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Next DR1 Daily News Update: Monday, 23 September 2019
First Lady launches Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign
National District town hall selected for UNDP model program
CAASD announces 113 million gallons daily drinking water deficit
Patrols stepped up at the border with Haiti
New Indoppril replaces IDSS
FAO says poverty has significantly declined in DR
Last day to change the address on your ID
Universities asked to check automated voting system
José Ignacio Paliza: "The people are fed up with the PLD"
Recent polls: Uncertainty over the Fernández vs. Castillo race
Centenarian attributes her long life to a healthy lifestyle
Jaira, the turtle, returns to Guibia Beach to lay eggs
National University Games start Thursday, 19 September
Dominican wins FEI Jumping World Challenge Final 2019
Lots of rains forecast
Earthquake felt in Cabrera
DR loses to China and Russia in FIVB World Cup
Next DR1 Daily News Update: Monday, 23 September 2019
The next DR1 Daily News update will appear on Monday, 23 September 2019. The Monday issue will compile headline news for the previous Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Breaking news can be followed 24/7 in the DR1 Forums. See DR1 Forum at https://dr1.com
First Lady launches Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign
First Lady Candida Montilla presented the campaign "Protect Yourself Without Fear From Breast Cancer." She called out for prevention as the key to saving women's lives. The campaign seeks to motivate self-examination in women, adopting healthy lifestyles. It encourages women to undergo mammograms and Papanicolaou tests for early diagnosis of breast and cervical cancer. The First Lady's office covers the cost of mammograms in campaigns in remote areas of the country.
The First Lady says the physical and emotional health of women sustains the progress of the family.
The campaign was launched at the Ministry of Foreign Relations convention center. Dr. Elmer Huerta, founder and director of the Cancer Preventorium, Cancer Institute at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center, gave the keynote speech.
Accompanying the First Lady were: National District senator Cristina Lizardo; Rosa Rita Alvarez; president of the Fundación Reservas del País; Melba Segura, president of Sur Futuro; and Clarissa de la Rocha, vice-governor of the Central Bank.
https://www.medstarwashington.org/o...-institute/why-choose-us/cancer-preventorium/
National District town hall selected for UNDP model program
The United Nations chose the National District Mayor's Office as a model of transparency for implementing a pilot program at the regional level to facilitate dialogue between the city and the city council. Inka Mattila, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) representative in the Dominican Republic, made the announcement during a ceremony held at the Fray Antonio de Montesinos Monument in Santo Domingo.
Mattila said the selection recognizes "the proven political will and commitment to transparency demonstrated in a general manner from 2016 to date", through the implementation of the Santo Domingo Transparent and Inclusive Project.
She thanked National District Mayor David Collado for having fulfilled all the commitments he had assumed. She explained that the pilot test is part of UNDP efforts to establish a worldwide network on development innovation. One of the 60 laboratories that will be installed will be set up in the National District.
"That is the vision that we have on how policy should be made, on how the state's assets should be managed. That is why we asked UNDP: How do we make this sustainable in time?" She said UNDP contract guarantees the sustainability of the transparency processes that have been established so far at the Santo Domingo town hall.
National District Mayor David Collado stressed that having been chosen as a model for transparency processes in the region is evidence that the efforts and sacrifices have been worth it.
https://z101digital.com/pnud-selecc...e-transparencia-para-implementar-plan-piloto/
CAASD announces 113 million gallons daily drinking water deficit
The general director of the Santo Domingo Aqueduct and Sewerage Corporation (CAASD), Alejandro Montás says that Haina, Barrera de Salinidad and Isabela water sources are operating below capacity. He said the Jigüey and Valdesia reservoirs are also below adequate levels. He called for people to be aware and make rational use of water especially during these days of drought.
https://hoy.com.do/estado-de-emerge...-millones-de-galones-diarios-de-agua-potable/
Patrols stepped up at the border with Haiti
Ministry of Defense has stepped up surveillance and patrols at the border as violent protests over fuel shortages continue in Haiti. The Dominican Army sent more members of the Specialized Fuel Control Corps (CECCOM) to discourage fuel smuggling, said Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Danieslivar Veloz. Private schools closed in Port-au-Prince due to the insecurity in the streets. The fuel shortage has been affecting the country since August.
The Haitian government announced the arrival of new fuel shipments to that country, but also warned of hikes in diesel prices.
https://n.com.do/2019/09/18/el-gobi...cia-fronteriza-por-la-inestabilidad-en-haiti/
https://z101digital.com/republica-d...cia-fronteriza-por-la-inestabilidad-en-haiti/
New Indoppril replaces IDSS
The Chamber of Deputies passed the bill that creates the Dominican Institute for the Prevention and Protection of Labor Risks (Indopril) this week. The new government department will replace the Dominican Institute of Social Security (IDSS) that dates back to 1962. The initiative modifies Social Security System Law 87-01. The bill had already passed in the Senate and now moves to the Presidency for signing and publishing.
"It is not ideal. It is the possible law. I was a member of the Social Security Council, when Law 87-01 was approved, it was an intense day," said Radhamés Camacho, president of the Chamber of Deputies.
Idoppril has the following attributions:
1) The administration and payment of the benefits of the Labor Risks Insurance of the Dominican Social Security System (SDSS).
2) The contracting of health services for the attention of affiliates due to illnesses resulting from work and labor accidents.
3) The promotion of prevention and control of labor risks.
4) Promotion of the study, knowledge and comprehensive care of workers' health.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...-prestaciones-de-riesgos-laborales-IN14194408
FAO says poverty has significantly declined in DR
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) says that rural poverty in the Dominican Republic fell from 24% in 2014 to 9.5% in 2019. This is more than half in five years. Carmelo Gallardo, FAO representative in the Dominican Republic, shared the statistic before his participation in the 29th FAO Meeting of the Regional Commission on Agricultural Statistics and Food Security for Latin America and the Caribbean.
The indicator for Latin America and the Caribbean has also declined significantly. "Latin America and the Caribbean is the only region in the world that, with the previous Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), halved hunger by 2015," said Gallardo. This indicator was around 15% in 2004, and is currently around 6% or 7%, said the FAO representative.
Gallardo said that reducing poverty in the country by more than 50% in 15 years is "everyone's achievement," but "don't neglect yourselves, because when a strong crisis comes, it's easy to go back."
Gallardo also had grim news for the Dominican Republic. "The drought, in my opinion, has come to stay. Long periods of drought, unfortunately, are part of the consequences of climate change and we have to adapt," Gallardo told reporters before participating in FAO conference in Santo Domingo.
https://eldia.com.do/fao-revela-la-...ominicana-bajo-mas-de-la-mitad-en-cinco-anos/
https://listindiario.com/economia/2...n-reduccion-de-hambre-y-soberania-alimentaria
Last day to change address on your ID
The Central Electoral Board (JCE) says that Thursday, 19 September 2019 is the last day for a change in address on voter and identification cards ("cédula"). The person's address determines the assigned polling station. The JCE makes the change free of charge for those who have not previously changed their address. It requires the presentating of a legal contract, service or invoice with the new address as evidence of the address change.
Universities asked to check automated voting system
In February 2019, the Central Electoral Board (JCE) agreed with political parties to hire an independent firm to audit the vulnerabilities of the chosen automated voting system, but the call for bids was not made. Instead, now university technology departments are being asked to render a technical audit.
The JCE also said they have invited electoral experts from the Organization of American States to assess the 6 October 2019 primary. The OAS agreed to send Gerardo Sánchez García and Alejandro Bravo, of the OAS Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO) to observe the primaries.
The automated system to be used for the 2020 general elections was created by JCE technicians and will be tested for the first time during the 6 October 2019 primary to choose the presidential candidates for the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM). The system is a hybrid and will be offline and connected to the Internet after the votes have been cast for the tallying and reporting of the results.
Dominican universities Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), Instituto Tecnológico de las Américas (ITLA) and Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) accepted a request from the Central Electoral Board (JCE) to look into reviewing the new automated voting system for ballot traceability. Does the system guarantee secrecy of the vote? There is concern that there could be attempts to influence the voter by intimidation. The Dominican government is the leading employer in the Dominican Republic and has convened most cabinet ministers to back the pre-candidacy of Gonzalo Castillo.
Will the system be able to tell if a person has already voted? The universities are also being asked for their opinion on the system's risk of being hacked.
Rector Alfredo de la Cruz Baldera for PUCMM; rector Rolando Guzmán and IT director Eric Barinas of INTEC; rector José Armando Tavárez for (ITLA); rector Julio Amado Castaños and IT director Benjamín Alcántara and technology cybersecurity director for UNIBE Erick Barinas (Intec) participated in the first meeting on the matter.
https://jce.gob.do/Noticias/pleno-j...rectores-y-tecnicos-de-universidades-del-pais
https://hoy.com.do/universidades-inician-examen-sistema-voto-automatizado/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4FtXupUsok
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09/19/voto-automatizado-concentra-atencion/
José Ignacio Paliza: "The people are fed up with the PLD"
The president of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), senator José Ignacio Paliza says the Dominican people are "fed up with the governments of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD)". The PLD has ruled the country since 2004. Paliza says the PLD governments have not been able to solve the fundamental problems. He said the political structure of the PLD is not going to change "no matter who the candidate is, even if they name dolphins or whales." He made the remark because presidential pre-candidate Gonzalo Castillo has been nicknamed the "delfín," or "the chosen one," referring to President Danilo Medina's open preference of the candidate.
"The PLD system has ruled for 20 years and all the problems are there. After 20 years, we have 16-hour blackouts and power plants that still do not provide electricity. Public health is a delusion, quality education is a project and for public safety, there is no known plan," he said.
He said the growth shown by the PRM in recent polls is the result of a great work by the party leaders and militants, at the same time that it has developed as a brand and institution. "We have been creating our own identity and our own brand. We have had new leaders, new leaderships throughout the national geography," he added.
Paliza made the remarks when interviewed on 18 September 2019 during the Matinal program on Telemicro, Channel 5
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09/18/paliza-el-pld-tiene-harta-a-la-poblacion-dominicana/
Recent polls: Uncertainty over the Fernández vs. Castillo race
With 17 days to go before the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) hold their primaries on 6 October 2019, polls are continuously being released by the interested parties.
According to the Peruvian polling firm ABC Marketing, Fernández will defeat Castillo 44.9% to 35.7% in the primary election. But this is not certain since 19.4% said they had not yet decided who to vote for among the two. Castillo represents the Danilo Medina faction in the ruling political party. Fernández is a three-term former President.
For the PRM, the poll suggests Luis Abinader will grab 84.1% of the vote against his main contender, former President Hipólito Mejía.
According to the poll, Luis Abinader of the PRM leads in voter preference with 41.3%, followed by PLD pre-candidates former President Leonel Fernández (26.1%) and former Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo (15.4%). Neither has the 50%+1 vote needed to win in the first round election set for 17 May 2020.
The poll raised several scenarios of second-round elections, facing the candidates. If Abinader were to run against Fernández, 53.7% said they would vote for Abinader. If the election were Abinader and Castillo, Abinader would win with 58.6%.
The CID Latino América poll indicated the primaries could go either way between Gonzalo Castillo and Fernández. Luis Haug, regional manager for CID Latino America, said that when people were asked who they thought would win the PLD primary, 48% said Gonzalo Castillo and 45% said Leonel Fernández. 7% said they were undecided.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...hipolito-y-elecciones-presidenciales-a-leonel
https://hoy.com.do/encuesta-luis-abinader-con-53-7-leonel-fernandez-39-2-y-gonzalo-castillo-29-3/
https://hoy.com.do/abinader-ganaria-a-leonel-o-gonzalo-en-el-2020/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...a-gonzalo-es-el-favorito-en-primarias-del-pld
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2019/09/19/583247/encuestas-muestran-simpatias-en-partidos
Centenarian attributes her long life to healthy lifestyle
101-year old Jacinta Zorrilla of Las Cuchillas, El Seibo province, says she grew up always having plenty to eat because her father was a farmer and rancher. She was interviewed as part of a series running in Listín Diario on centenarians in the Dominican Republic. "We ate a lot: a lot of meat, a lot of milk; there was a lot of cheese, there was everything," she emphasized. She says she still enjoys eating rice, beans, meat, fruit and fried plantains.
She says her longevity is not about food. She says of 17 siblings, she is the only one that is alive. She said a healthy lifestyle complemented quality eating. She said she did not have vices, didn't smoke or drink in excess, nor did she stay up all night, either.
She described herself as a hard-working woman who sewed in a workshop, her family's business. She said when she married, the family moved to Santo Domingo because her husband wanted their children to get a better education. She had a daughter of her own, but raised three boys her husband in a previous marriage. Later the couple adopted another child.
Zorrilla is in good spirits, albeit mortified that she can no longer do house chores. She gets around in a wheelchair after falling and fracturing her hip. "I'm no longer good for anything," she laments. She has suffered from some health complications, such as arthritis, osteoporosis and hypertension, but says she has outgrown these.
Now, her hobby is reading newspapers every day and listening to the rosary on a radio station. She is a religious woman. Her daughter Mireya says that every Sunday, her mom receives communion at a Catholic church. Since the death of her husband, Hipólito de la Cruz, in 1995, Zorrilla lives with her biological daughter.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...permitio-a-jacinta-zorrilla-llegar-a-101-anos
Jaira, the turtle, returns to Guibia Beach to lay eggs
On 20 August 2013, a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nicknamed "Jaira" was tagged when laying eggs in Guibia Beach in Santo Domingo. At the time she was 113cm long and weighed around 300 kg. The turtle is 30 to 40 years old.
Now, fisherman Ramón Antonio Lopez (Pinpín) photographed Jaira on 13 September 2019 again at Guibia Beach, as reported in Diario Libre.
Marine biologist Omar Shamir Reynoso is proud that the turtle-monitoring program is working. Malecón fishermen have been trained to be on the lookout for turtles.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...espues-para-anidar-en-playa-guibia-HN14196212
National University Games start Thursday, 19 September
The II National University Sports Games in the current management of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation (Miderec) will be held Thursday, 19 September through Sunday the 29th. The competitions will take place at venues in Santo Domingo, at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center, the Parque del Este, the Santo Domingo Autonomous University (UASD), the National Pedro Henríquez Ureña National University (UNPHU), and at the facilities at the Instituto de Formación Docente Salomé Ureña (ISFODOSU). More than 2,000 athletes from 29 universities will compete in 14 sports, announced Sports Minister Danilo Diaz.
The National University Sports Commission, chaired by Deputy Minister of Sports Marcos Diaz, is the organizer of the games. University athletes will compete in chess, athletics, basketball, baseball, indoor soccer, judo, karate, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, volleyball, 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball and bowling.
https://elnacional.com.do/los-juegos-universitarios-inician-manana/
Dominican wins FEI Jumping World Challenge Final 2019
Giorgia Ieromazzo from the Dominican Republic grabbed the FEI Jumping World Challenge Final 2019 title in Quito, Ecuador. The 32-year old Dominican-trained rider claimed the win with a double-clear performance on Sunday, 15 September 2019.
As reported, Ieromazzo was delighted with the performance of the police horse Magnus Jarea that carried her to victory. She was full of praise for the event organizers and the venue at Club Rancho San Francisco. "It's been amazing - the place, the horses, the organization, the competitions, the people - we've all had a blast and this was a great experience!" Ieromazzo said.
Giorgia Ieromazzo defeated New Zealand's Christine Cornege who won silver, and South Africa's Mathiew Morrizon who took the bronze. "I did a clear in the first round and then I was telling myself in the second round "you have to concentrate!" When I'm in the ring, I'm in my zone, I don't even remember what happens, I just ride!" Ieromazzo said afterward.
Ieromazzo was the only rider to take the courses with zero faults. Her sister, Beatrice Ieromazzo served as her coach during the competition.
It is the second time that a Dominican wins the prestigious event. The first to do so was Isabel Sanchez, in 2014 in Venezuela.
FEI president Igmar de Vos, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), attended the event.
The FEI Jumping World Challenge Final was created in 2001 under the sponsorship of PSI, and was organized together with dressage for five years at the Kasselman Stables in Hagen, Germany. It then moved to Santiago in Chile in 2008 and 2009 before changing continents again when held at Kyalami Equestrian Park in South Africa in 2014. It visited Central Asia for the first time last year when Israel's Nadav Sternbach came out on top in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The 2019 edition at Quito is the 18th in the popular equestrian series.
Twenty-one riders participated in the 2019 tournament representing Algeria, Bermuda, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Congo, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Israel, Morocco, Panama, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/giorgia-ieromazzo-campeona-en-quito-gana-la-fei-wjch/
https://equnews.com/region/ieromazzo-grabs-gold-for-dominican-republic
Lots of rains forecast
A low pressure and trough is forecast to bring significant downpours, thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday (18 and 19 September) to most of the southern Caribbean Sea coastline. The storm has formed south of the Dominican Republic, reported the National Meteorological Office (Onamet).
The Center for Emergency Operations has issued a green alert for 16 provinces. to possible flooding in the provinces of Santiago, Hato Mayor, Monte Plata, La Vega, Monseñor Nouel (Bonao), San Cristóbal, La Altagracia, San Pedro de Macorís, La Romana, El Seibo, Peravia, San José de Ocoa, Azua, Barahona, Pedernales and Greater Santo Domingo.
The heavy rains could continue through Friday and Saturday, as it is moving slowly.
The National Hurricane Center of the United States reported on Thursday, 19 September 2019 in the early morning: "A large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms near and to the southeast of the Dominican Republic is associated with a tropical wave. While upper-level winds are not forecast to be conducive for significant development, locally heavy rainfall is possible over portions of the Dominican Republic and Haiti during the next couple of days. The disturbance is forecast to move slowly northwestward through the weekend."
The rains are welcome. The Dominican Republic has been suffering the effects of a drought through most of 2019.
NHC reports indicate that Hurricane Jerry is most likely to pass well north of the Dominican Republic over the weekend.
http://onamet.gob.do/index.php/pronostico/informe-del-tiempo
https://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/175150-2019-Hurricane-Season/page24
Earthquake felt in Cabrera
A 4.5 magnitude on the Richter Scale earthquake was felt on Wednesday, 18 September 2019, in the Dominican Republic. The earthquake was noticeable slightly in Santo Domingo. It shook the country at 3:34pm. Its epicenter was 8.6 km northeast of Cabrera in María Trinidad Sánchez province at a depth of 12 km.
Listín Diario reports that at least 17 earthquakes have been felt in the Dominican Republic this week. The 4.5 magnitude quake on Wednesday is the strongest.
In none of the cases have there been damages.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...os-dos-mas-grandes-fueron-de-4-2-y-4-5-grados
DR loses to China and Russia in FIVB World Cup
The Dominican Republic women's volleyball team lost to China in the FIVB World Cup ongoing in Japan. The game ended 3-0 with scores of 25-19, 25-15 and 25-19.
On Thursday, the Dominican women's team battled Russia, losing 2-3 in five sets. The scores were 16-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, and 5-15.
The Dominican Republic is in 8th place of 12 teams, with two wins and three losses. The DR has defeated Korea and Cameroon and has lost to Japan, China and Russia.
The DR next plays Kenya (22 September), Brazil (23 September), USA (24 September), Argentina (27 September), Netherlands (28 September), Serbia (29 September).
http://www.fivb.com/en/about/news/fivb-volleyball-womens-world-cup---standings?id=88814
First Lady launches Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign
National District town hall selected for UNDP model program
CAASD announces 113 million gallons daily drinking water deficit
Patrols stepped up at the border with Haiti
New Indoppril replaces IDSS
FAO says poverty has significantly declined in DR
Last day to change the address on your ID
Universities asked to check automated voting system
José Ignacio Paliza: "The people are fed up with the PLD"
Recent polls: Uncertainty over the Fernández vs. Castillo race
Centenarian attributes her long life to a healthy lifestyle
Jaira, the turtle, returns to Guibia Beach to lay eggs
National University Games start Thursday, 19 September
Dominican wins FEI Jumping World Challenge Final 2019
Lots of rains forecast
Earthquake felt in Cabrera
DR loses to China and Russia in FIVB World Cup
Next DR1 Daily News Update: Monday, 23 September 2019
The next DR1 Daily News update will appear on Monday, 23 September 2019. The Monday issue will compile headline news for the previous Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Breaking news can be followed 24/7 in the DR1 Forums. See DR1 Forum at https://dr1.com
First Lady launches Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign
First Lady Candida Montilla presented the campaign "Protect Yourself Without Fear From Breast Cancer." She called out for prevention as the key to saving women's lives. The campaign seeks to motivate self-examination in women, adopting healthy lifestyles. It encourages women to undergo mammograms and Papanicolaou tests for early diagnosis of breast and cervical cancer. The First Lady's office covers the cost of mammograms in campaigns in remote areas of the country.
The First Lady says the physical and emotional health of women sustains the progress of the family.
The campaign was launched at the Ministry of Foreign Relations convention center. Dr. Elmer Huerta, founder and director of the Cancer Preventorium, Cancer Institute at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center, gave the keynote speech.
Accompanying the First Lady were: National District senator Cristina Lizardo; Rosa Rita Alvarez; president of the Fundación Reservas del País; Melba Segura, president of Sur Futuro; and Clarissa de la Rocha, vice-governor of the Central Bank.
https://www.medstarwashington.org/o...-institute/why-choose-us/cancer-preventorium/
National District town hall selected for UNDP model program
The United Nations chose the National District Mayor's Office as a model of transparency for implementing a pilot program at the regional level to facilitate dialogue between the city and the city council. Inka Mattila, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) representative in the Dominican Republic, made the announcement during a ceremony held at the Fray Antonio de Montesinos Monument in Santo Domingo.
Mattila said the selection recognizes "the proven political will and commitment to transparency demonstrated in a general manner from 2016 to date", through the implementation of the Santo Domingo Transparent and Inclusive Project.
She thanked National District Mayor David Collado for having fulfilled all the commitments he had assumed. She explained that the pilot test is part of UNDP efforts to establish a worldwide network on development innovation. One of the 60 laboratories that will be installed will be set up in the National District.
"That is the vision that we have on how policy should be made, on how the state's assets should be managed. That is why we asked UNDP: How do we make this sustainable in time?" She said UNDP contract guarantees the sustainability of the transparency processes that have been established so far at the Santo Domingo town hall.
National District Mayor David Collado stressed that having been chosen as a model for transparency processes in the region is evidence that the efforts and sacrifices have been worth it.
https://z101digital.com/pnud-selecc...e-transparencia-para-implementar-plan-piloto/
CAASD announces 113 million gallons daily drinking water deficit
The general director of the Santo Domingo Aqueduct and Sewerage Corporation (CAASD), Alejandro Montás says that Haina, Barrera de Salinidad and Isabela water sources are operating below capacity. He said the Jigüey and Valdesia reservoirs are also below adequate levels. He called for people to be aware and make rational use of water especially during these days of drought.
https://hoy.com.do/estado-de-emerge...-millones-de-galones-diarios-de-agua-potable/
Patrols stepped up at the border with Haiti
Ministry of Defense has stepped up surveillance and patrols at the border as violent protests over fuel shortages continue in Haiti. The Dominican Army sent more members of the Specialized Fuel Control Corps (CECCOM) to discourage fuel smuggling, said Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Danieslivar Veloz. Private schools closed in Port-au-Prince due to the insecurity in the streets. The fuel shortage has been affecting the country since August.
The Haitian government announced the arrival of new fuel shipments to that country, but also warned of hikes in diesel prices.
https://n.com.do/2019/09/18/el-gobi...cia-fronteriza-por-la-inestabilidad-en-haiti/
https://z101digital.com/republica-d...cia-fronteriza-por-la-inestabilidad-en-haiti/
New Indoppril replaces IDSS
The Chamber of Deputies passed the bill that creates the Dominican Institute for the Prevention and Protection of Labor Risks (Indopril) this week. The new government department will replace the Dominican Institute of Social Security (IDSS) that dates back to 1962. The initiative modifies Social Security System Law 87-01. The bill had already passed in the Senate and now moves to the Presidency for signing and publishing.
"It is not ideal. It is the possible law. I was a member of the Social Security Council, when Law 87-01 was approved, it was an intense day," said Radhamés Camacho, president of the Chamber of Deputies.
Idoppril has the following attributions:
1) The administration and payment of the benefits of the Labor Risks Insurance of the Dominican Social Security System (SDSS).
2) The contracting of health services for the attention of affiliates due to illnesses resulting from work and labor accidents.
3) The promotion of prevention and control of labor risks.
4) Promotion of the study, knowledge and comprehensive care of workers' health.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...-prestaciones-de-riesgos-laborales-IN14194408
FAO says poverty has significantly declined in DR
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) says that rural poverty in the Dominican Republic fell from 24% in 2014 to 9.5% in 2019. This is more than half in five years. Carmelo Gallardo, FAO representative in the Dominican Republic, shared the statistic before his participation in the 29th FAO Meeting of the Regional Commission on Agricultural Statistics and Food Security for Latin America and the Caribbean.
The indicator for Latin America and the Caribbean has also declined significantly. "Latin America and the Caribbean is the only region in the world that, with the previous Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), halved hunger by 2015," said Gallardo. This indicator was around 15% in 2004, and is currently around 6% or 7%, said the FAO representative.
Gallardo said that reducing poverty in the country by more than 50% in 15 years is "everyone's achievement," but "don't neglect yourselves, because when a strong crisis comes, it's easy to go back."
Gallardo also had grim news for the Dominican Republic. "The drought, in my opinion, has come to stay. Long periods of drought, unfortunately, are part of the consequences of climate change and we have to adapt," Gallardo told reporters before participating in FAO conference in Santo Domingo.
https://eldia.com.do/fao-revela-la-...ominicana-bajo-mas-de-la-mitad-en-cinco-anos/
https://listindiario.com/economia/2...n-reduccion-de-hambre-y-soberania-alimentaria
Last day to change address on your ID
The Central Electoral Board (JCE) says that Thursday, 19 September 2019 is the last day for a change in address on voter and identification cards ("cédula"). The person's address determines the assigned polling station. The JCE makes the change free of charge for those who have not previously changed their address. It requires the presentating of a legal contract, service or invoice with the new address as evidence of the address change.
Universities asked to check automated voting system
In February 2019, the Central Electoral Board (JCE) agreed with political parties to hire an independent firm to audit the vulnerabilities of the chosen automated voting system, but the call for bids was not made. Instead, now university technology departments are being asked to render a technical audit.
The JCE also said they have invited electoral experts from the Organization of American States to assess the 6 October 2019 primary. The OAS agreed to send Gerardo Sánchez García and Alejandro Bravo, of the OAS Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO) to observe the primaries.
The automated system to be used for the 2020 general elections was created by JCE technicians and will be tested for the first time during the 6 October 2019 primary to choose the presidential candidates for the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM). The system is a hybrid and will be offline and connected to the Internet after the votes have been cast for the tallying and reporting of the results.
Dominican universities Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), Instituto Tecnológico de las Américas (ITLA) and Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) accepted a request from the Central Electoral Board (JCE) to look into reviewing the new automated voting system for ballot traceability. Does the system guarantee secrecy of the vote? There is concern that there could be attempts to influence the voter by intimidation. The Dominican government is the leading employer in the Dominican Republic and has convened most cabinet ministers to back the pre-candidacy of Gonzalo Castillo.
Will the system be able to tell if a person has already voted? The universities are also being asked for their opinion on the system's risk of being hacked.
Rector Alfredo de la Cruz Baldera for PUCMM; rector Rolando Guzmán and IT director Eric Barinas of INTEC; rector José Armando Tavárez for (ITLA); rector Julio Amado Castaños and IT director Benjamín Alcántara and technology cybersecurity director for UNIBE Erick Barinas (Intec) participated in the first meeting on the matter.
https://jce.gob.do/Noticias/pleno-j...rectores-y-tecnicos-de-universidades-del-pais
https://hoy.com.do/universidades-inician-examen-sistema-voto-automatizado/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4FtXupUsok
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09/19/voto-automatizado-concentra-atencion/
José Ignacio Paliza: "The people are fed up with the PLD"
The president of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), senator José Ignacio Paliza says the Dominican people are "fed up with the governments of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD)". The PLD has ruled the country since 2004. Paliza says the PLD governments have not been able to solve the fundamental problems. He said the political structure of the PLD is not going to change "no matter who the candidate is, even if they name dolphins or whales." He made the remark because presidential pre-candidate Gonzalo Castillo has been nicknamed the "delfín," or "the chosen one," referring to President Danilo Medina's open preference of the candidate.
"The PLD system has ruled for 20 years and all the problems are there. After 20 years, we have 16-hour blackouts and power plants that still do not provide electricity. Public health is a delusion, quality education is a project and for public safety, there is no known plan," he said.
He said the growth shown by the PRM in recent polls is the result of a great work by the party leaders and militants, at the same time that it has developed as a brand and institution. "We have been creating our own identity and our own brand. We have had new leaders, new leaderships throughout the national geography," he added.
Paliza made the remarks when interviewed on 18 September 2019 during the Matinal program on Telemicro, Channel 5
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2019/09/18/paliza-el-pld-tiene-harta-a-la-poblacion-dominicana/
Recent polls: Uncertainty over the Fernández vs. Castillo race
With 17 days to go before the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) hold their primaries on 6 October 2019, polls are continuously being released by the interested parties.
According to the Peruvian polling firm ABC Marketing, Fernández will defeat Castillo 44.9% to 35.7% in the primary election. But this is not certain since 19.4% said they had not yet decided who to vote for among the two. Castillo represents the Danilo Medina faction in the ruling political party. Fernández is a three-term former President.
For the PRM, the poll suggests Luis Abinader will grab 84.1% of the vote against his main contender, former President Hipólito Mejía.
According to the poll, Luis Abinader of the PRM leads in voter preference with 41.3%, followed by PLD pre-candidates former President Leonel Fernández (26.1%) and former Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo (15.4%). Neither has the 50%+1 vote needed to win in the first round election set for 17 May 2020.
The poll raised several scenarios of second-round elections, facing the candidates. If Abinader were to run against Fernández, 53.7% said they would vote for Abinader. If the election were Abinader and Castillo, Abinader would win with 58.6%.
The CID Latino América poll indicated the primaries could go either way between Gonzalo Castillo and Fernández. Luis Haug, regional manager for CID Latino America, said that when people were asked who they thought would win the PLD primary, 48% said Gonzalo Castillo and 45% said Leonel Fernández. 7% said they were undecided.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...hipolito-y-elecciones-presidenciales-a-leonel
https://hoy.com.do/encuesta-luis-abinader-con-53-7-leonel-fernandez-39-2-y-gonzalo-castillo-29-3/
https://hoy.com.do/abinader-ganaria-a-leonel-o-gonzalo-en-el-2020/
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...a-gonzalo-es-el-favorito-en-primarias-del-pld
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2019/09/19/583247/encuestas-muestran-simpatias-en-partidos
Centenarian attributes her long life to healthy lifestyle
101-year old Jacinta Zorrilla of Las Cuchillas, El Seibo province, says she grew up always having plenty to eat because her father was a farmer and rancher. She was interviewed as part of a series running in Listín Diario on centenarians in the Dominican Republic. "We ate a lot: a lot of meat, a lot of milk; there was a lot of cheese, there was everything," she emphasized. She says she still enjoys eating rice, beans, meat, fruit and fried plantains.
She says her longevity is not about food. She says of 17 siblings, she is the only one that is alive. She said a healthy lifestyle complemented quality eating. She said she did not have vices, didn't smoke or drink in excess, nor did she stay up all night, either.
She described herself as a hard-working woman who sewed in a workshop, her family's business. She said when she married, the family moved to Santo Domingo because her husband wanted their children to get a better education. She had a daughter of her own, but raised three boys her husband in a previous marriage. Later the couple adopted another child.
Zorrilla is in good spirits, albeit mortified that she can no longer do house chores. She gets around in a wheelchair after falling and fracturing her hip. "I'm no longer good for anything," she laments. She has suffered from some health complications, such as arthritis, osteoporosis and hypertension, but says she has outgrown these.
Now, her hobby is reading newspapers every day and listening to the rosary on a radio station. She is a religious woman. Her daughter Mireya says that every Sunday, her mom receives communion at a Catholic church. Since the death of her husband, Hipólito de la Cruz, in 1995, Zorrilla lives with her biological daughter.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...permitio-a-jacinta-zorrilla-llegar-a-101-anos
Jaira, the turtle, returns to Guibia Beach to lay eggs
On 20 August 2013, a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nicknamed "Jaira" was tagged when laying eggs in Guibia Beach in Santo Domingo. At the time she was 113cm long and weighed around 300 kg. The turtle is 30 to 40 years old.
Now, fisherman Ramón Antonio Lopez (Pinpín) photographed Jaira on 13 September 2019 again at Guibia Beach, as reported in Diario Libre.
Marine biologist Omar Shamir Reynoso is proud that the turtle-monitoring program is working. Malecón fishermen have been trained to be on the lookout for turtles.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actuali...espues-para-anidar-en-playa-guibia-HN14196212
National University Games start Thursday, 19 September
The II National University Sports Games in the current management of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation (Miderec) will be held Thursday, 19 September through Sunday the 29th. The competitions will take place at venues in Santo Domingo, at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center, the Parque del Este, the Santo Domingo Autonomous University (UASD), the National Pedro Henríquez Ureña National University (UNPHU), and at the facilities at the Instituto de Formación Docente Salomé Ureña (ISFODOSU). More than 2,000 athletes from 29 universities will compete in 14 sports, announced Sports Minister Danilo Diaz.
The National University Sports Commission, chaired by Deputy Minister of Sports Marcos Diaz, is the organizer of the games. University athletes will compete in chess, athletics, basketball, baseball, indoor soccer, judo, karate, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, volleyball, 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball and bowling.
https://elnacional.com.do/los-juegos-universitarios-inician-manana/
Dominican wins FEI Jumping World Challenge Final 2019
Giorgia Ieromazzo from the Dominican Republic grabbed the FEI Jumping World Challenge Final 2019 title in Quito, Ecuador. The 32-year old Dominican-trained rider claimed the win with a double-clear performance on Sunday, 15 September 2019.
As reported, Ieromazzo was delighted with the performance of the police horse Magnus Jarea that carried her to victory. She was full of praise for the event organizers and the venue at Club Rancho San Francisco. "It's been amazing - the place, the horses, the organization, the competitions, the people - we've all had a blast and this was a great experience!" Ieromazzo said.
Giorgia Ieromazzo defeated New Zealand's Christine Cornege who won silver, and South Africa's Mathiew Morrizon who took the bronze. "I did a clear in the first round and then I was telling myself in the second round "you have to concentrate!" When I'm in the ring, I'm in my zone, I don't even remember what happens, I just ride!" Ieromazzo said afterward.
Ieromazzo was the only rider to take the courses with zero faults. Her sister, Beatrice Ieromazzo served as her coach during the competition.
It is the second time that a Dominican wins the prestigious event. The first to do so was Isabel Sanchez, in 2014 in Venezuela.
FEI president Igmar de Vos, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), attended the event.
The FEI Jumping World Challenge Final was created in 2001 under the sponsorship of PSI, and was organized together with dressage for five years at the Kasselman Stables in Hagen, Germany. It then moved to Santiago in Chile in 2008 and 2009 before changing continents again when held at Kyalami Equestrian Park in South Africa in 2014. It visited Central Asia for the first time last year when Israel's Nadav Sternbach came out on top in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The 2019 edition at Quito is the 18th in the popular equestrian series.
Twenty-one riders participated in the 2019 tournament representing Algeria, Bermuda, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Congo, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Israel, Morocco, Panama, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
https://elnuevodiario.com.do/giorgia-ieromazzo-campeona-en-quito-gana-la-fei-wjch/
https://equnews.com/region/ieromazzo-grabs-gold-for-dominican-republic
Lots of rains forecast
A low pressure and trough is forecast to bring significant downpours, thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday (18 and 19 September) to most of the southern Caribbean Sea coastline. The storm has formed south of the Dominican Republic, reported the National Meteorological Office (Onamet).
The Center for Emergency Operations has issued a green alert for 16 provinces. to possible flooding in the provinces of Santiago, Hato Mayor, Monte Plata, La Vega, Monseñor Nouel (Bonao), San Cristóbal, La Altagracia, San Pedro de Macorís, La Romana, El Seibo, Peravia, San José de Ocoa, Azua, Barahona, Pedernales and Greater Santo Domingo.
The heavy rains could continue through Friday and Saturday, as it is moving slowly.
The National Hurricane Center of the United States reported on Thursday, 19 September 2019 in the early morning: "A large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms near and to the southeast of the Dominican Republic is associated with a tropical wave. While upper-level winds are not forecast to be conducive for significant development, locally heavy rainfall is possible over portions of the Dominican Republic and Haiti during the next couple of days. The disturbance is forecast to move slowly northwestward through the weekend."
The rains are welcome. The Dominican Republic has been suffering the effects of a drought through most of 2019.
NHC reports indicate that Hurricane Jerry is most likely to pass well north of the Dominican Republic over the weekend.
http://onamet.gob.do/index.php/pronostico/informe-del-tiempo
https://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/175150-2019-Hurricane-Season/page24
Earthquake felt in Cabrera
A 4.5 magnitude on the Richter Scale earthquake was felt on Wednesday, 18 September 2019, in the Dominican Republic. The earthquake was noticeable slightly in Santo Domingo. It shook the country at 3:34pm. Its epicenter was 8.6 km northeast of Cabrera in María Trinidad Sánchez province at a depth of 12 km.
Listín Diario reports that at least 17 earthquakes have been felt in the Dominican Republic this week. The 4.5 magnitude quake on Wednesday is the strongest.
In none of the cases have there been damages.
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...os-dos-mas-grandes-fueron-de-4-2-y-4-5-grados
DR loses to China and Russia in FIVB World Cup
The Dominican Republic women's volleyball team lost to China in the FIVB World Cup ongoing in Japan. The game ended 3-0 with scores of 25-19, 25-15 and 25-19.
On Thursday, the Dominican women's team battled Russia, losing 2-3 in five sets. The scores were 16-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, and 5-15.
The Dominican Republic is in 8th place of 12 teams, with two wins and three losses. The DR has defeated Korea and Cameroon and has lost to Japan, China and Russia.
The DR next plays Kenya (22 September), Brazil (23 September), USA (24 September), Argentina (27 September), Netherlands (28 September), Serbia (29 September).
http://www.fivb.com/en/about/news/fivb-volleyball-womens-world-cup---standings?id=88814