D
Dolores
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Ministry of Agriculture: DR is self-sufficient in several food products
Ministry of Education says it hires 7,000 that passed the tests
Financial help for region's coral reefs
Digesett to notify companies for violations of Law 63-17
Show business stars named to diplomatic posts
Dominican exports in July up 3.3%
Regional agronomists warn of a serious new threat
Higher salaries do not do much with higher prices
JCE says automated vote pilot test run was a success
Danilista faction chooses former Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo
Fishing for plastics in the waters of Puerto Plata
Squeegee guys are getting to be a big problem
DR looses to Australia in FIBA World Cup
DR wins five golds at Panamerican Judo Open
Dominicana's Got Talent starts with a bang
Here comes: Design Week RD
Lo Blanquito at the Coliseo Teo Cruz
Ministry of Agriculture: DR is self-sufficient in several food products
Agriculture Minister Osmar Benitez stressed that the Dominican Republic is self-sufficient in plantains, rice, yucca, beans, eggs and poultry, as well as many other farm products. Benítez said that government credit policies available for farmers had made the difference. He spoke during the Agribusiness Council Encounter held from Wednesday, 4 September through Friday, 6 September 2019 in Punta Cana.
Benítez said that from RD$17 billion a few years ago, the government credit portfolio has increased to around RD$58 billion. The Agriculture Bank has channeled R$28 billion to the sector. Interest rates have fallen from 18% to 8%. Many farm and livestock loans have been granted at the preferential 6% loan rate.
The minister also spoke of efforts to produce certified seeds for beans and other crops, something he said had not been done for over 30 years.
Wilfredo Cabrera, of the Cibao Egg Producers Association, forecast a production surplus. He said production is at around 200 million eggs per month. The abundance caused a drop in the price of the egg at the farm level, and in the price per pound of poultry at the farm. On the farm, eggs were RD$4.00 each, and are now RD$3.50.
Dominicans are expected to consume 40 million more pounds of chicken during 2019 than they did four or five years ago. According to the leader of the National Council of Farm Production, Radhames Silverio, 160,000,000 pounds of chicken are produced and consumed in the country. Poultry sold for RD$32.00 – RD$35 a pound on the farm, and prices now vary between RD$30.00 and RD$32.00.
https://listindiario.com/economia/2...nsumen-en-el-pais-son-100-de-produccion-local
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09/06/rd-tiene-mas-huevos-de-lo-que-puede-consumir/
Ministry of Education says it hires 7,000 teachers that passed the tests
The Ministry of Education has hired some 7,000 new public school teachers that it says successfully passed the three-stage assessment process. Minister Antonio Peña Mirabal told reporters that they are doing everything possible to cover the deficit of teachers in the nation's public schools this 2019-2020 school year. Each of the regional school districts has presented a list of their most urgent needs for teachers.
Peña Mirabal urged the local, district and regional directors to maintain close contact with the Parents and Teachers Associations in their areas to resolve the issues.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ca-de-7000-docentes-que-aprobaron-en-concurso
Financial help for region's coral reefs
The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Dominican ministries of Environment and Economy are working together to establish financial mechanisms for the conservation of Dominican coral reefs. Even the government of Costa Rica is helping the cause.
Patricia Abreu, the deputy minister for International Cooperation at the Ministry of the Environment, told Diario Libre reporters that the mechanism follows the sustainability guidelines set by the Dominican Consortium for Coastal Restoration (CDRC). The CDRC is supporting coral reef programs mainly in Bayahibe, Punta Cana and Samaná.
Abreu spoke of how the country has perhaps the most varied biodiversity in the Caribbean. She observed the need to reverse impacts created by increases in farming and livestock production and constructions for the tourism industry. As a result, her unit, together with international collaboration, is drafting new regulations to help conserve the nation's coral reefs.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...ieros-para-restaurar-los-arrecifes-BB14042542
Digesett to notify companies for violations of Law 63-17
The Traffic and Transportation Safety Agency (Digesett) is notifying freight companies directly of their fleet violations of Law 63-17 and Resolution 1-2019 of the National Institute of Traffic and Transportation (Intrant). Most of the violations are at night and dawn hours.
The head of Digesett, General Ernesto Rafael Rodriguez Garcia told reporters that the citations would be sent to the companies through the Highway Safety Agency (formerly DOCA). The general said the plan is to make the companies more aware of the violations. They are seeking the collaboration of the companies to enhance road safety on the nation's highways through better training of their truck drivers.
Common violations mentioned are the use of blinding LED lights, not having the required reflexive strips on the truck body, using the left lane (speed lane) of the highways, having bald or nearly bald tires, and cruising at high speeds.
https://eldia.com.do/digesett-inici...ey-63-17-de-conductores-de-vehiculos-pesados/
Show business stars named to diplomatic posts
With a year to go of his presidential term, the media is reporting that President Danilo Medina has appointed show business figures to diplomatic positions abroad. Listin Diario reports on the appointment of TV personality Ingrid Jorge as first secretary of the Dominican Embassy in the United Arab Emirates by Decree 290-19. She is the daughter of controversial political commentator Claudia Pérez (La Tora). The Dominican ambassador at the United Arab Emirates is retired General José Miguel Soto Jiménez.
Likewise, famous Dominican comedian Cesar Augusto (alias Cuquín) Victoria was named minister-counselor at the Dominican Embassy in the United States. Victoria is a very active local comedian who has several projects underway in the Dominican Republic.
https://masvip.com.do/2019/09/06/ingrid-jorge-habria-sido-designada-en-el-gobierno-te-contamos/
https://listindiario.com/entretenim...l-nombramiento-de-ingrid-jorge-y-la-farandula
https://genterd.do/24704-2/
https://lodehoyrd.com/abogado-carlo...nen-vinculos-con-el-narco-y-caso-david-ortiz/
https://listindiario.com/entretenim...l-nombramiento-de-ingrid-jorge-y-la-farandula
https://www.facebook.com/DominicanEmbassy/
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuquín_Victoria
Dominican exports in July up 3.3%
In July of 2019, Dominican exports showed a 3.3% increase, going from US$950.2 million up to US$981.6 million. Overall, there was growth in the sales of ferronickel, cigars, circuit breakers, medical devices and many other products. Plastic packaging and steel products show up as new export products.
Gold, cigars, medical devices, ferronickel, circuit breakers, and jewelry exports are up. The majority of these exports also showed a positive growth tendency in the market for electric motors and graphic electrodes for EKGs and other imaging uses.
Switzerland was the largest market for these products, receiving US$115.9 million; the United States imported Dominicans goods for US$30 million, and China received US$21.5 million.
543 companies, including 152 from the industrial free zones, exported. China received products from 29 companies, primarily ferronickel, medical devices and shoes.
Sales to India and Canada are down but still contributed US$81 million and US$34.2 million respectively to the export total. 29 companies exported ferronickel, gold, paper and cardboard for recycling and scrap metals to India.
Farm produce exports grew by 10%. Year to year exports (January-July) show a 2.2% increase.
https://listindiario.com/economia/2...rtaciones-de-rd-crecieron-en-julio-en-un-3-3-
Regional agronomists warn of a new severe threat
The agronomists of Central America, Panama and the Caribbean have issued a stern warning on new strains of old viruses that threaten the livelihood of tens of thousands of Dominicans. Regional nations are asked to institute extremely strict plant and animal quarantines to avoid the spread of the new strain of the dreaded Panama Disease that affects the banana plant. Together with the Black Sigatoka, these plant diseases can wipe out banana and plantain plantations in a matter of months.
Fusarium oxisporum Strain 4 and its predecessors wiped out the entire commercial banana production in Panama (hence its name: Panama Disease), formerly the world's largest producer of bananas. In the Dominican Republic, poor crop management back in the late 1950s and early 1960s destroyed the production of the Johnson or Gros Michele variety of bananas that made the United Fruit Company so famous. Agronomists had to find new alternative exportable varieties.
Now these new varieties, the Cavendish for example, are under attack by Strain 4 of the disease. There is no cure once it affects farm production.
According to Francisco Puntiel de Leon, the head of the Dominican Association of Agronomical Engineers, the Dominican Republic the country has a lot to lose. It produces 50% of organic banana global export total. The European Union is its primary market. In the DR there are 15,000 hectares dedicated to organic bananas. Most of the farms are located in Valverde, Montecristi, Dajabon, Barahona, Peravia, Neyba and Azua.
https://listindiario.com/economia/2...rtaciones-de-rd-crecieron-en-julio-en-un-3-3-
Higher salaries do not do much with higher prices
The head of the Autonomous Confederation of Classist Unions (CASC), Gabriel del Rio Doñe called the wage increases recently gained by most workers "a joke." He noted that it has become a custom that when there are wage increases, a few days later, the prices of primary food products go up.
Del Rio told the media there is a gap of some 30% between the basic salary and the cost of the primary family food basket. He says wages are already too low and rejects the proposal of the management sector to re-classify company wages according to size.
Jacobo Ramos, from the Autonomous Dominican Confederation of Dominican Workers, warned that the unions will not take part in the talks regarding the reclassification of the different size companies. He called for the creation of a mixed commission to deal with the issue.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...gan-los-altos-precios-de-productos-AA14052057
JCE says automated vote pilot test run was a success
The Central Electoral Board (JCE) Dominicans says it is pleased with the results of the test run of the automated vote system. The machines will be used in the 6 October primaries, and the municipal, congressional and presidential elections in 2020. On Sunday, 8 September 2019, eligible voters from all around the country were asked to test the system at 5,401 voting stations nationwide. JCE president Julio César Castaños Guzmán said that the results were in 30 minutes after the close of the vote.
El Dia headline story observes the political parties did not mobilize their party members to participate, and those testing the system were relatively few. 7,422,416 persons are eligible to vote.
The JCE reported that the voters participating in the test run were of these ages:
66 years + : 24,079
56-65 years: 29,928
46-55 years: 30,865
36-45 years: 24,232
26-35 years: 19,225
18-25 years: 15,227
https://jce.gob.do/Noticias/jce-concluye-exitosamente-simulacro-nacional-del-voto-automatizado
https://acento.com.do/2019/politica...ica-de-impecable-el-proceso-de-voto-simulado/
https://m.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09/09/jce-computo-90-del-simulacro-en-30-minutos/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...lacro-de-las-primarias-organizadas-por-la-jce
Danilista faction chooses former Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo
In accepting the responsibility to campaign for the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) faction representing the followers of President Danilo Medina, former Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo said on Sunday, 8 September 2019 in the evening: "I want to thank all those who elected me and also those who voted for the other pre-candidates. We are all part of the same team and we will continue to work together to win the primaries on 6 October.”
Castillo was the last to announce his aspirations to run for the Presidency on the PLD ticket. Castillo was selected to represent Medina followers in the PLD primary scheduled for 6 October 2019. He will compete against former President Leonel Fernandez.
Only fellow pre-candidate Temístocles Montás was present for his announcement. During the press conference, the PLD did not share the technical details. The actual numbers of the polls were not presented to the public.
The remaining pre-candidates now have until 10 September to resign their aspirations to participate in the primary set for 6 October 2019.
59-year old Gonzalo Castillo is from Barahona. He graduated from the Instituto Politécnico Loyola high school in industrial electronics, and did his university studies in digital electronics at the PUCMM in Santo Domingo. He has a masters degree from the University of Quebec. He was appointed Minister of Public Works during the start of the Medina administration in 2012. His replacement has not yet been named. He had announced he would run for the Presidency on 8 September 2019. He was one of the most active supporters of President Danilo Medina's efforts to promote a third term for Medina. Castillo announced his aspirations after Medina declined running for office in 2020.
Temístocles Montás says Castillo will receive the backing of most of the party echelons gathered in the Political Committee and the Central Committee.
The spokesman for the Presidency, Roberto Rodríguez Marchena, said that Castillo "is a political and electoral phenomenon."
"Gonzalo embodies the majority that was prevented from voting for Danilo, who wants to keep what he has and keep moving forward," Rodríguez Marchena tweeted on Sunday.
On the other hand, the Administrative Minister of the Presidency, José Ramón Peralta commented that Castillo is the candidate of the majority of the PLD within the framework of the consensus. "With his leadership, we will continue the construction of a fair, strong, modern and balanced nation," he said.
Francisco Domínguez Brito, the highest ranked pre-candidate before the launching of the pre-candidacy of Gonzalo Castillo, said he would keep his word and would honor the agreement to back the winner of the polls.
Pre-candidate Andrés Navarro was prompt to express his backing of Castillo. "You will be the representative of our team in the primaries and I will be with you with all my structure, for the good of our party and our nation," he said.
Meanwhile, former President Leonel Fernandez over the weekend expressed confidence that he will win the primary. Other pre-candidates that registered for the primaries are Melanio Paredes and Manuel Crespo.
https://hoy.com.do/gonzalo-castillo-agradecio-y-pide-unidad-grupo-para-ganar/
https://eldia.com.do/gonzalo-castillo-es-escogido-como-heredero-del-sector-que-lidera-danilo-medina/
https://hoy.com.do/las-reacciones-d...lo-fuera-escogido-precandidato-del-danilismo/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09...ue-con-gonzalo-le-ganaran-por-mucho-a-leonel/
https://n.com.do/2019/09/08/leonel-dice-ganara-primarias-pld-pese-a-manipulacion-desde-el-poder/
Fishing for plastics in the waters of Puerto Plata
A young fisherman has arranged one day of the week to dedicate himself to the "fishing" of plastics and thus contribute to cleaning the waters on the north coast of the country. With his initiative, Johann Manuel Beard Vázquez is attempting to raise awareness among the people who indiscriminately throw waste, mostly plastics, into the coasts of the country. He has videotaped his effort showing how he is removing hundreds of wastes from the beaches and sea. For the effort, he built a special wire to hook the plastics. He said that campaign is a personal effort but that he hopes it will catch on and others will follow helping to remove the plastics and others in not littering.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09/07/pesca-plasticos-para-proteger-la-costa-norte-de-rd/
Squeegee guys are getting to be a big problem
Young men and boys, armed with rags, sponges and squeegees almost attack vehicles stopped at the major intersections of Greater Santo Domingo. Drivers are continually complaining to the authorities and on social media such as Facebook, Tweeter and Instagram. These attacks by window cleaners are a daily occurrence in the city, and usually attributed to young men with addiction problems. Santiago Rosario, a man who commutes to work in his car, told his Facebook friends that at the corner of Maximo Gomez and John F. Kennedy, "there is a guy that will mess up anybody's day. Besides being violent, he will dirty your windshield and shout insults if you do not let him clean your glass." Late last week, Georgina Musa was attacked by a window cleaner who broke the front windshield, with glass falling inside the car, just because she did not want him to clean her window.
Back in July 2017, the mayor of the National District issued a prohibition for squeegee guys to work the main intersections and offered them jobs with the city's cleanup crews. Two months later Mayor David Collado met with the head of the National Police. The agreement was to reduce the presence of the window washers at the main intersections of the capital. Just a month later at the two avenue intersections in question, 27 February and Maximo Gomez and 27 February and Winston Churchill, Diario Libre video photographers proved that really very little had improved. It is still a significant problem for many drivers.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...mpiavidrios-contra-los-conductores-PB14047923
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09...omper-parabrisas-de-vehiculo-con-una-pedrada/
DR loses to Australia in FIBA World Cup
The Dominican Republic lost 82-76 to Australia, after putting up a brave fight in the quarterfinals. Australia brought a team with 5 NBAs. The DR had no players from the NBA or European League. The DR next plays Lithuania in Group L of the FIBA World Cup. The event is a qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnLe04MJ8yM&feature=onebox
https://listindiario.com/el-deporte...-el-empuje-dominicano-y-ya-mira-a-los-cuartos
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09/07/rd-puso-oposicion-en-reves-contra-australia/
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports...australia-overcomes-pesky-dominican-republic/
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/basket...ic-now-face-nervous-wait-20190907-p52p0e.html
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-09/07/c_138373705.htm
https://asia.eurosport.com/basketba...ican-republic-lithuania_mtc1104861/live.shtml
DR wins five golds at Panamerican Judo Open
The Dominican Republic won the Santo Domingo Panamerican Open 2019 that took place 7-8 September in the capital city. The Dominican national team won five gold medals, three silver and 10 bronze medals in the event. One hundred thirty competitors from 19 countries represented the Americas, in addition to Cape Verde, Gabon, Mauritius, Cameroon from Africa and Spain.
Dominican gold medal winners were for the men, Medickson del Orbe Cortorreal, Robert Florentino, Lewis Medina, José Nova Alcantara, and female judoka athlete Ana Rosa.
https://www.ijf.org/competition/1753
https://www.ijf.org/country/dom/results
Dominicana's Got Talent starts off with a bang
The first chapter of the Dominicana's Got Talent impressed with a wide variety of acts selected for the opening on Wednesday, 4 September 2019. The final will be on 18 December. The judges Raymond Pozo, Milagros Germán, Waddys Jáquez and Nashla Bogaert interacted with the performers in the classic style of the Got Talent contest. Frank Perozo was the host for the show.
The show is part of the global British Got Talent franchise, and Simon Colwell sent his best wishes for a successful season. 8,000 participated in the auditions and 200 candidates were selected for the 2019 season.
The rap duo of Yisoz and Killerbeat garnered the first golden buzzer, touched off by a moved judge Nashla Bogaert during the presentation on Wednesday, 4 September. The performers that were selected are:
Opera singer, dentist Delhis Quezada
Comedian Elías Serulle
Six-year old star drummer Dylan Carmona
Contorsionist Gabriel Hernández
Salsa singer Evaristo Marte
Casa de Danza dance troupe from Santiago
Singer Gabi Pichardo.
While she didn't make it to continue in the contest, Halizandra stuck her tune "El Mundo al Reves."
https://dominicanatienetalento.com/
https://www.diariolibre.com/revista...actante-de-dominicana-s-got-talent-OG14038776
Here comes: Design Week RD
Celebrate the creative industries in the Dominican Republic. From 23-29 September 2019, Design Week RD will serve as a platform to expose, promote and internationalize architectural, industrial, handicraft and interior design in the Dominican Republic. This celebration of design week will include exhibitions, conversations, retrospectives, workshops, installations and special exhibitions, among other activities.
The event has the backing of the National Competitiveness Council. "We believe in productivity, export and innovation, the second and third pillars in the Competitive Dominican agenda. That is why we back this great project," said Rafael Paz, executive director of the National Competitiveness Council.
Paz emphasized that this event will connect construction and tourism. It also links a series of autochthonous creative industries, art expression, Dominican idiosyncrasy and cultural heritage.
"I hope that Design Week RD connects all these factors and allows us to turn Santo Domingo, the National District and the entire country into the hub of design and the creative economy of the Caribbean, and as such, add value to producers throughout the region," said Paz.
Jorge Brown, director of Design Week RD, says the initiative inserts Santo Domingo in the international calendar of design fairs. "Both micro-companies, designers and design brands will benefit from this brand-country project," said the organizer.
Brown explained that data from the Central Bank and the Ministry of Culture of the Dominican Republic shows that the creative industries contribute 1.5% of the Gross Domestic Product and give rise to half a million jobs, equivalent to 12.5% of the Dominican labor force.
https://designweekrd.com/
https://eventos.do/es/agenda/detail/280/DESIGN-WEEK-RD-2019
Lo Blanquito at the Coliseo Teo Cruz
With "Sin S Tour", the Dominican urban singer group Lo Blanquito takes their music on the road. Beto Pelaez, El Sholivery, Lean, Soco Francis AKA Lo Blanquito will be performing at the Coliseo Teo Cruz on Saturday, 5 October 2019 at 10pm. Tickets are for sale at CCN, Jumbo and Supermercados Nacional stores and online at Uepa Tickets. The group is said to have put a "smoking" on urban music singing.
Check out "Telacuti" the leading single of their debut studio album, Sin S:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvWk3sI-__U
Ministry of Education says it hires 7,000 that passed the tests
Financial help for region's coral reefs
Digesett to notify companies for violations of Law 63-17
Show business stars named to diplomatic posts
Dominican exports in July up 3.3%
Regional agronomists warn of a serious new threat
Higher salaries do not do much with higher prices
JCE says automated vote pilot test run was a success
Danilista faction chooses former Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo
Fishing for plastics in the waters of Puerto Plata
Squeegee guys are getting to be a big problem
DR looses to Australia in FIBA World Cup
DR wins five golds at Panamerican Judo Open
Dominicana's Got Talent starts with a bang
Here comes: Design Week RD
Lo Blanquito at the Coliseo Teo Cruz
Ministry of Agriculture: DR is self-sufficient in several food products
Agriculture Minister Osmar Benitez stressed that the Dominican Republic is self-sufficient in plantains, rice, yucca, beans, eggs and poultry, as well as many other farm products. Benítez said that government credit policies available for farmers had made the difference. He spoke during the Agribusiness Council Encounter held from Wednesday, 4 September through Friday, 6 September 2019 in Punta Cana.
Benítez said that from RD$17 billion a few years ago, the government credit portfolio has increased to around RD$58 billion. The Agriculture Bank has channeled R$28 billion to the sector. Interest rates have fallen from 18% to 8%. Many farm and livestock loans have been granted at the preferential 6% loan rate.
The minister also spoke of efforts to produce certified seeds for beans and other crops, something he said had not been done for over 30 years.
Wilfredo Cabrera, of the Cibao Egg Producers Association, forecast a production surplus. He said production is at around 200 million eggs per month. The abundance caused a drop in the price of the egg at the farm level, and in the price per pound of poultry at the farm. On the farm, eggs were RD$4.00 each, and are now RD$3.50.
Dominicans are expected to consume 40 million more pounds of chicken during 2019 than they did four or five years ago. According to the leader of the National Council of Farm Production, Radhames Silverio, 160,000,000 pounds of chicken are produced and consumed in the country. Poultry sold for RD$32.00 – RD$35 a pound on the farm, and prices now vary between RD$30.00 and RD$32.00.
https://listindiario.com/economia/2...nsumen-en-el-pais-son-100-de-produccion-local
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09/06/rd-tiene-mas-huevos-de-lo-que-puede-consumir/
Ministry of Education says it hires 7,000 teachers that passed the tests
The Ministry of Education has hired some 7,000 new public school teachers that it says successfully passed the three-stage assessment process. Minister Antonio Peña Mirabal told reporters that they are doing everything possible to cover the deficit of teachers in the nation's public schools this 2019-2020 school year. Each of the regional school districts has presented a list of their most urgent needs for teachers.
Peña Mirabal urged the local, district and regional directors to maintain close contact with the Parents and Teachers Associations in their areas to resolve the issues.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...ca-de-7000-docentes-que-aprobaron-en-concurso
Financial help for region's coral reefs
The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Dominican ministries of Environment and Economy are working together to establish financial mechanisms for the conservation of Dominican coral reefs. Even the government of Costa Rica is helping the cause.
Patricia Abreu, the deputy minister for International Cooperation at the Ministry of the Environment, told Diario Libre reporters that the mechanism follows the sustainability guidelines set by the Dominican Consortium for Coastal Restoration (CDRC). The CDRC is supporting coral reef programs mainly in Bayahibe, Punta Cana and Samaná.
Abreu spoke of how the country has perhaps the most varied biodiversity in the Caribbean. She observed the need to reverse impacts created by increases in farming and livestock production and constructions for the tourism industry. As a result, her unit, together with international collaboration, is drafting new regulations to help conserve the nation's coral reefs.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...ieros-para-restaurar-los-arrecifes-BB14042542
Digesett to notify companies for violations of Law 63-17
The Traffic and Transportation Safety Agency (Digesett) is notifying freight companies directly of their fleet violations of Law 63-17 and Resolution 1-2019 of the National Institute of Traffic and Transportation (Intrant). Most of the violations are at night and dawn hours.
The head of Digesett, General Ernesto Rafael Rodriguez Garcia told reporters that the citations would be sent to the companies through the Highway Safety Agency (formerly DOCA). The general said the plan is to make the companies more aware of the violations. They are seeking the collaboration of the companies to enhance road safety on the nation's highways through better training of their truck drivers.
Common violations mentioned are the use of blinding LED lights, not having the required reflexive strips on the truck body, using the left lane (speed lane) of the highways, having bald or nearly bald tires, and cruising at high speeds.
https://eldia.com.do/digesett-inici...ey-63-17-de-conductores-de-vehiculos-pesados/
Show business stars named to diplomatic posts
With a year to go of his presidential term, the media is reporting that President Danilo Medina has appointed show business figures to diplomatic positions abroad. Listin Diario reports on the appointment of TV personality Ingrid Jorge as first secretary of the Dominican Embassy in the United Arab Emirates by Decree 290-19. She is the daughter of controversial political commentator Claudia Pérez (La Tora). The Dominican ambassador at the United Arab Emirates is retired General José Miguel Soto Jiménez.
Likewise, famous Dominican comedian Cesar Augusto (alias Cuquín) Victoria was named minister-counselor at the Dominican Embassy in the United States. Victoria is a very active local comedian who has several projects underway in the Dominican Republic.
https://masvip.com.do/2019/09/06/ingrid-jorge-habria-sido-designada-en-el-gobierno-te-contamos/
https://listindiario.com/entretenim...l-nombramiento-de-ingrid-jorge-y-la-farandula
https://genterd.do/24704-2/
https://lodehoyrd.com/abogado-carlo...nen-vinculos-con-el-narco-y-caso-david-ortiz/
https://listindiario.com/entretenim...l-nombramiento-de-ingrid-jorge-y-la-farandula
https://www.facebook.com/DominicanEmbassy/
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuquín_Victoria
Dominican exports in July up 3.3%
In July of 2019, Dominican exports showed a 3.3% increase, going from US$950.2 million up to US$981.6 million. Overall, there was growth in the sales of ferronickel, cigars, circuit breakers, medical devices and many other products. Plastic packaging and steel products show up as new export products.
Gold, cigars, medical devices, ferronickel, circuit breakers, and jewelry exports are up. The majority of these exports also showed a positive growth tendency in the market for electric motors and graphic electrodes for EKGs and other imaging uses.
Switzerland was the largest market for these products, receiving US$115.9 million; the United States imported Dominicans goods for US$30 million, and China received US$21.5 million.
543 companies, including 152 from the industrial free zones, exported. China received products from 29 companies, primarily ferronickel, medical devices and shoes.
Sales to India and Canada are down but still contributed US$81 million and US$34.2 million respectively to the export total. 29 companies exported ferronickel, gold, paper and cardboard for recycling and scrap metals to India.
Farm produce exports grew by 10%. Year to year exports (January-July) show a 2.2% increase.
https://listindiario.com/economia/2...rtaciones-de-rd-crecieron-en-julio-en-un-3-3-
Regional agronomists warn of a new severe threat
The agronomists of Central America, Panama and the Caribbean have issued a stern warning on new strains of old viruses that threaten the livelihood of tens of thousands of Dominicans. Regional nations are asked to institute extremely strict plant and animal quarantines to avoid the spread of the new strain of the dreaded Panama Disease that affects the banana plant. Together with the Black Sigatoka, these plant diseases can wipe out banana and plantain plantations in a matter of months.
Fusarium oxisporum Strain 4 and its predecessors wiped out the entire commercial banana production in Panama (hence its name: Panama Disease), formerly the world's largest producer of bananas. In the Dominican Republic, poor crop management back in the late 1950s and early 1960s destroyed the production of the Johnson or Gros Michele variety of bananas that made the United Fruit Company so famous. Agronomists had to find new alternative exportable varieties.
Now these new varieties, the Cavendish for example, are under attack by Strain 4 of the disease. There is no cure once it affects farm production.
According to Francisco Puntiel de Leon, the head of the Dominican Association of Agronomical Engineers, the Dominican Republic the country has a lot to lose. It produces 50% of organic banana global export total. The European Union is its primary market. In the DR there are 15,000 hectares dedicated to organic bananas. Most of the farms are located in Valverde, Montecristi, Dajabon, Barahona, Peravia, Neyba and Azua.
https://listindiario.com/economia/2...rtaciones-de-rd-crecieron-en-julio-en-un-3-3-
Higher salaries do not do much with higher prices
The head of the Autonomous Confederation of Classist Unions (CASC), Gabriel del Rio Doñe called the wage increases recently gained by most workers "a joke." He noted that it has become a custom that when there are wage increases, a few days later, the prices of primary food products go up.
Del Rio told the media there is a gap of some 30% between the basic salary and the cost of the primary family food basket. He says wages are already too low and rejects the proposal of the management sector to re-classify company wages according to size.
Jacobo Ramos, from the Autonomous Dominican Confederation of Dominican Workers, warned that the unions will not take part in the talks regarding the reclassification of the different size companies. He called for the creation of a mixed commission to deal with the issue.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...gan-los-altos-precios-de-productos-AA14052057
JCE says automated vote pilot test run was a success
The Central Electoral Board (JCE) Dominicans says it is pleased with the results of the test run of the automated vote system. The machines will be used in the 6 October primaries, and the municipal, congressional and presidential elections in 2020. On Sunday, 8 September 2019, eligible voters from all around the country were asked to test the system at 5,401 voting stations nationwide. JCE president Julio César Castaños Guzmán said that the results were in 30 minutes after the close of the vote.
El Dia headline story observes the political parties did not mobilize their party members to participate, and those testing the system were relatively few. 7,422,416 persons are eligible to vote.
The JCE reported that the voters participating in the test run were of these ages:
66 years + : 24,079
56-65 years: 29,928
46-55 years: 30,865
36-45 years: 24,232
26-35 years: 19,225
18-25 years: 15,227
https://jce.gob.do/Noticias/jce-concluye-exitosamente-simulacro-nacional-del-voto-automatizado
https://acento.com.do/2019/politica...ica-de-impecable-el-proceso-de-voto-simulado/
https://m.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09/09/jce-computo-90-del-simulacro-en-30-minutos/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...lacro-de-las-primarias-organizadas-por-la-jce
Danilista faction chooses former Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo
In accepting the responsibility to campaign for the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) faction representing the followers of President Danilo Medina, former Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo said on Sunday, 8 September 2019 in the evening: "I want to thank all those who elected me and also those who voted for the other pre-candidates. We are all part of the same team and we will continue to work together to win the primaries on 6 October.”
Castillo was the last to announce his aspirations to run for the Presidency on the PLD ticket. Castillo was selected to represent Medina followers in the PLD primary scheduled for 6 October 2019. He will compete against former President Leonel Fernandez.
Only fellow pre-candidate Temístocles Montás was present for his announcement. During the press conference, the PLD did not share the technical details. The actual numbers of the polls were not presented to the public.
The remaining pre-candidates now have until 10 September to resign their aspirations to participate in the primary set for 6 October 2019.
59-year old Gonzalo Castillo is from Barahona. He graduated from the Instituto Politécnico Loyola high school in industrial electronics, and did his university studies in digital electronics at the PUCMM in Santo Domingo. He has a masters degree from the University of Quebec. He was appointed Minister of Public Works during the start of the Medina administration in 2012. His replacement has not yet been named. He had announced he would run for the Presidency on 8 September 2019. He was one of the most active supporters of President Danilo Medina's efforts to promote a third term for Medina. Castillo announced his aspirations after Medina declined running for office in 2020.
Temístocles Montás says Castillo will receive the backing of most of the party echelons gathered in the Political Committee and the Central Committee.
The spokesman for the Presidency, Roberto Rodríguez Marchena, said that Castillo "is a political and electoral phenomenon."
"Gonzalo embodies the majority that was prevented from voting for Danilo, who wants to keep what he has and keep moving forward," Rodríguez Marchena tweeted on Sunday.
On the other hand, the Administrative Minister of the Presidency, José Ramón Peralta commented that Castillo is the candidate of the majority of the PLD within the framework of the consensus. "With his leadership, we will continue the construction of a fair, strong, modern and balanced nation," he said.
Francisco Domínguez Brito, the highest ranked pre-candidate before the launching of the pre-candidacy of Gonzalo Castillo, said he would keep his word and would honor the agreement to back the winner of the polls.
Pre-candidate Andrés Navarro was prompt to express his backing of Castillo. "You will be the representative of our team in the primaries and I will be with you with all my structure, for the good of our party and our nation," he said.
Meanwhile, former President Leonel Fernandez over the weekend expressed confidence that he will win the primary. Other pre-candidates that registered for the primaries are Melanio Paredes and Manuel Crespo.
https://hoy.com.do/gonzalo-castillo-agradecio-y-pide-unidad-grupo-para-ganar/
https://eldia.com.do/gonzalo-castillo-es-escogido-como-heredero-del-sector-que-lidera-danilo-medina/
https://hoy.com.do/las-reacciones-d...lo-fuera-escogido-precandidato-del-danilismo/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09...ue-con-gonzalo-le-ganaran-por-mucho-a-leonel/
https://n.com.do/2019/09/08/leonel-dice-ganara-primarias-pld-pese-a-manipulacion-desde-el-poder/
Fishing for plastics in the waters of Puerto Plata
A young fisherman has arranged one day of the week to dedicate himself to the "fishing" of plastics and thus contribute to cleaning the waters on the north coast of the country. With his initiative, Johann Manuel Beard Vázquez is attempting to raise awareness among the people who indiscriminately throw waste, mostly plastics, into the coasts of the country. He has videotaped his effort showing how he is removing hundreds of wastes from the beaches and sea. For the effort, he built a special wire to hook the plastics. He said that campaign is a personal effort but that he hopes it will catch on and others will follow helping to remove the plastics and others in not littering.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09/07/pesca-plasticos-para-proteger-la-costa-norte-de-rd/
Squeegee guys are getting to be a big problem
Young men and boys, armed with rags, sponges and squeegees almost attack vehicles stopped at the major intersections of Greater Santo Domingo. Drivers are continually complaining to the authorities and on social media such as Facebook, Tweeter and Instagram. These attacks by window cleaners are a daily occurrence in the city, and usually attributed to young men with addiction problems. Santiago Rosario, a man who commutes to work in his car, told his Facebook friends that at the corner of Maximo Gomez and John F. Kennedy, "there is a guy that will mess up anybody's day. Besides being violent, he will dirty your windshield and shout insults if you do not let him clean your glass." Late last week, Georgina Musa was attacked by a window cleaner who broke the front windshield, with glass falling inside the car, just because she did not want him to clean her window.
Back in July 2017, the mayor of the National District issued a prohibition for squeegee guys to work the main intersections and offered them jobs with the city's cleanup crews. Two months later Mayor David Collado met with the head of the National Police. The agreement was to reduce the presence of the window washers at the main intersections of the capital. Just a month later at the two avenue intersections in question, 27 February and Maximo Gomez and 27 February and Winston Churchill, Diario Libre video photographers proved that really very little had improved. It is still a significant problem for many drivers.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...mpiavidrios-contra-los-conductores-PB14047923
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09...omper-parabrisas-de-vehiculo-con-una-pedrada/
DR loses to Australia in FIBA World Cup
The Dominican Republic lost 82-76 to Australia, after putting up a brave fight in the quarterfinals. Australia brought a team with 5 NBAs. The DR had no players from the NBA or European League. The DR next plays Lithuania in Group L of the FIBA World Cup. The event is a qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnLe04MJ8yM&feature=onebox
https://listindiario.com/el-deporte...-el-empuje-dominicano-y-ya-mira-a-los-cuartos
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09/07/rd-puso-oposicion-en-reves-contra-australia/
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports...australia-overcomes-pesky-dominican-republic/
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/basket...ic-now-face-nervous-wait-20190907-p52p0e.html
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-09/07/c_138373705.htm
https://asia.eurosport.com/basketba...ican-republic-lithuania_mtc1104861/live.shtml
DR wins five golds at Panamerican Judo Open
The Dominican Republic won the Santo Domingo Panamerican Open 2019 that took place 7-8 September in the capital city. The Dominican national team won five gold medals, three silver and 10 bronze medals in the event. One hundred thirty competitors from 19 countries represented the Americas, in addition to Cape Verde, Gabon, Mauritius, Cameroon from Africa and Spain.
Dominican gold medal winners were for the men, Medickson del Orbe Cortorreal, Robert Florentino, Lewis Medina, José Nova Alcantara, and female judoka athlete Ana Rosa.
https://www.ijf.org/competition/1753
https://www.ijf.org/country/dom/results
Dominicana's Got Talent starts off with a bang
The first chapter of the Dominicana's Got Talent impressed with a wide variety of acts selected for the opening on Wednesday, 4 September 2019. The final will be on 18 December. The judges Raymond Pozo, Milagros Germán, Waddys Jáquez and Nashla Bogaert interacted with the performers in the classic style of the Got Talent contest. Frank Perozo was the host for the show.
The show is part of the global British Got Talent franchise, and Simon Colwell sent his best wishes for a successful season. 8,000 participated in the auditions and 200 candidates were selected for the 2019 season.
The rap duo of Yisoz and Killerbeat garnered the first golden buzzer, touched off by a moved judge Nashla Bogaert during the presentation on Wednesday, 4 September. The performers that were selected are:
Opera singer, dentist Delhis Quezada
Comedian Elías Serulle
Six-year old star drummer Dylan Carmona
Contorsionist Gabriel Hernández
Salsa singer Evaristo Marte
Casa de Danza dance troupe from Santiago
Singer Gabi Pichardo.
While she didn't make it to continue in the contest, Halizandra stuck her tune "El Mundo al Reves."
https://dominicanatienetalento.com/
https://www.diariolibre.com/revista...actante-de-dominicana-s-got-talent-OG14038776
Here comes: Design Week RD
Celebrate the creative industries in the Dominican Republic. From 23-29 September 2019, Design Week RD will serve as a platform to expose, promote and internationalize architectural, industrial, handicraft and interior design in the Dominican Republic. This celebration of design week will include exhibitions, conversations, retrospectives, workshops, installations and special exhibitions, among other activities.
The event has the backing of the National Competitiveness Council. "We believe in productivity, export and innovation, the second and third pillars in the Competitive Dominican agenda. That is why we back this great project," said Rafael Paz, executive director of the National Competitiveness Council.
Paz emphasized that this event will connect construction and tourism. It also links a series of autochthonous creative industries, art expression, Dominican idiosyncrasy and cultural heritage.
"I hope that Design Week RD connects all these factors and allows us to turn Santo Domingo, the National District and the entire country into the hub of design and the creative economy of the Caribbean, and as such, add value to producers throughout the region," said Paz.
Jorge Brown, director of Design Week RD, says the initiative inserts Santo Domingo in the international calendar of design fairs. "Both micro-companies, designers and design brands will benefit from this brand-country project," said the organizer.
Brown explained that data from the Central Bank and the Ministry of Culture of the Dominican Republic shows that the creative industries contribute 1.5% of the Gross Domestic Product and give rise to half a million jobs, equivalent to 12.5% of the Dominican labor force.
https://designweekrd.com/
https://eventos.do/es/agenda/detail/280/DESIGN-WEEK-RD-2019
Lo Blanquito at the Coliseo Teo Cruz
With "Sin S Tour", the Dominican urban singer group Lo Blanquito takes their music on the road. Beto Pelaez, El Sholivery, Lean, Soco Francis AKA Lo Blanquito will be performing at the Coliseo Teo Cruz on Saturday, 5 October 2019 at 10pm. Tickets are for sale at CCN, Jumbo and Supermercados Nacional stores and online at Uepa Tickets. The group is said to have put a "smoking" on urban music singing.
Check out "Telacuti" the leading single of their debut studio album, Sin S:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvWk3sI-__U
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