DR1 Daily News - Wednesday, 16 October 2019

D

Dolores

Guest
Watch out for the flu
List of winning PLD and PRM candidates
JCE tells methodology to decide on tied candidates
JCE holds press conference to dispute Leonel Fernández charges
JCE president says the JCE is the most interested in clearing doubts on PLD primary
Bishops tell JCE that citizens have a right to demand transparency
Reactions to Fernández' complaints
Members of the PLD Political Committee protest Leonel Fernández's challenges
Tourism industry suffers
No rice shortage
Prices go up in Santiago
Haina garbage dump fire put out
Jimmy Carter to build homes in the country
DR ties with Montserrat in CONCACAF league game
Dominican volleyball team on the road to qualify for Tokyo 2020
Joseito Mateo's "El merengón" for Guinness World Record event
Contemporary dance show at Palacio de Bellas Artes



Watch out for the flu
The Ministry of Public Health warns that an acute respiratory infection (IRAC) has arrived in the country. The influenza viruses AH3N2 and AH1N1 are also affecting people in the Dominican Republic. The Ministry says there have been eight deaths from IRAC and 1,521 suspected cases, 266 more than at the same time last year.

The Ministry of Public has now begun to acquire the vaccinations against the infection. Deputy Minister of Collective Health at the Ministry José Manuel Puello has said that this is typical when there are abrupt temperature changes. The contrast between hot and cold and effect of the Saharan dust creates appropriate conditions for more respiratory infections.

https://eldia.com.do/en-el-pais-se-detecta-infeccion-influenza/
https://www.diariolibre.com/estilos...ra/hay-que-tomar-la-gripe-en-serio-PG14745280


List of winning PLD and PRM candidates
The Central Electoral Board (JCE) has made available online the list of Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) candidates for the scheduled 16 February 2020 municipal elections and congressional and presidential election scheduled for 17 May 2020
https://jce.gob.do/portaltransparencia/Repositorio/EntryId/15368


JCE tells methodology to decide on tied candidates
The Central Electoral Board (JCE) announced on Tuesday, 15 October 2019, the process for deciding the winners in the case of 54 pre-candidates who tied in the primaries on 6 October 2019. According to Article 271 of Electoral Regime Law 15-19, the members of the JCE will put cards with the pre candidates' names into envelopes and a box. The person whose name is drawn will be the candidate. The 54 pre-candidates will be present together with 108 assistants, and the secretaries of 27 municipalities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od_w899d-80
https://eldia.com.do/jce-conocera-esta-martes-casos-de-54-precandidatos-empatados-en-las-primarias/
https://jce.gob.do/Noticias/jce-dic...os-electos-de-primarias-simultaneas-pld-y-prm


JCE holds press conference to dispute Leonel Fernández charges
During a press conference held on Tuesday, 15 October 2019, the president of the Central Electoral Board (JCE), Julio César Castaños Guzmán, disputed accusations of automated voting equipment tampering made by former President Leonel Fernandez. Castaños Guzmán said that the fire at the JCE headquarters had nothing to do with the computerized voting equipment. He said the equipment suffered no damages because the machines were kilometers away from where the fire happened. He said the fire was caused by a short circuit. He said the security keys that were used for the automated equipment did not exist on the day of the fire.

Castaños Guzmán said the data results were transmitted on virtual private networks (VPN) administered by Altice and Claro telecoms. He said the JCE has requested that they certify if those lines were violated during the transmission. On Tuesday, 15 October 2019, the JCE published on their website a certification received from Altice that indicated that only the JCE had access to the contracted VPN. Claro also responded on the same day indicated that the lines operated exclusively for the contracted service and did not interact with the other private lines the JCE had contracted with the company.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od_w899d-80
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...-lineas-no-fueron-interferidas-en-la-votacion
https://youtu.be/Vzd01T7enAk


JCE president says the JCE is the most interested in clearing doubts on PLD primary
Everything involved with the primary has a reasonable explanation said Julio Castaños Guzmán, speaking during a press conference called on 15 October 2019. He said the Leonel Fernández team, in its challenge of the results of the 6 October ruling party primary, has been changing its story. He observed Fernández followers first mentioned the intervention of Russian hackers, then a Dominican man named Gomez, and now a version of an Indian hacker. He said that accusation without proof is defamation. He said the JCE is demanding proof of the accusations.

Castaños Guzmán said to clear doubts, a forensic technical audit is to be contracted. He said: "We are the first interested in clearing the situation. Democracy needs it. The party system, users, political activities need to be cleared to its last consequences. We are the most interested. We have no fear that the process be investigated and processed by a competent company. The JCE has decided to contract an internationally renowned company. The company will be announced and the time and the price of the service. We do not yet know the price, all else is speculation. "

The JCE president said the company would be hired via an urgency procedure not subject to a tender. He said they want to choose the best company with the most professional technicians. He said the results of the audit would serve those who are challenging the results and the JCE itself.

The JCE says that it is working because until 27 October is the calendar of events for other political parties. He said the JCE will await the results of the forensic technical audit, but that the work calendar continues at the JCE to organize the municipal, congressional and presidential elections in 2020.

He stated: "We are in the best disposition always to give all information that are requested. But I want to call attention that we were requested to give free IDs, and we did. We were asked for an audit and chose four universities and these gave their professional opinion. On 6 October there was a physical verification of 20% of the vote with the electronic results that confirmed the automated results. The physical vote count of 100% of the vote confirmed the electronic results. What more do they want?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od_w899d-80
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...rusos-siguio-con-un-gomez-y-ahora-es-un-indio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2Ktd184Lac
https://youtu.be/Vzd01T7enAk


Bishops tell JCE that citizens have a right to demand transparency
Bishops Víctor Masalles and Jesús Castro Marte said that the Central Electoral Board (JCE) should accept all demands for transparency. Masalles is the Roman Catholic Bishop for Baní said that everyone has the right to challenge the results of an election. He said the behavior of the numbers of the automated voting system is "strange."

Likewise, the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo, Jesús Castro Marte, stated that the JCE must accept all the revision demands to guarantee transparency and democracy.

https://listindiario.com/la-republi...jce-que-hay-derecho-para-exigir-transparencia


Reactions to Fernandez' complaints
The recent complaints by former President Leonel Fernandez about the results of the primary election for the presidential candidate for the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) have caused comment among other members of the party.

Jaime David Fernández Mirabal served as Vice President for President Leonel Fernández during the 1996-2000 term. He has written to Fernandez, recommending the latter recognize the victory of Gonzalo Castillo, and make a personal sacrifice to maintain the unity within the party.

He reminded Fernández that he too had lost in primary elections for the party in 2003 when he lost against Fernandez, and in 1999 he lost against Danilo Medina. He said that on both occasions, he accepted their wins.

In addition, the Dominican ambassador in the United States José Tomás Pérez has written to the United States Congress, saying that Fernandez' actions are anti-democratic and that he is creating an artificial crisis just because he lost the primaries.

Felix (Felucho) Jimenez, president of the Dominican Petroleum Refinery, also condemned the behavior of Fernandez, when interviewed on a television program. Jiménez said that Fernández would end up having to leave the PLD.

https://almomento.net/dirigentes-del-pld-critican-postura-de-leonel-ante-su-derrota-en-primarias/


Members of the PLD Political Committee protest Leonel Fernández's challenges
In a press conference held 15 October 2019, 24 of 34 members of the Political Committee of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) repudiated actions carried out by the party faction head by the party's president, former President Leonel Fernandez. The ruling board of the party stated that by making unfounded accusations of electoral fraud and attacking state institutions, Fernández is causing a totally artificial crisis.

In a press conference to state their stance on the past primary election held on 6 October 2019, the Political Committee backed Gonzalo Castillo's win. Castillo represented the government-backed faction of the party in the primary.

Political Committee majority spokesman Francisco Javier García criticized that the loser faction of the PLD has not accepted the verdict of the Central Electoral Board (JCE). The JCE on Saturday, 13 October 2019 announced Gonzalo Castillo had won the primary with 911,324 votes or 48.72% to 884,630 votes of Leonel Fernandez with 47.29%.

https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2019/10/16/587093/cupula-del-pld-rompe-con-leonel
https://listindiario.com/la-republi...a-historia-de-las-cuatro-crisis-que-ha-vivido
https://hoy.com.do/mayoria-cp-ofrece-apoyo-a-gonzalo-castillo/


Tourism industry suffers
The negative press reports earlier this year on American tourists dying in the country has had a detriment effect on the tourism industry. According to Economist Henri Hebrard in an interview with the Listin Diario newspaper, the country has had losses of around US$200 million from June to September this year, due to the decrease in American tourist arrivals. Hebrard explained that the average amount spent by these tourists is around US$1,200 per trip and multiplying this by the reduction in numbers leads him to that figure.

Hebrard said this situation is one of the reasons the peso is depreciating to the US dollar. He pointed out that around 20% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) depends on tourism. In addition to the negative press, the collapse of the Thomas Cook Group is leading to further problems over the winter season.

According to the latest figures from the Central Bank, at the end of September, the number of non-residents coming from North America was down by 1.7%, representing 49,941 fewer air arrivals. This was 33,148 fewer travelers from the United States and 18,538 fewer travelers from Canada.

Looking at the air arrivals of tourists from Europe, these were also down, with 46,689 fewer air arrivals for a decrease of 4.7%. The main reason for the decline is that visitors are down from the United Kingdom (-24,122), Germany (-18,040), Russia (-7,752), Sweden (-4,512), and France (-4,328), among others.

https://listindiario.com/economia/2...r-cerca-de-us-200-mm-por-baja-turistas-ee-uu-


No rice shortage
According to the president of the National Federation of Rice Producers (Fenarroz), Mauricio Maria, Dominicans consume around a million quintals of rice a month, equivalent to 33,333 quintals a day. A quintal is 100 kilograms, equal to about 220.5 pounds. Despite the drought impacting more than 50,000 tareas planted with rice in the Northwest, he said that production is sufficient to meet the demands of the population.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, between January and August 2019, the production of rice reached 8,528,734 quintals, with 1,761,329 tareas planted with rice. One tarea is equal to 629 square meters.

However, Maria said that the Northwest and San Juan de la Maguana are the most impacted areas. Luckily other areas, such as the Central Cibao, were not affected by the drought.

At the moment, rice is sold between RD$2,200 and RD$2,400 for a 125-pound bag. There are more than 30,000 rice farmers in the country and the industry generates more than 60,000 direct and indirect jobs. Each Dominican eats around 20 pounds of rice a month, nearly three quarters of a pound a day.

https://www.diariolibre.com/economi...llon-de-quintales-de-arroz-por-mes-FB14735624


Prices go up in Santiago
In Santiago, the costs of the items in the family basket have increased in the main markets in the city, with plantains now selling for RD$26 and RD$30, which is a RD$15 increase over the previous week.

According to Rafael Díaz, a seller in the Hospedaje Yaque market, all vegetables have increased in price, with carrots increasing by RD$5 a pound, cabbage between RD$8 and RD$10 a pound along with tomatoes and lettuce.

He explained that the reason for the price increases is the drought in the area.

https://listindiario.com/la-republi...nasta-familiar-causa-preocupacion-en-santiago


Haina garbage dump fire put out
The Ministry of Public Works and firefighters were able to extinguish the fire that affected the municipal garbage dump. The fire raged on for 21 days, bringing an increase in respiratory problems in the community.


Jimmy Carter to build homes in the country
The Dominican Republic will become the 15th country to host Habitat for Humanity's Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. The announcement of the November 2020 event came at the conclusion of the 36th Carter Work Project in Nashville, Tennessee. Former US President Jimmy Carter and his wife will be coming for the event.

Since beginning their work with Habitat for Humanity in 1984, President and Mrs. Carter have helped to build, renovate and repair 4,390 homes in 14 countries alongside over 104,000 volunteers through their annual work project. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has served over 22 million people around the world.

The 2020 build will mark the third time the project has been hosted in the Caribbean. The former US President and First Lady traveled to Haiti to build alongside homeowners and hundreds of other volunteers in 2011 and 2012.

According to the Dominican Republic's National Statistics Office (ONE), the country faces a deficit of more than 2.1 million housing units, which increases by 50,000-60,000 every year. About 60% of the housing deficit is due to the quality and safety of the housing available, and another 40% to the lack of available homes.

https://www.latintimes.com/jimmy-an...nity-work-project-take-place-dominican-447930


DR ties with Montserrat in CONCACAF league game
The Dominican Republic's national team tied with Montserrat on Tuesday, 15 October 2019 in the CONCACAF Nations Cup League B. The competition offers a qualifying spot for the 2021 Gold Cup. The highly contested game was played at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Center at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center.

The DR is in second place in the table of CONCACAF Nations League B, behind El Salvador. Then Montserrat and St. Lucia.

The DR team now needs to win its commitments in El Salvador and St. Lucia to qualify to play in the 2021 Gold Cup.

https://www.concacafnationsleague.com/en/video/cnl2019-dominican-republic-vs-montserrat-highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czschm7epI0
https://www.concacafnationsleague.com/
https://www.diariolibre.com/deportes/futbol/dominicana-se-complica-y-no-pasa-del-empate-AH14757337


Dominican volleyball team on the road to qualify for Tokyo 2020
Priscilla Rivera, captain of the national volleyball team, told El Dia reporters she is confident the country will qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. This would be the third time the Dominican women's team would compete in an Olympic Games. Previously the country competed in Athens 2004 and London 2012.

The optimism comes after the DR won the Norceca Women's Continental Championship that ended in Puerto Rico on 13 October 2019. In the finals, the DR defeated Team A of the United States. The United States has already qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games. A continental qualifier is scheduled for January 2020. The site of the qualifier has yet to be announced.

http://www.norceca.net/Dominicans win NORCECA Title in five thrilling sets to USA.htm


Joseito Mateo's "El merengón" for Guinness World Record event
Elvis Crespo, Manny Cruz and Miriam Cruz have recorded "El merengón," the classic merengue by the late Joseito Mateo for the quest for a Guinness World Record. 350 couples will dance the music in a synchronized manner to break a Russian merengue record. The event will take place on Sunday, 3 November at Plaza España in the Colonial City. Alberto Zayas is the producer of the event that has the backing of the Ministry of Culture.

https://eldia.com.do/el-merengon-a-tres-voces-para-un-gran-evento/


Contemporary dance show at Palacio de Bellas Artes
The Ministry of Culture and the National Contemporary Dance Company presents "Body to Body" (Cuerpo a cuerpo) from 18 to 20 October at the Máximo Avilés Blonda Hall of the Palacio de Bellas Artes.

The performance includes the dances "In-movil" by Dayme del Toro; "Cura" by Patricia Ortega; "Destiempo" by Maricarmen Rodríguez; "Blackbird" by Orestes Amador and "Sumergí" by Mildred Rubirosa.

Director of the Compañía Nacional de Danza Contemporanea Marianela Boan said the dancers establish a dialogue with the public.

The music is by Beatles, Chopin, Frank Bretschneider, Alva Noto and Bjork and Dominican composers Vadir Gonzalez, Brian Senior and Gioel Martin.

The performances will be on Friday, 18 October and Saturday, 19 October at 8:30pm and Sunday, 20 October at 7:30pm. Tickets are RD$300 per person.
https://eldia.com.do/cuerpo-a-cuerpo-un-espectaculo-de-mucha-danza-en-bellas-artes/