D
Dolores
Guest
Presidency issues ruling to start tax plan for small business
Copardom going ahead to reclassify enterprises with or without the unions
UAE seeks DR vote to elect its candidate to preside the ICAO Council
Reptiles and exotic birds confiscated in San Cristobal
Ministry of Education: 75% of public school students are in all-day school programs
80% public school teachers fail job test
Santo Domingo campaigns to be named City of Music
China aims to increase its footprint in the DR
Few mothers breastfeed in the DR
Marcha Verde wants to hear from Gonzalo Castillo on Odebrecht
Small political parties could influence the outcome of elections
Offspring of government officers get good jobs in government
Juan Bosch’s publications declared “Dominican Cultural Heritage”
Digesett investigates fake traffic violations
Recent plagiarism scandal among doctors is not an isolated case
Scandal in Montecristi: Planting drugs in businesses for extortion?
David Ortiz moves his golf benefit to near his home in Florida
Gold in boxing in Pan Am
DR loses bronze medal to USA in Pan Am Games basketball
Presidency issues ruling to start tax plan for small business
Small business got a break. Decree 265-19 contains the ruling for the Simplified Tax Regime (Regimen Simplificado de Tributación) that applies to individuals and companies with no more than RD$8.7 million in sales. Individuals and companies that purchase inventory and inputs for RD$40 million or less a year are also included in the tax scheme.
The new procedure exempts individuals and companies from reporting sales to the Tax Agency (DGII). The scheme removes the requirement to pay taxes on assets related to the business, advance taxes and to declare the value-added ITBIS tax every month. Those adhering to the new system will be allowed to pay income tax in a single payment.
DGII director, Magín Díaz said the DGII says the plan was created to encourage all micro and small business to go legit.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...anticipo-a-pequenos-contribuyentes-KF13619650
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...utacion-rst-busca-formalizar-mas-que-recaudar
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...rea-reglamento-que-beneficiara-a-comerciantes
Copardom going ahead to reclassify businesses with or without the unions
The Dominican Management Confederation (Copardom) says they will go ahead with reclassifying companies with or without the participation of labor unions. Juan Alfredo de la Cruz, president of Copardom, criticized the labor unions for walking out of talks and refusing to address the reclassification established in Social Security Law 87-01.
The business sector had lobbied for reclassifying businesses as a condition for approving the minimum wage increase. Recently, however, the government agreed with the labor unions on a 14% increase and that reclassification talks would start in 60 days.
Now, Copardom says if unions continue to object the reclassification, they do not need to be present. De la Cruz says the reclassification is a manufacturing procedure and not a labor issue. Companies seek more flexible minimum wages.
Jacobo Ramos, president of the workers union, the CNTD (Central Nacional de Trabajadores Dominicanos), insists the reclassification would reduce wages. He said this violates the Dominican Constitution and International Labor Organization agreements signed by the country.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...s-se-hara-sin-centrales-sindicales-GG13625223
https://elnacional.com.do/dice-es-intolerante-la-actitud-de-copardom/
UAE seeks DR vote to elect its candidate to chair the ICAO Council
Captain Aysha al Hamili is running to chair the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations aviation agency. The Council oversees the Organization between its triennial meetings of the governing body, the Assembly. The Council also appoints ICAO's Secretary General.
Al-Hamili is the United Arab Emirates (UAE) representative to the ICAO in Montreal. She visited Santo Domingo last week. She defined her visit as one of courtesy. She is the first female pilot of Emirates, the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates. During her visit, she met with top aviation officials.
The election of the president of the 36-member Council will take place during the ICAO Assembly set from 24 September to 4 October 2019. Reportedly, Al-Hamili’s leading contender is Salvatore Sciacchitano, head of the Italian delegation at ICAO.
In Santo Domingo, Al-Hamili met with Alejandro Herrera of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC). Herrera said that Al-Hamili recognized the leadership of the Dominican Republic in aviation matters and the prestige gained for the country’s compliance of international standards. He expressed his hope that whoever wins the ICAO election will maintain such a positive attitude to the Dominican Republic.
During her visit, Al-Hamili also met with Luis Ernesto Camilo, president of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC); Marino Collante, director of the Airport Department; Air Force Brigade General Aracenis Castillo of the Specialized Corps for Airport Security and Civil Aviation (CESAC), among others.
It is the second time that Al-Hamili visits the Dominican Republic. She was here in 2018 for the 18th meeting of the Regional Planning and Implementation Group (CAR/SAM (GREPECAS/18).
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/08...al-hamili-esta-en-rd-visita-al-director-idac/
https://gulfbusiness.com/uae-female...iation-council-pledges-neutrality-qatar-rift/
Reptiles and exotic birds confiscated in San Cristobal
Government environment prosecutors and law enforcement agents seized more than 20 reptiles and exotic birds kept at a tourist attraction in San Cristóbal. The critters were held captive without the corresponding permits. A crocodile, five flamencos, 13 snapping turtles and a tortoise were seized and sent to the National Zoo. Experts from the Zoo participated in the operation.
The owner of the property, Jose Mesa Araujo, was ordered to appear before the San Cristóbal Specialized Prosecutor Office for Environment in San Cristóbal.
The day after this news was in the press, the International Union for Natural Conservation (UICN), together with the Ministry of the Environment released the “Red List” of those species in danger of extinction. The Ministry’s Resolution 0017-2019 contains a long list of both sea creatures such as crocodiles, starfish, sea cucumbers many varieties of fish, and land creatures, including tarantulas, all snake species on the island, frogs and toads, tortoises, turtles and snapping turtles, almost every bird in the sky and all of the mammals on the island.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...s-de-fauna-en-peligro-de-extincion-PG13622940
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/08...xoticas-en-centro-turistico-de-san-cristobal/
Ministry of Education: 75% of public school students are in all-day school programs
Henry Santos of the Ministry of Education reports that 1.3 million students are registered in all-day public schools for the 2019-2020 school year that opens 19 August 2019. This is 75% of those enrolled in public school programs, says the Ministry, and includes 365 new schools with 1,800 classrooms connected to the Cloud for Internet-based learning programs.
The Ministry announced that it will be delivering upwards of 300,000 notebooks to public school students as part of the República Digital Educación Internet-learning program. Twenty-five thousand public teachers will receive laptops as part of the same program.
Likewise, Santos said that students will benefit from free bus service, especially those that live in rural areas.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/08/02/panorama/pais/la-tanda-extendida-alcanza-al-75/
80% public school teachers fail job test
Of 49,566 teachers who took the test for positions in the 2019-2020 public schools, only 11,855 persons passed, or around 23.92%. The Dominican Association of Public School Teachers had protested the test, saying it was not appropriate to the country.
The Ministry changed the test. The second testing is taking place on Monday, 5 August 2019, as part of the process to fill 10,700 slots for public school teachers directors and school guidance councilors and psychologists. Candidates passing Monday’s test will be interviewed.
Ministry officials said that candidates from the Bahoruco school district had the highest percentages of passes at 36.20% of the 1,496 candidates. Mao, Valverde province, scored the second-highest pass rate with 30.41% of the 1,369 persons who took the test.
At the beginning of the testing, Xiomara Guante, the ADP president, complained about a series of “irregularities” in the test. She argued these caused some areas to have a 0% pass rate, others a 2% pass rate and still others a 10% pass rate.
This massive setback caused the whole process to be delayed a week and restarted under “the most strict transparency and adherence to the norms agreed to by the Ministry and the ADP.”
This was the first year that persons with some disabilities were allowed to take the same tests, and they scored very well. 75% of the 18 persons with visual or physical disabilities passed the test.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...o-el-concurso-de-oposicion-docente-FF13616164
https://eldia.com.do/solo-el-23-92-de-profesores-aprobo-concurso-de-oposicion-docente/
https://z101digital.com/casi-el-80-de-los-maestros-reprobo-el-concurso-de-oposicion-docente/
https://hoy.com.do/la-adp-califico-injusto-el-concurso-de-oposicion/
Santo Domingo campaigns to be named City of Music
Santo Domingo has applied to be a UNESCO City of Music. The program is part of the more comprehensive Creative Cities Network. Music is known to unify all in the Dominican Republic. The UNESCO vote will be in November 2019. The last time cities were designated was in 2017.
The designated UNESCO Cities of Music are required to have these characteristics:
Recognized centers of musical creation and activity
Experience in hosting music festivals and events at a national or international level
Promotion of the music industry in all its forms
Music schools, conservatories, academies and higher education institutions specialized in music
Informal structures for music education, including amateur choirs and orchestras
Domestic or international platforms dedicated to particular genres of music
Cultural spaces suited for practicing and listening to music, such as open-air auditorium.
There are 31 Cities of Music. In the Americas there is Kansas City, USA; Morelia, Mexico; Bogotá and Medellín, Colombia; Frutillar, Chile; Salvador, Brazil and Kingston, Jamaica. Other cities that have received the designation are Seville in Spain, Bologna in Italy, Liverpool in England, Auckland in New Zealand, and Varanasi in India.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) is a project of UNESCO launched in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities that recognize creativity as a major factor in their urban development.
https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/home
https://citiesofmusic.net/
China seeks to increase its footprint in DR
A report in Business Americas looks into what the Dominican Republic has to show for its new diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. At the time of switching from Taiwan to China in May 2018, Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas had announced the country could expect up to US$3 billion in financing.
Business Americas says the country received a US$600 million loan in November 2018 to expand and improve the national electricity grid. It also mentioned that the state-owned construction firm, China Civil Engineering Construction (CCECC) has opened an office in Santo Domingo. There is talk of building the northeastern Dominican Republic-Haiti railway.
CCECC is reportedly also eyeing other initiatives such as the modernization of the Arroyo Barril port in Samaná, building the Alto Yuna dam and a power plant at the Boba-Baguí rivers, as well as an airport near San Francisco de Macorís, among others.
The Business Americas report also looks into what Jamaica and Trinidad have gotten from the Chinese.
https://www.bnamericas.com/en/features/spotlight-chinas-footprint-in-caribbean-infrastructure
Few mothers breastfeed in the DR
On occasion of the World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August 2019), public health officials are sharing some grim health statistics. Only 4 out of 10 babies breastfeed in their first hour of life in the Dominican Republic. Those that are not breastfed two to 23 hours after being born have 33% more probability of dying.
Even worse, only seven out of 100 mothers exclusively breastfeed. That is around 14,000 out of 200,000 births in the country, according to the deputy director of the National Health Network Support, Victor Calderon.
A report by UNICEF says that there is little orientation for new mothers in many health centers. Moreso, the obsolete practice of separating mother and baby at birth continues. The Dominican Republic also has a high cesarean section birthrate. In 2018, four out of 10 births in public hospitals were by C-section, and nine out of every 10 in private hospitals, according to data from the National Health Service (SNS). It may take longer for mother’s milk to come in cases of C-section compared to vaginal delivery.
Moreso, formula manufacturers distribute their products free at the hospitals to motivate future sales. Adding to the reasons for low breastfeeding is the large number of births to teenage mothers.
Dr. Calderón says that maternal deaths are 15% less among babies breastfed exclusively than among those fed formula. He stressed mother’s milk reduces diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems in newborns. He said babies that are not breastfed are more likely to suffer from obesity, diabetes and have lower immunity.
Years back, doctors emphasized that exclusive breastfeeding should be at least for the six first months of a baby.
https://eldia.com.do/pocas-madres-dan-lactancia-absoluta/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/10...s-donde-se-realizan-mas-cesareas-en-el-mundo/
Marcha Verde wants to hear from Gonzalo Castillo on Odebrecht
The anti-impunity civic movement, Green March announced it backs the request for the Chamber of Deputies to question resigning Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo on his management at the Ministry of Public Works.
Castillo resigned the position on 1 August 2019 to dedicate himself to campaign for the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) presidential nomination. The ruling party will choose the candidate in the 6 October 2019 primary. The PLD leadership decided that the party primary be open to the vote of any eligible voter in the Dominican Republic.
Marcha Verde directors want to hear from the former government officer on six public works carried out by the Brazilian company, Odebrecht under his administration. The group says that addendums were added to the budgets for more than US$100 million that doubled the cost of these contracts. Dominican law allows contracts to be increased up to 25%.
On 25 June 2019, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalism released new findings on suspect cash for contracts payments made by the Structured Bribery Division that operated in the Dominican Republic. On the new list are the six public works that were carried out under the management of former Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo. These are the Miches-Sabana de la Mar road, the Touristic Boulevard in Punta Cana, the expansion of the San Pedro de Macorís highway, the Coral highway, the Cibao Sur highway and the Ecovía in Santiago.
In the Dominican Republic, ICIJ member, Alicia Ortega released the findings.
https://eldia.com.do/la-marcha-verde-apoya-interpelar-a-gonzalo-castillo/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnKdwdJYwEs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wup_X70fA_I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQdqFWkLb8E
Small political parties could influence the outcome of elections
Polls say none of the presidential aspirants have the 50%+ 1 of the vote needed to win in a third round. 40% of the vote is in the 18 to 35-year old age bracket and most of these define themselves as independents. Political analysts say the outcome of the 2020 general election is unknown at this time. Political parties of all sizes are maneuvering to play their best cards to capture the independent vote and hang on to traditional voters at the same time.
For instance, the long-time allies of the ruling PLD party, the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) and the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) are struggling to hang on to their anchors in the majority parties in order not to lose their status.
The PRD that backed President Danilo Medina for President in 2016 election obtained 270,450 votes for 5.86% in that election at the presidential level. The PRSC received 259,396 for 5.62%. The PRSC allied with the PRM for the winning candidacy of David Collado for Mayor of the National District.
PRD president Miguel Vargas in early July stated that his vote was for the reelection of President Danilo Medina or the party would run alone. When Medina announced on 22 July 2019 that would not run in 2020, Vargas was left with the decision to run for President himself. The PRD now is in a wait and see stand to see where next to move. Vargas is optimistic the party will need to be reckoned with. “What I assure you is that in 2020, or we will be government or we will decide who the next President of the Republic will be,” Vargas recently told his followers in an event on Wednesday, 31 July.
The ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) is divided mainly between followers of President Danilo Medina and those of former President Leonel Fernandez. Seven alternative party members are campaigning to get the backing of President Medina when the party primary takes place on 6 October 2019. None of these have reached more than 2% in the recent polls. The candidates also need the vote of the Central Committee that is controlled by the faction that backs President Danilo Medina. This year, any eligible voter can vote in that primary, regardless of whether the person is a registered PLD member.
Meanwhile, the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) is preparing for its primary on the same 6 October 2019. Only members registered with the PRM can vote in that primary. Their member vote count is a universe of 1.3 million possible voters. The pre-candidates are Luis Abinader, Winston Arnaud and former President Hipólito Mejía.
Other political parties have until 27 October 2019 to choose their presidential candidates by assembly polls or other authorized methods.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...-en-las-primarias-abiertas-del-pld-EF13616147
Offspring of government officers get good jobs in government
If your parents have good jobs in government, there is good chance you will, too. The recent appointment of economist Juan Ariel Jiménez at 35 years old as Minister of Economy is evidence of this. Previously, Jiménez had served as vice minister of the Presidency. His brother Juan Ernesto Jiménez is a high-ranking officer at the Superintendence of Stocks. His father is a long-time government employee, who at present is the president of the Dominican Petroleum Refinery.
In the report in N Digital features other offspring of well known PLD politicians that are named to very well paid jobs in government. This is Nelson José Guillén Bello, today president of the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel). He is the son of the mayor of San Cristóbal, Nelson Guillén.
The daughter of resigning Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo is vice-consul in Chicago.
The son of the Dominican ambassador in Washington, D.C. is alternate ambassador in the United Kingdom mission.
The two daughters of Insurance Superintendent Euclides Gutiérrez Féliz are Alejandra Genoveva Gutiérez, in charge of visas at the Ministry of Foreign Relations, and Adria Ninoska, deputy legal counsel at the Superintendence of Insurance.
Roberto Rodríguez Marchena is the press officer for President Medina. His daughter Liliana Rodríguez Alvarez is director of the Department of Registration and Authorizations at the Superintendence of Banks.
The Superintendent of Stocks Gabriel Castro González’s son, Gregory Javier is in charge of the supervision and controls at the Ministry of Public Works, and his daughter, Milagros Casto is counselor minister at the Dominican embassy in Portugal.
The three offspring of Ramón Núñez Ramírez, a member of the Monetary Board, are employed in government. These are Ramón Núñez Fernández, journalist at Indotel; Ana Patricia Núñez, technical coordinator at the Central Bank and Alfredo José Núñez, deputy director of the office of planning and development at the Superintendence of Banks.
The two sons of the president of the Chamber of Deputies Radhamés Camacho are government officers. Guilver Radhamés Camacho works in the control and monitoring department at Indotel and José Ernesto Camacho is in the legal department of the Ministry of Industry & Commerce.
The son in law of President Danilo Medina, Angel Eduardo Contreras Ojén, is director general in charge of risk and studies at the Superintendence of Banks.
The son of Julio César Castaños Guzmán, president of the Central Electoral Board (JCE), Julio Cesar Castaños Zouain works as deputy director at the National Elections Department. Another son, Julio Simón is Dominican ambassador in Switzerland.
All the offspring of Altagracia Graciano, a judge at the JCE, work in government. These are Vanesa Mercedes Graciano who is supervisor of IDs for the board in the Italian city of Milan, Carlos Andrés, who is supervisor of human resources at the Customs Agency and Juan Manuel, who is counselor minister for the UN mission in New York.
https://n.com.do/2019/08/01/hijos-de-funcionarios-al-relevo-en-la-administracion-publica/
Juan Bosch’s publications declared “Dominican Cultural Heritage”
President Danilo Medina signed the law that establishes that the literary works of former President Juan Bosch are now part of the “Cultural Documental Heritage of the Dominican Nation.”
Juan Bosch was a noted writer and political leader way before he became the first freely elected President of the Dominican Republic after the assassination of Rafael Trujillo in 1961. He founded the PRD party (1939) as well as the PLD party (1973).
Bosch died on 1 November 2001 at the age of 92 after a long illness that kept him on the sidelines during the 1990s.
https://www.diariolibre.com/revista...tural-obra-literaria-de-juan-bosch-MG13626309
Digesett investigates fake traffic violations
Many people in the Dominican Republic have gone to renew their IDs, passports or driver licenses only to be told: “We cannot renew your document because you have 10 or 15 outstanding traffic violations!”
Now, the head of the regional office in La Romana, and the director for San Pedro de Macorís, both a part of the Ground Transportation Safety Agency (Digesett) is under investigation for assigning what most of know as “ticket quotas” to their agents. These then are forced to randomly note license plate numbers for non-existent traffic violations to meet the quotas.
Officers in Santiago, La Vega, San Francisco de Macorís and San Cristóbal are also under investigation.
The Internal Affairs Division of Digesett began the investigation when they learned that superiors were assigning quotas of traffic violations of 10 or 15 per day to their agents in the streets. In La Romana, reportedly Digesett agents would just fill out traffic violations using the cédula (ID) number of random persons. Every complaint of unwarranted traffic violations is being looked at by the Department of Attention to the Citizenry. Some are investigated and some are sent to Traffic Court.
https://elnacional.com.do/indagan-coroneles-caso-multas-falsas-agentes-de-digesett/
Recent plagiarism scandal among doctors is not an isolated case
A recent call for curriculums to create regional medical commissions that would determine the degree of disability of Social Security recipients revealed a near-total use of plagiarized sent in by applicants. Only 60 of all of the submissions passed the test as original work and 98.8% of 5,000 applications were plagiarized.
The Attorney General of the Republic told journalists that there was sufficient evidence of alterations to documents. Social Security expert Arismendi Díaz Santana told reporters that this was not an isolated case. He described the incident as part of a “mafia network” that offers services from pseudo-scientific articles to bulk up a resumé to complete thesis for Masters and Doctoral degrees.
Díaz Santana called for the punishment of the persons who forged documents. He said that this practice constitutes a very lucrative business, which allows people to win coveted positions in residencies, sometimes “without even trying.” He said the country is facing a new case of corruption and impunity, that of medical graduates who are supposedly to be trusted by the public. He called for serious punishments.
https://elnacional.com.do/afirma-caso-plagio-medicos-no-es-hecho-aislado/
Scandal in Montecristi: Planting drugs in businesses for extortion?
A video went viral over the weekend showing National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) agents allegedly planting drugs during an inspection in the El Mana barbershop on Guillermo Mauri Street in Villa Vasquez, in northwestern Montecristi.
The video shows when a person who was getting a haircut receives a call and then drops a matchbox with marihuana that would be “found” by the drug control agents. It also shows DNCD agents throwing drug packets in the garbage cans of the barbershop.
The video was shared online by the owner of the barbershop in his defense. The video shows how the agents changed their attitude once they learned surveillance cameras were filming. The agents demanded the owner turn in the video taken of the inspection.
People in Montecristi signal out the agents acted in cooperation with the provincial prosecutor Carmen Lisset Núñez Peña. The video shows she arrived minutes after the drug were planted in the barbershop to take part in the inspection operation.
A subsequent DNCD press note explained that no one was arrested at the barbershop. The note said the agents acted with the coordination of adjunct prosecutor for Montecristi, Núñez Peña. The raid was carried out following the order of judge Javierca Antonia Núñez of Montecristi.
The narrator of the video says that the prosecutor is known to have extorted individuals and business owners before. This is the first time her actions are captured on video, with evidence of the action presented, said the narrator.
On Saturday evening, 3 August 2019, the DNCD announced the suspension of all working at the Villa Vasquez DNCD station for investigation.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...-fiscal-capturados-poniendo-drogas-KH13639452
https://www.cdn.com.do/2019/08/03/v...l-habrian-colocado-drogas-jovenes-peluqueria/
https://hoy.com.do/video-todo-lo-qu...d-supuestamente-colocan-drogas-en-peluqueria/
https://acento.com.do/2019/actualid...montecristi-por-colocar-drogas-en-peluqueria/
David Ortiz moves his golf benefit to near his home in Florida
Organizers of the David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic announced the event this year will be held 21-24 November 2019 at the Hotel Ritz-Carlton in Key Biscayne, near Ortiz’s Florida home. Ortiz is recovering from a bullet wound suffered on 9 June in eastern Santo Domingo. He was sent home from the Massachusetts General Hospital on 26 July. Local police say the case was one of mistaken identity.
Organizers explain that due to Big Papi's ongoing treatment and an expected long road to recovery, the David Ortiz Children's Fund will be holding its annual David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic in a new temporary location for 2019 - in Miami, Florida, close to David’s home.
The David Ortiz Foundation says that Ortiz has set an ambitious goal for this year’s event– to raise US$2M to create the only pediatric catheterization lab in the DR. It explains that over 2,000 children are born each year in the Dominican Republic with congenital heart disease, and without surgery, about 25% will die. Before they can have that surgery, the majority of these children require catheterization – having a long thin tube inserted into an artery that runs to their heart. There is not a cath lab available to them at present, and many children have died as a result.
https://www.davidortizchildrensfund.org/12th-annual-david-ortiz-celebrity-golf-classic/
Gold in boxing in Pan Am
Dominican boxer Rodrigo Marte de la Rosa defeated the match favorite, former Cuban world champion Yosvany Veitía in the 52 kg event. The judges gave him a 4-1 decision and he thus won the country’s fourth gold medal in the Lima Pan American Games. His teammates Leonel de los Santos and Rohan Polanco won silver. Other DR gold medalists are Beatriz Pirón in weightlifting, Roberto Pigozzi in water skiing, Audrys Nin Reyes in gymnastics.
The only other Dominican boxers to win gold in the Pan Am Games are Joan Guzmán in 1995 and Juan Ubaldo Cabrera in 2003.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/08...-oro-en-boxeo-tras-vencer-al-favorito-cubano/
https://listindiario.com/el-deporte/2019/08/02/576590/marte-supero-lesion-para-obtener-el-oro
https://www.lima2019.pe/en/results
DR loses bronze medal to USA in Pan Am Games basketball
The Dominican Republic men’s basketball team lost 92-83 to Team USA in the game for the bronze medal in the Lima, Peru Pan Am Games. The DR had made the semifinals by defeating Mexico (65-61) and Uruguay (83-57), while losing to Puerto Rico (63-85) and Argentina (97-102).
As of Sunday, 4 August 2019, the Dominican Republic was in 10th place in the Pan Am Games with nine medals -- four gold, six silver and nine bronze medals. Medals were won in weightlifting (6), boxing (6), taekwondo (2), water skiing (1), gymnastics (1), basketball 3 x 3 (2) and bowling (1).
https://www.lima2019.pe/en
Copardom going ahead to reclassify enterprises with or without the unions
UAE seeks DR vote to elect its candidate to preside the ICAO Council
Reptiles and exotic birds confiscated in San Cristobal
Ministry of Education: 75% of public school students are in all-day school programs
80% public school teachers fail job test
Santo Domingo campaigns to be named City of Music
China aims to increase its footprint in the DR
Few mothers breastfeed in the DR
Marcha Verde wants to hear from Gonzalo Castillo on Odebrecht
Small political parties could influence the outcome of elections
Offspring of government officers get good jobs in government
Juan Bosch’s publications declared “Dominican Cultural Heritage”
Digesett investigates fake traffic violations
Recent plagiarism scandal among doctors is not an isolated case
Scandal in Montecristi: Planting drugs in businesses for extortion?
David Ortiz moves his golf benefit to near his home in Florida
Gold in boxing in Pan Am
DR loses bronze medal to USA in Pan Am Games basketball
Presidency issues ruling to start tax plan for small business
Small business got a break. Decree 265-19 contains the ruling for the Simplified Tax Regime (Regimen Simplificado de Tributación) that applies to individuals and companies with no more than RD$8.7 million in sales. Individuals and companies that purchase inventory and inputs for RD$40 million or less a year are also included in the tax scheme.
The new procedure exempts individuals and companies from reporting sales to the Tax Agency (DGII). The scheme removes the requirement to pay taxes on assets related to the business, advance taxes and to declare the value-added ITBIS tax every month. Those adhering to the new system will be allowed to pay income tax in a single payment.
DGII director, Magín Díaz said the DGII says the plan was created to encourage all micro and small business to go legit.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...anticipo-a-pequenos-contribuyentes-KF13619650
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...utacion-rst-busca-formalizar-mas-que-recaudar
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...rea-reglamento-que-beneficiara-a-comerciantes
Copardom going ahead to reclassify businesses with or without the unions
The Dominican Management Confederation (Copardom) says they will go ahead with reclassifying companies with or without the participation of labor unions. Juan Alfredo de la Cruz, president of Copardom, criticized the labor unions for walking out of talks and refusing to address the reclassification established in Social Security Law 87-01.
The business sector had lobbied for reclassifying businesses as a condition for approving the minimum wage increase. Recently, however, the government agreed with the labor unions on a 14% increase and that reclassification talks would start in 60 days.
Now, Copardom says if unions continue to object the reclassification, they do not need to be present. De la Cruz says the reclassification is a manufacturing procedure and not a labor issue. Companies seek more flexible minimum wages.
Jacobo Ramos, president of the workers union, the CNTD (Central Nacional de Trabajadores Dominicanos), insists the reclassification would reduce wages. He said this violates the Dominican Constitution and International Labor Organization agreements signed by the country.
https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...s-se-hara-sin-centrales-sindicales-GG13625223
https://elnacional.com.do/dice-es-intolerante-la-actitud-de-copardom/
UAE seeks DR vote to elect its candidate to chair the ICAO Council
Captain Aysha al Hamili is running to chair the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations aviation agency. The Council oversees the Organization between its triennial meetings of the governing body, the Assembly. The Council also appoints ICAO's Secretary General.
Al-Hamili is the United Arab Emirates (UAE) representative to the ICAO in Montreal. She visited Santo Domingo last week. She defined her visit as one of courtesy. She is the first female pilot of Emirates, the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates. During her visit, she met with top aviation officials.
The election of the president of the 36-member Council will take place during the ICAO Assembly set from 24 September to 4 October 2019. Reportedly, Al-Hamili’s leading contender is Salvatore Sciacchitano, head of the Italian delegation at ICAO.
In Santo Domingo, Al-Hamili met with Alejandro Herrera of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC). Herrera said that Al-Hamili recognized the leadership of the Dominican Republic in aviation matters and the prestige gained for the country’s compliance of international standards. He expressed his hope that whoever wins the ICAO election will maintain such a positive attitude to the Dominican Republic.
During her visit, Al-Hamili also met with Luis Ernesto Camilo, president of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC); Marino Collante, director of the Airport Department; Air Force Brigade General Aracenis Castillo of the Specialized Corps for Airport Security and Civil Aviation (CESAC), among others.
It is the second time that Al-Hamili visits the Dominican Republic. She was here in 2018 for the 18th meeting of the Regional Planning and Implementation Group (CAR/SAM (GREPECAS/18).
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/08...al-hamili-esta-en-rd-visita-al-director-idac/
https://gulfbusiness.com/uae-female...iation-council-pledges-neutrality-qatar-rift/
Reptiles and exotic birds confiscated in San Cristobal
Government environment prosecutors and law enforcement agents seized more than 20 reptiles and exotic birds kept at a tourist attraction in San Cristóbal. The critters were held captive without the corresponding permits. A crocodile, five flamencos, 13 snapping turtles and a tortoise were seized and sent to the National Zoo. Experts from the Zoo participated in the operation.
The owner of the property, Jose Mesa Araujo, was ordered to appear before the San Cristóbal Specialized Prosecutor Office for Environment in San Cristóbal.
The day after this news was in the press, the International Union for Natural Conservation (UICN), together with the Ministry of the Environment released the “Red List” of those species in danger of extinction. The Ministry’s Resolution 0017-2019 contains a long list of both sea creatures such as crocodiles, starfish, sea cucumbers many varieties of fish, and land creatures, including tarantulas, all snake species on the island, frogs and toads, tortoises, turtles and snapping turtles, almost every bird in the sky and all of the mammals on the island.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...s-de-fauna-en-peligro-de-extincion-PG13622940
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/08...xoticas-en-centro-turistico-de-san-cristobal/
Ministry of Education: 75% of public school students are in all-day school programs
Henry Santos of the Ministry of Education reports that 1.3 million students are registered in all-day public schools for the 2019-2020 school year that opens 19 August 2019. This is 75% of those enrolled in public school programs, says the Ministry, and includes 365 new schools with 1,800 classrooms connected to the Cloud for Internet-based learning programs.
The Ministry announced that it will be delivering upwards of 300,000 notebooks to public school students as part of the República Digital Educación Internet-learning program. Twenty-five thousand public teachers will receive laptops as part of the same program.
Likewise, Santos said that students will benefit from free bus service, especially those that live in rural areas.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/08/02/panorama/pais/la-tanda-extendida-alcanza-al-75/
80% public school teachers fail job test
Of 49,566 teachers who took the test for positions in the 2019-2020 public schools, only 11,855 persons passed, or around 23.92%. The Dominican Association of Public School Teachers had protested the test, saying it was not appropriate to the country.
The Ministry changed the test. The second testing is taking place on Monday, 5 August 2019, as part of the process to fill 10,700 slots for public school teachers directors and school guidance councilors and psychologists. Candidates passing Monday’s test will be interviewed.
Ministry officials said that candidates from the Bahoruco school district had the highest percentages of passes at 36.20% of the 1,496 candidates. Mao, Valverde province, scored the second-highest pass rate with 30.41% of the 1,369 persons who took the test.
At the beginning of the testing, Xiomara Guante, the ADP president, complained about a series of “irregularities” in the test. She argued these caused some areas to have a 0% pass rate, others a 2% pass rate and still others a 10% pass rate.
This massive setback caused the whole process to be delayed a week and restarted under “the most strict transparency and adherence to the norms agreed to by the Ministry and the ADP.”
This was the first year that persons with some disabilities were allowed to take the same tests, and they scored very well. 75% of the 18 persons with visual or physical disabilities passed the test.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...o-el-concurso-de-oposicion-docente-FF13616164
https://eldia.com.do/solo-el-23-92-de-profesores-aprobo-concurso-de-oposicion-docente/
https://z101digital.com/casi-el-80-de-los-maestros-reprobo-el-concurso-de-oposicion-docente/
https://hoy.com.do/la-adp-califico-injusto-el-concurso-de-oposicion/
Santo Domingo campaigns to be named City of Music
Santo Domingo has applied to be a UNESCO City of Music. The program is part of the more comprehensive Creative Cities Network. Music is known to unify all in the Dominican Republic. The UNESCO vote will be in November 2019. The last time cities were designated was in 2017.
The designated UNESCO Cities of Music are required to have these characteristics:
Recognized centers of musical creation and activity
Experience in hosting music festivals and events at a national or international level
Promotion of the music industry in all its forms
Music schools, conservatories, academies and higher education institutions specialized in music
Informal structures for music education, including amateur choirs and orchestras
Domestic or international platforms dedicated to particular genres of music
Cultural spaces suited for practicing and listening to music, such as open-air auditorium.
There are 31 Cities of Music. In the Americas there is Kansas City, USA; Morelia, Mexico; Bogotá and Medellín, Colombia; Frutillar, Chile; Salvador, Brazil and Kingston, Jamaica. Other cities that have received the designation are Seville in Spain, Bologna in Italy, Liverpool in England, Auckland in New Zealand, and Varanasi in India.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) is a project of UNESCO launched in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities that recognize creativity as a major factor in their urban development.
https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/home
https://citiesofmusic.net/
China seeks to increase its footprint in DR
A report in Business Americas looks into what the Dominican Republic has to show for its new diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. At the time of switching from Taiwan to China in May 2018, Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas had announced the country could expect up to US$3 billion in financing.
Business Americas says the country received a US$600 million loan in November 2018 to expand and improve the national electricity grid. It also mentioned that the state-owned construction firm, China Civil Engineering Construction (CCECC) has opened an office in Santo Domingo. There is talk of building the northeastern Dominican Republic-Haiti railway.
CCECC is reportedly also eyeing other initiatives such as the modernization of the Arroyo Barril port in Samaná, building the Alto Yuna dam and a power plant at the Boba-Baguí rivers, as well as an airport near San Francisco de Macorís, among others.
The Business Americas report also looks into what Jamaica and Trinidad have gotten from the Chinese.
https://www.bnamericas.com/en/features/spotlight-chinas-footprint-in-caribbean-infrastructure
Few mothers breastfeed in the DR
On occasion of the World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August 2019), public health officials are sharing some grim health statistics. Only 4 out of 10 babies breastfeed in their first hour of life in the Dominican Republic. Those that are not breastfed two to 23 hours after being born have 33% more probability of dying.
Even worse, only seven out of 100 mothers exclusively breastfeed. That is around 14,000 out of 200,000 births in the country, according to the deputy director of the National Health Network Support, Victor Calderon.
A report by UNICEF says that there is little orientation for new mothers in many health centers. Moreso, the obsolete practice of separating mother and baby at birth continues. The Dominican Republic also has a high cesarean section birthrate. In 2018, four out of 10 births in public hospitals were by C-section, and nine out of every 10 in private hospitals, according to data from the National Health Service (SNS). It may take longer for mother’s milk to come in cases of C-section compared to vaginal delivery.
Moreso, formula manufacturers distribute their products free at the hospitals to motivate future sales. Adding to the reasons for low breastfeeding is the large number of births to teenage mothers.
Dr. Calderón says that maternal deaths are 15% less among babies breastfed exclusively than among those fed formula. He stressed mother’s milk reduces diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems in newborns. He said babies that are not breastfed are more likely to suffer from obesity, diabetes and have lower immunity.
Years back, doctors emphasized that exclusive breastfeeding should be at least for the six first months of a baby.
https://eldia.com.do/pocas-madres-dan-lactancia-absoluta/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/10...s-donde-se-realizan-mas-cesareas-en-el-mundo/
Marcha Verde wants to hear from Gonzalo Castillo on Odebrecht
The anti-impunity civic movement, Green March announced it backs the request for the Chamber of Deputies to question resigning Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo on his management at the Ministry of Public Works.
Castillo resigned the position on 1 August 2019 to dedicate himself to campaign for the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) presidential nomination. The ruling party will choose the candidate in the 6 October 2019 primary. The PLD leadership decided that the party primary be open to the vote of any eligible voter in the Dominican Republic.
Marcha Verde directors want to hear from the former government officer on six public works carried out by the Brazilian company, Odebrecht under his administration. The group says that addendums were added to the budgets for more than US$100 million that doubled the cost of these contracts. Dominican law allows contracts to be increased up to 25%.
On 25 June 2019, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalism released new findings on suspect cash for contracts payments made by the Structured Bribery Division that operated in the Dominican Republic. On the new list are the six public works that were carried out under the management of former Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo. These are the Miches-Sabana de la Mar road, the Touristic Boulevard in Punta Cana, the expansion of the San Pedro de Macorís highway, the Coral highway, the Cibao Sur highway and the Ecovía in Santiago.
In the Dominican Republic, ICIJ member, Alicia Ortega released the findings.
https://eldia.com.do/la-marcha-verde-apoya-interpelar-a-gonzalo-castillo/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnKdwdJYwEs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wup_X70fA_I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQdqFWkLb8E
Small political parties could influence the outcome of elections
Polls say none of the presidential aspirants have the 50%+ 1 of the vote needed to win in a third round. 40% of the vote is in the 18 to 35-year old age bracket and most of these define themselves as independents. Political analysts say the outcome of the 2020 general election is unknown at this time. Political parties of all sizes are maneuvering to play their best cards to capture the independent vote and hang on to traditional voters at the same time.
For instance, the long-time allies of the ruling PLD party, the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) and the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) are struggling to hang on to their anchors in the majority parties in order not to lose their status.
The PRD that backed President Danilo Medina for President in 2016 election obtained 270,450 votes for 5.86% in that election at the presidential level. The PRSC received 259,396 for 5.62%. The PRSC allied with the PRM for the winning candidacy of David Collado for Mayor of the National District.
PRD president Miguel Vargas in early July stated that his vote was for the reelection of President Danilo Medina or the party would run alone. When Medina announced on 22 July 2019 that would not run in 2020, Vargas was left with the decision to run for President himself. The PRD now is in a wait and see stand to see where next to move. Vargas is optimistic the party will need to be reckoned with. “What I assure you is that in 2020, or we will be government or we will decide who the next President of the Republic will be,” Vargas recently told his followers in an event on Wednesday, 31 July.
The ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) is divided mainly between followers of President Danilo Medina and those of former President Leonel Fernandez. Seven alternative party members are campaigning to get the backing of President Medina when the party primary takes place on 6 October 2019. None of these have reached more than 2% in the recent polls. The candidates also need the vote of the Central Committee that is controlled by the faction that backs President Danilo Medina. This year, any eligible voter can vote in that primary, regardless of whether the person is a registered PLD member.
Meanwhile, the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) is preparing for its primary on the same 6 October 2019. Only members registered with the PRM can vote in that primary. Their member vote count is a universe of 1.3 million possible voters. The pre-candidates are Luis Abinader, Winston Arnaud and former President Hipólito Mejía.
Other political parties have until 27 October 2019 to choose their presidential candidates by assembly polls or other authorized methods.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...-en-las-primarias-abiertas-del-pld-EF13616147
Offspring of government officers get good jobs in government
If your parents have good jobs in government, there is good chance you will, too. The recent appointment of economist Juan Ariel Jiménez at 35 years old as Minister of Economy is evidence of this. Previously, Jiménez had served as vice minister of the Presidency. His brother Juan Ernesto Jiménez is a high-ranking officer at the Superintendence of Stocks. His father is a long-time government employee, who at present is the president of the Dominican Petroleum Refinery.
In the report in N Digital features other offspring of well known PLD politicians that are named to very well paid jobs in government. This is Nelson José Guillén Bello, today president of the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel). He is the son of the mayor of San Cristóbal, Nelson Guillén.
The daughter of resigning Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo is vice-consul in Chicago.
The son of the Dominican ambassador in Washington, D.C. is alternate ambassador in the United Kingdom mission.
The two daughters of Insurance Superintendent Euclides Gutiérrez Féliz are Alejandra Genoveva Gutiérez, in charge of visas at the Ministry of Foreign Relations, and Adria Ninoska, deputy legal counsel at the Superintendence of Insurance.
Roberto Rodríguez Marchena is the press officer for President Medina. His daughter Liliana Rodríguez Alvarez is director of the Department of Registration and Authorizations at the Superintendence of Banks.
The Superintendent of Stocks Gabriel Castro González’s son, Gregory Javier is in charge of the supervision and controls at the Ministry of Public Works, and his daughter, Milagros Casto is counselor minister at the Dominican embassy in Portugal.
The three offspring of Ramón Núñez Ramírez, a member of the Monetary Board, are employed in government. These are Ramón Núñez Fernández, journalist at Indotel; Ana Patricia Núñez, technical coordinator at the Central Bank and Alfredo José Núñez, deputy director of the office of planning and development at the Superintendence of Banks.
The two sons of the president of the Chamber of Deputies Radhamés Camacho are government officers. Guilver Radhamés Camacho works in the control and monitoring department at Indotel and José Ernesto Camacho is in the legal department of the Ministry of Industry & Commerce.
The son in law of President Danilo Medina, Angel Eduardo Contreras Ojén, is director general in charge of risk and studies at the Superintendence of Banks.
The son of Julio César Castaños Guzmán, president of the Central Electoral Board (JCE), Julio Cesar Castaños Zouain works as deputy director at the National Elections Department. Another son, Julio Simón is Dominican ambassador in Switzerland.
All the offspring of Altagracia Graciano, a judge at the JCE, work in government. These are Vanesa Mercedes Graciano who is supervisor of IDs for the board in the Italian city of Milan, Carlos Andrés, who is supervisor of human resources at the Customs Agency and Juan Manuel, who is counselor minister for the UN mission in New York.
https://n.com.do/2019/08/01/hijos-de-funcionarios-al-relevo-en-la-administracion-publica/
Juan Bosch’s publications declared “Dominican Cultural Heritage”
President Danilo Medina signed the law that establishes that the literary works of former President Juan Bosch are now part of the “Cultural Documental Heritage of the Dominican Nation.”
Juan Bosch was a noted writer and political leader way before he became the first freely elected President of the Dominican Republic after the assassination of Rafael Trujillo in 1961. He founded the PRD party (1939) as well as the PLD party (1973).
Bosch died on 1 November 2001 at the age of 92 after a long illness that kept him on the sidelines during the 1990s.
https://www.diariolibre.com/revista...tural-obra-literaria-de-juan-bosch-MG13626309
Digesett investigates fake traffic violations
Many people in the Dominican Republic have gone to renew their IDs, passports or driver licenses only to be told: “We cannot renew your document because you have 10 or 15 outstanding traffic violations!”
Now, the head of the regional office in La Romana, and the director for San Pedro de Macorís, both a part of the Ground Transportation Safety Agency (Digesett) is under investigation for assigning what most of know as “ticket quotas” to their agents. These then are forced to randomly note license plate numbers for non-existent traffic violations to meet the quotas.
Officers in Santiago, La Vega, San Francisco de Macorís and San Cristóbal are also under investigation.
The Internal Affairs Division of Digesett began the investigation when they learned that superiors were assigning quotas of traffic violations of 10 or 15 per day to their agents in the streets. In La Romana, reportedly Digesett agents would just fill out traffic violations using the cédula (ID) number of random persons. Every complaint of unwarranted traffic violations is being looked at by the Department of Attention to the Citizenry. Some are investigated and some are sent to Traffic Court.
https://elnacional.com.do/indagan-coroneles-caso-multas-falsas-agentes-de-digesett/
Recent plagiarism scandal among doctors is not an isolated case
A recent call for curriculums to create regional medical commissions that would determine the degree of disability of Social Security recipients revealed a near-total use of plagiarized sent in by applicants. Only 60 of all of the submissions passed the test as original work and 98.8% of 5,000 applications were plagiarized.
The Attorney General of the Republic told journalists that there was sufficient evidence of alterations to documents. Social Security expert Arismendi Díaz Santana told reporters that this was not an isolated case. He described the incident as part of a “mafia network” that offers services from pseudo-scientific articles to bulk up a resumé to complete thesis for Masters and Doctoral degrees.
Díaz Santana called for the punishment of the persons who forged documents. He said that this practice constitutes a very lucrative business, which allows people to win coveted positions in residencies, sometimes “without even trying.” He said the country is facing a new case of corruption and impunity, that of medical graduates who are supposedly to be trusted by the public. He called for serious punishments.
https://elnacional.com.do/afirma-caso-plagio-medicos-no-es-hecho-aislado/
Scandal in Montecristi: Planting drugs in businesses for extortion?
A video went viral over the weekend showing National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) agents allegedly planting drugs during an inspection in the El Mana barbershop on Guillermo Mauri Street in Villa Vasquez, in northwestern Montecristi.
The video shows when a person who was getting a haircut receives a call and then drops a matchbox with marihuana that would be “found” by the drug control agents. It also shows DNCD agents throwing drug packets in the garbage cans of the barbershop.
The video was shared online by the owner of the barbershop in his defense. The video shows how the agents changed their attitude once they learned surveillance cameras were filming. The agents demanded the owner turn in the video taken of the inspection.
People in Montecristi signal out the agents acted in cooperation with the provincial prosecutor Carmen Lisset Núñez Peña. The video shows she arrived minutes after the drug were planted in the barbershop to take part in the inspection operation.
A subsequent DNCD press note explained that no one was arrested at the barbershop. The note said the agents acted with the coordination of adjunct prosecutor for Montecristi, Núñez Peña. The raid was carried out following the order of judge Javierca Antonia Núñez of Montecristi.
The narrator of the video says that the prosecutor is known to have extorted individuals and business owners before. This is the first time her actions are captured on video, with evidence of the action presented, said the narrator.
On Saturday evening, 3 August 2019, the DNCD announced the suspension of all working at the Villa Vasquez DNCD station for investigation.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...-fiscal-capturados-poniendo-drogas-KH13639452
https://www.cdn.com.do/2019/08/03/v...l-habrian-colocado-drogas-jovenes-peluqueria/
https://hoy.com.do/video-todo-lo-qu...d-supuestamente-colocan-drogas-en-peluqueria/
https://acento.com.do/2019/actualid...montecristi-por-colocar-drogas-en-peluqueria/
David Ortiz moves his golf benefit to near his home in Florida
Organizers of the David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic announced the event this year will be held 21-24 November 2019 at the Hotel Ritz-Carlton in Key Biscayne, near Ortiz’s Florida home. Ortiz is recovering from a bullet wound suffered on 9 June in eastern Santo Domingo. He was sent home from the Massachusetts General Hospital on 26 July. Local police say the case was one of mistaken identity.
Organizers explain that due to Big Papi's ongoing treatment and an expected long road to recovery, the David Ortiz Children's Fund will be holding its annual David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic in a new temporary location for 2019 - in Miami, Florida, close to David’s home.
The David Ortiz Foundation says that Ortiz has set an ambitious goal for this year’s event– to raise US$2M to create the only pediatric catheterization lab in the DR. It explains that over 2,000 children are born each year in the Dominican Republic with congenital heart disease, and without surgery, about 25% will die. Before they can have that surgery, the majority of these children require catheterization – having a long thin tube inserted into an artery that runs to their heart. There is not a cath lab available to them at present, and many children have died as a result.
https://www.davidortizchildrensfund.org/12th-annual-david-ortiz-celebrity-golf-classic/
Gold in boxing in Pan Am
Dominican boxer Rodrigo Marte de la Rosa defeated the match favorite, former Cuban world champion Yosvany Veitía in the 52 kg event. The judges gave him a 4-1 decision and he thus won the country’s fourth gold medal in the Lima Pan American Games. His teammates Leonel de los Santos and Rohan Polanco won silver. Other DR gold medalists are Beatriz Pirón in weightlifting, Roberto Pigozzi in water skiing, Audrys Nin Reyes in gymnastics.
The only other Dominican boxers to win gold in the Pan Am Games are Joan Guzmán in 1995 and Juan Ubaldo Cabrera in 2003.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/08...-oro-en-boxeo-tras-vencer-al-favorito-cubano/
https://listindiario.com/el-deporte/2019/08/02/576590/marte-supero-lesion-para-obtener-el-oro
https://www.lima2019.pe/en/results
DR loses bronze medal to USA in Pan Am Games basketball
The Dominican Republic men’s basketball team lost 92-83 to Team USA in the game for the bronze medal in the Lima, Peru Pan Am Games. The DR had made the semifinals by defeating Mexico (65-61) and Uruguay (83-57), while losing to Puerto Rico (63-85) and Argentina (97-102).
As of Sunday, 4 August 2019, the Dominican Republic was in 10th place in the Pan Am Games with nine medals -- four gold, six silver and nine bronze medals. Medals were won in weightlifting (6), boxing (6), taekwondo (2), water skiing (1), gymnastics (1), basketball 3 x 3 (2) and bowling (1).
https://www.lima2019.pe/en
Last edited: