DR1 Daily News - Tuesday, 17 September 2019

D

Dolores

Guest
Dominican Republic sends relief teams to Bahamas
JCE president's take on government cabinet support to Gonzalo Castillo campaign
Is the DR government having second thoughts about breaking with Taiwan?
Malecón shut down for filming of a movie
Pay traffic fines to renew vehicle circulation permits
Banana production down due to the drought
Conflict at Unapec
Lengthy blackouts even affect the police headquarters
Munné financial crash affects thousands in San Francisco de Macoris
Two days of mourning for dead teens
One earthquake after another in Cabrera and Nagua
Rains on the way
DR defeats Cameroon in FIVB World Cup
Cheddy García in Hot Bodies: How much was it PhotoShop?
Gustavo de Hostos and his divas sing memorable jazz songs at Blue Mall
Il Volo in Santo Domingo
Janet Fletcher coming to talk about cheese



Dominican Republic sends relief teams to Bahamas
A 62-member Dominican army, navy and air force unit arrived in Abaco Island in the Bahamas on Monday, 16 September 2019 to integrate with Bahamas teams and assist in Hurricane Dorian relief operations. The crews arrived with equipment to assist in the removal of debris and with 34.4 tons of food and supplies for the population.

On the mission are 33 members of the Army’s Humanitarian and Rescue Unit (UHR-ERD) and the Air Force’s Search and Rescue Squadron. Staff from the Social Assistance Plan of the Presidency is also part of the humanitarian mission.

http://www.mirex.gob.do/medios/noti...sion-humanitaria-dominicana-enviada-a-bahamas


JCE president's take on government cabinet support to Gonzalo Castillo campaign
Central Electoral Board (JCE) president Julio Castaños Guzmán told government officers to “watch it and take care not to commit irregularities.” He made the remarks after the naming of Medina cabinet ministers and government agency heads to campaign for former Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo. Castillo served as minister of Public Works from 16 August 2012 to 5 August 2019, when he resigned to seek the PLD presidential nomination in the 6 October 2019 primary. His leading contender is former President Leonel Fernández.

The active participation of the high-ranking government officers in the campaign violates Government Officer Law 41-08 and Political Parties Law 33-18. Government officers are banned from political campaigning activities and obliged to take a 90-day leave of absence for campaigning.

The announcement of the all-out support of Medina government ministers and officers to the campaign of pre-candidate Gonzalo Castillo has met with widespread criticism on alternative media, social media and in the press.

https://z101digital.com/junta-centr...-a-funcionarios-que-participen-en-la-campana/
https://acento.com.do/2019/politica...pan-en-campana-y-les-pide-que-tengan-cuidado/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...er-cuidado-al-participar-en-campana-electoral
https://acento.com.do/2019/politica...pan-en-campana-y-les-pide-que-tengan-cuidado/


Is the DR government having second thoughts about breaking with Taiwan?
Amidst reports that Haiti is negotiating establishing diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, there is speculation that the Dominican government is not pleased with the outcome of its own switch to China.

A feature in Acento online refers readers to a story in the Central News Agency (CNA) of Taiwan on the subject. Taiwan Foreign Minister Wu Hao says in an interview with CNA that there are many examples around the world where the People’s Republic of China has failed to deliver on its commitment to provide infrastructure and investment to countries that break their relations with Taiwan. He said that many countries are now into unsustainable high debt as a result of their new ties with China.

Foreign Minister Wu Hao in an interview with the Central News Agency on the 11 September and talked about the advantages and disadvantages of the diplomatic switch to alert other countries that have not yet severed ties with Taiwan.

He explained that Beijing’s common ploy is to commit to infrastructure construction, huge investments and easy loans. He mentioned recent cases of Sao Tome and Principe and Burkina Faso in Africa and the Dominican Republic in Latin America. In the case of the Dominican Republic, he mentioned China promised investment projects worth US$3 billion, but so far none have been started.

In the interview, Wu Hao mentions a president of a country that recently broke relations with Taiwan has regretted establishing diplomatic ties with China. He said the country is about to enter into a hot season of elections. He pointed out that this country has expressed to Taiwan through pipelines and emissaries that it would like to "re-establish the relationship with Taiwan." Wu Hao said in the interview: "We think they hurt us too much at the time. Now, because China cannot fulfill its promises, it is necessary to look back to Taiwan. This is not our style." He emphasized that this is a good opportunity for countries with Chinese illusions to think twice.

The interview is published on occasion of Solomon Islands signing for diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.

The South China Morning Post recently reported that China is negotiating with the President of Haiti to grant interest-free loans for these to break with Taiwan.

https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201909120270.aspx
https://acento.com.do/2019/politica...omesas-de-china-con-frecuencia-no-se-cumplen/
https://listindiario.com/las-mundia...-islas-salomon-y-se-queda-solo-con-16-aliados


Malecon shut down for filming of a movie
The City Government of the National District reported that the Santo Domingo Malecón was closed to traffic from Monday, 16 September 2019 at 6pm to 6am on Tuesday, 17 September. A closing off of the sea-fronting boulevard was to facilitate the filming of a movie in the area.

https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09/16/cierran-malecon-de-santo-domingo-por-filmacion-de-pelicula/


Pay traffic fines to renew vehicle circulation permits
The Tax Agency (DGII) is conditioning issuing vehicle circulation permits only to those that do not owe traffic fines. The DGII on Monday, 16 September 2019 opened the period to renew the vehicular circulation sticker, the “marbete.” The permit renewal period is from 16 September to 16 December 2019. After that, a fine of RD$2,000 is added to the renewal cost.

Renewals can be made online from now until 9 December, via the DGII website and the cost is the same as last year. Thirty-one financial companies are issuing the renewal stickers at 611 branches nationwide.

Vehicles from 2014 and older pay RD$1,500 and those from 2015 to the present date pay RD$3,000.

There are currently 1,374,321 vehicles that need to purchase the sticker to circulate.

The taxation office DGII is hoping to collect around RD$2.25 billion.

https://www.diariolibre.com/economia/hoy-empieza-la-renovacion-del-marbete-JB14157583
https://dgii.gov.do/marbetes/


Banana production down due to the drought
The drought affecting the country is causing banana producers to lose US$500,000 per week, according to Rafael Sosa, a member of the Banana Producers Association. Only recently have rains fallen to alleviate the situation.

"The authorities are clashing with the water boards, especially with the authorities of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources, who like to proselytize with water," said Sosa.

The former president of the Banana Producers Association criticized the lack of effective action on behalf of the government. He said the banana producers have proposed integrated solutions, such as the construction of dams to store water for use during periods of drought.

https://www.freshplaza.com/article/...-producers-in-the-dominican-republic-at-risk/


Conflict at Unapec
Most board members resigned at the Unapec, a long-standing private university, known for its business programs and other education initiatives. A report in Acento reveals that 11 board members resigned.

As explained, the board members did not agree with the extension of the term of rector Franklyn Holguín Haché. A new board is in the making, under Dr. Hipólito Herrera Pellerano. Herrera needs to be confirmed by the university assembly in October 2019.

The resigning board members are Justo Pedro Castellanos Khoury, Cynthia Teresa Vega, José Alfredo Corripio, Pilar Haché, Aura Celeste Fernández, Isabel Morillo, Humberto Sangiovanni, Cristina Bonetti, Raymi Mejía, Rodolfo Soto Ravelo and Tomás Pérez-Ducy.

https://acento.com.do/2019/opinion/...solucion-al-conflicto-en-la-universidad-apec/


Lengthy blackouts even affect the police headquarters
Summer heat records and peaks in electricity demand have resulted in extended outages nationwide. Reports from Greater Santo Domingo are that even the National Police headquarters circuit was out, with lengthy interruptions over the past two days.

24-hour power sectors are suffering long blackouts throughout the city. The outages are happening at a time when the summer heat is unbearable, with many people not being able to sleep without their fans or air-conditioning.

Several generation units are reportedly out of service. The national grid report indicates that Punta Catalina, the new thermoelectric coal-fired power plant, is generating 330 MW.

https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2019/09/16/582731/apagones-trastornan-la-vida-de-la-poblacion
http://www.oc.org.do/Servicios/Reportes/disponibilidadreal


Munné financial crash affects thousands in San Francisco de Macoris
Thousands of residents in Duarte province have their life savings at risk after the chocolate manufacturer Munné SRL has declared financial problems. The company went from accepting deposits from cacao producers to acting as a financial institution and paying higher interest than banks to lure deposits from people in the province and environs.

Now, lawyers say that the investment scheme has gone awry and affected upwards of RD$2 billion in deposits by the general public. Munne SRL has already recognized it owes upwards of RD$624.8 million to around 5,000 persons. The company was paying 10% interest rate that was up to 4 points above what regulated bank companies were offering. The system collapsed in June 2019.

https://n.com.do/2019/09/16/munne-g...e-afecta-a-miles-en-san-francisco-de-macoris/


Two days of mourning for dead teens
The Board of Councilors of the San Francisco de Macoris Town Hall has declared two days of mourning for the death of five teenagers in a crash at dawn on Sunday, 15 September 2019 in Ranchito, La Vega. The victims are 17-year-old Miguel Ángel de La Cruz and Luis de Jesús Almonte. Nabil Piña de la Rosa Cabreja, Camil Rodríguez Hernández and Emil Suárez Ledesma, all aged 16, also died in the tragic accident.

A video shared by one of the youths before the crash shows that the driver did not have control of the vehicle, a Toyota Corolla. Just after that video was shot, the car hit the Plaza Hípica El Furgón, on the road from San Francisco de Macoris to La Vega at around 4:30 am. It was completely destroyed.

It appears that the youths were traveling at very high speed, drinking alcohol and not thinking of the risks. They all died at the scene.

https://eldia.com.do/concejo-regido...e-duelo-por-muerte-de-5-jovenes-en-accidente/
https://hoy.com.do/videos-presintie...nes-dominicanos-que-murieron-tras-despedirse/


One earthquake after another in Cabrera and Nagua
On the morning of Monday, 16 September 2019, a 4.2 Richter Scale earthquake was felt in Cabrera and Nagua in the northeastern María Trinidad Sánchez province. Smaller replicas followed it. There have been no reports of any damage.

According to the National Seismological Center of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), the earthquake happened at 2:53am, to the southeast of Cabrera at a depth of 16.5 kilometers.

https://elnacional.com.do/se-siente-temblor-de-tierra-de-4-2-grados-en-cabrera/


Rains on the way
The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) has warned of heavy rains a tropical wave that is moving over the country from the East may bring 16-17 September 2019. The showers are expected mostly in the northeast, southeast, central mountain range and the frontier area and will move to Greater Santo Domingo and other regions of the country, including the north.

Hot summer temperatures will continue, nevertheless, with highs of 33ºC to 35ºC and minimums of 24ºC to 26 ºC forecast for Greater Santo Domingo.

https://eldia.com.do/meteorologia-pronostica-aguaceros-para-este-lunes-por-onda-tropical-3/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...s-temperaturas-alcanzaran-hasta-los-38-grados


DR defeats Cameroon in FIVB World Cup
The Dominican national women’s volleyball team defeated Cameroon in its match on 16 September 2019 in Yokohama, Japan. The game ended with scores 25-17, 25-15, 23-25, 28-30 and 15-10. The DR has now two wins (Cameroon and South Korea) and one loss (Japan). In the 12-team tournament, the Dominican Republic is in 8th place.

The DR next plays China at 2am on 18 September 2019.

http://worldcup.2019.fivb.com/en/news/kwiek-happy-all-team-members-played-in?id=88887
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-09/16/c_138395597.htm
http://worldcup.2019.fivb.com/en/women/schedule/10357-dominican republic-cameroon/post#ranking


Cheddy García in Hot Bodies: How much was it PhotoShop?
Well-loved Dominican comedian Cheddy García's photograph received more votes on social media than that of former Miss Dominican Republic in Miss Universe 2006 pageant, Zuleyka Rivera. The two were competing in the “Cuerpos Hot” reality show hosted by Luz García. The competition has been running since 2010 as part of García’s "Noche de Luz" TV variety show.

Cheddy García shared her photo vs. those of Zuleyka Rivera on Instagram.

Luz García confirmed García was the winner. On social media, nevertheless, many have commented that García’s photo had a heavy hand of PhotoShop.

https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09/16/cheddy-garcia-vence-a-modelo-zuleyka-rivera-en-cuerpos-hot/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09...-exceso-de-photoshop-en-fotos-de-cuerpos-hot/


Gustavo de Hostos and his divas sing memorable jazz songs at Blue Mall
Charismatic crooner Gustavo de Hostos is back at the Hard Rock Café of Blue Mall on Thursday, 19 September 2019 for an evening of memorable classics. The crooner has put together the inspiring show “The Jazz Divas.” In the concert, he is accompanied by leading women jazz singers Benny Hiraldo, Gigi Mota, Salime Caram and Cindy Rocha. The singers will sing solo and in duo with him.

On the program are memorable classics including “Unforgettable”, “New York, New York”, “Just the Way You Look Tonight”, “Girl from Ipanema”, “That’s Life” and many more.

Italian vocalist Sergio Laccone is also on the program for the evening.

A top-rated band accompanies the singers. Band members are Corey Allen (piano and musical direction); Federico Mendez (guitar); Denis Beyakov (saxophones); Sly de Moya (drummer) and Nicolas Calcaño (base).

General admission is RD$500, VIP is RD$1,000. Showtime starts at 8pm. Hard Rock Café at Blue Mall Santo Domingo on Av. Winston Churchill.

http://jazzendominicana.blogspot.com/


Il Volo in Santo Domingo
Il Volo has included a tour stop in Santo Domingo for its 10th anniversary Il Volo Musica Tour. The group will be performing Wednesday, 9 October 2019 at the Teatro La Fiesta of the Hotel Jaragua.

The group has been performing as Il Volo since 2010. The performers are award-winning Italian operatic pop trio of Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Inoble from Sanremo, Italy.


Janet Fletcher coming to talk about cheese
Janet Fletcher of Planet Cheese is hosting the Santo Domingo Food Fest Cheese Edition. Distrito Lujo is the organizer of the event set for 17-19 October 2019 at the JW Marriott Santo Domingo.

Fletcher will speak at a master class on cheese and wine and another on cheese and beer for RD$6,375. Tickets to The Village and The Market are RD$1,275 on Friday, 18 October. Tickets to the events are for sale at Uepa Tickets online and at Supermercado Nacional and the Jumbo stores.

http://distritolujo.com/2704-2/
http://www.janetfletcher.com/blog