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Constitutional Court rules on expropriations
Constitutional Court: Do not add deputy votes to senators
TSE: 20% candidates reserve applies to all vote levels
Margarita Cedeño left out, PLD registers 11 pre-candidates
Will Fernández step aside for party unity?
Miguel Vargas says PRD will use a polling company to choose its presidential candidate
PRSC names Quique Antún as their candidate
Japan helps improve the quality of vocational training in the DR
DNCD announces agents will wear mini cameras in their uniforms
Update on the Villa Vásquez barbershop drug planting case
Gold in Pan Am Games: Estefanía Soriano and Wander Mateo
Women's volleyball team wins the gold in Lima Pan Am
Juander Santos slips on the last hurdle, loses gold
DR wins three gold in Pan Am karate competition
DR places 10th in medals in the Pan Am Games
Dominican team to the FIBA World Cup in China
National Symphony season begins 14 August
Samaná celebrates coconut and fish gastronomic festival
Constitutional Court rules on expropriations
The Constitutional Court (TC) set new jurisprudence in matters of expropriation of property by the state in Ruling TC/0224/19. The ruling could mean that property owners could begin recourses to obtain what they consider due compensation for their property expropriated by the state.
https://hoy.com.do/el-tribunal-constitucional-y-la-expropiacion-irregular/
https://www.tribunalconstitucional.gob.do/consultas/secretaría/sentencias/tc022419/
Constitutional Court: Do not add deputy votes to senators
The Constitutional Court (TC) says the interpretation by the Central Electoral Board (JCE) of the Preferential Vote Law 157-13 violates the 2015 Constitution. The Constitutional Court ruling means that voters can now vote separately for all senators and deputies in the 17 May 2019 congressional election. The JCE had previously ordered that only voters in 26 provinces could do so. In Santo Domingo, Santiago, La Vega, Puerto Plata, San Cristóbal and the National District, the votes cast for deputies would have been allocated to the senator.
The ruling needs to be published by the Constitutional Court for it to be final. The schedule for the publishing of the verdict is Monday, 12 August 2019.
Javier Cabreja, former executive director of the civic watch group Participación Ciudadana (Citizen Participation), called the ruling "a transcendental decision." He was interviewed for the La Cuestión radio talk show on La Super 7FM. He expects the quality of congressional candidates to step up now that these will be more accountable. Senators will no longer be able to ride on the wave of deputy popularity. He highlighted that legislative candidates are less likely to be imposed by political agreements to the convenience of party echelons.
Cabreja explained the decision revokes the "political package" voters were being served. By voting for one person of his choice, the voter got the deputy, but also the senator, national deputy, and the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) deputy of the same party. He said very few voters were aware of this.
Cabreja only lamented that the Constitutional Court had taken so long for the ruling. It was first presented in 2014 by lawyer Angel Lockward. Cabreja said that if the Constitutional Court had decided back then, the matter never would have been an ambiguous issue in the Political Parties Law passed in 2018.
https://domiplay.net/podcast/la-cuestion-radio/super-7/13-00-2019-08-09-Fri
https://www.opd.org.do/index.php/ma...cion-jce-no-08-2019-sobre-el-voto-de-arrastre
https://www.opd.org.do/index.php/ma...partidos-agrupaciones-y-movimientos-politicos
https://www.opd.org.do/images/marco...iputados-y-diputadas-al-Congreso-Nacional.pdf
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/tc-eli...seis-provincias-donde-jce-decidio-mantenerlo/
TSE: 20% of candidates reserve applies to all vote levels
The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) ruled that the reservation of candidacies apply to all levels of the vote and not to the totality of the positions, as has been a common practice. The disposition is in TSE Ruling 27-19, which received the vote of three judges in favor and two against.
The TSE acted on a motion submitted by Fidel Alberto Tavárez of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), who disputed that his political party had handpicked the position of the senator for the province of Monte Plata. Overall, the PRM party had reserved 29 of the 32 senator candidacies for the party.
While the ruling responds to a specific case regarding the PRM, it is most likely to be applied the same to all political parties by the Central Electoral Board (JCE). It will call for a reshuffling of candidacies in the political parties.
Tavarez told El Dia that the decision sets a precedent for future party elections. "The custom of reserving the most important positions will not be part of elections in the future," he said. So far, the echelons of political parties had handpicked the candidacies, leaving the party rank to choose the less important candidacies.
The president of the TSE, Román Jáquez, had been one of the dissident votes. He said there is nothing in the law that specifies the application of the 20% reserve by the party leadership. He argued the PRM had acted this way given the short time to comply with the new electoral regulations.
El Dia reports that the number of reserves permitted per political party are now:
Senators (total 32), reserves: 6
Deputies (total 190), reserves: 38
Mayors (total 158), reserves 32
City Councilors (total 1,164), reserves 233
Municipal directors (total 235), reserves 47
Municipal members (total 735), reserves 147
As reported, the same principle applies to the quota for choosing women and youth candidates.
Participación Ciudadana civic watchdog organization praised the TSE ruling. The organization said it applies not only to the PRM, but to all the political parties in this situation. The organization understands that all parties in this situation need to send in their lists of candidates to meet the 20% requirement.
The disposition gave the PRM until 30 August to notify its list of reserved candidates in compliance with the opinion of the TSE.
The PRM appealed and the TSE ruling gave the party until Monday, 11 August, to notify the JCE and party member Fidel Alberto Tavarez on the recourse for review of the ruling. The PRM had deposited the appeal to the verdict on Thursday, 8 August.
https://theworldnews.net/do-news/tse-replantea-uso-del-20-de-las-reservas-estipulado-en-ley-partidos
https://hoy.com.do/esto-dice-partic...electoral-sobre-las-reservas-de-candidaturas/
https://www.opd.org.do/index.php/ma...partidos-agrupaciones-y-movimientos-politicos
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/de-buena-tinta/alegria-que-dura-poco-en-casa-de-pobre-BE13711202
Margarita Cedeño left out, PLD registers 11 pre-candidates
The members of the Central Committee of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) met on 10 August 2019 to choose the presidential pre-candidates that will participate in 6 October primary.
President Danilo Medina came up with a solution that was accepted by the Central Committee of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). At a time when the party electoral commission had not yet decided on the methodology to choose the aspirants to pre-candidate, the President asked for a turn at the meeting on Saturday, 10 August 2019, and proposed that the 11 that aspired be registered.
Those that will be registered on 22 August 2019 with the Central Electoral Board (JCE) are: Leonel Fernández, Reinaldo Pared Pérez, Temístocles Montás, Radhamés Segura, Carlos Amarante Baret, Gonzalo Castillo, Francisco Domínguez Brito, Andrés Navarro, Manuel Crespo, Maritza Hernández and Melanio Paredes. Notably missing from the list of pre-candidates is Vice President Margarita Cedeño. Polls had listed her as the highest-ranked in popularity after Medina and her husband, former President Leonel Fernández.
Fernández called the Saturday meeting an "example of political maturity."
The Central Committee met with a roll call of 571 members of 613 members. The meeting was held to define how the pre-candidates would be selected and to choose the presidential pre-candidates for the party.
The members of the National Electoral Commission of the PLD are: Lidio Cadet, Alejandrina Germán, Rubén Jimenez Bichara, Danilo Díaz, César Prieto, Armando García, Lupe Núñez, Robert de la Cruz, and Henry Merán.
In an editorial on Monday, 12 August 2019, executive editor of Diario Libre Adriano Miguel Tejada writes that the Saturday meeting of the PLD is proof that the opposition will have to work hard to oust the PLD from the Presidency. He speculated that the plan of those who follow Medina in the PLD is to allow Fernández to win the presidential candidacy but to secure all other key positions in Congress and the municipalities.
Diario Libre reports that another great challenge of the political party is to unify the other presidential pre-candidates under one candidacy. The pre-candidates have agreed to back the best-positioned candidate as he runs against Fernández in the 6 October 2019 primary. There is speculation that former Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo is the favorite of President Danilo Medina.
https://hoy.com.do/video-con-571-miembros-de-613-inicia-reunion-del-comite-central-del-pld/
https://n.com.do/2019/08/11/leonel-...comite-central-como-acto-de-madurez-politica/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/08...scogencia-como-precandidato-a-la-presidencia/
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/am/lecturas-de-la-reunion-del-sabado-DE13711121
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...o-con-un-mes-de-prueba-para-unidad-HH13725301
Will Fernández step aside for party unity?
A close aide of Leonel Fernández says Fernández might not run for the Presidency. A recent statement by PLD deputy Henry Merán that former President Leonel Fernández has not directly announced his presidential aspirations, could leave open the possibility that the former President might not run. He may instead back another party member for the PLD presidential candidacy in the 17 May 2020 election. Fernández would be aspiring to a fourth term in government. Merán spoke optimistically of what he described as the new harmony in the party.
He made the remarks on Hoy Mismo TV show on Channel 9 that the PLD, and gave credit to President Danilo Medina, observing that by not seeking to run in 2020, he has defined the way to preserve party unity. He expressed support for constitutional reform after the elections are defined.
https://eldia.com.do/henry-meran-af...orma-directa-sus-aspiraciones-presidenciales/
Miguel Vargas says PRD will use a polling company to choose its presidential candidate
The president of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Miguel Vargas Maldonado, announced a polling company would be hired to determine the party's presidential candidate. He did not name the company and just said it would be one of those that have registered with the Central Electoral Board (JCE).
Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas had named President Danilo Medina as the only candidate the PRD would back for President in 2020.
The PRD has been a strong ally of the PLD since party votes made possible the constitutional reform in 2015 that revoked the ban on his running for President in 2016.
https://n.com.do/2019/08/10/miguel-...a-para-definir-aspirantes-a-cargos-electivos/
PRSC names Quique Antún as their candidate
The Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) announced that Federico (Quique) Antún will be the PRSC presidential candidate in the 17 May 2020 presidential election. Antún was named during a concentration of members held at the Coliseo Carlos (Teo) Cruz in Santo Domingo.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...andidato-presidencial-para-el-2020-HH13722036
Alicia Ortega travels to Brazil to put names to Odebrecht code names
Alicia Ortega promises new revelations regarding Odebrecht cash for contract operations in the Dominican Republic. She is in Brazil participating along with the Peruvian investigative journalists and prosecutors that are delving into Odebrecht corruption in Peru.
Dominican prosecutors had turned down the opportunity to question the Brazilian prosecutors and Odebrecht executives.
Ortega is part of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists that has been reporting on Odebrecht-related corruption in the Americas.
The investigative journalism program will be aired with the new information from Brazil on Monday, 12 August at 9pm on Colorvisión, Channel 9.
https://elinformeconaliciaortega.com/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...debrecht-en-la-republica-dominicana-AF6788233
Japan helps improve the quality of vocational training in the DR
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is working closely with the National Technical Vocational Training Institute (Infotep) to train staff of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Underway is the Project to Improve the Quality and Productivity of SMEs in the Dominican Republic.
"For us, it is a satisfactory finding that the Dominican Republic has been able to systematize and make an implementation guide for this project. Not all participating countries have worked with this vision," said Gaku Funabashi, leader of a mission that came to the country to monitor the development of the plan.
Funabashi urged small business in the Dominican Republic to take advantage of the advisory facilities offered by Infotep to improve their competitiveness.
Infotep's General Director, Rafael Ovalles expressed pride in the recognition by JICA.
The process for the implementation of this project, aimed at SMEs in Santo Domingo and the northern region of the country, began in early 2017 with the sponsorship of JICA and the participation of specialists from the Center for Quality and Productivity of Costa Rica (Cecapro).
http://www.infotep.gob.do/index.php...apoyo-productividad-y-competitividad-de-pymes
DNCD announces agents will wear mini cameras in their uniforms
The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) announced a pilot program whereby agents would wear small cameras in their uniforms during their actions. The announcement comes at a time when the reputation of the institution was affected when a surveillance video showed a drug raid of a barbershop in Montecristi where agents planted drugs.
The spokesman for the DNCD, Carlos Devers said on Saturday, 10 August 2019, that the plan is first being implemented in La Vega. He said the actions will be monitored by a surveillance center in the headquarters of the institution.
"Everyone will have their portable camera on their chest or neck. Each operation will be recorded and if a camera is turned off, the agent carrying it will be suspended," he added. Devers said the plan is to suspend agents who act irregularly immediately.
Nuria Piera used her investigative news show this week to present how the Villa Vasquez raid was not an isolated occurrence in Montecristi.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...enas-camaras-en-sus-uniformes-segun-el-vocero
https://n.com.do/2019/08/11/nuria-piera-la-dncd-siembra-para-luego-cosechar/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...uez-parece-una-serie-de-television-JN13699303
Update on the Villa Vásquez barbershop drug planting case
An investigation by a commission of the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) determined the suspension and sending to the justice of five law enforcement agents that acted in a drug raid on a Villa Vásquez barbershop. The agents are Major Víctor Ignacio Encarnación, Captain Juan de Dios Heredia Martínez, Sargeant Martires Cuello Ramírez and corporal Adan Maurito Rodríguez Pichardo and Air Force recruit Juan Antonio Arias Peguero. They are accused of violating all the protocols during the raid and of planting drugs in the barbershop. The case became a trending topic after the owner of the shop uploaded a surveillance video in his defense showing the operation.
An investigation is ongoing into the participation of Montecristi prosecutor Carmen Lisset Núñez. Núñez acted in the raid on the barbershop and later resigned. There had been speculation she had left the country. The PGR said she was not allowed to leave because a routine alert had been sent to Migration.
The PGR said that the prosecutor's husband Anderson Gago Manaset was allowed to leave for New York on Monday, 5 August, after being retained for an hour in Migration. The PGR did not establish if Núñez is under arrest now. Lawyers representing the barbershop had notified the PGR that the woman would attempt to leave the country.
Núñez's lawyer says she was just at the airport to accompany her husband. She told the press that drug traffickers were trying to remove her from office. She defended her innocence.
A surveillance video showed how the law enforcement agents and the prosecutor violated all raid protocols and allegedly planted drugs to customers and in the barbershop. A youth who entered as a supposed customer for a haircut uploaded a second video explaining he acted on instructions of the prosecutor and others to plant the drugs.
The CNCD president, Navy Vice Admiral Félix Alburquerque Comprés, had at first stated the video could be a setup and the barber owner could be tried for defamation. He defended the integrity of the DNCD above all. Alburquerque also defended the Montecristi prosecutor saying: "If you see her résumé, she is a flawless prosecutor; her transparency and her actions are not in question".
https://cdn.com.do/2019/08/09/video...ida-del-pais-de-la-exfiscal-de-villa-vasquez/
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/video-...rafico-querian-que-ella-dejara-de-ser-fiscal/
https://eldia.com.do/agentes-caso-de-barberia-enviados-ante-la-justicia/
https://www.cdn.com.do/2019/08/03/v...l-habrian-colocado-drogas-jovenes-peluqueria/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...laran-contra-fiscal-y-agentes-dncd-JB13653820
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...s-quedaron-al-descubierto-en-colocacion-droga
https://n.com.do/2019/08/09/procura...or-presunta-colocacion-de-drogas-en-barberia/
https://hoy.com.do/conozca-el-curriculum-de-felix-alburquerque-el-nuevo-presidente-de-la-dncd/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...is-y-asegura-solo-fue-a-acompanar-a-su-esposo
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-narcotrafico-la-quieren-fuera-de-la-fiscalia
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...a-el-pais-esposo-de-exfiscal-de-villa-vasquez
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...s-quedaron-al-descubierto-en-colocacion-droga
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...uez-parece-una-serie-de-television-JN13699303
https://noticiassin.com/exfiscaliza...cotrafico-queria-que-yo-dejara-de-ser-fiscal/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...alo-de-la-barberia-afecto-imagen-del-gobierno
Gold in Pan Am Games: Estefanía Soriano and Wander Mateo
22-year old Estefanía Soriano won gold in the 48kg category in the judo competition of the Lima 2019 Pan Am Games on Thursday, 8 August. This is the first Pan American gold medal a Dominican athlete has won in judo. Her gold was the fifth gold medal for the Dominican Republic.
In her first interview, she said she trained, but she was surprised by winning the gold. Her first match was against Colombia, second against Chile, and her last was against a Cuban athlete. She is from Bayaguana in Monte Plata province. When she was 21, she had won the gold medal in the Central American & Caribbean Games held in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Her teammate, 29-year old Wander Mateo, won gold in his event on the next day. His gold was also a first in men's judo for the Dominican Republic. He defeated Daniel Cargnin of Brazil.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/dominicana-estefania-soriano-gana-oro-en-judo-juegos-panamericanos/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSvSiXkyZCE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOZ56yI52eA
Women's volleyball team wins the gold in Lima Pan Am
The Dominican Republic defeated Colombia in the finals of the Pan American Games held in Lima, Peru. While Colombia is ranked 30th in the world, the team competed as one of the top 10 in the world. The Dominican Republic is ranked 9th by FIVB.
The mastery of the "Queens of the Caribbean" prevailed, and the Dominican women's team won 3-1. The score was 25-20, 19-25, 25-23 and 25-16. Bethania de la Cruz was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
To reach the finals against Colombia, Team DR had defeated Argentina 3-1 (25-18, 28-26, 25-13, 25-21). In the preliminary round against home country Peru, on 9 August, the DR won 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-17) at the Multisport Complex El Callao in Lima, Peru.
The Dominican team has already defeated Colombia in the preliminary match 3-1 on 7 August, with scores of 26-24, 27-25, 22-25, 27-25.
This was only the second time that the Dominican Republic had played the gold medal match at the Pan Am Games. The first time being against Cuba, a match the country won in the 2003 Pan Am Games played in Santo Domingo.
http://www.norceca.net/Dominican Republic Lima 2019 Pan American Champion.htm
http://www.norceca.net/Bethania De La Cruz the Most Valuable Player of Lima 2019 Pan Am Games.htm
http://www.norceca.net/Dominicans defeat resilient Colombia in Pan Am Games debut.htm
http://www.norceca.net/Dominicans defeat Argentina to face Colombia in Lima 2019 title match.htm
https://listindiario.com/el-deporte...a-y-van-este-domingo-por-el-oro-ante-colombia
Juander Santos slips on the last hurdle, loses gold
The Dominican Republic's Juander Santos was on course for gold when he entered the final 100m with a clear advantage in the men's 400m hurdles final. The pressure seemed to have gotten to him on the final hurdle when he sprawled across the track. The 24-year old is the younger brother of Olympic silver medalist Luguelín Santos.
Fellow team member Yancarlos Martínez won bronze in the 200 m.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqtfz8uBnuA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f27qZ-T6i7w
DR wins three gold in Pan Am karate competition
Karate athletes Tanya Rodríguez and Pamela Rodríguez delivered gold for the Dominican Republic on the final day of the Pan Am Games. Tanya was the winner of the -68 kg category facing Chilean Susana Li. Pamela defeated Venezuelan Omaira Molina in the +68kg category.
Karate was the sport to add the most gold medals. Earlier, the country won gold in Kata, with Maria Dimitrova, Franchel Velásquez and Sasha Serena Rodríguez.[KR1] The women gave a lecture in balance, synchronicity, coordination, technique, innovation and strength in their gold-winning event.
María Dimitrova had won the silver medal in her solo event.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/rd-gan...gos-panamericanos-lima-2019-suma-27-en-total/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOZ56yI52eA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBxH8GdDGfM
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/rd-gan...gos-panamericanos-lima-2019-suma-27-en-total/
DR places 10th in medals in the Pan Am Games
The Dominican Republic ended its participation in the Lima, Peru Pan American Games with a medal count of 40, including 10 gold, 13 silver and 17 bronze. This is the second-best participation of the country in a Pan American Games. The best was in 2003, when Santo Domingo was the host. Back then, the Dominican team won 41 medals, including 10 gold, 12 silver and 19 bronze. In Toronto 2015, the country had won 24 medals, including three gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze.
The gold medal winners for the Dominican Republic in the 2019 Pan Am Games were:
Beatriz Pirón, weightlifting
Robert Pigozzi, water skiing
Audrys Nin Reyes, gymnastics,
Rodrigo Marte, boxing
Estefanía Soriano and Wander Mateo, judo
María Dimitrova, Sacha Rodríguez, Francher Velázquez (team medal), and Tanya Rodríguez and Pamela Rodríguez in karate
Dominican women's volleyball team
https://www.lima2019.pe/en
Dominican team to the FIBA World Cup in China
Melvin López, Néstor García, Rafael Uribe, Francisco García and Eduardo Najri, directors of the men's national basketball team, announced the 17-men roster of Team DR to the FIVB World Cup in China at the end of this month. The team members are: Gelvis Solano, Edgar Sosa, Ronald Ramón, Adris De León, Víctor Liz, Rigoberto Mendoza and Jean Montero, Juan Miguel Suero, Luis David Montero, Dagoberto Peña , Sadiel Rojas, Ronald Roberts Jr., Eulis Báez, Juan José García, Eloy Vargas, Jhonatan Araujo and Luis Santos. Francisco García is the general manager.
Top world-ranked Dominican team players, Al Horford, Karl-Anthony Towns and Angel Delgado, turned down playing this time.
https://listindiario.com/el-deporte/2019/08/09/577489/dominicana-tiene-a-hombres-no-nombres
National Symphony season begins 14 August
National Symphony Orchestra season opens with a concert on Wednesday, 14 August 2019 at the National Theater. The concerts continue through 20 November. Maestro José Antonio Molina, the head conductor, says this year marks his 10th year as conductor of the orchestra.
The first concert will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the death of Hector Berlioz and the 175th birthday of Rimsky-Korsakov. There will be guest conductors this year, including Gene Moon, Jaime Morales and Santy Rodriguez. Also cello player Amit Peled, Chinese piano player Zhenni Li, among others.
Samaná celebrates coconut and fish gastronomic festival
This 15 to 18 August 2019, Samaná City is welcoming food lovers to its 8th Festival Gastronomico del Coco y el Pescado. The event commemorates the 263rd anniversary of the founding of the northeastern city.
The city of Samaná and the Confederation of Farm Producers (Confenagro), the Samaná Chamber of Commerce & Production are the organizers of the festival. It has the sponsorship of the ministries of Tourism, Industry & Commerce and Culture.
It is an opportunity to taste a variety of dishes made from coconut, seafood and fish, and the sweets of the province and arts and crafts.
https://hoy.com.do/samana-celebrara-su-octavo-festival-de-coco-y-pescado/
Constitutional Court: Do not add deputy votes to senators
TSE: 20% candidates reserve applies to all vote levels
Margarita Cedeño left out, PLD registers 11 pre-candidates
Will Fernández step aside for party unity?
Miguel Vargas says PRD will use a polling company to choose its presidential candidate
PRSC names Quique Antún as their candidate
Japan helps improve the quality of vocational training in the DR
DNCD announces agents will wear mini cameras in their uniforms
Update on the Villa Vásquez barbershop drug planting case
Gold in Pan Am Games: Estefanía Soriano and Wander Mateo
Women's volleyball team wins the gold in Lima Pan Am
Juander Santos slips on the last hurdle, loses gold
DR wins three gold in Pan Am karate competition
DR places 10th in medals in the Pan Am Games
Dominican team to the FIBA World Cup in China
National Symphony season begins 14 August
Samaná celebrates coconut and fish gastronomic festival
Constitutional Court rules on expropriations
The Constitutional Court (TC) set new jurisprudence in matters of expropriation of property by the state in Ruling TC/0224/19. The ruling could mean that property owners could begin recourses to obtain what they consider due compensation for their property expropriated by the state.
https://hoy.com.do/el-tribunal-constitucional-y-la-expropiacion-irregular/
https://www.tribunalconstitucional.gob.do/consultas/secretaría/sentencias/tc022419/
Constitutional Court: Do not add deputy votes to senators
The Constitutional Court (TC) says the interpretation by the Central Electoral Board (JCE) of the Preferential Vote Law 157-13 violates the 2015 Constitution. The Constitutional Court ruling means that voters can now vote separately for all senators and deputies in the 17 May 2019 congressional election. The JCE had previously ordered that only voters in 26 provinces could do so. In Santo Domingo, Santiago, La Vega, Puerto Plata, San Cristóbal and the National District, the votes cast for deputies would have been allocated to the senator.
The ruling needs to be published by the Constitutional Court for it to be final. The schedule for the publishing of the verdict is Monday, 12 August 2019.
Javier Cabreja, former executive director of the civic watch group Participación Ciudadana (Citizen Participation), called the ruling "a transcendental decision." He was interviewed for the La Cuestión radio talk show on La Super 7FM. He expects the quality of congressional candidates to step up now that these will be more accountable. Senators will no longer be able to ride on the wave of deputy popularity. He highlighted that legislative candidates are less likely to be imposed by political agreements to the convenience of party echelons.
Cabreja explained the decision revokes the "political package" voters were being served. By voting for one person of his choice, the voter got the deputy, but also the senator, national deputy, and the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) deputy of the same party. He said very few voters were aware of this.
Cabreja only lamented that the Constitutional Court had taken so long for the ruling. It was first presented in 2014 by lawyer Angel Lockward. Cabreja said that if the Constitutional Court had decided back then, the matter never would have been an ambiguous issue in the Political Parties Law passed in 2018.
https://domiplay.net/podcast/la-cuestion-radio/super-7/13-00-2019-08-09-Fri
https://www.opd.org.do/index.php/ma...cion-jce-no-08-2019-sobre-el-voto-de-arrastre
https://www.opd.org.do/index.php/ma...partidos-agrupaciones-y-movimientos-politicos
https://www.opd.org.do/images/marco...iputados-y-diputadas-al-Congreso-Nacional.pdf
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/tc-eli...seis-provincias-donde-jce-decidio-mantenerlo/
TSE: 20% of candidates reserve applies to all vote levels
The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) ruled that the reservation of candidacies apply to all levels of the vote and not to the totality of the positions, as has been a common practice. The disposition is in TSE Ruling 27-19, which received the vote of three judges in favor and two against.
The TSE acted on a motion submitted by Fidel Alberto Tavárez of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), who disputed that his political party had handpicked the position of the senator for the province of Monte Plata. Overall, the PRM party had reserved 29 of the 32 senator candidacies for the party.
While the ruling responds to a specific case regarding the PRM, it is most likely to be applied the same to all political parties by the Central Electoral Board (JCE). It will call for a reshuffling of candidacies in the political parties.
Tavarez told El Dia that the decision sets a precedent for future party elections. "The custom of reserving the most important positions will not be part of elections in the future," he said. So far, the echelons of political parties had handpicked the candidacies, leaving the party rank to choose the less important candidacies.
The president of the TSE, Román Jáquez, had been one of the dissident votes. He said there is nothing in the law that specifies the application of the 20% reserve by the party leadership. He argued the PRM had acted this way given the short time to comply with the new electoral regulations.
El Dia reports that the number of reserves permitted per political party are now:
Senators (total 32), reserves: 6
Deputies (total 190), reserves: 38
Mayors (total 158), reserves 32
City Councilors (total 1,164), reserves 233
Municipal directors (total 235), reserves 47
Municipal members (total 735), reserves 147
As reported, the same principle applies to the quota for choosing women and youth candidates.
Participación Ciudadana civic watchdog organization praised the TSE ruling. The organization said it applies not only to the PRM, but to all the political parties in this situation. The organization understands that all parties in this situation need to send in their lists of candidates to meet the 20% requirement.
The disposition gave the PRM until 30 August to notify its list of reserved candidates in compliance with the opinion of the TSE.
The PRM appealed and the TSE ruling gave the party until Monday, 11 August, to notify the JCE and party member Fidel Alberto Tavarez on the recourse for review of the ruling. The PRM had deposited the appeal to the verdict on Thursday, 8 August.
https://theworldnews.net/do-news/tse-replantea-uso-del-20-de-las-reservas-estipulado-en-ley-partidos
https://hoy.com.do/esto-dice-partic...electoral-sobre-las-reservas-de-candidaturas/
https://www.opd.org.do/index.php/ma...partidos-agrupaciones-y-movimientos-politicos
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/de-buena-tinta/alegria-que-dura-poco-en-casa-de-pobre-BE13711202
Margarita Cedeño left out, PLD registers 11 pre-candidates
The members of the Central Committee of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) met on 10 August 2019 to choose the presidential pre-candidates that will participate in 6 October primary.
President Danilo Medina came up with a solution that was accepted by the Central Committee of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). At a time when the party electoral commission had not yet decided on the methodology to choose the aspirants to pre-candidate, the President asked for a turn at the meeting on Saturday, 10 August 2019, and proposed that the 11 that aspired be registered.
Those that will be registered on 22 August 2019 with the Central Electoral Board (JCE) are: Leonel Fernández, Reinaldo Pared Pérez, Temístocles Montás, Radhamés Segura, Carlos Amarante Baret, Gonzalo Castillo, Francisco Domínguez Brito, Andrés Navarro, Manuel Crespo, Maritza Hernández and Melanio Paredes. Notably missing from the list of pre-candidates is Vice President Margarita Cedeño. Polls had listed her as the highest-ranked in popularity after Medina and her husband, former President Leonel Fernández.
Fernández called the Saturday meeting an "example of political maturity."
The Central Committee met with a roll call of 571 members of 613 members. The meeting was held to define how the pre-candidates would be selected and to choose the presidential pre-candidates for the party.
The members of the National Electoral Commission of the PLD are: Lidio Cadet, Alejandrina Germán, Rubén Jimenez Bichara, Danilo Díaz, César Prieto, Armando García, Lupe Núñez, Robert de la Cruz, and Henry Merán.
In an editorial on Monday, 12 August 2019, executive editor of Diario Libre Adriano Miguel Tejada writes that the Saturday meeting of the PLD is proof that the opposition will have to work hard to oust the PLD from the Presidency. He speculated that the plan of those who follow Medina in the PLD is to allow Fernández to win the presidential candidacy but to secure all other key positions in Congress and the municipalities.
Diario Libre reports that another great challenge of the political party is to unify the other presidential pre-candidates under one candidacy. The pre-candidates have agreed to back the best-positioned candidate as he runs against Fernández in the 6 October 2019 primary. There is speculation that former Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo is the favorite of President Danilo Medina.
https://hoy.com.do/video-con-571-miembros-de-613-inicia-reunion-del-comite-central-del-pld/
https://n.com.do/2019/08/11/leonel-...comite-central-como-acto-de-madurez-politica/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/08...scogencia-como-precandidato-a-la-presidencia/
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/am/lecturas-de-la-reunion-del-sabado-DE13711121
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...o-con-un-mes-de-prueba-para-unidad-HH13725301
Will Fernández step aside for party unity?
A close aide of Leonel Fernández says Fernández might not run for the Presidency. A recent statement by PLD deputy Henry Merán that former President Leonel Fernández has not directly announced his presidential aspirations, could leave open the possibility that the former President might not run. He may instead back another party member for the PLD presidential candidacy in the 17 May 2020 election. Fernández would be aspiring to a fourth term in government. Merán spoke optimistically of what he described as the new harmony in the party.
He made the remarks on Hoy Mismo TV show on Channel 9 that the PLD, and gave credit to President Danilo Medina, observing that by not seeking to run in 2020, he has defined the way to preserve party unity. He expressed support for constitutional reform after the elections are defined.
https://eldia.com.do/henry-meran-af...orma-directa-sus-aspiraciones-presidenciales/
Miguel Vargas says PRD will use a polling company to choose its presidential candidate
The president of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Miguel Vargas Maldonado, announced a polling company would be hired to determine the party's presidential candidate. He did not name the company and just said it would be one of those that have registered with the Central Electoral Board (JCE).
Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas had named President Danilo Medina as the only candidate the PRD would back for President in 2020.
The PRD has been a strong ally of the PLD since party votes made possible the constitutional reform in 2015 that revoked the ban on his running for President in 2016.
https://n.com.do/2019/08/10/miguel-...a-para-definir-aspirantes-a-cargos-electivos/
PRSC names Quique Antún as their candidate
The Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) announced that Federico (Quique) Antún will be the PRSC presidential candidate in the 17 May 2020 presidential election. Antún was named during a concentration of members held at the Coliseo Carlos (Teo) Cruz in Santo Domingo.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...andidato-presidencial-para-el-2020-HH13722036
Alicia Ortega travels to Brazil to put names to Odebrecht code names
Alicia Ortega promises new revelations regarding Odebrecht cash for contract operations in the Dominican Republic. She is in Brazil participating along with the Peruvian investigative journalists and prosecutors that are delving into Odebrecht corruption in Peru.
Dominican prosecutors had turned down the opportunity to question the Brazilian prosecutors and Odebrecht executives.
Ortega is part of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists that has been reporting on Odebrecht-related corruption in the Americas.
The investigative journalism program will be aired with the new information from Brazil on Monday, 12 August at 9pm on Colorvisión, Channel 9.
https://elinformeconaliciaortega.com/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...debrecht-en-la-republica-dominicana-AF6788233
Japan helps improve the quality of vocational training in the DR
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is working closely with the National Technical Vocational Training Institute (Infotep) to train staff of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Underway is the Project to Improve the Quality and Productivity of SMEs in the Dominican Republic.
"For us, it is a satisfactory finding that the Dominican Republic has been able to systematize and make an implementation guide for this project. Not all participating countries have worked with this vision," said Gaku Funabashi, leader of a mission that came to the country to monitor the development of the plan.
Funabashi urged small business in the Dominican Republic to take advantage of the advisory facilities offered by Infotep to improve their competitiveness.
Infotep's General Director, Rafael Ovalles expressed pride in the recognition by JICA.
The process for the implementation of this project, aimed at SMEs in Santo Domingo and the northern region of the country, began in early 2017 with the sponsorship of JICA and the participation of specialists from the Center for Quality and Productivity of Costa Rica (Cecapro).
http://www.infotep.gob.do/index.php...apoyo-productividad-y-competitividad-de-pymes
DNCD announces agents will wear mini cameras in their uniforms
The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) announced a pilot program whereby agents would wear small cameras in their uniforms during their actions. The announcement comes at a time when the reputation of the institution was affected when a surveillance video showed a drug raid of a barbershop in Montecristi where agents planted drugs.
The spokesman for the DNCD, Carlos Devers said on Saturday, 10 August 2019, that the plan is first being implemented in La Vega. He said the actions will be monitored by a surveillance center in the headquarters of the institution.
"Everyone will have their portable camera on their chest or neck. Each operation will be recorded and if a camera is turned off, the agent carrying it will be suspended," he added. Devers said the plan is to suspend agents who act irregularly immediately.
Nuria Piera used her investigative news show this week to present how the Villa Vasquez raid was not an isolated occurrence in Montecristi.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...enas-camaras-en-sus-uniformes-segun-el-vocero
https://n.com.do/2019/08/11/nuria-piera-la-dncd-siembra-para-luego-cosechar/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...uez-parece-una-serie-de-television-JN13699303
Update on the Villa Vásquez barbershop drug planting case
An investigation by a commission of the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) determined the suspension and sending to the justice of five law enforcement agents that acted in a drug raid on a Villa Vásquez barbershop. The agents are Major Víctor Ignacio Encarnación, Captain Juan de Dios Heredia Martínez, Sargeant Martires Cuello Ramírez and corporal Adan Maurito Rodríguez Pichardo and Air Force recruit Juan Antonio Arias Peguero. They are accused of violating all the protocols during the raid and of planting drugs in the barbershop. The case became a trending topic after the owner of the shop uploaded a surveillance video in his defense showing the operation.
An investigation is ongoing into the participation of Montecristi prosecutor Carmen Lisset Núñez. Núñez acted in the raid on the barbershop and later resigned. There had been speculation she had left the country. The PGR said she was not allowed to leave because a routine alert had been sent to Migration.
The PGR said that the prosecutor's husband Anderson Gago Manaset was allowed to leave for New York on Monday, 5 August, after being retained for an hour in Migration. The PGR did not establish if Núñez is under arrest now. Lawyers representing the barbershop had notified the PGR that the woman would attempt to leave the country.
Núñez's lawyer says she was just at the airport to accompany her husband. She told the press that drug traffickers were trying to remove her from office. She defended her innocence.
A surveillance video showed how the law enforcement agents and the prosecutor violated all raid protocols and allegedly planted drugs to customers and in the barbershop. A youth who entered as a supposed customer for a haircut uploaded a second video explaining he acted on instructions of the prosecutor and others to plant the drugs.
The CNCD president, Navy Vice Admiral Félix Alburquerque Comprés, had at first stated the video could be a setup and the barber owner could be tried for defamation. He defended the integrity of the DNCD above all. Alburquerque also defended the Montecristi prosecutor saying: "If you see her résumé, she is a flawless prosecutor; her transparency and her actions are not in question".
https://cdn.com.do/2019/08/09/video...ida-del-pais-de-la-exfiscal-de-villa-vasquez/
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/video-...rafico-querian-que-ella-dejara-de-ser-fiscal/
https://eldia.com.do/agentes-caso-de-barberia-enviados-ante-la-justicia/
https://www.cdn.com.do/2019/08/03/v...l-habrian-colocado-drogas-jovenes-peluqueria/
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...laran-contra-fiscal-y-agentes-dncd-JB13653820
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...s-quedaron-al-descubierto-en-colocacion-droga
https://n.com.do/2019/08/09/procura...or-presunta-colocacion-de-drogas-en-barberia/
https://hoy.com.do/conozca-el-curriculum-de-felix-alburquerque-el-nuevo-presidente-de-la-dncd/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...is-y-asegura-solo-fue-a-acompanar-a-su-esposo
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-narcotrafico-la-quieren-fuera-de-la-fiscalia
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...a-el-pais-esposo-de-exfiscal-de-villa-vasquez
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...s-quedaron-al-descubierto-en-colocacion-droga
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...uez-parece-una-serie-de-television-JN13699303
https://noticiassin.com/exfiscaliza...cotrafico-queria-que-yo-dejara-de-ser-fiscal/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...alo-de-la-barberia-afecto-imagen-del-gobierno
Gold in Pan Am Games: Estefanía Soriano and Wander Mateo
22-year old Estefanía Soriano won gold in the 48kg category in the judo competition of the Lima 2019 Pan Am Games on Thursday, 8 August. This is the first Pan American gold medal a Dominican athlete has won in judo. Her gold was the fifth gold medal for the Dominican Republic.
In her first interview, she said she trained, but she was surprised by winning the gold. Her first match was against Colombia, second against Chile, and her last was against a Cuban athlete. She is from Bayaguana in Monte Plata province. When she was 21, she had won the gold medal in the Central American & Caribbean Games held in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Her teammate, 29-year old Wander Mateo, won gold in his event on the next day. His gold was also a first in men's judo for the Dominican Republic. He defeated Daniel Cargnin of Brazil.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/dominicana-estefania-soriano-gana-oro-en-judo-juegos-panamericanos/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSvSiXkyZCE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOZ56yI52eA
Women's volleyball team wins the gold in Lima Pan Am
The Dominican Republic defeated Colombia in the finals of the Pan American Games held in Lima, Peru. While Colombia is ranked 30th in the world, the team competed as one of the top 10 in the world. The Dominican Republic is ranked 9th by FIVB.
The mastery of the "Queens of the Caribbean" prevailed, and the Dominican women's team won 3-1. The score was 25-20, 19-25, 25-23 and 25-16. Bethania de la Cruz was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
To reach the finals against Colombia, Team DR had defeated Argentina 3-1 (25-18, 28-26, 25-13, 25-21). In the preliminary round against home country Peru, on 9 August, the DR won 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-17) at the Multisport Complex El Callao in Lima, Peru.
The Dominican team has already defeated Colombia in the preliminary match 3-1 on 7 August, with scores of 26-24, 27-25, 22-25, 27-25.
This was only the second time that the Dominican Republic had played the gold medal match at the Pan Am Games. The first time being against Cuba, a match the country won in the 2003 Pan Am Games played in Santo Domingo.
http://www.norceca.net/Dominican Republic Lima 2019 Pan American Champion.htm
http://www.norceca.net/Bethania De La Cruz the Most Valuable Player of Lima 2019 Pan Am Games.htm
http://www.norceca.net/Dominicans defeat resilient Colombia in Pan Am Games debut.htm
http://www.norceca.net/Dominicans defeat Argentina to face Colombia in Lima 2019 title match.htm
https://listindiario.com/el-deporte...a-y-van-este-domingo-por-el-oro-ante-colombia
Juander Santos slips on the last hurdle, loses gold
The Dominican Republic's Juander Santos was on course for gold when he entered the final 100m with a clear advantage in the men's 400m hurdles final. The pressure seemed to have gotten to him on the final hurdle when he sprawled across the track. The 24-year old is the younger brother of Olympic silver medalist Luguelín Santos.
Fellow team member Yancarlos Martínez won bronze in the 200 m.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqtfz8uBnuA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f27qZ-T6i7w
DR wins three gold in Pan Am karate competition
Karate athletes Tanya Rodríguez and Pamela Rodríguez delivered gold for the Dominican Republic on the final day of the Pan Am Games. Tanya was the winner of the -68 kg category facing Chilean Susana Li. Pamela defeated Venezuelan Omaira Molina in the +68kg category.
Karate was the sport to add the most gold medals. Earlier, the country won gold in Kata, with Maria Dimitrova, Franchel Velásquez and Sasha Serena Rodríguez.[KR1] The women gave a lecture in balance, synchronicity, coordination, technique, innovation and strength in their gold-winning event.
María Dimitrova had won the silver medal in her solo event.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/rd-gan...gos-panamericanos-lima-2019-suma-27-en-total/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOZ56yI52eA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBxH8GdDGfM
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/rd-gan...gos-panamericanos-lima-2019-suma-27-en-total/
DR places 10th in medals in the Pan Am Games
The Dominican Republic ended its participation in the Lima, Peru Pan American Games with a medal count of 40, including 10 gold, 13 silver and 17 bronze. This is the second-best participation of the country in a Pan American Games. The best was in 2003, when Santo Domingo was the host. Back then, the Dominican team won 41 medals, including 10 gold, 12 silver and 19 bronze. In Toronto 2015, the country had won 24 medals, including three gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze.
The gold medal winners for the Dominican Republic in the 2019 Pan Am Games were:
Beatriz Pirón, weightlifting
Robert Pigozzi, water skiing
Audrys Nin Reyes, gymnastics,
Rodrigo Marte, boxing
Estefanía Soriano and Wander Mateo, judo
María Dimitrova, Sacha Rodríguez, Francher Velázquez (team medal), and Tanya Rodríguez and Pamela Rodríguez in karate
Dominican women's volleyball team
https://www.lima2019.pe/en
Dominican team to the FIBA World Cup in China
Melvin López, Néstor García, Rafael Uribe, Francisco García and Eduardo Najri, directors of the men's national basketball team, announced the 17-men roster of Team DR to the FIVB World Cup in China at the end of this month. The team members are: Gelvis Solano, Edgar Sosa, Ronald Ramón, Adris De León, Víctor Liz, Rigoberto Mendoza and Jean Montero, Juan Miguel Suero, Luis David Montero, Dagoberto Peña , Sadiel Rojas, Ronald Roberts Jr., Eulis Báez, Juan José García, Eloy Vargas, Jhonatan Araujo and Luis Santos. Francisco García is the general manager.
Top world-ranked Dominican team players, Al Horford, Karl-Anthony Towns and Angel Delgado, turned down playing this time.
https://listindiario.com/el-deporte/2019/08/09/577489/dominicana-tiene-a-hombres-no-nombres
National Symphony season begins 14 August
National Symphony Orchestra season opens with a concert on Wednesday, 14 August 2019 at the National Theater. The concerts continue through 20 November. Maestro José Antonio Molina, the head conductor, says this year marks his 10th year as conductor of the orchestra.
The first concert will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the death of Hector Berlioz and the 175th birthday of Rimsky-Korsakov. There will be guest conductors this year, including Gene Moon, Jaime Morales and Santy Rodriguez. Also cello player Amit Peled, Chinese piano player Zhenni Li, among others.
Samaná celebrates coconut and fish gastronomic festival
This 15 to 18 August 2019, Samaná City is welcoming food lovers to its 8th Festival Gastronomico del Coco y el Pescado. The event commemorates the 263rd anniversary of the founding of the northeastern city.
The city of Samaná and the Confederation of Farm Producers (Confenagro), the Samaná Chamber of Commerce & Production are the organizers of the festival. It has the sponsorship of the ministries of Tourism, Industry & Commerce and Culture.
It is an opportunity to taste a variety of dishes made from coconut, seafood and fish, and the sweets of the province and arts and crafts.
https://hoy.com.do/samana-celebrara-su-octavo-festival-de-coco-y-pescado/