The municipal election is scheduled for 16 February 2020, while the presidential and congressional election is set for 17 May of the same year.
Speaking at the press conference, LMD secretary general Johnny Jones said the municipal organizations have already sent the motion to merge the election dates to the president of the Senate, Reinaldo Pared Perez; the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Radhamés Camacho; the president of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) and the president of the Superior Electoral Court Roman Jaquez.
"It is our main interest to request from you that in an eventual revision of the Constitution, there is the urgent need to review the provisions contained in Articles 209 and 274 of the Constitution, with the wise purpose of unifying the election processes foreseen for 2020, maintaining the different levels of election," Jones said the municipal organizations had communicated to the top-ranking officers of the Legislative Branch and the electoral authorities.
The motion also argues: "February is the month of our nationality, of our main regional festivities, of carnival and its impact on the tourism sector, as well as the patriotic value of our celebrations. No doubt that an electoral process on such dates would be affected and significantly affect such ancestral celebrations."
Political analyst Altagracia Salazar speculates that a negative outcome in the municipal election could affect aspirations of presidential and legislative candidates in the May 2020 election. Most of the standing PLD government officers seek to be reelected in the 2020 general election.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...ipalidad-piden-unificar-elecciones-OA13318611
Congress militarized once more
Police and military are once again stationed outside the National Congress. The barricade was called back to protect the legislature from possible demonstrations after former President Leonel Fernández called on citizens to sign a petition against constitutional reform. Fernández has called Monday, 8 July, "D Day for the defense of democracy and the Constitution", highlighting that there are only 18 more days for the legislature to approve the amendment. The legislature ends on 26 July. Nevertheless, President Danilo Medina could extend the legislative period.
Former President Fernández said on Sunday, 7 July 2019, that the Constitution could not be amended since the people were against this. Most polls show there is majority opposition to changing the 2015 Constitution to enable President Danilo Medina from running for a third term. This would be the second constitutional amendment rushed through Congress by Medina followers.
The police and military had been stationed in the area since 24 June, or for around 10 days. The cordoning off of the area had been lifted on Friday, 5 July, following orders from Senate president, Reinaldo Pared Pérez.
The impasse between Medina and Fernández followers has affected the country and is already showing in economic numbers and indicators. TV investigative journalist Nuria Piera used a section of her show on Saturday evening to call for President Medina to desist from his aspirations for amending the Constitution.
https://eldia.com.do/militarizan-alrededores-del-congreso-nacional-ante-anuncio-de-protestas/
https://n.com.do/2019/07/08/vuelven...firma-de-libro-contra-reforma-constitucional/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=82&v=dOgy-F6CQL8
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-la-reforma-constitucional-frente-al-congreso
Mejía and Abinader register to run for President
Former President Hipólito Mejía (2000-2004) and Luis Abinader, who was the PRM presidential candidate in the 2016 presidential election, have both registered for the opposition party, the Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM) to run for President in the PRM primary set for 6 October 2019.
Mejía reached the Presidency in 2000, when he defeated Danilo Medina in a runoff election when he first ran for President. Abinader ran as Mejía's vice presidential candidate in the 2012 presidential election. They lost to present incumbent, President Danilo Medina.
Mejia registered at 10 am on Monday 8 July, while Abinader did so at 5:30pm.
https://almomento.net/hipolito-mejia-inscribira-el-lunes-su-precandidatura-presidencial-en-el-prm/
Francisco Domínguez Brito campaigns for PLD candidacy
Former prosecutor and minister of environment, lawyer Francisco Domínguez Brito was at the ruling PLD headquarters on 8 July when he notified the party's electoral commission he aspires to be the party's presidential candidate in the 2020 May election. He said that he will launch his campaign for the PLD presidential candidacy on Wednesday, 17 July 2019 at 8pm in an event at the Parque Iberoamericano in Santo Domingo. He said his candidacy stands for unity, hope and guarantees of both stability and development for the Dominican Republic.
"It's time to build a new country," he said. "We all need to build that country we all dream of. It is time to rescue our values, to straighten roads that have been twisted for some time, to banish the impunity that hits us. To overcome insecurity, but above all to continue with the best of our harvests, discarding the bad," he said.
https://eldia.com.do/domiguez-brito-da-inicio-a-su-campana/
Santiago's new Jardín de las Gomas
Mayor Abel Martínez of Santiago announced the completion of the first recycled tired garden area in the Nibaje city area, off Avenida Circunvalación Sur. Recycled tires were planted with ornamental plants. The city government has placed benches for city residents to relax and contemplate the innovative garden. The area is described as part of the "Urban Acupuncture" project by the city government. Ten locations have been chosen for the recycled city gardens.
https://santiagodeloscaballeros.gob...a-ejecuta-alcalde-abel-martinez/#.XSOsC5NKiNY
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/07/08/edicion-impresa/alcaldia-inaugura-el-jardin-de-las-gomas/
Informal jobs on the rise for young people
If you are young or a senior, finding a job in the Dominican Republic is difficult. Now Labor Minister Winston Santos Ureña says that this reflects a global trend. Work in the informal sector is becoming every day more common.
"There is a trend inspired by digital media, whereby young people are no longer looking for formal jobs. They want to be youtubers, to create informal jobs for themselves on platforms that can be more profitable than a job. The issue is global," said Santos Ureña. He said times are changing and mentioned atypical situations that are becoming every day more common. He observed many young people are working as Uber drivers.
Santos lamented that two bills that would stimulate companies to hire unskilled young workers have not moved in Congress.
Nevertheless, he admitted this is not a good situation for the government because fewer taxes are paid.
https://eldia.com.do/la-tendencia-laboral-del-mundo-es-hacia-el-empleo-informal/
Trade with the USA increases
The National Statistics' Office (ONE) reports that trade between the Dominican Republic and the United States reached US$13.8 billion in 2018. Of the total US$5.21 billion were Dominican exports, or 37.5%, and US$8.67 billion were imports from the US. The Dominican trade deficit with the US is now at US$3.45 billion. The figures showed that there was an increase in trade between the two countries of 9.41% for 2018 over 2017.
Alexandra Izquierdo, director of ONE, highlighted the importance of the trade relationships between the two countries, stating that the USA has historically been the main trading partner of the Dominican Republic. Of total Dominican exports of US$9.39 billion, 55.53% was exported to the United States.
As for visitors from the United States, in 2018, 2.23 million US tourists visited the Dominican Republic. Leisure was the main reason for the visits.
https://almomento.net/one-dice-intercambio-comercial-con-eeuu-supero-us13800-millones-en-el-2018/
http://z101digital.com/intercambio-...s13800-mm-en-2018-deficit-fue-de-us3457-9-mm/
Promoting trade and investment in Trinidad & Tobago
A mission from the Dominican Republic traveled to Trinidad & Tobago to participate in the 2019 Trade and Investment Conference (TIC), held 3-7 July 2019, sponsored by the Trade and Investment Convention and hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Trinidad & Tobago. The event took place at the Center of Excellence in Tunapuna, Trinidad.
Dominican ambassador in Trinidad and Tobago, José A. Serulle Ramia, coordinated the Dominican participation. Serulle is the dean of the diplomatic corps in T&T.
Ambassador Serulle said that the Dominican booth was one of the most visited. He said this year more than 3,000 buyers and vendors from the Caribbean participated in the event. There were around 220 booths overall.
Serulle explained that exporters of coffee, avocados, coconuts, yams, bananas and ginger were part of the Dominican delegation. The ambassador said that Dominican bananas are those consumed in T&T.
Among participating companies were Molinos Modernos, that offered wheat and corn flour, crackers and cereals. Dominican packaging and printing companies also participated. Khoury marketed its building blocks. Hard Rock Punta Cana participated inviting Caribbean visitors to the leading northern Punta Cana resort.
Ambassador Serulle announced the Dominican Embassy in Trinidad & Tobago will hold events in the T&T cities of San Fernando and Chaguanas to promote Dominican products and investment opportunities later in the year.
Tropical music mastermind Victor Waill dies
Early on Monday morning, 8 July 2019, the body of 67-year old salsa, merengue and ballad composer and singer Victor Waill was discovered by Jorge Luis Báez. Báez had found it strange, Waill hadn't gone for coffee. The cause of death is as yet unknown, but it is believed to have been of natural causes. He was found dead on his bed with a hand on his chest. He had been living in the Ensanche Luperon address for over 40 years.
Waill is recognized for helping make salsa popular again in the country. Always the innovator, Waill is one of the founders of different types of tropical musical fusion, including merenhouse.
A native of southcentral Bani, he had begun his career in 1974 with the band "Tino Peña y su combo salsa". He was discovered by Wilfrido Vargas, who made him part of his world touring orchestra, Los Beduinos. Together they created many salsa and ballad hits, including "Charo, charo," "Cachita," "Enrique Blanco", "Amigos míos me enamoré," among others.
https://listindiario.com/entretenim.../encuentran-muerto-al-compositor-victor-waill
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/07/08/destacado/muere-el-salsero-victor-waill/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...ar-sobre-la-muerte-de-victor-waill-FA13313350
https://listindiario.com/entretenim...-deja-uno-de-los-mejores-capitulos-en-el-pais
Tragedy: Car carrying 17 people plunges into an irrigation canal
On Monday, 8 July 2019, nine people drowned (eight Haitians and one Dominican), when a car they were traveling in, a Toyota Camry, fell into the Ulises Francisco Espaillat irrigation canal, in the community of Barrero, in the municipality of Navarrete, Santiago province. Those who died were three women and six men. There were five people injured and two of them were taken to hospital in Santiago.
The bodies were recovered from the canal, but have not yet been identified. An investigation is ongoing to determine how the tragedy occurred. As reported, it is usual that a large number of illegal Haitians be transported in sedan cars, many hidden in the truck to avoid immigration checks. As reported, the vehicle was evading military patrols in the area to prevent people-smuggling through Dajabón.
Apparently, there were 17 people in the car, including the nine who died, five who are injured and three who fled the scene. Preliminary reports say the driver was Dominican and the passengers were undocumented Haitians.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...aer-vehiculo-en-un-canal-de-riego-en-santiago
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...navarrete-la-mayoria-son-haitianos-NA13312791
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...esta-evadiendo-controles-militares-JA13315480
https://hoy.com.do/estos-son-los-pr...nte-en-navarrete-que-dejo-al-menos-9-muertos/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...aer-vehiculo-en-un-canal-de-riego-en-santiago
20-year old Vladimir Guerrero was the show at the Homerun Derby
The son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, Blue Jays star Vlad Guerrero Jr. set new records at the MLB power exhibition on Monday, 8 July 2019. Guerrero Jr. would finish with 91 home runs, losing to Pete Alonso in the final. Nevertheless, his 91 homes are a new single derby record, surpassing Giancarlo Stanton's 61 from 2016, according to MLB.
He set another record as the youngest derby competitor at the Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. He delivered two solid rounds of 29 home runs. He surpassed the record for most home runs in a single round that had been set by Josh Hamilton's 28 at the old Yankee Stadium in 2008.
https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/07/08/vladimir-guerrero-jr-home-run-derby-record
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...-in-91-homer-onslaught-finishes-as-runner-up/
https://www.mlb.com/cut4/vladimir-guerrero-jr-sets-home-run-derby-record
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...-in-91-homer-onslaught-finishes-as-runner-up/
https://www.mlb.com/video/pete-bests-vlad-jr-in-hrd-finals
https://www.12up.com/posts/video-vl...ecord-with-29-dingers-in-a-round-01dfa2tx366y