DR1 Daily News - Wednesday, 31 July 2019

D

Dolores

Guest
President convenes big business to Presidential Palace
President Medina attends the inauguration of animal feed company
15 more export free zone companies
Constitutional Court revokes article ordered jail for defamation of politicians
The most expensive elections in the Americas?
Hacienda: In favor of unifying 2020 general elections
What does "new blood" mean?
Rodríguez Monegro says CMD is involved in research paper fraud
Julio Amado Castaños Guzmán: Mafiosi network in the public health system
Loans for efficient energy
Owner of Dolls House gets six years in jail
Provinces under alert waiting for tropical wave
Crismery Santana wins silver in weightlifting
Nelson Cruz is AL Player of the Week
Carlota Carretero stars as Mary Magdalene
MasterChef RD puts celebrities to cook



President convenes big business to Presidential Palace
President Danilo Medina invited members of the leadership of big business in the country to talks at the Presidential Palace. The 30 August 2019 meeting follows previous calls to meet on 13 June in Cap Cana and 27 June also at the Presidential Palace. The Presidency reported that the businessmen were at the Presidential Palace to express their support to the public policies implemented during Medina's administration. The Presidency highlighted the strengthening of the public-private alliance over the past seven years.

The Presidency published a photograph showing the convened businessmen. Among these were: Felix García, Manuel Estrella, Fernando Capellán, Micalo Bermúdez, José Clase, Frank Rainieri, Fernando Villanueva, Juan Vicini, Francisco Rodríguez, Héctor José Rizek, Guillermo Julián, Luis Velutini, Mario Lama, Andrés Dauhajre.

Also present at the meeting for the Medina administration were Administrative Minister of the Presidency José Ramón Peralta, Interior and Police Minister José Ramón Fadul, Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo.

Social media focused on how the upper echelons of business are all male.

https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...esarrolladas-en-gestion-del-presidente-danilo


President Medina attends the inauguration of animal feed company
President Danilo Medina participated in the inaugural of new installations at the Sanut balanced feed for livestock plant in Greater Santo Domingo. The company invested RD$140 million in the plant that was inaugurated on Tuesday, 30 July 2019. Company president Miguel Lajara said animal feed produced is of the highest quality. He described the plant as the most advanced of its kind in the Caribbean. The factory is at Duarte Highway Km 10.

Also present were Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo, Administrative Minister of the Presidency José Ramón Peralta, Agriculture Minister Osmar Benítez, Environment Minister Ángel Estévez, Banco Agrícola administrator Carlos Segura Fóster, and Pavel Concepción, president of the Dominican Poultry Association.

https://hoy.com.do/fotos-danilo-med...ta-para-fabricacion-de-alimentos-balanceados/


15 more export free zone companies
The National Council of Free Zones for Export (CNZFE) approved the installation of a new export park and 15 companies. Industry, Commerce and SMEs Minister Nelson Toca Simó announced a RD$583 million investment in the companies. They are expected to generate around US$16.3 million in foreign currency and create 1,210 new direct jobs.

The new industrial park is the Caribbean Glass Free Zone in the municipality of Pedro Brand is an investment of more than RD$334 million.

The new companies will operate in export free zones around the country.

http://cnzfe.gob.do/index.php/es/no...resas-y-un-parque-industrial-de-zonas-francas


Constitutional Court revokes article ordered jail for defamation of politicians
The Constitutional Court (TC) declared that Art. 284-18 of Electoral Regime Law 15-19 violates the Constitution. The article had established a penalty of three to ten years in jail for defamation crimes against politicians.

The Constitutional Court ruled: "The imposition of custodial sentences for sharing propaganda affecting a candidate denaturalizes the exercise of free access to information and unreasonably and disproportionately limits the freedom of expression and dissemination of thought."

https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ulo-de-la-ley-electoral-lesivo-para-la-prensa
https://www.tribunalconstitucional.gob.do/


The most expensive elections in the Americas?
The Central Electoral Board (JCE) has approved the 2020 general elections budget proposal for 2020 for RD$16.54 billion. The budget proposal passed at an extraordinary administrative meeting on 18 July 2019 presided over by the president of the JCE, Julio César Castaños Guzmán and attended by judges Roberto Saladín, Carmen Imbert Brugal, Rosario Graciano de los Santos, Henry Orlando Mejía Oviedo and general secretary Ramón Hilario Espiñeira Ceballos.

Also approved is that a presidential candidate can spend RD$1.39 billion on his campaign. Political parties will receive RD$3 billion of the taxpayer money allotted for the elections.

The JCE is funding the 6 October simultaneous primaries of the two leading political parties, the PLD and the PRM. Likewise, Art. 209 of the Constitution orders that municipal elections be held on the third Sunday in February (16 February 2020), and the presidential and congressional on the third Sunday in May (17 February 2020).

The 2020 general elections are costing three times more than the previous elections. An editorial in El Dia points out that while in the US each vote costs taxpayers US$11.67, in Mexico US$25 and US$58 in the DR.

Diario Libre puts the elections in perspectives. It headlines today that the 2020 general election budget is more than the annual budget for 15 government ministries.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...de-rd-16500-mm-para-las-elecciones-LP13581309
https://eldia.com.do/los-comicios-de-2020-triplicaran-en-gasto-elecciones-pasadas-mas-caras/
https://eldia.com.do/democracia-encarecida/


Hacienda: In favor of unifying 2020 general elections
Hacienda Minister Donald Guerrero advocated that the municipal, congressional and presidential elections all take place on the same date. He said this would mean savings of RD$4-6 billion. A constitutional amendment is required to make this change. Art. 209 of the Constitution establishes that the elections for President, Vice President, members of Congress, and representatives in international parliaments shall be held the third Sunday of May. It rules that the elections for municipal authorities shall be held the third Sunday of February.

The JCE has already factored in the cost of the separate 16 February 2020 municipal election and the 17 May 2020 presidential election. There is also the possibility a second round be needed that would take place on 28 June 2019 if a political party does not receive 50%+1 of the vote in a first round.

The cost of the 2020 general elections increased with the backing of the PLD government when the government accepted to use taxpayer money for the organization of individual party primaries. The ruling PLD party maneuvered so that the government picks up the tab for political party primaries that will now be partially financed by taxpayer funds. The Political Parties Law 33-18 had established that the parties would pay for the primaries, but in the end, the JCE agreed to pick up the larger part of the tab.

Political analysts say that the outcome of the municipal elections could affect the results of the congressional and presidential election.

https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/07...-ahorraria-entre-4-y-6-mil-millones-de-pesos/


What does "new blood" mean?
The trending political phrase is "new blood." It was used by President Danilo Medina when speaking to the nation to announce he would not seek a third term in the 2020 general election. Medina said it was time for new blood. "I, therefore, trust that we will witness a clean campaign based on proposals and that it injects new blood into political life," said Medina when announcing he would not run in 2020.

Memes have been many, social media commentary more. In an editorial on 30 July 2019, managing editor Ines Aizpún writes about the interpretations given to the term. "Is Leonel and his team new blood?," she writes. "Definitely, no." She then asks: "Are the other PLD pre-candidates? They are new pre-candidates, but clearly… they are not new blood."

She wonders out loud whether "new blood" means young people. "Not always. New is better when it is good; it is not good only because it is new," she continues.

She asks more questions. "By new blood is it understood an end to the PLD cycle in politics? Is the opposition new blood? Would someone outside the party be new blood when the PLD promotes the person? Or the PRM?

Read more:
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/am/sangre-nueva-LA13571093


Rodríguez Monegro says CMD is involved in research paper fraud
Former director of the National Health Service (SNS) Nelson Rodríguez Monegro said on Tuesday, 30 July 2019 that in the Dominican Republic there is "a culture of fraud." He made the remarks referring to an investigative report published in Hoy by journalist Altagracia Ortiz on physicians that forge and plagiarize documents to be admitted to subspecialty residences. He said that "medical reviews" were created to publish the articles, and space in the publication is sold to physicians for RD$15,000 to RD$20,000 each so that these can comply with the requirement of being published.

Rodríguez Monegro added when being interviewed for "La Receta Médica" Z101 radio talk show that people in the same Dominican Medical Guild (CMD) were accomplices in the fraudulent practice. He said when he was the coordinator of the National Council of Medical Residences, the practice was annulled when the worth of the research papers was reduced to one point. He mentioned in some cases the research is authentic, but the name of a doctor who did not participate is added. "There is an institutional fraud process," he said.

https://z101digital.com/rodriguez-monegro-en-rd-tenemos-una-cultura-del-fraude/
https://hoy.com.do/la-falsificacion-y-plagio-articulos-medicos-es-secreto-a-voces-en-rd/
https://hoy.com.do/lo-que-dijo-el-p...cos-falsificaron-y-plagiaron-investigaciones/
https://hoy.com.do/insolito-medicos...nvestigaciones-para-lograr-subespecialidades/


Julio Amado Castaños Guzmán: Mafiosi network in public health system
The president of the board of the Hospital General Plaza de la Salud, Julio Amado Castaños Guzmán called for the dismantling of what he called the "mafiosi network" that exists in the National System of Medical Residences. He urged that the present system be dismantled and given a focus on education.

The remarks were made after an article written by Altagracia Ortiz in Hoy newspaper told how public hospital medics forge and plagiarize research papers to be assigned to subspecialties. "I believe that is part of the systemic deterioration of the health sector in the Dominican Republic," Castaños Guzmán said when participating in the La Receta Médica radio talk show. Castaños Guzmán is rector of the Unibe University. He said that the matter is but the tip of the iceberg of a series of weaknesses and irregularities that have been happening in the public health sector for some time.

He criticized that the health system many times only focuses on infrastructure problems, financing, access and health sector coverage, and forgets the human resources end.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health blames the Dominican Medical Guild (CMD) for sponsoring physicians that submit fake papers.

https://z101digital.com/castanos-gu...na-mafiosa-en-sistema-de-residencias-medicas/
https://hoy.com.do/la-falsificacion-y-plagio-articulos-medicos-es-secreto-a-voces-en-rd/
https://hoy.com.do/insolito-medicos...nvestigaciones-para-lograr-subespecialidades/


Loans for efficient energy
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing two loans to banks in the Dominican Republic to provide financing for energy efficiency and renewables. Upon making the announcement, EIB Vice President Emma Navarro said: "We are pleased to join forces with Banfondesa and Fondesa to support the development of microfinance solutions for energy efficiency and renewable energy investments in the Dominican Republic."

The Banco de Ahorro y Credito Fondesa (Banfondesa), a microfinance bank, will receive €3.6 million to finance renewable energy and energy-saving investments carried out by micro, small and medium-sized businesses as well as medium and low-income families.

Another €1.4 million loan is allotted to the Fondo para el Desarollo INC (Fondesa), an NGO that focuses on educational finance programs. The funds will be used to finance renewable energy, mainly solar power, and energy efficiency solutions for schools and universities over the next two years.

https://www.energylivenews.com/2019/07/30/eu-bank-lends-e5m-for-green-loans-in-dominican-republic/


Dollar exchange rise
The rate of the dollar to the peso has now risen to RD51 per US$, but economist Henri Hebrard says there is nothing to be concerned about. He attributed the depreciation to measures taken by the Central Bank and external factors that have not been as favorable as expected.

The Central Bank reports a 1.4% depreciation in the exchange market over the first seven months of the year, much less than the 2.8% registered over the same period last year. The Central Bank says that demand for credit increased resulting in economic growth. Nevertheless, inflation has stayed below the lower limit of the anticipated range.

Meanwhile, economist Ernesto Selman of the Regional Center for Sustainable Economic Strategies (CREES) said the decline could be attributed to the bank cash released from legal reserve limits. The circulating pesos are chasing dollars. The Central Bank reduced reserve limits to stimulate the economy. Selman says the abundance of pesos has resulted in a parallel rate. He said the official rate is at RD$51 to US$1, but banks are selling for RD$51.70.

The Central Bank on Tuesday, 30 July 2019 reduced the benchmark-lending rate from 5 to 4.75%. In addition, the overnight rate was reduced from 3.50 % to 3.25% per annum and the repos rate decreases from 6.50 % to 6.25 % per annum," he said. The entity decided during this July's monetary policy meeting.

https://www.diariolibre.com/economia/dolar-se-coloca-a-rd-5100-en-mercado-dominicano-EP13587982
https://www.bancentral.gov.do/a/d/4...ce-su-tasa-de-politica-monetaria-a-475--anual
https://www.bancentral.gov.do/a/d/4...ibilizacion-monetaria--en-el-credito-bancario


Owner of Dolls House gets six years in jail
The Second Collegiate District Court handed down a six-year sentence to Rafael Elías Alcántara for human trafficking. He was accused in 2016 of sexual exploitation of foreign women in the nightclub Doll House, located on the sea-fronting Malecón.

Alcántara was singled out as the main ringleader of the criminal network that traveled abroad to recruit women. The women were recruited from Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, the United States, Spain, Brazil, Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus for sexual exploitation, according to the court statement.

Alcántara was ordered to serve the sentence in the Victoria Jail.

https://acento.com.do/2019/actualid...propietario-doll-house-por-trata-de-personas/
https://acento.com.do/2016/actualid...e-rescata-colombianas-explotadas-sexualmente/
http://fuegoalalata.do/2016/12/06/m...-club-de-strippers-que-cerro-la-procuraduria/
https://eldia.com.do/mujeres-trabajaban-en-doll-house-no-recibian-beneficios/


Provinces under alert waiting for tropical wave
The passing of an active tropical wave, plus the effects of a weather front, will bring moderate to heavy rain, thunderstorms and wind. Stormy weather is forecast to affect mostly the north, northeast, Caribbean coastline, central mountain area and the border with Haiti. 13 provinces are on alert.

The provinces under alert for possible overflowing of rivers and streams are Duarte (San Francisco de Macorís), Sánchez Ramírez (Cotuí), Hato Mayor, San Cristóbal, El Seibo, La Vega, Monte Plata, Monseñor Nouel (Bonao), Greater Santo Domingo and María Trinidad Sánchez. There will also be rain in other areas of the country as the wave moves from east to west across the country. On Tuesday, the Center for Emergency Operations (COE) added San Pedro de Macorís, La Altagracia (Punta Cana) and Samaná to the list of provinces where there could be flooding.

Weather forecasts discard the tropical wave would become a tropical storm over the next 48 hours.

https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-a-moderados-diez-provincias-siguen-en-alerta


Crismery Santana wins silver in weightlifting
Crismery Santana set a new Pan American Games record lifting 117 kg when participating in the Lima, Peru Games. The 23-year old athlete won silver medal in the games with a total of 258 kg overall. Santana was the team's flag bearer in the opening ceremony. She is the Sports Writers Association Athlete of the Year. In the Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla 2018 she won two gold medals. Reports are that Santana was affected by inflammation that cost her the gold.

Fellow weightlifter, Verónica Saladín won a second silver in the 87kg category. She was but one kg behind (283 to 284) the gold medal winner Sarah Robles.

The Pan Am Games are taking place 26 July to 11 August 2019 in Lima, Peru.

https://listindiario.com/el-deporte/2019/07/31/576241/gran-dolor--y-el-oro-se-escapo


Nelson Cruz is AL Player of the Week
The American League named Minnesota Twins' Nelson Cruz its Player of the Week. The Dominican batter turned in a performance that included a game with three home runs in the Twins' 10-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, 25 July 2019 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. Cruz hit .414 with seven home runs and 13 RBIs in seven games for Minnesota last week, with one of those contests yielding the first three-homer effort of his career.

MLB described Nelson Cruz as "one of baseball's most prolific sluggers over the past decade, and at 39, he has continued to age like a fine wine."

Even after 382 career homers, Cruz accomplished something he never had with the first three-homer game of his career in the Twins' 10-3 victory over the White Sox on Thursday night at Guaranteed Rate Field. "It's not easy," Cruz said. "To hit three [homers] is a blessing," he said as reported by MLB.

https://www.mlb.com/news/nelson-cruz-paul-goldschmidt-players-of-week
https://www.mlb.com/news/nelson-cruz-homers-in-fourth-straight-game


Carlota Carretero stars as Mary Magdalene
"La Magdalena opens at the Sala Ravelo of the National Theater on Thursday, 2 August 2019. The drama is a production by Guillermo Cordero. The script is based on the text on the life of biblical Mary Magdalene in the book "Fires" by Marguerite Yourcenar.

Carretero says she is touched by the story on Mary Magdalene and her objective is that the public witness a dramatic and inspiring monologue. She says of the heroine: "She was a feminist. She had faith in herself, she got to know herself and broke the schemes of her time."

https://www.diariolibre.com/revista...era-la-magdalena-en-la-sala-ravelo-KG13409535


MasterChef RD puts celebrities to cook
MasterChef Dominican Republic announces stars will be cooking on the reality show as of September 2019. Fefita la Grande, Silvio Mora, Shadow Blow, Sergio Vargas and Diomarys La Mala will be demonstrating their cooking talents are at par with their artistic talents. Also scheduled to participate in the Sunday evening Telesistema Channel 11 TV show are Sabrina Gómez, Jochy Santos, Isaura Taveras, Yelitza Lora, Honey Estrella, Chiqui Haddad and Dotol Nastra.

MasterChef hosts for the September season are Francis Peña, Chef Tita and Leandro Díaz.

https://www.diariolibre.com/revista...-celebrity-en-republica-dominicana-EA13574275