D
Dolores
Guest
Luis Abinader has praise for the President's speech
Reactions to the remarks by President Danilo Meidan
Medina meets with PLD pre-candidates
Will it be Margarita and Gonzalo?
Will Tourism Minister stand for the Presidency?
Congress slowly gets back to work
Fire Department delivers report on JCE fire
Food prices on the rise
Public school teachers fail job tests
Drug arrest at Puerto Plata airport
Rains on the way
Luis Abinader has praise for the President's speech
Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM) presidential pre-candidate Luis Abinader praised President Danilo Medina for his decision to not seek reelection in 2020. It would have been Medina's third term. Abinader said that Medina's decision restores peace in the country.
The 52-year old businessman-politician says this is not an occasion for celebrations or recriminations, but instead to work together to build a fairer and more inclusive society for Dominicans. He praised President Medina for listening to the people and respecting the Constitution and democratic institutions.
"We welcome that the President has listened to the voice of the people that demand respect for and adherence to the Constitution and democratic institutions. We appreciate that the President has also committed himself to a clean and transparent electoral process," said Abinader.
"The country aspires to a renewal and a change in politics, as the President himself has said in the message," he added speaking from the headquarters of his campaign command accompanied supporters.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...s-ocasion-de-celebraciones-ni-recriminaciones
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...s-ocasion-de-celebraciones-ni-recriminaciones
https://hoy.com.do/con-la-decision-...d-que-se-habia-perdido-asegura-luis-abinader/
Reactions to the speech by President Danilo Medina
The media has been covering the responses to President Danilo Medina's announcement that he would not stand for President in the 2020 election.
The president of the National Business Council (Conep) Pedro Brache said the speech was one of a great statesman.
The auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Santo Domingo, Jesús Castro Marte, was one of the first to react. On Twitter, the bishop said that the President had shown that he had the humility of great men, by putting the welfare of the country foremost.
The president of the Senate, Reinaldo Pared Pérez stated: "Excellent speech that filled all expectations. I believe with that speech the President honored his word."
Leonel Fernández follower, deputy Rubén Maldonado, expects the President will serve as a referee in the coming elections, putting the interests of the country above his desires.
Rafael Nuñez, spokesman for Leonel Fernández, said now is the time for the party to immerse itself in unification.
Sociologist Olaya Dotel said in an interview on La Cuestion (Super7FM) that the push for constitutional reform was canceled simply because the numbers were not there. She called attention to Medina's remark that he would back "new blood." Dotel says this means he will not be backing Fernández, who seeks a fourth term in office. Dotel said that the pre-candidate who receives the support of Medina will make life difficult for Fernández, even if the former President eventually wins the PLD candidacy. "Even if he wins the primaries, he will not have the support of Medina or his followers," said Dotel. She observed that to tell from his words on Monday evening, Medina has taken the confrontation with Fernández personally.
Political analyst Rosario Espinal described the political panorama as "more complex and uncertain" in a radio interview for the afternoon program "El Gobierno de la Tarde" on Z101. She said there is much uncertainty about what is going to happen within the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). She said people would have to wait until the registration of pre-candidates on 22 August 2019 to have a good idea of who Medina will back.
The presidential pre-candidate for Dominicanos por el Cambio, engineer Eduardo Estrella, said that the speech was "demagogic, populist and reelectionist". He described the remarks as a "sign of desperation, distrust and wanting to justify what cannot be justified." Estrella is a former senator for Santiago and minister of Public Works.
Opposition deputy Fidel Santana of Frente Amplio is skeptical. He said that Medina could still attempt to modify the Constitution so he could return to power in 2024. The 2015 Constitution limits presidential terms to two consecutive terms and that's it.
Political analysts Diana Lora and Patricia Solano concluded that the speech was a call for war against Fernández. They found that by stating that he would back "new blood", Medina is saying he will not back Fernández.
A spokesman for the Leonelistas in Congress, Juan Quiñones, said that there is still the possibility that Medina followers will present the bill to convene the National Assembly for the revision of the Constitution. Nevertheless, Leonelista followers legislators Henry Merán and Demóstenes Martínez understand the issue is closed.
Deputy Ronald Sánchez, the spokesman for the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) legislators, said the announcement brings peace and calm not only to the National Congress but to the country as a whole. Nevertheless, he said the remarks by President Danilo Medina were somewhat ambiguous. "He said what he wanted to say. I saw him still a little angry, I would not want to draw a definitive conclusion because in reality despite the fact that in some points he said he would not run for President and that his government would end in 2020, he says that he is willing to continue serving the country," observed Sánchez. He stressed that Medina's decision was the result of pressure from the people and the firmness of the PRM legislators who from the beginning maintained a consistent position of rejection of the constitutional amendment.
PRM deputy Faride Raful concurred with Sánchez. She said the deputies that kept a firm stand against reelection and did not give in to temptations are who should be congratulated.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...ncertidumbre-en-agentes-economicos-CO13484431
http://z101digital.com/fidel-santana-esta-derrotada-la-reeleccion-pero-no-la-habilitacion/
https://super7.com.do/2019/03/02/es...so-de-medina-fue-demagogico-y-reeleccionista/
https://almomento.net/personalidades-reaccionan-ante-decision-dm/
https://eldia.com.do/gomez-casanova...uienes-no-le-gustara-lo-que-tendra-que-decir/
https://eldia.com.do/el-no-de-danilo-a-otro-mandato-presidencial-provoca-gran-revuelo/
https://domiplay.net/podcast/la-cuestion-radio/super-7/13-00-2019-07-23-Tue
http://z101digital.com/rosario-espi...-politico-es-un-poco-mas-complejo-e-incierto/
https://eldia.com.do/faride-raful-no-hay-que-felicitar-el-proceder-del-presidente/
Medina meets with PLD pre-candidates
President Danilo Medina met at 10am on Tuesday, 23 July 2019 at the Presidential Palace with fellow party members that aspire to be the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) candidate in the 2020 general election.
Medina met with the president of the Senate Reinaldo Pared Pérez, former Minister of Economy Temístocles Montás, former Minister of Interior & Police Carlos Amarante, former Minister of Environment Francisco Domínguez Brito, former Minister of Education Andrés Navarro and former administrator of the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE) Radhamés Segura. All aspire to be the presidential candidate of the PLD and seek the favor of President Danilo Medina.
The meeting took place after President Danilo Medina had highlighted in his talk to the nation on the evening of Monday, 22 July 2019 at 9pm that he would not seek a third term.
Other pre-candidates are Vice President Margarita Cedeño, Tourism and Minister Francisco Javier García, Reinaldo Pared Pérez among others.
Most of those aspiring for President for the PLD have decades working in the PLD governments.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...sidenciales-en-el-palacio-nacional-NO13482438
https://n.com.do/2019/07/23/danilo-...el-pld-orienta-a-legisladores-linea-a-seguir/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/07...ina-se-reune-con-aspirantes-a-la-presidencia/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...n-frente-contra-leonel-para-primarias-del-pld
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoulaNPPcWM
Will it be Margarita and Gonzalo?
Sociologist Olaya Dotel doubts that Vice President Margarita Cedeño will compete against her husband, former President Leonel Fernández in the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) primary on 6 October 2019. Cedeño is a two-term Vice President under the administration of President Danilo Medina.
Circulating on social media is the possible candidacy of Vice President Cedeño for the PLD candidacy. Her vice presidential choice would be close collaborator and trusted Medina follower, Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo.
The followers of Vice President Cedeño are promoting her as the "new blood" that President Danilo Medina said he would be backing for the 2020 presidential election.
Vice President Cedeño early on announced her aspirations to be the middle person to harmonize the ambitions of President Danilo Medina and her husband, former President Leonel Fernández. Gonzalo Castillo had been one of the most vocal advocates for the third term of President Danilo Medina.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...gonzalo-como-opciones-para-el-2020-MO13485797
Will the Tourism Minister stand for President?
Since the announcement by President Danilo Medina that he would not be standing again for the Presidency, rumors are circulating that Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garcia might throw his hat into the ring.
The President, in a last-minute address to the nation on Tuesday, 23 July 2019, stated that now is the time to inject new blood into politics. There is speculation that since Garcia has been the campaign head for both Leonel Fernandez and Danilo Medina, he has the experience to promote his own aspirations.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/tras-a...rumor-javier-garcia-sea-una-opcion-en-el-pld/
Congress slowly gets back to work
A long list of priority bills is pending for review. The reelection topic had absorbed most of the time of the National Congress. The deputies and senators can concentrate on their real duties now that President Danilo Medina announced on Monday, 21 July 2019 that he would not seek reelection. The regular session of the legislature closes on 26 July 2019.
On Tuesday, 22 July, the Chamber of Deputies opened the session at 2pm after there was not enough quorum for the meeting called for 10am. During the session, the 117 deputies present voted for the Civil Code to return to the Permanent Justice Committee.
The deputies passed the first reading on a bill that would assist Dominican expats with funeral services.
Meanwhile, Demóstenes Martínez announced his aspirations to replace Radhamés Camacho in the presidency of the Chamber of Deputies for the next legislature that is set to open on 16 August 2019. A ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) Political Committee agreement established that the presidency would be alternated between deputies backing Medina and those backing Fernández. The PLD is majority in the Chamber of Deputies.
The senators got to work at 4pm. They approved the second reading of a bill that creates the San Juan de la Maguana Water Corporation (Coraasanjuan). San Juan de la Maguana senator Felix Bautista is the author of the bill.
Media reports are that the barricade that surrounds the National Congress had not been removed as of on Tuesday, 23 July 2019. El Nacional reported that as of Tuesday afternoon, Av. Jiménez de Moya was still closed off to vehicular traffic.
https://hoy.com.do/llennis-jimenez-...rimera-legislatura-de-este-ano-temas-importa/
https://elnacional.com.do/vallas-y-cerco-policial-siguen-en-congreso/
Fire Department delivers report on JCE fire
The National District Fire Department determined that an electrical short circuit caused the fire at the Central Electoral Board (JCE) on Sunday, 20 July 2019. The blaze devoured desks, chairs and computer devices. The investigation into the fire at the JCE Inspectorship Unit (Unidad de Inspectoría) determined it was an accidental fire and not arson.
The JCE has said that the information in the affected computers had backups.
https://jce.gob.do/Noticias/informe...ue-incendio-fue-ocasionado-por-corto-circuito
Food prices on the rise
More money is now needed to buy some essential food products. According to Antonio Cruz Rojas, executive vice president and secretary-general of the National Board of Shopkeepers and Businesses in the Dominican Republic (Conacerd), several goods are now more costly. Among these is the 125-lb sack of brown sugar, which has increased by RD$300 to RD$2,700, and white sugar, which has risen by RD$250. Garlic is up by RD$40 a pound to RD$150. Factor in an additional 20-25% as these are wholesale prices.
Cruz Rojas said that he thinks that the increases are due to the depreciation of the peso to the US dollar. The peso is now at RD$50.96 to the dollar. Prices for beans, onions, potatoes, rice and spaghetti have all increased as well along with powdered milk, oil, soda, corn, peas, cigarettes and rum.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economia/aumentan-los-precios-de-productos-canasta-basica-FB13475055
Public school teachers fail job tests
The Ministry of Education reports that 73.86% of the 33,069 teachers that took the academic level test required to work in public schools failed. This was the Academic Orientation and Measurement Test (Prueba de Orientación y Medición Académica - POMA). Only 8,643 met the minimum requirements for the jobs.
Those who failed protested outside the headquarters of the Ministry of Education asking for a second chance to pass and qualify for the jobs.
Of 3,379 who sat for the test in Greater Santo Domingo, only 857 passed. In Santiago 822 passed of 2,539 teachers taking the test. In San Pedro de Macorís, 785 of 2,324 applicants passed.
On 24 June 2019, the president of the Dominican Association of Public School Teachers (ADP), Xiomara Guante, denounced that the job contests for teachers were not designed for Dominican education professionals. She asked that the Minister of Education take charge. In five of the regions where the test was applied, 100% of the participants had failed the exam.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...yoria-de-profesores-reprueba-examen-academico
Drug arrest at Puerto Plata Airport
On Monday, 22 July 2019, a 29-year-old man was arrested in the Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP) in Puerto Plata trying to leave the country with 10 packets of cocaine in his suitcase.
He is a dual national of Spain and the Dominican Republic and was attempting to board a flight to Brussels, Belgium.
He was arrested in the check-in area by agents from the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD). The case is now being investigated to determine the origin of the drugs.
https://eldia.com.do/apresan-en-aer...-viajar-a-belgica-con-10-paquetes-de-cocaina/
Rains on the way
The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) warns of the possibility of thunderstorms in the northwest, north, northeast as well as the Caribbean coast and the central mountain area, due to a tropical wave approaching the country.
The office confirms that temperatures will remain high, especially between 11 am and 4 pm, and has warned the population to wear lightweight clothes and ensure they stay hydrated.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/onamet...-y-tronadas-debido-a-onda-tropical-y-vaguada/
Reactions to the remarks by President Danilo Meidan
Medina meets with PLD pre-candidates
Will it be Margarita and Gonzalo?
Will Tourism Minister stand for the Presidency?
Congress slowly gets back to work
Fire Department delivers report on JCE fire
Food prices on the rise
Public school teachers fail job tests
Drug arrest at Puerto Plata airport
Rains on the way
Luis Abinader has praise for the President's speech
Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM) presidential pre-candidate Luis Abinader praised President Danilo Medina for his decision to not seek reelection in 2020. It would have been Medina's third term. Abinader said that Medina's decision restores peace in the country.
The 52-year old businessman-politician says this is not an occasion for celebrations or recriminations, but instead to work together to build a fairer and more inclusive society for Dominicans. He praised President Medina for listening to the people and respecting the Constitution and democratic institutions.
"We welcome that the President has listened to the voice of the people that demand respect for and adherence to the Constitution and democratic institutions. We appreciate that the President has also committed himself to a clean and transparent electoral process," said Abinader.
"The country aspires to a renewal and a change in politics, as the President himself has said in the message," he added speaking from the headquarters of his campaign command accompanied supporters.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...s-ocasion-de-celebraciones-ni-recriminaciones
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...s-ocasion-de-celebraciones-ni-recriminaciones
https://hoy.com.do/con-la-decision-...d-que-se-habia-perdido-asegura-luis-abinader/
Reactions to the speech by President Danilo Medina
The media has been covering the responses to President Danilo Medina's announcement that he would not stand for President in the 2020 election.
The president of the National Business Council (Conep) Pedro Brache said the speech was one of a great statesman.
The auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Santo Domingo, Jesús Castro Marte, was one of the first to react. On Twitter, the bishop said that the President had shown that he had the humility of great men, by putting the welfare of the country foremost.
The president of the Senate, Reinaldo Pared Pérez stated: "Excellent speech that filled all expectations. I believe with that speech the President honored his word."
Leonel Fernández follower, deputy Rubén Maldonado, expects the President will serve as a referee in the coming elections, putting the interests of the country above his desires.
Rafael Nuñez, spokesman for Leonel Fernández, said now is the time for the party to immerse itself in unification.
Sociologist Olaya Dotel said in an interview on La Cuestion (Super7FM) that the push for constitutional reform was canceled simply because the numbers were not there. She called attention to Medina's remark that he would back "new blood." Dotel says this means he will not be backing Fernández, who seeks a fourth term in office. Dotel said that the pre-candidate who receives the support of Medina will make life difficult for Fernández, even if the former President eventually wins the PLD candidacy. "Even if he wins the primaries, he will not have the support of Medina or his followers," said Dotel. She observed that to tell from his words on Monday evening, Medina has taken the confrontation with Fernández personally.
Political analyst Rosario Espinal described the political panorama as "more complex and uncertain" in a radio interview for the afternoon program "El Gobierno de la Tarde" on Z101. She said there is much uncertainty about what is going to happen within the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). She said people would have to wait until the registration of pre-candidates on 22 August 2019 to have a good idea of who Medina will back.
The presidential pre-candidate for Dominicanos por el Cambio, engineer Eduardo Estrella, said that the speech was "demagogic, populist and reelectionist". He described the remarks as a "sign of desperation, distrust and wanting to justify what cannot be justified." Estrella is a former senator for Santiago and minister of Public Works.
Opposition deputy Fidel Santana of Frente Amplio is skeptical. He said that Medina could still attempt to modify the Constitution so he could return to power in 2024. The 2015 Constitution limits presidential terms to two consecutive terms and that's it.
Political analysts Diana Lora and Patricia Solano concluded that the speech was a call for war against Fernández. They found that by stating that he would back "new blood", Medina is saying he will not back Fernández.
A spokesman for the Leonelistas in Congress, Juan Quiñones, said that there is still the possibility that Medina followers will present the bill to convene the National Assembly for the revision of the Constitution. Nevertheless, Leonelista followers legislators Henry Merán and Demóstenes Martínez understand the issue is closed.
Deputy Ronald Sánchez, the spokesman for the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) legislators, said the announcement brings peace and calm not only to the National Congress but to the country as a whole. Nevertheless, he said the remarks by President Danilo Medina were somewhat ambiguous. "He said what he wanted to say. I saw him still a little angry, I would not want to draw a definitive conclusion because in reality despite the fact that in some points he said he would not run for President and that his government would end in 2020, he says that he is willing to continue serving the country," observed Sánchez. He stressed that Medina's decision was the result of pressure from the people and the firmness of the PRM legislators who from the beginning maintained a consistent position of rejection of the constitutional amendment.
PRM deputy Faride Raful concurred with Sánchez. She said the deputies that kept a firm stand against reelection and did not give in to temptations are who should be congratulated.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...ncertidumbre-en-agentes-economicos-CO13484431
http://z101digital.com/fidel-santana-esta-derrotada-la-reeleccion-pero-no-la-habilitacion/
https://super7.com.do/2019/03/02/es...so-de-medina-fue-demagogico-y-reeleccionista/
https://almomento.net/personalidades-reaccionan-ante-decision-dm/
https://eldia.com.do/gomez-casanova...uienes-no-le-gustara-lo-que-tendra-que-decir/
https://eldia.com.do/el-no-de-danilo-a-otro-mandato-presidencial-provoca-gran-revuelo/
https://domiplay.net/podcast/la-cuestion-radio/super-7/13-00-2019-07-23-Tue
http://z101digital.com/rosario-espi...-politico-es-un-poco-mas-complejo-e-incierto/
https://eldia.com.do/faride-raful-no-hay-que-felicitar-el-proceder-del-presidente/
Medina meets with PLD pre-candidates
President Danilo Medina met at 10am on Tuesday, 23 July 2019 at the Presidential Palace with fellow party members that aspire to be the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) candidate in the 2020 general election.
Medina met with the president of the Senate Reinaldo Pared Pérez, former Minister of Economy Temístocles Montás, former Minister of Interior & Police Carlos Amarante, former Minister of Environment Francisco Domínguez Brito, former Minister of Education Andrés Navarro and former administrator of the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE) Radhamés Segura. All aspire to be the presidential candidate of the PLD and seek the favor of President Danilo Medina.
The meeting took place after President Danilo Medina had highlighted in his talk to the nation on the evening of Monday, 22 July 2019 at 9pm that he would not seek a third term.
Other pre-candidates are Vice President Margarita Cedeño, Tourism and Minister Francisco Javier García, Reinaldo Pared Pérez among others.
Most of those aspiring for President for the PLD have decades working in the PLD governments.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...sidenciales-en-el-palacio-nacional-NO13482438
https://n.com.do/2019/07/23/danilo-...el-pld-orienta-a-legisladores-linea-a-seguir/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/07...ina-se-reune-con-aspirantes-a-la-presidencia/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...n-frente-contra-leonel-para-primarias-del-pld
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoulaNPPcWM
Will it be Margarita and Gonzalo?
Sociologist Olaya Dotel doubts that Vice President Margarita Cedeño will compete against her husband, former President Leonel Fernández in the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) primary on 6 October 2019. Cedeño is a two-term Vice President under the administration of President Danilo Medina.
Circulating on social media is the possible candidacy of Vice President Cedeño for the PLD candidacy. Her vice presidential choice would be close collaborator and trusted Medina follower, Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo.
The followers of Vice President Cedeño are promoting her as the "new blood" that President Danilo Medina said he would be backing for the 2020 presidential election.
Vice President Cedeño early on announced her aspirations to be the middle person to harmonize the ambitions of President Danilo Medina and her husband, former President Leonel Fernández. Gonzalo Castillo had been one of the most vocal advocates for the third term of President Danilo Medina.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...gonzalo-como-opciones-para-el-2020-MO13485797
Will the Tourism Minister stand for President?
Since the announcement by President Danilo Medina that he would not be standing again for the Presidency, rumors are circulating that Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garcia might throw his hat into the ring.
The President, in a last-minute address to the nation on Tuesday, 23 July 2019, stated that now is the time to inject new blood into politics. There is speculation that since Garcia has been the campaign head for both Leonel Fernandez and Danilo Medina, he has the experience to promote his own aspirations.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/tras-a...rumor-javier-garcia-sea-una-opcion-en-el-pld/
Congress slowly gets back to work
A long list of priority bills is pending for review. The reelection topic had absorbed most of the time of the National Congress. The deputies and senators can concentrate on their real duties now that President Danilo Medina announced on Monday, 21 July 2019 that he would not seek reelection. The regular session of the legislature closes on 26 July 2019.
On Tuesday, 22 July, the Chamber of Deputies opened the session at 2pm after there was not enough quorum for the meeting called for 10am. During the session, the 117 deputies present voted for the Civil Code to return to the Permanent Justice Committee.
The deputies passed the first reading on a bill that would assist Dominican expats with funeral services.
Meanwhile, Demóstenes Martínez announced his aspirations to replace Radhamés Camacho in the presidency of the Chamber of Deputies for the next legislature that is set to open on 16 August 2019. A ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) Political Committee agreement established that the presidency would be alternated between deputies backing Medina and those backing Fernández. The PLD is majority in the Chamber of Deputies.
The senators got to work at 4pm. They approved the second reading of a bill that creates the San Juan de la Maguana Water Corporation (Coraasanjuan). San Juan de la Maguana senator Felix Bautista is the author of the bill.
Media reports are that the barricade that surrounds the National Congress had not been removed as of on Tuesday, 23 July 2019. El Nacional reported that as of Tuesday afternoon, Av. Jiménez de Moya was still closed off to vehicular traffic.
https://hoy.com.do/llennis-jimenez-...rimera-legislatura-de-este-ano-temas-importa/
https://elnacional.com.do/vallas-y-cerco-policial-siguen-en-congreso/
Fire Department delivers report on JCE fire
The National District Fire Department determined that an electrical short circuit caused the fire at the Central Electoral Board (JCE) on Sunday, 20 July 2019. The blaze devoured desks, chairs and computer devices. The investigation into the fire at the JCE Inspectorship Unit (Unidad de Inspectoría) determined it was an accidental fire and not arson.
The JCE has said that the information in the affected computers had backups.
https://jce.gob.do/Noticias/informe...ue-incendio-fue-ocasionado-por-corto-circuito
Food prices on the rise
More money is now needed to buy some essential food products. According to Antonio Cruz Rojas, executive vice president and secretary-general of the National Board of Shopkeepers and Businesses in the Dominican Republic (Conacerd), several goods are now more costly. Among these is the 125-lb sack of brown sugar, which has increased by RD$300 to RD$2,700, and white sugar, which has risen by RD$250. Garlic is up by RD$40 a pound to RD$150. Factor in an additional 20-25% as these are wholesale prices.
Cruz Rojas said that he thinks that the increases are due to the depreciation of the peso to the US dollar. The peso is now at RD$50.96 to the dollar. Prices for beans, onions, potatoes, rice and spaghetti have all increased as well along with powdered milk, oil, soda, corn, peas, cigarettes and rum.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economia/aumentan-los-precios-de-productos-canasta-basica-FB13475055
Public school teachers fail job tests
The Ministry of Education reports that 73.86% of the 33,069 teachers that took the academic level test required to work in public schools failed. This was the Academic Orientation and Measurement Test (Prueba de Orientación y Medición Académica - POMA). Only 8,643 met the minimum requirements for the jobs.
Those who failed protested outside the headquarters of the Ministry of Education asking for a second chance to pass and qualify for the jobs.
Of 3,379 who sat for the test in Greater Santo Domingo, only 857 passed. In Santiago 822 passed of 2,539 teachers taking the test. In San Pedro de Macorís, 785 of 2,324 applicants passed.
On 24 June 2019, the president of the Dominican Association of Public School Teachers (ADP), Xiomara Guante, denounced that the job contests for teachers were not designed for Dominican education professionals. She asked that the Minister of Education take charge. In five of the regions where the test was applied, 100% of the participants had failed the exam.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...yoria-de-profesores-reprueba-examen-academico
Drug arrest at Puerto Plata Airport
On Monday, 22 July 2019, a 29-year-old man was arrested in the Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP) in Puerto Plata trying to leave the country with 10 packets of cocaine in his suitcase.
He is a dual national of Spain and the Dominican Republic and was attempting to board a flight to Brussels, Belgium.
He was arrested in the check-in area by agents from the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD). The case is now being investigated to determine the origin of the drugs.
https://eldia.com.do/apresan-en-aer...-viajar-a-belgica-con-10-paquetes-de-cocaina/
Rains on the way
The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) warns of the possibility of thunderstorms in the northwest, north, northeast as well as the Caribbean coast and the central mountain area, due to a tropical wave approaching the country.
The office confirms that temperatures will remain high, especially between 11 am and 4 pm, and has warned the population to wear lightweight clothes and ensure they stay hydrated.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/onamet...-y-tronadas-debido-a-onda-tropical-y-vaguada/
Last edited: