Avianca adds Bogota-Punta Cana
Avianca has announced the start of its twice a week Bogota-Punta Cana-Bogota flight on 20 July linking the Colombian capital to the beach resorts of the east coast. The flights will be on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The airline will fly Airbus A319s with capacity for 120 passengers, including 12 in business class. Avianca already flies between Bogota and Santo Domingo four times a week, landing at the Las Americas International Airport.
Upon making the announcement, Avianca president Fabio Villegas Ramirez said the plan was to motivate more people to travel from South America to the Punta Cana area, world famous for its leisure and pleasure attractions.
He said the new schedules would also allow more efficient connections from Bogota to Caracas, Quito, Panama, Sao Paulo, Santiago de Chile and Buenos Aires, as well as to the principal cities in Colombia.

Miami Dolphins cheerleaders film 2012 swimsuit calendar here
22 Miami Dolphins cheerleaders were in Puerto Plata for a photo shoot from 16-24 May. The Ministry of Tourism says that the Miami Dolphins chose the eco-rich area for the filming and photography for their sexy Cheerleader Swimsuit Calendar. Several features for the Dolphin Digest publication and television specials were also prepared, focusing on the beaches, historic attractions and water sports of the north coast. Scenes were filmed in Puerto Plata, Cofresi, Cabarete and Sosua.
"The Puerto Plata region's amazing sun, sea and sand will make a memorable setting for the Miami Dolphin Cheerleaders swimsuit calendar," said Magaly Toribio, Deputy Minister of International Promotion for the DR Ministry of Tourism. "Puerto Plata offers visitors so many authentic Dominican experiences to discover and savor including vibrant history, breathtaking scenery, contemporary and de-luxe resorts, and unlimited eco-adventures making it the perfect film location," she stressed.
The cheerleaders and filming crew were housed at the Iberostar Costa Dorada hosted the cheerleaders providing a distinct flavor of Dominican culture, elegance.
The Ministry announced that a first television special would air in September on
Miami's CBS 4 featuring behind-the-scene images of the cheerleaders and their travels throughout the Puerto Plata area.
The swimsuit calendar will debut at Barnes & Noble and Calendar Club this September, while online calendar sales will commence in August. In the meantime, you can read the cheerleaders' diaries and view exclusive clips of their experiences in Puerto Plata at: www.miamidolphinscheerleaders.net

Salamander Hospitality in the Dominican Republic
The Punta Cana area is expected to generate even more attention these days. Sheila C. Johnson of the WNBA Washington Mystics is betting on the area. Salamander Hospitality has chosen to open the Fishing Lodge Cap Cana. The property will be managed as a Salamander Resort Marina. The new hotel will include 302 villas with marina views. Of these, 220 will be available to resort guests. A second property, Ocean Club Cap Cana will open in 2012 as a 92-room boutique style hotel, located where the marina meets the Caribbean Sea. Guests and owners at the property will enjoy children's activities, boat rentals, sport fishing and nautical provisioning. The Fishing Lodge seeks to cater to all guest types and stays - from family reunions to executive group retreats. Guests will have access to the Punta Espada Jack Nicklaus signature golf course and club. They will also be close to the P.B. Dye and Tom Fazio courses at the nearby Punta Cana Resort & Club.
The Fishing Lodge Cap Cana is scheduled to open October 1, 2011
"This is a different type of Dominican resort destination, one that offers numerous experiences within a Mediterranean seaside setting, an energetic centralized location and freedom from traditional boundaries," said Sheila C. Johnson, founder and CEO of Virginia-based Salamander Hotels & Resorts. Upon making the announcement she said that the resort owner, Corporacion Hotelera Del Mar (CHM) has created an iconic destination. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to develop a long-lasting relationship with the Dominican people. Our company philosophy will be to hire from within the country - from senior management to hourly employees," she has said.
"The Dominican Republic is a fantastic choice for groups and meetings," said Prem Devadas, president of Salamander Hotels & Resorts, who has personally developed and managed four independent Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond properties.
Special introductory guest rates of US$129-599 per night at Fishing Lodge Cap Cana are available from October 1-December 31, 2011, ranging across all styles and sizes of accommodation options. Usual rates range from US$275-725 per night.
The official opening date is 1 October 2011, but bookings will begin to be taken in July at fishinglodge@salamanderhotels.com

Puerto Ricans win fishing tournament
Anglers from Puerto Rico bested Dominican crews and walked off with all the trophies at the 46th International White Marlin Fishing Tournament, the leading event organized by the Santo Domingo Yacht Club at their Cabeza de Toro facility. The visiting fishermen were impressed by the large number of fish that were captured and released, as per tournament rules. The Puerto Rico Light Tackle Team (PRLT I) caught 13 fish, for a leading 1,300 points. Fishermen Carlos Garcia, Bruno Rodriguez and Eugenio Belabel won the main tournaments of the event held last weekend. In second place, Los Frescos, also from Puerto Rico, won second place with 1,100 with Puerto Rican fishermen Luis Dordova, Jorge Muro and Richard Matos Senior. Third place went to the San Juan Shopping Center team, made up by Eduardo Read, Jesus Montero and Ignacio Cruz.
In the individual events, Puerto Rican Angel Muntaner won the first place with 800 points, followed by Dominican Domingo Viyella with 700 points.
Summer is the best time of year for fishing in the southern and eastern Caribbean.

Electronic music in Juan Dolio
Hotel Coral Costa Caribe is hosting two electronic music evenings on the beach. From 22-23 June, the Caribbean Music Festival (CMF) will bring six international DJs for two days of practically non-stop music. Coming for the event are Hardwell, James Zabiela, 16 Bits Lolitas, Steve Bugs and Desyn Massielo. Local DJs include Karlanton, Lui, Hyper, Namnum, Dimitri Mi Jailov, Manuel Alliata, Miguel Duarte and Gabriel Peralya.

1. President to inaugurate historians gathering
President Leonel Fernandez and Sergio Guerra Vilaboy, president of the Association of Latin American and Caribbean Historians (ADHILAC) will give the welcoming words at the opening of the 10th International Meeting of ADHILAC that will take place in Santo Domingo 14-17 June at the venues of the Palacio de Bellas Artes, UASD Pedro Mir Library and Funglode, with post. The event, that gathers around 100 historians from the region, will focus on the revolutions in the history of Latin America and the Caribbean in the 20th Century. The opening is set for the Palacio de Bellas Artes at 7pm.

Franklin Wright, of the University of Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland (USA) will give the opening speech on the great American revolutions of the 20th century (Mexico, Bolivia and Cuba).

Work sessions will be held at the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (Funglode). On Saturday, 18 June, participants in the meeting will travel to San Juan de la Maguana, and on Sunday, 19 June they will visit Santiago and other Cibao cities.

http://adhilac.com.ar/

2. Fernandez has not submitted reform of PN
Some three months have passed since President Leonel Fernandez announced that he would send Congress a legislative proposal for the reform of the National Police (PN), and the much-awaited Fundamental Law of the National Police has yet to see the light of day. Added to this, according to El Caribe, are issues inside the police force that are stalling any changes.

In his speech to Congress on 27 February, the President announced that he was going to send legislative proposals for the Police, the Armed Forces and for the nation's Intelligence Services to the Congress. Of these three ideas, only the legislative proposal relating to the Armed Forces has reached Congress and once there, it was sent to a commission for study.

3. What has resulted from Leonel's trips?
President Leonel Fernandez has not yet officially announced the trip scheduled for this Thursday, but sources say he will be going abroad again, this time for a 10-day trip to the Middle East with a stopover in France. The trips have been criticized for their high cost, taking the President away from crucial issues at home, and for their low yield.

On Monday, investigative journalist Alicia Ortega followed up on the difference between the announcements of achievements of the trips and reality.

Journalistic analysis of 25 of the 30 projects announced by President Leonel Fernandez as the result of his frequent trips abroad found that only four have actually been firmed up in little more than seven years. This was the essence of last night's program El Informe by Alicia Ortega, according to Hoy newspaper.

The journalist reported that the President has travelled numerous times, mostly to invite people to invest in the Dominican Republic, but the results "are not very visible." The report says that the President averages about ten trips a year and the costs associated with his entourage, hotels, airplane fares and per diems are in the millions of dollars.

The projects that have been announced range from cement factories and pre-stressed concrete to the production of ethanol, bio-diesel, solar energy and the installation of a new oil refinery. There was also talk about investing in buses that run on ethanol, the construction of the second Metro line, and a railroad, as well as the opening of flights to Libya and Sao Paulo, as well as the production of 'telenovelas" and films for export and the installation of factories to provide natural gas for other countries.

According to Ortega, the supposed investment in a cement factory that was to be made by the Martin Ozinga Bros. Company, has not taken place. She cited the Dominican Association of Cement Producers who told her that they had never heard of the Ozinga Brothers' company. [The cement factory would have been located in La Isabela, Puerto Plata, and was protested by environmentalists.]

Long story short, most of what was promised never came to fruition and cost the nation millions of dollars. Only the PetroCaribe Agreement, a donation of RD$50 million from Taiwan for the Cybernetic Park, the establishment of flights to and from the United Kingdom and the startup of the modernization of the local television have actually happened.

www.noticiassin.com/2011/06/viajes-del-presidente-fernandez-%c2%bfproyectos-de-inversion-o-maletas-cargadas-de-ilusion-y-un-hombre-condenado-a-cinco-anos-de-carcel-en-1995-sigue-en-prision-hasta-el-dia-de-hoy-por-negligencias/

4. S&P improve bond ratings
Standard & Poor have raised the credit rating of the Dominican Republic in local currency and foreign currencies, going from B to B+ and stressing the improvements achieved in the debt structure and its economic growth.

According to Listin Diario, S&P said that "prospects were stable" as they also improved the evaluation of transfers and convertibility to BB from BB-. S&P said that continued growth will be helped by the reopening of a key nickel mine this year and the planned 2012 production start at Barrick Gold's Pueblo Viejo gold project, the Dominican Republic's largest foreign investment project. Nonetheless the risk assessment agency warns that "Despite buoyant economic growth, fiscal challenges persist as revenue collection lags behind the economic expansion". S&P expects growth to be 5.5% this year.

In turn, Moody's Investors Service rates the Dominican Republic at B1, the same level as S&P's new rating. Both have a stable outlook while Fitch Ratings has put the country one notch lower at B with a positive outlook.

The Fernandez administration is about to make a new US$500 million sovereign bond placement.

5. Congress to modify tax reform
As a joint commission holds hearings with all of the sectors that will be directly hit by the proposed tax legislation, it seems certain that some changes will be made to the original bill sent by President Fernandez to the Senate.

Diario Libre says the legislative proposal on the tax reform submitted by the Executive Branch to the National Congress, with the aim of collecting RD$9.5 billion, will be modified in several aspects by the joint commission that is studying it. According to the commission, a proposal by the Executive that seeks to eliminate the 0.15 percent tax on checks will be rejected, keeping the tax as it is. Regarding the one percent tax on bank assets, as was agreed at the Presidential Palace, the government will apply the tax for just two years, and will not tax the legal reserve funds, the cash on hand or the investments in government bonds.

The commissioners are considering a two or two and a half percent tax on gross sales by free zone companies that sell on the local market. These companies can put 20% of their production on the local markets. They are also thinking about eliminating the new tax on luxurious housing and the empty lots that was also part of the proposed tax reform. With relation to the possibility that an additional tax could be placed on cable television, none of the members of the commission, which is made up of senators and deputies, is in agreement with that idea.

6. Many agree on judge selection process
The government and jurists agreed yesterday with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Justice, Jorge Subero Isa that the election of the judges to the high courts should use the methodology that was used in 1997 in order to guarantee their legitimacy. The administration gave guarantees that the selection of the judges of the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) as well as the other courts, will be carried out with the greater legitimacy and transparency than was used in 1997 when the current magistrates were appointed.

In the meantime, jurists Servio Tulio Castanos Guzman, the executive vice-president of the Institutionalism and Justice Foundation (Finjus), and constitutional lawyer Cristobal Rodriguez, said that the mechanism for the election of the magistrates is what contributes to their legitimacy. In response to a proposal by Subero Isa, the Chief Justice of the SCJ, in Dialogo Libre, the Minister of the President, Cesar Pina Toribio reminded the reporters that the Council of Magistrates of that year (1997) was chaired by Leonel Fernandez and the same thing will happen now.

"I suppose that there will be a first call for a meeting as soon as President Leonel Fernandez returns from his trip, but this is my opinion, which I can say for sure, because I do not know," he said. Pina Toribio recalled that in spite of the fact that in 1997 the rules were not very clear, Fernandez conducted the process of selecting the magistrates without any type of friction in the Dominican society and that, on the contrary, a great show of support for the judges appeared, and the judges have conducted the process of judicial reform with marked success for 10 years. "So there is no reason why now, when they have all this experience, the selection mechanism and its transparency should not be equally or of greater effectiveness," he concluded.

7. CDEEE to pay generators US$110 million
The vice-president of the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE), Celso Marranzini, announced on Monday that the private generators would be receiving an arrears payment totaling some US$110 million this week. Marranzini added that the US$600 million that is owed to the generators is not in arrears, and of that amount only US$110 million is in arrears, which will be paid. He also explained that the frozen debt, which was US$414 million, is now down to US$135 million and that by the end of the year he expects it will be paid off in order to avoid interest payments.

According to El Nuevo Diario, Marranzini was speaking to a round table of commentators on "the Government of the Morning" radio program, one of the country's most listened to morning shows. He explained the role of increasing oil prices and the reason for the 8% increase in the electricity rates. Celso Marranzini also said that during his tenure at the head of the CDEEE, the agency had provided more electricity than ever before while reducing the cost by US$100 million through negotiations. The CDEEE administrator said also that more money could not be spent on education or on health or housing because of the "enormous subsidy on electricity." He said that we were all to blame for the electricity problem.

Finally, Hoy newspaper reported that Marranzini asked the nation's electricity consumers to check their bills and report any supected irregularities to Protecom, the agency responsible for protecting electricity consumers. He said that the resolution raising the electricity rates was very clear in stating that they were to be increased beginning in June and anything else would be an abuse on the part of the distributor. He also pointed out that electricity rates in parts of Central America were higher than in the Dominican Republic, at least for the smaller consumers. Nevertheless, at the level of more than 700kw/h per month, the rates in Central America are significantly lower than in the DR.

8. Venezuela to review PetroCaribe to favor DR
The Venezuelan authorities will review the PetroCaribe Agreement with the Dominican Republic next month. Venezuelan deputy Julio Chavez said that Venezuela expected that the PetroCaribe Agreement with the Dominican Republic would provide stability in terms of price and supply of petroleum-based fuels, a benefit that in general, the Dominican population has not received.

According to El Nuevo Diario, the Venezuelan legislator said that the main purpose of the PetroCaribe Agreements was to improve social conditions. The Dominican Republic signed the PetroCaribe Agreement in 2005 in a deal that provided 500,000 barrels of oil under very favorable conditions. Local politicians, like Eduardo Estrella from the Dominicans for a Change (DxC) party, have suggested the need for legislation to control the use of the funds from the PetroCaribe Agreement. Estrella said that this is the only agreement that does not specify the use of the funds that the government receives.

9. As many as 20% of Dominicans live overseas
The National Council for the Overseas Dominican Communities (Condex) says that "nearly two million Dominicans, which is to say 20% of the population, live overseas." This article in today's El Caribe reports that 1,334,000 Dominicans were living in the United States in July 2008. They stress that in the 2010 resume presented by President Fernandez to the National Congress last February, in New York City, Dominicans represented the second largest Latino population and in Puerto Rico they are the largest group of foreigners.

The article says that while in 2006 there were 69,864 Dominicans in Puerto Rico, most observers calculated the number to be closer to 300,000. Moreover, the European Union statistical office, Eurostat, says that 6% of the Latin American population in Europe is from the Dominican Republic, with the largest concentrations in Spain and Italy.

The presence of so many Dominicans in the Major Leagues in the United States, 86 and still growing, as well as the literary presence of Oscar Wao and Julia Alvarez, the silver screen graced by Zoe Saldana, and the music of Johnny Pacheco also identify the Dominican presence in North America.

10. AIRD complains of more illegal embargoes
In a similar situation to that affecting hotels in the east recently, many industrialists in Greater Santo Domingo are now under siege from a wave of highly questionable embargoes, according to a complaint voiced by Ligia Bonetti de Valiente, the president of the Dominican Republic Industrial Association (AIRD). Ligia Bonetti said that there appears to be a "mafia of labor lawyers" filing illegal embargoes against companies. The business executive told El Nuevo Diario reporters: "They are mafia, practically criminal associates, who have irregularly obtained judicial orders, accompanied by bailiffs and generally supported by police that appear at companies and try to impose embargoes of alleged sentences."

She said that the association is asking the authorities to look at this situation with the seriousness that it merits, and called for "a serious cleanup within the judicial apparatus..." She emphasized that the resulting loss of production and time and resources wasted fighting these irregular embargoes will end up costing many jobs, both direct and indirectly. "A stop must be put to this," she stated, as she pointed out that the president of the Dominican College of Notaries also was complaining that unscrupulous individuals were usurping the functions of notaries and facilitating the creation of illegal notarized acts.

11. Police nab US$307,000 in cash
Police agents and Justice Department members have arrested a man implicated in the so-called "Cibao Cartel" at the Cibao International Airport, and seized the sum of US$307,000 in cash. Cristian Robison Garcia was arrested while trying to leave the airport in a pickup truck inside of which the money was found in a black package. Robison Garcia will be taken shortly from Santiago to the city of Samana where he will be subject to an interrogation. His arrest was confirmed by the District Attorney of Samana, Juan Medina, who said that he was possibly involved in the shipment of 157 kilograms of cocaine that were confiscated in a boat in Samana some months ago.

Diario Libre said that the magistrate reported that the investigations into the seizure of the drugs are quite advanced and they would disclose some details of the case in the next few hours. In the meantime, it was revealed that the Appeals Court of San Francisco de Macoris changed the restraining measures in favor of a lawyer, Fausto Ramirez Collado, implicated in the case of the drug shipment. The defendant was released on a RD$3.0 million bail bond, with a requirement to report periodically to the judicial authorities and is subject to strict travel restrictions. Other defendants in the case include businessman Ivan Miguel Tineo Paulino, Luis Alvarez, Nadin Peguero Bezi who are in preventive custody for at least a year. According to the arraignment, the role of the lawyer, Ramirez Collado, was to supply and obtain the money to finance the international drug trafficking operations. The prosecutors also say that the lawyer was responsible for bringing the money from the United States with "mules" and later delivering it to dealers and money exchange houses.

Recently, National Drug Control Department head Major General Rolando Rosado Mateo said that the agency's intelligence service was after the assets of the members of the "Cibao Cartel", and he said that as soon as they were located they would be seized and revealed to the public.

12. Lack of water causes unrest in Santiago
Five people were wounded yesterday, including police agents, during violent protests in the streets of La Herradura and Barrio Lindo in the city of Santiago de los Caballeros in demand for drinking water, electricity and other issues. The injured include civilians Julian Jimenez and Jose Peralta, who were taken to hospital in the Bella Vista barrio in the south of Santiago. National Police Captain Felix A. Villanueva Rodriguez was wounded by a rock, and Corporal Mario Antonio Sime Paez was shot in the face. During the disturbances, five people were arrested, one with a homemade shotgun and several cartridges in his possession. In the midst of the protest, unknown persons set fire to several shops that sold fried meat in the area and destroyed the windshields of some vehicles whose drivers refused to pay a "toll".

According to Diario Libre, some of the demonstrators, who also called for the repair of the streets, blocked the main roads of La Herradura with burning tires, rocks and tree trunks. Representatives of the local neighborhood association are planning to visit the Santiago Water and Sewer Corporation (Coraasan) to find a solution to the water shortages in the area.

13. No respite from heat
The southeast winds push up the temperatures while adding humidity to the air, according to reports in Hoy and El Caribe. The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) is forecasting at least two weeks of high temperatures and is advising people to wear light clothing and to drink plenty of fluids. The forecast is also for brief showers in the northeast and southeast as well as in the central mountains and along the frontier. The suffocating heat, reaching 35°C and 36°C or 95°F and close to 97°F, in some location around the country, and the El Caribe say that this is due to proximity of the summer, which officially starts on 21 June. @solucionesparaestecalor on Twitter is offering solutions from the sublime to the ridiculous, and the Public Health Ministry is recommending the consumption of fruits and vegetables with a high water content, as well as rich in vitamins and fiber. Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez agrees with Onamet's recommendations of using light colored clothing due to the combination of heat, perspiration and humidity that combine to sap the body's fluids.

14. Urban music in Punta Salinas
The Mega Beach Fest will be two days of hip hop, reggaetton and dembow at what is being described as the Dominican Woodstock, this weekend from noon to 7pm at Punta Salinas, Bani.

On Saturday, 25 June: Don Miguelo, El Poeta Callejero, El Lapiz, La Materialista, Mozart La Para, Mr Manyao, Chombo Pana Black, El Alfa, Villano Sam, Mely Mel, Jay & eE Musicologo and El Batallon.

On Sunday, 26 June: Vakero, Milka la Mas Dura, Black Point, MC Joa, Pablo Piddy, Paramba, John Distrito, Nippo, Confucio y Bopero, Doble D y Yomil, Joshua In The House and Shelow Shaq.

Tickets: Ticket Express, megabeachfest@gmail.com, Tel 809 227-0103. Punta Salinas is located east of Bani in the province of Peravia, about an hour drive west of Santo Domingo.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

1. Deputies approve Metro loan
After intense, often heated debates, the Chamber of Deputies authorized taking on loans for a total of EUR251.5 million, approximately RD$13.6 billion. El Nuevo Diario reports that the funds will be used to complete the first phase of the second line of the Santo Domingo Metro. The loans will finance the purchase of rolling stock, electro-mechanical installations and other expenses for the first phase of the second line.

Deputies from the ruling PLD and some of the allied Reformist (PRSC) party deputies voted in favor. Deputies from the PRD and a few allies from minority parties voted against the loans.

PRD spokesman Nelson Arroyo said that it was a shame that deputies were deciding to increase the foreign debt on such an historic date, the 14 of June, which commemorates national sovereignty. Deputy Juan Hubieres, himself a transport union leader, told the chamber that each day some 700,000 people move about Santo Domingo in cars, motorcycles, public cars and buses, while the Metro is transporting under 25,000 people a day and is costing US$100,000 per day in electricity, a cost that will increase when the second line is built.

The deputies approved the loans from the BNP Paribas Fortis Bank, Citibank Europe PLC, KFW and Deutsche Bank, S.A.E., all European commercial banks. The loans are for EUR109.2 million, EUR71.1 million, EUR44.9 million and EUR26.3 million, approximately RD$13.6 billion.

2. First call for National Tests
With an agenda that begins on 20 June, the Minister of Education issued a call to more than 300,000 students to take the Standardized National Tests at the elementary and secondary levels. The call is to 145,000 students finishing primary school (8th Grade), some 31,000 Adult Education students, 118,000 high school seniors and 18,000 technical school graduates.

The Ministry says that the tests are a tool for assessing the students' level of learning. There are exams in Spanish, Mathematics, Social Studies and Natural Sciences. The grades obtained in the National Tests make up 30% of each student's final grades, and the remaining 70% comes from the grades achieved during the school year.

Students get two chances to pass the tests at elementary level and three at secondary level.

Ancell Scheker, director general of testing at the Ministry of Education, told El Nuevo Diario reporters that there were not many changes in the format this year, while stressing that there was improved security and quality control of the processes.

The first group to be tested will be the eighth graders, starting on 20 June in the morning. The Adult Education students will be tested the same week, but in the afternoons. Finally, the high school seniors will be tested starting on 27 June, and their exams will be administered in the afternoon.

3. DR has large-scale urban unemployment
The Dominican Republic has exceeded the median unemployment rate in Latin America and the Caribbean, which was high to start with, as reported in the The Employment Situation in Latin America and the Caribbean report released today by ECLAC and ILO, two United Nations agencies. Hoy newspaper, the average urban unemployment rate for the region as calculated by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) was 10.3 percent and the Dominican average was set at 13.9 percent back in 2000, but in 2010 the Dominican average was 14.3% and the regional average was down to 7.3%. Vigorous economic recovery in the region will lead to the creation of more jobs and a reduction in the urban unemployment numbers, according to the international economic analysts.

http://www.cepal.org/cgi-bin/getProd.asp?xml=/prensa/noticias/comunicados/8/43698/P43698.xml&xsl=/prensa/tpl-i/p6f.xsl&base=/tpl/top-bottom.xslt

4. CONEP makes counter-offer
A selective consumer tax of 1.5 per thousand on cash withdrawals from bank counters, excluding ATMs, was one of the options presented by the National Business Council (CONEP) in its appearance before the joint commission that is studying the fiscal proposals that the President has submitted to the National Congress. This tax would be gradually reduced until 2013, until it reached zero. The government would collect approximately RD$1.825 billion, which according to Conep would have a positive effect on the economy. According to Diario Libre, business leaders believe that this would discourage cash transactions, and would increase transparency and formality among the users of the financial system, leading to a significant reduction in the costs involved in handling cash for the banks.

They also proposed an increase in income tax for legal entities, from 25% to 26%, with a gradual removal also until 2013, alleging that with this increase, the state would garner an additional RD$856 million.

The business representatives also proposed an increase from 12% to 14% on the savings projected by the government in its expenditures in 2011, which would represent additional savings of RD$2.85 billion. Moreover they suggest that the government should implement a greater austerity on total public spending in order to obtain sufficient resources to cover the fiscal deficit. Conep suggested that the government negotiate with the International Monetary Fund for an increase in the debt limit for 2011, in exchange for ending the agreement in December 2011, instead of in February 2012. The business leaders believe that this would ensure that macro-economic stability is maintained, along with continuity in state projects and the rationalization of expenditure. Conep believe that the 10% tax on dividends, with which they project to collect RD$2.825 billion, needs to be replaced, since according to their explanations, it does not permit compensation through the retention of income taxes from the shareholders on the income tax of the companies: it reduces business competitiveness and in some cases seriously compromises the viability or feasibility of a company as it taxes one source of money with two taxes.

5. Clinic owners approve 14%
Last night the National Association of Private Clinics and Hospitals (Andeclip) officially approved the 14% minimum increase in the cost of all services provided by private health centers, which will be applied beginning today at 8am. Andeclip decided on the increase during a meeting attended by representatives of the 120 nationwide member institutions.

Andeclip president Rafael Mena told Diario Libre reporters that the increase would be charged directly to patients until an agreement with the Health Risk Administrators (ARS) could be reached. Mena said that the minimum increase approved by the clinic owners might vary from one clinic to another, since each clinic is free to increase the adjustment depending on its operating costs. The increase will be applied to all outpatient and hospitalization services, as well as for laboratory services. It does not include doctors' fees.

6. Ivan Ogando is new Cariforum director general
Dominican trade and development specialist Ivan Ogando took office on 10 June in Barbados as the first director general and coordinator for Cariforum, the grouping of Caribbean Common Market (Caricom) states, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. His start of office coincided with the First Meeting of the Trade and Development Committee under the Cariforum-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which took place 9-10 June 2011 in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Introducing Ogando, Alexis Rosado, CEO n Belize Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, said: "He takes on this task at a time when CARIFORUM States are seeking to strengthen and breathe new life into role and responsibilities of CARIFORUM".

The post was created after authorities in the DR expressed their concern over the role of the Caricom Secretary General and the reporting procedures. Cariforum members agreed that a national of the Dominican Republic should be appointed to this role up to 16 September 2012.

The meeting in Barbados focused on legal issues, the ratification of the Agreement, institutional matters, trade in goods and services and other trade-related issues, development cooperation, and monitoring the implementation of the EPA.

In 2008, CARICOM and the Dominican Republic signed the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the 27-nation European Union (EU), but implementation has been lagging and efforts are underway to push the agreement forward among the Caribbean member states.

The member states of Cariforum are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Cuba became a member in October 2001. The UK and Dutch overseas territories have observer status while active co-operation is pursued with the French overseas departments and territories.

www.caricom.org/jsp/pressreleases/press_releases_2011/pres212_11.jsp

7. Gender crimes down so far this year
Deputy Attorney General for Women's Affairs Roxanna Reyes told El Dia that fewer women had been murdered so far this year compared to the same period last year. While 40 women were killed between January and June 2010, this year the number is 34. The prosecutor stressed that in order to fight the problem, the first thing is to educate and empower women so they may identify when they are being abused. "And they need to know where to file a complaint and where to go," said the lawyer. She added that "there are currently 14 units that tackle gender crimes of violence across the country."

8. Mexican cartels move to north coast
Northern Mexican drug cartels have turned the Atlantic coast of the Dominican Republic into an air operations center for the Colombian and Peruvian drug cartels, after abandoning the so-called Central American Corridor, as reported in El Caribe.

The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) estimates that between February and May this year the Mexican and South American cartels moved large shipments through the Dominican Republic towards the continental United States. According to the El Caribe report, the DEA is saying that members of the Sinaloa, Mexicali and Nuevo Leon cartels contacted Italian capos in Puerto Plata and created the operational and logistical "Cibao Cartel." The members of this new cartel operated mostly in San Francisco de Macoris, Samana, Sosua, Cabarete and Santiago, from where the group has withdrawn because of the actions of the drug agencies.

The news report reads like a spy or detective story, capped by the arrest of Cristian Robinson Nunez Almonte at Santiago International Airport with US$307,000 in cash in his possession. This arrest triggered searches along the north coast for the rest of the drug trafficking ring, and several people were detained as suspects in Sosua and Cabarete yesterday. When he was interrogated, Robinson Nunez said that the money that he had was to be used to pay for the logistics of moving drugs dropped off in Dominican territory to Mexico by fast boats and yachts.

The operational "routes" used by the South Americans include drug drops on the high seas between Samana and Puerto Plata that are then picked up for delivery by boats to Mexico.

Recently the DNCD seized 195 kilos of cocaine in Jarabacoa that was part of a drug drop that took place in Cabarete on 7 March.

Later on, at Los Cocos Beach in Samana, the authorities seized 115 kilos, and just recently, 300 kilos of drugs were seized in Samana Bay. The main suspect in that most recent case, Fausto Ramirez, was freed on bail just this week.

According to the drug agencies, this new route is the result of two factors: the successful use of the Super Tucano airplanes recently purchased from Brazil and the tightening of controls along the Central American Corridor.

9. Finjus wants PN law to be sent to Congress
The Institutionalism and Justice Foundation (Finjus) says that President Fernandez should send the legislation on the National Police (PN) reform to Congress. Finjus spokesmen Rafael del Toro and Servio Tulio Castanos Guzman say that the Police are currently in a process of reforming the institution, which will entail some major changes. Speaking at yesterday's Multimedios del Caribe luncheon meeting, Castanos told reporters that "the Police themselves put this issue on the table, creating a proposal for reforming the police, which they sent to the President, and which was then worked on by jurists, who sort of cleaned it up a little."

On 27 February, the President said that he was going to send this legislation to Congress, but three months and two weeks later it still has not arrived.

Castanos was also critical of some of the "inconsistencies" in the legislation, such as the article that authorized the National Police to be the President's advisors in matters of citizen safety. The Finjus leaders also pointed out that the proposal addresses the makeup of a Higher Police Council made up of 17 police officers and two civilians but without distinguishing between criminal and preventive policies. They said that "the proposals practically guarantee the presence of more than 30 generals. The idea of a civilian police department is lost."

Finjus also said that they were launching a series of events centered on the debate on Police reform, with participation of other departments from Colombia and New York. They stressed the new, constitutional, status of the National Police as described in the Constitution passed last year. Previously, their status was based on a law passed in 1936, during the Trujillo dictatorship.

10. PRSC in turmoil over Amable threat
Despite attempts by the PRSC leadership to try and smooth things over after clashes during the Executive Commission meeting, the situation has turned to "bright red" inside the organization, as reported in Diario Libre.

Yesterday, presidential pre-candidate Amable Aristy Castro announced that he was examining the possibility of convening 33% of the Executive Commission membership with the aim of annulling the results of last Sunday's meeting, where it was decided to choose the party's presidential candidate in an Assembly of Delegates instead of a party convention.

"It is not about what is convenient for a group of 100 or so employees of the Ministry of Foreign Relations. There were 353 (employees), they removed 129 during the voting, but they did not want to submit themselves to a close examination as we suggested, so that the notary lawyers could confirm the real members of the Executive Commission, but they were afraid, too," stressed Aristy Castro as he explained why he had left the meeting. He insisted that the majority of the people who were registered as members of the Political Commission are employees of the Ministry of Foreign Relations and of the National Housing Bank (BNV).

Meanwhile, acting president Joaquin Ricardo said he was confident of a quick solution to the situation, while at the same time assuring that there was no possibility of holding primaries in the PRSC. "They haven't even selected the people who would staff the voting stations and other organisms, and there is no time for that," said Ricardo.

11. World Racquetball in DR
The International Racquetball Federation and the Dominican Racquetball Federation are issuing a public invitation to the IRF XXIV World Junior Racquetball Championship being held in Santo Domingo from 24-30 July 2011. The venues will be the Racquetball Pavilion at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center. Athletes between the ages of 18 and 14 will compete in women and men's categories for the World Cup and the Esprit Cup.

www.internationalracquetball.com/events/2011/3/irf-junior-world-racquetball-championships,-july-24th-to-july-30th.aspx

12. French Film Festival at Novocentro
The First French Film Festival is under way at the Novocentro Fine Arts Cinema until 15 June. Zumaya Cordero, director of operations of Caribbean Cinemas that operates the movie center, said the films included Mademoiselle Chambon, Rapt, Pour Elle, Secret Defense, Bellamy, Le Refuge, Les Regrets, Le Herisson and La Chambre des Morts. The films will be shown from 2:30pm to 9:40pm at the two halls of the theater.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

24747252

25049049

1. Fernandez to Middle East
President Leonel Fernandez departs today on a 10-day trip to Europe and the Middle East. His first stop will be Madrid, where he will meet with Spanish business leaders and university representatives, and will be interviewed by the country's leading newspaper El Pais. The trip had not been officially announced until the Presidency confirmed it yesterday.

As reported in Diario Libre, President Fernandez will meet with King Abdullah of Jordan in Amman on Saturday. He will also be meeting with the directors of the University of Jordan Center of Strategic Studies, followed by a Monday meeting with Jordanian Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit. Reports are he will be present at the signing of an agreement between the DR Center for Exports & Investments and the Jordanian Chamber of Commerce where he will give a speech. He will then meet with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah on Sunday.

In Israel, President Fernandez is scheduled to meet with President Shimon Peres. In Jerusalem, he will participate in a seminar on "High Technology and Investment in the DR" on Tuesday, 21 June at the King David Hotel to promote the DR's high-tech and business sector. This event is being organized by the Dominican Embassy in Israel.

In Israel his agenda includes meetings with officials from the Mofet Institute, the Technion Center, the Asper Center for Entrepreneurship and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Fernandez will be participating in Israeli President Shimon Peres' "Conference on Tomorrow" for the first time.

www.presidentconf.org.il/en/minisite2011_en.asp

2. Ellis Perez to direct film industry
President Leonel Fernandez has appointed Eliseo Antonio Perez Garcia (Ellis Perez) as the new director general of Cinematography in the DR.

Decree 375-11 appoints Marlon Soto, deputy minister of Culture in charge of cinematographic affairs. An advisory board was created, made up of Felix Garcia, Manuel Corripio, Felipe Vicini, Isabel Turul, Ricardo Hazoury, Adriano Miguel Tejada, Freddy Ginebra, Jose Miguel Bonetti, Juan Ramon Gomez Diaz, Joan Giacinti, Antonio Espaillat, Armando Almanzar and Omar de la Cruz.

The DR has a new ruling that is aimed at encouraging filming of movies in the DR, including film production by Dominicans. The law creates the General Department for Cinematography (DGCINE), under the Ministry of Culture, that will be directed by Perez.

During a workshop on the new Cinematography Law held yesterday, it was said the movie industry could generate US$375 million in five years and create 24,000 quality jobs in different sectors. During the forum: "Cinematography Law:" Prospects for Investment," Anthony Smith, corporate finance vice president for Indomina (Vicini Group), a local film industry company, came up with the sum if at least 10 films were produced a year, with an average investment of US$7.5 million per production.

Businessman Manuel Corripio forecast there would be more towns with new movie halls. He said the first phase would be to train locals in the jobs needed for the production of films here. Alfonso Rodriguez said there were only enough qualified people in the country to produce three films at the same time.

3. Police Fundamental Bill to Congress
President Leonel Fernandez has sent the bills for the Fundamental Law of the National Police, public administration and general bill for public sector wages to the Senate. As reported in Diario Libre, the Police bill regulates the organization, structure, operation, police career and disciplinary regime, and reduces the number of generals in the Police from 34 to 20.

The public sector wage bill seeks to ensure that no public official can be paid more than the President of the Republic, the president of the Senate and Supreme Court of Justice, and cannot hold more than one government post, with the exception of an academic job. The bills also establish guidelines for incompatibilities and conflict of interests affecting government posts.

The bills are presented to comply with the 2010 Constitution.

4. Loans are not in the budget
Deputy Guadalupe Valdez, of the PLD-allied Alianza por la Democracia (APD) party, says that the loans approved by the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday are not contemplated in the 2011 National Budget.

She said she voted "no" because these five loans were not in the budget. She said the budget established the contracting of loans for EUR205 million when the Chamber of Deputies approved five loans for EUR353.4 million, which was EUR148 million more than established in the budget. Valdez said this translates to an additional RD$8 billion.

5. First red light areas in the DR?
Certain areas of cities and tourism destinations could be earmarked as vice-friendly zones in the future. Under the plan, sex for sale would be restricted to these areas. A bill sent to the Chamber of Deputies seeks to create "tolerance zones" to restrict the presence of prostitutes near cultural and historic areas, as reported in Diario Libre. Prostitutes would be required to carry a health clearance card from the Ministry of Public Health.

The bill was drafted by PRD deputy Esther Mirelys Minyeti.

Her bill establishes that the government should build lodgings for these women and guarantee their personal and health security. The penalty for working outside of the tolerance areas would be a maximum of two minimum wages.

This is the first time tolerance zones are being considered. Decades ago prostitutes used to operate from brothels, but sex workers now offer their services openly on city streets.

6. Human Development Report office to be closed
The team that produced the eye-opening United Nations Human Development Reports in the DR is out of a job. Team coordinator Miguel Ceara-Hatton says that the UN representative in the DR, Valerie Julliand has taken measures aimed at dismantling the report-producing operation at the UNDP. The team had been working on provincial human development reports.

Ceara-Hatton complained that the decision to kill the work was taken despite having the funding for producing the reports. The information compiled was intended for use in formulating government policies aimed at improving the quality of life of residents in the Dominican Republic. The team had worked on producing the reports for the United Nations Human Development Program Office in the Dominican Republic for eight years. Ceara-Hatton said they operated as an independent and academic space for a team of researchers.

Ceara-Hatton said that on the occasion of the launch of the 2010 Human Development Report, UNDP administrator Helen Clark said: "The messages they convey are not always embraced in all quarters".

The report coordinator said that if the reports did not broach controversial issues or provoke vigorous debate on matters of concern to all, they would not stimulate people to think about the real issues of development and society empowerment, which he says has been his mission and mandate.

As reported in Listin Diario, he reiterated his commitment to rigorous and independent research, which he said he would continue in other spaces to seek an improvement of the quality of life of the people and for human development to be a matter of human rights and not a privilege for people in power as it is at present.

Diario Libre editorialist Adriano Miguel Tejada said that Ceara-Hatton had to leave because his work had become "politically incorrect."

"We are obliged to dance to the tune played by the politicians, because they have the monopoly on the repertoire," he wrote. "We Dominicans need to review the space we have given to the politicians, or we will not survive as a society," he concludes.

http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/2010/november/helen-clark--on-the-occasion-of-the-launch-of-the-2010-human-development-report.en

7. Costs are similar in public and private school
The cost per student in a state school is only US$140 lower than the cost of a student in a private school, according to Action for Education (Educa), a non-governmental organization that campaigns for improving the quality of education in the Dominican Republic.

A study by Flacso/RD economist Jeffrey Lizardo analyzed the costs and their relation to student performance. The study found that the cost per student in public schools is US$311 compared to US$451 for private schools. He said that if the cost of school breakfasts and textbooks are added in, elementary school costs would be US$436 per student, compared to US$563 in private school, as reported in Diario Libre.

Lizardo says that private schools spend more on upkeep and equipping schools and supplies. Nevertheless, he said that wages for public school teachers are on average higher than those in private schools that cater to children of all incomes.

Lizardo says there is a wide gap between public and private schools, and that while teachers are not poorly paid they lack the skills to provide quality instruction. He added that supplies do not reach the public schools, and the premises are deteriorating for lack of maintenance, they do not have labs or computer halls and their libraries are mere stockrooms for books leading to poor student performance at the public schools on average.

Radhames Mejia of the PUCMM University said that academic performance at private schools is not good either by international standards.

Educa president George Santoni said that to achieve a true change in the educational system, everyone needs to be involved, and that parent participation is key.

8. Remittances up
Expatriate Dominicans sent more money back to the DR during the first quarter of 2011 compared to the same period last year. Remittance figures show a 5% increase for the first three months of the year, compared to the first three months in 2010.

In January, Dominicans sent back US$238.2 million, in February US$250.2 million and in March US$275.5 million, according to Central Bank statistics.

From 2008 to 2010, remittances had been sliding down. For example, in 2008 Dominicans sent back US$3.22 billion, in 2009 US$3.04 billion and in 2010 US$2.99 billion.

The bank is optimistic the trend could be reversed this year.

Nevertheless, official statistics show that in March 2011 compared to March 2010 there was a 17% decline in remittances, or US$47.1 million less.

9. Enadis left out of Mary Pelaez case
In the money laundering case against Mary Pelaez, defense lawyer Jose Rafael Ariza told prosecutor Wendy Lora that if she included evidence about the company Enadis, she could lose her job, as reported in Hoy. The newspaper reports that the evidence was removed. As reported, Enadis was the company that Pelaez purchased in order to receive contracts from the Supervisory Office of Public Works (OISOE) in 2008 under the administration of the current Senator for San Juan de la Maguana, Felix Bautista, a close aide of President Leonel Fernandez. As reported, the company was a beneficiary of the contract for the remodeling of a house in the Santo Domingo neighborhood of La Castellana. This property is on the list of properties in Pelaez's name that were seized by the prosecutors. Pelaez is accused of acting as a front for Puerto Rican drug capo Jose David Figueroa Agosto.

www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2011/6/15/380123/Contrato-a-Mary-Pelaez-no-aparece-en-pruebas-Fiscalia

10. Jorge Torres sentenced in Vermont
A court in Vermont has sentenced Jorge Torres to 37 months in prison, accused of people smuggling in the DR and the United States. The Burlington Free Press Report says that he has already served time in Canada, the DR and the US, so he could be released in eight months.

Torres was arrested after his involvement in the high profile case of missionaries arrested in Haiti for smuggling children into the Dominican Republic after the 2010 earthquake. Once the missionaries were arrested, he was contracted to assist them in their release. The Burlington Press says that while in the DR, he got an Idaho church to send him US$41,000 to secure the release of the missionaries. Reportedly, almost US$30,000 of the money disappeared, according to court records.

It emerged that Torres was already being sought by the US and Canadian authorities for trying to smuggle 27 Central American and Haitian immigrants into Vermont. He had been arrested in Montreal in 2002 and indicted in Vermont in 2003, and had been on the run since 2004 when Canadian courts freed him on bail.

As reported, Torres also faced charges in El Salvador for trying to recruit young girls as prostitutes.

11. Airport security chief under arrest
The head of security at the Las Americas International Airport, Air Force Colonel Miguel Jimenez Ventura is under arrest for 20 days at the Specialized Airport Security Corps (CESA). A commission investigated the irregular clearance of luggage belonging to passenger Antonio Peter de la Rosa (Omega) through the airport. A vehicle was allowed to meet Omega, who was granted privileged access and allowed to depart with his suitcases without clearing customs or security. As reported in Listin Diario, retired general Encarnacion de la Rosa, who provides security for Omega, said he had cleared the arrival with the CESA authorities, which assured him there was no problem. As reported in the newspaper, Antonio Peter de la Rosa and his luggage were allowed to leave the airport from the runway itself where the JetBlue flight had arrived in violation to international civil aviation laws that prohibit the access of unauthorized vehicles to restricted areas.

12. Court will hear case for DR Fashion Week
The Fifth Court of Instruction of the National District has ordered court hearings for the case of fashion designer Jorge Diep against fashion promoter Tita Hasbun (Carmen Amada Marina Pichardo Escoto de Hasbun), her husband Omar, and Virgilio Hasbun Saladin (Billy) for allegedly using a document signed under private signature for the company Republica Dominicana Fashion Week. In previous years, the designer had worked with the Hasbuns to present the event.

Judge Ileana Perez ordered the case be heard in court after establishing that the accused had violated Art. 148 of the Penal Code. Diep complained that the accused had forged and altered his signature to remove him from the company he created. Diep founded the Dominican Republic Fashion Week, a weeklong event that has served to bring leading international designers to the Dominican market for runway shows, as well as launching emerging Dominican fashion designers. Diep says that Hasbun created her company Caribbean Fashion Week Republica Dominicana on the base of the name he had created: Republica Dominicana Fashion Week for the organization of the event.

13. More rains forecast
Heavy rains fell nationwide last night, and local weather forecasters say the rains will continue because a tropical wave is passing through, mainly affecting the central and western parts of the country. Minimum temperatures for Santo Domingo are 25C with a maximum of 32C around noon.

14. Santo Domingo Theater Festival
Santo Domingo's International Theater Festival, now in its seventh year, opens today at a range of venues in Santo Domingo and Santiago. Outstanding productions will be staged for the incredible price of RD$50 in the festival that is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and foreign embassies in the Dominican Republic.

The festival continues through 26 June. Spain is the guest of honor this year.

The venues include Palacio de Bellas Artes, Biblioteca Infantil Republica Dominicana, Casa de Teatro, Teatro Nacional, Centro Cultural Narcizo Gonzalez, Plaza del Conservatorio (Edificio de las Escuelas de Arte), Teatro Guloya and Gran Teatro del Cibao.

Coming for this year's performances are Teatro Factoria, Teatre de L'Homme Dibuixat and Kulunka Teatro (Spain), Tibia Teatro (Argentina), Oco Teatro (Brazil), Teatro Inmigrante (Chile), Corporacion Arca de Noe (Colombia), Grupo Artistico Yoruba (Costa Rica), Teatro Papalote (Cuba), Fundacion Cultura La Trinchera (Ecuador), Cia Yossi Berg & Oded Graf (Israel), Rajatablas and Akeke Circo Teatro (Venezuela).

The DR will be represented in performances by Teatro Guloya, Teatro Rodante and Compania Nacional de Teatro.

A review in the Listin Diario points out "Obra para Dormir al Publico" (Venezuela), Adrian y Dorine (Spain) and Mechanical Trio in a Hot Country (Israel) as three of the most outstanding performances not to be missed.

This is the first year, nevertheless, when there will be more performances by local theater companies than guest companies from abroad, with 19 international productions and 23 Dominican performances.

The festival began in 1997, when Natacha Sanchez was the director of the National Theater.

For the schedule, see www.fitesantodomingo.com

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

Film industry: Investments of US$375M in 5 years, 24,000 new jobs

Santo Domingo.- Research paid by the Indomina Group found that the Dominican cinema industry would spur investments of US$375 million in five years and create 24,000 high quality jobs in different sectors.

Indomina vice president Anthony Smith said the economic flow would be from the production of at least 10 films per year, with an average investment of US$7.5 million on each.

“Evidently the national reserves will increase extremely with this impact and the country would have a high import of capitals,” the executive said, noting that the figures a based on a hypothetical framework designed with Great Britain and New Mexico, and the United States as a reference.

Speaking in the forum “Cinema Law Investment Perspective,” Smith affirmed that the incentives created in the legislation have already begun to spur important foreign investors, for which if the norm is applied as it has been planned thus far, still needs to be seen.

The expert based in Los Angeles said he’s confident that opportunities will be derived from an early development of that business in Dominican Republic.

Smith was accompanied by Juan Vicini, of Indomina Group; Manuel Corripio, of the Corripio Communications Group; Ricardo Hazoury, of the resort grop Cap Cana, and noted film producer Alfonso Rodriguez.



http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/eco...24000-new-jobs

Seguir orden de videos:


Video-1

Oqy7n-2UqpU


Video-2

uOpKcpJqdp0


Video-3 Final

vDKZP4uGVHE

RD y Belice firman acuerdo bilateral de cooperación técnica
SANTO DOMINGO, RD.- Con el objetivo de fortalecer la cooperación técnica y económica, intercambiar experiencias, ejecutar proyectos eco-turísticos, y adoptar un turismo sostenible, fue firmado este jueves un acuerdo bilateral entre los Ministerios de Turismo de la República Dominicana y de Belice.

El convenio, que permitirá a Belice aprovechar el caudal de experiencias del principal destino turístico en el área del Caribe, como lo es la República Dominicana, fue suscrito por los ministros Francisco Javier García Fernández, y Lindsay Garbet, del Ministerio de Turismo, Aviación Civil y Cultura de Belice, respectivamente.

Javier García destacó que la República Dominicana es la nación hegemónica del turismo en la región del Caribe con más de cuatro millones de visitantes durante el año 2010, cifra que camina a ser superada en el presente año turístico.

Afirmó que el acuerdo es de suma importancia para ambas partes, al valorar la experiencia de Belice en materia de cruceros y la posición de líder que ocupa la República Dominicana en la región del Caribe.

Destacó que “este acuerdo de colaboración nos permitirá recibir experiencias importantes de ese país y nosotros podremos a disposición toda la experiencia que ha acumulado la República Dominicana, que lo han llevado a convertir en el destino número uno de la región del Caribe”.

De su parte, el Ministro de Turismo de de Belice, Lindsay Garbet, agradeció el gesto dominicano de unir fuerzas con la firma del acuerdo del cual esperan no solo beneficie a los países actuantes, sino también a los demás de la región.

Para implementar los programas y proyectos, se tomará en cuenta las prioridades de ambas partes, dando participación a los sectores público, privado y social, apoyándose en las universidades e instituciones de investigación técnica y económica.

Los firmantes se comprometieron a elaborar un plan de trabajo que incluye asistencia técnica con el intercambio de expertos y pasantes, al igual que el suministro de información estadística y recolección de datos en el sector.

FMI: Panamá y RD con mayor crecimiento económico en la región; advierte riesgos
Washington, (EFE).- Latinoamérica consolida su crecimiento económico por encima del 4% para 2011 y 2012, pero debe comenzar a tomar medidas para controlar los signos de "sobrecalentamiento" que comienza a observar en la región.

Así lo recogió el FMI en sus últimas actualizaciones económicas publicadas hoy, al subrayar que la expansión en la región ha estado estimulada por "una fuerte demanda doméstica en Latinoamérica, fruto de los elevados precios de las materias primas y las fáciles condiciones de financiación exterior".

Latinoamérica crecerá a un ritmo del 4,6% en 2011 y del 4,1% en 2012, una décima menos que lo calculado hace dos meses, según el informe del Fondo.

El organismo multilateral reiteró sus recomendaciones de su reunión de abril en Washington, con el sobrecalentamiento como la gran sombra que acecha a la economía latinoamericana.

Para ello indicó como recetas "el fortalecimiento de las medidas 'macroprudenciales' e incluso el uso de controles de capital" para asegurar la resistencia ante los crecientes flujos de capital que se dirigen a la zona atraídos por los diferenciales de interés.

Como indicios de estos problemas futuros, el FMI cita "el incremento de la inflación, la ampliación de los déficit de cuenta corriente y el crecimiento del crédito y el valor de los activos financieros". Pese a ello, el organismo multilateral mantuvo las previsiones de crecimiento para 2011 sin grandes variaciones para la mayoría de los países de la región.

Solo Brasil ve reducidos sus pronósticos de crecimiento hasta el 4,1% en 2011, cuatro décimas menos que lo vaticinado en abril, y el 3,6% en 2012, cinco décimas por debajo de las últimas previsiones.

En Sudamérica, los mejores pronósticos son para Perú, con un 6,6% este año y un 5,9% para el próximo; Chile, con un 6,2% para 2011 y un 5% para 2012; y Colombia, con un 4,6% para este ejercicio, y un 4,5% para el próximo. Para Venezuela, el Fondo espera un crecimiento económico del 3,3% para este año y del 3,9% para el próximo.

Centroamérica y el Caribe mejoran sus perspectivas. Panamá, con crecimientos estimados del 7,4% en 2011 y del 7,2% para 2012, y República Dominicana, con el 5,5% en ambos años, se sitúan al frente de la región.

Para Guatemala, el Fondo calcula el 3% para este año y el 3,2% para el próximo, y para Costa Rica el 4,3 y el 4,4%, respectivamente.

Haití también registrará un importante repunte en 2011 y 2012, del 8,6 y del 8,8%, respectivamente, como consecuencia de las labores de reconstrucción tras el terremoto de 2010.

No obstante, el FMI explicó que la economía centroamericana y caribeña aún "sigue constreñida por sus fuertes lazos con economías de lento crecimiento, como Estados Unidos".

México mantiene, asimismo, un buen comportamiento con crecimiento estimado para 2011 de 4,7% y de 4% para 2012, casi idéntico al análisis de abril. Desde el punto de vista fiscal, Latinoamérica debe fortalecer sus cuentas y por ello el organismo multilateral recomienda aumentar "el ritmo de reducción de los déficit para crear espacio fiscal".

El FMI destacó, en este sentido, la retirada de las políticas de estímulo en Brasil y la consolidación fiscal que se encuentra en marcha en México.

"Pese a haber capeado el temporal de la crisis financiera global la posición fiscal en Latinoamérica no es particularmente fuerte desde un punto de vista histórico", indicó el informe.

Por ello, recomienda a los gobiernos latinoamericanos controlar su gasto público para proteger sus economías frente "un súbito revés en los vientos de cola" y el cambio de ciclo económico.

El FMI señaló que conviene realizar ajustes en la política macroeconómica, que serán fundamentales para afrontar los desafíos de un contexto internacional que sigue desequilibrado entre las economías en desarrollo y las avanzadas. EFE

Presidente Fernández se reúne con empresarios españoles interesados en invertir en RD
MADRID, España.- El presidente Leonel Fernández, se reunió con directivos de la Asociación de Empresas del sector de Telecomunicaciones e Información (AMETIC), quienes propusieron que la República Dominicana se convierta en el centro de mercado para distribuir bienes y servicios para América Latina y Estados Unidos.

El director general de la entidad, José Pérez, manifestó que en España hay un creciente interés de empresas locales por establecerse en territorio dominicano a los fines de aprovechar los tratados de libre comercio con Centroamérica, Estados Unidos y Europa.

“Estas empresas tienen la información de que República Dominicana puede convertirse en un centro para acoger empresas españolas, en términos logísticos, para distribuir bienes y servicios a los mercados de América Latina y Estados Unidos”, dijo Pérez, director general de AMETIC, una asociación que reúne a las principales empresas de tecnologías de la información, las comunicaciones y la electrónica en este país.

Pérez, quien estuvo acompañado de Antonio Fernández, director de Contenidos Digitales, propuso al mandatario dominicano desarrollar proyectos de inversión en las áreas de tecnología de la información y la comunicación.

Manifestó que de entrada unas 20 empresas española están motivadas en establecerse en República Dominicana para explorar los mercados de Centroamérica, Suramérica y Estados Unidos.

AMETIC representa más de cinco mil empresas a nivel de España y los intereses empresariales de 350 mil empleados e incorpora el 7 por ciento del Producto Interno Bruto de España.

La asociación empresarial cuenta, además, con una fundación sin fines de lucro, dedicada a la formación y transmisión de conocimientos en sus áreas de actuación.

Pérez explicó que, además de la generación de empleados, la asociación tiene como finalidad formar capital intelectual, capaz de crear a su vez nuevos conocimientos.

“Esta asociación es la de mayor experiencia y la mejor relacionada a nivel político ministerial, pues trabaja con el Ministerio de la Industria de España”, dijo de su lado Antonio Fernández.

AMETIC trabaja en las aéreas de asociación, reúne empresa del sector electrónico, comercial de receptores de televisión, equipos de audio y videos, soporta y dispositivos de almacenamientos, imágenes digitales y libros electrónicos entre otros compones.

El presidente Fernández y su comitiva arribaron hoy al Aeropuerto de Barajas, Madrid, a las 8 de la mañana hora local, (2 de la madrugada hora dominicana), y fue recibido por el embajador dominicano César Medina y el cónsul Marcos Cross.

El mandatario tiene previsto en la mañana del viernes un encuentro con el grupo Prisa y directivos de la Fundación Ortega y Gasset. En su periplo en España, el gobernante también visitará la ciudad de Barcelona, donde cumplirá una apretada agenda de trabajo.

Primera ministra de Trinidad y Tobago felicita a la RD por su participación en la Semana de Inversión del Caribe
PUERTO ESPANA.- La Primera Ministra de la República de Trinidad y Tobago, Su Excelencia Kamla Persad-Bissessar, felicito hoy al Gobierno de la República Dominicana, por su destacada participación en la Semana de Inversión del Caribe, que se celebra del 15 al 18 de junio en ese país y que tiene por finalidad la apertura de nuevos negocios y mercados en la Región del Caribe.

La jefa de gobierno trinitario reconoció públicamente la asistencia de mas de 40 empresas y empresarios dominicanos, a la Semana de la Inversión del Caribe, donde además participan naciones de naciones de todo el mundo, entre estas China, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Estados Unidos y otras, lo que viene a contribuir fuertemente al fortalecimiento de las relaciones diplomáticas y comerciales entre República Dominicana y Trinidad y Tobago.

La Señora Kamla Persad-Bissessar visito por más de 30 minutos los distintos y diversos stand que tiene el país en el evento de negocios más importante que se haya celebrado hasta el mundo en la zona del Caribe, interesándose por la producción nacional, sus principales rubros de importación y exportación de cara a la ampliación futura de los intercambios comerciales entre las dos naciones caribeñas.

La funcionaria estuvo acompañada por el Ministro de Industria y Comercio de ese país, Stephen Cádiz y el Embajador dominicano en Trinidad y Tobago, Doctor José Serulle Ramia y por miembros de la delegación dominicana que se da cita en el encuentro negocios.

Entre las empresas dominicanas que participan de la feria de negocios en la nación del Caribe Oriental están Halka Industrial, la Aerolíneas MAS, Colchonería y Mueblería La Nacional, Abordage, Copel S. A., Alambres Dominicanos (ALDOCA), Plastifar, Industrias Nigua (INDUSNIG) y la firma de abogados Romero & Bello, Abogados.

También, las empresas, Editora Padilla, GTC. Proyectos Especiales, Traks, entre otros sectores de negocios dominicanos que buscan expandirse por el ejemplo a los mercados de las islas del Caribe ingles, donde se ubica Trinidad y Tobago.

En el marco de la Semana de Inversión del Caribe, el Ministro de Industria y Comercio, Manuel García Arévalo, acompañado de una importante delegación de destacados empresarios y de altos funcionarios del gobierno dominicano, participaron del Fórum de Inversión del Caribe, organizado por el Gobierno de Trinidad y Tobago, conjuntamente con el Commonwealth Business Council.

La “Semana de Inversión del Caribe”, evento que ha venido desarrollándose con gran éxito desde el lunes 13 de junio y que habrá de terminar este sábado 18 con grandes perspectivas de negocios y mayores nexos de intercambios entre todos los países y empresas participantes, es definida por su Excelencia Serulle Ramia como un gran éxito. “Hemos tenido, como República Dominicana, un gran éxito en esta semana de Inversión del Caribe. Reconocido públicamente por la Primer Ministra, el ministro de Comercio e Industria de Trinidad y Tobago, y por el Presidente de la TIC 2011”.

Señaló el diplomático que cuando se unen y coordinan esfuerzos y voluntades, el triunfo se garantiza. El tercer forum Negocios Cara a Cara, República Dominicana - Trinidad y Tobago, organizado por nuestra Embajada, llenó todas las expectativas”.

Expreso que en todo esto han salido ganando los pueblos y naciones del Caribe y, en particular, la República Dominicana y la República de Trinidad y Tobago. “Debemos continuar en esta vía. Toda la semana ha sido exitosa, por su organización, su contenido y su proyección. En tal virtud, debemos felicitar con profunda solidaridad al Gobierno, Empresariado y pueblo de Trinidad y Tobago”.



Durante esta “Semana de Inversión en el Caribe”, se realiza también, del 15 al 18 de junio, la 12va. Convención de Comercio e Inversión (Trade and Investment Convention –TIC-), la cual es organizada por la Asociación de Manufacturas de Trinidad y Tobago (TTMM, por sus siglas en inglés) y el Gobierno de Trinidad y Tobago.

La Embajada de la República Dominicana en la República de Trinidad y Tobago conjuntamente con la Cámara de Comercio de Trinidad y Tobago, que preside el Lic. Federico Reyes, han desarrollado una intensa labor de coordinación para garantizar que más de quince empresas dominicanas y entidades del sector público dominicano participen en una actividad que tiende, según el Embajador dominicano, Serulle Ramia, a crear reales puentes de comercio y de inversión tanto a nivel de la región del Caribe como en el plano mundial. En este esfuerzo participan también la Asociación de Exportadores de la República Dominicana (ADOEXPO), la Mesa Redonda del Commonwealth en República Dominicana y Caribbean Export.

Commonwealth of Nations to showcase Dominican Republic
Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.- The 54 countries of the Commonwealth signed an agreement to promote investments and business in the Dominican Republic, during the Caribbean Investment Forum held in the Trinidadian capital.

The president of the Commonwealth Business Council in London, Alan Fields, Round Table of Commonwealth Countries in Dominican Republic president Fernando González Nicolas and its treasurer Roberto Herrera signed the agreement, witnessed by the Industry and Commerce ministers of Dominican Republic, Manuel Garcia, and of Trinidad, Stephen Cadiz, among other officials from both nations.

The British led Commonwealth’s 54 countries are home to two billion people and control 25% of the world’s trade, with activities such as petroleum and mining, and form a leading financial and industrial power.

The Commonwealth Business Council groups the most important global companies established in its 54 countries, while the Commonwealth Round Table is an initiative in Santo Domingo that promotes bilateral relations between those nations and Dominican Republic.

The presidents of the bi-national Chambers of Commerce of Great Britain, Canada, Trinidad, India and South Africa are also members, as well as their respective diplomats accredited in Santo Domingo.

Fernández firma acuerdos para impulsar comercio con Oriente Medio
Ammán
El presidente de República Dominicana, Leonel Fernández, se reunió hoy en Ammán con el primer ministro jordano, Maruf Bajit, y firmó dos acuerdos de cooperación bilateral para impulsar el comercio dominicano con Oriente Medio.

El secretario de prensa de la Presidencia dominicana, Rafael Núñez, declaró a Efe en una conversación telefónica que el encuentro permitirá "abrir una puerta en Oriente Medio para proyectar la República Dominicana en otros países de la región".

Núñez explicó que la reunión fue "esencialmente de trabajo" y ambos mandatarios abordaron estrategias para la promoción del turismo, el comercio y las nuevas tecnologías en los dos países.

Los acuerdos establecen las bases que permitirán "crear comisiones para la provisión de productos dominicanos en Jordania", subrayó Núñez.

Estos convenios han sido firmados por la Cámara de Comercio de Ammán y el Centro de Exportaciones e Inversiones de República Dominicana.

El portavoz dominicano agregó que el turismo y las nuevas tecnologías de la información y la comunicación también fueron un punto central en la discusión.

Por su parte, un comunicado de la oficina del primer ministro jordano aseguró que durante el encuentro los dos mandatarios hablaron de las formas para fomentar la cooperación bilateral en los ámbitos del comercio, el turismo y las inversiones.

En la reunión, Bajit invitó también a República Dominicana a participar en el Congreso Internacional de Turismo que tendrá lugar en Jordania el próximo mes de septiembre.

Según el comunicado, Fernández y Bajit hicieron un llamamiento durante la reunión al fin del conflicto entre Israel y Palestina y a la formación de un Estado Palestino "independiente".

Esta es la segunda visita del jefe de Estado dominicano a la región tras la que efectuó en julio de 2009 en Israel y Egipto y en esta ocasión Fernández espera impulsar el proceso de paz en Oriente Medio y establecer vínculos con los países de la región.

El cambio climático incide en estrategia de desarrollo de RD
Santo Domingo
Los aspectos vinculados a un manejo sostenible del medio ambiente, a una eficaz gestión de riesgo y a una adecuada adaptación al cambio climático conforman el cuarto eje de la Estrategia Nacional de Desarrollo 2010 ñ2030 propuesta por el Ministerio de Economía, Planificación y Desarrollo (MEPD) y el Consejo Nacional para la Reforma del Estado (CONARE).

El documento, que reposa en el Congreso Nacional, esboza con detalles los alcances que se propone, como son proteger y aprovechar de manera sostenible los recursos naturales y mejorar la calidad del medio ambiente, así como gestionar el recurso agua de manera eficiente y sostenible.

También, desarrollar un sistema nacional de gestión integral de riesgos, con activa participación de las comunidades, y avanzar en la adaptación a los efectos y la mitigación de las causas del cambio climático (CC).

En el tema del CC, expone como líneas de acción desarrollar estudios sobre sus impactos en la isla y sus consecuencias ambientales, económicas, sociales y políticas, para fundamentar la adopción de políticas públicas y concienciar a la población.

Además, fortalecer el sistema de prevención, reducción y control de los impactos entrópicos que incrementan la vulnerabilidad de los ecosistemas a los efectos del CC, en coordinación con los gobiernos locales, y fomentar el desarrollo y la transferencia de tecnología que contribuyan a la adaptación de especies forestales y agrícolas.

Otra línea de acción propuesta es la des-carbonización de la economía nacional a través del uso de fuentes renovables de energía, del desarrollo del mercado de biocombustible, de una mejora del ahorro y eficiencia energética y de un transporte eficiente y limpio.

En adición, se plantea desarrollar las capacidades para las negociaciones interinstitucionales en materia de CC y prevenir, mitigar y revertir los efectos de la elevación de las temperaturas sobre la salud, en coordinación con las autoridades locales.

Reducción de CO2
Uno de los indicadores del cuarto eje son las emisiones de dióxido de carbono (CO2), que son aquellas “derivados de la combustión de combustibles fósiles y de la fabricación de cemento. Estos incluyen emisiones producidas durante el consumo de combustibles sólidos, líquidos y de gas. Las emisiones de dióxido de carbono son la fuente primaria de gases invernadero, que contribuyen al calentamiento global, amenazando los hábitats humanos y naturales”.

En ese tenor, el documento refiere que el país emitió en 2005 dos toneladas métricas per cápita de dióxido de carbono, según indicadores de desarrollo del Banco Mundial, cifra que lo colocó en el noveno lugar con mayor emisión per cápita en una lista de 22 países de América Latina.

Otro dato relevante reseñado en la propuesta de estrategia es que el país ha aumentado sus niveles de emisión per cápita de dióxido de carbono con base en 1990 (año de referencia en el Protocolo de Kyoto), cuando la emisión per cápita era de 1.23 toneladas métricas. Entonces, RD estaba ubicada entre los países con menores emisiones. De un total de 142 países, otros 76 aumentaron sus niveles per cápita de emisión entre 1990 y 2007.

En torno al CC, se propone como metas cualitativas que en un plazo no mayor de cinco años hayan sido redefinidas y puestas en vigencia normas de construcción que permitan la adaptación al cambio climático, y que se haya aprobado y puesto en vigencia una ley de ahorro y eficiencia energética, como forma de contribuir a la mitigación de las causas que originan las elevaciones de las temperaturas.

Otros ámbitos
Los indicadores de desarrollo del Banco Mundial también son utilizados en la propuesta para el indicador de áreas protegidas nacionales, consideradas éstas como “áreas parcial o totalmente protegidas de al menos mil hectáreas que son designadas como reservas científicas con el acceso público limitado, parques nacionales, monumentos naturales, reservas naturales o santuarios de fauna, paisajes protegidos y áreas manejadas principalmente para el empleo sostenible”.

En la propuesta de Estrategia Nacional de Desarrollo se recoge que en el periodo de 2002 a 2006, el país redujo sus áreas protegidas a 24% de su territorio, y que otros 64 países, de un total de 163, también disminuyeron sus áreas protegidas. “RD estuvo entre los primeros 35 que mayor reducción experimentaron”, indica el documento.

Expone que lo deseable es que se detenga la reducción del porcentaje de su territorio dedicado a áreas protegidas y que éste se mantenga en 24.4% como mínimo, a partir de 2010.

A pesar de esa reducción, de un total de 143 naciones, el país se ubica entre el 8% con mayor porcentaje de su territorio dedicado a áreas protegidas, y en el cuarto lugar de un total de 22 países de América Latina con mayor porcentaje de territorio dedicado a áreas protegidas.

El tercer indicador es la deforestación, que consiste en la conversión permanente del área natural forestal a otros empleos, incluyendo la agricultura, la cría, asentamientos humanos y la infraestructura. Las áreas deforestadas no incluyen áreas registradas, pero destinadas para la regeneración o áreas degradadas por uso de madera como combustible, la lluvia ácida, o fuegos forestales”.

El documento destaca que en el periodo de 1990 a 2005, la deforestación anual promedio fue cero: “Lo deseado para 2030 es que RD reforeste su territorio a una tasa de 0 1% anual, similar a lo que hizo Costa Rica en el periodo 1990-2005”.

http://www.economia.gob.do/eWeb/Show...t.aspx?idc=338

EFECTOS DE LAS ALTAS TEMPERATURAS
En referencia al cambio climático, en el documento base de la propuesta de Estrategia Nacional de Desarrollo (END) se prevé: ·Que aumentará el nivel y la temperatura del mar, lo que provocaría la erosión e inundación del litoral, fenómenos que se exacerban bajo la ocurrencia de tormentas que alteran el clima de las olas y que conducen a la pérdida de arena.

Que impacte en un aumento de la temperatura media de la costa. En ausencia de modificaciones en otras areas ambientales, se estima que los manglares lograrían adaptarse a los aumentos de temperatura y del nivel del mar que han sido pronosticados para la costa dominicana, pero los arrecifes coralinos podrían verse afectados por el aumento de la temperatura.

Los impactos socioeconómicos del cambio climático sobre las costas (sobre todo si se incrementa la frecuencia de tormentas), se concentrarían en los embates a las viviendas y a la infraestructura de comunicaciones, drenaje y alcantarillado y de reservorio de agua.

Asimismo, vale destacar la potencial amenaza sobre la industria turística de sol y playa, debido principalmente a la erosión de las playas.

No se esperan cambios importantes sobre la pesca, al menos que la erosión eleve la turbidez de las aguas.

Los estudios realizados apuntan a que el cambio climático podría conducir a una reducción de los rendimientos potenciales de la producción agrícola y de los bosques.

El cambio climático también podría repercutir en una proliferación de la malaria y el dengue, entre otras enfermedades.

http://www.economia.gob.do/eWeb/Archivos/ Libros/Documento_base_ propuesta_END_2010_ 2030.pdf

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/5350181817_99c082168f_b.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

1. Fernandez in Jordan
On Sunday, 19 June King Abdullah of Jordan and Queen Rania welcomed President Leonel Fernandez and First Lady Margarita Cedeno at the Royal Palace in Al-Hommar. Fernandez is on a Middle Eastern tour that includes Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and Israel.

The President's three-day visit included talks between King Abdullah that Jordanian news reports say focused on enhancing bilateral ties, especially in the fields of economics and investment, according to press reports from Jordan. In Jordan, the President and his delegation met with trade and economic sector representatives and business leaders to explore investment opportunities in both countries.

During the visit, a memorandum of understanding was signed to boost academic and research cooperation between Jordan and the Dominican Republic.

As reported in the Jordan press, the two leaders held talks on the Middle East and relations between Jordan and the DR, stressing their keenness to forge closer bilateral cooperation ties, mainly in the political, economic, business and tourism sectors.

A statement from the Jordanian government said that Fernandez and his wife were met by Senate President Taher Masri, followed by sessions with Minister of Environment Taher Shakhshir, senior officials and high-ranking officers.

On Saturday, Fernandez and his wife visited the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan. Center director Nawaf Wasfi Tall presented a briefing about the center and the research it conducts in the fields of regional security, political reforms and local and Arab surveys. This was followed by a discussion about issues related to democracy and reform as well as the latest regional developments.

As reported in the Jordanian press, the talks also dealt with the situation in the Arab countries in the region and the Middle East peace process in general. King Abdullah urged the international community to help the Palestinians and the Israelis to return to the negotiating table and address all final status issues towards establishing an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. The King thanked the Dominican Republic and Latin American nations for their stances in support of the Palestinian right to statehood.

Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso said the DR had a great interest in the Palestinian issue as well as supporting the need to reach a just and permanent peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

www.petra.gov.jo/public_news/Nws_NewsDetails.aspx?Menu_ID=&Site_Id=2⟨=2&NewsID=35308&CatID=13

www.jordantimes.com/index.php?news=38609

www.petra.gov.jo/Public_News/Nws_NewsDetails.aspx?lang=2&site_id=1&NewsID=35243&Type=P

2. Palestinian issue key on visit agenda
The Dominican vote at the United Nations in recognition of a Palestinian state seemed to be the key issue on the agenda of President Leonel Fernandez's host, Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

President Leonel Fernandez, on an official visit to Jordan, said that his government supports the Palestinian people to declare an independent and sovereign state, as reported by China's Xinhua news agency.

Fernandez, on his first official visit to the Palestinian Authority, also stressed Israel's "right to exist in a peaceful territory," according to reports covered by the agency.

As reported, President Mahmoud Abbas thanked Fernandez for the DR's interest in getting involved in the international efforts to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.

"Our will is that Palestine will be a free nation, and that its people can live in peace," said Abbas during a joint press conference with Fernandez.

Fernandez said his government supported the Palestinian people's right to "create an independent state that can co-exist in peace with Israel."

The news agency recalled that late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat announced the creation of Palestinian statehood in 1988, living alongside Israel with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on pre-1967 borders, including the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Authority complains of what it calls "Israel's continued occupation."

In late May, the Palestinian leadership reaffirmed it would apply to the United Nations to gain recognition for an independent Palestinian state despite opposition from the United States.

President Fernandez visited the Palestinian Authority on Sunday, arriving from Jordan, as part of a Middle East tour with visits to Spain and France.

www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=595251

3. Plaza de la Salud + Johns Hopkins
The General Hospital Plaza de la Salud has announced an affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI) of Baltimore, Maryland, USA to follow up on Dominican patients. Johns Hopkins experts provide educational and consulting support to the affiliate's clinical and administrative staff to keep them on the cutting-edge of medical research, clinical techniques and equipment, hospital management and health system operations.

4. Senate approves bill for more taxes
On Friday, the PLD-majority Senate passed a bill aimed at providing the Fernandez administration with the funds to cover its increasing fiscal deficit, a requirement for continuing the IMF Stand-by arrangement. The increased taxation is expected to collect an estimated RD$9.6 billion. The senators approved increasing income tax on companies from 25 to 27%, effective as of 2011. Also a 1.5 per thousand tax on cash withdrawals from banks, excluding cash withdrawals up to RD$20,000. Withdrawals from ATMs, consumption using credit cards and social security payments are exempt from this new tax, as well as transactions and payments for pension plans. There is also a new tax on the operation of casinos of RD$32,500 per table in the casino of those with a volume of up to 15 tables, RD$37,500 of those from 16-35 tables, and RD$50,000 for those with 36+ tables. Lotteries will pay RD$35,000 up from RD$31,000 and an additional 1% on sales or gross operations and RD$200,000 for initial registry. Betting stores will pay RD$225,000 annual operation tax in National District, Santo Domingo, San Cristobal, Santiago, Duarte, Puerto Plata and La Vega. Those located in other provinces will pay RD$150,000 a year. There will be a RD$500,000 registration fee and 1% tax on gross sales. Slot machines will pay 5% on gross sales, regardless of location. The government will not authorize new operation of lotteries or betting stores for 10 years. The government also ordered a 10% operation tax on telephone games, and 10% on Internet gaming for those authorized by the Ministry of Hacienda, regardless of location.

The senators also approved a tax of 2.5% on free zones sales in the local market. These taxes will be indexed to the consumer price index published by the Central Bank.

The bill now needs to be passed in the Chamber of Deputies, where the ruling PLD party also holds the majority.

5. CDEEE just needs 20 staff
An editorial in acento.com.do comments that the Public Electricity Corporation could be managed with just 20 employees and one advisor. The editorial recalls that when current CDEEE vice president Celso Marranzini was in the private sector in 2009, and the CDEEE under engineer Radhames Segura had 1,400 employees, he consistently said it could be managed with 400 people. Once he got to the post, the staff was reduced to half, 796 employees. It observes that Marranzini could not go further due to political pressures.

The editorial quotes comments by electrical expert Bernardo Castellanos who observes that with its present responsibilities, the CDEEE would be more efficient with just 20 employees.

It observes that the CDEEE has a board of directors chaired by Armando Castillo Pena who is on a salary of RD$207,000 a month and that the council has 14 staff members. The vice president's office has a 143-person payroll and Marranzini himself is on a wage of RD$300,000, slightly less than what he earned in the private sector.

In the financial services department employs 62 people, with a salary of RD$300,000 for its leading executive, Eric Eduardo Jerez Mejia. In the legal department, with a staff of 56, the department coordinator earns RD$260,000.

In the area of public relations, which previously employed 59 people, there are now 35 employees.

In observations by Castellanos, the only role the CDEEE has is to manage two contracts that are in deficit (Smith & Enron and Cogentrix), administer four loans with bilateral organizations and oversee electrification in rural and suburban areas, work that is carried out by contractors.

www.acento.com.do/index.php/news/4115/56/Celso-Bernardo-y-la-cantidad-de-empleados-en-la-CDEEE.html

6. Santiago's Concert for $ for education
Thousands of young people gathered around the Monumento in Santiago for a concert to protest against the lack of government funding for education. The "Voces Amarillas" (Yellow Voices) concert featured performances by more than 30 musicians who defied the intense heat to call on the government to meet Law 66-97 that allocates 4% of GDP to education. Speaking at the event, Educacion Digna campaign spokesman Mario Berges said that 300,000 children do not have classrooms because the government has not made the funds available to build 10,000 new classrooms and repair a further 12,000. He also said that 58,000 new teachers needed to be hired and trained in order to provide quality education. Children's entertainer Kanqui opened the show on Sunday at 4pm that continued with Prodigio, Fernando Echavarria, Victor Victor, Futuros Divorciados, Mananaaladie, Toque Profundo, Vicente Garcia, Janio Lora, Senor KR, Jochy Sanchez, Gnomico and Poeta Callejero, among others

7. Fostering business with the Commonwealth
The Commonwealth Business Council in London and the Roundtable of the Commonwealth in the Dominican Republic signed an agreement on 18 June during the Caribbean Investment Forum held in Trinidad & Tobago for promoting investments and business between the Dominican Republic and the 54 Commonwealth countries around the world.

Commonwealth Business Council chairman Sir Allan Fields and Dominican Republic Roundtable president Fernando Gonzalez Nicolas and treasurer Roberto Herrera signed the agreement. Ministers of Industry & Commerce of the Dominican Republic and Trinidad, Manuel Garcia Arevalo and Stephen Cadiz, respectively were also in attendance, along with the Dominican ambassador in Trinidad, Jose Serulle and John Pemberton-Pigott of the Commonwealth Business Council.

8. DR basketball team update
University of Kentucky center, Eloy Vargas, a native of Moca, will join the Dominican national team when it plays in Lexington later this summer. UK coach John Calipari, after all, is the Dominican coach. Vargas has spent some of his college off-season playing for Sports Reach, a collection of college players that finished 6-2-1 during its recent tour of China.

As a condition for taking the job with the Dominicans, Calipari requested the team train in Lexington. Calipari has said several NBA players, with ties to the Dominican Republic, have been contacted. After that, the coach will have to fill out the roster with college players or players who are playing in other pro leagues, including Al Horford, Charlie Villanueva and Francisco Garcia.

The Dominican Republic national team is scheduled to play a couple of exhibition games before heading to Foz do Iguacu, Brazil for the Continental Cup (24-26 August). From there, Calipari and the team will travel to Mar del Plata, Argentina for the FIBA Americas Championship (30 Aug - 30 Sept. 11). This is the Olympic qualifying tournament.

9. Living Green
National Geographic Live presents the works of world famous National Geographic photographer Mattias Klum from Sweden at the lobby of the Claro corporate building on Santo Domingo's J. F. Kennedy Avenue from 15-23 June. The exhibition continues over the weekend, 24-25 June, at the Acropolis Mall on Winston Churchill Avenue.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

1. Jordanian and Palestinian leaders to visit the DR
King Abdullah of Jordan and President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority told President Leonel Fernandez that they hoped to visit the Dominican Republic in the near future as part of the Dominican President's push to strengthen commercial, cultural and diplomatic ties with the region.

Listin Diario says that the visits will take place in September and October this year. Fernandez, himself, described his visit to the area as "historic", and said that he was pleased with the results. The Jordan Times reported that Fernandez highlighted the common factors shared by the DR and Jordan, especially with regard to the democratic drive and economic openness.

On Monday, Jordanian Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit discussed ways of bolstering bilateral relations as well as the latest regional developments with Fernandez. Bakhit stressed the importance of the visit to Jordan as a means of boosting bilateral ties. He mentioned the need to increase cooperation in the fields of trade, tourism and investment between the two countries, emphasizing the importance of Jordan's location as a gateway to other regional markets, as reported in Jordan Times. Fernandez was on a three-day visit to Jordan.

Bakhit invited the Dominican Republic to participate in the International Tourism Conference that Jordan is hosting in September. Currently, the tourism sector's contribution to the Kingdom's gross domestic product stands at around 21%.

The Prime Minister and President Fernandez attended the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries' ministries of foreign affairs to develop political coordination between both sides.

During a session at the Amman Chamber of Commerce, Fernandez gave a long talk on the advantages of investing in the Dominican Republic in the areas of agriculture, alternative energy, tourism, infrastructure, electronics, manufacturing and technological development.

In a bid to boost trade, on Monday the Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Dominican Republic's Centre for Export and Investment to enhance commercial cooperation.

ACC president Riyadh Saifi invited Dominican businesspeople to visit Jordan and become acquainted with investment opportunities and learn about Jordanian products so as to increase the joint volume of commercial exchange.

During the visit, Fernandez and the First Lady visited the site of the baptism of Jesus Christ and other historical and archaeological attractions in the area.

The Jordan Times also reported that they reviewed the latest developments in the Palestinian issue, stressing the need to reach a just and viable solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

After their visits to Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, the Dominican President arrived in Israel with his wife, Margarita, and his entourage.

www.jordantimes.com/index.php?news=38688

2. IMF awaits new taxes
The board of directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will look at the fifth and sixth reviews of the Stand-by Arrangement with the Dominican Republic, signed in October 2009, and take a vote. To maintain the agreement, the IMF accepted the government's proposed tax package aimed at raising an additional RD$9.6 billion in revenues to compensate for the fiscal deficit. The government argues the deficit is caused by the rising fuel prices.

A source close to the IMF told El Nuevo Diario that the financial agency is only waiting for Congress to approve the tax package to in turn approve the pending fifth and sixth reviews. The "big package", as the proposals were called by the people, has led to bitter criticism from several sectors which are calling on the government to cut back its own spending. At the same time the administration is waiting for the approval by the IMF in order to receive hundreds of millions of dollars that are scheduled for disbursement this year and that are included in the budget.

3. Deputies pass tax package
The ruling PLD majority Chamber of Deputies did not waste too much time and approved in the first reading, the legislative proposal to increase the tax income with two modifications. In one of them the Income Tax on businesses was increased from 25% to 29% (the proposal was to increase to 27%), and in the other, they eliminated the 0.15% tax on cash withdrawals from banks and other financial institutions.

The governments hopes that this legislation will enable it to collect RD$9.6 billion to cover the fiscal deficit and it projects collections to reach RD$4 billion with the increased income tax.

The measures will be in effect for two years. 97 deputies voted in favor, 77 voted against. At the time of voting, 174 of the 183 deputies were present.

4. Not all clinics have raised their prices by 14%
The Directorate of Information and Defense of Affiliates (DIDA) has released a statement revealing that most private clinics that belong to the Association of Private Clinics and Hospitals (Andeclip) have not introduced the 14% increase in their charges for medical services that was agreed on during Andeclip's assembly last weekend. According to a DIDA press release as reported in El Nuevo Diario, only Gynecology and Obstetrics and the Abel Gonzalez Clinic were charging the 14% increase in the National District. DIDA says that the 14% increase is illegal and its supervisors are visiting all the clinics affiliated with the system to check on this issue.

According to El Nuevo Diario, many of the larger clinics, such as the clinic operated by the Universidad Central del Este (UCE), are studying the situation. In the meantime, DIDA inspectors and supervisors are visiting the clinics to ensure compliance with Law 87-01. DIDA director Nelsida Marmolejos called on the affiliates of the nation's Family Health Insurance plans to reject the increase, and advised them to take their complaints to the DIDA for settlement if they are obliged to pay more than what is established by Law.

5. No tuition increase of more than 10%
Private schools in the Dominican Republic will not be permitted to increase their tuition fees by more than 10%, according to mandates from the Ministry of Education. Education Minister Josefina Pimentel warned that before applying any increase, permission in writing from the Ministry should have been received. Pimentel said that she had also suspended all obligatory expenses in the schools, a common ploy for getting around the limit on increasing tuition fees. In a note to regional, district and private school directors, the minister warned about applying tuition increases without authorization from the Ministry of Education. She also warned about the need to stop schools from making obligatory charges such as the construction of new facilities, purchase of supplies and equipment, examination fees and others.

6. Be careful on the Kennedy overpass
Drivers should be extra careful when using the Kennedy Overpass, because a long stretch of the guardrail is missing following an accident. The incident, according to El Caribe, involved a motorcyclist who was killed after falling to the pavement below. The intersection of John F. Kennedy and Winston Churchill avenues is one of the busiest in Santo Domingo, and the railing has been missing for several months.

7. A long-awaited "boom "
The long-awaited mining "boom" in the south Cibao region is beginning to be felt with the arrival of new banks, the construction of new small hotels and apartments and the search for building lots for the supermarket chains. In less than a month, according to Diario Libre, branches of Business Incubator, Banco Leon and the Curacao Trading Company have opened up in Cotui as well as a new restaurant. At the same time some 56 apartments in eight buildings have been completed, there are two construction projects, one with 16 apartments and the other with 20 and a 32-room hotel was recently inaugurated in Maimon. Moreover, Bancotui will form an alliance with the Duarte Savings and Loan Association in order to enter the real estate business with 20 mortgages.

Bancotui general manager Julio Tejeda, Business Incubator general coordinator Ramon Antonio Diaz, Pueblo Viejo Dominicana consultant Enrique de Leon and Guillermo van der Linden, an advisor to the entity reported on these developments, adding that the mining sector has switched from a -5.5% contraction in the first quarter of 2010 to a 42.5% expansion in the first quarter of 2011, headed by the ferrous-nickel production in Bonao and silver and copper from Maimon. There has also been growth in the areas of marble, limestone, sand and gravel extraction.

8. Small business wants to sell more desks
The Confederation of Small and Medium-Sized Business (Codopyme) denounced that the Ministry of Education imported RD$700 million in desks for public schools that could have been manufactured in the Dominican Republic at a lower cost. Francisco Capellan, president of the association, said that with the imports, the Ministry violates laws 340-06 and 488-08 that establish the government departments need to purchase at least 20% of their procurement from small and medium sized Dominican companies. Capellan said that in the present administration of the Ministry by Josefina Pimentel efforts are being made to comply with the law, as reported in Hoy.

9. The Jarabacoa vacation rentals
Talk of the town is the government distribution of the Vacacional Ercilia Pepin cabanas, originally built by the Balaguer government as a vacation center for public employees.

A report by the TV program, El Despertador with Marino Zapete and Edith Febles revealed that the current director of Corpohotel, the government division in charge of tourism hotels, Bienvenido Perez decided to "transfer the property, without a tender, to legislators, military officials, government officers and journalists."

Zapete says that on 1 June 2009 he announced that the center would be repaired for conversion into an eco-tourism center. Two weeks later, an editorial in Listin Diario praised the director for the restoration of the center for government employees. The facilities had been closed and abandoned for 20 years. The report on El Despertador highlighted the way that Corpohotels conceived a plan to rescue them by renting to private individuals.

Zapete revealed that the list of people who benefitted from the rental of the properties restored by the government included the executive editor of Listin Diario, Miguel Franjul and his assistants Fabio Cabral and Viviano de Leon. Zapete also revealed that Willy Rodriguez, the director of the Z101 FM radio station, famous for its talk shows, was also on the list, along with radio station colleagues Julio Martinez Pozo, Daniel Garcia Archibald and Pedro Jimenez. The Senator for the province of La Altagracia, Amable Aristy Castro, is also reported to be a beneficiary.

On El Despertador, Zapete also revealed that the cabanas were actually up for sale with a 20-year rental scheme. The cabanas are valued at RD$5 million, according to an architect who was interviewed for the program.

The Que Se Dice column in Hoy newspaper comments: "That we, the journalists, should have become part of the problem - the sacking of goods of the state, when we should be the first to denounce, censure and criticize? Definitely, my dear readers, this is screwed up."

Former president of the Public School Teachers Association Maria Teresa Cabrera said that her association was told that the cabanas would be restored and then they would be assigned to the teachers, but this never happened.

To view two videos with details on the Jarabacoa government vacation properties, see:

www.noticiassin.com/2011/06/video-comentario-de-marino-zapete-cabanas-ercilia-pepin

10. Homicides are up in first third
The homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants increased from 24.40 to 25.41, while 833 violent deaths were reported during the first quarter of the year, in comparison to 804 during the same period in 2010. According to a report from the Attorney General's office Statistics Department, these violent incidents resulted in 760 male and 73 female victims. The Attorney General told Diario Libre that 527 people had been killed by firearms, equal to 63%, while 211 lives were lost in incidents involving knives, equal to 25%, and 95 from other causes, equal to 12%.

According to the age of the victims, 44 minors between the ages of 8 and 12 died violent deaths, 468 adults between the ages of 18 and 34, a total of 189 people between the ages of 35 and 51 years of age were killed, 57 between the ages of 52 and 68, and ten people over the age of 68. In 65 cases the authorities could not determine the victims' age. The report takes into account a universe of 10,010,590 inhabitants. The period from January to April shows 83 alleged exchanges of gunfire, with the involvement of the police, the DNCD and military personnel, averaging 2.49 for each 100,000 inhabitants.

11. Murder, not so serious
The civic movement, Movimiento Vida sin Violencia is calling for the dismissal of Judge Gabriel Marchena Adames for releasing Pedro Luis Baez Sanchez on bail. Baez Sanchez is accused of murdering his wife, Gleiry Maria Munoz Baez, mother of three of his children, in a cabana in Santiago, as reported in Hoy. The prosecutors were requesting a year's preventive custody for the accused, but the judge ruled that the case was not serious enough, as reported in Hoy. Santiago prosecutor Yeni Berenice Reynoso said she would not comply with the judge's decision. "I am the prosecutor and I direct prosecutors. I do not have power over the judges, but certainly this is not the first time that there have been issues of this kind with this judge, where he thinks that this is a crime that does not merit preventive custody." Reynoso said that although this case involves a murder, the accused was released 48 hours after his arrest "in a hapless and irresponsible way."

A page 2 editorial in El Caribe congratulated Reynoso. "Reynoso's decision has been backed by many organizations, including Movimiento Vida sin Violencia, to stop what is a denial of justice and an incentive to those who engage in abuse and violence against defenseless women. This sets a precedent against impunity."

12. Rains expected today and tomorrow
The tropical wave located to the southeast of the country and a low-pressure trough over the Windward Canal will be affecting weather conditions in the DR today and tomorrow. As a result, there will be rain showers with some isolated thunder and lightning and some strong wind gusts. The National Meteorological Office (ONAMET) also reported that temperatures would continue to be high all over the country due to the effects of the prevailing winds from the east. They reiterated their advice to use light clothing and drink a lot of liquids.

The rains are expected in the northeast, southeast, southwest and in the central mountains. Today is the first day of summer and the sun's rays will be more perpendicular to the earth in our region for the next month, and the days will be longer than the nights across the Northern Hemisphere.

13. 5th Gala of World Dance Stars
World famous dancers will be in Santo Domingo for the 5th Gala of World Dance Stars at the National Theater on 8 and 9 July. Guest dancers are Roberta Marquez and Steven McRae, principal dancers of the London Royal Ballet. They will dance Manon and Something Different.

Others are Sadaise Arencibia and Alejandro Virella of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba. They will dance Grand Pas de Deux Classique and Giselle.

The Gala will also feature Iana Salenko, first ballerina of the Berlin Opera, Rolando Sarabia, winner of the Benois de la Danse award who will dance Don Quixote and Pas de Deux of the White Swan, as well as Bridget Breiner, first ballerina of the Stuttgart Ballet, dancing Tue and Behind this Shadow by choreographer Marco Goecke.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

Apple Vacations adds Michigan flights
Apple Vacations has added weekly nonstop flights to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from Lansing Capital Regional International Airport in Michigan starting 23 December 2011. The seasonal flight will end 6 April 2012. The Friday morning flights are on Sun Country Airlines.
Punta Cana's appeal to mid-western travelers is in its beaches, modern and luxurious resorts, its golf courses and water sports, and the charms of Dominican culture.
Apple Vacations is the world's largest vacation company serving the Dominican Republic, operating 850 exclusive vacation flights annually from US cities throughout the East, Midwest and Texas, in addition to nationwide scheduled airline service.

Belize & DR tourism agreement
The tourism ministers of the Dominican Republic and Belize have signed an agreement to exchange experiences in tourism, strengthen bilateral agreements, technical and economic cooperation, joint implementation of eco-touristic projects and sustainable tourism. The agreement was signed by Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garcia Fernandez for the Dominican Republic and Tourism, Aviation and Culture Minister Lindsay Garbet for Belize. Garcia said that the agreement was of importance to both countries. He said that Belize has valuable experience in the handling of cruise ship traffic as the DR has in resort tourism.

Wellness at Viva Dominicus
The new EcoWellness Program at Viva Wyndham Dominicus in La Romana is getting good reviews. A report in a New York newspaper praises that an all-inclusive resort offer directed exercise inside and outside of the pool and a separate healthy food station at a low additional cost. "You can have your vacation, and eat well and exercise, too," says writer Charlene Peters of the GateHouse News Service.
The review concludes that "you'll leave your vacation with less carry-on baggage in your tummy. No fried plantains here, nor bread or dessert, but lots of fresh vegetables, steamed vegetables and proteins that are rationed out by use of a specially-designed plate that illustrates where and how much of the plate is designated for raw, cooked vegetables and protein. You'll be satiated, for sure, but on sauteed white fish, calamari, broccoli, carrots and salad - all deliciously prepared."
At the start of the program, participants are given a fat percentage and weight evaluation program, and then Boot Camp begins. There are exercise programs in the morning and afternoon. The second one is held in the pool.
www.the-leader.com/lifestyle/family/x1336438146/Taste-of-travel-Juiced-in-La-Romana

Gol to increase flights
Gol, the largest low-fare and low-cost airline in Latin America, is adding two more frequencies to its three-times a week flight using the Varig brand from Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo in Brazil via Caracas, Venezuela to Punta Cana for the summer. The Punta Cana resort market is becoming increasingly popular with Brazilians. So far, 22,435 Brazilians visited in the first four months of the year, up 125% compared to 2010. Passenger demand both from Brazil as from Venezuela has kept strong for this route leading to the increase in service.

Santo Domingo rated tops on MasterCard Index
Santo Domingo is the second top 10 Destination City by International Visitors (2011) on the MasterCard Index of Global Destination Cities released June 2011. Mexico City is first. The others are San Jose, Caracas, Bogota, Quito, Lima, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paolo and Buenos Aires. SD is also second to Mexico City in visitor spending.
The MasterCard Worldwide Index of Global Destination Cities ranks destination cities by visitor arrivals and by visitors' cross-border expenditures by taking the sum of the total of visitor arrivals from rest of the world and their total cross-border expenditures for each of the destination cities.
The Index is compiled using international flight and flight capacity information purchased from OAG Global, a provider of international aviation data.
www.slideshare.net/MasterCardNews/global-destination-cities-index-slideshare-final

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/163775_1768204445128_1239690087_2001685_1913795_n.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/165388_1773912467825_1239690087_2014905_6418005_n.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/165388_1773912587828_1239690087_2014908_3560800_n.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/163495_1773910187768_1239690087_2014903_6917770_n.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/163495_1773910147767_1239690087_2014902_779846_n.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/163495_1773910107766_1239690087_2014901_3914883_n.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/166390_1773915507901_1239690087_2014911_3924653_n.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/165388_1773912627829_1239690087_2014909_2497382_n.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/166390_1773915667905_1239690087_2014915_3650495_n.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/166390_1773915627904_1239690087_2014914_1969775_n.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

Are there many beautiful women in the Dominican Republic?

Yes, a lot of them!

1. DR1 News takes a break
The DR1 News digest will not be published tomorrow, Thursday 23 June or Friday 24 June on occasion of the long weekend. Thursday 23 June is a public holiday in the Dominican Republic for the religious commemoration of Corpus Christi day. The DR1 News will return on Monday with a compilation of headline news happening over the long weekend. Breaking developments can be followed 24/7 in the message forums at www.dr1.com/forums

The long weekend is full of cultural and sports activities, for details, see http://www.dr1.com/calendar

2. Fernandez in Israel
President Leonel Fernandez, accompanied by a delegation of some 30 diplomats and businessmen met with Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials and local business leaders on Tuesday in Tel Aviv to discuss ways the two countries can increase trade and commerce, as reported in the Jerusalem Post. "We are working on how to advance trade and create synergies," he said. The meetings were part of the 10-day Middle East tour of the President that took him to Jordan, the Palestine Authority and now to Israel. He returns to the DR on Sunday, 26 June.

As reported in the Jerusalem Post, Fernandez cited the country's firm relationship and support for Israel since 1948. The potential for improved business ties was a "win-win opportunity within our reach," he said. Closer cooperation could lead to a "radical transformation" of the Dominican Republic's economy and business pursuits, by making the "economy more diversified and competitive" through advanced technologies and partnerships, he added.

Trade between Israel and the Dominican Republic was up 5% in 2008, according to the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute.

Some 100 Israeli companies were represented at the meeting on Tuesday, the institute said. "Many Israeli companies would like to do business in the Dominican Republic," David Arzi, the institute's chairman, said Tuesday. An Israeli business delegation with representatives from the hi-tech, biotechnology and communications sectors is planning to visit the Dominican Republic in October, he said. The Dominican Republic is primarily interested in energy and water technologies, he added.

"We are very enthusiastic about working with the Dominican Republic," Mario Roberto Burstein, director-general of the Latin American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, said Tuesday. Trade delegations would cooperate in various hi-tech fields, he said.

In Jerusalem, President Fernandez participated in a seminar on "High Technology and Investment in the DR" on Tuesday, 21 June at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem to promote the DR's high-tech and business sector. The event was organized by the Dominican Embassy in Israel.

President Fernandez also spoke at the Third Annual Israeli Presidential Conference 2011, Facing Tomorrow, under the auspices of the President of the State of Israel, Shimon Peres, that took place at the Jerusalem Convention Center in Jerusalem, 21-23 June 2011. Talking to the press, Fernandez said he attended the conference interesting in sharing ideas, information and world outlook. From there he expected to adapt them and implement what was learned at home for the betterment of the people. He also highlighted the networking, learning process, and the opportunity to express solidarity with Israel and strengthen diplomatic relationships with Israel.

In Jerusalem, President Fernandez also visited the Weizmann Institute of Science, where the presidency reported he expressed his interest in developing scientific research in the Dominican Republic.

Talking to the press, Fernandez said he sharing ideas, information and world outlook is most important thing we can what to expect. From there adapt them and implement at home for the betterment of the people. He also highlighted the networking, learning process, express solidarity with Israel hope for peace strengthen diplomatic relationships with Israel.

http://www.presidencia.gob.do/app/do_2011/article.aspx?id=13899

http://www.presidencia.gob.do/app/do_2011/article.aspx?id=13901

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pORE_u7LFhw

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=148816

3. Deputies approve taxes
On the morning of Wednesday, 22 June, the Chamber of Deputies approved in a second reading the tax package that had already passed in the Senate. Since the deputies changed the bill, it now returns to the Senate for a second review. Senate president Reinaldo Pared Perez has said that the senators would approve the modifications made by the deputies Wednesday afternoon. This would be in time for the Corpus Christi long weekend. The ruling PLD party is majority in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.

The vote was 97 in favor, 69 against and two abstentions.

PLD spokesman, Pared Perez said the joint PLD congressional commission had thought hard on the changes made by the lower chamber in a first reading which eliminated the tax of 0.15% on cash withdrawals in banks starting at RD$20,000 and increased the income tax on companies from 27% to 29%.

4. 29% tax discourages business
The National Council of Business rejected the increase of the income tax from 25% to 29% as approved by the Chamber of Deputies in a first reading. The bill was up for a second reading on Wednesday, 22 June. The president of the National Council of Business, Manuel Diez Cabral criticized the tax package calling it "a patch" that does not contribute to solve any of the in depth structural problems of the economy, as reported in Listin Diario.

Diario Libre reported that Conep president Manuel Diez Cabral said that "the Income Tax increase is being proposed at a time when they (Congress) said: "To raise the rate from 27% to 29% is self-defeating and damaging for the productive sectors," he said. He argued that this decision affected business competitiveness.

The spokesman for the Haina Industrial Association warned that the approval of a 2.5% tax on gross sales on the local market will affect jobs in the industrial sector in Haina and San Cristobal. At the same time, the Dominican Traders Federation had hailed the initiative by the Chamber of Deputies to modify the proposal, since the original version placed a heavier burden on the lower middle class and the poorest sectors of society.

The spokesman for the American Chamber of Commerce said that the increased tax would further discourage business that would in increasing numbers relocate to Central America.

The government hopes that this legislation will enable it to collect RD$9.6 billion to cover the fiscal deficit and it projects collections to reach RD$4 billion with the increased income tax. The tax package was sent to Congress for the government to compensate for its fiscal deficit. The government argues the deficit is caused by rising fuel prices, but the private sector and civic society point to government wasteful spending.

A report in El Caribe says that the 29% tax will not be collected by the government until April 2012, which clashes with the urgency of the government to compensate for its fiscal deficit. Most companies in the Dominican Republic file taxes for the calendar year (January to December) in April of the next year.

5. Corripio suggests better spending
One of the nation's leading businessmen, Manuel Corripio Alonso, has suggested that the government should take major steps to improve the quality of its spending. According to Listin Diario, he said that above all the government's economic team should seek to improve not only the amount of money spent, but also the quality of the expenditure itself. He talked about superfluous or unnecessary expenditures that give the impression that there is a lot of money in circulation and benefit the population "but in reality they become a burden." Corripio, the vice-president of the Corripio Group, one of the largest family-owned enterprises in the country, alongside Vicini, Leon, Ramos and Lama, was interviewed before addressing a group of Business Administration students at UNIBE. He said that it seemed that in the negotiations between the government and the business community the consensus won out, since each sector stated their points of view. He did say that before talking about tax reform, there should be clear signals that the government will exercise some discipline in spending. He pointed out the case of Denmark, where the tax rate is over 50% but the people pay willingly, since most of their needs are met with quality services such as a public school system that is superior to the private schools in the Dominican Republic, and a health system that is truly excellent. He said that the best thing would be for people to receive quality services in return for paying taxes.

6. President promulgates CNM law
On Tuesday, the Executive Branch promulgated the Fundamental Law on the National Council of Magistrates (CNM), which will replace Law 132-11 and will regulate the organization and operation of the council. The National Council of Magistrates will appoint the judges of the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court and the Higher Electoral Court, the leading courts.

The CNM will have eight members, chaired by the President of the Republic. The other members will be the presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Justice. The CNM also includes another Supreme Court judge as well as a senator designated by the Senate president. This senator will belong to the second largest party in the Senate. A deputy will also be chosen from the second largest party in the Chamber of Deputies. Finally, the Attorney General of the Republic, who is chosen by the President of the Republic, will be a member of the council. The President of the Republic will preside over the council at all times and the Vice-President will take his place in his absence. According to El Caribe, the President will convene the CNM meetings and the quorum is defined as the full membership at the first call and the invitation should state the agenda of the meeting.

7. UN agency explains Human Development Report changes
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) representative in the DR, Valerie Julliand, said yesterday that the decision not to renew the contracts of the Human Development Office coordinators, Miguel Ceara Hatton and Pavel Isa Contreras, came about as a result of their failure to follow regulations on public statements that she said compromised the independence of the organization. According to Diario Libre, Julliand said that the decision to rescind the contracts that end next 30 June was taken after "their reiterated failure to comply with the rules of conduct related to statements that could compromise the independence and impartiality of the organization." Nonetheless, she did not specify which public statements had violated these rules. She reported that they would be recruiting to fill these two vacancies. She added that the Human Development Office was still working, and that "there has been no dismantling, disarticulation or closure as has erroneously been said." She denied that this decision was due to supposed pressures. "Their work in the UNDP did not correspond to the interests of any particular party, economic or other sort," she said, reading a statement at a press conference without answering questions from reporters.

Yesterday, Isa, in a statement, said that the office "carried out an academic work that tried to contribute to the design of public policies and questioned the political, economic and social order... The actions of the manager of the UNDP in the Dominican Republic tried to smother this analysis and its publication and the team was not willing to censor itself."

New reports by the team that has been critical of the government's performance would have been released during months leading into the 2012 presidential election.

8. Zoo announces ecological camp
The Dominican National Zoological Park (Zoodom) has announced that its traditional Summer Camp will start on 5 July and go on until 5 August. The camp is known for its creativity and for the enjoyable experience that it provides for the children.

According to El Caribe, Zoodom Education Department director Maria Isabel Marlenis said that the camp was for children from 4 to 12 years of age. The camp will include games and educational trips around the park itself, with a special focus on protected and endangered species. There will be games, workshops, origami, recycling workshops, theater, gardens and videos on environmental themes. The objective of the camp is to get the children involved in the conservation and preservation of nature.

9. Hipolito leads Danilo
A 1-9 June 2011 poll carried out by Consultoria Interdisciplinaria en Desarrollo Latinoamerica (CID Gallup) revealed that 57% of those polled think that former President Hipolito Mejia of the PRD will win the presidential election scheduled for 20 May 2012. 24% said Danilo Medina would win the election, as reported in El Dia. Medina is the leading contender to win the ruling PLD party candidacy. The PLD meets on 26 June to choose its presidential candidate.

If the election were held on the day the person was polled, Mejia would win with 53% of the vote against 30% of Medina. 45% of those polled favored the PRD, compared to 30% of the PLD.

The 30% for the PLD is the lowest percentage for that party over the past 10 years, while the 45% for the PRD is the highest for that party over the same period, for polls carried out by CID, said the polling company.

The poll reflects the rising disapproval and pessimism by Dominicans with the Fernandez government.

10. Joint operation seizes weapons at Caucedo Port
In a joint operation, agents from several state security agencies seized several firearms and military supplies, including an explosives detonator, on the docks of the Caucedo Multi-Modal Port. The operation was carried out by the Ministry of the Armed Forces through the Intelligence and Strategic Security Operatives Detachment (DOISE in Spanish), which is made up of members of the Intelligence Directorate, J-2, G-2, M-2, A-2 and the Customs Intelligence Department. As reported in Diario Libre, during the search, the teams found a Mossberg 12 ga. Shotgun, three sets of rifle frames, a blasting cap, a clip for .22 cal pistols, 495 shells for a .22 cal. Weapon, 20 shots for a .30 cal. weapon and 20 shells for a 7 mm weapon as well as a bayonet. The cargo was sent from Pennsylvania in the United States by Juan Baez and was being shipped to Juan Antonio Rosario in Villa Tapia, Salcedo.

11. Killer kept in jail
After a public uproar, Santiago District Attorney Yenni Berenice Reynoso decided to disobey a sentence that ordered 47-year old Pedro Luis Baez Sanchez to be freed upon paying RD$150,000 of a RD$1.5 million bail. He is accused of stabbing his lover, 26-year old Gleydi Maria Munoz Gomez to death in Santiago last Thursday. Both Baez and Munoz were married to other spouses.

The woman was accompanied by her three children, which were in another room in the motel El Palmar at the time of the stabbing. The contempt of court by the District Attorney follows protests by local women's groups in response to the judges's decision, which favored the defendant. Reynoso told Diario Libre that she is aware that her position is in violation of the law, but she argued that her decision is also due to the fact that she has another process against Baez Sanchez. She said that she has in her hands a complaint filed by the victim's husband accusing Baez Sanchez of death threats.

The District Attorney said that in the next few hours she would appeal the sentence issued by Judge Gabriel Marchena Adames.

Judge Marchena Adames set a RD$1.5 million bail bond for Baez Sanchez.

http://www.acento.com.do/index.php/news/4203/56/Quisiera-que-la-muerte-me-llevara-dice-acusado-de-matar-mujer-en-motel.html

12. Police identify Presidente beer assailants
Four men were killed by police officers yesterday after apparently being surprised while trying to rob Warehouse #6 of the Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana (the Dominican National Brewery) on "H" Street in the Herrera industrial area. The deceased were identified as Deivi Alexander Batista Minveti, 30; Aurelio Agustin Minveti (El Gringo), 34; Eduardo Alcantara Adelson (El Chavo) and a fourth man, known only as Leandro.

National Police spokesman Colonel Maximo Baez Aybar told Diario Libre reporters that four pistols, several ski masks, a cap with an inscription identifying the wearer as a member of a non-existent Police agency, two ID cards, and several clips for the pistols were recovered from the four bodies. The objects recovered were used in their criminal activities. One of the alleged assailants, who was hiding near the beer company's warehouse, wounded an employee as he came in to work. The victim is in a stable condition, according to Baez Aybar.

The Police have arrested several people in connection with the case, including taxi driver Federico Antonio Abreu Martinez, Michael Mamilo Veras, who worked with the group as a motorcycle outrider, and Cristian Alonzo Velez, who was picked up in the neighborhood where the incident took place several hours later. Baez Aybar said that two of the deceased were "well known criminals with police records, and the investigators have already worked with them."

Three of the alleged thieves were inside the taxi when they were shot and the other was hit while trying to enter the Benigno Zapatero warehouse, opposite the brewery's warehouse. The medical examiner was Candida Correa, while the assistant district attorney for the province of Santo Domingo was Maximo Diaz. He arrived four hours after the events took place. The car that the alleged thieves were using had two license plates: One, A107077, which is false and another, A064782, which is the proper license plate for the car, but was found in the trunk.

13. 16th Lowenbrau Hispaniola 2011 Marathon
5:06pm on Sunday, 26 June 2011 is the take off time for the 21 kms of the 16th Hispaniola 2011 Half Marathon, sponsored by Lowenbrau malt at the Mirador del Sur Park in Santo Domingo. Competitors from the DR, Puerto Rico, the United States, Italy, Kenya, Venezuela and Colombia have registered. Registration at Banco Leon branches. More than RD$1 million in cash prizes.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

25409397

Esperado "boom" de minería comienza a sentirse en Cotuí
Llegan nuevos bancos y se activa construcción hoteles y casas

Julio Tejeda, Ramón Antonio Díaz y Enrique de León, en DL.
SD. El esperado "boom" de la minería en la región Cibao-Sur comienza a sentirse con la llegada de nuevos bancos, construcciones de pequeños hoteles, y apartamentos y búsqueda de solares por cadenas de supermercados.

En menos de un mes, en Cotuí se inauguró la oficina de la Incubadora de Empresas, llegó el Banco León, se instaló una sucursal de la Curacao y un restaurante.

También se han construido 56 apartamentos en 8 edificios, hay dos proyectos de construcción, uno de de 16 apartamentos y otro de 20, y en Maimón se inauguró un hotel de 32 habitaciones.

Además, Bancotuí hará una alianza con la Asociación Duarte de Ahorros y Préstamos para participar en el negocio inmobiliario, con crédito a 20 años.

Así lo informaron Julio Tejeda, gerente general de Bancotuí, Ramón Antonio Díaz, coordinador general de la Incubadora de Empresas; Enrique de León, consultor para Pueblo Viejo Dominicano y Guillermo VanderLinde, asesor de la entidad.

El sector de la minería revirtió una contracción de -5.5% del primer trimestre del 2010 a 42.5% durante enero-marzo de este año, liderado por la producción de ferroníquel en Bonao y de plata y cobre en Maimón.

También por la expansión en la producción de mármol, piedra caliza, grava y gravilla.

El valor agregado de esta actividad tuvo un crecimiento de 2.9% en 2010, revirtiendo una contracción de -51.9% del 2009, por la expansión de la producción de cobre, oro y plata.

Los ejecutivos de la Incubadora, entidad de reciente formación, dijeron que buscan fomentar el empleo y aumentar el nivel de educación y formación para reducir el nivel de pobreza.

Ya tienen cientos de mujeres que producen desinfectantes, mantas con residuos de coco, carteras con desechos de plásticos y chalecos de seguridad.

La Incubadora dará asistencia a otros 15 proyectos listo para iniciar y cuenta con un cluster en la presa de Hatillo para servicios de ecoturismo en la región.

Con la Incubadora buscan que pequeñas empresas asuman una visión y cultura empresarial y se le ayude al mercadeo de sus productos, a fin de que puedan desarrollarse y expandirse, expuso Tejeda.

Explicó que con los pequeños proyectos en la zona hay mucho potencial, pero es necesario armarlo con visión de hacia donde se quiere llegar, y ahora se cuenta con el impulso de la minera Barrick que ha mostrado compromiso con esta nueva manera de construir el desarrollo, pues antes el esplendor de la mina fue pasajero en Cotuí.

Respaldo

La Incubadora recibe apoyo público-privado de Pueblo Viejo y los ministerios de Trabajo y Economía, así como Proindustria. Pueblo Viejo donó RD$4 millones para un fondo a fin de incentivar a sectores financieros de la zona. Otros apoyos vienen de Cooperativa Maimón, Asociación Bonao, Promipyme y ONGs que se dedican a la intermediación financiera, así como la mancomunidad de ayuntamientos de 6 municipios y 9 distritos municipales que respaldan la iniciativa que buscaría la mejoría a los habitantes.

El presidente del consejo directivo del Fondo de Desarrollo del Transporte Terrestre (FONDET) ingeniero Milciades Pérez Polanco, declaró que el gobierno, a través de la Oficina para el Reordenamiento del Transporte (OPRET), contempla implementar en los próximos meses un corredor exclusivo del kilómetro 9 hasta la entrada de Los Alcarrizos.

El funcionario explicó que ese corredor estará compuesto por una flotilla de autobuses de la Oficina Metropolitana de Servicios de Autobuses (OMSA).

Anunció que la ruta de guaguas iniciaría en el kilómetro 9 de la autopista Duarte hasta la entrada del municipio de Los Alcarrizos, en la zona Oeste de la provincia Santo Domingo.

La información fue suministrada en un encuentro efectuado en el despacho del Alcalde Danilo Rafael Santos (Junior).

“Esta medida se estudia ante la imposibilidad de continuar la segunda línea del Metro, que abarcaría llegar hasta el nombrado municipio”, dijo el funcionario.

En ese sentido, indicó que para esos fines, FONDET mantiene conversaciones con representantes del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID) cuyo organismo destinaría parte de los fondos necesarios para el nuevo corredor, que también formaría parte de las rutas alimentadoras de la segunda parte del metro de Santo Domingo.

“Estudios de suelos realizados por técnicos especialistas en la materia, determinaron que una amplia franja de terrenos es arcilloso y deslizable, no apto para la construcción del Metro”, dijo.

En reunión participaron el secretario general del cabildo Alejandro Abreu, los directores de Obras Publicas y Planeamiento Urbano, ingenieros Kennedy Rodríguez y David Perdomo, así como Eduard Caraballo, de la Dirección de Relaciones Públicas de la Alcaldía, entre otros funcionarios.

http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=247190

http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/renderimage.aspx?s=16&m=0&i=FDF05F5D-C092-42B9-B68E-B0655DFEFC35&f=522

Fernández visita empresas tecnológicas en Israel
París, Francia.-El presidente Leonel Fernández visitó este jueves varias empresas de alta tecnología israelí, donde varios de sus ejecutivos mostraron interés en aprovechar el clima de inversión y el capital humano que tiene la República Dominicano. El primer mandatario dominicano y la delegación oficial que lo acompaña, recorrieron las instalaciones de Nice Systems, la cual se dedica a la fabricación de software para la prevención de fraude, captación y análisis de transacciones en tiempos reales, call center y redes sociales. También visitaron la compañía Amdocs Israel, especializada en innovación de sistemas de servicio al cliente.

El director general de Nice System, Zeevi Bregman destacó las condiciones motivadoras que tiene el país para la expansión de negocios, gracias al clima de inversión y el capital humano que posee el territorio dominicano.

El empresario israelí se mostró interesado en aprovechar esas oportunidades para establecer relaciones beneficiosas para ambas partes.

En República Dominicana esa entidad ofrece sus servicios al Scotiabank, Edeeste, Edesur, Vimenca, Banco Popular, Har Rock Café, Punta Cana y Tricom, entre otras compañías.

De su lado, el presidente de Amdocs Israel, Shai Levy, expresó su interés en explorar las posibilidades de instalar un centro internacional de innovación en el país, con la finalidad de dar asistencia a toda la población de América Latina y el Caribe.

Luego de visitar estas empresas de alta tecnología, el presidente Fernández se trasladó a París, Francia, donde tiene programado este viernes y el próximo sábado, agotar una agenda que incluye una reunión con el director general de la UNESCO y una entrevista con el periódico Le Monde.

El jefe de Estado, llegó a las 10:40 de la noche, hora local, (4:40 de la tarde en República Dominicana), por el Aeropuerto internacional de esta ciudad, Charles de Gaulle, acompañado de la Primera Dama, doctora Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, el ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Carlos Morales Troncoso y los secretarios de Estado y directores de Información, Prensa y Publicidad de la Presidencia, Rafael Núñez y del Centro de Exportación e Inversión de la República Dominicana (CEI-RD), respectivamente, así como los empresarios Domingo Dauajre, Manuel Estrella y Félix García, demás miembros de la comitiva oficial.

Fue recibido por las embajadoras dominicanas en Francia, Laura Faxas y la representante ante la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura (UNESCO), Rosa Hernández de Grullón, entre otros diplomáticos dominicanos en esa nación.

El Presidente de la República, tiene previsto regresar al país, este domingo, cerca de las 2:00 de la tarde por el Aeropuerto Internacional de Las Américas, en un vuelo privado, procedente de Nueva York.

Bulevar del Atlántico en fase de terminación
Carretera unirá Puerto Plata, Nagua, Sánchez y Samaná

Escrito por: Pedro Castro (p.castro@elnacional.com.do)
El Ministerio de Obras Públicas y el Consorcio BTA informaron que dan los toques finales a la construcción de la carretera del proyecto Bulevar Turístico del Atlántico, en Samaná.

“Ese proyecto crea las condiciones completamente nueva de accesibilidad y permitirá a los usuarios trasladarse desde Santo Domingo a la provincia de Samaná de manera más rápida, segura y económica”.

Consiste en la rehabilitación de la red de las principales carreteras de la península de Samaná, como son: El Circuito de Nagua, Sánchez, Cruce El Limón y El Limón.

Además de la construcción de un nuevo enlace entre las comunidades turística de El Catey y Las Terrenas, que entrará próximamente en operación.

La ejecución del proyecto El boulevard ha implicado la reconstrucción, embellecimiento, señalización y mejoramiento del drenaje pluvial de las carreteras que conducen a Nagua, Sánchez, Las Terrenas y Samaná, convirtiéndolas en vías de acceso más modernas, rápidas y seguras.

Se trata de un recorrido de 124 kilómetros que enlazan la red de vías de Nagua, Sánchez, Samaná, El Limón, Las Terrenas y El Catey, conjugando comodidad, seguridad, asistencia, economía y belleza natural.

El nuevo enlace que recorre toda la costa norte desde El Catey hasta Las Terrenas, ha permitido crear una ruta de mayor accesibilidad a zonas que antes estaban en condición de aislamiento.

El nuevo tramo conecta la zona norte de la Península de Samaná, con el resto del país, en una vía moderna, expresa y segura, lo que permitirá a turistas nacionales y extranjeros disfrutar a plenitud de todo el encanto natural de la región.

“Esta moderna y hermosa vía motorizará unmayor desarrollo turístico en la región, con un incremento en la generación de empleos y una mejoría en los ingresos y bienestar de las familias en toda la provincia de Samaná”, señala una nota enviada a El Nacional.

El complejo de vías de comunicaciones que comprenden la autopista Santo Domingo-Samaná y el Boulevard Turístico del Atlántico representarán la infraestructura necesaria para el desarrollo integral de la turística provincia de Samaná.

UN APUNTE

De Santo Domingo a Nagua el usuario lo hará en 121 kilómetros, 84 kilómetros menos y un ahorro en pesos de RD$722.40.

El ahorro a Sánchez será de 106 kilómetros y 911 pesos en combustible; a Las Terrenas el ahorro será de 123 kilómetros y RD$1,57.80 en combustible.

Taiwán dona US$100,000 a la Arquidiócesis de SD
Santo Domingo
El gobierno de la República China de Taiwán entregó ayer una segunda donación de US$100,000 al Arzobispado de Santo Domingo para la ejecución de la segunda fase del proyecto de rehabilitación del Archivo Histórico de la Arquidiócesis de Santo Domingo, el más antiguo del país.

La donación fue recibida por el cardenal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez, arzobispo primado de América, durante una ceremonia celebrada en la sede de la Conferencia del Episcopado Dominicano, en la avenida Bolívar del Distrito Nacional.

El purpurado agradeció la donación al embajador Isaac Tsai, quien hizo el donativo a nombre del gobierno taiwanés. El diplomático afirmó que el Archivo Histórico de la Arquidiócesis es parte esencial del patrimonio de la humanidad y tiene un alto valor social por su contenido histórico, cultural, académico y eclesiástico.

Isaac Tsai añadió que es necesario que ese lugar de tanto valor histórico se encuentre en óptimas condiciones y con equipos que permitan su perpetuidad para beneficio de las presentes y futuras generaciones.

Asimismo, el embajador taiwanés destacó la labor religiosa y social que realiza el Arzobispo de Santo Domingo en beneficio del pueblo dominicano, a través de su participación constante y activa en todas las iniciativas que favorecen el desarrollo y el bienestar del país.

Mientras, el cardenal López Rodríguez, tras agradecer la donación, señaló que que en esta segunda fase del proyecto de rehabilitación del Archivo es muy importante esta donación de Taiwán, que ya lo había hecho en la primera etapa. En este momento se continúa el proceso de digitación y recuperación de importantes documentos del archivo que pronto quedará definitivamente restaurado.

López Rodríguez dijo que la preservación del acervo documental y bibliográfico que se encuentra en el Archivo del Arzobispado es una parte esencialmente importante de la historia dominicana y de América.

CASI 500 AÑOS DE HISTORIA
El Archivo ha sido preservado de forma íntegra durante casi 500 años y en éste se encuentran las homilías y discursos de los arzobispos desde la creación de la Arquidiócesis por el Papa Julio II, en 1511. Varios prelados han estado a cargo del Archivo Histórico figurando entre uno de sus últimos director el obispo emérico Francisco José Arnaiz, quien lo tuvo a su cargo durante casi 30 años. Su rehabilitación se inició hace varios años dentro de un proyecto global de remodelación.

Del Listin Diario.

TRABAJAN MIL 200 OBREROS

Obras Públicas concluye empalme de túnel hacia UASD

María Luisa López
Santo Domingo
El Ministerio de Obras Públicas (MOP), dejó concluidos hoy los trabajos de empalme del portal Norte con el Sur del túnel Corredor Duarte que conducirá hacia la Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) y de inmediato se inició el proceso de encofrado.

El director del proyecto Corredor Duarte, Luis Sergio Costa, dijo que la obra que inició en agosto del año pasado, tendrá un costo de 50 millones de dólares y que se espera que esté concluida a finales de diciembre de este año.

Costa aseguró que el túnel tiene un avance del 70 por ciento y tendrá dos carriles con un ancho de 3.65 metros.

Señaló, además, que ésta obra es la primera en su categoría del país y que tendrá una profundidad que sobrepasa los 25 metros por debajo de los edificios y construcciones de la zona.

“Más de 1,200 obreros trabajan diariamente en el Corredor Duarte, hasta el momento no hemos tenido ningún tipo de accidente, a pesar que esta es la etapa más peligrosa de la obra”, dijo.

El túnel hacia la UASD proveerá una nueva conexión vial en el sentido Norte-Sur, partiendo desde la esquina formada por las avenidas 27 de Febrero con José Ortega y Gasset, llegando a la intersección de la avenida José Contreras con la Santo Tomás de Aquino.

Por disposición del ministro de Obras Publicas, Víctor Díaz Rúa, el consorcio Corredor Duarte estableció horarios de 24 horas para la ejecución de estos trabajos y también recomendó a la ciudadanía utilizar los desvíos y vías alternas establecidas, las cuales fueron señalizadas para contribuir con un mejor desplazamiento de chóferes, conductores y transeúntes, con la colaboración de los agentes de la Autoridad Metropolitana de Transportes (AMET).


http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/8071/gggyc.jpg

http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2011/6/24/193370/Obras-Publicas-concluye-empalme-de-tunel-hacia-UASD

1. Danilo Medina wins PLD primary
The preliminary vote count in the elections for the ruling PLD party presidential candidate shows Danilo Medina in the lead with an overwhelming 87.75%.

The 2010 Constitution has enabled former President Hipolito Mejia to run again. Thus, in an unexpected turn of events, Medina will be running against Mejia, who beat him in the 2000 election.

In his acceptance speech, Medina declared that he had conquered the challenge of unifying his party, and that his next challenge was to unify the country. In his acceptance speech he thanked the presidential couple for what he termed their "sacrifice". He said that when the First Lady Margarita Cedeno decided not to run, she sacrificed the presidential candidacy in favor of party unity.

The other pre-candidates, Francisco Dominguez Brito, Jose Tomas Perez and Radhames Segura joined in the celebrations of Medina's victory and forecast that Medina would be the next President in 2012.

"Danilo Medina has been a valuable gladiator in the PLD... with the PLD united as it is, we are sure our party will maintain its achievements and will remain in power in 2012," said Jose Tomas Perez, as quoted in El Caribe.

"The future is ours, the future is of the Dominican Republic. The future is in the hands of Danilo Medina," said Dominguez Brito, first to acknowledge Medina's victory.

PLD members also voted in the plebiscite in favor of extending the PLD Political Committee's mandate for another five years. The vote ensured that President Leonel Fernandez will continue as party president, Reinaldo Pared Perez as secretary general, Felix Bautista as organizational secretary, and the 406 members of the Central Committee will remain as well as the 26 members of the Political Committee. Their terms had expired in 2010.

As reported in El Caribe, with the votes counted for 1,078 stations (33.76% of the total vote), 198,411 members had voted for the continuation of the authorities (66.68%) and 99,167 (33.32%) had voted for change.

The 20 May 2012 election between Medina (PLD) and Mejia (PRD) is expected to be a closely fought contest.

2. President Fernandez votes in PLD primary
After arriving on a private jet from New York City around noon, President Leonel Fernandez cast his vote for the PLD presidential candidate at the PLD primary at around 4:30pm. He and First Lady Margarita Cedeno voted at station 90, at the General Archive of the Nation.

Motivating PLD followers, as quoted in Hoy, the President said: "[The party] that guarantees progress, that guarantees transparency, that guarantees the transformation of Dominican society in the economic, social, political, cultural, technological and greater international presence.... the PLD has demonstrated this."

As reported, the President commended what he described as a democratic, plural, transparent and massive process of the PLD primary that reaffirms the people's support for the ruling party.

3. President Fernandez in France
On the last leg of a 10-day tour that took him to Spain, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and Israel, President Fernandez was in Paris to sign agreements at the UNESCO. He met with UNESCO director Irina Bakova at the UN divisional headquarters in Paris, where he announced the creation of a database to evaluate the problem solving capacity of teachers and students in the DR. "With that base we will create a critical mass in the DR, first of teachers, and then of students, to manage the logic with which those tests are applied, that is not to measure knowledge, but only to establish the capacity of applying knowledge to resolve problems," stated Fernandez. In Paris he also met with the president of La Francophonie (IOF), Abdou Diouf, to strengthen cooperation and the teaching of French in developing projects on the border that will be coordinated with Haiti, according to Dominican ambassador in France, Laura Faxas. Faxas told El Caribe that the role of Francophonie in the university the DR is donating to Haiti was discussed during the meeting.

The International Organization of La Francophonie (IOF) is an institution based on sharing the French language and common cultural values. The IOF comprises fifty-five Member States and Governments and thirteen Observers, accounting for nearly one-third of the UN Member States, and representing a population of over 800 million, including 200 million French speakers. The DR has observer status at the organization.

President Fernandez returned to the DR on a private jet from New York City on Sunday, 26 June.

4. Dominicans sending more money
The Central Bank reports that remittances are up 5%, or US$36.8 million during the first quarter of the year. From January to March, a total of US$763.9 million was received in remittances, compared to US$727.1 million for the same period in 2010, as reported in Diario Libre. According to the Central Bank, 40% of Dominican families depend on remittances sent by their relatives abroad. The DR receives approximately US$3 billion a year in remittances. In 2010, remittances declined to US$2.9 billion.

5. Getting to the other side of the UASD tunnel
On Friday, Odebrecht workers completed the drilling of the tunnel that will ease traffic flow from Ortega y Gasset (Olympic Center) Avenue to the UASD university (Jose Contreras avenue and Santo Tomas de Aquino street) in the south of the city. With a length of 1.2kms, the tunnel is the longest ever built in the DR. It will have two lanes with a width of 3.65 meters. The Ministry of Public Works reported that the work would cost US$50 million (RD$1.7 billion +) and should be completed by the end of the year. He said the 25-meter deep tunnel was 70% complete.

6. Tax bill is law
The Presidency has signed Law 139-11 that creates and raises taxes to compensate for the rising government fiscal deficit. The government expects to collect RD$9.6 billion in extra revenues. Income tax on companies was increased from 25% to 29%, formerly duty free industry local sales will pay 2.5%, and there are new and increased taxes on gambling.

The government needed to demonstrate the added revenues in order to secure the approval of the International Monetary Fund for the fifth and sixth reviews of the Stand-by arrangement and obtain clearance for new sovereign bond issues on international markets and disbursements of funds from the IMF as part of the ongoing Stand-by arrangement.

7. Gas-guzzling vehicles
Fuel consumption is up 28.69% in the DR, despite rising prices, reports Diario Libre. Consumption has increased from 337,078,183 gallons in the first four months of the year to 433,814,009. In addition, there are more gas-guzzling luxury vehicles on the roads, according to stats from the Department of Taxes. This has raised an additional RD$1.7 million in luxury taxes for the government. The consumption of premium gasoline, used by the luxury vehicles, increased from 27,921,384 gallons to 31,229,013 gallons in the first four months of the year. Premium diesel use was also up, going from 12,184,285 gallons in the first four months of 2010 to 12,613,985 gallons, up 429,700 gallons.

According to DGII stats, at year-end 2010 there were 252,881 luxury SUVS in circulation, this is up 23,259 compared to the 229,622 in 2009, or an increase of 10.1%.

DGII stats show there are 10,778 Mercedes Benz, 514 Porsches, 663 Jaguars, 1,859 Audis and 1,565 Lexus. 10,101 Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Buick, Mercury, Cadillac, Lincoln and Jeep vehicles are registered, as well as 12,088 Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Austin Rover, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce and Land Rover.

At the close of 2010, 44,479 luxury vehicles were registered.

One of the perks of a government job in this country is a beneficial financing plan to purchase a luxury SUV.

8. New mural for Obelisk
Dustin Munoz has been commissioned to paint a fourth mural on Santo Domingo's Obelisk on the Malecon. The mural will once more be a tribute to the Mirabal sisters, who were murdered by dictator Rafael Trujillo in 1960. The mural, which should be completed by the end of the month, is being painted by the same team that was responsible for the previous four murals by Candido Bido, Elsa Nunez and Amaya Salazar, as reported in El Caribe.

9. Lowenbrau marathon a success
More than 1,125 runners in different categories participated in the 16th Lowenbrau Half Marathon at the Mirador Park in Santo Domingo. Kenyan Julius Keter, who lives in Mexico, won the event with 1:04.45. His past mark was 1:04.16. He said he failed to beat the mark because of the hot temperatures. Simon Sawe of the US was second, and Stephen Tanui of Kenya was third. Mary Akor was first in the women's division, Alice Waruguru from Kenya was second, and Sonny Garcia from the DR was third. Alfonso Paula Acosta was the Dominican with the best performance.

10. Rains forecast
A tropical wave in the area is expected to bring rain nationwide over the next 24 hours, reports the National Weather Office (ONAMET). At present, a trough associated with a system of low pressure is affecting the weather in the DR. Hot and humid temperatures will continue to prevail, especially from 11am to 4pm. The tropical wave, which is moving this way from the Yucatan peninsula, is expected to become a tropical storm in the next 48 hours. Noontime highs of 31C with early morning temperatures of 25C can be expected, with rains mostly in the afternoon and evening. The sun is rising at an early 6:05am and setting at a late 7:19 as part of the long days of summer.

11. 30 years of puppets
The Fundacion Munecos por el Desarrollo (Puppets for Development Foundation) from Spain is bringing its largest traveling sample of puppets to Santo Domingo. The exhibition is at the Galeria Nacional de Bellas Artes at the Palacio de Bellas Artes.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

SANTO DOMINGO. En medio de los conflictos políticos en torno a la gestión del presidente Hugo Chávez, las inversiones de capital venezolano en República Dominicana registraron un amplio aumento durante del 2010, cuando los montos llegaron a los US$140.4 millones, según datos del Banco Central.

La cifra equivale a más del 50% de la inversión acumulada de ese país en suelo dominicano en los últimos diez años, que totalizan US$264.1 millones, y representa un incremento de US$109.3 millones, respecto a la del 2009, que fue de US$31.3 millones.

Ese interés de los empresarios venezolanos por invertir en República Dominicana forma parte, a juicio de algunos economistas, de una necesidad de invertir en negocios fuera de Venezuela, debido a la situación política generada ante medidas adoptadas por Chávez.

Sin embargo, entre empresarios de ese país, consultados por DL, las razones no van más allá de la necesidad de expansión de sus negocios y de aprovechar las condiciones favorables que ofrece el mercado dominicano.

Para el economista Bernardo Vega, se trata de una fuga de capitales que abarca a otros países y cita el caso de las grandes inversiones de empresarios venezolanos en el sector inmobiliario de la Florida, Estados Unidos.

Vega basa su afirmación en el hecho de que son empresarios que están llegando solos, pues no se conoce de programas del Gobierno dominicano ni del sector privado nacional, dirigido a captar inversión en ese país.

"El gobierno dominicano no ha enviado una misión a Caracas a promover inversión en República Dominicana y el sector privado tampoco, a diferencia de lo que hace el Gobierno en Estados Unidos y Europa. Ese capital simplemente ha estado viniendo", destaca.

Marcos de la Rosa, presidente de la Asociación Dominicana de Empresas de Inversión Extranjeras (Asiex) coincide también en que la inversión privada está saliendo de Venezuela y buscando nuevos destinos, aunque dice desconocer las razones. Como muestra de ello, refiere el informe de la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) sobre Inversión Extranjera Directa (IED) durante el 2010, en el que Venezuela es el único país con cifras negativas en toda la región.

Según el informe de la CEPAL América Latina y el Caribe fue la región, de todo el mundo, donde más creció el porcentaje de recepción de inversión extranjera, al totalizar ingresos por US$112,634 millones, un 40% más que en el 2009. De ese monto, el 76% (unos US$85.143 millones) lo recibió América del Sur, siendo los países más favorecidos Brasil, Chile y Perú, además de Colombia y Argentina que experimentaron un incremento. No obstante, Venezuela presenta un saldo negativo de -US$1,404 millones, lo que según la CEPAL, "demuestra una estrategia en que la IED no es el eje central del desarrollo y la nacionalización de activos extranjeros es un fenómeno relevante".

De la Rosa insiste en que "la verdad, no sé cuales son las razones, pero cuando uno ve la cifra, pareciera que el capital privado está tomando la decisión de salir de Venezuela, por alguna razón. Quizás no encuentra el ambiente adecuado para invertir".

En los últimos años, el gobierno de Hugo Chávez ha implementado una política de nacionalización de empresas, entre las cuáles, la CEPAL cita la fabricante de envases de vidrios estadounidense, Owens Illinois.

En mayo pasado, varios medios de prensa de España publicaron la denuncia de la Federación de Centros Españoles en Venezuela (Feceve), de que las expropiaciones de Chávez habían arruinado a unos 500 empresarios españoles.

El atractivo de RD

Alfredo Ignacio Vargas Salas, director corporativo del Banco Múltiple de las Américas (Bancamérica) y Juan Casanova, director del Grupo Vtres, coinciden con el presidente de ASIEX en señalar las condiciones favorables del mercado dominicano para invertir.

"El crecimiento que ha tenido la economía en los últimos cinco años, que ha sido el más alto en todo el Caribe y Centroamérica; la ubicación geográfica es muy estratégica, a 1 hora y 15 minutos de Venezuela y 2 horas de Estados Unidos. El tratado de libre comercio hace viable la posibilidad de instalar algún tipo de producción local para una futura o posible exportación, además de la estabilidad política y económica y el idioma. Más las relaciones que existen en ambos países de toda la vida, hacen que el venezolano quiera invertir en este país", comenta Vargas Salas.

El joven empresario, junto a Casanova, preside la Asociación Alianza de Venezolanos en República Dominicana (Venedom), que tiene como objetivo brindar orientación y soporte a los empresarios y profesionales venezolanos que llegan al país.

Este organismo, con un par de meses de creado, cuenta con unos 150 miembros, gente que, según dice Casanova, tiene fe en Venezuela y, en algunos casos, mantienen sus negocios allá, pero que ha querido aprovechar las oportunidades de negocios en otro país.

En el caso específico de Bancamérica, Vargas Salas indica que llegaron a Santo Domingo motivados por el espacio de crecimiento en el sector. Recuerda que la tasa de bancarización nacional es muy baja, con menos de un 30% en usuarios bancarios, lo que da oportunidad de expansión, y que además, con las nuevas regulaciones, el sistema financiero es muy sano y confiable, lo que les llena de tranquilidad.

Asegura que Bancamérica, (con una empleomanía de 175 personas, sólo dos venezolanos, según dice) es un proyecto a largo plazo, y que vino hace dos años para seguir creciendo y contribuir al desarrollo nacional.

En cuanto a las áreas de interés para invertir, ambos empresarios resaltan el sector financiero, inmobiliario, turístico y la construcción, aunque también advierten de una gran participación de capital venezolano en las áreas médica y alimentaria.

Empresas que llegaron los últimos años

En los últimos años han llegado al país grupos económicos de Venezuela que se destacan por los montos de inversión. Entre estos grupos, que recoge el Centro de Exportación e Inversión de República Dominicana (CEI-RD) están el Grupo Cohen que construye el Centro Comercial Sambil; el Grupo Cisneros, con el proyecto hotelero Tropicalia, que conlleva una inversión de US$2,000 millones; Álvaro Gorrín Ramos, en la plaza Novo Centro; el grupo Velutini, que construyó el centro comercial Blue Mall, a un costo de US$100 millones en Santo Domingo, más otros 60 millones en Punta Cana, así como otros US$110 millones para el proyecto turístico Puerto Marina at Cap Cana.

En el área financiera resaltan Bancamérica, Banesco, Banco Peravia de Ahorro y Préstamo, la Querencia y Seguros Constitución. También se habla de un proyecto inmobiliario de interés social de más de 2,500 viviendas en la Avenida Jacobo Majluta y República de Colombia. Aunque Asiex no dispone de una cifra exacta de las empresas, Marcos de la Rosa refiere una serie de pequeños comercios y franquicias que han llegado al país de capital venezolano.

Según la Cámara de Comercio y Producción de Santo Domingo, en el país se han registrado unas 11 empresas de nacionalidad venezolana. A éstas se agregan otras 99 sociedades comerciales que poseen socios con nacionalidad venezolana, y unas 29 que surgieron durante el 2008.

Las de nacionalidad venezolana son: Link Gerencial Consultores,C. POR A; Caribbean Sea Dominicana; VPower América Latina; Rutas Aéreas de Venezuela RAV, S.A; GBC Ingenieros Contratistas, S. A.; Trevicimentaciones C.A; Inversiones GRPZ 2.000 C.A.; Inversiones Bricelen; Constructora J&K C.A.; Impresos Latinoamericanos, C.A; Inversiones Migliore 2040, C.A.

Otros US$300MM

Marcos de la Rosa proyecta que en los próximos cinco años el país estaría recibiendo unos US$10 mil millones de inversión extranjera, y a juzgar por la cantidad de inversionistas que dice, se acercan constantemente a Asiex con interés de hacer negocios, por lo menos 300 de esos millones corresponderá a capital venezolano. Indica que en su mayoría, los empresarios han manifestado intención de invertir en el sector inmobiliario y turístico, aunque también en alimentos y educación.

Inauguran la ampliación del Puerto Multimodal Caucedo

http://images3.listindiario.com/image/article/263/460x390/0/7F84F29E-064A-4BF8-AF11-2E2981E091EB.jpeg

FERNÁNDEZ ENCABEZA CORTE DE CINTA DE LA OBRA REALIZADA A UN COSTO DE US$50 MILLONES

Viviano de León
Boca Chica
El presidente Leonel Fernández encabezó ayer la inauguración de la ampliación del Puerto Multimodal Caucedo, obra realizada a un costo superior a los 50 millones de dólares, una inversión combinada entre inversionistas nacionales y extranjeros.

El mandatario, que tuvo a su cargo el corte de la cinta que dejó oficialmente en funcionamiento la ampliación de la segunda fase de la terminal portuaria, estuvo acompañado de la primera dama de la República, Margarita Cedeño de Fernández.

Entre los inversionistas presentes estuvieron Juan Vicini, presidente del Grupo Vicini; el sultán Ahmed Bin Sulayem, empresario de los Emiratos Árabes Unidos y presidente del Consejo de Dubai Ports World; Mattehew Leach, vicepresidente Senior y director general de la región de las Américas de DP World; Andrew Hoad, gerente general del Puerto Multimodal Caucedo, entre otros. Al pronunciar el discurso central del acto, el presidente de la terminal, Samuel Conde, destacó el clima de estabilidad que existe en el país para las inversiones y la visión de futuro de las autoridades.

Confianza
Agradeció al presidente Fernández haber acogido el proyecto cuando sólo era una idea a principio de septiembre de 1997, durante su primer mandato.

Dijo que gracias a la confianza que se ha creado en el país para las inversiones, el Puerto Multimodal Caucedo ha seguido creciendo.

Conde precisó que entre los próximos proyectos de expansión de ese puerto se contempla la construcción del centro de logística Caucedo, obra que se comenzará a ejecutar en los próximos meses.

Asimismo, destacó que el crecimiento de sus operaciones el año pasado fue de 11 por ciento, con la movilización de un millón de contenedores.

El Puerto Multimodal Caucedo es uno de los principales y el más moderno del área del Caribe, con capacidad para acoger al mismo tiempo más de mil contenedores.

La terminal portuaria forma parte de la operadora portuaria DP World, que maneja 49 terminales portuarias en todo el mundo y que inició sus operaciones en República Dominicana en el año 2003.

Desde sus inicios el puerto ha experimentado un vertiginoso crecimiento, logrando triplicar su volumen comercial desde el 2006 a la fecha, De acuerdo con detalles ofrecidos en el 2009 Caucedo fue el puerto de mayor crecimiento de Latinoamérica, con un incremento de operaciones de 23% con relación al 2008. En el 2010 la terminal recibió más de 300 buques de carga.

FUNCIONARIOS EN LA APERTURA
Entre los funcionarios figuraron el ministro de Obras Públicas y Comunicaciones, Víctor Díaz Rúa; los directores de Aduanas, Rafael Camilo, y de Autoridad Portuaria Dominicana, Ramón Rivas; Ernesto Reyna, viceministro de Medio Ambiente, y el jefe de la Marina, contralmirante Nicolás Cabrera Arias.

El Presidente de la República Dominicana inaugura la ampliación de las instalaciones del Puerto Caucedo, añadiendo un 25% a la capacidad de la instalación portuaria caribeña.
Santo Domingo, República Dominicana / Dubai, Emiratos Árabes Unidos, 16 de marzo de 2011: - El Dr. Leonel Fernández, Presidente de la República Dominicana y SE Sultán Ahmed Bin Sulayem inauguraron oficialmente la segunda fase del Puerto Caucedo en la República Dominicana. En la ceremonia de inauguración también estuvo presente la Primera Dama, Dra. Margarita Cedeño, esposa del Presidente, así como importantes personalidades y empresarios dominicanos.

La Fase II aumenta la capacidad de Caucedo a 1.250.000 TEUs por año. La expansión consiste en 300 metros adicionales de muelle, dos nuevas grúas móviles, en adición a las cinco grúas pórtico Post-Panamax ya existentes.

En el año 2009 Caucedo aumentó los volúmenes manejados en un 23%, y de acuerdo con la Comisión Económica de las Naciones Unidas para América Latina fue el puerto de más rápido crecimiento en la región. En el 2010, la terminal recibió más de 1,300 buques de carga y superó el 1,000,000 TEUs*.

SE Sultán Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Presidente de DP World, mencionó algunos factores que influyeron en el desarrollo del proyecto de expansión, entre los cuales se destacó su confianza en la República Dominicana, la fortaleza de la economía local y el papel que juega en la terminal en la economía del país.
Bin Sulayen también expresó que "la finalización de la segunda fase de desarrollo del puerto contribuirá con el fortalecimiento de la economía local y regional. Damos las gracias a Su Excelencia el Sr. Presidente, al Gobierno y al pueblo de la República Dominicana por la confianza que depositan en nuestra gente y en nuestras operaciones."

DP World Caucedo se encuentra a 25 kms de Santo Domingo, capital de la República Dominicana y adyacente al Aeropuerto Internacional de Las Américas y otros proyectos de zonas francas y centros logísticos aledaños.
DP World Caucedo fue el primer Puerto en obtener la certificación PBIB, es miembro del C-TPAT (Customs for Trade Ports Against Terrorism). También participa en las iniciativas de seguridad Megaports y CSI (Container Security Initiative), las cuales operan con oficiales estadounidenses designados en el Puerto.

ENTREGARAN EL PUERTO DE MANZANILLO AL SECTOR PRIVADO

Santiago. El presidente de la Asociación de Empresas de Zona Franca resaltó los avances para poner a operar y potencializar el Puerto de Manzanillo, con lo que buscan dinamizar las exportaciones e importaciones de las empresas que operan en la región Norte del país.
Miguel Lama dijo que esta estructura, que será manejada a través de la Corporación Portuaria del Atlántico, opera en la actualidad con muchas limitaciones a causa de su deterioro, por lo que a partir de la próxima semana arrancan con un proceso de readecuación.

Según Lama, por este puerto se hacen transacciones comerciales por valor de 90 millones de dólares al año, pero a partir de que se hagan los arreglos estructurales el monto de los negocios andarán entre 190 y 250 millones de dólares.

“Tenemos intercambios y tratados con Europa, Estados Unidos, Centroamérica y CARICOM que debemos aprovechar”, precisó.

Los arreglos estructurales de los que precisa el Puerto de Manzanillo pueden tardar cuatro años, según prevén los inversionistas.

En un encuentro con líderes de opinión y periodistas de Santiago, Miguel Lama explicó las ventajas comerciales que dará el uso del puerto de Manzanillo a la zona.

A su entender, los arreglos permitirán ampliar el horizonte de los negocios para el sector empresarial de esta zona, ya que pagaría menos para sus exportaciones e importaciones, por la buena ubicación estratégica del Puerto de Manzanillo.

El empresario también resaltó que con el Centro de Innovación y Capacitación, recién inaugurado en el parque industrial Víctor Espaillat Mera, dotarán de mayores conocimientos a los profesionales de las diferentes empresas que operan en la región Norte.

Con esta acción, los empresarios buscan readecuar y relanzar el parque que ya lleva 40 años de operaciones. En la actualidad, cuenta con unas 100 empresas.

Generación de más empleos para la zona

Mario Dávalos, ejecutivo del parque industrial Víctor Espaillat Mera, explicó que la operación del puerto de Manzanillo, a penas se inicie la etapa de la concesión manejada por la Corporación Portuaria del Atlántico, generaría unos cuatro mil empleos, lo que a su vez activará la economía en pueblos de la Línea Noroeste, ya que esta es una de las zonas más pobres del país.

INAUGURACION MUELLE 5 ORIENTAL

Haina International Terminals y su Puerto Río Haina inauguran el nuevo Muelle 5 Oriental, con una inversión de 3.5 millones de dólares, obra realizada en un período de 7 meses.

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/189816_10150132401956543_604716542_6415663_6473939_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/189816_10150132401946543_604716542_6415662_1773370_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/199052_10150132388911543_604716542_6415526_3076705_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/197264_10150132390866543_604716542_6415540_1956614_n.jpg

La Marina de Cap Cana presenta una temporada de emociones para los amantes de la pesca de altura

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/big_IRE_1117.jpg

Del 11 de Junio al 15 de agosto, la Marina de Cap Cana ofrecerá por primera vez una temporada de pesca por espacio de 10 semanas, , durante las cuales se celebrarán los torneos del Marlin Blanco, Anzuelo de Oro y el tradicional Cap Cana Classic Marlin Azul.

La Marina más moderna del Caribe se prepara para recibir la temporada más emocionante, la Temporada de Pesca Cap Cana 2009, la cual inicia el 11 de junio y finaliza el 15 de agosto. El Torneo Marlín Blanco del 11 al 13 de junio, será la actividad que marque el inicio, seguido por el torneo del Anzuelo de Oro, del 18 de junio al 9 agosto y el tradicional Cap Cana Classic Marlín Azul, del 13 al 15 de agosto, con el cual se cerrará la temporada más esperada por los amantes de la pesca de altura.

Con el respeto al medio ambiente que regula las acciones de Cap Cana, cada uno de los torneos se realizarán bajo la modalidad de Catch & Release. La finalidad es de disfrutar de este deporte de una manera que no dañe al medio ambiente y que además preserve las diferentes especies.

“Después de haber pagado el préstamo puente de 100 millones de dólares el año pasado, y después de haber renegociado los bonos del 2006 por bonos nuevos Cap Cana esta en plenas condiciones para retomar el desarrollo de los proyectos que fueron paralizados el año pasado, como resultado de la crisis por lo que estas construcciones están siendo retomadas en este mismo mes de junio. En línea con esta situación, y después de haber celebrado con gran éxito el segundo torneo del “The Cap Cana Championship” torneo oficial del PGA TOUR’s Champions Tour. Recientemente Cap Cana lanza para este verano ya no solo un torneo de pesca sino una temporada de pesca que abarca todo el verano” expresó Ellis Pérez, Vice-Presidente de Comunicación y Relaciones Públicas.

Andrew New, Gerente General de La Marina de Cap Cana, quien representa a la empresa Brandy Marine, expresó “he tenido experiencia en otros países como Australia, Costa Rica, Bahamas y puedo decir que la ubicación de la Marina de Cap Cana es uno de los mejores puntos del mundo para la pesca”.

La marina in land más moderna del Caribe, ubicada estratégicamente en las proximidades del Canal de la Mona ofrece uno de los principales puntos para la pesca a nivel mundial, proporcionando a cada uno de los participantes la oportunidad de vivir una experiencia como sólo se puede disfrutar en el desarrollo turístico inmobiliario más importante del Caribe, Cap Cana.

De igual forma, los pescadores podrán salir de pesca los días jueves, viernes, sábado y domingo durante toda la temporada, de manera que puedan acumular sus puntuaciones y así incrementar sus posibilidades de obtener los primeros lugares en las distintas categorías.

La temporada de pesca ofrece múltiples opciones para obtener uno de los valiosos premios disponibles para los ganadores de las siguientes categorías:

Pescador con mayor cantidad de capturas (Release) Torneo Marlin Blanco.
Lancha con más cantidad de capturas (Release) Torneo Marlin Blanco.
Pescador mayor puntuación (Capturas) Torneo Marlín Azul.
Lancha mayor puntuación (Capturas) Torneo Marlin Azul.
Pescador mayor puntuación Temporada de Pesca.
Lancha mayor puntuación Temporada de Pesca.
El premio a los ganadores del primer lugar de cada torneo será la participación en el Torneo Presidential Challenge of Central America (PCCA), que será celebrado en Guatemala del 20 al 22 de noviembre, donde asistirán como equipo representando a la Marina de Cap Cana.

La emoción no sólo será para los dominicanos, ya que esta invitación se ha extendido a otros países, por lo que contaremos con la participación de pescadores de diferentes lugares, quienes desde ya se preparan para vivir la experiencia de disfrutar de la majestuosidad que sólo puede brindar el Mar Caribe.

Además de las aventuras para los pescadores en alta mar, la Marina de Cap Cana ofrecerá diversas actividades sociales en donde los participantes podrán disfrutar del ambiente que ofrecen las mágicas noches en esta espectacular Marina.

Las profundas aguas del Mar Caribe serán el perfecto cómplice para cada uno de los pescadores que emprenderán su aventura, durante la temporada de pesca más emocionante que sólo puede ofrecer la Marina más moderna del Caribe.

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/ZYZM_Picture003.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

Inicia hoy Torneo de Pesca al Marlin Azul


http://images3.listindiario.com/image/article/285/460x390/0/2B21EC6D-A145-4C4C-892D-0719757D91FE.jpeg

Más de 20 embarcaciones participarán en el certamen

El II Torneo de Pesca Internacional Puerto Bahía 2011 inició hoy con la participación de más de 20 embarcaciones, que competirán durante el fin de semana por la supremacía a todo lo largo y ancho de la Bahía de Samaná.

Las lanchas partieron desde la ensenada del complejo turístico Puerto Bahía-Marina & Residences y entraron a alta mar en la Bahía de Samaná en busca de los mejores ejemplares de marlin azul bajo el sistema de liberación, regresando al puerto del mismo complejo al caer la tarde del sábado.

“Estamos muy entusiasmados con la camaradería que existe entre los pescadores para este torneo, así como con la gran organización que ha tenido, superando las expectativas y naturalmente, la versión del año pasado, tanto en participación, en embarcaciones, como en otros aspectos”, expresó Juan Bancalari, presidente de Puerto Bahía.

La justa arrancó con la inscripción, entrega de suministro, inauguración, reunión de capitanes y pescadores provenientes de los diferentes clubes del país, así como competidores de Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Curazao, España y de otras nacionalidades.

El director del certamen, Eduardo Read, ofreció los pormenores del evento y mostró su satisfacción con el ambiente amistoso creado por los competidores.

El evento tiene una dedicatoria inmemoriam al señor Luis Robles, por su invaluables aportes a la pesca deportiva nacional e internacional.

PUERTO BAHIA, SAMANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/49758325.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/49758502.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

Canadians travel more, and to the DR
The Dominican Republic is the third preferred destination for Canadians traveling to the Americas. According to Statistics Canada figures for 2009, the most recent year for which data is available, the neighboring US continues to be the top destination for outward-bound Canadians with about 18 million overnight trips, followed by Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Britain, France, Italy and Germany.
Outbound travel by Canadians is up, coinciding with the reality that now 60% of Canadians have passports, compared to 36% in March 2005. Canadians are making 13.2% more trips to overseas destinations in the winter season compared to the previous year, as reported in Canwest News Service.
Canada is a nation of travelers, says Lindsay Pearlman, co-president of Ensemble Travel Group, as reported by Canwest News Service. "We enjoy travelling, especially abroad, and this reflects who we are: most of our families have come to Canada from afar."
"In the winter, we want sun - beaches and cruises," Pearlman says.
"Canadians don't travel as much within Canada as our neighbors to the south travel within the US, Gedeon says. "Sadly, I've seen more of the Caribbean than I have of Canada."

Orizonia joins to promote DR in Spain
The Dominican Republic Tourist Office in Spain has signed an agreement with Orizonia, a leader in the Spanish travel market, for the promotion of the country in Spain as a good value destination mixing quality and attractive price. Palma-based Orizonia, which is affiliated to Iberojet, Solplan, Via Tours, and Viajes Iberia, announced it would actively collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism to promote tourist destinations such as Punta Cana and Bayahibe to the tourist and retail travel agencies. Orizonia will be reaching out to the 650,000 users registered in the Viajes Iberia database.
Paola Dimitri, director of the Dominican Republic Tourist Office for Spain and Portugal, expressed her satisfaction with the agreement signed with Orizonia. In the high season and during summer, Orizonia will operate 12 flights a week to Punta Cana alone. The flights will be on Orbest from Madrid, and a weekly flight from Barcelona. There will be four charter flights a week from Porto and Lisbon.

Travel to the DR up through May
Travel to the DR for the first five months of the year is up 4.44% compared to last year. Some 1,932,564 non-resident travelers arrived during that period, according to the Central Bank. The Central Bank says that the increase is primarily due to an increase in arrivals of non-resident foreigners, up 5.09%.
Total arrivals for the period was 2,115,006, up 4.43% compared to the same period last year.
May, usually a slow month, registered 297,788 tourists, up 0.26% compared to last year.
From January to May 2011, arrivals by non-resident foreigners were up 82,831 visitors, due to the increase in travelers from South America, up 48.07%. During this period, travel from Argentina (18,432), Brazil (15,463), Chile (5,581), Colombia (3,248) and Peru (2,851) made up the difference of 29,202 in 2010, and 50, 133 from the region for the first five months of 2011.
Travel from North America was also up, increasing from 17, 758 in 2010 to 35,554 in 2011. Travel from Europe was down 880. The decline, nevertheless, was significantly less than the 40,663-person drop experienced in 2010 compared to 2009.
The Central Bank reports that 93.51% of the tourists who visited came for recreation and 91.03% stayed in hotels. 63.03% of all tourists who visit are 21 to 49 years old. Of the visitors, 51.07% were women and 48.93% men.

Punta Cana is lead airport
Punta Cana continues to be the leading airport for tourist arrivals to the Dominican Republic. Indeed 61.73% of all tourists that visited the Dominican Republic arrived by the east coast airport. Some 1,055,874 tourists used the PUJ airport.
Las Americas (SDQ), the leading airport serving Santo Domingo, received 318,775 passengers, for 18.64% of total tourist arrivals. Next was Puerto Plata with 184,952 tourists for 10.81%. Then followed La Romana, with 3.64%, Cibao with 2.81% and La Isabela and El Catey in Samana.

1. Government expects to sign with IMF in July
The Dominican government expects to sign the latest Letter of Intent (LoI) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) next 15 July, according to Economy, Planning and Development Minister Temistocles Montas. Montas said that the government's economic team was able to reach a consensus on the Letter of Intent, and if the IMF approves it, the way is opened for the country to an injection of more than US$800 million this year.

Montas said the discussions with the IMF should conclude by the end of the month with the signing of the letter, and they still have time until the 10th or 15th of July to present the Letter of Intent to the IMF board of governors.

The Minister said that the signing of the Letter of Intent with the IMF would allow the country to place a US$500 million sovereign bond issue. The IMF guarantee facilitates the placing of the bonds on the international markets at relatively low interest rates.

The deal will also allow the country to access funds from the IMF as part of the 28-month US$1.7 billion November 2009 Stand By Arrangement itself as well as another US$300 million from other international financial institutions, such as the Inter American Development Bank and the World Bank.

http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2009/pr09393.htm

2. Budget cuts for electricity
Economy Minister Temistocles Montas announced the Executive Branch will send to Congress a bill calling for 12% cuts in National Budget allotments to benefit the electricity sector. The intention is to reallocate 10-12 billion to the electricity sector. The cuts would not affect the Judicial Branch, Congress or Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education budgets.

3. Sisalril to mediate conflict
The president of the National Association of Private Clinics (Andeclip), Rafael Mena used a Dominican saying to relay the idea that he was caught in between two forces, after the association approved a 14% increase in the cost of services at private clinics. Diario Libre said that the increase has kept the representatives of the Health Risk Administrators of the National Health Insurance (Senasa) and Andeclip at loggerheads with mutual denials of service, is what is being called "a war of interests" where the patients are the losers.

Yesterday, the representative of several owners of private clinics, Rafael Mena, sent a letter to the Superintendent of Labor Health and Risks, Fernando Caamano, in which he requests his mediation in the conflict. Immediately, Caamano accepted the request and announced that he would begin a conciliation process between ARS Senasa and the clinics that have applied the increase unilaterally. He said that he would convene the clinics represented by Andeclip, some 122, and Senasa in order to start the conciliation process, which he expects to end in a harmonious and fruitful solution for the benefit of the affiliates of the system. Mena said that what happens between Andeclip and Senasa is a "hidden war" that he expects to resolve by the end of the week through negotiations.

4. DR improves standing
Despite complaints by officialdom, the US State Department "Report on Trafficking of Persons" has raised the Dominican Republic from a Tier Three to a Tier Two-Watch List. A small improvement, but an improvement, nonetheless. The Dominican government has had limited success in the prosecution of crimes of human trafficking during 2010, according to the report by the United States Department of State on the Trafficking of Persons published yesterday on the agency web page.

The report can be found here: www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2011/index.htm

While it acknowledges some efforts by the Dominican government in terms of identifying and protecting a greater number of victims of trafficking, the report criticizes the fact that these have not been sustained in comparison with the previous period of the report, in prosecuting the people to blame for the trafficking, including officials who are complicit in forced prostitution and forced work. "Therefore, the Dominican Republic is placed in Tier Two-Watch List," the report says.

Dominican Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso said that it was inappropriate that the United States should auto-designate itself as the arbiter in this case, saying that they appeared to "place themselves above the other nations", and in the case of the Dominican Republic they attributed responsibilities to authorities where they do not belong. "It is equally inappropriate that in this report they speak of the Dominican government without taking into consideration the clear separation of powers, given that for moment it makes signals that appear to refer to the responsibilities of instructions in the Executive Branch of the government but which correspond to the area of the Judicial Power," he said.

Morales Troncoso defended the work that he said the Dominican state is doing to fight trafficking of persons and said that this was recognized by the report, placing the country at "Tier Two Watch List, a level that means it shows a serious commitment."

5. Subero protests judicial budget cut
The Chief Justice of the Dominican Supreme Court has threatened to resign in protest at plans to cut his operating budget by some RD$19 million a month. According to El Caribe, Subero said that such cuts in the funds that the Judicial Branch receives would be in violation of Law 46-97 that grants administrative autonomy to the Judicial Branch as well as the Legislative Branch. The cuts would also violate Law 194-04 which grants budgetary and administrative autonomy as well as the budget Law for 2011 which assigns the Judicial Branch RD$3,362,204,000 divided into 12 monthly payments of RD$280,183,678.

Subero, ever the jurist, also pointed out that any budgetary reductions affecting the judiciary would also violate Decree 186-11, issued by the President of the Republic, which excluded any institutions that have funding assigned by special laws.

Subero also indicated that whoever institutes and carries out these budget cuts would be subject to removal and ineligible for any other public post for eight years. Subero said: "I will not accept a reduction under any circumstance, nor am I going to be associated with a violation of the law," while interviewed by Channel 37, CDN. When he was asked if he would resign his post, he answered "possibly."

6. Taiwan donates US$1 million for scholarships
The Republic of Taiwan has supported the studies of young Dominicans overseas since 1999. Yesterday ambassador Isaac Tsai gave the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology a donation of one million dollars (US$1 million).

Minister Ligia Amada Melo said that most scholarship students return and almost all find work. She said that the young people who do not return usually remain overseas in order to continue their studies at a higher level.

She said "these are successful professional people who are fulfilling the objectives of the program by contributing to the economic and social development of the country."

The Minister of Higher Education said that more than 8,000 students have benefited from the program and this year's goal is for 1,300 students to take part in academic studies abroad.

Ambassador Tsai said that 1,447 of these students have studied with scholarships from his country, and the million dollars was the twelfth disbursement made by Taiwan since 1999 when the bi-lateral agreement was signed.

7. Private schools on tuition increase
Private schools announced raises of 10-30% in tuition for the 2011-12 school year. The Federation of Private Schools ratified a resolution that authorizes charging in advance for the school year and placing in Data Credito, the leading local credit bureau, of individuals that do not meet their payment schedule. The schools also approved a resolution whereby school records will not be prepared for those that are not up to date in their payments. The Federation said that 90% of students have already registered for the next school year.

Rosa Ariza de Valera, a former president of the National Council of Private Schools, said those who cannot pay for private education should send their children to public schools.

8. EGE-HID uses US$19.5 million at Jiguey
The Odebrecht and CPBO companies will be using some US$19.5 million to repair and restore the Jiguey Hydro-Electric Complex to its former level of performance. The work will take about nine months, according to El Nuevo Diario and includes both the civil engineering part of the structure as well as the electro-mechanical aspects of the complex. The unit will be able to supply electricity to the national grid within six months, according to Victor Ventura Hernandez, the administrator of the Hydro-Electric Generation Company (part of the CDEEE). The Jiguey Dam and Hydro-Electric Station is located in San Cristobal province in the municipality of Los Cacaos. According to Ventura Hernandez, the work consists of the construction of a discharge tunnel for the two units and the completion of the repairs to the Number 2 Turbine, which has been out of service since tropical storms Olga and Noel hit the area in November 2007. The US$19.5 million is being covered with some of Ege-Hid's own resources as well as a line of credit from the Banco de Reservas. The Jiguey Power Station is expected to produce 96 megawatts of power when it is fully refurbished

9. Good turnout for PLD primaries
In the PLD primaries held last Sunday to elect the presidential candidate for the 2012 elections, 1,063,617 members of the rank and file voted, they represented 47.23% of the 2,251,831 people registered in the party. According to the final bulletin, Number 3, issued last night by the National Electoral Commission (CNE), with 100% of the votes counted, Danilo Medina earned the victory with 907,015 votes (87.18%; Jose Tomas Perez obtained 52,190 votes (5.02%); Francisco Dominguez Brito got 44,967 votes (4.32%) and Radhames Segura received 36,176 votes (3.48%).

Diario Libre reported that the votes received by Medina were the most achieved by a nomination hopeful in the history of the PLD primaries, since the year 2003, when this method was first used to choose the candidate. In the primaries that year, held on 29 June, President Leonel Fernandez won by a wide margin, receiving 416,102 of the 493,284 votes cast, 87.19%, against the 58,807 votes cast for the closest competitor, Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal. For those primaries, the PLD voting rolls had 863,000 members listed. In the convention of 6 May 2007, in which 1,169,913 people were enrolled in the PLD, only 574,297 voted and Fernandez defeated Medina when he received 71.55% of the votes (403,577 against 160,505) with Medina obtaining 28.45%.

According to the final bulletin of the CNE, 690,433 (67.21%) voted for the "Yes" option, supporting the proposal of the Political Committee and the Central Committee that the current party leaders remain in their posts for five more years. On the other hand, the "NO" vote was 336,890 (32.79%). The plebiscite saw 1,062,407 votes issued, of which 1,027,323 were valid and 35,084 were voided. Last night, PLD press secretary Hector Olivo reported that the CNE had been working until 6:26pm yesterday when they issued the last bulletin. After the final vote count, he said all that remained for the National Electoral Commission to do was to deliver the report to the Political Committee so it could plan the delegates' convention where Medina will be officially proclaimed as the PLD presidential candidate.

10. Young Dominican scholars honored in NYC
The founding president of the North Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Nurys D'Oleo, has celebrated the work of some outstanding students, among them, the descendants of Dominicans who graduated with high honors. One of the honorees, Eliana Then, who was born in the Dominican Republic, is considered to be the most outstanding of the students who received the prizes and scholarships to continue their studies. Miss Then, according to El Nuevo Diario, received some of the very highest grades at Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C. Other Dominican students honored at graduations included Ana B. Cruz, from Carnegie Mellon University, Melanie A. Rivera from Fordham University, Florangel de Leon from NYU, Stefany Batista from SUNY-New Paltz, Anna Boatheng from Syracuse, Krisangel Lopez from Villanova, Chloe C. Jones from Vassar and Ashley Pantaleon from Mercy College.

11. Inter-American Court and Narcisazo
The DR media is reporting on the proceedings against the Dominican Republic at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Beginning at 3pm, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights will hear the statements of the widow and children of university professor Narciso Gonzalez, "Narcisazo", who disappeared on 26 May 1994. They will also take depositions from two witnesses, one proposed by the representatives of the victims and the other automatically chosen by the Court. An expert proposed by the Inter-American Commission and the representatives of the victims will also give a statement.

In addition, the Court will hear the final allegations of the representatives of the victims and of the Dominican Republic, as well as the final observations of the Inter-American Commission. Judge Rhadys Abreu Blondet will not participate in the process because of her Dominican nationality. On 2 May 2010, the Inter-American Commission filed a lawsuit against the Dominican Republic for the alleged forceful disappearance of Narcisazo as the result of his criticisms of the military and then President of the Republic, Joaquin Balaguer, as well as his participation in the public complaint about alleged electoral fraud in the 1994 presidential elections.

12. DNCD hauls in arms cache
The National Drug Control Department (DNCD) has announced the capture of a Peruvian national and a Dominican who are said to be involved in the drug distribution network in the Boca Chica area. Along with the capture of the drug vendors, the DNCD also seized a sizeable weapons cache and several thousands of dollars. Former Peruvian Police colonel Maximo Villosada Angulo and Dominican Sergio Sepulveda Perez were arrested yesterday in possession of two pistols, .45 cal and 9 mm. After the arrests and the initial seizures, the authorities searched the alleged drug dealers' homes and found two rifles, two machine guns, two .12 ga. shotguns, US$57,000 in cash and a package of cocaine. The authorities also seized several vehicles that were used to distribute cocaine to mid-level distributors, according to the DNCD. El Nuevo Diario says that the DNCD seized a Jeep Laredo, a gray Nissan and a black Mitsubishi, which were delivered to the DNCD headquarters, together with the weapons and cash and displayed during a press conference held by DNCD spokesman Roberto Lebron. According to Lebron, DNCD commander Major General Rolando Rosado Mateo, who oversaw the operation together with prosecutors from the province of Santo Domingo, ordered a detailed investigation into the origin of the weapons. This investigation will include units from the intelligence sections of the Armed Forces, the National Police and personnel from the Ministry of the Interior, according to Lebron.

13. Rains are here today
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) has issued a green alert for the provinces of La Vega, Monsignor Nouel, Santiago, Monte Plata, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Duarte, Sanchez Ramirez, Hermanas Mirabal and San Jose de Ocoa, because of the rains and electrical storms that they expect to continue today and tomorrow.

The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) is also watching an area of clouds and rain showers associated with a tropical wave located near the Yucatan Peninsula, which shows a low potential for becoming a tropical cyclone over the next few hours.

According to Diario Libre, there were heavy rains with thunder and lightning that covered the skies of Santo Domingo yesterday afternoon. These rains, according to Onamet, "are being caused by the interaction of a low-pressure trough, associated with a low-pressure area, with the approach of a tropical wave that is now to the east of Puerto Rico, and moving west rapidly, together with the abundant humidity and instability over the island."

http://www.dr1.com/forums/weather-beyond/115613-hurricane-season-2011-a.html

14. Michel Camilo at the National Theater
Leading Dominican jazz pianist Michel Camilo is booked for a performance at the National Theater on Tuesday, 28 June. The concert is sponsored by the Fundacion Amigos del Teatro Nacional. Camilo will be playing music from his Mano a Mano album. He will be accompanied by Giovanny Hidal and Guarionex Aquino on percussion and John Benitez on counter-bass.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/30m2s5h.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/23724064.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/18523016.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/20215281.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/18523295.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/845428586_e3ec88779a_b.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/844564867_b45860f2f2_b.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/ceducativos07.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/23751106.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/centralofficebyluijoeditp3.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/26728707.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

1. Subsidy will "consume" part of budget
The Executive Branch announced yesterday that it would submit a legislative proposal to modify the 2011 National Budget, cutting 12% from the budgets of the ministries but excluding Education, and the Legislative and Judicial Branches.

Economy, Planning and Development Minister Temistocles Montas said that with this modification the authorities hope to obtain between RD$10 and RD$12 billion, which will be used to tackle the deficit and the additional requirements of the electricity sector during this year. He recalled that in March the Executive Branch issued decree 186-11 which instructed the Ministry of Hacienda to cut 12% from the budgets of the public institutions as a way to face the deficit the government attributes to the unbudgeted increase in oil prices.

Diario Libre quoted Montas as saying: "Now, this modification, reducing expenditures in the budget, is being sent to Congress. This will be ready as soon as President Leonel Fernandez signs the accompanying letter. We have just finished delivering the reformulated Budget to the Judicial Advisor to the President". The minister said that the proposal, which could be sent to Congress today, is not a supplementary budget, but a modification of the 2011 Budget, and that the government, upon receiving the additional money in August, will submit a piece of legislation containing this money. "Excluding some ministries, in general the ministries are undergoing a 12% reduction in their budgets," he stated.

Montas also told the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Jorge Subero Isa, that he has nothing to fear, because the government has no intention of reducing the Judicial Branch budget.

Earlier last week, the government secured congressional approval for RD$9.6 billion in extra resources, with the increase in taxation.

2. Puig to leave Ministry of Labor
Minister of Labor Max Puig has announced that he will be leaving his post on 1 July to devote his efforts to a run for the presidency. According to El Nuevo Diario, Max Puig, who is also the leader of the Democratic Alliance Party (APD) said that he has already told President Leonel Fernandez of his decision to leave the cabinet post. He said that a position of this kind required the minister's full attention and could not be shared with other activities.

Puig told reporters that the Democratic Alliance would present the voters with a new option in the May 2012 elections and he pointed out that the party was not going to support the ruling PLD presidential candidate as the party has done in the past two presidential elections.

3. FINJUS wants CNM to start work
The Institutionalism and Justice Foundation (Finjus) has asked the National Council of Magistrates (CNM) to start working on the evaluation of the members of the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) and the election of the judges who will fill the vacancies. On Tuesday, executive director Servio Tulio Castanos Guzman said Finjus expects President Fernandez to convene the CNM next month.

El Nuevo Diario said that once the Council of Magistrates is seated and the rules established by the fundamental law are approved, Finjus expects the Council to proceed with the election of the judges who will sit on the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court and the Higher Electoral Court. Castanos said that the order in which the new judges are selected is highly significant in that it ensures the transparency and legitimacy that are required in order for these courts to be accepted by the Dominican society as the expression of the proper functioning of the National Council of Magistrates. The President and the ruling party have the majority vote in the composition of the CNM and so this is expected to reflect ruling party interests. Nonetheless, Castanos said this should not prevent society from demanding objectivity and responsibility in the decisions of the CNM, especially in light of the fact that two representatives of the CNM will not be from the ruling party.

4. Fernandez meets with Medina and PRSC
President Leonel Fernandez met with PLD presidential candidate Danilo Medina and PRSC leaders, Carlos Morales Troncoso and Federico Antun Batlle last night, in order to deal with "issues of a political nature," as reported in Diario Libre. Both are high officials in the Fernandez administration. Morales Troncoso is Minister of Foreign Relations and Antun Batlle is general manager of the governmental Banco Nacional de Fomento a la Vivienda y la Construccion.

The meeting was held in the Diandy XVIII building, located on the extension of Mexico Avenue in the Esperilla sector of the National District.

Medina said that it was a political working meeting in which they discussed the process in previous elections and those that are coming up, with reference to the election campaign and looking at next year's electoral process.

The meeting, which began at 9pm and ended at 10:40pm, took place behind closed doors. It ended when Medina withdrew and gave some brief statements to reporters. The PLD presidential candidate denied that the issue of the vice-presidential candidate was on the agenda.

What did attract the attention of the press that waited in the area was that both Morales Troncoso as well as Antun Batlle, unlike Medina, tried to leave the building without being seen by reporters. They managed to do this just after 11pm when they mounted an operation with the help of the President's security detail and left at high speed in their big SUVs.

The President left the site at 10:50pm and greeted the reporters who were there awaiting of the departure of the Reformist leaders. The meeting between Fernandez, Medina and Antun Batlle comes a few days before the Assembly of Delegates that was convened by the PRSC for next Friday, for the election of their presidential candidate.

5. Greater SD, Santiago and San Cristobal
The candidates in next May's Presidential and Vice Presidential election must win Greater Santo Domingo (National District and the Province of Santo Domingo), Santiago and San Cristobal provinces. These are the "brass rings" of any election in the foreseeable future. The candidates will also be targeting women and the younger generation in their hunt for a majority of votes.

With 6.4 million potential voters on the rolls by next May, politicians are aiming at the majority of women voters (50.7%) and the huge mass of younger voters between the ages of 18 and 29 (28% of the total). At the same time, the group of voters over the age of 50 makes up nearly 30% of possible voters and is also an important target group.

A look at the voter registration lists shows that 50% of the voters live in the National District, the province of Santo Domingo, Santiago, and San Cristobal. There are 28 other provinces.

For example, the figures show that 70% of voters in the next elections live in the National District, the province of Santo Domingo and the northern region. A closer look shows that in Greater Santo Domingo 61% of this group is distributed between the municipalities surrounding the capital and has 1,296,063 voters, and in the National District there are 821,571 voters. The same thing occurs in the Cibao where 2,416,213 voters are registered now, 30% of them concentrated in Santiago.

6. Betting parlors owe big money
Thousands of betting parlors owe the Department of Taxes (DGII) RD$771 million at a time when the government is introducing new tax rules and regulations to cover the rising fiscal deficit. These ubiquitous lottery sales kiosks known as 'bancas' have to renew their licenses to operate. The license fees and penalties for late payment and the 15% tax on winnings make up the RD$771 million the DGII is owed.

A report from the DGII reveals that every month these lottery kiosks and sports betting parlors should be paying the DGII the sum of RD$87 million, but, as of this date, there is a large quota of failure to comply with the payments.

At issue is the amount of the debt owed by 1% of the betting parlors and the DGII says that if the debt is not paid off, they will not be able to renew their licenses and operate legally. Late payments make up most of the RD$771 million.

A document in the possession of Listin Diario shows that 97% of the lottery kiosks and sports betting parlors are in arrears, "owing an average of seven tax periods." DGII Regulation 02-2010 establishes that these sports betting parlors and the casinos are to be tax retention agents. As such, the casinos have to pay RD$25 million each month and the sports betting parlors, RD$3,000 each.

There are 4,717 of these establishments in the country, and 51 are casinos. The rest, 4,666 are sports betting parlors and they owe RD$600 million plus RD$129 million in past due payment fees and RD$41 million in interest.

7. Infant deaths are down 42%
So far this year deaths of newborn babies are down 42% over the same period last year. This may be partly due to fewer women coming from Haiti after the terrible earthquake of January 2010. Maternal mortality is also down by 48%, according to Bautista Rojas Gomez, the Minister of Public Health. Rojas Gomez said that the ideal situation would be not a single newborn death or maternal death, but the marked improvement is certainly noteworthy. The minister said that if the current downward trend continues, the nation would be within the parameters of the fourth and fifth chapters of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals for 2015.

8. An obvious need for safe driving
An estimated 308 people were killed in traffic accidents in 2010 on just four of the country's long-distance highways. The most traveled long distance highways in the country are Duarte, Las Americas, 6 of November and the Northeast Highway, together with the Sanchez Highway, continue to be dangerous roads for drivers.

The Ground Transport Department (DGTT) attributes the accidents to reckless driving, the effects of alcoholic beverages or drug consumption, not obeying traffic signals, and to a lesser degree, to the poor condition of these roads on which 80% of the vehicles that use them are private and 20% are buses and public vehicles.

A report delivered to Diario Libre by the DGTT Safety and Accident Analysis Department, says that in 2010, there were 186 accidents on the 270-km Autopista Duarte, the main road in the country, which connects the north with the Dominican capital. Of these accidents, 88 were collisions between vehicles and 192 people were killed. One recent case happened on March 7 when eight Haitians were injured when the SUV in which they were traveling skidded off the highway near Mao.

On Las Americas, a basically tourist route that goes towards the east, 49 accidents occurred last year, 25 between vehicles and leaving 43 dead. In 18 accidents registered on the westbound 6 of November Highway, 14 people were killed and 11 were injured as the result of collisions. Last March eight people were killed and six were injured from a collision on the stretch of road between Azua and Bani.

On the Sanchez Highway, which is 237 kilometers long and goes to the south, there were 67 accidents with 59 fatalities. "Fully 70% of the causes of these accidents are the result of the driver's attitude, specifically because they do not respect the signals, they talk on their cell phones, they are drunk...and the other causes such as holes in the road, the deterioration of the roadways, of the vehicle itself are minor causes," said deputy minister Luis Estrella, manager of the DGTT, part of the Public Works Ministry.

9. Court releases accused killer
A court in Santiago has released the man accused of stabbing his former girlfriend Gleiry Maria Munoz to death. Pedro Luis Baez Sanchez, 48, was released on bail by Judge Gabriel Marchena who ordered the bail bond, despite strong opposition to the measure by Santiago District Attorney Yenni Berenice Reynoso. Neither the frank opposition by the DA or the public outcry was enough to stop the process. The demonstrations led to the Palace of Justice in Santiago being militarized in order to maintain peace, according to Hoy. Several women's groups have sought legal representation in the case, including the Women's Support Nucleus, represented by jurist Maria Alejandra Veras Pola.

After hearing the news of the killer's release on bail, the victim's mother Maria Cristina Gomez broke down, according to a report in Listin Diario. The news of the release also provoked a dire warning from family members. One of them told reporters that if the justice system did not punish the killer to the full extent of the law, "then the family will have to do it with their own hands."

10. Another baseball star
Young Michael Pineda, a pitcher for the Seattle Mariners, is Sport Illustrated magazine's leading candidate for Rookie of the Year honors this year. Young Pineda had pitched for the Mariners on 15 occasions and all except one have been quality starts, according to Tom Verducci of SI.

A report in Hoy says that Pineda has been sensational since he debuted in the rotation of the Mariners this season, and, at 7-4, he is the best Dominican pitcher in Major League baseball so far this year. A native of Yaguate, his 2.45 ERA also shows 94 strikeouts, among the leaders in baseball.

11. 20 provinces under alert
A total of 93 houses in Santo Domingo East, Santo Domingo West, La Vega and Monte Plata have been damaged by the heavy rains that have been falling since the day before yesterday. The rains will continue today and fall off tomorrow, according to the National Meteorological Office (Onamet). Given this weather forecast, the Emergency Operations Center (COE) is keeping a green alert in place for 20 provinces. The agency also reported on the small tornado which occurred in La Vega: eight houses were partially destroyed and several trees and power lines were knocked down. In a similar event in Monte Plata, eight houses were partially destroyed and trees and power lines were also knocked down. The other houses damaged by these high winds were in Los Alcarrizos and Los Mameyes.

A low-pressure trough located over the western portion of the island and the tropical wave over the central part of the country are keeping conditions favorable for more rains and thunderstorms and occasional wind gusts in the northeast, the southeast, the southwest, the central mountains and the border regions. In response, the COE has announced a green alert for flash flooding in urban and rural areas for San Juan de la Maguana, Elias Pina, San Jose de Ocoa, San Cristobal, Azua, Samana, Duarte (San Francisco de Macoris), Maria Trinidad Sanchez (Nagua), Santiago, Monsignor Nouel (Bonao), La Vega, Sanchez Ramirez (Cotui), Monte Plata, Hato Mayor, El Seibo, La Altagracia (Higuey), San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo, La Romana and the National District.

12. Spanish puppets exhibition
Spanish company Munecos Animados presents an exhibition of popular children's characters at the Palacio de Bellas Artes through 17 July, Treinta anos de munecos animados. The company is responsible for classic characters like "Gomaespuma", "Los Lunnis", "Los Patata", "7 Pets", "Cuorelandia", "El circo de TVE", "La cocina de Baldo", and the cartoon films "Mortadelo y Filemon, Mision Salvar la Tierra", "El milagro de P. Tinto", "Candida", "Noviembre", "La increible aventura de Borjamari y Pocholo" and "La Gran Aventura de Mortadelo y Filemon."

Munecos Animados has been producing films and cartoons for more than 30 years and is now on a world tour of its productions.

Most of the exhibits at the Palacio de Bellas Artes are from its most recent productions. The exhibition is sponsored by Accion Cultural Espanola (AC/E), the Spanish government OEI and the Fundacion Munecos por el Desarrollo (Puppets for Development Foundation).

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

Air Europa enlaza Madrid con Puerto Plata, su tercer destino dominicano
Madrid, (EFE).- Air Europa, del grupo Globalia, enlazará a partir del próximo 19 de julio la ciudad de Madrid con Puerto Plata, su tercer destino en la República Dominicana, después de Santo Domingo y Punta Cana, adonde ya vuela diariamente, informó hoy la aerolínea española.

La nueva ruta Madrid-Puerto Plata, que será operada por un Boeing 767 con capacidad para 263 pasajeros, 18 de ellos en clase business, se mantendrá hasta el próximo 6 de septiembre con una frecuencia semanal.

a cadena hotelera Be Live, perteneciente al mismo grupo turístico, cuenta en Puerto Plata con dos establecimientos de cinco estrellas en la modalidad todo incluido.

Con motivo de la inauguración de la nueva ruta a Puerto Plata, Air Europa ha lanzado una promoción con precios que parten por debajo de los 400 euros (unos 570 dólares) en cada sentido. EFE

La denominación de origen de Café Barahona avanza
Santo Domingo
Varias instituciones ligadas al subsector café de la República Dominicana iniciaron el proceso legal para la inscripción de la denominación de origen Café Barahona, con la cual se beneficiarán más de 7 mil 294 productores de café y sus familias de la Región Enriquillo.

El presidente del Consejo Regulador de la futura denominación de origen Café Barahona, Victoriano Samboy, de la Cooperativa Las Tres Hermanas, de Pedernales, junto al representante del Instituto Dominicano de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y Forestales (Idiaf), Rafael Pérez Duvergé; de la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (Aecid), Manuel Alba; del Consejo Dominicano del Café (Codocafe), Fausto Burgos, y del Ministerio de Agricultura, Manuel González, entregaron las informaciones y documentos necesarios para establecer la base legal de la DO Café Barahona a Juan José Báez, director general de la Oficina Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial (Onapi), en un acto celebrado en el hotel V Centenario de Santo Domingo.

Una denominación de origen (DO) se entiende como el proceso para determinar las particularidades del origen físico (territorio, factores agroecológicos, sistema de producción, calidad y cantidad del producto…) y las particularidades de los productores (tecnologías y procesos aplicados por los productores, tradiciones humanas y productivas, historia de la producción…) que hacen únicas e irrepetibles las características cualitativas de un producto (vinos, quesos, jamones, mieles y cualquier producto de origen agropecuario), para poder ser mercadeado como algo muy específico.

La Denominación de Origen Café Barahona está siendo registrada para la región Enriquillo, que integran las provincias Barahona, Bahoruco, Pedernales e Independencia, por Idiaf y el Codocafe, con financiamiento de la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo, a través del Programa de Desarrollo Tecnológico Agropecuario de la Región Sur (Protesur).

Public Works announces completion of major infrastructure

http://dominicantoday.com/image/article/85/209x400/0/F0FE7811-FBA9-4143-8240-1B35386923E0.jpeg

SANTO DOMINGO. - Public Works minister Victor Diaz announced Tuesday that for August 18 will be the ribbon cutting for the open tunnel at 27 de Febrero Avenue, corner Carmen Mendoza and Defilló streets, in the sectors Bella Vista and Quisqueya.

He said the roadway project Duarte Corridor, which the tunnel is part of, will be concluded by year end.

The official also announced the start of a paving plan for around 1,500 kilometers of streets nationwide, but didn’t specify the cost. He said 25 companies made tender offers.

Diaz also announced the inaugural of seven bridges in Puerto Plata’ the new highway in Samaná, the Coral Highway, among others important works.

As to the rising waters of Enriquillo Lake, the Public Works Minister said although the Hydraulic Resources Institute (Indrhi) concludes studies to begin the work to recover the shoreline, “the lake is retaking the land that belongs to it.”

FUENTE (http://dominicantoday.com/dr/economy/2011/6/28/40049/Public-Works-announces-completion-of-major-infrastructure)

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/971651075_39xQc-L.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/7958BAE4-6A2D-47E2-A323-742519D5704Djpg__460__390__CROPz0x460y390.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

1. Renewable energy credits
The National Energy Commission announced the start of a program that will enable those producing energy from renewable sources to plug into the national grid and receive credits for energy supplied to the grid. Enrique Ramirez, president of the CNE, Celso Marranzini, executive vice president of the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE) and Energy Superintendent Juan Gomez said the new program will revolutionize the electricity system, contribute to improve the environment and financially benefit consumers that produce electricity from renewable sources of energy.

Ramirez explained that if a user generates 50kWh of energy a month and consumes 150 kWh of the grid, the power distributor will only bill him 100 kWh on his next bill. Ramirez said that if the user generates more power than consumed, the power distributor will only bill the minimum that corresponds to a closed house, as reported in Diario Libre.

2. Diplomatic relations with Kyrgyz Republic
The Dominican Republic formalized yesterday diplomatic relations with the Kyrgyz Republic, known formerly as Kyrgyzstan when it was part of the Soviet Republics until 1991.

The signing ceremony was held at the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in New Delhi and was signed by Dominican Ambassador Hans Dannenberg Castellanos and Kyrgyz Ambassador Irina A. Orolbaeva on 30 June. Complying with the policy of diversification of diplomatic relations of President Leonel Fernandez that is implemented by Foreign Minsiter Carlos Morales Troncoso, the DR has formalized relationships with more than 30 countries in Asia, Africa and Oceania in the last 5 years. The DR also has had an active diplomatic presence in various international forums.

Ambassador Dannenberg Castellanos said that the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Kyrgyz Republic completes the formalization of bilateral relations with all countries in the region of Central Asia, considered by many to be one of the most important for its richness in mineral and alternative energy sources. He congratulated the vision of the present authorities for a more strategic geopolitics approach.

Ambassador Orolbaeva said that the agreement paves the way for promissory bilateral ties in trade, cultural issues and personal contacts. She emphasized the importance of collaboration in developing ecotourism.

In 2011 the Kyrgyz Republic was unanimously elected as vice president for the Council for Human Rights of the United Nations for 2011-2012 and as a speaker representing the council office. Currently it is running for the non-permanent seat for Asia for the period 2012-2013 in the Security Council of the United Nations, competing against Pakistan.

A mountainous country, Kryzgyz has an area of 199,951 kms2 bordering China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It has abundant hydroelectric power, significant deposits of gold and rare metals, coal, oil and natural gas deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead and zinc.

The Dominican Republic has established bilateral diplomatic relations with Uzbekistan on 28 September 2007, with Turkmenistan on 9 February 2009, with Tajikistan on 25 May 2010, with Kazakhastan on 7 June 2011 and this signing today with the Kyrgyz Republic completes the formalization of relations with all countries of the Central Asia regional economic bloc.

3. 30 deputy ministers at Labor
Labor Minister Max Puig said that while the Ministry of Labor has 900 employees, there are 30 deputy ministers appointed at the Ministry. The deputy ministers for the most part are appointed by the President. The deputy ministers make RD$62,000 a month plus stipends for gasoline and other expenditures.

Speaking on the TV show El Dia on Channel 11, Puig said that the National Budget allotments received at the Ministry of Labor are only enough to pay electricity, telephone and the cost of rent of the ministry offices nationwide.

I calculate that a deputy minister costs the government RD$1 million a year, when gasoline expenditures are added in, he said on the TV show.

Puig said that this year the ministry has not been able to play several service and goods suppliers because of the budget cuts carried out by the government.

Puig has announced he has resigned the post in order to dedicate himself to run for President on the APD ticket in 2012.

The Fernandez administration has been criticized for excessive payroll and wasteful spending.

4. Water treatment chemicals now tax exempt
Public Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez announced that water treatment chemicals chlorine and aluminum sulfate would be exempt from import taxes. Rojas Gomez made the announcement at a press conference held after President Leonel Fernandez met with representatives of the health, water and sanitation sectors, the Panamerican Health Organization and the World Health Organization.

Rojas spoke of the government's concern regarding needed improvements in water treatment at 1,280 community aqueducts that supply water to approximately 1.7 million inhabitants. He said that the Santo Domingo Water Department (CAASD) and the National Aqueducts Department (INAPA) would assume control over these systems.

The extraordinary measures are being taken to control for contamination that could lead to a spread of cholera in the DR.

5. AmCham and 5%+ for education
Julio Brache, president of the American Chamber of Commerce, called for a national pact in favor of improving education in the country. He called for a public-private pact where definite roles and commitments are established for sustainable and effective changes in education. Brache said that the training of teachers is one of the most critical points on the agenda. Brache spoke yesterday at the American Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon.

Brache explained that 40 AmCham businesses sponsor public schools investing US$1.5 million in around 60 schools nationwide directly benefiting 1,140 teachers and more than 44,000 children.

The keynote speaker at the luncheon, Marcelo Cabrol, director of the education division of the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) said that research shows that today in Latin America on average 4 out of every 10 children will abandon school before reaching high school. He said this has serious consequences for national competitiveness as it affects the quality of labor and the individual's own personal advancement.

Cabrol said that in the region there has been an increase in the investment per student in Latin America from 3.2% of GDP to 5%. He said the least that should be invested is 5% of GDP. In the DR, the investment in education is at 2.3% to GDP. Moreover, Cabrol said there is a need to resolve issues with efficiency and infrastructure. Cabrol urged the country to take advantage of new technologies for education. He stressed the importance of language studies and mathematics.

6. Poultry prices will drop
Poultry producers in the Dominican Republic said they would release stocks of 40,000 quintals of frozen chicken to markets to check the rising price of chicken. The Confederation of Chicken Distributors said that a local scarcity on the market has led the pound of chicken to increase to RD$60. The poultry producers say they have sufficient stocks to force a reduction in the price of chicken.

The Ministry of Agriculture says that every month 14 to 16 million chickens are sold, as reported in 7dias.com.do

7. Sugar sales up
Faustino Jimenez, director of the Dominican Sugar Institute (Inazucar) reports the 2010-2011 sugar harvest produced 547,789 metric tons of sugar, 8.45% more than the harvest in 2009-2010. He said that sugar exports as of 28 June were 208,000 metric tons, or US$104 million sold mainly to the United States.

8. Matching the artist with the stage
A feature in the Listin Diario today focuses on the importance of promoters matching the venue with the personality of the performing artist. The feature focuses on how certain artists do better in theaters such as the Palacio de Bellas and National Theater where patrons sit in silence and listen to the artists. In other scenarios, such as Hard Rock Cafe and La Fiesta at the Hotel Jaragua where drinks and food is served, patrons tend to talk among themselves during the performance. Palacio de los Deportes, the sports venue, is also known to be noisy.

Some artists have not been at their best with their audience recently in these scenarios and there have been press reports of performers cutting their shows short. Performers that have protested the lack of concentration of their audiences include Diego El Cigala (at La Fiesta), Joaquin Sabina (at the Palacio de los Deportes), Pedro Guerra (at Hard Rock Cafe), and recently Fito Paez (also at Hard Rock Cafe).

Dominican singer-composer Pavel Nunez commented: "I do not know if this is an attitude common with songwriters-singers. Maybe I am the exception, but I think one owes oneself to the public. I understand that if one accepts to go to a place such as Hard Rock, that is a cafe, independently whether one is playing the piano, one has to adapt to the place. The attention of the people is not to be demanded, one has to win the audience over. To demand silence when one is singing is an excess," he observed. Nunez has performed on several occasions at Hard Rock Cafe in Santo Domingo.

9. Summer sales
Several clothing stores are announcing summer sales at Acropolis Center and Blue Mall. These include Farux, Zara, Oysho, Benetton, Bershka, Bossini, Stradivarius, among other stores. The sales usually happen in August, but have started early this year.

10. Good weather for the weekend
The Weather Office (ONAMET) reports good weather into the weekend. The trough that had brought rain showers has moved onto Jamaica, and the forecast is for the rains to move westward in the Caribbean.

Nevertheless, a tropical wave moving upwards from the Lower Antilles could bring rain showers this way for the weekend. For weather updates, see http://www.dr1.com/forums/weather-beyond/115613-hurricane-season-2011-a.html

11. Founder of Wikipedia to visit
Jimmy Wales, founder and CEO of Wikipedia will be in Santo Domingo for a conference from 2-7pm at the Hotel Embajador on 28 July. The focus is on the free culture and how it affects creating, innovating, learning and imagining. The speaker will address how to create and take advantage of social networks. Tickets are US$250 per person. For more information contact

G-Learns at 809 334-1864 or email info@g-learns.com

12. Miriam Cruz, 25 years in music
Miriam Cruz is booked for a presentation on Thursday, 30 June at the Hard Rock Cafe of the Colonial City. See her on stage from 9pm. "Miriam Cruz 25 Anniversary" is a production by Alberto Bernabe and Amable Valenzuela. The merengue star is best known for her hits as part of the Las Chicas del Can group, such as La Loba, Como agua de sala, Juana la cubana, Pequenas cosas, Estupido, El negro no puede. Hard Rock Cafe is located at Calle El Conde, facing Parque Colon.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

1. US$389 million roadway contract revoked
President Leonel Fernandez issued Decree 397-11 yesterday revoking Decree 107-11 dated 7 June that granted a US$389 million construction contract to a Dominican-Brazilian consortium without tender. Nonetheless, the Presidency says the original decree was justified because Law 340-06 establishes exceptional cases where the government can declare works to be urgent, overriding other dispositions. The second decree seeks to "satisfy certain requests made by public opinion."

President Leonel Fernandez revoked Decree 107-11 dated 7 June in which he instructed the director of the Presidential Supervisory Office for Public Works (OISOE) to sign a contract for the construction of the Pedernales highway to Hondo Valle, near the border with Haiti, for US$389 million. The contract ordered the construction and extension of the International Highway (Carretera Internacional) at the border with Haiti.

El Nacional was the first to break the story. It reported that the decree authorized the allocation of the construction to the Consorcio Carretera Internacional represented by engineer Lorenzo Antonio Cruz Suriel for Andres & Camila Materiales y Construcciones and the Brazilian firm Constructora Andrade Gutierrez represented by engineer Rodrigo Vargas and Eduardo Antonio da Silva Roque.

The decree ordered the director of the SOIE unit to issue an advance of RD$77 million to start the works, as reported in El Nacional on 21 June.

El Nacional reports that President Fernandez allocated the works "based on Urgent Resolution LS-007-2011 dated 17 February 2011 issued by the general director of the OISOE office."

El Nacional points out that the decree granted the authorization for allocating the contract without a tender being held. This would be in violation with Procurement Law 340-06.

The newspaper recalls that Art. 65 of Law 1486 on the representation of the state establishes that in the case of public contracting, officials who intervene in the purchase of goods and services without a tender and in violation of the law could be subject to three years in prison and a fine equivalent to the contracted value of goods and services.

www.elnacional.com.do/nacional/2011/6/21/86722/LF-asigna-obra-US389-mm-sin-concurso-en-frontera

2. The high cost of the President's travels
Acento.com.do reports on the hotels and flights that push up the cost of President Leonel Fernandez's travels abroad. In a report, the online newspaper lists details of the hotels where the President and his committee stayed and the private flights taken during the last trip that took him to Spain, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Israel, France and the USA. Acento reports that there were 55 people in the presidential delegation, of whom 45 were special guests of the President and First Lady Margarita Cedeno de Fernandez. The hotels included the Villamagna and Arts Barcelona.

The Fernandez administration has been ranked second of 139 counries for wastefulness of government spending by the World Economic Forum in its 2010-2011 Global Competitiveness Report.

www.acento.com.do/index.php/news/4374/56/Leonel-Fernandez-y-compartes-viajan-por-el-mundo-con-lujos-y-comodidades-de-jeques.html

www.acento.com.do/index.php/news/1188/56/La-corrupcion-se-acrecienta-en-los-10-anos-de-Leonel-Fernandez.html

http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GlobalCompetitivenessReport_2010-11.pdf

3. City Mayor stays at home?
The Mayor of the National District Roberto Salcedo has only been to work at the Municipal Palace offices, the headquarters of the city government, on 13 occasions since he was re-elected for a six-year term on 16 May. El Caribe reports that Salcedo is seen more frequently at the Palacio Consistorial, the 16th century palace in the Colonial City, where he signs international and other ceremonial agreements.

"Some say that Salcedo primarily works from his vacation residence in Metro Country Club, Juan Dolio in the province of San Pedro de Macoris, where he devotes lots of time to his passion, playing golf. El Caribe reports he has done well in several competitions. It reports that most city government affairs are handled by National District secretary general Domingo Contreras.

www.elcaribe.com.do/site/nacionales/280459-salcedo-no-acude-a-cabildo-del-dn.html

4. CDC: Minustah soldiers brought cholera
The United States Center for Disease Control has published a report concluding that MINUSTAH peacekeepers from Nepal were likely to have brought the cholera strain to Haiti. It has since spread to the Dominican Republic, affecting two countries that had been free of this disease.

The Haitian Ministry of Public Health first reported the appearance of the disease on 21 October 2010. The epidemic came as a surprise as no cholera outbreak had been reported in Haiti for more than a century. The media was quick to link the epidemic to the deadly earthquake that Haiti had experienced nine months earlier. However, simultaneously, a rumor pointed to recently arrived Nepalese soldiers as being responsible for importing cholera, along with accusations of illegal dumping of waste tank contents. A cholera outbreak was indeed reported in the Nepalese capital Katmandu on September 23, 2010, shortly before troops left for Haiti. Two hypotheses then emerged to explain cholera in Haiti, as reported by the CDC.

The CDC research shows that there was a presence of pipes pouring sewage from the MINUSTAH camp to the stream, which coincided with the rapid spread of the disease in Meille and downstream, and the probable contamination of prisoners by the stream water. "We believe that Meille River acted as the vector of cholera during the first days of the epidemic by carrying sufficient concentrations of the bacterium to induce cholera in anyone who drank it.

"We therefore believe that symptomatic cases occurred inside the MINUSTAH camp," reports the CDC.

www.cdc.gov/eid/content/17/7/1161.htm

5. Death penalty?
While legal red tape is repeatedly pointed to as the reason why criminals are caught second and third times committing the same crimes yet are released in court, the Police continues to take matters into its own hands. El Caribe reports that in the first half of the year between 24-38 people have died in clashes with the Police. In 12 of these confrontations, there were two, three or four deaths. El Caribe reports that 13 police agents were killed in these clashes, out of a total of 25 soldiers and policemen who met their deaths while on duty. A further 217 police agents and military personnel were injured in violent incidents.

El Caribe reports that in comparison with 2010 when the deaths in clashes with the police totaled 148, there have been 27 more deaths during the first half of 2011. When adding the police agents and military personnel who died, 13, the total of deaths so far this year is 188.

The Police report says that of the 175 civilians who died in clashes with the police, 96 were aged between 15 and 21 and the rest were between 22 and 46.

6. Appeals Court judge revokes bail order
Pedro Luis Baez Sanchez confessed he had murdered a woman in a motel, but when a Santiago court heard his case, his lawyers were able to secure his release from judge Gabriel Marchena by posting bail. This was met by uproar from women's groups and other civic groups in Santiago. Santiago prosecutor Yeni Berenice Reynoso was also outraged. Now the president of the Santiago Court of Appeals Josefa Disla ordered Baez to be kept in jail on the grounds that there was sufficient proof to keep him in prison. The 49-year old man had been free for three days.

www.listin.com.do/la-republica/2011/7/1/194194/Alegria-por-fallo-que-envia-a-prision-a-imputado

7. Patricia Toribio, Bartender of the Year
Patricia Toribio (Agave Restaurant, Santo Domingo) has been voted Bartender of the Year in a contest organized by Diageo Reserve World Class. She will travel to the Indian capital New Delhi to compete in the world competition, "The World Class Finals" against bartenders from 39 countries. Second place was won by another woman bartender, Alba Aybar (Chili's), and third was Victor Montas (La Dolcerie). Diageo and United Brands represent the leading beverages Johnnie Walker, Buchanan's, Baileys, Smirnoff, Ron Zacapa, Tequila Don Julio,?Ketel One and Nuvo.

Her winning cocktail contained two ounces of Ketel One Vodka, one dash of dry martini, blueberries, agave syrup, rosemary, sambuca and lemon.

www.worldclassrepdom.com

8. Rains to continue
Short yet torrential rains swept through Santo Domingo yesterday. Weather reports are predicting that there could be more of the same today and through Saturday as a low-pressure trough makes its way over the country. Maximum temperatures ranging from 30-34C depending on location, and minimums of 21-24C are forecast. Hot and humid weather will prevail nationwide. Reports of any serious weather disturbances are posted on the DR1 Weather Thread.

See http://www.dr1.com/forums/weather-beyond/115613-hurricane-season-2011-a-6.html#post983159

9. Friday & Saturday at Plaza de Espana
The Ministry of Tourism is sponsoring a night of folkloric dances, Santo Domingo de Fiesta, at the esplanade of the Plaza de Espana every Friday and Saturday evening.

Have dinner at one of the restaurants facing the Alcazar, the Columbus Palace, after 9pm and enjoy the live entertainment from afar. Free admission.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

Grupo Piñero fabricará vehículos turísticos en RD

EL PROYECTO CONTEMPLA UNA INVERSIÓN DE US$20 MILLONES


Mercado. La fábrica de vehículos turísticos y carros de golf tiene buena acogida en el país debido a que aquí hay un fuerte sector turístico.Amílcar Nivar
amilcar.nivar@listindiario.com
Santo Domingo
El Grupo Piñero reveló que instalará en República Dominicana una fábrica de vehículos turísticos y carros de golf, para lo cual realizará una inversión inicial de US$20 millones e insertará al mercado laboral dominicano de alrededor de 400 nuevos puestos de trabajo.

La inversión viene en estos momentos a fortalecer el sector turístico de República Dominicana, el cual capta anualmente alrededor de US$4,000 millones, convirtiéndose en uno de los principales generadores de divisas.

El Grupo Piñero es reconocido en este país como un importante promotor turístico y un gran generador de empleos, ya que cuenta con 10,000 puestos en los distintos proyectos empresariales y turísticos que tiene en el territorio dominicano y una valoración patrimonial de más de 2,000 millones de euros.

República Dominicana es seleccionada por el empresario Pablo Piñeiro, presidente del Grupo Piñero, como país origen para la instalación de su primera fábrica de vehículos de transporte turístico y carros de golf, con la proyección de suplir el Mercado del sector turístico del país y de todo el Caribe.

Bajo la denominación de Turiscar (Inox Train) este importante grupo empresarial, de origen español, suma a su cartera de empresas que operan con éxito en el país, una nueva institución que viene a suministrar unidades innovadoras al campo del transporte de la hotelería con el desarrollo de confortables, versátiles y prácticos modelos que brindarán la máxima confortabilidad a cada huésped mientras se traslada en los espacios del hotel durante su estadía.

En la primera etapa serán desarrollados una gama de diseños de acuerdo a las necesidades del hotel y sus huéspedes, entre los que se destacan: Modelos Turiscar: SLB-4514 / SLB4515 / SLB- 4616 / BLB-4717 / SLB-4818 / SLB 4919 y SLB-5017.

Sobre Grupo Piñero
En adición a la nueva empresa Turiscar (Inox Train) de fabricación de vehículos y carros de golf para el transporte turístico de República Dominicana y el Caribe, el Grupo Piñero engloba en la actualidad otras empresas especializadas en el sector en el sector turístico e inmobiliario, cuyas marcas más reconocidas son: Bahía Príncipe Hotels & Resort, Soltour, Bahía Príncipe Residences & Golf y Solbus con más de 10,000 empleados y una valoración patrimonial de más de 2,000 millones de euros.


CONFIANZA EN RD PARA INDUSTRIA AUTOMOTRIZ
DESARROLLO
La nueva fábrica de vehículos turísticos y carros de golf que se instalará en República Dominicana es una iniciativa del Grupo Piñero, el cual tiene 11 hoteles en distintos puntos del país, demuestra la seguridad jurídica y el buen clima de inversión con cuenta el mercado local.

La actual inversión del Grupo Piñero en República Dominicana representa un punto de confianza para la expansión de la industria automotriz que aún no ha despegado aquí.

En principio, la fábrica de vehículos turísticos y carros de golf que desarrollará el Grupo Piñero en el país suplirá al mercado local y al del Caribe.


http://www.listindiario.com/economia-and-negocios/2011/6/30/194154/Grupo-Pinero-fabricara-vehiculos-turisticos-en-Republica-Dominicana

Jóvenes criollos viajarán a Japón
Santo Domingo
Doce jóvenes dominicanos viajarán mañana a Japón, invitados por el Gobierno de esa nación asiática, a través del Programa Internacional de Intercambio y Desarrollo de la Juventud.

El anuncio fue hecho en un acto por el embajador japonés en el país, Soichi Sato, quien explicó que se trata de promover la relación de amistad y comprensión mutua entre los jóvenes, y fomentar el espíritu de cooperación internacional con actividades que mantendrán un vínculo entre dominicanos y japoneses.

El viaje está pautado para mañana, con una estadía de 18 días, durante la cual los jóvenes participarán en la Conferencia Internacional de la Juventud y realizarán visitas a distintos estamentos de esa potencia tecnológica.

El embajador refirió, en ese sentido, que habrá una agenda de actividades, convivencia y discusiones, que permitirán un ensanchamiento de la visión de los jóvenes hacia esa nación.

Dijo que se trata de una jornada de compenetración en la que República Dominicana es invitada por cuatro períodos consecutivos a una iniciativa de difícil acceso de parte de los aspirantes, de países como Estonia, Jordania y Laos. Entre el grupo de jóvenes que viajará están Jorge Antonio Báez, Hideaki Inuyama, Melvi Lamarche Colón, Nancy Patricia Franjul Pérez, Angelina Risk Mirabal y Stefany Rojas Fermín. El embajador se mostró confiado en que este intercambio permitirá un fortalecimiento en los nexos de ambas naciones.

Taiwán entrega US$ 200,000.00 a OPTIC para implementación del Punto GOB
Santo Domingo.- El gobierno de la Republica de China (Taiwán), entregó este martes a la Oficina Presidencial de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (OPTIC) una donación de doscientos mil dólares (US$200,000.00) como segunda partida del apoyo financiero para la apertura del Centro de Atención Presencial / Punto GOB. Los fondos fueron entregados por el embajador de Taiwán, Isaac Tsai y fueron recibidos por el ingeniero Domingo Tavárez, Director General de la OPTIC.

En noviembre del pasado año, Taiwán entregó una primera donación por un valor de US$500,000.00 y con ella se dió inicio a la logística y preparación del nuevo Centro de Atención Presencial de varios que estarán ubicados en el Distrito Nacional. Los Centros de Atención Presencial / Punto GOB serán Puntos de Atención donde se ofrecerá a la ciudadanía en un solo lugar: información, orientación y la realización de los trámites de los servicios del Estado de mayor demanda sin tener que acudir a puntos geográficos distantes en la ciudad o el país.

El acuerdo fue firmado por los licenciados Isaac Tsai, Embajador de la República de China (Taiwán) e Inocencio García Javier, Director General de Cooperación Bilateral y el ingeniero Domingo Tavárez, Director General de la OPTIC. La actividad fue celebrada en el salón de conferencias de la OPTIC y a la misma asistieron personalidades relacionadas con el sector de tecnología.

Dice RD hace esfuerzo por mejorar educación
Cree que no es suficiente apostar por los recursos

El rector de la Universidad Camilo José Cela de España, Rafael Cortés Elvira, aseguró ayer que el Estado dominicano hace un gran esfuerzo en materia de Educación.

Cortés Elvira pronunció la conferencia “La Educación como motor del Progreso y Desarrollo”, en la Fundación Global, Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE).

“Si la presión fiscal de la República Dominicana está cerca de un 15, 12.8 o 13.2, por ciento y en la OTDI, está cerca de un 40 por ciento, cabe pensar que si República Dominicana tuviera la misma presión fiscal de esta organización, estaría destinando en educación el 7.2 por ciento del Producto Interno Bruto (PIB)”, dijo.

Aseguró que no hay ningún país que llegue a esa inversión en el sistema educativo.

El intelectual manifestó que hay que definir los objetivos para ver donde hay que invertir y que eso es una responsabilidad de las universidades.

Consideró importante que el país focalice las áreas de desarrollo, sí quiere tener el motor de cambio.

Afirmó que el incremento de la inversión en educación debe ir a los mejores sectores de excelencia.

“Tener recursos es una cuestión necesaria, pero no es suficiente apostar por los recursos”, indicó Cortés Elvira, quien señaló que conoce sobre el debate de este tema en República Dominicana.

Dijo que en vez de referirse al PIB, las organizaciones debieran hablar de los ingresos que tiene el Estado.

Indicó que el país debe modificar el modelo de educación, para evitar caer en una baja competitividad, como le pasó a España entre los años 2004 y 2005, debido que tenía poco capital humano.

“Faltó la capacidad de entender que un país tiene que crecer con productos y servicios con alto valor añadido y que eso se consigue, solo a través de la educación y la formación”, resaltó el intelectual español.

Precisó que para cambiar el actual modelo educativo, necesariamente, es preciso mejorar la capacitación de los profesores.

Cortés Elvira señaló que en el ámbito global esos cambios se están produciendo de manera vertiginosa y que por tanto, “debemos prepararnos, porque la competencia será feroz”.

Consideró imprescindible que las universidades como comunidades científicas entiendan que deben asumir el liderazgo de una sociedad que necesita esa transformación y que los centros de estudios superiores no pueden estar ajenas a esos debates.

“Los países que no entiendan que las universidad es el líder, seguramente, se quedarán atrás”, puntualizó Cortés Elvira, durante la conferencia que dictó en FUNGLODE.

En ese sentido, explicó que existe una falta de espíritu crítico entre los jóvenes de hoy y quien puede aportarlo es la educación, si se quiere estar acorde a la velocidad de estas transformaciones que exige el mundo en la actualidad.

Inauguration of Canopy Cumaysa: Sunday July 3rd

Canopy Cumaysa

http://casadecampoliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/canopy_cumaysa_philip_silvestri_casa_de_campo_dominican_republic.jpg

Canopy Cumaysa, located in the Cumaysa Ranch just 30 minutes outside of Casa de Campo, along the road to Santo Domingo is a brand new zip-line adventure with 7 zip lines and 13 stations, leading you on a trail through the Dominican wilderness, which ends at the Cumaysa river where you can take a dip in the cool refreshing waters or a gentle cruise in a kayak!

This Sunday the 3rd of July, Canopy Cumaysa is celebrating its official opening with an inauguration event with a BBQ and beers as well as the canopy zip0line adventure at a special discount price! The details are as follows:

When: Sunday July 3rd

Times: Different canopy groups will set out at 11am, 2pm and 4pm

Where: Cumaysa Ranch, KM14 Carretera Romana/San Pedro

What: Zip-line /canopy trail for adventurers of all ages!

Cost: Adults – RD$1000, Children (3-11 years) – RD$700

Zip-Line for kids! Even children as young as 3 can enjoy zip-lining at Canopy Cumaysa! Children between the ages of 3 and 7 years ‘fly’ with a guide!

BBQ: There will be a BBQ with hotdogs, chips, beers and other refreshments so you can really make the most of your time in the wilderness!

Cadaqués Caribe

La arquitectura de Cadaqués Caribe es de estilo Mediterráneo con influencia de la española y la italiana. Un pueblo ambientado en el Siglo XVIII, con calles estrechas y plazas que abren a medida que se transita por ellas hasta desembocar en la gran plaza frente a la playa, con un paseo con cocotales y espacios para disfrutar el mar a todas horas.

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/cuadro20grande.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo001.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo003.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo004.jpg

Sources: photobuckets/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo006.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo011.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo012.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo013.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo014.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo016.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo018.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo019.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo020.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo021.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo022.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo023.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo024.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo027.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo030.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo031.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo032.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo033.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo037.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

wp7AM63SvEk&feature

fwZOpmf5gFg&feature

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/41742165.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/emergencia.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/5807939685_9bfe6ab95b_b.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/5807940013_01e0f6163b_b.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/5807938877_df8b74da0e_b.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/5808503344_3641fdb172_b.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

25723082

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo023.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/gfo027.jpg


I like this building.
Similar to the kindergarten that I was doing.:)
Mark is also good.

1. JFK overpass repaired
Duarte Corridor (Odebrecht) workers have repaired the railing on the JF Kennedy Avenue with Winston Churchill overpass that had been missing for four months.

Brazilian contractor Odebrecht included the repair in its social responsibility budget.

The railing fell off during an accident and had not been replaced by the Ministry of Public Works, causing the death of a motorcyclist. Motorcycle transit is prohibited on the overpass.

2. Dominican debt with PetroCaribe
Speaking over the weekend, Hacienda Minister Vicente Bengoa said that Dominicans should pray for the health of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who is responsible for the soft terms of the PetroCaribe debt program that has provided temporary relief for the DR during the financial crisis and rising petrol prices. News reports over the weekend revealed that Chavez was suffering from cancer and was receiving treatment in Cuba. He is reported to have returned to Venezuela early today.

The facilities that Chavez has provided to governments in Central America and the Caribbean under the PetroCaribe agreement have led the Dominican government to accumulate a debt of US$2.02 billion with Venezuela. This year, the government will only pay back US$59 million of the debt, and in 2012, another US$74.1 million. If the price of petrol remains high, the country will receive credits for US$620 million, instead of the US$280 million budgeted for this year. The government had estimated fuel prices at US$70 a barrel, when the price has hovered around US$100 a barrel.

Under the arrangement, Cariforum nations, the Dominican Republic included, have received oil on preferential terms at a rate of between 120,000 and 140,000 barrels per day over the past three years. The largest share of this has been allocated to the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, while Cuba, separately, has received around 100,000 barrels per day under a more complex arrangement.

The benefit of the PetroCaribe scheme is that member countries are allowed to retain a part of their payment in the form of a very low-interest loan repaid over a 25-year period. This has enabled regional governments to use the program for balance of payment purposes and budgetary support, while others have delayed due payments for long periods.

What is hardly mentioned though, is that on the less positive side, the program has increased the region's long-term indebtedness. For example, the Dominican Republic's PetroCaribe-related debt now totals over US$2 billion, up from US$448.8 million in 2006.

3. Clinics revoke 14% raise
On Friday, the National Association of Private Clinics (Andeclip) made up of private medical centers, suspended its 14% increase in the cost of services to patients for 30 days. The decision was reached with the Superintendence of Health and Labor Risks (Sisaril). As part of the accord, the public employers health provider Senasa also agreed to reinstate authorization for payment of services to 22 health providers (known locally as ARS) that had been suspended from the government plan after they unilaterally instated the increase in services.

Speaking for the Sisaril, Fernando Caamano said that the agreement would allow more time for revising the cost per capita of the Basic Health Plan so that the ARS and the clinics can reach an agreement on the increase in services.

4. Tender for border roadway
The Presidency has announced that a tender will be held for the contracting of the US$389 million roadway from Pedernales to Hondo Valle in the center and south of the border region with Haiti. The Presidency recently revoked an order that granted the work to a local and Brazilian consortium without tender after the news was made public.

Luis Sifres of the Public Works Engineering Supervisory Office of the Presidency (OISOE) said that the first phase involved building 102 kilometers of highway but the plan is to build a complete 250 kilometers of the roadway with a total investment of US$700 million.

As reported in El Caribe, the construction is important for improving migratory and phyto-sanitary controls and security with Haiti.

The Presidency had granted the contract for building the highway to a consortium including a company linked to the president of a local TV station. Online newspaper elsiglo21.com reported that the government allocated the contract to Channel 5 owner Juan Ramon Gomez Diaz. A company named Andres y Camila Materiales y Construcciones was allocated the construction in association with Brazilian construction firm Andrade Gutierrez. A presidential power of attorney was granted to the OISOE to sign the contract for the construction on 7 June, based on a declaration of urgency of the construction issued on 11 February. The government argued that Law 340-06 on Procurement contemplates the urgency declaration in cases of natural tragedies. The work was for US$389 million plus a counterpart contribution of US$77.8 million by the state. The financing of the public work is not mentioned. Brazilian companies have secured Brazilian export agency financing (BNDES) in the past.

5. 6,600 study the arts at Bellas Artes
The Direccion General de Bellas Artes, the government's department of fine arts, operates free visual arts schools nationwide. Now there is a push to create more regional schools at the same level as in the National District.

Students can study visual arts (painting and sculpture), music, dance and theater. The technical courses have a four-year duration. There are schools in Puerto Plata, San Juan de la Maguana, San Jose de Ocoa, Azua, Duarte (San Francisco de Macoris), La Vega, Espaillat, La Romana, Santo Domingo East, National District and San Cristobal.

The best students then graduate to the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes, the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica, the Escuela Nacional de Teatro, Escuela Nacional de Danza, and Escuela Nacional de Artes Visuales that operate in Santo Domingo.

From there the best graduates can join the National Symphony Orchestra, the National Youth and Children Orchestra, the National Choir, the National Lyrics Company, the National Theater Company, the Touring Theater, the National Folkloric Ballet and the National Dominican Ballet.

6. Gays celebrate their day
On the occasion of yesterday's International Gay Pride Day, Dominican gays and lesbians paraded on Santo Domingo's Malecon from 4pm, ending later with a private party at a disco.

As reported in El Caribe, the parade pressed for equal civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people here and around the world. The parade strolled along the Malecon and continued up Abraham Lincoln, 27 de Febrero and Duarte avenues to the applause of many and rejection of others. The participants exhibited the gay pride rainbow colors.

7. Almost 1 M inactive bank accounts
Approximately 79,436 bank accounts have not been used for several years by the customers who deposited the funds. Reportedly, the bank system says there are 79,436 abandoned accounts and 992,165 inactive accounts for a total of 1,071,231 accounts.

8. Dominican in National Geographic
Leading Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass shares his insights into the valuable contributions Dominican Greek and Roman history scholar-turned-archaeologist Katherine Martinez has made to the search for the tomb of Cleopatra in this month's edition of the National Geographic. In the article, Hawass explains how Martinez got involved in the search.

Martinez is a member of the Egyptian team in search of the tomb.

www.nationalgeographic.com/events/cleopatra/zahi-hawass/

9. Suicides in DR
The Attorney General Office says there were more than 2,490 suicides in the DR between 2005 and 2009, the last year for which complete statistics are available. The National Statistics Office (ONE) says that 86.5% of suicides were by males. Some of the reasons cited in the report in Listin Diario include biological, psychological, economic, emotional and even religious.

The newspaper reports that six people are reported to have committed suicide in the past 72 hours nationwide. They include Jose Alberto Pena (49), Jose Altagracia Sosa Fernandez (45), Morales Perez (a 54-year old Haitian), Alexander Manuel Balbuena (30), Geraldin Alexandra Martinez (23) and Angel Manuel Pillier (48).

10. Rains continue
Grey clouds and intermittent sunshine cover local skies nationwide as a strong wave crossing north of the country is bringing squally weather, rough seas, gusty winds and heavy rains. The Emergency Operations Center maintains an alert for flooding in 15 provinces.

Weather reports indicate that seasonal quiet is expected to return once the wave activity passes. Likewise, copious amounts of Saharan dust are evident between the backside of the wave and the Cape Verdes.

11. Million dollar bonuses for Dominican teens
Several US Major League teams are moving to lock in hot Dominican baseball talent.

16-year old Elier Hernandez will receive a Kansas City Royals record US$3.05 million bonus to join the Royals. The International Prospect League, where Hernandez plays, reported the signing on the first day of the Major League Baseball international signing period, as reported in the Kansas City Star.

Dolsi Paulino signed for US$1.1 million with the Cleveland Indians and Luis Acosta signed for another US$1.1 million bonus with the Chicago Cubs.

The Houston Star Telegram reports that on the same day, the Texas Rangers reached agreements with 16-year old Dominican outfielders Nomar Mazara (US$5 million) and Ronald Guzman (US$3.3 million).

The Minnesota Twins reportedly signed 16-year old Miguel Gonzalez for US$650,000.

The teenagers need to pass a physical exam and complete paperwork before the teams officially announce the signing in another two weeks.

www.kansascity.com/2011/07/02/2990531/royals-notebook-agreement-reached.html

www.star-telegram.com/2011/07/03/3196932/rangers-sign-two-dominican-teenagers.html

12. Jose Bautista's new record
Dominican slugger Jose Bautista is the most voted player for the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star game. The Toronto Star reported that the Blue Jays third baseman had set a record for the most votes ever cast for a single player in MLB All-Star-Game history. Bautista received a record 7,454,753 million votes that compares to 6,069,688 received by Ken Griffey Jr in 1994.

A new record of 32.5 million voters was registered this year, up from 23.5 million, the previous record set in 2009.

"That sounds amazing, my appreciation to the fans for all their support, we got it in three different territories, Canada, the US, and the Dominican Republic... I can't even describe how good that feels," Bautista said Sunday as the vote was announced, making him the AL's starting right fielder, and the game's all time highest vote getter," as reported in the Toronto Star.

A year ago, Bautista was leading the major leagues in home runs at the all-star break, but did not make the all-star team on fan voting. Debate surfaced afterwards, centering on a perceived lack of exposure for Bautista to the major fan bases in the US because he was playing in Canada.

"I don't see where that comes from, we have a whole country behind us," Bautista said of Canada. "I'm very proud to be representing Canada and the Dominican Republic."

Bautista is now leading the MLB with 27 home runs.

The other Dominicans who were voted to play in the game are Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Placido Polanco and Jose Reyes, while Adrian Beltre, Jose Valverde and Starlin Castro are on the reserves list.

The 2011 MLB All-Star Game will be televised on Tuesday 12 July at 8pm ET on Fox.

www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/mlb/bluejays/article/1018759--grand-slam-jose-bautista-s-off-to-the-all-star-game

13. DR women do well in PanAm volleyball
The DR national women's volleyball team defeated Argentina (25-23, 25-20, 25-19) for a third victory without losses in the Pool A of the 10th Women's Pan American Volleyball Cup taking place in Ciudad Juarez in Mexico. Some of the best teams in the world are participating.

Earlier the DR team had defeated Chile in three straight sets.

The DR team is the defending champion of the cup and the Central American and Caribbean champion from the Mayaguez 2010 Games.

www.norceca.org

14. Latin American romantic songs concert
The most romantic Latin American songs of all times will be the stars of the gala concert planned for the Palacio de Bellas Artes on 13 July. The concert, Latin Romances, will feature some of the most popular romantic Latin American songs of all times from the voices of tenor Edgar Perez and soprano Melliangee Perez.

The singers will be accompanied by the Santo Domingo Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Maestro Carlos Andres Mejia.

The songs include: "El dia que me quieras", "Mis noches sin ti", "La flor de la canela", "Perdon", "Sombras" and "Bachata rosa". A DVD of the concert will be produced.

15. Doubt: a Parable at National Theater
John Patrick Shanley's "Doubt: A Parable," winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the Tony Award for Best Play in 2005, will be staged at the Sala Ravelo of the National Theater, directed by Germana Quintana. Starring in the local version of Doubt are Lidia Ariza, Aidita Selman, Patricia Munoz and Exmin Carvajal. Meryl Streep starred in the movie version of the film in 2008. The drama is booked for the National Theater on Fri 8 and Sat 9 July, also on Thu 14, Fri 15 & Sat 16 July at 8:30pm, Sun 17 July at 6:30pm. Performances continue on Thu 21, Fri 22, Sat 23 July at 8:30pm and Sun 24 at 6:30pm, and Thu 28, Fri 29, Sat 30 at 8:30pm and Sun 31 July at 6:30pm.

Tickets: RD$400.

16. Youth idol Avicii in Santo Domingo
Swedish DJ Avicii is booked for an electronic music performance at the Cueva de Santa Ana, the former Zoo and Quisqueya Park.

21-year old Tim Bergling alias Avicii is a leading Swedish DJ, remix artist and record producer known for his dreamy disco house music. He will perform with Conrad Wittkop of the DR.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

Proyecto en Los Corbanitos Bani
Los Corbanitos, promesa de desarrollo turístico
Por Felivia Mejía | Fotografías: Romelio Montero
3 de Jun 2011 12:00 AM


Los Corbanitos tiene contados sus días de anonimato. Esta playa espera de la construcción de un complejo turístico que busca convertila en uno de los destinos más lujosos y exclusivos de la República Dominicana.

Al menos, es lo que refleja el Grupo Iemca, de la familia Selman, que ultima los detalles para iniciar en unos cuatro meses la primera parte de un ambicioso proyecto en esta zona del distrito municipal de Sabana Buey, provincia Peravia.

Hace más de 20 años que la Fundación para el Desarrollo Banilejo y la Corporación de Zona Franca Banileja, que eran propietarios de los terrenos, buscaban un inversionista que se interesara en las bondades naturales de Los Corbanitos, situado frente a la playa Punta Salinas, entre Palmar de Ocoa y Las Calderas. “Es un proyecto que hay que pensar que se tomará de 15 a 20 años. Lo importante es que se inicie, que el pueblo empiece a ver y se generen empleos, que comiencen a llegar los turistas”, expresa el presidente de la Corporación de Zona Franca Banileja, Manuel Miniño.

En febrero de 2009 se hizo el anuncio de que inversionistas nacionales y extranjeros destinarían al proyecto siete mil millones de dólares. Se estima que se generarían como mínimo diez mil empleos.

Esa playa es el tesoro escondido de Peravia. Un camino pedregoso lleva hasta las aguas turquesas de la playa de arena blanca, que tiene como fondo el paisaje desértico característico del sur, con sus lomas copadas de alpargatas y guasábara. Tiene aproximadamente 8.5 kilómetros de costa y 5.5 km lineales de delicada playa de arena blanca.

El ingeniero Carlos Caballol, del Grupo Iemca, indica que elaboran el Plan Maestro Conceptual General, que está dividido en cuatro fases, para un total de unas 15,000 habitaciones.

La primera fase del proyecto, apuntó, contempla intervenir dos kilómetros cuadrados de playa y levantar infraestructuras que sumarán un total de 2,800 habitaciones.

Cuando habla de infraestructuras, Caballol se refiere a un puerto, un club de playa, un hotel boutique, lotes de playa para villas y condominios, lotes en lomas para villas y condominios con vista panorámica a bahía de Las Calderas, un helipuerto, bares y restaurantes. “La primera fase está prevista a iniciar a finales de este año”, dice.

La idea de Iemca es concluir el proyecto, que se extiende en un terreno de 15,414,037 metros cuadrados, con un centro comercial con una plaza cultural, iglesia, locales comerciales, bares, restaurantes, que serán el punto de encuentro de los residentes. También dos campos de golf, una marina apta para 300 embarcaciones.

“Los Corbanitos Golf & Beach Resort contará con más de 4 hoteles de lujo y unas 4,600 unidades residenciales”, agrega Caballol.
Miniño, también miembro de la Fundación para el Desarrollo Banilejo, sostiene que lo que se construya en Los Corbanitos impactará positivamente en la región sur.

“Éramos los propietarios de esos terrenos entre comillas porque teníamos una deuda muy grande con el Banco de Reservas, que realmente no nos permitía desarrollar el proyecto. Logramos que nos dieran una opción de buscar un comprador para la playa, un inversor para desarrollar el proyecto turístico”, apuntó.

Ficha

Coordenadas. Los Corbanitos se encuentran a 23 kilómetros de Baní y 88 kilómetros de Santo Domingo.

El clima. Es árido con una naturaleza dominada por arbustos costeros y vegetación de dunas. La zona cuenta con playas, llanura, lagunas, mesetas, manglares y montañas. “Aquí hay que hacerlo todo: las vías, llevar electricidad, planta de tratamiento de agua, el cable… Se necesitaban los pioneros, los valientes”, opinó Miniño.

Provincia Peravia.
Fue creada el 23 de noviembre de 1944 con el nombre de Provincia de Baní; el 1 de enero de 1945 estrenó el nombre de José Trujillo Valdez. Su nombre actual le fue dado el 29 de noviembre de 1961, por el Valle de Peravia.

Municipios: Baní y Nizao. Distritos Municipales: Catalina, El Carretón, Matanzas, Paya, Sabana Buey, Villa Fundación, Villa Sombrero, Pizarrete y Santana.

Población aproximada: 202,000 habitantes.

Superficie: 992 km.

Límites: Al norte, provincia San José de Ocoa; al este, provincia San Cristóbal; al sur, Mar Caribe; y al oeste, provincia de Azua.

El presidente de la Cámara de Comercio Domínico-Brasileña, Domingo Santana, destacó que el número de turistas de esa nación está creciendo vertiginosamente, por lo que se puede aprovechar ese crecimiento para motivarlos a que visiten el país


SANTO DOMINGO.-El flujo turístico de Brasil a la República Dominicana podría duplicarse en los próximos años, pero se debe hacer más para conquistar ese mercado, debido a que el país como destino resulta muy atractivo para brasileños, debido a los recursos naturales con que cuenta y el precio de los servicios.


Así lo planteó el presidente de la Cámara de Comercio Domínico-Brasileña, Domingo Santana, al destacar que el número de turistas de esa nación está creciendo vertiginosamente, por lo que se puede aprovechar ese crecimiento para motivarlos a que visiten el país. Agregó que estos tradicionalmente tienen como destinos preferidos a Cancún, en México, Chile, Miami y Argentina.


Según expresó Santana, al participar como invitado en Encuentro Económico de HOY, junto a otros directivos de la Cámara, los costos de desplazamiento y hospedaje a los turistas brasileños les resulta más económico si visitan la República Dominicana que si hacen turismo interno en su propio país, debido a la fortaleza que tiene la actualidad su moneda (el real) frente al dólar.


Destacó el trabajo que está realizando el Ministerio de Turismo en ese país sudamericano, pero insistió en que el Gobierno debe destinar más recursos para promocionar más a la República Dominicana como destino turístico en Brasil, nación que tiene una población calculada en aproximadamente 200 millones de habitantes.


Consideró que es necesario que el país esté presente en las diferentes ferias turísticas que se hacen en Brasil cada año con un estand, representado por autoridades de Turismo, del sector hotelero privado, de la embajada dominicana en Brasil y de la Cámara Domínico-Brasileño.
Además, planteó, se deben abrir oficinas comerciales, negociar más con los touroperadores para que den a conocer más la isla y motivar a los empresarios brasileños a que realicen inversiones en el sector hotelero. Comentó que por experiencia propia se ha dado cuenta cómo los turistas brasileños están “minando” los destinos turísticos del mundo, lo cual considera se debe aprovechar.


Según datos del Banco Central de Brasil, entre enero y mayo del presente año, los turistas de ese país gastaron en el exterior unos US$8,330 millones, una cifra récord para los primeros cinco meses del año.
Santana atribuyó el crecimiento a factores como el aumento de la tasa de empleo y de la renta en la nación sudamericana, así como a la fuerte devaluación del dólar.
Según el banco, solamente en mayo los brasileños gastaron US$1,660 millones en el exterior.


Cifras
De acuerdo al último informe Banco Central sobre el flujo turístico en el país, en el período de enero-mayo de 2011, la llegada de los extranjeros no residentes alcanzó un incremento en términos absolutos de 82,831 visitantes, sustentado por la afluencia de turistas residentes de América del Sur que al crecer el 48.07%, aportaron 50,133 visitantes, destacándose Argentina (18,432), Brasil (15,463), Chile (5,581), Colombia (3,248) y Perú (2,851) como los países de mayor contribución.

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/219150_224231644269933_216957608330670_954792_5867121_o.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/268243_243664678993296_216957608330670_1043578_8384273_n.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/271722_243664568993307_216957608330670_1043570_3076367_o.jpg

sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/266764_243664638993300_216957608330670_1043574_3512995_o.jpg

sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/222197_218270374866060_216957608330670_907235_8334467_n.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/226053_218270438199387_216957608330670_907237_3870524_n.jpg

sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/220329_217471141612650_216957608330670_900477_4450916_o.jpg

sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/273072_246175008742263_216957608330670_1054568_2997796_o.jpg

sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/280172_246175088742255_216957608330670_1054571_4116069_o.jpg

sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/209806_218274698198961_216957608330670_907257_322187_o.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/201649_218274951532269_216957608330670_907259_7532874_o.jpg

sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/204815_217397178286713_216957608330670_899744_4722711_o.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/218277_217392398287191_216957608330670_899689_1663067_o.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/224662_217407408285690_216957608330670_899825_7405013_n.jpg

sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

1. Economists say problem is not IMF
Economists Apolinar Veloz and Bernardo Fuentes do not share the opinion expressed by Banco de Reservas administrator and former Hacienda Minister Vicente Bengoa who said that "the IMF has the government was on its knees before the IMF."

The economists countered by saying that the rampant corruption by the administration is what has brought the country to its knees, as reported in Hoy.

Hoy newspaper also asked the two economists for their reactions to Bengoa's statements that the PetroCaribe Agreement had helped the country with nothing required in return while the IMF had the country on its knees.

According to Veloz, corruption and business deals made by public officials are what have made the country kneel down. As well as complaining about corruption, the economist also criticized the way the Dominican government is spending funds from loans from international financial institutions, which the Dominican people will have to pay back with interest.

He questioned the fact that the Department of Taxes has reported increased revenues from tax collections and then the administration goes out and seeks more credit and financing to sustain growth.

Both agreed that the IMF has been very lenient with the Dominican Republic since the country has failed to fulfill its commitments, and despite receiving sharp criticisms in the last letter of review for failing to reach the targets set for the end of 2010 and the first quarter of 2011, the credit agency "is still there."

Economy & Development Minister Temistocles Montas told Listin Diario that it was the Fernandez administration that requested the agreement with the International Monetary Fund. "The IMF is here not because it wants to be. It is here because the Dominican Republic economic authorities invited it. That is, normally the IMF does not go where it is not invited, and if they are here, this should make us think that the economic authorities have requested their presence because they understand it is healthy for the Dominican economy at this time," he said.

Businessman Ignacio Mendez, of the Federation of Industrialists (FAI), agreed that the IMF has the government on its knees. In an interview with the Listin Diario, he said this is not the fault of the IMF, but rather the governments of the Dominican Republic are to blame. "They have not done what they have to do when they had to do it. We always have had to wait for someone from abroad to come to tell us what to do," he said. He said that the IMF is only seeking to guarantee the recovery of their resources, and that was known beforehand. Mendez says it is time for major cuts in government spending.

Mendez commented on the fact that a Ministry has 24 deputy ministers, the large number of SUVs benefitting government officials that are in circulation, government spending of RD$1 billion to build a jail, or RD$1 billion to build a parking lot. He called for the government to send out signs that it will adjust its superfluous spending.

2. Defaulting next year on the IMF agreement?
Economist Bernardo Fuentes doubts that the Fernandez administration will pass the eighth review of the Stand-by arrangement signed with the International Monetary Fund. Fuentes said that the government should pass the pending fifth and sixth reviews, and the seventh that will analyze the fulfillment of targets established for June 2011, as reported in El Caribe. But he says after the seventh it will be obvious that the government will not meet the goal of reducing its deficit for 2011. Fuentes doubts the government will reduce its spending and does not think that the taxation measures implemented this year will be enough to provide the cash to reduce the 2011 deficit. One of the measures increases income tax level on companies from 25 to 29%, but the windfall of revenues will not be received until April 2012. Fuentes says it is likely the IMF will not issue a public statement on the non-compliance of Fernandez administration's commitments.

Fuentes said that the next President elected in May 2012 would have to visit the IMF headquarters at the end of May 2012 or in June 2012 to begin talks for the renewal of the agreement as soon as the new administration takes office in August 2012.

3. Fuels bring more tax money
For some reason, the lines from the Ancient Mariner come to mind: "Water water everywhere, nor any drop to drink."

More and more money seems to be coming in every day but yet there is less and less money to spend. The collections of the fuel taxes up to May reached RD$16.30 billion, an increase of RD$2.06 billion, some 14% over the same period in 2010, when they collected RD$14.24 billion. Nevertheless, when these results are compared with the budget projections for the same period (RD$17.05 billion), a shortfall of RD$742 million will be noticed.

According to Diario Libre, the reason for the shortfall is due to the delay in the indexation of the tax per gallon established in Law 112-00, which has caused a reduction in the fixed tax collections of RD$1.36 billion below what was expected as RD$8.83 were collected instead of RD$10.19 billion.

However, a study by the Henri Hebrard Consultants firm in the Petroleum and Money Bulletin argues that as a result of the strong increase in the price of oil, the gap with relation to the 2011 budget resulted less, due to the greater collections on the 16% ad-valorum tax that contributed as of May, RD$7.476 billion, which is to say RD$625 million above the budget estimate for this year, equivalent to 9.1%.

"The 2011 Budget projections look very aggressive with regard to these two taxes, since it is expected that they will provide RD$43.479 billion during 2011, which is a rather enormous increase of 24.5% versus what was achieved in 2010, equal to RD$8.503 billion in additional money," according to the study.

Nevertheless, the figures published by the Department of Taxes (DGII) up until May this year show that the collections from hydrocarbons only managed a growth of 14.5%, far below the commitment set in the 2011 Budget and in the Stand-by arrangement with the International Monetary Fund. It is estimated that this could be the reason that the IMF felt it was reasonable to authorize an increase in the fiscal deficit from RD$33.54 billion to RD$41.07 billion in the last review of the stand-by agreement, according to the Proposal to Modify the 2011 Budget which was sent to the Senate last week, which represents RD$7.52 billion. The Executive Branch sent a legislative proposal to Congress that seeks to transfer RD$20.74 billion to the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE) from the 12% reductions in the budgets of state institutions and PetroCaribe financing.

The cost of the Dominican basket of fuels, without LPG, climbed from RD$197.66 to RD$201.99, a 2.1% increase during June, while the average cost in Central America registered a slight decrease, going from RD$171.96 to RD$169.04, a 1.69% decrease. The average price of the local fuels is RD$32.95 above the Central American average. Last month, the difference was RD$25.71 which puts into evidence that the competitiveness issues of these economies have become more serious due to the taxes.

4. Industrialists in Santiago reject Monday's strike
Saying that a strike would just make the current situation worse, the president of the Santiago Traders and Industrialists Association (ACIS), Sandy Filpo, argued against the work stoppage announced for Monday. The nationwide strike called by the Alternative Social Forum for Monday, 11 July, is being organized in protest at the recent tax reform package and the increase in the cost of living.

Filpo told reporters at a press conference called by the ACIS that while there were more than enough reasons for a strike, he was appealing to the organizers to understand that any work stoppage would just make things worse. He added that if the strike does go ahead, the organizers should recognize the rights of those who chose not to participate. Filpo said he was in agreement with Cardinal Lopez Rodriguez and the Archbishop of Santiago, Ramon Benito de la Rosa y Carpio and their calls for order during a strike.

5. Salcedo's many offices
In an interview with El Caribe, National District City Mayor Roberto Salcedo showed photos of all his offices. Last week El Caribe reported that Salcedo is rarely seen at the city government headquarters in the Centro de los Heroes, and spends more time at his Juan Dolio home in Metro Country Club, about an hour's drive from the city. Salcedo said that the property in Juan Dolio is up for sale. He told El Caribe he has not visited that home for a year and two months.

Salcedo confirmed that he spends the least time at the city headquarters, but said he has four offices. He says the one he uses most has been set up in a Mercedes Benz mobile unit. He says he owns the unit, not the city government. He said he purchased the unit because he had to change the city government style to be flexible in order to visit different areas of the city.

In addition to the headquarters and the mobile unit, the others are located at the Avenida Mella Fire Station and the Palacio Consistorial in the Colonial City for ceremonial matters.

Salcedo told El Caribe that he only sees to "strategic matters" from the headquarters in Santo Domingo. Salcedo says that he visits the headquarters usually out of working hours. "Then I give the impression that the mayor is away and it is not the case, I am working on the streets," he told El Caribe.

6. Nation on high alert for diseases
The Ministry of Public Health has once more ordered a maximum alert for the National Epidemiological System in response to the increased rainfall that is affecting the entire country, which up to yesterday had caused the displacement of 45 people and cut off one area.

Diario Libre says that the Health authorities are trying to prevent the appearance and spread of contagious diseases. The Minister of Public Health, Bautista Rojas Gomez, said that the measure would be kept in place as long as the atmospheric conditions caused by the low-pressure trough are affecting the weather over the island of Hispaniola. "We have issued instructions to be on the highest alert in order to deal with any eventuality and prevent the occurrence of diseases and deaths due to lack of adequate prevention," he said in a press release.

He said that the Regional Services and the Provincial Health Boards were concentrating their efforts on this preventive work and were watching out for any other health issues that might appear in each of their areas of responsibility. Rojas Gomez said that the conditions are present for an increase in diseases due to the rainy season, factors that combine with other deficiencies, such as an inadequate garbage collection system, the existence of many empty lots with objects that collect water and the storage of water in homes.

7. Subero Isa's absence causes delay
The Minister of the Presidency, Cesar Pina Toribio, reported yesterday that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ), Jorge Subero Isa, would be leaving the country in a few days, forcing a delay in the convocation of the National Council of Magistrates (CNM). The CNM needs to meet to choose the new judges of the Supreme Court of Justice itself, and the judges of the Constitutional and Higher Electoral courts.

According to Diario Libre, Pina Toribio added: "It will be then, after he (Subero) comes back, and no, I am not giving you any date, please, as to when the convocation might come about. Regarding the agenda, this will be determined by the CNM itself, and it is obvious that the first steps, according to my estimates, are that they approve the internal regulations for the functioning of the Council". Pina Toribio said that the work of the CNM itself should now get started and President Leonel Fernandez is interested in doing this. The dates of Subero's absence were not reported.

8. Judge will admit summons of AG
With the election of the Higher Council scheduled for tomorrow, Judge Sara Henriquez has taken an important step. According to Diario Libre, the chief magistrate of the First Court of the Superior Administrative Court, Sara Henriquez, set an appeal for Thursday for an injunction that was filed by 90 prosecutors that are seeking the cancellation of the election of the Higher Council of the Justice Department, set for tomorrow, because it does not permit their participation in the process.

She also authorized the appellants to summon the members of the Electoral Committee, the Attorney General Radhames Jimenez Pena, the secretary general of the Justice Department Gladys Sanchez, the director of the National Penitentiary School Roberto Santana, and the Attorney General's office Human Resources director, Rosanna Dalmasi. Deputy prosecutor Manuel Acosta warned that the disposition by the Attorney General of the Republic means that the right of more than 350 prosecutors nationwide who want to take part in the selection of the Higher Council is being affected.

9. PRD arrived in DR 50 years ago
The first delegation of the PRD arrived in the Dominican Republic 50 years ago on this day. Angel Miolan, Nicolas Silfa and Ramon A. Castillo arrived in Santo Domingo to establish the PRD party headquarters. The party will celebrate the occasion with Mass at the Mercedes Church in the Colonial Zone and a floral tribute at the Altar of the Nation in Independence Park.

The party was founded by Juan Bosch, Angel Miolan, Juan Isidro Jimenez Grullon, Virgilio Mainardi Reyna, Lucas Pichardo and Jose Manuel Santana over 72 years ago in Villa El Cano, Cuba. In exile, the party sponsored invasion attempts and kept up a stream of anti-Trujillo propaganda until the fall of the regime in 1961. The party has had five presidents over the intervening 50 years: Juan Bosch, Antonio Guzman, Jacobo Majluta, Salvador Jorge Blanco and Hipolito Mejia.

10. Rains will be here for a while
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) has increased the alert level from green to yellow in eight provinces, including the National District, Santo Domingo, San Cristobal, San Pedro de Macoris, Barahona, San Juan de la Maguana, Duarte (especially the Lower Yuna Basin) and Monte Plata.

Meanwhile, 12 other provinces are under green alert: La Altagracia, El Seibo, Hato Mayor, La Romana, Santiago, La Vega, Samana, Azua, Peravia, Monsignor Nouel, Maria Trinidad Sanchez and Sanchez Ramirez. The alert was based on a forecast by the National Meteorological Office (Onamet), which says that the rains will continue over the national territory for today and tomorrow due to the effect of a low-pressure trough located over Haiti that is drawing abundant humidity into the air mass.

According to the COE report, the rains over the weekend, with thunderstorms and wind gusts, affected some 10 houses, two of them near the community of Los Cacaos in Samana, due to a landslide. In that same province, in the El Valle sector, one house was destroyed and four others were flooded when the San Juan River burst its banks, cutting off the community. Another landslide in Punta Balandra, Samana, affected several houses.

Although the rains have been falling steadily for several days, they have still not affected the storage capacity of the country's main dams, which as of yesterday showed normal levels for the hurricane season, according to Dam Committee spokesman Luis Cuevas. Up until now the only free discharge is coming from Hatillo and Sabaneta. The others have water levels below the level stipulated for this time of the year, so they represent no danger for the population.

11. Taste of Canada at the Hilton
Chef Kevin Prendergast of the Toronto Hilton is in Santo Domingo for a weeklong Canadian Gastronomical Festival at the Santo Domingo Hilton's Sol y Sombra Restaurant from Thursday 30 June to Friday 8 July. A sampling of the cuisine was offered at the Canadian Embassy's Canada Day celebrations in the Dominican Republic to great reviews.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

1. Samana gets new aqueduct
President Leonel Fernandez was in Samana yesterday to formally inaugurate the Samana aqueduct. The areas of Las Terrenas, Carolina, Abra Grande, Atravesado, El Buen Pan, El Coson, La Bonita, La Ceiba and La Barbacoa in the northeastern province of Samana are benefitting from the new water supply. During the ceremony, President Leonel Fernandez opened the valves of the newly constructed aqueduct serving the Samana peninsula. The director of the National Institute for Potable Water (INAPA) Mariano German said that the Coson River is the main source of the water for the aqueduct. He said the new intake system, pumping station, water treatment plant and laboratories cost RD$858 million and provide 260 liters a second to the communities served. The aqueduct has its own electricity generator to insure continued water supplies.

2. DGII raked in the money
The Department of Taxes (DGII) collected an additional RD$5.52 billion over the first five months compared to the same period in 2010. In total, the tax collectors collected RD$85.14 billion, which represents a 6.9% increase for the same period in 2010, when the amount collected was RD$79.61 billion. This increase over the first five months of the year was mainly prompted by the income taxes, both from individuals as well as corporations; as well as by the selective taxes on hydrocarbons, alcohol and tobacco, and taxes on assets.

Diario Libre says that the actual collection for January-May taxes on individuals grew by 17%, going from RD$7.79 billion to RD$9.12 billion, a difference of RD$1.32 billion more. At the same time, corporate taxes increased by 5.1%, going from RD$11.18 billion to RD$11.74 billion.

Likewise, the money collected under the line item "Other Taxes" grew by 24.8%, going from RD$5.59 billion to RD$6.98 billion, a difference of RD$1.38 billion.

The income raised from taxes on assets during the first five months of the year grew by 8/1%, going from RD$5.470 billion to RD$5.912 billion.

Although the ITBIS (the local VAT) decreased by 3.7%, going from RD$20.053 billion to RD$19.317 billion, the sum total, together with the collections from Customs, shows that there was a 7.3% growth and a compliance rate of 100.4%.

In the month of May alone, the commercial sector increased the amount of ITBIS paid by 21.3%, equivalent to RD$122 million more than the same month last year. Revenue from taxes on alcohol and tobacco totaled RD$7.84 billion over the first five months of the year, which is RD$414 million more than the same time last year. Collections on fuel taxes grew by 14.5% and reached RD$16.30 billion.

The tax on checks grew by 3.1% and went from RD$1.733 billion to RD$1.788 billion. Likewise, telecommunications taxes grew by 1.8%, going from RD$2.022 billion to RD$2.058 billion.

3. Metro 2 connection "almost there"
The Transport Reorganization Office (OPRET) reports that the torrential rains that have fallen over the past week have delayed construction works on the second Metro line. However, the tunnel that will connect the stations at Luperon and Nunez de Caceres avenues is "just meters" away from completion. This will complete the tunnel all the way to the V Centenario Station, according to Diario Libre.

Opret deputy director Leonel Carrasco says that the rains have slowed down the excavation of the final meters between the two stations. He added that the stations between Nunez de Caceres Avenue and the station at San Martin and the V Centenario Avenues are now joined, a total of seven stations. From there the Metro will go to La Normal on Duarte Avenue, and to Josefa Brea and Albert Thomas Streets, each with a station until the lines reach the Francisco del Rosario Sanchez Bridge where this stage of the project ends.

4. Fundamental Law of Constitutional Court
President Leonel Fernandez has signed into law the Fundamental Law of the Constitutional Tribunal (TC) that was amended by the National Congress after heated debates and prolonged stalemates that required a meeting between the leaders of the ruling PLD and opposition PRD in order to reach a consensus and break the impasse. Law 145-11 modifies the original Law 137-11.

El Nuevo Diario says that the agreement between the parties allowed Congress and the President to establish that the National Council of Magistrates would designate the substitutes of the Constitutional Court judges, in case the chief magistrate was not present. Article 13 of the law establishes that to be considered as a member of the higher court, the candidate needs to have at least 12 years of experience as a lawyer, or university law professor and similar experience as a judge. The candidate has to be between the ages of 35 and 75.

5. NG Cortinas says a strike will cost a billion a day
Economist and politician Haivanjoe NG Cortinas said on Tuesday that the nationwide strike that has been called for next Monday, 11 July, as well as not helping the poorest sectors of society, will also cost the nation a billion pesos a day, affecting the GDP and making the current economic contraction even worse.

NG Cortinas, a member of the PLD Central Committee, stressed that although the workers have a legitimate right to strike, when the demonstrations seek to obtain fair and rational goals, the participation of political parties pollutes the environment and makes the strike unfair under the current national and international conditions. He said that since the Constitution guarantees free enterprise, the government is not allowed to set prices except through economic policies designed to provide stability such as those followed by the administration. In a thinly veiled reference to the PRD, NG Cortinas told reporters from El Nuevo Diario that any discourse that does not follow these principles is just election time demagoguery and that instead of helping the poor it was just making things worse.

6. Carol Morgan students help save whales
The Dominican Republic voted against eliminating the ban on commercial whaling at a meeting in Buenos Aires last week thanks to fund-raising by Carol Morgan School students, as reported in Listin Diario. The students collected US$2,000 to help send Peter Sanchez to represent the DR at the 63rd Meeting of the International Whaling Commission.

Sanchez is the administrator of the country's three protected whale sanctuaries at Silver Bank, Navidad and Samana on the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic.

The participants representing the Buenos Aires Group issued a statement reiterating their commitment to the conservation of whales, the maintenance of the 1986 moratorium on commercial farming of whales, the end of scientific hunting, respect for the integrity of the sanctuaries recognized by the International Whaling Commission, among other issues. The group expressed its firm opposition to the sale of whale meat and byproducts in international markets. The DR favors whale watching tourism as a sustainable activity. The document was signed by the DR, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Mexico and Uruguay.

Sanchez said that the DR's participation was especially important because, as reported by Greenpeace, 95% of the humpback whales that migrate south from the North Atlantic, an estimated 900 whales, will spend time in Dominican coastal waters.

EFE reported earlier that the DR was able to pay a debt of US$31,764 to regain voting privileges at the 11-14 July conference to be held 11-14 July in Jersey, United Kingdom.

To be debated at the 63rd Annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission is whether to overturn the ban on commercial hunting of whales. About 450 delegates from 88 member countries are expected to attend, including those from the whaling nations, Japan, Norway and Iceland.

www.greenpeace.org.uk/groups/channel-islands/event/iwc-whaling-conference-jersey

www.newsahead.com/preview/2011/07/11/united-kingdom-11-14-jul-2011-international-whaling-commission-holds-annual-meeting/index.php

7. AG says MP should lead investigations
The Attorney General of the Republic, Radhames Jimenez Pena, told editors and reporters at the Multimedios del Caribe luncheon meeting that the Justice Department should be in charge of criminal investigations. He was firm in his defense of a Technical Investigative Police rather than the National Police in the investigative process. Jimenez wants the new department to be above police investigations.

The new police force is part of the recently enacted Fundamental Law of the Justice Department, although President Leonel Fernandez, under pressure from the Chief of Police did send a note to Congress requesting the revocation of the articles in the legislation that established the Technical Police and moved the criminal investigation unit from the National Police.

Jimenez Pena insists the new police would receive special training and receive a salary similar to other public servants. He said that the idea is to provide investigators with training and professional conditions that would protect them from the corruption that currently tempts the average police officer. He pointed out that the new Penitentiary Police agents are specially trained and start on a salary that is comparable to what a major in the regular Police force receives. He said the resistance from the National Police was natural, but he argued that prestigious civil society organizations like Citizen Participation and the Institutionalism and Justice Foundation are solidly in support of the program.

8. Heavy rains displace thousands
The heavy rains that have fallen all over the country since last week have caused the death of a teenage boy, the displacement of more than 5,310 people, affected more than 2,307 houses and cut off 16 places according to a report released yesterday from the Emergency Operations Center (COE). Most people who had to seek lodging in shelters and homes of friends were in the province of Santo Domingo. Areas in San Cristobal and the National District were also under Red Alert for flooding and mudslides.

Diario Libre said that the young man who was killed was named as Eduardo Ramirez, 14, who died on Monday night when a house on the Prolongation Venezuela in Los Mina Viejo collapsed.

9. Rains also cause widespread blackouts
A large part of the national electricity system suffered blackouts, according to Hoy, caused by torrential rains in Santo Domingo and the surrounding areas. Both Ede-Sur and Ede-Este issued press statements informing that they were forced to double their repair teams to deal with the downed power lines that interrupted service on more than 40 circuits. Ede-Sur reported significant blackouts in more than 20 of its circuits, with more than 355 reported interruptions. At the same time Ede-Este said that they had work brigades fixing 21 circuits. The National District, Monte Plata, La Altagracia, Boca Chica, San Pedro de Macoris, La Romana, Hato Mayor, Higuey and El Seibo were worst affected. However, in the Cibao, Ede-Norte said that their systems were working normally and that no unscheduled blackouts were reported.

10. DR defeats Cuba in volleyball
Defending champions Dominican Republic advanced undefeated to the semifinals of the Women's Pan American Volleyball Cup yesterday and booked a ticket to next year's FIVB World Grand Prix by defeating Cuba 3-1 (18-25, 35-33, 25-20, 25-21) to win first place in Pool A on Tuesday, as reported by the North, Central and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation league (Norceca).

Prisilla Rivera and Milagros Cabral each tallied 14 points for the winners while Bethania de la Cruz and Annerys Vargas added 13 and 12 respectively. Cuban Kenia Carcaces had a match-high 18 points and Yusidey Silie finished with 14.

"We knew it was going to be a tough match but I am super happy with the victory," said Dominican team captain, Milagros Cabral. "Now we have two days to prepare tactically for the next round."

"Our serves improved after the first set and we were able to set up our blocking and started to touch many balls which was key for us," stated DR coach Marcos Kwiek.

Argentina and the US need to define the third team, with Mexico as host country playing in the semi-finals.

www.norceca.org/July%205-2011_Dominican%20Republic%20reaches%20the%20semifinals.htm

11. Summer Jazz at Casa de Teatro
Casa de Teatro's Summer Jazz Festival continues at the cultural center on Arzobispo Merino street in Santo Domingo's Colonial City with a performance by Xiomara Fortuna and her group Azul & Jazz on Thursday 7 July. The festival then will continue with performances by Javier Rosario and his Trio from NY on Thursday, 14 July. From Spain, on Thursday, 21 July, Ximo Tibar & Ivan Jazz Ensemble sponsored by the Centro Cultural Espanol will perform. The closing concert will be a performance by the Dominican group, "El prodigio en jazz".

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/msdaaamm001.jpg

sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/santodomingoDR5898053123_e6130bf55a_b.jpg

sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

Seguir orden de videos:


Video-1

6SXu_xsf_e4




Video-2

3A7UpfSIu2g




Video-3 Final

NtabqoYN7og

1. Ministry outlaws tuition increases
The Ministry of Education says that private schools have 10 days to present documentation to back up the increases in tuition and other charges for the 2011-2012 school year. Many private schools charge up front all or a large part of the school year in March of the previous school year, while others do so on a monthly basis.

Private schools have acknowledged tuition increases of 10-30%. The schools argue they do not have the flexibility to increase their charges during the year to compensate for increased costs, as other businesses are free to do.

The National Education Council, chaired by Education Minister Josefina Pimentel, met yesterday and issued a resolution stating that private schools that are not authorized need to maintain the same tuition charged in the 2010-2011 school year.

Pimentel said that the documents to justify the increases needed to be submitted to the Ministry of Education's Private Schools Department. She said the department would evaluate the documentation to check for investments and cost increases that justify the increases. Furthermore, she said the documentation needed to be supported by approval by the school's Parents Association.

Recently, the press reported that the National Federation of Private Schools (Fenacep) had authorized increases of up to 30% in tuition, and retaining report cards as well as sending parents who fall behind in their payments to the Data Credito credit agency. Some schools are requiring advance billing for the school year.

The CNE ruled that it is against the law to retain the students' grades, whether or not the parents are up to date with their payments for the school year. The CNE says the grades should be released after a payment agreement has been made with the parents.

Education Minister Josefina Pimentel, Rosa Ariza representing the Federation of Private Schools (Fenacep), Juan Avila representing the Federation of Parents of Private Schools and Public Schools, Josefa Castillo for the Chamber of Deputies Education Commission and Altagracia Paulino, director of the Consumer Protection Institute (ProConsumidor) among others were present at the National Education Council meeting.

The resolution establishes possible increases of 4% to 20% based on a case-by-case study.

2. French financing for the Metro
Hacienda Minister Daniel Toribio and director general of the French export credit agency, Agence Francaise de Developpement (AfD), Jacques Moineville have signed a financial agreement to provide US$230 million for the construction of the second line of the Metro. As reported in Diario Libre, this will be a soft loan with a 0.50% Libor interest rate of 1.50%, a 20-year repayment plan and a five-year grace period.

The French Development Agency is a government entity that helps finance urban development and infrastructure projects implemented by foreign governments.

3. Senate approves RD$7 billion domestic debt
The Senate has approved a move by the Ministry of Hacienda to place RD$7 billion in domestic bonds to cover the Fernandez administration's fiscal debt. This is RD$3 billion more than President Leonel Fernandez had requested in a bill sent to Congress.

The senators also approved EUR78.5 million (approximately RD$4.3 million) granted by the French government for the construction of aqueducts in the provinces of San Cristobal, Azua, Independencia, Montecristi and San Jose de Ocoa. The debt with a French government agency would be payable in 20 years, with a four-year grace period and 1% annual interest. The government needs to present EUR48.5 million in collateral to have access to this loan.

The Chamber of Deputies now needs to study these debt-taking requests.

4. Senate approves diplomatic appointments
The Senate has approved the appointment of Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo as the Dominican Republic's new ambassador to the United Kingdom. It also approved Hans Dannenberg Castellanos as the country's ambassador to Sri Lanka, concurrent with his other appointments in Asia, including India, Malaysia and Thailand. Other diplomatic appointments included Rene Bienvenido Santana Gonzalez in Guatemala and Mario Arvelo Caamano to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome.

5. Security boost for Colonial City
More than 240 police agents will boost security in the Colonial City, as reported in El Caribe. The new command will receive specialized training. The agents will work in three shifts of 80 agents each. The new command will consist of agents from the National Police, the Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET), the Tourist Police and the Municipal Police.

City Mayor Roberto Salcedo said that a process was under way to create a security force that guarantees secure movement in the Colonial City. The Mayor said that attention would be given to the lighting, parking, and a ban on heavy trucks transiting through the old city area would be implemented. He said the model that will be created could be replicated in other key points in the National District and nationwide, as reported in El Caribe.

Mayor Roberto Salcedo, Police chief Jose Armando Polanco Gomez, AMET director Jose Anibal Sanz and Tourism Police director Pedro Antonio Caceres Chestaro participated in the discussions.

6. Retroactive tax collection?
National Business Council president Manuel Diez Cabral has rejected a bid by the Department of Taxes (DGII) to impose retroactively the newly approved 29% income tax on business profits. The income tax on business had been 25%, but was just raised to 29%.

Diez Cabral said the disposition that would be apply to companies that closed their fiscal year in December would be in violation of the Constitution, as reported in El Caribe.

7. New RD$5 million branding for JCE
The Central Electoral Board (JCE), which is preparing the 20 May 2012 presidential election, launched its new branding yesterday. The new branding was devised by the Aristides Figuera advertising agency. The company is reported to have been paid RD$5,913,680 to design the new institutional image. The new branding features a thumbprint. JCE president Roberto Rosario said that the new branding seeks to reaffirm the board's connotations of commitment, honesty, efficiency and credibility.

www.jce.gob.do

8. Jiguey hydro project overhaul
Dominican Republic state hydroelectric power generator Egehid has begun a project to overhaul the Jiguey hydro plant in San Cristobal province, according to the Presidency.

The US$19.5 million nine-month revamp contract has been granted to the Brazilian construction company Noberto Odebrecht, which also has the contract for the multi- million Duarte Corridor project in Santo Domingo and others.

The hydroelectric power plant was affected by tropical storms Noel and Olga in November 2007.

As reported, the German consulting firm PDI designed the project and will help supervise the work, which will recover 25 percent of production.

The government reports that a credit line from Banco de Reservas will finance the work on the 48MW unit.

http://www.cig.gob.do/app2/article.aspx?id=24552

9. Prosecutor council members elected despite controversy
Prosecutor General, Radhames Jimenez Pena reported on the results of the election of the Higher Council of the Public Prosecutors. The council will be made up by judges Moises Ferrer (Santo Domingo), Victor Gonzalez (La Vega), Lucas Evangelista Perez Jose (La Altagracia) and Kelvin Santana (La Romana). The School of Prosecutors Academic Council will be headed by Jesus Fernandez Velez (San Cristobal) and Pedro Mateo Ibert (San Juan de la Maguana). The council will be in charge of evaluating prosecutors nationwide.

Meanwhile, according to news reports, the process is being challenged by more than 100 prosecutors who have taken a recourse to the Higher Administrative Court disputing what they deem an imposition of the representation in the prosecutors council by Jimenez Pena. They argue that Art. 174 of the 2010 Constitution that created the new council establishes that the body will be made up by the Prosecutor General, an assistant prosecutor of the Prosecutor General elected by his colleagues, a prosecutor general of the Court of Appeals elected by his colleagues, and a prosecutor elected by his colleagues. They complain that the Prosecutor General has only allowed the prosecutors of each jurisdiction the right to vote and be elected, in violation of the Constitution.

www.acento.com.do/index.php/news/4682/56/Por-un-Consejo-del-Ministerio-Publico-sin-politica.html

10. Stock market transactions more than double
The Dominican Republic Stock Exchange announced transactions for RD$51 billion in the first half of the year. This compares to RD$22.46 billion in 2010, for a RD$28.53 billion increase. During this period, RD$3.08 billion were placed in the spot market, those operations involving a first placement of stock issue, and another RD$47.9 billion in the secondary market that involves the transfer of securities that were previously placed through the spot market with the objective of facilitating liquidity to the bondholders.

According to the report from the Stock Exchange, in January, transactions totaled RD$5.9 billion, in February RD$7.1 million, March RD$7.06 billion, April RD$12.5 billion, May RD$12.26 billion and June RD$6.08 billion.

www.bolsard.com/app/do/frontpage.aspx

11. Dominicans demand too little
In yesterday's Diario Libre editorial column, editor Ines Aizpun wrote about how lenient Dominicans are with their politicians and how little Dominicans demand of government. She says that it is discouraging to listen to the generalities being proposed by the candidates running for President, adding that they have not made proposals for concrete solutions to pressing problems. "They restrict themselves to reciting vague and empty promises on realities, such as proposals to "eradicate poverty."

"To the pseudo-didactic generalities of Fernandez [President Leonel Fernandez] add the professional beautification of Alburquerque [the Vice President] or Cedeno [the First Lady], the pataphysical interventions of Bengoa [former Minister of Hacienda, now manager of the BanReservas], or the disturbing mutism of Diandino [builder of the Santo Domingo Metro], the always 'interesting' and Brazilian conclusions of Diaz Rua [Minister of Public Works], the brazen initiatives of Wessin Chavez, Pena Guaba or Aristy Castro [minority party politicians], the indescribable excuses of Hotoniel [director of the Department for Prevention of Administrative Corruption], the cliches of the police and military commanders, always so empty and pompous.... Hipolito's [Hipolito Mejia, PRD presidential candidate] campaign ideas are too concise, while Danilo's [Danilo Medina, PLD presidential candidate] are too general."

"The reality is that we don't demand proven capacity or responsibility during the government period of the politicians who govern us," she writes. "We don't lose our patience with the governments, despite the fact that we are getting poorer due to their inefficiency, their determination to govern solely for their associates, their pathetic vision of politics," she writes.

"'The Dominican Republic is poor,' they repeat, while they grossly enrich themselves... It is that they know that we do not get mad, that we demand few results.)"

www.diariolibre.com/noticias_det.php?id=296687

12. Know your watchman
The Department of Migration is warning about the practice by some private security companies that contract Haitians without carrying out adequate background checks. In its editorial today Listin Diario writes of the dangers posed by Haitian nationals about whom little of their background is known prior to their arrival to the DR yet the companies give them a rifle and hire them out as watchmen. News reports say that Migration Department has urged the companies to regularize this situation.

13. RD$6.2 stolen from parking lot
The National Police reported the alleged withdrawal of a bag with RD$6.2 million that was about to be deposited in a Banco Popular branch in Higuey, as reported in Diario Libre. The bag went missing at 11:30am while it was being guarded at the Valores La Confianza money transportation company. The only detail given was that the vehicle was waiting in a queue to deposit the funds. Diario Libre reported that the three guards are now under investigation.

Listin Diario says the money was stolen from the value transport vehicle. It reports that Rafael Pinero was driving the truck, accompanied by watchmen Santiago Rosa and Ramon Antonio Lopez. As reported in the newspaper, the truck was parked at Cleto Villavicencia Street behind the bank branch in Higuey. The watchmen and the driver left the truck and entered the bank. When they returned the money was missing. One of the watchmen, Ramon Antonio Lopez, said that they had spent two hours in the bank waiting to make the deposit. He admitted the truck had been left open, as reported in Listin Diario.

14. Mixed weather forecast
A weak trough moving up towards the Dominican Republic from the Lesser Antilles is expected to bring light rains over the weekend.

In the meanwhile, the weather has been good in the Punta Cana area recently, with sunny days for the most part.

The weather forecast for the most part is good for the next five days.

For updates, see www.dr1.com/forums/weather-beyond/115613-hurricane-season-2011-a-8.html

15. Abel Gonzalez & Variao Jazz Group
Dominican Fiesta Sunset Jazz presents Variao Jazz this Friday, 8 July. Musicians Abel Gonzalez, Euris Belliard, Jason Paulino and Hipolito Jean Cuevas are playing in this group, which specializes in funk, fusion and smooth with a Dominican touch. The show starts at 6:30pm.

16. Hip-hop & reggae
La Melmelada Suave will be on the La Espiral stage at Calle Jose Reyes 107 in the Colonial City. This show, which kicks off Fri 8 July at 9pm, features hip-hop music, with lyrics and soft rhythms for dancing. Enjoy performances by La suave (La picarona), mixing hip-hop and other rhythms, Ganja Beat with Reggae Roots music.

17. Soucy de Pellerano & Xiomara Fortuna
Dominican artist and sculptor Soucy de Pellerano is exhibiting her works at Casa de Teatro as of Thu, 7 July. She is considered to be one of the most talented of Dominican artists of all times. Casa de Teatro is located at Arz. Merino 110 in Santo Domingo's Colonial City and the exhibition can be seen during the day and at night. This Thursday evening, Dominican songstress Xiomara Fortuna will take the stage for her show as part of the Casa de Teatro Jazz Festival. A concert by singer-songwriter Jose Antonio Rodriguez will take place at Casa de Teatro on Saturday 9 July, starting at 9pm.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

1. UASD branch for Barahona
President Leonel Fernandez was in Barahona yesterday to inaugurate the Centro Regional Universitario del Suroeste. The Supervisory Office of Public Works of the Presidency (OISOE) was responsible for the construction of the new branch of the state university. The new installations will serve students from Barahona, Pedernales, Independencia and Bahoruco, and other provinces on the border with Haiti. Students from Haiti are also expected to enroll in the new facility. The facility has 72 classrooms located in six blocks of 12 classrooms each on three levels for a total 18,000 square meters of construction on a 92,000 square meter lot. Luis Sifres, director of the OISOE, gave the keynote speech.

2. New Dominican ambassador to US
Dominican ambassador Anibal de Castro presented his credentials yesterday to President Barack Obama in the United States. De Castro previously was ambassador to the United Kingdom. Prior to his diplomatic days, De Castro was a newspaper editor in the Dominican Republic.

At the ceremony, President Obama highlighted the close family and cultural bonds and collaboration between both governments. He said one of every 300 Americans will visit the DR on vacation or business every year and 100,000 Americans live and work in the Dominican Republic.

3. Farm insurance
The Senate passed the final reading on a bill that establishes farm insurance in the Dominican Republic. The bill now passes to the Presidency for signing into law.

The government is to set aside RD$150 million for the insurance that will benefit farms nationwide and is expected to stimulate production for domestic and export markets.

The president of the Commission for Agropecuarian Affairs of the Senate, Amilcar Romero (PLD-Duarte) said that the legislation will resolve one of the most pressing problems of farming, that is securing financing, because farm production has been seen as high risk by banks. Romero says the insurance is an incentive for banks to lend to farmers.

He said the farming sector can now with less risk invest in new technologies to be more efficient and competitive, especially for exports. He said the insurance will cover all farm activities.

4. 27 Febrero overpass closed on Sunday
Choose alternate roadways to cross to the eastern side of the city on Sunday, other than the 27 de Febrero overpass. From 8am to 9am the west-east lane of the overpass will be closed to traffic and from 9:30am to 11am the east-west lane. Other alternatives are the 27 de Febrero Avenue below the overpasses, the Avenida Mexico, the Malecon or the JFK Kennedy.

5. Guibia ready for September?
Santo Domingo's renovated Guibia Beach area could be ready by September. National District Mayor Roberto Salcedo told El Caribe that he estimates that in a month and a half the beach would be habilitated with two maritime walks, beach volleyball courts, a bicycle route, children's area and food vending areas, among other attractions. Salcedo said the city government would hire two instructors to give aerobics classes from 6-9am and from 5-7pm. Moreso, he said the revamped public space would be ideal for the presentation of shows, as it will integrate the Malecon and the Maximo Gomez areas to create a large area for performances and to concentrate all the public at the beach area. He said large nets are being installed to contain plastic garbage that makes its way from the areas of La Cienaga and Villa Faro, east of the beach.

6. Insisting on the call to strike
Government and business organizations have expressed their opposition, but Foro Social Alternativo, a group best known for its organization of national protest strikes, said the call for a 24-hour nationwide strike on Mon, 11 July is on. The organization demands the government reduce electricity tariffs, increase public employee wages by 30%, and change the petrol law that is pegged to petrol increases worldwide. It comes after Congress approved a taxation package that would generate an additional RD$9.4 billion to the government so it can compensate its fiscal deficit.

Superintendent of banks Ng Cortinas estimates each day of strike costs the economy RD$1 billion. Luis Abinader, vice presidential candidate for the PRD, said the strike is a call by citizens to the government to stop wasteful spending of government resources.

This would be the first strike call for this year. Strike calls had lost their attraction after becoming so common, the general public began to ignore them.

7. Hipolito Mejia: opening relations with China
PRD presidential candidate, Hipolito Mejia said he would normalize diplomatic relations with China Popular if he is elected President. He said that while he is an old time friend of Taiwan and has much appreciation for its people, he says China's present place in the world is a reality.

"China is a great nation and the Dominican people cannot be with their backs to that reality," he told journalist Osvaldo Santana, director of Multimedios del Caribe.

At present the DR has diplomatic relations with Taiwan and has trade relations with China.

Mejia was interviewed while on tour in the United States.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/site/nacionales/281147-mejia-promete-alianza-con-actores-sociales.html

8. Banana producers re privatization Manzanillo port
The Dominican Association of Banana Producers (Adobanana) protested that the Dominican Port Authority seeks to grant a concession of the northwesternmost Port of Manzanillo to the company Corporacion Portuaria del Atlantico. The scheme they say would put at risk 30,000 jobs that the banana industry generates and is not taking into account the 300,000 inhabitants that benefit from banana production in the Northwest.

"They intend to authorize the concession without taking into account the main user of that terminal, we the banana producers. The way the contract is written it does not establish any type of protection for banana producers, in case the cost of port services are increased with the privatization," said Pepe Fana, spokesman for the small banana producers in a press conference at the Dominican Agribusiness Council (JAD).

He argued the concession would mean the disappearance of 1,800 producers that use the Manzanilla port.

Exports of banana generate US$215 million a year. According to statistics of Adobanano, every week 375,000 boxes of banana are shipped through the port.

Fana said the banana producers have been using the port for more than 40 years.

The president of Adobanano, Salvador Estevez, said it is outrageous that the government intend to benefit a small group of businessmen and put at risk RD$22 billion a year by granting the concession to the Port of Manzanillo.

The banana producers say that if the government unilaterally grants the concession it would be in violation to Procurement Law 340-06.

9. Venezuelan accused of tax fraud returns
A man of Venezuelan and Spanish nationality, Carlos Gilberto Guerrero Costa returned from Venezuela, where he had been under arrest, to face charges for tax fraud in the Dominican Republic. As reported in El Caribe, he negotiated with the Venezuelan authorities to turn himself in voluntarily in the Dominican Republic. An International Police (Interpol) arrest order led to his capture in Venezuela. He has pending against him a case for forgery of documents, such as checks, bills and DGII fiscal invoicing numbers (NCFs). He is accused of forging the NCFs to facilitate that his clients be able to deduct spending and reduce payment of taxes.

10. WSJ on Dominican dominance in MLB
A commentary in the Wall Street Journal highlights the influence Dominican ball players have on Major League Baseball. It then releases a forecast: "the Dominican influence is about to grow." The focus is on how the new baseball recruit evaluation system now in place in the Dominican Republic is much more efficient and is expected to encourage more hiring of Dominican talent.

"We are in this for the duration," said Carlos Alfonso, director of international operations for the Tampa Bay Rays. "This is where the vast majority of international talent comes from."

There were 86 native Dominicans on opening-day rosters of MLB teams this season. The WSJ report highlights 10% of all players are Dominicans, and with 1,723 minor-league players, it accounts for 24% of baseball's farm system.

The forecast is also based on the fact that all 30 major-league teams operate academies in the Dominican Republic to train young aspiring ballplayers. Even the Milwaukee Brewers, who decided to cease operations in 2003, re-opened their academy last year. The academies replace the organized structure of US scholastic and travel baseball and provide ample chances to scout players.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303544604576431984202154592.html

11. Iana Salenko dances in Santo Domingo
The 5th Grand Gala Dance Stars of the World (Gala de Estrellas Mundial de la Danza) will take place at the National Theater, Fri 8 July and Sat 9 July. Booked for the performances are Roberta Marquez and Steven McRae, principal dancers of the Royal Ballet of London (performing Manon and Something Different), Sadaise Arencibia and Alejandro Virella of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Grand Pax de Deux Clasique and Giselle). Iana Salenko (first ballerina of the Opera of Berlin and Rolando Sarabia (Don Quijote and Pax de Deux of the White Swan). 8:30pm. Tickets: RD$1,500, RD$1,200, RD$800 & RD$600.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/escuela_cabeza.jpg

http://itla.edu.do/escuela_cine/

http://eldia.com.do/image/article/67/209x400/0/526D452E-7BD3-47D3-94D9-EEB9B4D92AC9.jpeg

Santo Domingo.-El túnel soterrado que conectará la avenida Ortega y Gasset con la Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo registra un avance de más de un 75 por ciento en los trabajos.

Alrededor de 200 obreros y profesionales de la ingeniería trabajan afanosamente en el encofrado o esqueleto de hormigón del túnel, el primero en su estilo en el país.

El tramo de 1.20 kilómetro cuadrado, de dos carriles, con un ancho de 3.65 metros en sentido norte-sur, que está previsto para ser inaugurado en diciembre, está en un proceso de preparación de la losa de rodamiento fabricada en acero y cemento, sobre la cual descansará la capa asfáltica por donde circularán los vehículos.

Reporteros de EL DÍA recorrieron ayer la infraestructura vial, a cargo del Consorcio Odebrecht y Acero Estrella Dominicano, y observaron el manejo de modernas máquinas por parte de los trabajadores que colocan las mallas metálicas previo al encofrado de hierro que da forma y sostendrá el túnel como tal, una vez terminado.

“Una vez se concluyen las excavaciones, se entra en este proceso de “shotcrete” u hormigón lanzado, se colocan las mallas y así va obteniendo sostenibilidad”, explicó uno de los técnicos, tras explicar que conjuntamente se va rebajando la parte inferior hasta llevar el piso a su correcta medida.

El tramo vial entre las avenidas Bolívar y César Nicolás Penson cuenta con una profundidad que sobrepasa los 25 metros por debajo de los edificios y construcciones de la zona.

Tiempo establecido

El viaducto será concluido dentro del tiempo establecido en el contrato y el cronograma de trabajo previsto, explicó el ministro de Obras Públicas, Víctor Díaz Rúa.

El proyecto forma parte del conjunto de obras del corredor Duarte y reviste gran importancia para la agilización del tránsito, especialmente en el casco urbano.

El mismo representa ahorros de tiempo y combustible, precisó Díaz Rúa.

Actualmente, los obreros trabajan 24 horas en la ejecución del proyecto, que forma una especie de “Y”, interconectándose también por allí el usuario con la avenida 27 de Febrero, desde la Ortega y Gasset.

Obra única

El túnel soterrado es el primero en el país, ya que los existentes son hechos a cielo abierto y luego encajonados en concreto. Para su excavación se utilizó un innovador método austríaco que ha minimizado sus efectos en cuanto a ruidos y daños al medio ambiente. El personal a cargo de la obra exhibe modernos dispositivos de seguridad.

Ventajas y serviciosque ofrecerá el túnel

Entre las ventajas o beneficios que ofrecerá la obra está que implicará menores costos de operación de los vehículos en cuanto a consumo de combustible, lubricantes, repuestos y neumáticos.

También menor contaminación ambiental, específicamente de emisión de gases y ruidos.

Además, habrá una disminución de la demora de los usuarios en el tránsito. De acuerdo con Díaz Rúa, esa obra y el conjunto de proyectos viales que realiza Obras Públicas reducirán la frecuencia de los accidentes, al tiempo de brindar un mayor confort y disminución del efecto del estrés o tensión en los usuarios, además de dar más acceso a los negocios y centros comerciales en general.

Constructores dan los toques finales e iniciaron la pavimentación

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f3BAepym09w/ThJfu7N-PSI/AAAAAAAAH1A/_dLuHmLW-Jo/s320/corredor.jpeg

Escrito por: FIOR GIL ( f.gil@hoy.com.do)
Los trabajos de los pasos a desnivel que construye el Ministerio de Obras Públicas en la avenida 27 de Febrero, entre las calles Carmen Mendoza de Cornielle y Fernando Defilló, muestran un avance significativo y se anunció que podrían ser inaugurados en agosto próximo.

En el transcurso de la semana pasada la empresa constructora comenzó la pavimentación en la parte superior de la obra en las zonas donde ya se han concluido los trabajos, principalmente en la rampa de entrada y salida al paso a desnivel de la calle Carmen Mendoza.

En un recorrido por el proyecto se observaron ayer varios obreros trabajando en labores de soldadura de las verjas de hierro de seguridad, ubicadas en ambos lados de los túneles.

Los túneles a cielo abierto forman parte del proyecto Corredor Duarte, con una inversión de US$250 millones de dólares e incluye la construcción de los elevados de las intersecciones de la Autopista Duarte con la avenida Monumental y entrada de Manoguyabo; la John F. Kennedy con Núñez de Cáceres y la Doctor Defilló; la 27 de Febrero con Ortega y Gasset, que incluye túnel para unir esta vía con la Santo Tomás de Aquino, un túnel para el giro a izquierda y un paso peatonal, y el elevado en la intersección Autopista San Isidro-Charles de Gaulles.

Las obras, a cargo de Obras Públicas, tienen la finalidad de completar el corredor de la 27 de Febrero y lograr un flujo continuo de tráfico en el tramo de la 27 de Febrero entre las avenidas Winston Churchill y Gregorio Luperón y el corredor Kennedy.

Constructores dan los toques finales e iniciaron la pavimentación

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/img00208201107081058.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/img00209201107081058.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/img00207201107081058.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/img00210201107081058.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/3344681847_f91051d4e4_o.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/3344681763_4ddf0f63d3_o.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/167662_481616912284_147450492284_6001102_8381115_n.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

1. DGII insists on new tax
The director general of the Department of Taxes (DGII), Juan Hernandez says that companies that closed their accounts on 31 December 2010 are due to pay the difference increases in the taxation on businesses. The government pushed a bill through Congress that raised the tax from 25 to 29% in June. As reported in El Dia, the government plans to collect an additional RD$4 billion through this retroactive tax.

Business representatives disagree. They say that companies that closed their fiscal year on 31 December 2010 should not have to pay tax for 2011 because this would be in violation of the 2010 Constitution.

El Dia reports that the 2010 Constitution establishes in its Art. 110: "Non-Retroactivity of the Law. Laws shall only be binding and applicable to future events. They shall not be applied retroactively unless favorable to the accused in a criminal proceeding or to those serving a sentence. In no case shall public authorities or the law affect or change the legal certainty resulting from situations established under previous legislation."

Tax Increase Law 139-11 establishes in Art. 297 that companies have to pay 29% on gross taxable income from fiscal exercise 2011.

Speaking during a workshop "Strengthening Tax Administration and Tax Fraud" held 8-10 July in Bayahibe, DGII director Juan Hernandez said that the taxation increase applied to companies that close the year on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December. He said that companies that filed taxes on 31 December have to make an amendment in the taxes they filed and pay the difference. He says this occurred in 2007, when the income tax was reduced from 27 to 25%. He said that in that year, companies that had closed requested refunds of what they had paid from the DGII, and the DGII acknowledged and issued RD$150 million in tax refunds to one company.

2. Politicians have Dominicans on their knees
Eduardo Estrella, president of the Dominicans for Change (DxC) party says that the government is wrong to try to attribute the blame for the current economic crisis on the International Monetary Fund and to say that the IMF has the country on its knees. Estrella said that the truth is that it is the government itself that has the Dominican people on their knees, with more unemployment, insecurity and a rising cost of living, as reported in El Dia.

"There is not a lack of money here. There are too many corrupt people, we have to eradicate that cancer and invest the money well and stop the wastefulness that there is in government. Most of the politicians have taken too much from the country and served very little," said Estrella.

He added that if the government does not begin the installation of new coal or natural gas plants in 2016 when the Madrid Accord electricity generation agreements expire, the country will be forced to sign contracts with the generators under the conditions they impose, which will mean more increases in the cost of power for consumers. He said that if the government had put Cogentrix to work using natural gas, the CDEEE would be receiving savings of US$35 million, more than it has obtained from the two recent power tariff increases. He said the failure to take that decision on time is making the people pay more for electricity.

3. Career diplomats
Alumni from the Foreign Affairs Ministry's Dr. Eduardo Latorre Rodriguez School of Consular and Diplomacy are lobbying for a bill that would mean more jobs for its graduates. The government has maintained the practice of appointing its foreign service staff mainly based on political patronage criteria. However, the graduates hope to end this practice and hope that more graduates will be able to find jobs in diplomatic posts abroad. The course has a two-year duration, but the graduates protest that few have found jobs in embassies abroad.

An alumni association of the school was created to promote the initiative and the board members are Willys Ramirez, Julissa Contin, Carola Rodriguez and Ianna Miolan.

www.listindiario.com.do/las-sociales/2011/7/3/194431/Jovenes-diplomaticos-con-vocacion-de-servicio

4. The 24-hour strike
A nationwide strike called in protest at the rising cost of living and government wastefulness has unfolded peacefully, for the most part. For those who could take the day off, it was just that, a day off. For those who had to go to work, most went to work.

Major businesses in Santo Domingo opened, while many small businesses remained closed. Areas like the Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln and 27 de Febrero avenues had relatively normal levels of vehicular traffic, but public transport was at a low, with the unionized mini-buses and multi-fare taxis taking the day off. Private taxis were working. The 24-hour strike was called by the Alternative Social Forum, a citizen protest group. In the barrios, troops and police were deployed to discourage possible incitement to disorder and violence. According to news reports, stores in commercial areas like the Duarte, Mella, San Vicente de Paul and Padre Castellanos avenues did not open today, as reported in El Dia.

El Caribe reports that activity at the Robert Reid Cabral and Luis Eduardo Aybar public hospitals in Santo Domingo was minimal as few patients and doctors attended. News reports also indicate the strike was more widespread in the interior of the country than in the National District.

The National Police reported that at midday the strike was proceeding calmly, with isolated tire burning incidents in Salcedo, and in two slum areas in Moca and Villa Altagracia.

5. Dominicans mourn Facundo Cabral
The memorable words of singer-composer Facundo Cabral rang loud and clear in everyone's memory nationwide after the news of his murder in Guatemala spread on Saturday. The lyrics of "Si se calla el cantor, calla la vida..." are in the air. In the song, Cabral described how life is silenced when a singer stops singing.

Dominicans were deeply touched by the tragedy.

www.youtube.com/artist?a=GxdCwVVULXfV1fNJTnssrJfIGWdowSmA

www.lyricsfreak.com/m/mirah/si+se+calla+el+cantor_20485818.html

In 1996, Cabral was designated as a worldwide messenger of peace by the United Nations. He was killed on Saturday in a drive-by shooting, suffering 18 gunshots. It is thought that the attack was aimed at local club owner Henry Farina, who was sitting beside him in the vehicle in which he was headed to the airport.

www.youtube.com/artist?a=GxdCwVVULXfV1fNJTnssrJfIGWdowSmA

6. Cracking down on regional drug operation
In a joint operation, drug agencies from the US, Mexico and Central America, working closely with Dominican agencies have arrested four key traffickers, Mexican Luis Fernando Bertulucci Castillo (Capitan, Rey), Lebanese Marwan Chebli Chebli (El Turco or Samir), and Dominicans Jose Antonio Contreras Reyes (Pepe, Tony), Leonel Gomez Guzman (Leo) and Miguel Antonio Rosa Urena (Gato) accusing them of an airlift operation to take cocaine to Central America, Mexico, US, DR and Haiti. The four men were arrested in Santo Domingo and Santiago, as reported in Listin Diario. The drugs were transported to the DR from South America (Colombia and Venezuela) to be sent on to distribution centers in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and the US, sources told Listin Diario.

In dismantling the drug trafficking and money laundering organization, the Dominican National Drug Control Department worked closely with the US Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigations and US Marshalls, as well as with drug agencies in Canada, Colombia and Venezuela, said Roberto Lebron, spokesman for the DNCD, as reported in El Dia.

A case against them will be heard in Massachusetts.

www.eldia.com.do/nacionales/2011/7/11/57087/Capturan-miembros-red-narcos-operaba-desde-Republica-Dominicana

7. Vallenato Festival in Santiago and SD
Festival Vallenato is a date with typical grassroots Colombian music with a special performance by bachata singer El Prodigio for the Dominican Republic. Listen to the magical accordion playing on Friday 15 July at 10pm at the Las Vegas disco in Santiago and on Saturday 16 July at the Marina Bartolome Colon at Sans Souci in Santo Domingo.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/260272_210358399000749_123601431009780_493251_3534475_n.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/270897_210359022334020_123601431009780_493253_1058643_n.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/59803_148958465140743_123601431009780_206720_2336195_n.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/62691_148949791808277_123601431009780_206634_8206694_n.jpg

sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/268760_210356325667623_123601431009780_493246_6066043_n.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/226549_202379896465266_123601431009780_452387_6392288_n.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/248505_206060356097220_123601431009780_471076_3415366_n.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/251534_206060412763881_123601431009780_471079_8163384_n.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/228794_202380076465248_123601431009780_452390_3158832_n.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/250495_206060396097216_123601431009780_471078_4517565_n.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/269569_210356199000969_123601431009780_493244_3078935_n.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/262345_210356372334285_123601431009780_493247_2274328_n.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

AGORA UPDATE

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/26991622910584045355611.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/26233122910595378687811.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/26697422910620378685311.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/26516622910576045356411.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/27058122910604712020211.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://www.panoramadiario.com/typo3temp/pics/8d47ecb3b4.jpg

Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.- Por favor no se asombre: la inversión real de la línea número uno del Metro de Santo Domingo es de 700 millones de dólares; lo que parecía en el papel y para muchos, una obra faraónica.

El Metro, a pesar de ser un “niño” de dos años y medio, ha empezado a rendir sus frutos y a autosustentarse al punto de garantizar el retorno de su inversión en siete años y economizarle al Gobierno cerca de 160 millones de dólares al año sólo en gasto de combustible.

Mejor aún, estudios demuestran que el Metro se pagaría en siete años, pero su vida útil es de 100 años para el uso de muchas generaciones.

El ingeniero Leonel Carrasco, subdirector de la Oficina Para el Reordenamiento del Tránsito (OPRET), muestra la satisfacción de esta entidad encargada de ordenar el transporte nacional, tras derribar los mitos más “abominables” en los aspectos económicos del más moderno medio de transporte del área del Caribe y que está al servicio de todos los dominicanos.

“Le hemos quitado la careta a un monstruo que crearon los agoreros del transporte local, porque los metros son sistemas de transporte caros, pero ellos se pagan con el tiempo, nosotros hemos demostrado matemáticamente, que la recuperación de un metro se hace alrededor de siete años, él mismo se paga, y queda la inversión con un período de vida útil quizás hasta de un siglo o más", apuntó.

“Y para muestra, el Metro de Nueva York tiene más de cien años, el de Londres más de 100 también, el de Madrid frisa por ahí, y varios metros que hay en la parte central de la vieja Europa, casi todos están antes o poco después de la Primera Guerra Mundial, en esos países donde ya existían locomotoras y la electricidad como la ciudad de Londres que fue la cuna de la Revolución Industrial, ese metro es el más viejo, en 1886 ya en Londres había un metro, explicó.

Sostuvo: “Nosotros no nos estamos equiparando con ninguna otra nación, sino destacando que Santo Domingo y el Distrito Nacional, que ya tienen más de tres millones de personas, deben ser unas ciudades sostenibles, y felicitar al Gobierno que tomó el toro por los cachos y le dio una respuesta contundente, definitivo, a un problema social, para las grandes mayorías, iniciando el sistema de metros”, argumentó el ingeniero, vocero de la OPRET en una entrevista con reporteros del Centro de Información Gubernamental (CIG).

100 mil tickets diarios

Hace dos años y medio, las operaciones del Metro de Santo Domingo, que en su primera línea recorre 14.5 kilómetros divididos en 16 estaciones, que van desde la Mamá Tingó, en Villa Mella hasta la del Centro de los Héroes, en La Feria, iniciaron transportando un promedio de 18 mil pasajeros al día.

Hoy, los modernos bólidos que pueden acomodar hasta 700 personas en su interior, venden cien mil boletos a diario en sus estaciones.

Bajando mantenimiento

La OPRET había estimado un subsidio de 25 millones de dólares al año para la operación y el mantenimiento del Metro, pero esa cifra ha caído estrepitosamente.

“Eso ha disminuido bastante porque esos 100 mil pasajes al día se nos convierten en una suma aproximada a los 25 millones que necesitamos al año”, revela Carrasco.

“Diariamente se recuperan 2 millones de pesos de manos de los usuarios, alrededor de 60 al mes y de 730 al año. Lo que quiere decir que de los 25 millones de dólares para operar y mantener el Metro, el pueblo dominicano viajando cómodo, bajo acondicionador de aire, y en tiempo récord, y pagando el pasaje de más bajo costo, contribuye con alrededor de 19.7 millones de dólares al año, quedando una pírrica suma de apenas cinco millones de lo programado”, compara.

El cálculo social

El ingeniero Carrasco, locuaz y seguro a la hora exponer sus ideas llenas de cálculos y ejemplos físicos y matemáticos, expone que se han realizado dos estudios y que ambos muestran que el Metro se paga máximo en siete años y que arroja grandes beneficios en ahorros al Gobierno.

“El Presidente de la República reveló públicamente que un estudio hecho por unos costarricenses aseguraba que el Gobierno se economizaba unos 160 millones de dólares al año en los manejos del transporte a través del Metro. Nosotros estábamos haciendo ya otro estudios con el auxilio de la Asociación Iberoamericana de Metros y Soterrados, ellos me asesoraron y me dio que en siete años se recuperaba la inversión, porque esto es una obra para el uso de la gente, no un gasto… con el estudio de los costarricenses se paga en menos tiempo; yo creo que el de nosotros es más exacto porque tenemos todos los pormenores a mano, pero son similares”, informó.

Calculó que el Metro de Santo Domingo, con su servicio de 100 mil pasajeros al día, quienes anteriormente usaban para entrar al casco de la ciudad alrededor de tres mil vehículos del “concho” para movilizarse, entre carros, minibuses y buses grandes.

“Si a esos tres mil vehículos, en una de la ida del tren, ese tramo, le calculamos un galón de gasolina, yo se lo calculé a 125 pesos el galón para entonces. “También calculamos el tiempo: ¿qué tiempo usted se toma de Villa Mella a la universidad Unibe, a Utesa, luego a la UASD y a la O&M?, eso es una hora y medio con suerte, según una encuesta que le hicimos a los choferes, son 45 minutos para ir y 45 para regresar, manifestó.

“Esa hora y medio hay que multiplicarla por lo que cuesta una hora de trabajo de un obrero, y eso que nos fuimos a los extremos, al sueldo mínimo, a 80 pesos la hora, un albañil, un plomero, un carpintero, un electricista en una obra te cobra 400 pesos al día, de los que menos cobran ¿eh?, entonces seis por ocho es igual a 48, ochenta pesos aproximadamente", detalló.

Precisó que entonces hay que multiplicar los 80 pesos de esa obra, son 80 más la mitad, son 120 pesos por 100 mil pasajeros, y multiplicar los galones de gasolina de los tres mil vehículos, y esa parte ahí, multiplícalo diariamente por 24 horas y por 21 días al mes que son los días laborables, y eso entonces multiplicarlo en un año.

“Nosotros hicimos la transferencia de coste, más la reducción, la seguridad o accidente y la disipación que expelen los vehículos de combustión interna, entonces con esos certificados de ahorro, de contaminación y con los ahorros de tiempo, combustibles y otros (aceites, gomas, liquido de freno, etcétera; y nos dio muy favorablemente la recuperación y beneficios amplios”, aseguró Carrasco, quien también se destacó por su trayectoria como dirigente clublistico en el sector de Villa Juana.

Revalorización

Aseveró que la OPRET quedó corta porque no calculó la revalorización, la recuperación de las áreas territoriales, el nuevo valor que toma todo en la ruta que recorre el Metro.

"Para que el pueblo entienda, cuando nosotros llegamos en el 2005 en Villa Mella, un metro de tierra en la avenida Hermanas Mirabal costaba tres mil pesos, ¡ve y cómprala ahora, te vale 12 mil y hasta 15 mil pesos!, esa avenida se ha convertido en casi un boulevar...Lo mismo invito a que se acerquen a la zona universitaria para que vean la transformación que hay allí luego del paso del Metro", valoró Carrasco.

Auto sustentable

La proyección de la OPRET es mucho más amplia, ya que aspira con la segunda línea del Metro de Santo Domingo alcanzar la autosustentabilidad económica y mejorar el transporte para más de 200 mil usuarios, diario, adicionales a los actuales, en una ruta que cruzaría de lado a lado la capital en dirección este-oeste y viceversa.

“Tenemos la visión para el futuro del Metro de Chile, el Metro de Medellín, son metros que son autosustentables, eso quiere decir que cubren sus gastos, pero ningún metro del mundo es comercial para ganar dinero, por ello son estatales, el servicio siempre es subsidiado, pero llega un momento que se pueden mantener a sí mismo, y deja de ser una carga económica, salvo cuando aparecen grandes mantenimientos y arreglos como en cualquier otras áreas, pero no se busca ganar dinero, sino es un vehículo de transporte masivo para la gente que carece de medio de movilidad y para articular la ciudad de forma ordenada', expresó.

Dice que no se trata de una ficción lo que planteaban los ingenieros dominicanos contratados por la OPRET para que hicieran una red maestra para un sistema de transporte sostenido de Santo Domingo, ya que la actual prioridad es terminar la segunda línea que en condiciones normales, junto a la primera, y no se sorprenda, transportarán unas 300 mil personas a sus destinos cada día.

Yoel Adames F., Prensa CIG

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/brownsugar4634ok1.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/brownsugar5144ok.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/brownsugar4564ok.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/5924536176309.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

Boca Chica hosts First International Optimist Regatta
The Pre-World Optimist Sailing Championship for North America is taking place at the Santo Domingo Yacht Club in Boca Chica this week. The 2011 event, dubbed the First International Optimist Regatta, is being organized by the Dominican Sailing Federation.
The regatta began on 11 July and will continue through 17 July. The championship is helping prepare Dominican hosts for the 50th International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) World Sailing Championship that will take place at the same yacht club facilities 15-26 July 2012.
Andrea Garrochategui de Pacheco is the president of the tournament organizing committee.
70 competitors aged 8 to 15 from 17 countries are participating. Competitors have come from faraway countries including Argentina, Brazil, Great Britain, New Zealand, Spain and South Africa. The two recent South American champions and others who have participated in world competitions are vying to win the local sailing event.
10 competitors are on the Dominican team.

Leading PR ( Public Relations ) company launches new site
Cicom, the leading Dominican tourism industry public relations company, launched its travel news site, Access Dominican Republic, on 12 July 2011. The URL for the website is www.accessdr.com
The new site features sections on news, gastronomy, culture, and visitor guides in several languages.

Preference for small hotels
The small hotels known as Bed & Breakfasts or boutique hotels have been catching on in the Dominican Republic. In recent years more have opened to offer comfort to independent travelers.
Now a recent report in YPartnership tells that the US traveling public is showing marked preferences for this type of accommodation and the reasons mentioned.
According to the newly released 2011 Portrait Of American Travelers™ of YPartnership, one out of every eight (13%) American leisure travelers stayed at a B&B or inn at least once during the previous year. This incidence rises to one out of six (17%) among leisure travelers with an annual household income of $125,000 or more. YPartnership reports that a remarkable eight out of ten (79%) leisure travelers express interest in staying at a B&B during the year ahead. The appeal is the distinctive ambiance of the small hotels.
More than half of the survey respondents said they enjoyed the private, less crowded, quiet ambience of the small inns, liked to try new things when traveling, felt the inns provided a better sense of the local culture, enjoyed the personalized service of the innkeepers, liked the architecture/decor of the inns and the home-cooked food.
They also gave high points to the comfortable bed/linens, the friendly staff, complimentary and freshly prepared breakfast, having time just to relax and unwind, knowledgeable innkeepers, and opportunities to taste different or unusual cuisines.

Destination weddings
A Chicago Sun Times publication points out the advantages of getting married abroad. As reported, destination weddings are one of the fastest-growing markets in the wedding industry in the United States. The growing interest is due to the fact that more people just don't want to go through the stress and expense of a big wedding at home. When choosing an all-inclusive resort, the on-site wedding planner takes charge of the organization and costs are reduced because guests will pay for their own food and drink through their vacation packages.
The report says that while Mexico leads the pack in term of popular sites, other leading destination wedding sites are Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Florida and Hawaii.
Travel agent Lisa Torgerson said that Punta Cana was for people who want to relax, and is first and foremost a beautiful setting.
Another advantage of the destination wedding is that it can turn into a weeklong party for friends and family.
http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/lifestyles/6201337-423/destination-weddings-more-couples-choose-beach-over-banquet-hall.html

Santo Domingo puts Line 2 financing in place
http://www.railwaygazette.com/typo3temp/pics/bcf4c47158.jpg

11 July 2011

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: The national Congress has approved an international financing package covering the railway systems elements for the 11·5 km first phase of Santo Domingo's east-west metro Line 2.

Civil works are already underway on the initial stage of Line 2, between Los Alcarrizos and J P Duarte; this will serve 14 stations and is scheduled to open in 2012. Interchange will be provided at J P Duarte in the city centre with the north-south Line 1, which opened in January 2009 and now carries 100 000 passengers/day.

A consortium led by Siemens AG will supply signalling, electrification, communications, fare collection, tunnel ventilation and fire prevention equipment for Line 2, and will be responsible for project management and three years of maintenance. The technology will match that used on Line 1.

Announced on July 5, the financing package has been put together by Siemens Financial Services and KfW IPEX-Bank, which offers medium and long-term lending to support German and European exports. The €166m package has been split between syndicate banks in accordance with the share of the work allocated to German, French and Spanish suppliers.

Last year metro developer OPRET awarded Alstom a €101m contract to supply 15 three-car Metropolis trains for Line 2, with an option for another six.

OPRET is planning to extend Line 2 eastwards from J P Duarte to El Brisal and San Isidro, bringing the total length 28 km. In the longer term, a second east-west route, Line 3, plus shorter north-south lines 4, 5 and 6 are envisaged to bring the city's metro network to around 60 km in total.

http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/santo-domingo-puts-line-2-financing-in-place/archiv/2011/07.html

1. Leonel praises Pope's statements
President Leonel Fernandez has hailed statements by Pope Benedict XVI who last Friday condemned the price speculation on foodstuffs, which has increased poverty and hunger around the world. Fernandez, who has initiated a worldwide crusade against speculation on food prices and oil, has sent the Pope a letter supporting his statements on "the financial transactions based on egotistical attitudes are creating poverty and hunger." During a conference at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Benedict XVI said that there was a need for regulation in the raw materials markets in order to guarantee each individual's right to life. Several months ago, according to El Dia, Fernandez sent a letter to all the members of the United Nations urging them to take concrete steps towards curbing speculation on food prices in general. France's Nicolas Sarkozy talked about Fernandez' letter during the G-20 meeting, pointing out that speculation on food prices has led to unrest in some countries around the world.

2. Strike quiets administration
The successful national strike has left the administration "dumbfounded" according to Hoy newspaper. President Leonel Fernandez, VP Rafael Alburquerque or any other administration official was prepared to comment on the event that shut down the country for a day. The President arrived at his office at 9:35am and no one else was seen entering his office until 2pm. At the same time, Vice President Rafael Alburquerque, who usually meets with the President mid-morning, did not go there and when asked why not, he answered that he was preparing a report.

Presidential Minister Cesar Pina Toribio left early for Washington, and Economy, Planning and Development Minister Juan Temistocles Montas is in France.

When the reporters assigned to the Presidential Palace tried to approach Rafael Nunez, the President's official spokesman, they were informed that he did not go to his office yesterday. Most of the employees did make it to work, but they spoke about the difficulties of finding public transportation.

3. National strike was felt all over
With at least three deaths nationwide attributed to the strike fatalities, including members of the Police and a man who was using his cell phone to capture images of the unrest, dozens arrested and several injured, yesterday's nationwide strike had a strong impact on the country. According to Diario Libre, the strike called by the Alternative Social Forum (FSA) was felt in the National District and the province of Santo Domingo, most notably in public transport and commerce where activity was minimal. The diminished government's OMSA fleet offered free transportation in Santo Domingo and Santiago.

In the capital, transport and commercial activities were reduced considerably, along with pedestrian traffic in the city.

Government offices, nevertheless, operated as usual, and it was a day to expedite paperwork.

Major businesses, such as La Sirena and Bravo on Winston Churchill operated as usual, although some suppliers did not replenish their stocks.

On the other hand, businesses along the Isabel Aguiar, Padre Castellanos and 27 de Febrero avenues closed their doors.

The presence of employees in the Herrera Industrial Park was drastically reduced and in the morning many companies did not open. In the barrios in the north of the capital, commercial sites remained closed and activity fell to zero.

In Santo Domingo East, the largest municipality of the province of Santo Domingo, the strike received massive support along the main roads, in the barrios and the commercial centers.

Businesses like Megacentro saw a significant reduction in customer traffic, to the point where many stores opened later than normal. Vehicular traffic along the main roads, Charles De Gaulle, San Vicente, Mella and Mendoza was at a minimum level. In the meantime, many citizens played games in the municipal parks.

In the Santo Domingo North municipality acceptance of the strike was also evident, not only through the great number of closed businesses and the absence of people on the streets, but also because many who did go to work said that they supported the strike.

Martin de la Cruz told reporters that he decided to open his small stall selling pork rinds in Villa Mella because some friends asked him to, but he was totally in agreement with the strike. "This reminds me of the strike in 1962. You weren't here but it was just like this: very well organized, all the transportation was paralyzed and the city was completely quiet," recalled De la Cruz, who is about 70 years of age.

In the Metro stations, passenger flow was also reduced, although the perception varied according to the employees at each station: while some said that everything was the same as any other day, other cashiers said that the ticket sales had fallen off by more than 50%.

Court proceedings all over the city were delayed and hospitals were relatively empty. All the universities suspended classes because of the absence of students and most schools were closed.

4. Major move by CDEEE
The Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE) has achieved cost reductions of around US$3 billion since August 2009, according to vice president Celso Marranzini. He said that if they had not taken measures when he took the reins of corporation, the electricity sector as well as the country would be unviable today.

Marranzini, who announced a friendly agreement with AES Dominicana that will allow the delivery of an additional 100 megawatts of energy for five years, said that as a result of negotiations the CDEEE managed savings of nearly US$200 million with companies in the electricity sector. Next week, 20 of the 100 megawatts will enter the system, while the San Lorenzo generating plant will be ready in December 2011 or January 2012.

Marranzini stated that they have lowered costs by US$40 million yearly with the Hydro-electric unit, US$24 million with Ege-Haina, US$80 million with AES. With CESPM it will be US$56 million, and another agreement is expected with Seaboard.

The CDEEE and AES signed a contract under which AES will supply an additional 100 megawatts to the 50 megawatts previously supplied, which will go to the distributors for five years, and which represent savings of US$440 million, and allow for the conversion of the CESPM to natural gas, lowering its generating costs by US$56.5 million.

AES committed to finishing the installation work of the gas turbines at San Lorenzo, which will provide 34 megawatts, and expressed an interest in closing the combined cycle of the Los Mina V and VI units that support an additional 100 megawatts, for which they will try and obtain approval from the head office.

Marranzini, Marco de la Rosa, Nelson Espinal Baez, Flavio Dario Espinal and Jose Luis de Ramon signed the agreement and CESPM representative Roberto Herrera was also present. Through this agreement more than 50% of the nations energy will be based on natural gas.

The agreement includes negotiation of a contract of sale of natural gas by which AES Andres will natural gas through a pipeline that will be built by Soluciones de Gas Natural to CESPM, once the conversion process to gas is finished. Marranzini said that this sends a clear signal that there is a Rule of Law in the country that respects and enforces agreements, creating the conditions for new investments to become reality in the electricity sector.

5. IMF gets Letter of Intent on Friday
The Central Bank reports that this Friday 15 July, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) board of directors will consider the Letter of Intent that corresponds to the fifth and sixth reviews of the Stand-by Arrangement with the Dominican Republic. Once the Directors of the IMF approve these two reviews, the country will be eligible to receive, during the second half of the year, the pending resources of disbursements that had been scheduled in the Letter of Intent and in the National Budget, some US$1.1 billion. The approval of the letter will also facilitate the approval of US$270 million in disbursements from the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. The inspection of the Dominican Letter of Intent was set for a date after the directors looked at the case of Greece.

Readers will recall that after a visit by an IMF mission to the country and at the conclusion of the negotiations with the Dominican monetary authorities, the international financial agency set a condition for the ratification of the Agreement for Congress to approve the tax package, with which the administration seeks to obtain RD$12 billion pesos that will supposedly be invested in education.

Furthermore, the government needs the passing of the IMF reviews in order to issue new bonds abroad. The government seeks to place US$1 billion in sovereign bonds on the international markets.

Hoy newspaper criticized yesterday in an editorial that the government is borrowing to pay old debt. The editorial raised red flags writing: "What alarms and frustrates Dominican society the most regarding all that we owe is the perception that the State does not understand this reality and has not restructured itself for a more efficient its use of its revenues and borrowing, many times at short term high interest terms, for works that should be postponed and that are allotted in ways that do not guarantee the efficiency of the investment nor the real destiny of each dollar."

"Only the government believes it can continue taking on debt at this pace when taking into account the present and future reality," writes the editorialist, comparing government to a suicidal person blinded by his own obsessions.

Hoy criticized that the government seeks to justify its borrowing by translating this into a percentage of Gross Domestic Product, while shutting its eyes to the reality that for years now foreign and domestic debtors own up to half of government revenues, severely reducing its ability to deal with pressing national issues.

http://www.hoy.com.do/editorial/2011/7/10/383519/Endeudarse-para-pagar-deudas

6. 60% passed National Tests
In today's newspapers, according to the old saw of "glass half full or glass half empty", the reports on the success or failure of high school students in the National Standardized Tests was reported as either "40% failed" or "60% passed." Diario Libre said that "only 60%" had passed the first session of the tests, but they also noted that 63% of technical professional students passed their tests, an improvement on last year's results. So, the test results will allow 60,590 students to graduate from high school and 10,993 students to graduate from their technical professional schools.

Students who failed in their first attempt at the National Tests will get a second chance in August. The second session of the National Tests is scheduled for August 9-12.

The Ministry of Education added that 85% of primary school students who took their tests were able to pass, as well as 87% of adult education students.

7. NASA says Enriquillo has grown by 143,000 tareas
According to the United States National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA), Lake Enriquillo has engulfed 143,000 tareas (5,657,000 hectares) of land since 26 February 2009. NASA has been conducting remote satellite monitoring of the area. The Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) Marine Investigation Center puts forward the hypothesis that two underground connections are coming from Tierra Nueva and Las Lajas, two communities near the Haitian border, that send their waters into Lake Enriquillo and Azuei Lake on the Haitian side.

The NASA report seems to confirm the hypothesis, saying that "a large amount of water is still draining from the high ground to Lake Enriquillo."

NASA points out that the flooding by the lake is greater than what occurred after tropical storms Noel and Olga in 2007.

The Landsat and Modis images taken by NASA clearly show the lake's expansion.

According to El Caribe, the lake received 400mm of rains from the storms and 700mm over the last two years, with little rain in the area of the lake. This should give an idea of the scale of the flooding of the country's largest aquifer since 2009. The flooding has displaced thousands of local residents and ruined crops and pasture.

8. Cholera still fills hospitals
Cholera is still present in the hospitals of the National District with 62 patients undergoing treatment at the Luis Eduardo Aybar, Moscoso Puello and Santo Socorro hospitals. According to Diario Libre there are lines of new patients every day. In response to this situation, and to the increase of the disease in Haiti, the Ministry of Public Health has announced new strategies in addition to the preventive measures already in place. The new measures include more training for the personnel managing the nation's 1,200 aqueducts that serve 1.7 million people. The ministry also plans to take medical students into the barrios for their practical work for courses on public health and epidemiology. Experts from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) are supervising the new steps, according to Diario Libre.

9. He said he had 25 children
The Central Electoral Board (JCE), the nation's civil registry for births, deaths and divorces, has filed charges of fraud against a man who allegedly claimed 25 children as his own. The fraud charges are based on the fact that none of the people claimed are his children, combined with the discovery that he had charged between RD$5,000 and RD$50,000 for each declaration of parenthood. According to the head of the JCE, the man, Roberto Nolasco Pimentel, received the collaboration of a JCE employee who is currently on a pension. Speaking at an inauguration ceremony of a program to train inspectors for the JCE, Roberto Rosario said that Nolasco Pimentel had violated the law, possibly together with several other people, and that he would be prosecuted. He also reported that a man who had been reported as deceased had managed to travel to the United States six times before the inconsistencies were revealed. He said that the forgeries and false birth records were used to change the person's age, to claim a pension, and in some cases to obtain a work contract. Rosario Martinez said that the computer system speeds up the process of discovering these attempts to obtain false documents.

10. Cano wins Home Run Derby
Robinson Cano won the 2011 All Star Home Run Derby last night, becoming the fifth Dominican to do so, following in the footsteps of David Ortiz, Sammy Sosa, Miguel Tejada and Vladimir Guerrero. The New York Yankees second baseman finished with a record 31 homeruns, according to El Caribe. Jose Bautista, one of the favorites, was only able to hit four homers in the first round and was disqualified. He tweeted: "I was nervous..." @JoeyBats19. One of the innovations of this year's Home Run Derby was that the players could keep their fans up to date on Twitter. David Ortiz asked his fans to "watch me on CDN take the ball out of the park"... @davidortiz.

11. Optimist Sailing Championship in Boca Chica
To prepare to host the 50th International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) World Sailing Championship (15-26 July 2012), the Santo Domingo Yacht Club will host a Pre-World Championship for the North American continent. The event is booked for 11-17 July in Boca Chica and around 100 young competitors from the Americas are expected. The Optimist is the first sailboat for sailors wanting to learn to sail at an early age. Both the pre-world and the world events are organized by the Santo Domingo Yacht Club and the Dominican Optimist Association (ADO) with the support of the Dominican Sailing Federation. Andrea Garrochategui de Pacheco is the president of the tournament organizing committee.

1. Fernandez falls in popularity
A Gallup regional opinion poll that looked into public perception regarding Central American and Caribbean presidents placed Ricardo Martinelli from Panama and Mauricio Funes of El Salvador at the top. The same poll placed Dominican Leonel Fernandez and Hondura's Porfirio Lobo at the bottom of the list of the survey.

As reported in El Caribe, the CID Gallup poll asked 1,200 Dominicans for their opinions. Only 30% gave their approval of the way Fernandez is handling matters of state.

Funes, on the other hand, had an approval rating of 34 that is the difference between those who approve and those who do not. In this case Funes had a 64% approval rating and a 30% disapproval, which gave the +34 rating.

Fernandez received a negative rating of 63% and a positive rating of 30% for an overall rating of -33, which the pollsters say "clouds the already adverse panorama for a possible re-election or continuation of the ruling party."

Polled Dominicans commented that poverty, crime and corruption are issues their President had not been able to resolve.

The next to last in the ratings was Porfirio Lobo, from Honduras, who received a 1, with 45% in favor and 44% against.

2. Central Bank is optimistic
The Central Bank released yesterday the Letter of Intention sent by the administration to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), describing as positive the macroeconomic situation both in 2010 and so far in 2011. It mentions that for 2011, the situation is better than expected. Likewise, it says that the government is committed to reduce the public deficit by 1% of the GDP each year to help protect the fiscal sustainability and recover the tax space in the context of a growing economy. The entity reported that as soon as the board of directors reviews the Letter of Intention, the country will receive RD$350.34 million right away, of which US$133.38 million will be used by the central government, and US$216.96 will go to strengthen the international reserves of the Central Bank. Furthermore, the government revealed that it will introduce legislation on "the technical tariff" at the end of September, which covers distribution losses for only 12% instead of the actual distribution losses that are over 40%.

The Central Bank reported that the inflow of resources that will arrive after the IMF approves the Letter of Intention together with the continuation of the monetary and fiscal policies will contribute to maintain macroeconomic stability, and the relative stability of the exchange rate.

The government recognizes, in the Letter of Intention, that there has been a spike in the inflation in the first five months of 2011 due to the shock of external prices for food and fuel. These increases increased the 12-month inflation rate to 8% and the underlying rate in 5.6% in May.

The Central Bank says there are no signs of stress in the banking sector and the indicators of bank solidity are at adequate levels. Nonetheless, the levels of liquidity have fallen due to operations carried out by the Central Bank in the first five months of 2011.

The bank indicated that with prices of food and fuel at near record levels, it is expected that the current accounts deficit will fall to 7.7% of the GDP in 2011.

3. No money to meet demands
The Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Temistocles Montas said that the authorities are conscious of the fact that the country is facing a difficult economic situation, which in his judgment has been generated as a consequence of an rising fuel and commodity prices that have affected the Dominican Republic and the world. It is precisely because of these difficulties that Montas says that there is very little that the government can do to satisfy the demands of the organizers of the Monday national strike.

Speaking to reporters form all of the newspapers in the Presidential Palace, Montas said: "I believe that the situation of the oil prices is public knowledge; it is something that does not depend on the will of the government, but rather it is determined by what happens on the international level."

He said that the situation that the country is going through is in no way the fault of the government, but rather of international problems, while at the same time he said that in the country over the last few years and in spite of the crisis, the poverty and the social inequalities have not increased.

To hear Montas tell it, the demands that the organizers made are not in accord with the reality that the world is experiencing, and that laid out in these terms, means to worsen the situation of the country because it would produce inflation. Among the demands of the strike callers are to repeal the recently approved tax reform, lower the price of the electricity and the prices of foods.

Montas said that the reading of the situation that generated the national work stoppage and which ended at 6pm yesterday morning had been taken by the government long before the strike was carried out.

Regarding the increases in the price of food, the official reminded the reporters that in spite of the efforts that the government makes to push for national production, several products require imported raw materials, and therefore, "when these (raw materials) go up, this is reflected in the country," even when there is interest in avoiding it. Using data from the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Montas said that the latest study by this agency says that the price index of the food worldwide is now the highest since 2008.

4. New diplomatic appointments
At the same time as passing a tax reform affecting companies and individuals, the Fernandez administration announced the appointment of more diplomats and public servants. Hoy newspaper reported that in the past six weeks at least 34 persons have been named in several decrees. In addition to the appointment of counselor ministers at several embassies, the government appointed high-ranking officers to the Bienes Nacionales, Inespre, Oficina de Desarrollo de la Comunidad, Instituto Agrario among other government departments.

http://www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2011/7/11/383694/Presidente-nombra-mas-funcionarios-en-el-servicio-exterior-e-instituciones

5. Get ready to pay more for power
The Dominican government has published its Letter of Intent to the board of directors of the International Monetary Fund where it makes known it will adjusting electricity rates "automatically" starting in September. According to the article in Nuevo Diario, the administration has sent a bill to Congress to legalize the automatic adjusting of the "technical tariff" of the electricity. The letter specifies they are going to allow the electricity companies to apply a 12% loss through distribution (technical losses) rather than the 40% losses that are typical in the Dominican Republic. According to the Letter of Intent, in the case of a significant increase in the price of oil before the law is approved, the electricity rates will be adjusted, passing the higher generation costs to the clients in order to avoid greater financial imbalance in the electricity sector and keeping the same electricity subsidy as included in the recent modification of the budget. While the approval by the IMF board of directors will mean the injection of hundreds of millions of dollars to the treasury, this commitment regarding the electricity rates (now at US$0.2902 kWh) will affect paying consumers. The Letter of Intent can be read here in Spanish: http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=249313

6. New "facilities" for barrios of Santiago
Government entities began installing 500 ecological bathrooms in several sectors of Santiago, to prevent cholera spreading in the province, where 14 persons have died from the sickness. In the first stage, 200 bathrooms will be installed in poor housing in the La Canela municipal district, in the south part of the city, where most fatalities from cholera have occurred according to the sanitation authorities. The program is sponsored by the provincial governor, the Ministry of Public Health and the Pan American Health Organization, in coordination with the mayors of the province.

For his part, the provincial director of Health said that so far this year more than 200 persons have been diagnosed with the disease in the province.

The governor of the province, Raul Martinez, and the provincial health director, Ramon Martinez Henriquez, said that the bathrooms are being installed in the most vulnerable communities of the entire province.

Among the communities that will be benefited by the program are Hato del Yaque, Villa Gonzalez, Tamboril, Navarrete, San Jose de las Matas, Gurabo, Los Salados, Camboya, Los Ciruelitos, Cristo Rey, Los Reyes, Bella Vista, Reparto Peralta, Arroyo Hondo, Pekin, among others.

7. Know why there is no water?
Because nearly 70% of the water distributed by the Water and Sewer Corporation of Santo Domingo (CAASD) to the population is wasted, which keeps the CAASD from providing 24-hour service that is the norm in other countries of the world. The director of the CAASD, Freddy Perez said that the CAASD seeks to install water meters for all consumers while he called upon the people to pay for their water use.

"The great help that the CAASD would receive from the citizens of the National District and the province of Santo Domingo is that they pay for the water they use," said Perez.

He explained to the Diario Libre that the CAASD charges six pesos per cubic meter of water, but the people do not pay their bill on time, and this creates a problem for their operations.

8. South Yaque damages Trujillo dike
In Tamayo, one of the poorest towns in the "deep South" of the Dominican Republic, the Trujillo Canal funnels water to thirsty lands. Years after the canal had been damaged, the repairs were about to be inaugurated and once again the South Yaque River flooded over its banks and broke the gabions and damaged four of the water gates. The necessary repairs were estimated at RD$145 million according to the El Caribe. Newspapers back in April were celebrating the near completion of the work on the canal, but the joy experienced by farmers who need the irrigation waters was short-lived. In May, the rains swelled the river and it crashed against the restraining dike of gabions (large wire baskets filled with rocks) and created gaps in the dike, ending streams of water to Mena, Fundacion, Cristobal and Salina where more wetlands are being created next to the overflowing Lake Enriquillo. (Note: In yesterday's DR1 News, it was reported that the 143,000 tareas flooded by the lake were equal to more than 5.6 million hectares, an absurd number. Due to a purely involuntary mathematical error, the true figure is 8,993.7 hectares of land invaded by the rising waters of the lake. We thank the attentive readership which called our attention to this and apologize for the mistake.)

In addition to the damage done by the river, improper handling of the large water gates by one of the watchmen caused further damages to four of the gates that are supposed to control the flow of water in the canal. Combined with the cracks in the concrete caused by the river flooding and the spaces in the gabions, the damage to the water gates adds to the worry of farmers in the area.

The Trujillo Canal was built in 1954 during the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo Molina. The project has two aims and was conceived with the development of the area in mind. The canal was to allow farmers in the provinces of Bahoruco and Independencia to use irrigation for their crops and to avoid flooding the area near Barahona.

9. Reconversion and recycling are part of brewery
The Dominican National Brewery (Cerveceria Presidente) has been protecting the environment for some time now and the philosophy has produced positive results for the company. Besides the ISO certification 14001, the El Caribe says that the company saved 83,000,000 gallons of water last year, by refitting their plants and boilers to operate 85% on natural gas and by recycling 94% of the beer bottles they use each year, which implies using a bottle 35 times. Stella Leon, the vice-president for corporate affairs for the brewery, said that the company is "strongly committed to" the protection of natural resources and has, for many years, pushed through 42 initiatives that reflect this interest. For the company it is a win-win situation. Besides the conversion to natural gas, the recycling of bottles and other initiatives, the brewery has collaborated with the Center for Urban Studies of the PUCMM and replanted 30,000 tareas (1,886 hectareas more or less) in a joint effort with the Ministry of the Environment. The company also sells its broken glass, and some of the leftovers from the production are used for animal feeds.

10. Hatuey looking for partners
After criticizing the PRD candidate Hipolito Mejia, the president of the Social Democrat Revolutionary Party (PRSD), Hatuey De Camps said yesterday that he does not have any preferred allies and that he is open to a dialogue with the PLD candidate Danilo Medina or any other political force. In his judgment, Medina has a more polished and coherent series of proposals in his discourse than Mejia. He said that although he feels for the Dominican Revolutionary Party for which he fought for most of his life and suffered persecutions, the organization has been castrated by the Mejia's aspirations to a new presidency.

De Camps, as reported in Diario Libre, criticized that Mejia on more than 80 occasions had said he would not seek reelection, and then at the end went for it causing four consecutive defeats for the PRD.

De Camps said that Hipolito has not changed. He said he only feels nostalgia for the PRD. He stressed that he is open to talks with Medina and the PLD leadership.

11. Final toll of strike counts three dead
A total of three persons died during the 24 hours national strike called by the Alternative Social Forum and the Falpo (The Broad Front of Popular Struggle) as well as the Dominican Revolutionary Party who supported the effort. Although, generally speaking, there was a nation-wide calm, the Nuevo Diario reports that two of the fatalities occurred in Santiago, where another 12 persons were wounded and twenty more were arrested according to official sources. A third victim was killed in Villa Faro while he took pictures of some incidents during a confrontation between the Police and demonstrators. The National Police also reported that several Police agents as well as civilians were among the wounded.

12. A legend passes away
Jose Manuel Guzman Marte is a name unknown to 99.9% of the Dominican population over 40 years of age. However, the name "Relampago Hernandez" is and was known to 100% of all Dominicans in the 1970s and 80s. "Lightning Hernandez" was the arch-villain in the weekly televised wrestling matches with the super hero Jack Veneno. Each week at 5pm on Saturday, people would stream into the relatively few houses with television antennas to watch the show. You could almost set your watch by the way people moved in those days. Relampago was supposed to celebrate his 60th birthday today, but instead his humble family in Las Caobas will bury him. He passed away yesterday from a heart condition that left him deep in debt and subsisting on the money he earned as a deacon in his church of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

13. DR in FIFA World Cup
The Dominican Republic qualified along with the US Virgin Islands and the Bahamas to compete in the second round as part of the first group stage of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) bracket as the opening round of the FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifying is completed. The three teams now advance to the World Cup qualifying draw on 30 July in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where they will be drawn into one of six, four-team groups. The six group winners will join the United States, Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Cuba in the semifinal round of qualifying. There they will be divided into three, four-team groups from which two in each group will qualify for the final round.

http://www.concacaf.com/page/WCQ/NewsDetail/0,,12813~2389948,00.html

14. Latin American romance songs
The most romantic Latin American songs of all times will be the stars of the gala concert planned for the Palacio de Bellas Artes on 13 July. The concert, Romance Latino, will feature some of the most popular romantic Latin American songs of all times from the voices of tenor Edgar Perez and soprano Melliangee Perez.

The singers will be accompanied by the Santo Domingo Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Maestro Carlos Andres Mejia.

The songs include: "El dia que me quieras", "Mis noches sin ti", "La flor de la canela", "Perdon", "Sombras" and "Bachata rosa". A DVD of the concert will be produced.

This concert is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and is free. Getting there early (7:30pm or before) is recommended to get seats.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

1. Road show for US$500 million
Barclays Capital and JP Morgan will manage the placement of US$500 million in dollar-denominated debt to fixed-income investors in Europe and the United States. As reported, these are 144A/RegS dollar bonds. Finance Minister Daniel Toribio is scheduled to travel to the US and London 14-20 July to offer the sovereign bonds. The road show starts in Los Angeles on July 14, then San Francisco, London, Boston and New York through the following week. The financial mission seeks to negotiate the bonds at a 7-7.5% interest rate. Rating agencies have issued the following ratings: Standard & Poor's, B+/Stable (13 June 2011), 13.06.2011; Fitch Ratings, B/Positive (5 January 2011). The DR has 6 issues outstanding worth US$3,146,550,000.

Law No. 134-11 dated 7 June 2011 authorizes the Ministry of Hacienda to issue global bonds for an amount up to US$500 million, to be allocated in the international markets at the most favorable financial conditions for the country. Furthermore, the law stipulates that the bonds will be freely tradable in the secondary market, stock exchange and OTC market that applies according to the legislation of the bonds.

According to the Dominican government, resources from this bond issuance will be used to fulfill the program of public works stipulated in Law 297-10 of the National Budget.

http://www.creditopublico.gov.do/ingles/news/20110610_External_Bonds.htm

2. IMF update
Expectations are that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) board of directors will approve the fifth and sixth reviews of the 28-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) dated November 2009. The SBA approved for the DR SDR1,094.5 million on 9 November 2009. The disbursements are subject to periodic reviews.

Meanwhile, in an Executive Summary issued following the conclusion of the Fourth Review under the SBA and Request for Waiver of Nonobservance of Performance Criterion issued by the IMF in a press release on 13 July, the organization shares its appraisal that its staff supports the request for the waiver and the completion of the fourth SBA review in view of the positive macroeconomic results and satisfactory performance.

As reported by the IMF, the main objective of the Dominican economic authorities' program is to limit pro-cyclical policies in the short-run while strengthening debt sustainability and growth prospects over the medium-term through a combination of fiscal consolidation and a deepening of the structural reform agenda.

The IMF staff team highlights that the macroeconomic performance continues to be very positive in the Dominican Republic, but alerts that the risk of overheating is rising. The economy expanded 71?2 percent in the 12 months to September 2010 (yoy), after reaching near- stagnation in mid-2009. Staff estimates that the output gap is closing rapidly. As reported, there was an uptick in inflation in September and October but headline inflation remains contained at 61?4 percent in October 2010 (yoy), against a target of 6n7 percent for the year; core inflation stood at about 41?4 percent in October 2010 (yoy). The external current account deficit has widened somewhat more than expected and is heading for 71?2 percent of GDP in 2010.

Already by the fourth review, the IMF acknowledged that with the first part of the program successfully implemented (naming fiscal accommodation), the authorities would focus on implementing the second part said to involve a gradual fiscal consolidation.

In June 2011, the Dominican authorities would authorize increases in electricity tariffs as well as increased taxation, as work proceeded for the approval of the fifth and sixth reviews of the SBA.

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=25041.0

3. Funds for construction approved
The Chamber of Deputies passed the final reading on the Mortgage Market Development and Trust Bill (Proyecto de Ley para el Desarrollo del Mercado Hipotecario y el Fideicomiso) that is expected to inject new funds into the construction industry in the Dominican Republic. The regulatory framework would allow the use of pension funds for construction of homes that would cost RD$2 million on the market. As of 31 March 2011, the pension funds were RD$127.7 billion.

4. Manuel de Jesus Perello Baez: SD-Bani highway
Congress approved the naming of a stretch of the Santo Domingo-Bani expressway in honor of the late Manuel de Jesus Perello Baez. The bill initially presented by Peravia Senator Wilton Guerrero on 22 September 2010 establishes the name will be given to the stretch of highway that runs from the Paya Municipal District to the little bridge at Altos de los Melones and Calle Alejandro Acosta in Bani.

The late Manuel de Jesus Perello, founder in 1945 of Industrias Banilejas, is known for his contributions to develop Dominican coffee industry (Cafe Santo Domingo and Induban brands).

http://www.senado.gov.do/masterlex/MLX/docs/1C/2/11/18/31DB.htm

Likewise, Congress also named the bridge over Higuamo River in San Pedro de Macoris in honor of leading national poet Pedro Mir.

5. Pass the National Development Strategy bill
The representative of the World Bank in the Dominican Republic, Roby Senderowitsch urged that Congress approve the National Deveopment Strategy. The bill has been in Congress since February 2011. Senderowitsch said the long term framework established in the strategy is necessary for international organizations to continue contributing fresh funds.

He said that many donor countries and institutions, namely the World Bank and the European Union, have established as a precondition to make disbursements that the National Development Strategy bill be approved.

He said that the approval is needed, for example, to release US$650 million of the World Bank, as reported in Listin Diario.

He commented that economic growth has not run parallel with a reduction in poverty. He said the country has missed the opportunity to apply the economic growth to reduce the level of poverty that at 35% is the same as 20 years ago, as reported in Hoy.

As reported in Diario Libre, Senderowitsch explained that the strategy establishes important goals to reduce poverty, corruption, social inequity, and improve competitiveness. Senderowitsch answered questions of the press after meeting at the Presidential Palace with Economy Minister Temistocles Montas.

Ramon Cabrera, vice president of the congressional commission (Senate and Chamber of Deputies) that is studying the bill, said it would be approved before the end of this year.

6. Eclac regional survey
Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC) released the Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2010-2011 report today forecasting that the region would grow on average 4.7% in 2011 and 4.1% in 2012 due to less favorable international context. The Executive Secretary of the United Nations body, Alicia Barcena called attention to the macroeconomic policy challenges the region needs to face.

In the report, the DR is listed with a forecast 5% GDP growth for 2011, and 4.5% for 2012.

"How prepared is Latin America and the Caribbean for managing economic growth? We must recover the fiscal space in order to be able to take measures to ensure sustained growth with productive employment and equality," said Barcena commenting on the findings of the report.

The report stresses that in the current scenario, the region's attractiveness to capital inflows and appreciation pressure on local currencies could be of benefit in the short term by helping to relieve poverty and bring down food prices. However, this situation involves a series of risks and difficulties.

As explained, first, the region becomes vulnerable to speculative capital movements in the quest for short-term gains, and this may create bubbles in the prices of financial assets and property markets.

And second, high international liquidity pushes down real exchange rates while pushing up commodity prices (which encourages intensive specialization in commodity exports and production). This increases the vulnerability of the region's economies to external shocks and creates greater investment volatility, thereby negatively affecting the capacity to grow, generate productive employment and reduce inequality.

http://www.eclac.org/cgi-bin/getProd.asp?xml=/prensa/noticias/comunicados/3/43983/P43983.xml&xsl=/prensa/tpl-i/p6f.xsl&base=/tpl-i/top-bottom.xsl

7. Regional pandemic: organized crime
Adam Blackwell, Secretary for Multidimensional Security for the Organization of American States, advocated enhanced preparation in Latin America to confront organized crime, as reported in El Caribe. Blackwell is a former Ambassador of Canada to the Dominican Republic.

He alerted that criminal networks operate on transnational levels and use the most sophisticated technologies. Blackwell spoke during the opening of the workshop Strategic Vision of Public Security at the Dominican Fiesta yesterday. Participating was the Chief of the Police and other high ranking Police officials, officials of other national security departments, of the National Drug Control Department, the Metropolitan Transport Authority, the National Council of Drugs, the Attorney General Office among others.

Blackwell said that no pandemic or natural disaster has affected the region more than the present wave of crime and violence in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Blackwell urged the integration of civic society to the fight against crime. "Without the participation of civic society any effort will be sterile," he told the audience. He said that as countries improve the educational levels and jobs become available to young people violence levels will drop.

Transnational crime needs to be combated with organized transnational operations, said Blackwell. He said that in 2010, 200 million residents in Latin America and the Caribbean, almost a third of the population in the region, was a victim of crime.

8. Teen pregnancy: serious problem
20.6% of Dominican teenagers has either been pregnant or is pregnant, according to new statistics released by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The report indicates that poverty, lack of education and job opportunities are reasons for the high teen pregnancy rate in the Dominican Republic that is above the Latin American average.

Angela Polanco, speaking for UNFPA said that the government needs to implement more formal and informal policies to provide more information and access to family planning to youths through government programs, as reported in Hoy. UNFPA advocates more integral sex education in schools and better general instruction. Statistics show that the more educated the person, the less likely the person is to be a pregnant teen statistic.

As reported in Hoy, Jeremy Freehill of the UNFPA says that the DR has 2.7 million people ages 14 to 35 years. Of these about 29% are unemployed.

Freehill praised government programs, such as "My First Job" with the Ministry of Labor that has trained 57,000 youths working closely with the Technical Professional Training Institute (Infotep). Of those, 63% is now employed.

He highlighted that the DR needs to approach social issues in a more proactive way, included addressing gender violence. Gender violence is higher in the poorer regions of the country, with the border provinces of Pedernales, Barahona and Independencia having the higher incidence of crime per capita. The lowest incidence is in the La Romana, San Pedro and La Altagracia region, where employment is relatively high.

"What happens in the country is that after violence occurs we react, and we need to move to actions of a more integral character," he told Hoy. He said that gender violence needs to be discussed in schools the same way as sex education.

Jose Miguel Guzman, chief of the Population and Development Branch of the UNFPA in New York highlighted that the large number of youths that are not studying nor working is a time bomb.

9. New national flower
Congress named the Rose of Bayahibe the new National Flower. Law 146-11 instructs the Central Bank to issue new monetary bills by 2014 with the drawing of the rose of Bayahibe, an endemic species. The rose of Bayahibe can be seen at the National Botanical Gardens in Santo Domingo and during the Culture Walk of La Punta de Bayahibe (La Romana). Since 1957 and until now, the flower of the mahogany tree had been the National Flower.

The same law reaffirms that the mahogany tree is the National Tree.

10. Mejia in Manhattan
Community NY press reports on the recent visit by PRD presidential candidate Hipolito Mejia to New York City. The former President seeks to motivate Dominicans in the United States to visit the polling stations in their city and vote for him in the 2012 presidential election. "I don't ask you to vote for me, but if you don't, you'll throw your vote away," The ManhattanTimes News reported, describing Mejia as perpetually jocular.

"For breakfast [today], I ate something that I only eat when I'm here in the United States," said Mejia , with a broad grin. "Today I ate pancakes," he said, according to the news report. Mejia is known for being partisan to mangu, even when traveling abroad.

The newspaper said that despite the banter, Mejia soon adopted a far more serious tone when he began to outline his plans for the Dominican Republic's future. "Our economy is bad for one reason," he said. "We need to work on [our] education."

As reported, the former President then emphasized the need for an ever more educated and skilled work force in an increasingly competitive global economy.

Mejia, who attended North Carolina State University in the States, made clear there is an urgent need for young and educated Dominican-Americans to come back to the homeland to contribute in the construction of a "new" Dominican Republic.

http://manhattantimesnews.com/2011/a-president-comes-for-politics-and-pancakes.html

11. Javier Rosario Summer Jazz
Casa de Teatro's Summer Jazz Festival continues this Thursday, 14 July with the presentation of Javier Rosario and his Trio from New York. Casa de Teatro is located in the Colonial City at Arzobispo Merino 110.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

1. Charles de Gaulle tunnel
Vice President Rafael Alburquerque did the honors during the official inauguration ceremony for the 770-meter tunnel under Charles de Gaulle Avenue and Las Americas Expressway in eastern Santo Domingo. The tunnel, the Av. Estados Unidos overpass, a bridge, and paving the surrounding roads, cost taxpayers RD$1.6 billion. The Presidency Public Works Supervisory Office (OISOE) was responsible for the work. It is aimed at easing traffic flow between the Santo Domingo East municipality and the National District section of Greater Santo Domingo.

The tunnel is on the northern side of the Expressway between Av. San Vicente de Paul and Juan Carlos I Bridge. OISOE director Luis Sifres Nunez stressed the positive impact the tunnel will have on the residents of eastern Santo Domingo.

Santo Domingo East mayor Juan de los Santos, Governor of the Province of Santo Domingo Idelfonso Vasquez, Public Works Minister Victor Diaz Rua, Armed Forces Minister Virgilio Perez Feliz, Police Chief Armando Polanco Gomez and senator Cristina Lizardo also attended the event.

2. Drug trafficking has stronghold
There are no convictions in 90% of the drug cases in the Central American and Caribbean region, said President Leonel Fernandez during the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) Forum "Integration, Citizen Safety and Regional Development" taking place in Santo Domingo this week.

President Fernandez highlighted the global nature of drug trafficking by organized criminal networks and called for global combating of the crime with the integration of affected nations.

Fernandez highlighted the way that drug trafficking networks transact more than 400 billion dollars a year. He said that the strength of the cartels is due in part to the weakness of states in combating drug trafficking.

On the home front, Fernandez said this situation of relative impunity undermines the confidence Dominicans have in the security and judicial authorities' commitment to combating international narcotics trafficking. Speaking at the forum, the President said that the 14,000 police agents in the DR receive low wages which makes them vulnerable to drug traffickers. He said that Law 50-88 was drawn up to fight macro-trafficking, but not micro-trafficking.

Fernandez said donations to the DR from the US for fighting organized crime were minimal at US$15 million compared to US$1.2 billion for Mexico or US$7 billion for Colombia. He said he would prefer soft loans so the country could equip itself with speedboats and radars to fight against crime and drug transshipment from Haiti. Fernandez said that while the recently purchased Tucano jets have been effective in controlling airspace, sea and land operations continue.

Acento.com.do reported that in the past 18 months alone more than 130 military and police anti-drug agents who were posted at leading airports have been arrested and sent to justice for involvement in drug transshipment operations intercepted at airports. These military personnel provided support for the drug networks in their shipments to the United States and Europe, taking advantage of their authorized access, mainly in Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santiago airports.

Commenting on the President's words, El Caribe said that in-depth reforms are needed in the systems and security corps, investigative bodies, the prosecutor general office and judicial structure.

www.elcaribe.com.do/site/opinion.html

3. Pelaez says Fernandez gave order for her contracts
One of the defendants in the Figueroa Agosto drug money laundering case, Mary Pelaez, made headlines yesterday when she said that President Leonel Fernandez had instructed his then director of the Presidency Supervisory Office of Public Works, now senator Felix Bautista, to grant her government contract work.

She said that President Fernandez ordered this shortly after her father, businessman and comedian Milton Pelaez, was murdered in 2006.

News reports indicated that she had profited to the tune of RD$15 million from construction work related to UASD regional branch in San Juan de la Maguana, a church in Piedra Blanca, and other contracts.

Pelaez is standing trial for her ties to Puerto Rican drug capo Jose David Figueroa Agosto.

In order for her to benefit from the contract work despite not owning an engineering company or being an engineer, nor having previous experience in this kind of work, Pelaez said that Bautista instructed her to purchase a portfolio company to be accepted by his office as a government contractor. According to news reports, her new company, Enadis was granted the contract in violation of Government Procurement Law and regular procedures for government contracting.

Pelaez said that Bautista was the person who had approached her to inform her that President Leonel Fernandez wanted to help her. "He (Felix Bautista) called me on a Sunday, I remember it clearly, and said 'the President wants to help you.'" She said that Bautista took her and her sister Adolfina Pelaez to the places where the works would be carried out.

As part of her defense against the money laundering charges, Pelaez is also insisting that she had wealth of her own. She has declared her personal assets as RD$100-RD$200 million. Diario Libre quotes Palaez as saying that she has handled millions in legitimate business dealings since she was 18. She said that she handled some RD$100 million in 2004 and 2005. Pelaez is 38 years old.

www.elcaribe.com.do/site/nacionales/281848-dice-le-propusieron-empresa-como-ayuda.html

4. Three pilot housing projects
Pensions Superintendent Joaquin Geronimo says that the approval of the Law for the Development of the Mortgage Market and Trust Funds opens the way for the government to begin construction of three housing developments of 200 units each at a cost of no more than RD$2 million per residence. He said the houses would go up in Villa Mella, San Luis and Manoguayabo, but did not mention the name of the contractors.

He said that once the pilot projects are completed, the plan is to build 20,000 to 25,000 dwellings using this scheme in two years.

He said that the projects are not yet defined, because the guidelines for the law still need to be drafted and passed by Congress.

By the end of this year, the Pension Funds are expected to reach RD$150 billion. He said the law authorizes using up to RD$30 billion for the construction of housing.

Diario Libre observes that of the 1.2 million employees who contribute to the pension fund, more than 60% do not qualify to benefit from the housing plan. Only those earning a minimum of RD$25,000 a month would qualify.

5. Dream Summer School
Four communities in Cabarete, La Cienega, Caraballo and Abreu on the north coast are hosting four separate DREAM Summer Schools and Camps this July. The camps provide life-changing, four-week experience for approximately 400 young people described as "at-risk". The camp serves to provide key education programs that are lacking throughout the usual public school year.

The Guzman Ariza Law Firm is again providing financial support, together with a new partnership with International Student Volunteers.

With over 130 volunteers and staff, the program offers core subjects such as reading, writing, English and math, all intertwined with more traditional camp-related activities like swimming, art, sports, music and dance.

DREAM also offers sexual awareness and health programming through the help of trained counselors from San Francisco Sano and Deportes para la Vida.

Furthermore, the camp gives children, many of whom have never left their immediate neighborhoods, the chance to go on field trips to areas outside their locale, giving them crucial exposure to the world around them. In summary, through its Summer School/Camps, as well as its many other year-round programs, DREAM provides the educational support needed to reverse the trend of increasing dropout rates and high-risk behavior.

The DREAM Project has steadily grown to be one of the most visible and effective non-profit initiatives in the Dominican Republic. With the strong support of education, political, corporate and cultural leaders, like Dominican author and Pulitzer Prize winning author Junot Diaz, DREAM continues to fulfill its mission of ending the cycle of poverty throughout the country with quality education programs.

To learn more about DREAM and how you can get involved, visit www.dominicandream.org

6. Dominican Film Showcase in Washington,DC
The First Organization of American States Dominican Film Showcase opens at the Art Museum of the Americas, at 201 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC, with the participation of their directors. The Showcase will open on Tue, 19 July 2011 at 6:30pm with "Sugar", directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. It will be followed by a reception at the Museum.

The other films are Love Child (La Hija Natural) directed by Leticia Tonos, on 20 July 2011 at 6:30pm, and The Republic of Baseball, directed by Dan Manatt on 22 July.

For more information, please contact Ms. Asuncion Sanz at 202-458-3246 or at asuncionsanz@globalfoundationdd.org

7. Latin American Art at Chavon
An exhibition of contemporary Latin American art opens at the Galeria Principal, the leading art gallery in Altos de Chavon.

The event is being organized in coordination with the Galeria Francisco Nader Arte Latinoamericano. It is titled Mar, sol y sombra II (Sea, Sun and Shadows II).

Dominican artists Miguel Gomez, Rafael Trinidad, Rafael Osorio, Rafael Alba, Carolina Cepeda, Ramon Sandoval, Rogers Zayas, Juan Andujar, Cristobal Rodriguez, Dioniosio Blanco, Francis Garcia and Maria Aybar are showing their work. Demetrio Vasilescu, Jenaro and Keko from Colombia are also exhibiting, along with Laffer and Karim Marquez from the US. The exhibition runs from Thursday, 23 June through Monday, 25 July. Tel 809 523-8470.

8. Doubt at the National Theater
John Patrick Shanley's "Doubt: A Parable," winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the Tony Award for Best Play in 2005, is being staged in Santo Domingo, directed by Germana Quintana at the Sala Ravelo of the National Theater. Starring in the local version of Doubt are Lidia Ariza, Aidita Selman, Patricia Munoz and Exmin Carvajal. Meryl Streep starred in the movie version of the play in 2008. Performances continue on Thu 21, Fri 22, Sat 23 July at 8:30pm and Sun 24 at 6:30pm. And Thu 28, Fri 29, Sat 30 at 8:30pm and Sun 31 July at 6:30pm. Tickets: RD$400.

9. Foodjects in Santo Domingo
Food, more than a need, is a ritual, where the products are part of the show. See products designed by Spanish companies in recent years in an exhibition Foodjects: Design & New Spanish Gastronomy at the Centro Cultural Espanol in the Colonial City.

The exhibition highlights the Spanish New Cuisine that has become a concept that goes far beyond the culinary dominion. This has led a group of designers to bring their art into a fusion that has given birth to amazing new products. This exhibition, curated by designer Martin Azua, contains a selection of more than 100 objects conceived by 30 designers and produced by Spanish companies. In all these projects functionality and creativity have joined forces to respond to new needs. Designers and chefs have shared their ideas to strengthen the relationship between food and its packaging or even to inspire new culinary creations, also with a focus on design. Centro Cultural Espanol, Arz. Merino & Arz. Portes Tel 809 686-8212

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

El país avanza hacia producción de energía
LA TENDENCIA MUNDIAL SE MUEVE HACIA LA GENERACIÓN DE ELECTRICIDAD A TRAVÉS DE ENERGÍA LIMPIA. EL PAÍS TRABAJA EN EL CAMBIO DE LA MATRIZ ENERGÉTICA

http://images3.listindiario.com/image/article/284/460x390/0/F2361B08-4C89-4DB7-8B95-5B5BB502646E.jpeg

Santo Domingo

Para nadie es un secreto que los combustibles fósiles (petróleo, gas y carbón) se están agotando a nivel del planeta tierra, por lo que cada vez la producción de energía se hace más cara en perjuicio de las economías de los pueblos. Es por ello que la tendencia mundial se mueve hacia la generación de electricidad a través de fuentes renovables o energía limpia.

República Dominicana no está al margen de esa realidad y desde el Gobierno se dan pasos firmes hacia la producción de energía extraíble de fuentes renovables naturalmente o inagotables.

Bajo las directrices del presidente Leonel Fernández la Comisión Nacional de Energía (CNE) trabaja en el cambio de la matriz energética nacional a los fines de que el país sea cada día menos dependiente de los combustibles derivados del petróleo.

Es así como las autoridades gubernamentales están incentivando la producción de energía mediante las hidroeléctricas y de distintos sistemas alternativos solares, mientras que se trabaja en la elaboración del reglamento de Medición Neta, el Programa Nacional de Eficiencia Energética y el Plan Energético Nacional, entre otros innovadores proyectos.

Sin embargo, las iniciativas más importantes que con inversión del sector privado impulsa en estos momentos el Gobierno son los parques eólicos Los Cocos y Quilvio Cabrera, en la comunidad costera de Juancho, en la provincia de Pedernales, complejo cuya construcción está en fase final y se espera que sea inaugurado en el mes de agosto.

La Empresa Generadora de Electricidad Haina (EGE Haina) y el Consorcio Energético Punta Cana-Macao (CEPM), ambas del GrupoBasic Energy, son responsables de este proyecto de poco menos de US$100 millones, que en una primera etapa aportará al Sistema Nacional Interconectado (SIN) unos 33.45 megavatios de energía limpia.

El Parque Los Cocos posee 14 aerogeneradores, modelo V90, de 1.8 MW que tendrán una capacidad en conjunto de 25.2 megavatios, mientras que el parque Quilvio Cabrera estará compuesto por 5 turbinas eólicas tipo V8 que aportarán al SIN otros 8.2, para totalizar los 33.45 megavatios.

Tan pronto se inaugure la generadora se dejará abierta la construcción de la segunda etapa del proyecto que tendrá una capacidad de 60 megavatios parasumar en generar unos 93.45 megas. La empresa encargada de construir e instalar las turbinas es la filial española Vestas, líder en la fabricación de turbinas eólicas en Europa, y la que tendrá, además, a su cargo darle mantenimiento a los equipos. Ahorrará combustible y no hará daño el medio ambiente CNE Para el presidente del CNE, Enrique Ramírez, lo más importante del complejo eólico es que contribuirá significativamente a que RD ahorre divisas en la importación de combustibles, que será amigable con el medio ambiente.

Explicó que la operación de los parques eólicos Quilvio Cabrera y Los Cocos contribuirá a que el país se economice cada año la importación de 200,000 barriles de petróleo, lo que significa un ahorro anual de de US$20 millones en la importación del carburante.

(+)
EL USO DE ENERGÍA EÓLICA A NIVEL MUNDIAL
ENRIQUE RAMÍREZ dijo que el complejo evitará la emisión a la atmosfera de 70,000 toneladas de dióxido de carbono (CO2) por año. Estudios recientes indican que el uso a nivel mundial de la energía eólica podría generar un ahorro global de 10 mil millones de toneladas de CO2 para los siguientes 12 años.. Ramírez indicó que próximamente se construirán los parques eólicos de Matafongo, en la provincia Peravia, y Los Granadillos, en Montecristi, que estarán aportando en conjunto unos 100 megavatios de energía limpia para el sistema energético del país. El presidente del CNE argumentó que con la generación eólica habrá energía más limpia, barata ysegura, toda vez que el costo promedio ronda los 13 y 14 centavos de dólar, muy por debajo de la energía térmica.

“El objetivo es que podamos suplir la matriz energética nacional con un 20 por ciento de energía limpia, lo que significa producir unos 200 megas renovables, lo que convertiría a la República Dominicana en un país modelo en la región”, significó.

Con esta vanguardista iniciativa la República Dominicana se suma al conjunto de países del mundo que ha apostado al desarrollo de fuentes de energías alternativas y renovables, amigables con el medio ambiente y que reduzcan las emisiones de dióxido de carbono y de paso apoya el protocolo firmado, en tal sentido, en la ciudad Kyoto.

Wgz-YNk4oZg&feature

Gk9-N_0jZvk&feature

Aprueba $78 MM energía eólica

Wahington

El Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID) aprobó dos préstamos por un total de US$78.3 millones para apoyar la construcción de dos parques de energía eólica en República Dominicana.

Los proyectos, parte de las nuevas inversiones en generación eléctrica en el país, agregarán un total de 80.6 megavatios a la capacidad vigente, estimada en unos 3,000 megavatios.

Los nuevos parques eólicos, impulsados por grupos privados, reflejan la creciente confianza en el sector energético dominicano. Los avances registrados en la gestión operativa del sector, la nueva gerencia de la Corporación Dominicana de Empresas Eléctricas Estatales (CDEEE) y la elaboración de un plan estratégico, constituyen factores determinantes para el futuro desarrollo del sector y la consecución de su plan de expansión de fuentes generadoras de energía.

Los parques eólicos, entre los primeros en construirse en República Dominicana, ayudarán al país a diversificar su matriz energética, que en la actualidad depende casi exclusivamente de combustibles fósiles como el petróleo y el gas para la producción de electricidad. Los proyectos aprovecharán incentivos creados por una reciente ley de fomento a la generación eléctrica de fuentes renovables no convencionales.

Un préstamo de US$50,7 millones apoyará el proyecto de Parques Eólicos del Caribe (Pecasa), desarrollado por un consorcio empresarial compuesto por Gamesa, Grupo Delta Intur, Aquiles Mateo y Miguel Ángel Muñiz, para instalar 25 turbinas Gamesa G90, con una capacidad de dos megavatios cada una, en la localidad de Guanillo, en la provincia Monte Cristi. El costo total de este proyecto está estimado en US$127 millones.

Otro préstamo de US$27.6 millones para el Grupo Eólico dominicano, compañía controlada por el grupo español Inveravante, ayudará a financiar la instalación de 17 turbinas Vestas V90, con una capacidad de 1,8 megavatios cada una, en la localidad de Baní, en la provincia Peravia, al oeste de Santo Domingo.

El costo total de este proyecto será del orden de US$68,9 millones.

En ambos casos se construirán líneas de transmisión de 138 kilovoltios para conectar a los parques eólicos con la red eléctrica nacional y se ejecutarán obras de ingeniería civil, incluyendo caminos de acceso, subestaciones y estaciones de control, cimientos y plataformas para las turbinas.

fuente: http://www.listindiario.com.do/econo...energia-eolica

MODERNIDAD

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Tnel.jpg

Inauguran túnel bajo Charles-Las Américas

Santo Domingo
Fue inaugurado anoche un espacioso túnel que cruza por debajo de la intersección de las avenidas Las Américas y Charles de Gaulle, en Santo Domingo Este, y que permitirá agilizar el tránsito por la vía Marginal Norte de Las Américas.

La obra fue entregada por el director de la Oficina de Ingenieros Supervisores de Obras del Estado, Luis Sifres, al alcalde de Santo Domingo Este, Juan de los Santos, durante un acto que fue encabezado por el vicepresidente Rafael Alburquerque.

Se había anunciado que la inauguración estaría encabezada por el presidente Leonel Fernández y todo estaba listo para su llegada, pero una hora después el acto no había comenzado. Se retiró la silla presidencial y entonces se presentó el vicepresidente Alburquerque.

El director de la Oficina Supervisora, quien pronunció el discurso principal, dijo que el túnel tiene una importancia crucial para el tránsito por la avenida Marginal Norte, que debía extenderse desde su intersección con la avenida San Vicente de Paúl hasta el distribuidor de Boca Chica.

Según Sifres, la obra impacta positivamente al municipio de Santo Domingo Este y embellece el entorno de la entrada a la capital. El túnel fue excavado tipo trinchera y cubierto con piezas prefabricadas de hormigón armado en la porción que se encuentra por debajo del trébol de Las Américas y Charles de Gaulle.

Tiene una longitud de 770 metros lineales, de los cuales 285 corresponden al área bajo tierra, formada por muros de paneles prefabricados. El techo fue construido con 188 vigas invertidas tipo “T”, tanto potenzadas como pretensadas, y el revestimiento interno de 2,670 metros cuadrados fue hecho con paneles de aluminio importados, de colores crema y azul marino.


EL CORTE DE CINTA LO HIZO ALBURQUERQUE
En el acto hablaron el gobernador de la provincia Idelfonso Vásquez, y el alcalde de Santo Domingo Este, Juan de los Santos. La provincia, además, estuvo representada por la senadora Cristina Lizardo. El corte de la cinta lo hizo el vicepresidente Alburquerque, acompañado de las autoridades de la provincia. Entre los asistentes estuvieron el ministro de las Fuerzas Armadas, teniente general Joaquín Virgilio Pérez Feliz, y el jefe de la Policía, mayor general José A. Polanco.


http://www.listindiario.com/la-repub...e-Las-Americas

Seguir orden de videos:


Video-1

K1rzWH-H9Cc




Video-2

hSa71NmQrzo




Video-3 Final

DKxmxq2Ag8o

Inaugararán el próximo miercoles la carcel modelo de Higüey.

Jiménez Peña dijo que el nuevo recinto, cuya construcción estuvo a cargo de la Oficina Supervisora de Obras del Estado, contará con aulas, talleres y unas 300 tareas para las prácticas de producción agrícola. Igualmente, explicó que en ese centro como en los demás que funcionan dentro de la reforma penitenciaria desarrollarán todos los programas que funcionan dentro de ese sistema, como los educativos, de producción agrícola e industrial, artística, deportiva y recreativa.

Declaró que el nuevo recinto cuenta con talleres debidamente equipados, donde los internos tendrán la oportunidad de confeccionar sábanas para proveer a todos los hoteles de la provincia La Altagracia. Destacó que también participarán en la producción de muebles, elaboración de productos de panadería y hortalizas, entre otros.

El sistema de Modelo de Gestión Penitenciaria, que se implementa a nivel nacional y que en los últimos cinco años, ha conllevado una inversión de RD$1,200 millones, según la Procuraduría.

http://www.diariolibre.com/showimage.php?id=404789

http://www.diariolibre.com/showimage.php?id=404791

http://www.diariolibre.com/showimage.php?id=404793


Diario Libre (http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias_det.php?id=288405)

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/Other%20parts%20of%20Dominican%20Republic/Centro-penitenciario-Higuey1.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/5882304320_351423a227_b.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

1. Injection of US$348.1 million from IMF
The government is expected to receive US$348.1 million in disbursements from the International Monetary Fund, following the passage of a fiscal package and an announcement of increases in electricity tariffs in order to reduce the government deficit and comply with requirements to maintain the 2009 Stand-by Arrangement.

As reported in El Caribe, US$132.5 million of the US$348.1 million is being allocated to the Central Government and US$215.6 million to the Central Bank.

The government is also in the process of issuing US$500 million in sovereign bonds for a new injection of funds.

Central Bank governor Hector Valdez Albizu announced on Friday that the IMF board had approved the Letter of Intent corresponding to the fifth and sixth reviews of the Stand-by Arrangement.

2. RD$54 billion in new loans in first half 2011
The Fernandez administration with its majority in Congress has also secured the approval of an additional RD$54.11 billion in loans for the construction of public works.

As reported in Listin Diario, the Senate, with its almost absolute majority of ruling party legislators, passed loans in dollars equivalent to RD$33.86 billion. Also cleared were loans in Euros for the equivalent of RD$20.25 billion, for a total RD$54.11 billion. Included in the total is a loan with the Inter-American Development Bank for US$30 million for farming support that will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture. Another loan for US$34 million, also with the IDB, was passed for potable water and sanitation programs under the National Institute of Potable Water and Sewage (INAPA). Furthermore, Congress approved a loan for US$471 million for the concession of the tolls project with Dominicana de Vias Concesionadas (Davicom) that will be implemented by the Ministry of Public Works.

Also contemplated is a US$354 million contract with the Brazilian company Andrade y Gutierrez for the construction of the Monte Grande dam and renovations at the Sabana Yegua dam in the southwest under the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI).

As reported in the newspaper, the loans in Euros were contracted with commercial banks BNP Paribas Fortis, Citibank Europe PLD, KFW and Deutsche Bank for the second phase of the Metro.

3. OMSA abandons Maximo Gomez route
The governmental bus line, OMSA will no longer serve the Maximo Gomez north-south route in Santo Domingo. The director of the Metropolitan Bus Service Office, Ignacio Ditren said that buses would no longer run from Villa Mella to the Centro de los Heroes, along Maximo Gomez Avenue. He said that this responds to a request made by the Metro Office (Opret) that says the route is now served by the Metro, which charges a RD$20 fare, compared to RD$10 for the bus route. Ditren has warned that the OMSA bus service could disappear because of lack of funding for importing much-needed buses.

4. Congress has more $ than Judicial Branch
The legislative branch of government has been allocated a larger budget than the Judicial Branch, says Eduardo Estrella, president of the Dominicans for Change party (DxC). He said that Congress has a budget of RD$5 billion while all the courts have been assigned RD$3.65 billion. He said Congress receives 39% more than the Judicial Branch and that the Chamber of deputies alone receives RD$3.59 billion, which is equivalent to what the Judicial Branch receives. Estrella described this as an "aberrant act" given the great responsibility and the workload of the courts. He said there are 355 courts in the DR, including 26 appeals courts, 140 first instance courts and 189 justices of the peace. There are 646 judges.

5. 1.56 million households get free power
A report in today's Listin Diario reveals that 1.56 million households in the Dominican Republic (32%) do not have electricity meters to measure their power consumption. The report, by experts Edwin Guerra and Bernardo Castellanos reveals that the main problem causing the deficit of the distribution companies is in the cross subsidies that penalize paying customers, in other words the large number of households and power-consuming workshops, beauty salons and other businesses that operate in the backyards of households in low-income areas where electricity usage is not billed. The second reason for the deficit is in the technical losses (24%) and the third reason is the inefficiencies in collection of the bills (16%).

The study is titled, "A New Paradigm for the Electricity Sector and Practical Proposals for Solutions". Guerra says that it has been said that fraud and a widespread culture of non-payment are the leading causes of the increase in losses suffered by the industry that reached 41.4% of the energy served by the EDES in 2010. But he said fraud accounted for barely 25% of the losses.

The experts point out that 49% of paying consumers are on low fixed-rate plans, and even then 80% of them do not pay their bills. The consumers argue the long blackouts justify non-payment.

Listin Diario reports that the figures show that political patronage has prevailed for more than 40 years affecting what should be a profitable business, regardless whether it is privatized or under government management.

6. Transport chaos increases petrol consumption
Engineer Hamlet Hermann, who was the first director of the Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET), comments that the 29% increase in fuel consumption compared to last year has contributed to the increase in bottlenecks and traffic jams. He criticized public opinion formers for failing to focus on the fact that the increase in fuel consumption can be traced to the government's failure to collectivize public transport. He criticizes the media for not saying that every day there are more blackouts and mobility in urban zones has declined by 28%. "Why not admit, for example, that the average speed of vehicles traveling on Av. Maximo Gomez is 25% slower after the urban train known as the Metro was built? Why not confess that negligence on the part of the transport authorities is what has perpetuated chaos while the government officials who are builders accumulate a disgusting amount of wealth?

Hermann said that it is getting more difficult to move around the city by the day because of the lack of authority that prevails.

www.hoy.com.do/opiniones/2011/7/17/384495/Necesaria-coartada-para-el-delito

7. New Guinness World Record
Five young Dominicans from the northwestern province of Valverde hope to be included in the Guinness Book of World Records for a reading aloud marathon by a team for more than 224 hours. The former record had been set in 2009 by a team from the Miami Dade College during an International Book Fair.

Martha Ester Madera Baez, Carlos Jose Reyes, Cristian Rodriguez Morrobel, Randolfo Ariostto Jimenez Perez and Jose Manuel Bueno Grullon celebrated the record-breaking mark at 11pm on Sunday. They plan to continue reading till they reach 365 hours. Their message is to encourage Dominicans and young people around the world to read for at least one hour a day. The Ministry of Youth is sponsoring the initiative.

To comply with the Guinness World Records organization guidelines, the team must remain on the premises for the entire length of the attempt. Also, by mandate of the Guinness World Records, the entire event area must remain open for public and media viewing.

8. Garbage Exchange
The National Business Support Network for Environmental Protection (Renaepa) has announced that it is ready to place local industrial waste on the Central American and Caribbean Industrial Waste Exchange (Bolsicca). Renaepa joined the exchange through the Central American Environment and Development Commission (CCAD) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

In an interview with Listin Diario, Renaepa president Roberto Herrera and executive director Maria Alicia Urbaneja said that the platform enables local industries to exchange their waste and purchase waste from other companies. This includes farm plastics, solvents, used oil, textiles, paper, cardboard, glass, computer equipment, used tires, metals and organic waste. The exchange operates in Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Belize and El Salvador, and now in the DR. Urbaneja said that 20 Dominican companies have already signed on to take part.

For more information, see www.renaepa.org.do or www.bolsicca.org

9. Men are also victims of gender violence
18% of the cases of gender violence reported to the Prosecutor General office in the National District are from men who say they have been victims of violent actions by women. From January 2010 to April 2011, 11,432 complaints of gender violence were filed at the National District Prosecutor Office. Of these 9,353 were of violence against women, or 82% and 2,079 of violence against men, or 18%, as reported in Diario Libre.

10. The cholera patient
A front-page photograph of deceased 66-year old Luis Duarte in a wheelchair covered by a white sheet has been the top topic of the day for talk show hosts this morning. The front-page photo appeared in morning papers as evidence of the sad plight of poor people in the Dominican Republic. As reported, the man visited the Moscoso Puello hospital but there was no bed for him and he was left in a wheelchair where he died. The hospital director, Dr. Roberto Lafontaine said that there is an ongoing investigation into the circumstances of the man's death.

www.elcaribe.com.do/site/nacionales/282069-investigan-muerte-del-senor-que-amanecio-a-la-intemperie-en-el-moscoso-puello.html

11. Africa in the Caribbean
The Presence of Africa in the Caribbean, the Antilles and the United States is a conference taking place at Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (Funglode) headquarters in Santo Domingo, from Monday, 18 July through Wednesday, 20 July. 20 speakers from the DR and abroad will focus on the "African contributions to Caribbean culture." A chapter of the PBS documentary African-American Lives that focuses on Latin America by Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. of Harvard University will be shown. Historian Frank Moya Pons, president of the Dominican History Academy, Ramona Hernandez of City College of New York (CUNY), Russel Rickford (Dartmouth University), Melina Pappademos (University of Connecticut), and Patrick Bellegard (University of Wisconsin) will be taking part.

A special cultural performance featuring native African music and dance will be held midway through the Conference on 19 July.

Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North, a documentary depicting the story of the largest slave-trading family in the United States will be screened at the end.

www.globalfoundationdd.org/gfdd/fulltext.asp?t=a&id=8136

www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/news/20050713_africanamericanlives.html

12. Movies in Santo Domingo
French film The Concert (2009) and Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris are filling the Novocentro Fine Arts theaters. The first tells the story of how 30 years ago, Andrei Simoniovich Filipov, the renowned Bolshoi orchestra conductor, was fired for hiring Jewish musicians and his comeback, directed by Radu Mihaileanu. The second is a comedy about a family traveling to Paris for business, and the young engaged couple where the groom-to-be discovers himself by returning to the 1920s.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

Telecoms Cultural Center
President Leonel Fernandez attended the inauguration of the Centro Cultural de las Telecomunicaciones in Santo Domingo's Colonial City on Monday 18 July. Coinciding with the opening, the 14th Convention of the Ibero-American Association of Research Centers and Telecoms Companies (AHCIET) whose membership consists of 50 telecoms companies in Latin America and Spain, is meeting at the Center's 200-seat auditorium to discuss the future of the Internet. Spanish Telecoms Minister Bernardo Lorenzo, who is president of the Telecoms Market Commission (CMT), will be speaking at the event.
The newest museum in Santo Domingo, the Centro Cultural de las Telecomunicaciones tells the history of TV, radio and telecommunications in the Dominican Republic. It also has the largest audiovisual archive in the country. Admission to this state-of-the-art museum will be free for the first month. Open Tuesday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, Friday & Saturday 9am to 9pm and Sunday 10 to 6pm. Isabel la Catolica at the intersection with Emiliano Tejera, Tel 809 732-5555.

Flights to Haiti
Reward yourself for hard workdays in Haiti with a vacation week at a Dominican resort. This is possible because several airlines offer flights from Dominican airports to Haiti, making connections easy.
American Airlines/American Eagle (Tel 809 542-5151, aa.com) and Guadeloupe-based Air Caraibes (Tel 809 549-0404, aircaraibes.com) fly to Port-au-Prince from Las Americas (SDQ).
Aerolineas Mas (Tel 809 682-9399, aerolineasmas.com) and Haitian-based Tortug'Air (Tel 809 826-4122, tortugair.com) offer frequent services from La Isabela International Airport (JBQ), on the outskirts of Santo Domingo, to Port-au-Prince.
Aerolineas Mas also flies out of Cibao International Airport in Santiago to Port-au-Prince.

50s+ show marked interest in culture
ITB travel experts say that the 50-plus generation is an expanding target group that is showing a marked new preference for city tours, cruises and excursions, even though beach holidays still continue to be the most popular choice among this age bracket. Apparently, the 50-plus generation is showing more of an interest in cultural activities. According to the World Travel Monitor, there has already been a strong decline in interest from Germany's so-called silver age group in holidays on the beach (3.8 million trips less, minus 18%).
Reportedly, the over 50s are more mobile and more active than ever before. As reported, between 2005 and 2010 vacation travel by Europeans aged 55 and over expanded by 17%. This age group as a whole accounted for more than a quarter (27%) of all trips abroad, or 78 million holiday trips.
Of special interest to Dominican travel companies, ITB says that the over 50s are increasingly distancing themselves from the cliches associated with traditional travel by senior citizens.
The winners are smaller market segments such as health-based vacations (0.7 million trips, plus 61%), cruises (0.9 million trips, plus 64%), sports holidays (1 million trips, plus 53%) and city tours (2 million trips, plus 30%).
According to a study commissioned by the Messe Berlin and carried out by the World Travel Monitor, travel from the so-called silver age group is up 28% for the UK since 2005, but has stagnated for the German market. France and the Netherlands are in third and fourth place. These four countries account for almost 60% of all European travelers in the over-55 age group.

Cave Diving exhibition
The Museum of Dominican Man is hosting the first photography exhibition on the wealth of Dominican underwater caves. The exhibition is presented by the Dominican Republic Speleological Society (DRSS). "Underwater Springs - Gateway to the Unknown" opened on Monday, 18 July at 6pm at the Museo del Hombre Dominicano in Plaza de la Cultura Juan Pablo Duarte, Av. Pedro Henriquez Urena in Santo Domingo. A discussion on caving with members of the DR Speleological Society will take place at the Museum on Wednesday, 20 July at 10am. For more information, see www.dr-ss.com
For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

1. Telecoms Museum inaugurated
President Leonel Fernandez did the honors to inaugurate the Centro Cultural de las Telecomunicaciones (CCT), a state-of-the-art museum highlighting the history and evolution of communications in the Dominican Republic. President of the Board of directors of the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel), David Perez Taveras said that the new museum had cost more than RD$400 million.

He stressed the importance of the audiovisual archives at the museum that will be available for research at no cost to the general public.

The museum curator is Margarita Gonzalez who worked with architect Guaroa Noboa, responsible for the physical structure.

The center is located in the old telecommunications building in the Colonial City. It has three levels with four halls: Communication to Telecommunication, Telephones, Radio and TV, and a Hall of the Future of Telecommunications. The center is open to the general public on Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, Saturdays from 9am to 9pm and Sundays from 10am to 6pm. Admission is RD$100 for children, RD$200 for adults and US$10 foreigners. For the first month, admission is free.

2. Education to go with breakfast cereal
The Ministry of Education plans to change the school breakfast program from bread and cakes to breakfast cereal, and the news has the country's small bakers up in arms.

The head of the Small Bakers Union, Hector Delgado, told El Caribe reporters that the bakers comply with the ministry's requirements and that they do not understand this treatment.

Delgado pointed out that the small and medium-sized bakeries that supply the breakfast program for the nation's public schools also provide 60,000 direct jobs that would be endangered if the Ministry switches from bread and cupcakes to breakfast cereal.

The head of the Small and Medium-sized Business Confederation also noted the negative effect such a measure would have on employment in the sector. He said that the small and medium business sector provides 28% of the nation's GDP and the fact that most of the nation's workers are employed in the sector.

Both groups are waiting for a chance to talk with Education Minister Josefina Pimentel.

3. Job creation
According to the Central Bank, 125,000 jobs were created between October 2010 and April this year, primarily in the commerce, farming, services and mining sectors. Diario Libre reports that the Central Bank survey found that of 170,763 people who sought work between October 2010 and April 2011, 3.9% of the Economically Active Population (EAP), only 125,283 found work.

The report stresses that 55.5% of the new jobs are in the informal sector, equivalent to 69,512 jobs.

Most new jobs during this seven-month period were in the commerce sector, both wholesale and retail, with 47,676 new jobs. The "Other Services" category saw an increase of 43,011 jobs, Farming 23,043, and Mining and Quarrying grew by 8,073, Manufacturing saw 1,048, Construction 1,158, Hotels, Bars and Restaurants, 1,494, Public Administration and Defense, 1,703, Transportation and Communication, 1,541.

The total number of people with jobs in October 2010 was 3,768,362, and this figure increased by 125,283, and ended with 3,893,645 people with jobs in April 2011.

The report indicates that of the 3.7 million people employed last October, 1.6 million were in the formal sector, 42.9% and 2.1 million were in the informal sector, equal to 57.1%.

Meanwhile, in April this year, the number of people in employment totaled 3.8 million, with formal workers numbering 1.6 million, but slightly better than in October, equal to 43.3% and the informal workers numbered 2.2 million or 56.7% of the entire workforce. Of the jobs created from October 2010 to April 2011, 55,771 were informal and represent 44.5%, while the formal jobs numbered 69,512 or 55.5%.

Within Latin America, the country is next to Mexico, Venezuela and Brazil in the average number of informal jobs in the region.

The report shows that the average income per hour's work increased by RD$2.90 an hour, going from RD$73.28 to RD$76.14 between October 2010 and April this year. The average number of hours worked each week, according to the survey, remained at around 42 hours.

The Central Bank stresses that 55.5% of the new jobs created are in the formal sector, some 69,512 net jobs, for a growth of 4.3% compared to the number of formal jobs in October 2010. The bank indicates that the Dominican Republic is next to Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama and Peru among the countries of the region where formal employment increased between 3% and 5% in the period since the world economic crisis, and that the country's sustained economic growth has shown a net increase of 714,286 new jobs since October 2004.

http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias_det.php?id=298376

4. First wind farm goes on line in August
The long-awaited inauguration of the country's first major wind farm will take place on 4 August, according to a report in El Nuevo Diario. The mega-project is located in Juancho, between Enriquillo and Pedernales, and will generate 33 megawatts of electricity to the area, providing energy for tourism development and saving millions in fuel bills.

There are 19 huge windmills, 14 of which are well over 300 feet in height.

The US$90 million investment in the wind farm was a joint initiative by EGE-Haina and the Punta Cana-Macao Energy Consortium. The exact location of the large project is in Los Cocos and Quilvio Cabrera in the southwestern province of Pedernales, between Enriquillo and Oviedo. This is the first stage of the project begun in 2006 and which will eventually contribute 100 megawatts to the national grid.

5. Government will not allow fuel monopoly
Industry and Commerce Minister Manuel Garcia Arevalo warns that the government will not permit any business group, whether national or international, to monopolize the nation's fuel sales and distribution. He said the ministry would be watchful for any irregularities affecting the sale of gasoline and diesel, according to a report in El Nuevo Diario.

Garcia Arevalo also said that any irregularities in fuel sales would be investigated and punished according to what is stipulated in the Constitution of the Republic.

His comments were made in response to a report by the National Gasoline Retailers Association (Anadegas) and the Autonomous Petroleum Transport Drivers Union of an alleged maneuver by the Sol group of Venezuela to acquire the holdings of Texaco Dominicana.

6. Hundreds of thousands don't work or study
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has released some interesting data on the young people of the Dominican Republic as part of the celebration of World Population Day. The most revealing statistics are the facts that 29% of young people are unemployed, 50% are high school dropouts and nearly 700,000 are not in school or in employment. These figures are based on estimates by the Dominican Republic Ministry of Labor.

Local UNDP representative Valerie Julliand took part in the ceremony along with Sonia Vasquez from the UNFPA and the Ministers of Education, Josefina Pimentel, Labor, Max Puig, Youth, Franklin Polanco and Women, Alejandrina German.

UN Population Fund spokeswoman Sonia Vasquez stressed that 40% of the general population, some 2.7 million, are young people.

Vasquez said that young adolescents merit special attention, affected as they are by very high levels of sexual and commercial exploitation and pregnancies, which are often unwanted. The pregnancy rate in Dominican adolescents is over 20%, one of the highest in the world.

She went on to say that the gap between rich and poor is increasing and city growth and internal migrations are on the rise. The new campaign is called "7 billion, count on me, count on you."

7. Supreme Court judges want deluxe retirement
Amidst preparations for the convocation of the National Council of Magistrates, six Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) judges are demanding the recognition of a series of rights, once they are forced to retire since they have passed the retirement age of 75. The position is taken in a communication dated 5 July 2011, signed by magistrates Rafael Luciano Pichardo, the deputy chief justice of the SCJ, Hugo Alvarez Valencia, the presiding judge of the Penal Chamber, Juan Luperon Vasquez, the chief magistrate of the Third Chamber, Jose E. Hernandez Machado, Pedro Romero Confesor and Dario Fernandez Espinal.

The magistrates submitted a motion to be considered and approved by the Council of the Judicial Branch. The first point of the request and the one for which they are seeking approval from the government is that members of the Judicial Branch should receive, once retired, the same salary that they received at the moment of their retirement. The salary of magistrate Luciano Pichardo, who is the presiding magistrate of the Civil Chamber is RD$297,468, Hugo Alvarez Valencia's is RD$288,315, Hernandez Machado, Romero Confesor and Fernandez Espinal each receive RD$274,586, according to a Diario Libre.

As part of the pensions, they propose to receive the money assigned for fuel and food, excluding expense accounts, and medical insurance of the same category as the judges who will replace them. Also, they want a driver and security to be assigned day and night. They would like to explore the possibility of purchasing the vehicles that were assigned to their use over the last three years. "All these are utilitarian vehicles, with nothing extra, Toyotas," they stated. If not, they suggest that they be allowed to use them, with the retired judges taking on the expense for maintaining them and the civil responsibility associated with a motor vehicle, eliminating the license plate that they now carry. All this assumes that the new magistrates who will replace them will be assigned new means of transportation.

The request from the Supreme Court judges should be heard by the members of the Council of the Judicial Branch, chaired by Jorge Subero Isa, Dulce Rodriguez de Goris, Samuel Arias Arzeno, Francisco Arias Valera and Elias Santini Perera. Eleven of the 14 judges who make up the current Supreme Court will complete, next August, 14 years of uninterrupted service on the bench. They were chosen by the National Council of Magistrates during its session, held on 3 August 1997, which was chaired by President Leonel Fernandez. The remaining three judges were designated in 2001 by the CNM that was headed by President Hipolito Mejia. They were Hernandez Machado, Romero Confesor and Fernandez Espinal.

8. Remember your purchases
Air France sales manager in the Dominican Republic Maria Esther Velazquez has warned passengers about a wave of robberies of valuables and jewelry that has been affecting the airline for several months. According to El Nuevo Diario, the robberies occur when cleaning personnel enter the aircraft after a transatlantic flight and while they are cleaning up they go through items either left by departing passengers or left in the seats of passengers who are in transit. These are duty-free items that were purchased on board the aircraft. Velazquez said that no Air France personnel are involved, and the incidents have been reported to the head of the Airport Authority, Aristides Fernandez Zucco.

9. Figueroa Agosto saga continues
According to most of today's newspapers, the District Attorney for the National District, Alejandro Moscoso Segarra has revealed that the assets seized that had come from the criminal activities attributed to the alleged network in the country linked to Puerto Rican capo Jose David Figueroa Agosto total more than RD$500 million. He added that the authorities would request the confiscation of the assets during the trial currently under way in the First Collegiate Tribunal of the Penal Chamber of the Court of First Instance of the National District.

He commented that in addition, assets for more than US$100 million and said to belong to Figueroa Agosto are being seized in Puerto Rico.

"The (assets) that we have identified in the Dominican Republic have been seized and we are asking for their confiscation, this is one of the requests that the Justice Department will make when the time comes," he stated. The official noted that the Justice Department has not considered making a request of confiscation in Puerto Rico, nor do they know anything about formal request by the United States in this matter. Nevertheless, Moscoso Segarra said that the Vienna Convention allows the Dominican Republic and the United States to make a joint request about the seizure and confiscation of assets from criminal activities.

10. The corpse in the wheel chair
The Ministry of Public Health has acknowledged that incorrect management was involved in the case of a man who died at the Francisco Moscoso Puello Public Hospital. As reported in El Caribe, which carried the photo of the seated corpse of the man wrapped in a sheet on the paper's front page yesterday, 66-year old Luis Duarte died in a chair in the hospital's cholera unit. His relatives complained that he had not received the correct treatment. Deputy Public Health Minister Nelson Rodriguez said that Luis Duarte had been admitted to the Plan B of the cholera unit but was not seen as a seriously ill patient, and thus did not receive a bed. He had a heart attack and died when he asked to go to the bathroom," said the deputy minister. Rodriguez visited El Caribe accompanied by hospital director Roberto Lafontaine. The Ministry of Public Health says that the incidence of cholera in the DR continues to be low at 0.01. So far, 76 people have died of the disease. Yesterday there were 40 patients in the Moscoso Puello cholera unit.

11. Laws are only for the poor
The director of the Department for the Prevention of Administrative Corruption (DPCA) told the press yesterday that the legal system is not designed to penalize politicians in the case of corruption. "He explained that criminal law has been designed as a mechanism of control over the governed and thus people who have lots of economic power, such as drug traffickers, are unlikely to be penalized in the Dominican Republic," said the government official. He said the criminal law was conceived to penalize people who are vulnerable and do not have means to defend themselves. Last week President Leonel Fernandez said that there are no convictions in 90% of the criminal cases sent to justice. Bonilla speculated that the number could be closer to 95%. He says that now that new Supreme Court judges will be appointed this situation should be taken into account. Bonilla spoke during a visit to the Ministry of Youth to express his support for the five young Dominicans who are seeking to set a new Guinness World Record for reading aloud by a team.

As reported in El Caribe, lawyer Francisco Alvarez said that the problem of impunity in the country is not in the legal codes but in the will to persecute crime. "It's very clear that what has been missing are not the rules for fighting corruption, but the will," said Alvarez. He said that was the main flaw in the country's justice system.

12. Impunity in Angel Christopher case
On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the murder of aviation official Angel Christopher Martinez, his family has issued a call for prosecutors to move on the case, as reported in El Caribe. Erick Christopher, the son of the deceased, said he would then take the case to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. He said that no one has been tried in the case. Erick Christopher called on the authorities to investigate flight standards director Ivan Vasquez and Colonel Fausto Isais Guzman. He said that his father had discovered a powerful mafia inside the Civil Aviation Institute and that was why he was murdered. Angel Christopher was shot dead by persons unknown in Santo Domingo East on 12 July 2006.

13. Large number of suicides stirs debate
According to Police reports, 11 people have committed suicide over the last four days. An alarming number, if you consider that five of these suicides occurred between last Friday and Saturday. According to psychiatrist Cesar Mella, the spike in the cases registered over the last few weeks, which he described as worrisome, could be due to three elements: the widespread violence that the country is experiencing, the desperation caused by the oppressive economic situation and problems in the quality of life in general, cause by the deficiencies in essential basic services. He stressed that this has a greater effect on the lower income sectors, oppressed as they are by the high cost of the family basket and the lack of opportunities.

"If you add to this the fact that between 5% and 7% of the adult population suffer from nervous depression, this is, at times, the way that is used by the anguish of the human being to end life, beginning with thoughts of suicide, then you can understand that there is a socio-cultural and socio-psychological context that could lead to an explanation," he told Diario Libre. Another element that he noted merited attention is that hanging has been the most frequent method used among the latest reported suicides. "Unfortunately, it is one of the most effective methods," he pointed out.

Dr. Mella said that it is important for community and social spaces like churches should be aware of the signs that a person expresses when they are faced with a situation of depression with thoughts of suicide. He added, moreover, that although the stigma of visiting a psychologist or a psychiatrist has diminished, it is a service that is beyond the means of people on a low income. "Psychological services are not fairly distributed, beside the fact that in private practice the services are very expensive. The few that exist in the public sector are not sufficient to cover the demand."

14. Tropical waves to bring rains
The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) is warning of heavy rains falling due to tropical waves moving towards the DR. On Wednesday and Thursday, there should be rains over a large portion of the national territory. Onamet forecast rains with thunder and lightning in Hato Mayor, El Seibo, Monte Plata, Sanchez Ramirez, Dajabon, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Samana, Duarte, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, La Vega, Peravia, San Cristobal and San Jose de Ocoa. Rains are also expected in the National District, Barahona and La Romana.

15. Opera in Santo Domingo
To celebrate its 38th year, the National Theater is staging Rustic Chivalry (Cavalleria Rusticana), the classic Italian opera by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci, adapted from a play by Giovanni Verga. The opera is memorable in that the late Carlos Piantini, first director of the Theater, chose it for the inaugural events.

Theater director Nini Caffaro told the press: "It is an important challenge that I am heading the Theater at this time. An opera version concert had not been staged for many years. Artists known for their performances at the Metropolitan Opera House and local lyric singers will be onstage," he said when making the announcement.

Soprano Cynthia Lawrence, baritone Jason Stearns and tenor Eduardo Vila of the Metropolitan Opera House of New York are the international guest stars. From the Dominican Republic, the singers will be mezzo-soprano Pura Tyson and contralto Greymer Perez.

The National Choir and the Choir of the Judicial Branch, accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Jose Antonio Molina will also be on stage.

Tickets will go on sale for RD$1,500, RD$800 and RD$500 to ensure that as many people as possible can attend the opera.

The opera will be staged on 11 August.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/4744089538_ec29d9903b_b.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/4744089660_83ee6a6ea2_b.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/4744089758_cf5a1ceda0_b.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

1. President inaugurates bridges and roads
President Leonel Fernandez continued his tour of the country inaugurating public works, this time in Puerto Plata. Those attending demanded more public works.

The President cut ribbons for four bridges and several roadways in Luperon, Puerto Plata which cost RD$700 million. According to Hoy newspaper the bridges cross the Bajabonico, the Mango de Yasica, Vuelta Larga along the highway between Imbert and Luperon and over the Unijica River in Villa Isabela. All that money also rebuilt four kilometers of roadway from Isabela to Estero Hondo, Punta Rucia and Ranchito de los Vargas.

After a blessing by the Bishop of Puerto Plata, the provincial governor gave thanks to the President and told the nation's leader how the new roadway will solve so many daily problems for school children and adults. A resident of El Estrecho also thanked the President.

Public Works Minister Victor Dias Rua told the audience that in answer to many requests for residents of Puerto Plata, the ministry will undertake the repair of the wharf and harbor so that it can be used by cruise liners. He said that the tender would be announced in the newspapers in a few days time.

2. Leonel gets ready for CNM
President Leonel Fernandez has entrusted Vice President Rafael Alburquerque and Presidential Minister Cesar Pina Toribio to work on the preparations for convening the National Council of Magistrates (CNM), which could happen any minute. According to a National Palace source, the Vice President and the minister will be immersed in preparations for convening the CNM, the organization that will select the members of the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) and the Constitutional and Higher Electoral tribunals. Meanwhile, expectations are growing. Some civil society groups will be pressuring them to choose the Supreme Court judges first and then, later on, the judges for the two tribunals. All this has generated questions of intrigue and speculation in some sectors. Earlier this month, the Presidential Minister announced that the CNM meeting would be postponed until Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Subero Isa returned from an overseas trip. He got back last weekend.

Throughout yesterday morning, Pina Toribio held meetings with several key figures at his office in the Presidential Palace, including legislators and a Constitutional Law expert, Cristobal Rodriguez, who, as he left, denied that the CNM had been discussed at the meeting. Nevertheless, he said it was understood that the Council of Magistrates had to be convened, on the understanding that the presidential elections are less than a year away and the Electoral Tribunal that will administer the conflicts has still not been appointed.

3. Deputies approve marriages
The Chamber of Deputies approved after a second reading a legislative proposal that regulates marriages celebrated by non-Catholic churches in the Dominican Republic. The legislation now goes to the Senate for study and consideration. Both Diario Libre and El Nuevo Diario have reported on the way that this legislation has been widely questioned by the Catholic Church, which feels that there may be a lack of effective controls over the ceremony and its registration in the public records.

4. The IMF will deliver US$348 million
With the IMF board of directors' approval of the latest Letter of Intent and reviews of the Stand-by Arrangement of November 2009, the international financial agency will disburse US$348 million for use by the Dominican Republic. Customs director Rafael Camilo said that the money would be most important for this year's budget and next year's as well.

The IMF said that the board also approved a non-observance waiver regarding some of the performance criteria in the current balance of the public electric sector and waivers for applicability of the relevant criteria for the end of June 2011. They also approved the modification of the performance criteria on the current balance of the public electricity sector and the net domestic assets of the Central Bank for the end of September 2011 and the end of December 2011. What the IMF calls the Stand-by Arrangement is a 28-month deal by which the Fund will provide Special Drawing Rights for about US$1.74 billion at the current rate of exchange. The government says this money will be used for education and other social projects, as well as shoring up the Central Bank's financial reserves and maintaining long-term macro-economic stability.

The IMF recognized that "fiscal management was complicated by rising oil prices, which inflated electricity subsidies in the absence of a flexible pricing mechanism."

5. Deputies also approved the sale of lands
The deputies of the Lower Chamber have approved the sale of 245,000 m2 of former sugarcane cultivation lands by the Porvenir Sugar Mill to the Magic Blue Inversiones, S.A. for US$2,575,000. The lands are in the province of San Pedro de Macoris. While the legislators accepted the report presented by the commission and voted in favor of the bill, Deputy Juan Hubieres pointed out that they were selling land for a tourist complex at ten pesos (sic) a meter which he described as cheating the Dominican people. Another deputy, Josefa Castillo said that Congress was giving away the country bit by bit.

6. Ministry's Wi-Fi a failure
There are places in Santo Domingo city center where users can receive a wireless Internet signal (Wi-Fi) that says "Secretaria Juventud". But despite an investment of more than RD$70 million by the Ministry of Youth (MJ) for the start of a free public Internet project in 2006, the network does not work. This was confirmed by a team of Diario Libre reporters yesterday who traveled to the 10 "hot spots" of Wi-Fi coverage announced in the first stage. One of these points was just outside the Ministry of Youth, where the network could not be picked up. In others, like Abraham Lincoln Avenue, the computers received a message of "error in trying to access network."

Youth Minister Franklin Rodriguez has been postponing conversations with Diario Libre reporters. Briefly, he explained that they are trying to revamp the project with the support of institutions like the National District Municipal Government, but he has yet to provide the details. The original idea was part of the Project to Reduce the Digital Gap, which included: Free Internet Wi-Fi, Youth Information Technology Centers to get information, and a Direct Assistance Program. In the initial stages, the Internet Wi-Fi had a reach of five kilometers from the Ministry of Youth. It was to have 256 repeaters (which were to be installed by the National District city council) distributed slowly and strategically in the National District, with a capacity to handle 17,000 users.

Originally planned for widespread use by students at the UASD and UTESA in Santo Domingo, it has not worked since its inauguration in 2006. The second phase of the plan was due to include Santiago, but it seems to be on hold at the moment.

7. Santiago announces Expo Cibao 2011
The Santiago Chamber of Commerce has announced the dates for its multi-sector fair, Expo-Cibao 2011. The event will take place at the Barranquita Sports Complex in the south of the city from 14 to 18 September. Now in its 24th year, the fair's slogan for this year is "Quality Jobs Equal Competitiveness and Development."

Social Responsibility Committee spokeswoman Raquel Pena announced that several cars would be raffled to raise funds for their two charities during the event: the Valve Bank for Hydrocephalic Children and the Program for Cataract Surgeries. Chamber president Maria Victoria Menicucci said that the theme of this year's fair, which is to fight for jobs that provide insurance for workers as well as a dignified retirement, also provides taxes as a means of development for the country.

Pena highlighted, as reported in El Caribe, that the fair is the perfect place for companies to showcase their innovations and reach new market segments, while announcing special offers, keeping up the brand name and maintaining an institutional presence.

8. Popular denies buyout
In an advertisement to all its clients and to the general public, the Banco Popular Dominicano reported yesterday that the reports that have circulated recently about the possible sale of the bank were false.

In a press release published by all of the nation's newspapers, the bank reminded people that throughout its 47 years of history it has received a series of offers for stock purchases from international institutional investors, because of its growing and successful performance and its leadership in the financial markets.

The press release confirmed that the bank had received offers from prospective investors during the first half of 2011. Nevertheless, all these proposals had been rejected.

The Banco Popular stressed that today it is number one in all of the areas of the national banking business and that its performance during the last six months had exceeded expectations and surpassed the average returns of the banking market, a fact that consolidates it as a successful business model.

9. PLD will officially proclaim Danilo on 28 August
Last night the PLD Political Committee approved a decision to hold on 28 August the official announcement of Danilo Medina's candidacy as the presidential candidate for next year's elections. At the end of the meeting, Reinaldo Pared Perez reported that in addition, and at the same time, the party would hold a Convention of delegates in order to comply with the stipulations of the Electoral Law 275-97. The PLD also decided to ratify Pared Perez as Senate president and Cristina Lizardo as vice-president and Abel Martinez and Yomaira Medina as the president and vice-president of the Chamber of Deputies.

On the issue of leadership roles in all the city councils and the spokespersons from the congressional blocs, the committee set up commissions for each chamber to lead the election process. The meeting, held in the PLD Presidential House on Dr. Pineyro Street in Santo Domingo's Zona Universitaria, began at about 8:30pm with the arrival of President Fernandez and ended at 11pm. Vice-President Rafael Alburquerque, Environment Minister Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal and Jose Tomas Perez, a former candidate for the nomination, all sent their apologies.

10. DNCD says entire families sell drugs
National Drug Control Department chief Major General Rolando Rosado Mateo has told reporters that entire families are now involved in the drug business as a way of life. The general was not kind to the justice system as he said that this is the result of the poor message that judges are sending offenders by freeing people brought up on drug charges despite the evidence presented. He added that in the end, this also undermines the strength and energy of the law enforcement agents. He was forthright in his comments to El Caribe reporters, saying: "If the big drug dealers have a revolving door and the medium-sized ones also, those down the line have to follow the example of what they are seeing, and what we are seeing is a production of these families whose members are involved in the sale and distribution of drugs."

The general gave examples of families in the National District and Salcedo, who use the youngest members of the family for deliveries. He mentioned specifically the family of Tonton Simeon, four brothers and sisters and two children who have all been arrested on more than one occasion.

Referring to this and other cases, including the one involving the accused member of the Cibao Cartel Nadim Bezi, recently released from custody by a judge in Samana, Rosado Mateo was energetic yet revealed a feeling of impotence when he talked about the Penal Process Code and its weaknesses in fighting drugs and drug trafficking.

He said that one family was caught "in flagrante delicto", which is covered under the code, and the man had drugs on him, the woman had the house full of drugs and the judge let them go because there was no prosecutor present during the arrest. Rosado Mateo mentioned article 224 of the Code which allows the Police to make arrests 'in flagrante delicto', but the judge ignored this. He mentioned several other cases during a luncheon meeting with El Caribe reporters, including the case of the Colombian Juan Reinaldo Ramirez Rendon, caught with 450 kilos of cocaine in 2008 and sent to 20 years in jail, but the sentence was changed by a judge some months later. In 2010, the same person was caught with 100 kilos of cocaine and a judge set him free on bail.

www.elcaribe.com.do/site/nacionales/282261-dncd-hay-familias-completas-que-se-dedican-a-la-venta-de-drogas.html

11. AG prohibits embargos without prosecutors
The Attorney General of the Republic, Radhames Jimenez Pena, has reached an agreement with the National Association of Hotels, Bars and Restaurants (Asonahores) to draw up some regulations that control the use of embargoes in the nation's tourist areas. According to Hoy newspaper, Pena said that he would instruct local prosecutors to prohibit embargoes from being carried out without the authorization of the Justice Department. He indicated that in order to instruct the local District Attorneys he only needed to wait for the swearing in of the members of the Council of the Judicial Branch. He said that the measure would be extended to the National District, whose District Attorney, Alejandro Moscoso Segarra, has already ordered the prohibition of the embargoes through a memorandum.

12. Police order protection for travelers from AILA
National Police chief Major General Polanco Gomez has ordered patrols to be reinforced along the Las Americas Highway between the Las Americas International Airport (AILA) and downtown Santo Domingo. This step was taken as a result of the latest wave of robberies targeting travelers coming from the airport. Polanco ordered ten elite "Lynx" unit police patrols to carry out 24-hour monitoring and vigilance along the roadways around the airport and leading to the capital. Some units will also patrol the highway to the east, towards San Pedro de Macoris. Hoy also reports that the patrols will be watching people who get into taxis and will check to see that no vehicle or motorcycle takes off after the newly arrived passengers and their luggage.

13. Dominican wins Optimist International
The overall winner of the Optimist International Regatta just finished in Boca Chica was Matias Dyck of Ecuador, followed by Joan Cardona from Spain, and Scott McKenzie, of St. Thomas.

But Dominican sailor Justina Pacheco won first place for girls in the International Optimist Regatta, a preparatory for the World Optimist Championships that will be held next year. Runner up was Jennifer Cropley of the UK, and Maria Paz Pacheco was third. In the under-12 category, Juan Martin Pacheco won first, followed by Matilde Alvarez and Santiago Pacheco, all from the DR.

Around 60 sailors from 17 countries came for the weeklong event held in Boca Chica and Andres waters and hosted by the Santo Domingo Yacht Club.

14. Verano Presidente
Enrique Iglesias and Tito El Bambino are booked for performances on Friday, 2 September at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo. Tickets are for sale at RD$10,000 special guest, RD$3,000 VIP, RD$900 ground and RD$600 stands.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

AGORA MALL UPDATE

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/img00434201107181517.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/img00435201107181517.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/img00436201107181517.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

25988099

26327843

26634359

SANTO DOMINGO.— La Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA) inauguró este miércoles sus nuevas oficinas administrativas en el Puerto de Haina Oriental, obra levantada a un costo de 57 millones de pesos y que convierte a la dependencia estatal en una de las más modernas de la región.

El acto, encabezado por el director de la DGA, licenciado Rafael Camilo, contó con la presencia de altos funcionarios del gobierno y representantes de todos los sectores que intervienen en el proceso de comercialización transfronterizo.

Estas nuevas instalaciones en el Puerto Haina Oriental permitirán unificar y reorganizar las oficinas de la DGA, teniendo en cuenta las diferentes funciones de la composición aduanal y la distribución funcional de los diferentes departamentos, todo lo cual se expresará en un mejor desempeño en los procedimientos en el mercado transfronterizo.

Se utilizaron todos los dispositivos necesarios para evitar niveles de contaminación al medio ambiente, procurando el uso de equipos y materiales calificados con esos fines, garantizando, además, la seguridad de las instalaciones ante fenómenos y desastres naturales.

La reorganización ha permitido un ambiente más confortable para las labores del personal, la agilización de los trámites burocráticos y el ofrecimiento de un servicio más eficiente y transparente a la ciudadanía y a todos los sectores productivos del país.

Las nuevas instalaciones también permiten un mayor control de la evasión fiscal y el comercio ilícito, así como una disminución de los costos de funcionamiento y mantenimiento de las diferentes administraciones del país.

Esta nueva imagen corporativa logrará en lo inmediato una mayor captación de recursos, disminución de costos de funcionamiento y mantenimiento de plantas físicas, logrando reducir significativamente fugas y mecanismos de corrupción, generando un mayor ahorro a la DGA, y por lo tanto al Estado dominicano.

Los anteriores beneficios garantizan que la inversión realizada en esta obra pueda ser recuperada, gracias a la adquisición de mejores y mayores controles administrativos, en un plazo no mayor de 5 años.

http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/renderimage.aspx?s=16&m=0&i=66A6C1ED-0FFB-4C61-9123-E774471BAA4C&f=530


http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/renderimage.aspx?s=16&m=0&i=52529A5F-4521-4915-891F-7A1C22976E79&f=530

ETED inaugurará este jueves Autopista Eléctrica Santiago-Santo Domingo; LF encabezará acto

presidente Leonel Fernández, encabezará este jueves la inauguración de la Autopista Eléctrica de 345 kilovatios entre Santiago y Santo Domingo uno de los proyectos más grande que en su naturaleza se ha construido en Centro América y el Caribe. El acto de inauguración está pautado para las once de la mañana en la comunidad El Naranjo, Santiago de Los Caballeros. La obra estuvo a cargo de la Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica Dominicana (ETED) y fue ejecutada con una inversión superior a los 120 millones de euros.

El ingeniero Julián Santana Araujo, director de esa entidad, declaró que esta línea es de gran significación histórica para el país, ya que se podrá transportar toda la energía disponible en los centros de producción hacia los de distribución, con lo que se eliminarán los desniveles del voltaje de todo el Valle del Cibao.

Precisó que la Autopista Eléctrica tiene una longitud de 130 kilómetros de redes soportadas en 325 torres de alta resistencia, la cual enlazará toda la zona del Cibao con el resto del país, lo que permitirá llevar energía a 345 mil voltios.

Asimismo, recalcó que esta obra se ha podido finalizar gracias a los esfuerzos y el apoyo del Presidente de la República, quien posee una visión integral del problema eléctrico en la República Dominicana.

El acto de inauguración está pautado para las once de la mañana de este jueves, en la comunidad El Naranjo, de Santiago de Los Caballeros.

El país es atractivo a plásticos

Santo Domingo
El incremento de los costos del transporte y de la logística a nivel mundial hacen más atractivas las compras de productos de la industria del plástico de República Dominicana por países cercanos gracias a su ubicación geográfica. Esto haría posible mantener un crecimiento sostenido de las exportaciones del sector.

Así lo expuso Roberto Frankenberg, presidente de la Asociación Dominicana de Industrias de Plásticos (Adiplast) durante el lanzamiento de la asociación y de la primera junta directiva de esa institución, la cual fue impulsada por la Asociación de Industrias (AIRD).

Señaló, sin embargo, que este crecimiento “sólo será posible si contamos con los mecanismos jurídicos de fomento de las exportaciones y la facilitación de nuestros negocios por parte de organismos como la DGA, el CEI-RD, Proindustria, Medio Ambiente y Salud Publica, entre otros”.

Explicó que el sector del plástico está constituido por más de 200 empresas, que exportan más de 210 millones de dólares y que generan alrededor de 25,000 empleos directos e indirectos.

Destacó que está compuesto en su gran mayoría por pequeñas y medianas empresas, ya que apenas un 3% puede calificarse como grandes empresas.

En los últimos 18 meses el sector industrial de plástico viene experimentando un crecimiento sostenido de más de un 7%, mayor al registrado por otros subsectores de la industria dominicana.

Actualmente se encuentra entre los principales 10 subsectores de la industria que tributan más al fisco y que mayores ingresos reportan al país.

Entre 2001 y 2010 las exportaciones crecieron un 400%, según las estadísticas.

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/5454283848_4521f04983_b.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/5453669813_8e1f1b3ef7_b1.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

1. Electricity Highway in operation
A key project aimed at providing solutions to the problems plaguing the power service in the north coast, the Electricity Highway of the North has been completed and has now entered into operation, as reported in the press. Siemens was responsible for the US$20 million contract from Empresa de Transmision Electrica Dominicana (ETED) for the third phase (A3) of the "345-kV Electric Highway" project. Siemens is still executing the two previous phases of this important project to improve power supplies in the northern region. The project includes the construction of two new electricity substations at 138/345kW located in Santo Domingo and Santiago respectively, plus the expansion of the existing five substations and connecting them to the national grid with 138kW transmission lines. Siemens worked with the consulting firm Decon.

2. RD$18 million for Symphony Orchestra
The Ministry of Culture has delivered RD$18 million to the National Symphony Orchestra. Symphony Director Jose Antonio Molina is directing a restructuring program. Culture Minister Jose Rafael Lantigua said the funds would enable the plan for the technical, musical and administrative re-organization of the orchestra to continue.

3. Where the RD$70 million went
Former Minister of Youth Manuel Crespo says that when he left the post in 2008, the Ministry WiFi network was working, but it was up to his successor, Franklin Rodriguez to continue the project. Diario Libre has reported that the WiFi system is not functioning, despite the Ministry announcing it was a RD$70 million project. Crespo said that the RD$70 million announced for the project in 2006 only RD$2 million was spent on the public Internet network. He said the money was used to purchase 3,000 computers, and to fund scholarships. He said the plan was for the City Government and the Dominican Telecommunications Institute to take over the project, which never happened.

www.diariolibre.com/noticias_det.php?id=298674

4. Dominican Republic bond yield
The Dominican Republic has placed US$500 million in bonds at a 6.95% yield due 2021 on international markets. As reported in Diario Libre, offers of more than US$3 billion were received within the first hour of the placement. Diario Libre reports that this is the lowest yield in the economic history of the DR. The economic team carrying out the transaction was made up by Hacienda Minister Daniel Toribio, Central Bank governor Hector Valdez Albizu, Department of Public Credit of the Ministry of Hacienda director Edgar Victoria and Roberto Cabanas, in charge of credit negotiations at the Department of Public Credit.

5. Youth employment program
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a loan for US$20 million to support the Ministry of Labor's National Employment System (NES). The key component of the project is its third generation of the Youth and Employment Program, which will benefit 24,000 socially vulnerable young people at an expected employment rate of at least 80% after the completion of the program. The program will provide entrepreneurship training, life skills training and incorporate practical technical-vocational skill training for sectors such as trading services and hotels and restaurants. The initiative is aimed at poor at-risk youth between the ages of 16 and 29, who are out of school and lack a regular job.

The unemployment rate among young people (aged 18-29) in the Dominican Republic is at 34 percent, more than doubling the rate for adults. Job quality is also an important issue among young people because most are mainly employed in the informal sector, where wages are low and opportunities for further development and training practically non-existent.

The IDB loan is granted for a term of 25 years to be disbursed in 5 years with a grace period of 5 years and an interest rate based on LIBOR. Local government counterpart funds totals $2 million.

6. SIN Media Group to release WikiLeaks here
A local media group, Grupo SIN announced it has received from Julian Assange, free of charge, around 2,000 confidential cables from the US Embassy in the Dominican Republic for reporting back to the US State Department. The documents were originally distributed to the five most influential dailies of the world n New York Times, Le Monde in France, El Pais in Spain, The Guardian in the UK and Der Spiegel in Germany.

Grupo SIN says it is the first TV media outlet in the world to receive the documents directly from the editor of WikiLeaks. The documents will be published through the programs, El Informe (Alicia Ortega), El Despertador and Noticias SIN.

A panel of prominent intellectuals will be responsible for analyzing, classifying and releasing the information. They include Bernardo Vega, a former Dominican ambassador in Washington and a historian and economist who has been reading classified documents of the US Department of State and the Embassy in Santo Domingo for more than 30 years. The other panel members are Rene Fortunato, best known for his historical documentaries, veteran journalists Juan Bolivar Diaz and Miguel Guerrero, and investigative journalists Marino Zapete, Edith Febles and Alicia Ortega.

Fernando Hasbun said that the material was obtained, free of charge, after months of international contacts until the signing of a formal agreement between Assange and Grupo SIN.

"At Grupo SIN, we believe that the release of these documents will contribute to making transparent the political and social doings in our country. The cables contain important revelations on the conduct and public and private activities of government officials, former officials, opposition politicians, judges and legislators," said Hasbun. Nevertheless, he said that if the life of anyone who is mentioned were in danger, their names would not be published.

Hasbun said that not all 2,000 documents would be published, "Because the information they contain is administrative and not relevant." Nonetheless, Hasbun said that all the documents that they do not publish would be published on the WikiLeaks site regardless of how irrelevant they may be.

In a statement, Assange said: "As an Australian from a colonized island I hold deep sympathy with the people of the Dominican Republic in their quest to understand what is happening inside their country and without. Partnering together with us in this mission to understand this important material from the United States Embassy in the Dominican Republic is SIN. I have spoken to some of their first rate investigative journalists and we hope over the coming weeks to bring you deep understanding of events in the past years concerning the Dominican Republic".

On Sunday 28th November 2010, WikiLeaks began publishing 251,287 leaked United States embassy cables, the largest set of confidential documents ever to be released into the public domain. The documents are intended to give people around the world an unprecedented insight into the US Government's foreign activities. http://wikileaks.org/

http://santodomingo.usembassy.gov/pr-101220.html

7. Supreme Court judges in the press
The Supreme Court judges who are about to retire, given the mandatory 75 retirement age, have been in the press for their request for retirement privileges including the same wages they are currently earning and benefits.

Today however, the local press published the translation of a WikiLeaks document that says the US considered revoking the US visa for vice president of the Supreme Court of Justice Rafael Luciano Pichardo. The cable dates back to 13 September 2006. Its translation is reprinted in El Caribe.

It says that president of the Supreme Court of Justice Jorge Subero said that Luciano Pichardo appeared to be deeply involved in official corruption and was possibly trying to subvert the case against those implicated in the Baninter bank fraud in 2003. The document states that Subero suggested the government would not take any action against Luciano Pichardo and thus the Embassy investigated whether the revocation of Luciano Pichardo's visa would be appropriate.

Commenting on the performance of Jorge Subero as president of the Supreme Court, the US Embassy document called Subero a "proactive leader who has great affinity with the rule of the law, public debate and the use of technology in the judicial sector."

But at the same time, comments that Subero "is not willing to directly confront corruption in the higher levels of government."

Local press highlighted that Subero said that Luciano Pichardo had admitted to having received US$40,000 from an unnamed person for an unnamed purpose. Subero also said that two of the sons of Luciano Pichardo also were involved in accepting large sums of money and that it was known that Luciano Pichardo asked the judge who presided over the criminal case against Baninter to exercise a certain flexibility in regards to motions of the defense.

In 2008, judge Rafael Luciano Pichardo admitted his son Rafael Alberto Luciano Corominas had been involved in the case of US$580,000 confiscated by the Customs authorities when his son, Juan Jose Martin Gomez and pilot Ovalles Tejada were arrested after arriving in the country on a private plane with US$580,000 in unreported cash. The Supreme Court judge said the pilot accepted full responsibility for the irregularly transported cash.

www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2011/7/20/385023/Subero-dice-a-EU-que-juez-Pichardo-recibio-US40000-de-alguien

www.diariolibre.com/noticias_det.php?id=14709&page=2

www.diariodigital.com.do/articulo,28314,html

www.7dias.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=65566

8. New mural on the Malecon
The late Candido Bido, Elsa Nunez and Amaya Salazar all contributed to the creation of a new mural on the Santo Domingo Malecon obelisk. The mural was created by artist Dustin Munoz, who called the composition "Allegory to Freedom". Each side of the obelisk measures 170 x 1,525 inches, for a total mural size of 680 x 1,525 inches.

9. Chinese porcelain
An important collection of Chinese porcelain is on exhibition in Santo Domingo at Printeria (Digicentro) on Romulo Betancourt Avenue near the intersection with Dr. Defillo Street. The exhibition is organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. The porcelain will be displayed until mid August. It seeks to promote the culture of ceramics, and expand trade while promoting artistic exchange between both countries. The ceramics come from the members of the Chamber of Commerce of Jingdezhen who collected important works to make up the exhibition.

10. Vicente Garcia
Talented singer and songwriter, Dominican Vicente Garcia will perform in Santo Domingo on Thursday, 28 July at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. He recently opened some of the concerts included on Mexican group Mana's popular Drama y Luz tour in the United States.

The young artist has also received a huge endorsement from Juan Luis Guerra, who has described Vicente Garcia's music as "truly beautiful".

Vicente Garcia has released his own debut album, Melodrama and later the single "Mi Balcon", described as an interesting mix of music that combines all the styles that have shaped the music of this crossover artist.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

1. 138/345kV electricity highway
President Leonel Fernandez inaugurated the Santiago-Santo Domingo electricity highway yesterday. The government says the project cost EUR120 million. Works began in July 2006 and they announced at the time that it would be completed in two years. The government described the project as the largest of its kind built in Central America and the Caribbean.

The project included the construction of two new electricity substations at 138/345kV located in Santo Domingo and Santiago respectively, plus the expansion of the existing five substations and connecting them to the national grid with 138kV transmission lines.

At the inaugural event, executive vice president of the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE) Celso Marranzini described the highway as "the second metro" built by the Fernandez government. He said the country would make savings of around US$130 million a year for losses on the grid in the past.

As reported, the 130km-long transmission line making up the 345kV Electric Highway power project links the country's two main industrial centers n Santiago and Santo Domingo.

One of the major contractors was Siemens, which was commissioned to supply the Empresa de Transmision Electrica Dominicana (ETED), the Dominican government contractor, with seven 345kV bays for Los Naranjos, the grid's main substation, and update two 138kV bays at the Canabacoa substation, two 138kV bays at the Pizarrete substation, and two 138kV bays at the Palamara substation.

Speaking at the inauguration, ETED chief executive Julian Santana said the start of operations of the network solves the voltage problems that affected the Cibao region, which up till now has depended on the substations of Palamara in La Vega, San Felipe in Puerto Plata and the hydroelectric generators.

2. President Fernandez to speak tomorrow
Better known for his muteness than for his communication with the Dominican public, President Leonel Fernandez announced this week that he would speak to the Dominican people in his role as the president of the ruling PLD party. Polls show the party's popularity has been sliding, attributed to widespread corruption and wasteful spending in government, alongside the rising cost of living in the Dominican Republic.

In an editorial today, Diario Libre comments that it is not clear why Leonel Fernandez will address the nation on Sunday in his role as president of a political party and not as President of the Republic when the topic he announced he would tackle is more civic than political.

Diario Libre says the President Fernandez has said he would "explain to the population the background of the serious international crisis that affects the world, and its impact on the Dominican Republic, the reasons of the measures the government has adopted and the perspectives for the immediate future of the nation."

"The impression that is had is that the government at least has become aware that it has to defend itself, that its silence from so long has given way to all kinds of conjectures and the image of the government is affecting the aspirations of the party into the next election."

The editorial writer suggests that the President should speak as President. "It would be more appropriate and sensible," concludes the writer.

Leonel Fernandez will speak at 8pm on Sunday evening, accompanied by the members of the Central Committee and other key figures from the PLD, legislators, mayors and councilors, announced Reinaldo Pared Perez, secretary general of the PLD and president of the Senate. He said the decision for the President to speak was taken by the party's Political Committee, which met on Tuesday. The speech will be televised and radiocast from the Barcelo Santo Domingo (former Gran Hotel Lina).

3. Tuesday, 16 August is a holiday
Labor Minister Max Puig has announced that this coming 16 August, Restoration Day will be a public holiday. Restoration Day commemorates the return of independence from Spain in 1865.

He said that this follows a decision by Supreme Court of Justice issued in February 2008 that established that the Day of the Restoration, 16 August, would always be celebrated on the 16th and be a holiday. Since children and universities are off for the summer holidays, this is likely to become a busy long weekend, with many taking time off from Friday, 12 through Tuesday, 16 August.

For more on holidays, see www.dr1.com/travel/prepare/holidays.shtml

4. Nighttime garbage collection
National District (Santo Domingo) mayor Roberto Salcedo says that he has added a nighttime garbage collection shift. The extra service will work in garbage collection in the Capotillo, Los Guandules and Gualey slum areas and along the Av. Prolongacion Independencia.

5. Municipalities reject budget cuts
The Federation of Dominican Municipalities (Fedomu) has rejected the 12% budgetary cuts announced by the government as a measure to reduce the Fernandez administration deficit. Following a meeting yesterday of the country's municipalities, Victor D'Aza, spokesman for the organization, described the cuts as "paradoxical and unacceptable." He said the municipalities' cash flow had already been hurting because the funds they receive have been stagnant for five years. He said overall the municipalities received a fixed amount of RD$14.98 billion, and many receive 500,000 to 1,000,000 million pesos a month. He warned that municipalities could collapse along with the garbage collection service. The current cholera epidemic demands more hygiene, not less, he added.

D'Aza said that they visited the Congressional Municipal Affairs Commission, chaired by Pedro Aguirre, who assured him that the deputies would vote to exclude the municipalities from the 12% cut proposed by the Executive Branch, as reported in El Dia.

6. Marijuana is leading drug used here
A national survey reveals that marijuana is the most consumed narcotic in the Dominican Republic. The poll was conducted late last year by Profamilia and the National Drugs Council (CND). The report indicates that of the narcotics consumed 2.6% consume tranquilizers without prescription, 2.3% marijuana, 1.1% cocaine, 0.4% crack and stimulants. Some 6,625 households and 6,180 people (aged 12 to 65) in cities with more than 20,000 inhabitants were polled for the survey.

CND president Mabel Feliz said that the country continues to be primarily a transshipment point and the consumption percentages could be reduced if all enforcement agencies worked together.

Francisco Caceres, a researcher for Profamilia, said that the prevalence of cocaine use is primarily in the Cibao and metropolitan area of Santo Domingo.

The poll also found that 41.3% of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 lived with just one parent, 38.8% with both parents, 14.5% with other people and 2.6% has a spouse and other relatives.

With regard to alcohol, 80.2% of those polled said they had consumed alcohol, 56.8% in the past 12 months, and 36.9% in the past month. 20% said they had smoked cigarettes at some point in their life.

7. Messenger gets 1.5-year jail sentence
The messenger who made headlines after taking off with RD$5.4 million that he should have deposited in the bank for his employers, received a five-year sentence, but will only spend one and a half years in jail. He will be out on conditional release for the remaining three and a half years of the term. Judge Elka Reyes said that the former messenger, Carlos Garcia Rojas, had reached an agreement with his former employer, Edward Francisco Almonte Tavares of the engineering company, Constructora Almonte Tavares. Garcia agreed to not bear weapons and not visit the company premises and to attend educational talks by the judge in charge of implementing the sentence, as reported in El Dia.

8. DR team to Mexico Pan Am Games
The Dominican Republic has registered athletes in 24 sports for the Guadalajara, Mexico Pan Am Games this fall, 14-30 October, the Dominican Olympic Committee announced yesterday as reported in Listin Diario. COD president Luis Mejia said 244 athletes were registered to meet the event's booking deadline, but the actual team could be smaller.

Mejia said that the Dominican athletes qualified to compete in badminton, basketball (men's), boxing, archery, equestrian events, fencing, gymnastics, handball (men and women), judo, sailing, skeet, swimming, track and field, table tennis, tae kwon do, volleyball, beach volleyball, weight-lifting and wrestling.

In the previous Pan Am Games that took place in Rio de Janeiro, the Dominican delegation won 29 medals (six gold, six silver and 17 bronze).

9. The Little Prince
Teatro Piede Puente presents a stage version of the classic Antoine de Saint-Exupery novel, The Little Prince at Teatro Guloya at Arz. Portes in Santo Domingo's Colonial City. Saturday 23 July and Sunday 24 July. Tickets RD$200. 5pm.

10. V Festival Enogastronomico Italiano
Casa de Italia is inviting food lovers to the 15th Enogastronomic Italian Festival. Sunday, 24 July as of 12 noon at the grounds of the Fortaleza Ozama in Santo Domingo. This is a family day for the Italian community in the Dominican Republic.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

Punta Cana airport launches official website, inaugurates new runway

Punta Cana, DR.– Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), the leading destination for travel in the Dominican Republic, launched its official website (www.puntacanainternationalairport.com), which has been designed to streamline the process of booking travel to the country.

Through the website, travelers will be able to book flights, hotel and car services, as well as track flights and access information on the region such as history, weather and customs details.

Additionally, Punta Cana International Airport is inaugurating a new runway that will increase the lift capacity of the rapidly expanding airport.

Punta Cana is the leading port of entry in the Dominican Republic and one of the fastest growing in the Caribbean. The new runway was built to support the growing demand for direct flights from major international cities.

"Punta Cana is the most highly visited vacation destination in the Caribbean, and we are thrilled to offer travelers the opportunity to find all the information they need to book a trip in one place," said Frank R. Rainieri, President and CEO of Grupo PUNTACANA.

* Este informe y foto son cortesia del periodico Dominican Today.

Samuel L. Jackson Teams With Indomina for Live-Action "Afro Samurai"


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/exclusive-character-bio-iafro-samuraii-20060717025038162640wproportioned_a_p_194.jpg


Afro Samurai, the cult hit manga and anime in which Samuel L. Jackson voices the main character, is making a bound to the big-screen, it was announced as Comic-Con 2011 took off in San Diego.

The Indomina Group, a U.S. and Dominican Republic-based producer and distributor of film, TV and trans-media content, is teaming with Jackson and Gonzo Studios, the company behind the Emmy-winning anime, to produce what would be a live-action adaptation.

Like its title suggest, Afro Samurai blends hip-hop and soul with Japanese elements. Set in a future and feudal Japan, the story follows a man seeking revenge for his father’s decapitation at the hands of Justice, a power-seeking man dressed as a cowboy.


The manga, by Takeshi Okazaki, was originally published in the late 1990s. An anime series made by Gonzo aired on Spike TV in the 2000s, and a 2009 TV movie special won a primetime Emmy, becoming the first anime to be
nominated and to win the TV award. RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan was behind the show’s music.

According to Indomnia, the plan is to attach a writer and director this summer and complete casting by the end of the yea in order to be able to shoot at Pinewood Indomina Studios in the Dominican Republic in 2012.

Indomnia is best known as a boutique distributor and next releases Griff the Invisible, starring True Blood's Ryan Kwanten, in select markets. It wants to make Afro Samurai its first feature film.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/comic-con-2011-samuel-l-213945


on0rcafP6FI

RD domina la captación de inversión extranjera en la región del Caribe


SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO. Pese al déficit del sistema energético y a otros problemas en materia de competitividad, República Dominicana se ubicó como el mayor receptor de inversión extranjera en el área del Caribe durante el año 2009 y primer cuatrimestre de 2010, y figura entre los países de mayor captación individual en la región de Centroamérica, según datos publicados por la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (Cepal).

El estudio del organismo -titulado "Inversión Extranjera en el área del Caribe 2009-2010"- establece que los flujos totales de inversión captados en la región caribeña durante ese período ascendieron a US$5,783 millones, de los cuales US$2,158 millones, o sea el 37%, se concentraron en la República Dominicana. En ese orden, el segundo mayor receptor fue Jamaica y el tercero Bahamas.

Eddy Martínez, director del Centro para la Exportación e Inversión de la República Dominicana (CEI-RD), en entrevista con Diario Libre, afirmó que la escalada de inversiones que registra el país es un resultado concreto del éxito que ha tenido la ofensiva del presidente Leonel Fernández en la búsqueda de capitales en el Exterior.

"La inversión extranjera acumulada en los últimos cinco años ya se ubica en la cifra récord de 11,000 millones de dólares, con una proyección positiva de crecimiento para el 2011, razón por la cual la atracción de nuevos capitales seguirá siendo uno de los ejes fundamentales de nuestra economía".

Dijo que el mandatario se ha convertido en el principal promotor del país, gracias al liderazgo del que goza en el escenario internacional y al éxito de las políticas económicas y financieras, que mantienen a la economía dominicana como una de las más estables y de las de mayor crecimiento en la región.

Explicó que en sus múltiples viajes al exterior y reuniones con inversionistas, el presidente Leonel Fernández promueve a República Dominicana como el "mejor destino de inversión de Latinoamérica y el Caribe", llevando personalmente el mensaje de las ventajas de la oferta dominicana para el desarrollo de negocios.

Estrategia contribuyó

La estrategia que desarrolla el país para promoción de las inversiones, contribuyó a la entrada de capital chino. a través de un financiamiento ascendente a US$462 millones en el proyecto turístico Punta Perla, en Punta Cana, y a que la famosa corporación multinacional sueca IKEA -con ventas anuales de más de 20 billones de euros en 24 países del mundo- eligiera el año pasado a la República Dominicana para ubicar su primera tienda de Latinoamérica.

Asimismo, en el área de manufactura se fortalecieron las operaciones de las empresas Corning Cable Systems, Eaton, Sara Lee y la farmacéutica Lilly.

Entre las nuevas inversiones captadas por Quisqueya destaca el proyecto Gems Cap Cana, de la empresa de capital estadounidense AM Resorts, con una ejecución inicial de US$400 millones para la construcción de cuatro hoteles de lujo en la zona Este del país.

También ha crecido el sector de las telecomunicaciones, a partir de la instalación de 60 nuevos "call centers" y la entrada de capital de firmas francesas y mexicanas, como es el caso de France Telecom y Claro.

Actualmente, las inversiones de Estados Unidos en Quisqueya rondan los US$4,974. 7 millones, le sigue España (US$2,932.8 millones), Canadá (US$2,699.9 millones) y México (US$1,396.8 millones), capitales concentrados en los sectores turismo, manufactura, telecomunicaciones y energía, según estadísticas del Banco Central dominicano.

Ofertas muy tentadoras

El Gobierno dominicano promociona internacionalmente paquetes de incentivos que benefician a las empresas que se instalen en zonas francas con exenciones de hasta un 100% en impuestos sobre las utilidades, tarifas aduanales, cargas municipales y en impuestos de importación y exportación, por un periodo de 15 años. También exonera de pago de impuestos -por diez años- a los proyectos de desarrollo de nuevos polos turísticos y asigna tasa cero a los proyectos agrícolas. Estos incentivos han disminuido substancialmente el costo de hacer negocios en RD.

El cónsul dominicano en Puerto Rico, Máximo Taveras, manifestó a Diario Libre que cada vez son más los empresarios boricuas que se acercan a la división de negocios de ese consulado buscando información sobre el marco regulatorio y los incentivos fiscales que ofrece el país a los inversionistas.

"Han venido fabricantes de puertas, persianas, toldos industriales, empacadoras de alimentos y empresarios del sector de la construcción, interesados en trasladar sus negocios a territorio dominicano para beneficiarse de una mano de obra más económica y de las ventajas fiscales que tendrían allá", afirmó.

Subrayó que las ofertas de Quisqueya a las empresas de inversión extranjera son muy tentadoras: "Aplican incentivos fiscales prácticamente insuperables, bajas tasas de interés, y escasas trabas a las exportaciones, a lo que se suman a ventajas tan atractivas como las de poder expatriar sus ganancias sin pago de impuestos y que los productos que procesen con un 45% de mano de obra local entren a los Estados Unidos libres de aranceles".

Inversiones boricuas

Sostuvo que en los últimos dos años República Dominicana ha recibido importantes inversiones de capital boricua, concentradas en su mayoría en proyectos turísticos inmobiliarios en Bávaro y La Romana y que varios empresarios han mostrado interés en participar en nuevos proyectos que se desarrollan en Samaná.

La estrategia que desarrolla Quisqueya para atraer inversiones es sencilla, según sostuvo Eddy Martínez, director del CEI-RD: "Nosotros ofrecemos a los inversionistas tasas arancelarias competitivas, amplias oportunidades de negocios a través de cinco tratados de libre comercio, mano de obra altamente productiva y una economía dinámica y en crecimiento".

En estos momentos, el Gabinete de Inversión -creado por el presidente Leonel Fernández para atender los temas inherentes a la inversión extranjera- se encuentra analizando varias propuestas de empresarios de la India y los Estados Unidos interesados en invertir en proyectos de energía, turismo y desarrollo de software en República Dominicana.

Entre las empresas postulantes, de capital estadounidense, se encuentran Greenhouse, Galt-Chairman y la CNN National Security, en su mayoría empresarios de la ciudad de San Diego, California, Estados Unidos


http://diariolibre.com.do/noticias_det.php?id=283977

Palacio Nacional.
archivo

22 Julio 2011, 12:37 AM
RD reconocida mundialmente por promover la transparencia
El ministro de la Presidencia ha sido invitado a participar en la iniciativa Gobierno Abierto

La República Dominicana ha sido reconocida como uno de los países con un serio compromiso para promover la transparencia, el combate a la corrupción, empoderamiento de los ciudadanos y utilización de nuevas tecnologías para mejorar el funcionamiento del Gobierno.

El reconocimiento se hizo al invitar al país a participar de la iniciativa de los gobiernos de los Estados Unidos y de Brasil denominada “Gobierno Abierto”, un esfuerzo global para hacer los gobiernos más eficientes, transparentes y en capacidad de rendir cuentas a sus ciudadanos, en Washington.

La invitación se hizo , a través del Ministerio de la Presidencia, cuyo titular César Pina Toribio, fue el único invitado del país. Los organizadores tomaron en cuenta los avances mostrados por el país en la Iniciativa Participativa Anti-Corrupción, promovida desde el ministerio.

El proyecto de “Gobierno Abierto”, es encabezado por los gobiernos de Estados Unidos y del Brasil, conjuntamente y por un comité formado por México, Filipinas, Sudáfrica, Noruega, Indonesia y Reino Unido.

Además forman parte del Comité las Organizaciones No Gubernamentales African Center for Open Governance de Kenya; Instituto de Estudios Socioeconómicos (Brasil), Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad (México), International Budget Partnership, MKSS (India), National Security Archive (Estados Unidos), Revenue Watch Institute, Transparency and Accountability Initiative y Twaweza (Tanzania).

“Sin lugar a dudas este reconocimiento se corresponde con los esfuerzos realizados por el presidente Leonel Fernández de establecer las bases de un Estado con las herramientas para ser cada vez más eficiente y transparente de cara a la población”, expresó el doctor Pina Toribio.

Explicó que “la República Dominicana forma parte de un selecto grupo de 60 países que sobresale en sus gestiones en favor de la transparencia en puntos tan importantes como las leyes de acceso a la información, declaraciones juradas de funcionarios, participación de los ciudadanos y medidas anticorrupción, entre otras”.

“Para poner un ejemplo la República Dominicana fue reconocida por disponer de una ley de acceso a la información y el programa Iniciativa Participativa ANTI-Corrupción (IPAC), es decir que se aprecian las políticas puestas en marcha por nuestro gobierno”, destacó el doctor Pina Toribio.

Las claves

1. Participantes

En la actividad participaron representantes de alto nivel de los gobiernos invitados, entre ellos la secretaria de Estado Hillary Clinton; el ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Brasil, Antonio Patriota; el contralor general de Brasil, Jorge Hage; el secretario de Asuntos Estratégicos de El Salvador, Francis Hasbún; el presidente del Comité de Ética y Transparencia del Senado de Chile, Hernán Larrain; el ministro de Planificación de Honduras, Arturo Corrales, y el ministro de Desarrollo del Gobierno de Israel, Michael Eitan; entre otros.

2. Gobierno Abierto

El proyecto Gobierno Abierto lo encabezan Estados Unidos y Brasil, y un comité formado por México, Filipinas, Sudáfrica, Noruega, Indonesia y Reino Unido.

Nuevos vuelos entre Punta Cana y Bogotá

Punta Cana, La Altagracia
Las relaciones comerciales y turísticas entre el país y Colombia se fortalecen, esta vez con la inauguración el pasado miércoles de vuelos directos entre Punta Cana y Bogotá, de las líneas aéreas Avianca y Taca.

Con esto se busca incrementar el número de turistas y viajeros colombianos que se interesan por este país, cifra que alcanzó los 30,000 visitantes en 2009, según informaciones del gobierno colombiano.

Todos los miércoles y sábados partirán vuelos desde la capital colombiana a la 1:00 de la tarde y llegarán al polo turístico a las 5:25 de la tarde. El vuelo inaugural se realizó el miércoles, desde Bogotá hasta Punta Cana, seguido de un acto en el que estuvieron ejecutivos de Avianca y del Consorcio Punta Cana.

Este primer viaje sobrepasó las expectativas, pues se contaba con un avión con capacidad para 120 pasajeros, sin embargo, tuvo que ser sustituido por uno con capacidad para más de 145 personas. Esta nueva frecuencia de vuelos se une a los cuatro que ya existen entre Bogotá y Santo Domingo, operados por Avianca.

“Este vuelo es sumamente importante para la región de Punta Cana y Bávaro. Debemos recordar que América del Sur se está convirtiendo rápidamente en un área de mucha importancia para el turismo”, dijo el presidente del Grupo Punta Cana, Frank Rainieri.

EL APORTE CON MÁS EMPLEOS
CRECIMIENTO
Frank Rainieri consideró que la buena aceptación de los usuarios en esta primera semana es un indicador del éxito que se proyecta tendrá esta nueva frecuencia.

Espera que estos dos vuelos semanales se incrementen los próximos meses. Además resaltó los beneficios de esta nueva frecuencia de vuelos para la comunidad, pues se pronostica un incremento del número de empleados del aeropuerto de Punta Cana. “Todo esto es de suma importancia, porque permite un mayor crecimiento y desarrollo económico para República Dominicana y es parte de los grandes aportes que recibe la industria turística”, dijo.

FUENTE: http://www.listindiario.com/economia...-Cana-y-Bogota

Ranieri pide aprovechar conexiones aéreas creadas por el turismo para aumentar exportaciones

PUNTA CANA.- Los sectores productivos deben aprovechar al máximo las oportunidades de exportación de bienes que ofrece la extensa red de conexiones aéreas con América y Europa creada por el desarrollo de la industria turística dominicana, planteó Frank Rainieri y definió al Grupo Puntacana como un promotor de la actividad exportadora a través de su aeropuerto.

El presidente del GRUPO Puntacana explicó que el turismo además de ser el principal destino para la producción del sector agrícola y agroindustrial dominicana, ha expandido de manera extraordinaria hasta hace dos décadas, limitadas fronteras de los mercados de exportación para los productos nacionales.

Rainieri habló en la apertura del seminario “Conectando al Mundo para la Importación y Exportación de Carga” que tiene lugar viernes y sábado en Puntacana Resort & Club y al que asisten diplomáticos, autoridades y empresarios vinculados a la actividad exportadora y representantes de sectores productivos.

Recordó que el año 1983 las opciones de transporte de carga por vía aérea disponibles se limitaban a los aeropuertos de San Juan, Miami y Nueva York, en aviones cuya limitada capacidad era utilizada principalmente para el equipaje de los pasajeros; a Europa sólo existía un vuelo diario Madrid-Santo Domingo; el aeropuerto de Puerto Plata estaba iniciando y tenía pocas operaciones y Punta Cana inició en 1984.

Este panorama, dijo, ha sido transformado por el desarrollo del turismo, que además crea un gran mercado para la producción local agrícola y agroindustrial, ha expandido de manera extraordinaria el acceso de la producción local a los mercados de exportación.

Rainieri dijo que el potencial del turismo como promotor de las exportaciones y facilitador del comercio internacional es uno de los aportes menos conocidos y analizados del desarrollo turístico, aunque es uno sus impactos positivos más importantes.

Explicó que el turismo, además de ser el principal consumidor para una variedad de empresas, tiene la virtud de convertir a los millones de extranjeros que nos visitan en potenciales consumidores de productos dominicanos, y al mismo tiempo ofrece a los exportadores los medios de transporte para que la producción local llegue a estos mercados.

Afirmó que el turismo está cambiando el comercio, la industria y la agroindustria ampliando el mercado interno y creando nuevas oportunidades, pero también está creando nuevas posibilidades para transformar el comercio importador y las exportaciones.

Citó como ejemplo que esta semana el Aeropuerto Internacional de Punta Cana (AIPC) establecerá un nuevo record con 323 vuelos, en comparación con 301 vuelos que llegaron en la misma fecha del año pasado y se exportaron 278 mil kilos de productos diversos, lo que significa un incremento de 26 mil kilos diarios promedio de la capacidad exportadora.

Rainieri planteó la necesidad de promover un nuevo enfoque en el comercio internacional, principalmente en las exportaciones locales, para aprovechar las oportunidades que está creando el turismo y aseguró que el GRUPO Puntacana se considera un socio comercial de los sectores productivos, tanto como cliente consumidor de sus productos como por su política de promoción de la actividad exportadora a través de su aeropuerto.

Visita total de pasajeros crece 3.5%; llegan a 2.4 MM semestre
La llegada de turistas no residentes superó los 2.2 millones

SD. En el primer semestre del año el país recibió 2.2 millones de pasajeros no residentes, para un aumento de 80,504 viajeros y relativo de 3.66% con relación a igual período 2010, por lo que se proyecta que este año supere los cinco millones, superior a los 4.2 millones del año anterior.

El resultado está influenciado por el aumento de 4.31% de los extranjeros no residentes producto de las promociones del sector privado y el Ministerio de Turismo, que permitieron la llegada al país de 2.2 millones de visitantes, de acuerdo al informe del Banco Central.

Para el período enero-junio la llegada total de pasajeros creció 3.5% producto del ingreso de 2.4 millones de viajeros por las diferentes terminales aéreas, lo que representa un incremento de 86,432 pasajeros con relación al volumen registrado en 2010.

De los 2.4 millones de pasajeros que llegaron al país en el primer semestre del año un 2.82%, igual a 216,107 son residentes, no importa si son extranjeros o dominicanos y un 3.66%, igual a 2.2 millones, son no residentes dominicanos o extranjeros. Para el primer semestre de este año llegaron al país 2,279,291 pasajeros no residentes, lo que representa apenas un incremento de 2.27% con relación a igual período del 2008.

Según residencia, al país llegaron en el semestre 82,621 turistas adicionales, lo que se explica por el significativo incremento de 47.69% que continúa registrando el flujo de pasajeros proveniente de América del Sur, igual a 59,705 visitantes adicionales.

El mayor flujo de turistas en el semestre provienen de América del Sur, en la que Argentina contribuyó con 20.851 visitantes, seguido por Brasil, con 19,366, Chile con 6,076, Colombia con 3,307, Venezuela con 3,115 y Perú con 2,866.

Desde inicio del 2010, destaca el informe del Banco Central, América del Sur se ha convertido en la región de mayor aporte en términos absoluto dentro de los mercados emisores de turistas a la República Dominicana.

Mientras que América del Norte muestra un aporte de 32,712 visitantes más que el año pasado, debido al crecimiento del mercado estadounidense que contribuyó con 29,895 turistas adicionales.

]A su vez, importantes mercados emisores de Europa como España e Inglaterra continúan registrando disminuciones en la llegada de turistas al país, los cuales fueron compensados parcialmente por los incrementos de países como Rusia, con 19,329 visitantes; Alemania con 5,064 e Italia con 4,063.

Aeropuertos

El aeropuerto de Punta Cana continúa líder en la llegada de pasajeros y en el primer semestre recibió 1.2 millones de visitantes extranjeros, igual a un 61% del total de pasajeros, seguido por Las Américas por donde ingresaron 394,775 pasajeros, para una participación de un 19.73%. En tercer lugar se encuentra la terminal de Puerto Plata, que en el semestre recibió el 10.36% de los turistas, seguido por La Romana, con el 3,38% y el Cibao, con el 3.21%. A La Isabela y el Catey arribó el 2.24%.

Incluida la Autopista Eléctrica Santo Domingo-Santiago

Gobernante inaugura obras millonarias en el área eléctrica en el Cibao

21 de Julio del 2011

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/3433/4b40193510c24c09b25de8d.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/24/4b40193510c24c09b25de8d.jpg/)

El NARANJO,Santiago.- El presidente Leonel Fernández dejó en servicio este jueves la Autopista Eléctrica Santo Domingo-Santiago, así como dos mega subestaciones, obras construidas por la Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica Dominicana (ETED), con una inversión de 124 millones de euros.

Se trata de la línea a 345 kilovatios de una longitud de 130 kilómetros de redes soportada en 325 torres de alta resistencia, la que enlazará la región del Cibao con el resto del país, contribuyendo a llevar energía en cantidad y calidad para el desarrollo de esa región.
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/3856/7c5a4ad37db34e09a406a4b.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/684/7c5a4ad37db34e09a406a4b.jpg/)
Las palabras centrales del acto fueron pronunciadas por el ingeniero Julián Santana Araujo, presidente de ETED, quien expuso la importancia de la obra que permitirá transportar toda la energía disponible en los centros de generación hacia los centros de distribución.

El funcionario comentó que la obra que hoy entrega el gobierno contribuirá además, a elevar el voltaje en un 30 por ciento en toda esta zona, mientras que también evitará la pérdida de energía “la Autopista Eléctrica Santo Domingo-Santiago" que es un gigante paso de avance hacia la solución del problema de la transmisión de energía en alta potencia en la República Dominicana”, manifestó Santana Araujo.

De su lado, el vicepresidente de la Corporación Dominicana de Empresas Eléctricas Estatales (CDEEE), Celso Marranzini, indicó que la autopista eléctrica constituye un hito en la historia del sistema energético nacional, ya que por primera vez escalamos a nivel de voltaje de los 345 KV.

“También, hemos logrado romper las barreras geográficas que impedían el suministro y venta de electricidad desde los puntos con mayor capacidad de generación a la región del Cibao con una creciente demanda de potencia y energía pero baja generación”, sostuvo Marranzini.
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/262/0d34cc6a79944240a71e8fe.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/35/0d34cc6a79944240a71e8fe.jpg/)

El funcionario recalcó que también se trata de una autopista de telecomunicaciones que permitirá a compañías de esa área rentar el uso de las fibras para proveer servicios de telefonía, video conferencia y transmisión de datos entre el Norte y el Sur del país.

“La obra que hoy inauguramos es más que una autopista, es el metro del sector eléctrico, desde el cual la energía se distribuirá a todos los puntos de esta bella y próspera región”, indicó Marranzini.

En nombre del sector productivo e industrial de Santiago ofreció las palabras de gracias el empresario Eduardo Trueba Leyba, presidente de la Asociación para el Desarrollo, quien lamentó la cultura de no pago del servicio eléctrico de muchos dominicanos por lo que cada año el gobierno tiene que aportar grandes recursos en subsidio.

Adelantó que con esta autopista eléctrica y las dos subestaciones el servicio eléctrico mejorará sustancialmente tanto en calidad como en confiabilidad, “por lo que estamos altamente agradecido del presidente”.

Al bendecir las obras el arzobispo Metropolitano de Santiago, Ramón Benito de la Rosa y Carpio, dijo que la inauguración es una noticia positiva para todo el país confiando en que dará frutos positivos y abundantes para toda la región.

La actividad reunió en esta comunidad de El Naranjo a los ministros Administrativo de la Presidencia, Luis Manuel Bonetti; de Economía, Planificación y Desarrollo, Juan Temistocles Montás; al senador Julio César Valentín, al gobernador provincial Raúl Martínez, así como a diversas personalidades ligadas al sector eléctrico nacional.

Dirección de Información, Prensa y Publicidad de la Presidencia

1. President Fernandez's speech
With the Presidential chair and the image of party founder Juan Bosch, known for his anti-corruption stand, behind him, President Leonel Fernandez put on his hat as president of the ruling PLD party and gave his first campaign speech in support of PLD presidential candidate Danilo Medina Sunday evening. Recent polls show Medina is lagging behind the PRD presidential candidate, former President Hipolito Mejia.

Into his seventh year in government, President Fernandez focused on the former government of President Mejia (2000-2004), blaming that administration and external factors for the economic difficulties in the Dominican Republic. He blamed the electricity sector difficulties and investment stagnation on the signing of the Madrid Accord during the Mejia administration.

Fernandez compared his government to Mejia's, highlighting as an achievement that his presidency had signed two agreements with the IMF and had passed 14 reviews, while in his four years in government, Mejia was only able to get the IMF to approve one review of a Stand-by arrangement.

Leading PLD party members and many high-ranking government officials, including Felix Jimenez, Julio Cesar Valentin, Radhames Segura, Jaime David Fernandez, Francisco Javier Castillo and Reynaldo Pared Perez, flanked President Fernandez as he warned the Dominican people that to vote for Hipolito Mejia would be to repeat a "disastrous destiny."

He said another Mejia government would be a case of "every man for himself," as quoted in El Caribe. He said a PRD victory would plunge the DR into an economic crisis of great proportions.

During the campaign event, he announced his decisive support for the PLD presidential candidate, Danilo Medina. Medina and Fernandez had distanced themselves when Medina sought the presidential candidacy as a rival to Fernandez in 2008.

As reported in Listin Diario, President Fernandez said that with the placement of US$500 million in sovereign notes, the disbursement of US$340 million from the World Bank and the IDB and RD$25 billion in local bonds, mentioning the RD$7 billion in bonds recently approved by Congress, the government will meet its debt commitments with the Dominican government's contractors and suppliers.

Fernandez stressed that the latest issue of sovereign bonds at 6.75% is at a much better rate than Mejia's 9.5% in 2001, attributing this to international confidence in the country. He highlighted the fact that during the Mejia presidency the peso to dollar rate was 57, compared to a maximum of 39 to 1 during his presidency. He said that unemployment during the Mejia government was at 18% and now is at 13.9%.

Fernandez announced the start of a major plan to pave streets nationwide and the completion of several avenues and secondary highways under construction in October. He also promised housing projects in 20 provinces.

http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias_det.php?id=299138

2. President sends condolences to Norway
President Leonel Fernandez has issued a statement expressing his condolences and condemning the terrorist attacks in Norway where at least 92 people were killed on Friday.

"I would like to express to the Norwegian people the indignation that the government and the Dominican people feel in response to the terrorist attack in which innocent lives of Norwegians were lost," he said in the note.

"It is a principle of all democratic societies to express condemnation of acts of terrorism that attack the physical security of citizens and business and public entities, because events like those that have occurred in Norway do not have any justification," he wrote.

3. Congress approves bill for budget cuts
A favorable vote from 125 deputies, 19 votes against and 8 abstentions passed the Executive Branch bill that calls for 12% budget cuts to government institutions. The deputies modified the law to exclude RD$201 million for the Central Electoral Board (JCE) and RD$1.15 billion for city and town governments.

The legislators also included an item that allows the Ministry of Hacienda to make adjustments to the cuts.

The bill needs Senate approval prior to returning to the Presidency for signing into law and publication.

The cuts are aimed at providing RD$12 billion in revenue for the Fernandez administration. This is in addition to a similar tax package recently fast-tracked through the PLD-majority Congress.

4. Gasoline up RD$56 and RD$61 this year
Regular gasoline has increased by more than RD$56.50 (up from RD$161.90 to RD$218.40) and premium gasoline is up RD$61.90 (up from RD$172.60 to RD$234.50) this year.

During the same period, diesel regular increased RD$50.50 per gallon (from RD$145.30 to RD$195.80) and premium RD$50.60 (up from RD$151.60 to RD$202.20).

Propane gas also has increased significantly, up RD$18.56 per gallon, from RD$89.00 to RD$107.50.

Avtur's new price is RD$161.47. Natural gas sells for RD$22.08 per cubic meter.

5. Metro II line to use biogas
The second line of the metro, scheduled to enter into service in summer 2012, will run on biogas, as reported in Diario Libre. Omar Ramirez, executive vice president of the National Council for Climate Change and the United Nations' Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) said that the fuel would be obtained from the Duquesa garbage dump, where a degasification project is under way. The second line of the metro will run from Avenida Luperton to Avenida Padre Castellanos on the eastern side of Greater Santo Domingo. The DR will be the first metro project to have a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) program in mass transport, said Ramirez.

6. Exporters encouraged to fly their produce
Frank Rainieri, chairman of the Punta Cana International Airport, is encouraging foreign embassies, and exporters and importers to use air cargo. Punta Cana has the largest number of airline flights of any airport in the Caribbean.

Rainieri urged businesses to make the most of the large number of flights from diverse destinations.

Speaking during a workshop, "Connecting the World for Imports and Exports" in Punta Cana over the weekend, the executive vice president of the National Competitiveness Council Andres van der Horst Alvarez said that 75% of vegetables and fruit is already exported by air generating US$100 million in hard currency. He said 40% of vegetable and fruit exports are to Europe, 35% to the US and 25% to Canada.

7. Gatorade plant in DR
The Dominican Republic will supply the Gatorade demand in the Caribbean. A new manufacturing plant located in the Haina Industrial plant has been built with an investment of US$25 million. It operates using natural gas, and has hi-tech lighting. While taking US Ambassador Raul Izaguirre on a guided tour of the plant, company chairman Jose Luis Corripio told him that it was one of the most modern Gatorade bottling plants in the world with a bottling capacity of 800,000 units per day. As of next month it will begin exporting to Puerto Rico. "100% of the sales in Puerto Rico will be shipped from Haina and all Caribbean islands will source from the country," said Corripio.

8. Business is bullish on free zones
Representatives of the free zone industry in the Dominican Republic say prospects are good for attracting a large number of manufacturers that are considering closing their operations in China. At a breakfast meeting at the Listin Diario, a member of the board of directors of Adozona (Dominican Association of Free Zones) Manuel Enrique Tavares said that manufacturers would be attracted by the free trade agreements the DR has signed with the United States and Europe. He said the sector employs 130,000 workers in 28 of 32 of the provinces nationwide.

He said the number of jobs has begun to increase, and the good news is that the new jobs are in sophisticated produce areas. While in the past 70% of the free zone companies were apparel companies, today of 555 companies, only 120 (22%) are in apparel.

Tavares said the potential is there to create a million jobs in 10 years. Adozona executive director Jose Torres said: "If that can become a national objective, then everything else will follow."

Association president Aquiles Bermudez said they have reports of companies that used to operate in the DR and relocated to China but are considering returning. He said Taiwanese companies were studying the market to export from here to the US. Key issues today are the proximity, especially when the distance a product travels is now being considered and its effects on the environment.

Bermudez said that in order to continue creating jobs, the DR needed to revise its Labor Code to incorporate modern concepts such as flexibility in working hours, eliminating of ceilings of monthly, weekly and yearly work schedules. He said this would attract more companies to the DR. Other obstacles to increased job creation are the ground cargo transport monopoly and rising cost of maritime transport and electricity.

Bermudez said the free zone industry has the capacity to generate one million jobs, up from the current 130,000. He said the labor code is from the 1990s and business and trade in the world have changed.

9. Cholera toll at 87
The Ministry of Public Health reports that 11 more people died this week, bringing the death toll in the cholera outbreak to 87 since the disease was first detected in November 2010. The largest number of cases has been registered in the National District, Province of Santo Domingo, Santiago, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, San Cristobal and Elias Pina.

10. The WikiLeaks flow
After Grupo SIN announced it had contracted the full spread of the DR-related WikiLeaks, the flow of documents from the US Embassy in the Dominican Republic has picked up pace.

The new documents published last week brought up matters related to Supreme Court of Justice president Jorge Subero Isa, in which he was described as unwilling to combat corruption at high official levels and vice president of the Supreme Court Rafael Luciano Pichardo, mentioned for a US$40,000 check and events related to his sons. Luciano Pichardo has always disputed the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, which is set at 75. 13 Supreme Court of Justice judges need to elected, as two have died and others have reached the mandatory retirement age. The Supreme Court has also been in the press demanding that their retirement package include paying them their same wages and other benefits.

Then on Saturday, newspapers reminded Dominicans of the controversial coverage and press scandals in 2004 focused on several key officials in the administration of former President Hipolito Mejia n namely former presidential legal advisor Guido Gomez Mazara, former director of Migration Miguel Vasquez and prosecutor general Victor Cespedes, known for his many pardons. El Caribe published several translated versions of the documents.

In file 14470 - dated 2 March 2004, the US Embassy expresses as an objective for the first quarter of 2004 to obtain the removal of at least one official believed to be complicit in trafficking or corruption n mentioning Miguel Vasquez, Attorney General Cespedes, and ambassador to Argentina Guido Gomez.

In documents 13709 - 3 February 2004, Dominicans are reminded of the case of arrested drug trafficker Josefina Rojas, who despite an extradition order was released by Prosecutor Cespedes. The report says that before Cespedes was appointed as prosecutor, no fugitive from US justice who had been arrested after an official request of the USA for extradition had been released by order of the Prosecutor General, violating an order from the President. It highlights that the case of Rojas is the first time that a prisoner has been released by the order of the prosecutor and afterwards arrested and extradited.

The file looks into other cases of fugitives it deems irregular following actions by Cespedes. In document 20224 dated 30 August 2004, the Embassy requests the revoking of the visa B1B2 of former prosecutor general Victor Cespedes. In this file, the Embassy says that two days before leaving office with the change of government, Cespedes ordered the early release from prison of a former Dominican vice-consul in Haiti, Ormis Freddy Pena Mendez, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking 43 kilograms of cocaine, and who had served only two years in jail, as another example of why the visa should be revoked. The Embassy said that Cespedes had a record of freeing known drug traffickers, and this was given as reason why the revocation of the visa was appropriate.

Also mentioned are several other cases, concluding that Cespedes has a record of releasing known drug traffickers.

On Sunday, El Nacional carried statements by Cespedes saying he had been cleared in court of the above accusations.

www.noticiassin.com/2011/07/cuatro-ex-funcionarios-son-el-centro-de-atencion-de-los-cables-de-wikileaks/

11. Vincho ties Hertell to Figueroa Agosto
Lawyer Marino (Vincho) Vinicio Castillo said that he has sufficient proof that a Volvo vehicle belonging to Puerto Rican drug capo Jose David Figueroa Agosto visited the headquarters of the US Embassy when Hans Hertell was United States ambassador in the DR. He said that Julio Ibarra, one of those accused of money laundering in the Figueroa Agosto case here, said in the court that he met Figueroa Agosto with US Embassy staff at the Sofia Restaurant. "They were friends, then, and that is known in this trial..." he said, as reported in Listin Diario. Castillo said that Hertell developed such good relationships that after leaving the post he remained representing interests, including Barrick Gold. He said that he had his first clash with the diplomat in July 2002 for the approval in the Chamber of Deputies of an agreement for a railway project.

He made the statement in response to the publication of a WikiLeaks cable quoting him as saying that he sought to replace the president of the Supreme Court of Justice with the vice president of the court, Rafael Luciano Pichardo, seeking to benefit his defendants in the Baninter banking fraud case. He said that the statements are perverse because he had severed ties with Luciano Pichardo since the case of former President Jorge Blanco.

Writing in Listin Diario, the lawyer's son Vinicio Castillo Seman said that some months later, the railway contract was rejected and the Puerto Rican who promoted the project that he said had Hertell's support, was convicted of corruption in Puerto Rico.

Castillo Seman mentioned that his father dedicated many of his TV broadcasts (La Respuesta) to criticize Hertell's complacency towards Hipolito Mejia's administration and criticized Hertell's "suspicious silence in great cases of drug trafficking that would be known, including bringing a well known Cali Cartel capo who had been in jail in the US to the DR to build 10,000 houses for the army".

www.listin.com.do/la-republica/2011/7/24/197120/Vincho-Castillo-dice-ex-embajador-Hertell-hizo-diabluras-en-RD

www.listindiario.com.do/puntos-de-vista/2011/7/24/197108/El-cable-de-Hertell

12. Drug agents held up
A team of agents from the National Drug Control Department (DNCD) was held up by six men who stole their weapons, including six shotguns. The assailants also made off with their bulletproof vests and backpacks containing GPS and night vision devices, along with other equipment. The victims were members of the Tactical Response Unit (URT). The team was robbed while they were training on a beach in the north coast, near Gaspar Hernandez. Major General Rolando Rosado Mateo, chief of the DNCD said the shotguns were recovered, but four other guns are still missing. He said so far only two of the robbers have been arrested.

13. Fire at La Sirena
The food court at the Multicentro La Sirena was temporarily out of service after a fire affected the cooking area at Pollo Victorina, located there. There were no victims, as the fire extinguishing system worked effectively and controlled the fire, preventing it from spreading. The fire department said that it was caused by the accumulated grease in the chimney of the establishment.

14. Much loved social writer passes away
The woman who wrote the book on society reporting in the Dominican Republic, Susana Morillo (Vesta) died at the age of 94 on Saturday. She was Listin Diario's social reporter for 20 years, and after retiring joined Hoy where she wrote the Visto y Oido column for another 30 years, until her death.

Her elegant use of words always had a different slant and details she observed to kindly describe social gatherings of Dominican society. She is credited with having maintained the first "blog" for a record number of years.

www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2011/7/23/385425/Muere-dona-Susana-Morillo-la-mas-notable-cronista-social

15. Former ambassador Manatt dies
Charles Manatt, recognized as one of the most active and involved United States ambassadors to the DR, has passed away at the age of 75. Listin Diario dedicates an editorial to him highlighting his work to create an emergency sea and air task force, initiatives in favor of tourism and sport, and his efforts to push ahead the Cibao International Airport and the Puerto Multimodal Caucedo. It also highlighted his work to promote renewable energy.

He died of complications following a stroke earlier in the year.

He was ambassador to the Dominican Republic from 1999-2001 during the Clinton administration, serving through the governments of President Leonel Fernandez and Hipolito Mejia.

A political appointee, he followed career diplomat Donna Hrinak. He was the founder of the legal firm of Los Angeles, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and former chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

He was honored by the Senate for his work to strengthen relations between both countries. Former President Hipolito Mejia decorated Manatt with the Order of Duarte, Sanchez y Mella for his work in the country. Then Foreign Relations Minister Hugo Tolentino Dipp highlighted his support for democracy in the DR, as reported in Listin Diario.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/23/charles-manatt-former-dnc-chair-dies-at-75_n_907607.html

16. DR moves to 2nd round Volleyball World
Playing in Pool D of the FIVB Women's Junior World Championship against Japan, Russia and China, the Dominican Republic held on to qualifying along with China to the second round after defeating Russia 3-1 in Peru. In the 2011 championship taking place in Peru, the DR earlier defeated Japan 3-1.

In the previous 2009 tournament, the Dominican Republic placed second behind Germany. Brazil was third.

The Dominican Republic volleyball team then faced China (both 2-0, 6 points), losing a much-battled 25-23, 25-21, 25-23. Chinese player China player Yang Zhou would comment in the FIVB news release: "The victory was very difficult, but we deserved it."

As reported, six teams are set to compete in the top eight bracket that takes place 26-28 July, including Brazil, China, Dominican Republic, Peru, Slovakia and the United States.

Dominicans have made the top 5 player lists: Best Scorer n Elizabeth Martinez (39), best spiker n Marianne Fersola 53.3% (16 of 30), Best Digger n Brenda Castillo 5.50 (44), Best Setter n Gabriela Reyes, Best Receiver n Brenda Castillo 46.0.

Into the tournament, as of 9 May 2011, the Dominican Republic was ranked sixth in the FIVB Junior & Youth World Ranking, behind Brazil, USA, Peru, Japan and Turkey.

http://www.fivb.org/EN/Volleyball/Competitions/Junior/Women/2011/viewPressRelease.asp?No=30657&Language=en

www.fivb.org/en/volleyball/VB_Ranking_YJ_W_2011-05.asp

17. Tono & Fernandito at Jet Set
Tono Rosario and Fernando Villalona, two giants of Dominican merengue music are booked for an evening at Jet Set Discotheque, Monday, 25 July. 9pm. Av. Independencia.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

1. Leonel says DR receives billions from US
President Leonel Fernandez took part in the conference on "The Hispanic Caribbean: its own field of study" at his Global Democracy and Development Foundation (Funglode) yesterday. He said that trade between the US and the DR totaled about US$9 billion, and that 60% of the tourists who visit the country are from the United States. Fernandez talked about the links dating back to the pre-Columbian period between the three large Caribbean islands of Cuba, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. He recalled how the leaders of the independence movements in each of the islands who traveled between the islands in search of freedom. He said that, "there have been ties between our countries that are expressed through solidarity." He noted that the independence process of the Hispanic Caribbean was atypical and different from the rest of Latin America and that Puerto Rico still has to decide its future.

President Leonel Fernandez called for more research on the historic interaction between the Caribbean and the United States, as well as on the extinction of the Indians after the arrival of the Europeans to the New Continent.

"I think that the history of Spanish Caribbean needs to be studied in two fundamental phases: the relationship between the Caribbean and Spain and the relationship between the Caribbean and the United States. This is a relationship that was born at the end of the 19th century and that was consolidated exactly between Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico and is very much alive today," he said during the conference, as reported in Listin Diario.

2. Fernandez speech draws sharp opinions
Just another speech, laden with promises typical of any political campaign, was the general assessment of President Leonel Fernandez's speech last Sunday in his role as PLD president, Diario Libre reports.

Criticisms from opposition political parties and the Catholic Church upheld a rejection of the leader's comments. The lead was taken by PRD presidential candidate Hipolito Mejia, the subject of a strong attack by Fernandez, who disqualified him from governing the country again. Mejia described Fernandez as the "magician of the lies."

"But it seems that he does not live in this country where the people want and demand citizen security. It seems as if he (Fernandez) is not in this country, he appears to be living in another country," Mejia said.

Mejia was President from 2000-2004. President Fernandez has been President since 2004 to present.

He commented that the President gave statistics and compared the country with other nations as if "we were better off than in Europe or in the United States."

"I think that the only one he did not mention was China, because it would shame him to compare us to China, but the truth is that he is a guy that you have to call a liar," he said, adding that the Fernandez's support for Danilo Medina turned Medina into more of the same thing.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez described the speech as an answer to the accusations that the opposition and sectors of society are directing at his economic policy. He said that by speaking as the president of the PLD, all the leader did was to explain what he has done and what he is doing to deal with the difficult international situation that affects the country.

When he answered a question on whether or not the speech had satisfied public expectations, the Catholic prelate answered by calling on all people to consider the international situation and that of the country and decide whether or not there exists the capacity to provide an answer to the demands.

Guillermo Moreno, the presidential candidate for Alianza Pais, said that the speech showed that the Fernandez administration has remained frozen in the past and has nothing new to offer the citizens. In Moreno's judgment he (Fernandez) was trying to manipulate the citizenry, because both the PLD as well as the PRD rank and file are responsible for the chaos, the lack of security, the corruption and the inequality that he says are predominant in the country.

3. Marranzini and Madrid Accords
The executive vice president of the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE) Celso Marranzini says that the Madrid Accord negotiated during the Mejia administration cannot be modified unilaterally. The topic came up after President Leonel Fernandez, in a speech on Sunday, attributed the stagnation of the industry to the accord.

Marranzini said that unilateral adjustments of the agreement would put the judicial security of the country in question and have costly legal consequences. He said that the accord could only be modified if both parties are in agreement.

Marranzini said that once the agreement ends in 2016, changes could be made without international arbitration. He said that he thought that the best way to get around the Madrid Accords was to contract new energy suppliers. He noted that, "the part of these contracts that weighs most heavily is that with higher fuel costs the indexation factor on them is very negative for the sector. Marranzini was being interviewed by Hoy newspaper from the Spanish capital, Madrid.

4. Officials encouraged to camouflage themselves
The new chief of Prisons, Roberto Obando Prestol donned a baseball cap, dark sunglasses and stood in line to enter La Victoria Jail. He had the first-hand experience of being extorted by two policemen who asked for a RD$300 tip.

The experience has helped the young official to put a pilot plan into place where police agents not usually on duty at the jail are in charge of controlling admission. The plan began in Najayo and has reduced the time visitors take to get in.

Claudio Acosta, commenting in Hoy, commends the initiative and wishes that more government officials would come down to earth to discover that they are not doing things as well as they think. "I am sure that if more of our public servants, starting with the President of the Republic, were to disguise themselves as common citizens once in a while and take a concho taxi or a minibus (voladora), what we call 'a healthy bath of people', they would have a very different vision of the work they carry out and how the people perceive that work and they would be more sensible and conscientious about their responsibilities and of course a more efficient public administration."

5. Medina campaign at the service of the government
Listin Diario political analyst Orlando Gil observes in his column today that in his speech at the Dominican Fiesta on Sunday what appears to have happened is that President Leonel Fernandez has put the presidential campaign of his party rival Danilo Medina at the service of the defense of the government.

Gil says that the slogan Fernandez offered to Medina, "Memory Against Forgetting" (Memoria contra olvido), makes apparent that the central axis of the campaign will be the promotion and defense of the Fernandez government.

Gil comments that judging by Medina's facial expressions and body language during the event, he was not too happy about how things went. "The event was supposed to be for him, even though it was headed by President Fernandez, and the objective should have been to put the government at the service of the campaign, and not the other way around, as has happened, in that the campaign was put at the service of the government." The PLD presidential candidate is now on a tour of Brazil to study the achievements of the Brazilian government. Brazil has been a major financier of the Fernandez administration, with major public works under way with Brazilian export funding. Medina will study the Brazilian development model.

6. Wikileaks focuses on the military
The latest WikiLeaks cables released by Noticias SIN have brought military personalities and cases that were vox populi for months but had been forgotten back under the local media spotlight. Diario Libre says the recent releases provide an insight into the influence the US Embassy has on local affairs. The documents reflect pressures on the Fernandez government regarding high-ranking military and possible appointments.

Hoy newspaper headlines that the US government files dated 2005 and 2008 express US concern about the corruption in the Armed Forces, specifically naming three high-ranking generals n General Hector Medina y Medina, General Manuel de Jesus Florentino Florentino and General Rafael Bencosme Candelier.

General Hector Medina y Medina has served as Chief of the Presidential Military Aide's Corps (CAM) of the Presidency.

Retired General Manuel de Jesus Florentino Florentino is director of Border Development Directorate. He was chief of the National Intelligence Directorate (DNI) at the time of the arrest and deportation of convicted Dominican drug trafficker, former Army Captain Quirino Paulino Castillo in a joint DEA and Dominican government operation.

Retired General Rafael Bencosme Candelier served as Metropolitan Transport Authority chief. Press reports at the time covered the news story that his US visa had been revoked.

A document filed by US Ambassador Hans Hertell, dated 11 de February 2005 focuses on convicted drug trafficker Quirino Paulino Castillo:

"PaulinonDrugs

7. (C) Speaking of the recent arrest of retired Captain Quirino Paulino Castillo for drug trafficking, Fernandez said that the case had taken the country by surprise. Fernandez commented that it is often impossible to know what a person is truly like. During his campaign the president personally heard very positive comments about Paulino. He noted that he hopes for Paulino's prompt extradition without mishaps. He promised to try to ensure adequate security for Paulino while his extradition request is pending a Supreme Court decision.

Concerns about Dominican Intelligence Chief.

8. (S) The Embassy raised problems with the National Intelligence Directorate (DNI) under the leadership of Retired General Manuel de Jesus Florentino y Florentino, and led a frank discussion concerning questions about Florentino's competence and personal integrity, as well as information linking Florentino to Paulino. The President noted that during his first term Florentino had served as his Secretary of the Armed Forces and had headed the presidential security guard as well. Fernandez had seen him as a serious, and correct officer and said that he had not known of any association by Florentino with drug trafficking. The president seemed to acknowledge Embassy arguments, however and agreed to remove Florentino soon at a less politically volatile moment, and sought Embassy input on his replacement".

In a cable from 2 May 2008, the Embassy comments that President Fernandez removed the chief of intelligence and two other high officials from their posts, among those known to be corrupt, and three possible promotions that had caused serious worry for the United States and did not take place: General Hector Medina Medina was not named Minister of the Armed Forces, General Rafael Bencosme Candelier was not named Chief of Police, and Jose Munoz Moncion, a retired admiral, was not chosen as Navy chief of staff.

Ambassador Robert Fannin writes in the summary dated 27 August 2008:

"... Post has continuing concerns regarding the security services: The President "confirmed" Medina Medina in his current position as the Chief of the Presidential Military Aide's Corps (CAM), where he will continue to have a powerful influence on the President's military decisions (particularly regarding personnel). Munoz Moncion was appointed as Commander of the Las Calderas Navy Base, located in a principal region of drug trafficking activity. Host nation assets based at Las Calderas are the ones which should respond to maritime drug deliveries from South America. Maj. Gen. Manuel Florentino Florentino, an individual with whom Post has serious concerns regarding illegal activity (Ref D), was appointed head of the Frontier Development Directorate, where opportunities for graft related to the Haitian border are significant. At the National Directorate for Intelligence, the cooperative Director Sigfrido Pared Perez has been replaced by Maj. Gen. Ramon Aquino Garcia, whose record is more neutral. On a potentially more positive note, Bencosme Candelier was moved to head the Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET), where he will presumably have fewer opportunities for nefarious activities".

Read the WikiLeaks documents in Spanish and the original in English at www.noticiassin.com/2011/07/cables-de-wikileaks-revela-militares-dominicanos-vetados-por-ee-uu-presidente-fernandez-planeaba-enviar-tropas-a-irak/

www.diariolibre.com/noticias_det.php?id=257558

www.7dias.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=70511

7. Spanish prosecutor is in town
The Chief Prosecutor of the National Court of Spain, Javier Zaragoza, says that the Arturo del Tiempo is still in preventive custody for his alleged role in what he described as a "very serious" crime of importing a large quantity of cocaine. Answering questions from Diario Libre reporters after a visit to the office of the District Attorney for the National District, Alejandro Moscoso Segarra, Zaragoza stressed the collaboration between the Dominican and Spanish authorities.

He said that the process would continue in Spain. "The Arturo del Tiempo case is currently undergoing judicial proceedings, which have been going on for four months now, and his situation is the same as before," he said.

Zaragoza said that as soon as there is a verdict against the accused for his alleged role in the crime, he expected that the Dominican authorities would put into play every means at their disposal in order to formally seize the assets that are currently being held provisionally.

He added that the investigation in Spain is being headed by the anti-drug prosecutor assigned to the Office of Barcelona, in the autonomous region of Catalonia, who he described as an excellent professional. He told reporters that they will carry out all of the economic, financial and property investigations necessary, with the aim of finding out just what assets Del Tiempo had in Spain and that are in the hands of alleged third parties.

He noted that the regulations relating to the preventive custody are longer, because they have two years, which can be extended for another two years, for a total of four years of preventive custody. "In this case... with such a serious accusation and such long prison sentences, which could reach 18 or 20 year of prison, the prison deadlines, as a precautionary measure, can go for as long as four years."

Arturo Del Tiempo gained notoriety in the Dominican Republic after his arrest in Valencia for a 1,200-kilo cocaine shipment. In the Dominican Republic he was the promoter of a luxury apartment building, Torre Atiemar. Subsequently, press reports recalled that President Leonel Fernandez himself attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the building highlighting the important foreign investment, along with several government officials. Chief of Police Rafael Guzman Fermin admitted that his father had purchased an apartment in the building that benefited from governmental Banco de Reservas financing, after reportedly being rejected by private banks. Del Tiempo had also been named an honorary policeman in the DR.

www.7dias.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=70648

8. New car sales down 10%
The Association of Manufacturers Concessionaires for Motor Vehicles (Acofave) reported that new car sales are 10% lower than a year ago. They said, moreover, that despite the constant fuel price increases, SUV sales had increased by 44.66% in the first six months of the year and 4% over the last twelve months.

The executive vice-president of Acofave, Enrique Fernandez, attributed the fall in general sales to the increase in bank lending rates. He said Dominicans continue to prefer SUVs given the poor condition of many of the roads and the flooding that occurs during the rainy season.

He said that the association members had sold just over 8,500 new vehicles in the first half of the year, compared to just under 9,500 last year. The auto dealer spokesman noted that the import of used vehicles was nearly twice the number of new car sales.

9. Something different: cons march peacefully
Carrying a banner with the slogan "Peace, no more violence," a group of convicted felons marched peacefully through the streets of Santiago, under guard, in a demonstration of the progress achieved at the new-model men's prison at Rafey in Santiago de los Caballeros. Previously, the men had attended a Mass at the San Jose Church, and then with the Chief Prosecutor of the Appeals Court, Vielka Calderon, they walked under strict custody up Hermanas Mirabal and Las Carreras to the statue of Santiago, the patron saint of the city, where they laid a floral offering. The activities were part of the fifth anniversary celebrations of the new-model penitentiary at Rafey. Calderon told El Caribe reporters that the aim of the new-model prison is to recover the Santiago of long ago, when citizens could walk in peace and tranquility. She also made the most of the reporters' presence to call for the construction of a new prison to house people who have been convicted by the courts. It appears that there is currently a lack of space for the growing prison population.

10. Slowdown of cholera patients
The flow of patients with symptoms of cholera was lower yesterday in the three National District hospitals that are operating wards for treating the disease. As of noon yesterday El Caribe said 37 people were hospitalized, with 24 at the Luis Eduardo Aybar Hospital, 10 at the Francisco Moscoso Puello and three at the Santo Socorro. Meanwhile, the special ward that will house the cholera patients at the Luis Eduardo Aybar Hospital is still undergoing modernization and rehabilitation, and patients with suspected cholera symptoms are being treated in an improvised area at the back of the hospital. Families have to wait for news of their loved ones under a tree in the patio.

11. Rains ruin four houses and threaten bridge
The weekend rains destroyed four more houses near the "Devil's Creek" in the Arroyo Hondo section of Santiago de los Caballeros and threatened to destroy the bridge of the Yapor Dumit Avenue over the Yaque River. Residents of the affected area told Listin Diario reporters that they were only alive thanks to "miracles." The runoff of the waters from the upper part of the Arroyo Hondo section, combined by the floodwaters of the "Devil's Creek" have undercut the bridgehead on the north side of the span. The Yapor Dumit Avenue joins the southern portion of Santiago with the Otra Banda and La Barranquita. Witnesses say that three of the guardrails are already out of their normal position. Head of the local Civil Defense office Francisco Arias told reporters that the residents of the creek bank had been warned of the dangers of flooding and that landslides in the same area had destroyed three houses just last week.

12. Tropical wave waves goodbye
In its yesterday afternoon bulletin the National Meteorological Office (Onamet) reported that the tropical wave that brought strong rainstorms and flooding last weekend has left the area. Nonetheless, in its latest bulletin issued at 11 o'clock yesterday morning, the Emergency Operations Center (COE) has kept the yellow alert for four provinces and the green alert for another eleven.

According to Onamet, isolated rain showers of short duration and occasional thunder and lightning are expected in the northeast, along the frontier and in the Central Mountains today. Temperatures will continue to be high. On the other hand, Onamet reported on the progress of a tropical wave located over the western part of Cuba. They noted that this system has a low potential of reaching the category of a tropical cyclone.

For timely weather updates, see http://www.dr1.com/forums/weather-beyond/115613-hurricane-season-2011-a-14.html

13. United States n Dominican Republic
United States and Dominican Republic start the second round Pool E on Tuesday in Lima at 18.15 (Lima time) in an all-NORCECA contest, as reported by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).

The US team, which finished with a 3-0 record in the first round, is seeking its first-ever podium finish in the event. The Dominican Republic reached the title match in the last edition in 2009 and finished with the silver, their only medal in the tournament. Dominican Republic finished second in Pool D with a 2-1 record.

United States' Haley Eckerman ranks 10th in scoring in the tournament and leader in the Best Spiker category with a 52 percent success rate, while libero Natalie Hagglund ranks as the top libero in the tournament.

Dominican Republic's Elizabeth Martinez, who turns 15 in September, is the fourth-best scorer in the tournament, while Brenda Castillo is the top rated player in Best Digger and Best Receiver.

Playing in Pool E, the DR goes against the US team on Tuesday, 26 July at 18:15 Lima time, and then against Peru on 27 July 20:15 Lima time, and on 28 July against Italy at 18:15 Lima time.

Follow the game at www.fivb.org

14. Britney Spears booked for Dominican Republic
Britney Spears has included the Dominican Republic in her Femme Fatale Tour 2011. She has been booked for a performance at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium on 8 December, where promoters say she will sing 21 of her biggest hits. Tickets will go up for sale as of 5 September.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

1. New Museum in Moca
President Leonel Fernandez was in Moca yesterday to inaugurate the Museo Presidente Ramon Caceres, the paving of several streets in the municipality of Cayetano Germosen and the construction of a new police station, for a total investment of RD$105 million. The works were inaugurated on the occasion of the 111th anniversary of the murder of dictator Ulises Heureaux by Ramon Caceres, in collaboration with Jacobo de Lara and Horacio Vasquez in 1899. The Museum is based in the house where "Mon" Caceres lived. Caceres was murdered on 19 November 1911. He was President of the Republic from 1906-1911. The government invested RD$65.8 million in the new museum that will be open to the general public as of 2 August, from Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 6pm.

2. IDB program to improve food safety
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a US$10 million loan to the Dominican Republic to help the Ministry of Agriculture improve the prevention and control of plant and animal pests to safeguard the quality of food consumed locally or exported. The resources will help the Dominican Republic raise standards in its agriculture sector, improve access to national and international markets, and strengthen the government's capacity to supply and integrate its animal and plant health and food safety services.

Over the next five years, the program will strengthen food safety by reducing residues and contaminants in agricultural products. The program will benefit 3,750 farmers and 200 livestock producers through training in good agricultural practices. In addition, the number of packing plants registered with the Department of Food Safety is expected to increase from 10 to 120.

Measures to improve animal health services will be carried out at the national level, starting with pilot projects in the provinces of Puerto Plata, Espaillat and Maria Trinidad Sanchez.

One-third of Dominicans live in rural areas, where poverty levels reach 56% of the population. The agricultural sector generates about 8% of the country's gross domestic product and 15% of national employment. Agricultural exports account for 30%of the total value of its exports.

The IDB loan is for 25 years, with a 3-year grace period and a LIBOR-based interest rate.

3. Government mute on WikiLeaks revelations
The Fernandez administration is keeping mute on revelations in WikiLeaks documents containing critical descriptions of top military officials. So far, only senator Wilton Guerrero (PLD, Peravia) has spoken out on the issue. Guerrero was the first government official to denounce drug trafficking penetration of high offices following the Paya 6-person murder case in Bani in 2008.

Guerrero said that the Executive Branch should have replaced the high-ranking Armed Forces officers accused of committing "indiscretions" in their work before the publication of the classified documents. As reported in Hoy, Guerrero said that for many years the word on the street placed Manuel de Jesus Florentino Florentino, Rafael Bencosme Candelier and Jose Munoz Moncion on the list of corrupt officers. As reported in El Caribe, Guerrero did not specify which "indiscreet or illegal activities" they were involved in, but recognized that the Armed Forces and the Police were tainted by the evils of corruption. The WikiLeaks documents, based on internal documents sent from the US Embassy in the Dominican Republic to the US State Department mentions it had information linking Retired General Florentino Florentino to drug trafficker Quirino Ernesto Paulino. Florentino Florentino is the director of the Border Development Directorate.

El Caribe reports that Presidency Minister Cesar Pina Toribio refused to comment on the publication. Pina Toribio said he maintains the same opinion as when the WikiLeaks documents on issues with the Supreme Court of Justice was published. "I have no opinion, I have already referred to that, and I do not plan to refer to it again, I have already said what I was going to say."

Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso described the revelations as "mere WikiGossip".

Diario Libre could not get feedback from the government either, on the revelations of WikiLeak cables that link military close to President Leonel Fernandez in corruption and drug trafficking. In the documents, there are mentions of four high-ranking officials in Fernandez administration n Chief of the Presidential Military Aides Corps, General Hector Medina Medina; the director of the Border Development Directorate retired General Manuel de Jesus Florentino Florentino, or former director of the Metropolitan Transport Authority, retired General Rafael Bencosme, and Navy Rear Admiral Jose Munoz Moncion and how the Embassy objected their promotions.

http://www.dr1.com/news/2011/dnews072611.shtml

4. Debate on new judges
13 Supreme Court justices need to be chosen. The Foundation for Institutionalism and Justice (Finjus) together with several universities has organized meetings for presentations by leading legal experts to help the selection process to meet expectations of transparency and achieve high level of legitimacy and citizen acceptance. The talks are to be known as "Following the formation of the high courts: for an open, plural and transparent selection".

Jurists and academics from the PUCMM, UNPHU, UCSD, APEC, UASD universities will be taking part and the speakers will include Flavio Dario Espinal, Eduardo Jorge Prats, Milton Ray Guevara, Eric Raful, Gustavo Biaggi, Carmen Imbert Brugal, Justo Pedro Castellanos, Cristina Aguiar, Alejandro Moscoso Segarra, Manuel Pena, Francisco Alvarez, Nassef Perdomo, Olivo Rodriguez Hertas, Rosalia Sosa, Carlos Salcedo and Freccy Angel Castro. The first talks will take place on Thursdays at 6pm. 28 July (PUCMM), 4 August (UNPHU), 10 August (UNAPEC), 18 August (UCSD), 25 July (UASD).

The talks will be televised. "Democracy is not only built through politics, but one of its fundamental elements is the participation of citizens in these processes. This is what this is about," said Servio Tulio Castanos of Finjus.

5. Senate gets to work
The Senate of the Republic passed three pieces of legislation in its last session, ranging from marriages celebrated by Protestant pastors to the division of the spoils from drug seizures and the modifications to the national budget law.

The Senate accepted a modification introduced by the Chamber of Deputies to the legislative proposal of the General Budget of the State for 2011 and approved a bill that reduces 12% from the state institutions, except the municipalities and the Central Electoral Board. The transfer of funds favors the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE) with some RD$20.7 billion, in two disbursements: RD$13 billion from transfers from different institutions that will go to the CDEEE and RD$7.5 billion for the CDEEE to reduce it payments due. Ministries such as health and education are excluded from the institutions that will be transferring funds.

Diario Libre said that the senators also declared a proposal by Deputy Eugenio Cedeno that regulates religious marriages celebrated in the Dominican Republic by non-Catholic churches to be urgent and approved it in two readings. The approved law that will be sent to the Executive Branch will establish the judicial framework regulating the conditions and formalities under which the civil effects of these marriages will be recognized, whose relations with the state are not governed by any international agreement.

Also urgently approved was a modification to law 172-02 on Laundering of Assets from drug trafficking that gives 10% of the assets seized to the National Police. The legislative proposal was drafted by the president of the lower chamber, Abel Martinez and passed unanimously by the senators. This means that 25% of the assets seized from anyone accused of these criminal acts will go to the Attorney General of the Republic, and an equal amount for the National Drug Control Department (DNCD). The proposal considers, moreover, the delivery of 25% of the funds to the National Drugs Council and 15% for NGOs that work on drug prevention.

6. Tourism sees a slight drop
The president of the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (Asonahores), Juan Llibre, revealed yesterday that the national tourism sector is losing ground to its competitors in the Caribbean, the main sign being that in the first half of the year tourist arrivals grew by barely 3.5% against a 5% growth in the region. "It is a negative signal, which is a cause for concern, and that should take us to review our situation, to see what we are failing to do and what we should be doing," he said during a press conference in which he announced the Annual Dominican Tourism Forum 2011, which is called "Where are we going?" According to Llibre, the greatest fall off in tourists was felt in June, from a 4% increase in May to just a 3.5% increase in June.

According to Diario Libre and other newspapers, he attributed this decrease to the reduction in international promotions by the Ministry of Tourism, which has seen its budget reduced by the state-ordered cutbacks, and the tax on avtur airplane fuel, which increased the price of airfares across the board.

Deputy Minister of Tourism Fausto Fernandez admitted that the country's international promotion as a tourist destination has been reduced due to lack of funds. He reminded Llibre that Tourism is included among the institutions that were recently subject to a 12% funding cut. The Dominican Association of Tourism Journalists (Adompretur) also complained of the budget cutbacks for Tourism, which they said "would be a very bad business for the country," due to the sector's importance in generating hard currency.

7. It is tough to get a title
An investigative article in today's Diario Libre describes just how difficult, frustrating and time-consuming it is to obtain a clear title to a property received through one of the government's housing projects. On one level there is a notorious lack of effort by the government to collect the money owed on the apartments and on the other level there is an incredible bureaucratic entanglement that includes the three branches of government.

According to National Assets office head Elias Wessin Chavez, the process can be faster or very much slower depending on the value of the property. Properties worth less than RD$1.1 million can obtain titles in less than a month, but for properties over the value of 200 minimum wages, the process can take many years. The file has to be sent to Congress for approval, the cadastral registration is checked and re-checked, and then the case goes to the Executive Branch and then to the Judicial Branch. This means that literally thousands of people are trying to obtain their legal title to property that they paid off in the 1980s, and have yet to get clear title.

8. Gerrymandering, Dominican style
Proposals are on the table for changing the status of 43 villages across the country, basically a form of gerrymandering. (Gerrymandering is the political use of geographic boundaries to strengthen a party's hold on an area or a seat in Congress. It dates back to XIX century US politics.)

What all this means is that there are congressional proposals to set up municipalities in places like La Canela in Santiago province, or a municipal district in Las Cabuyas, also in Santiago.

Manuel Diaz (PLD) was quite open as he told El Caribe reporters that these suggestions for changes in status were aimed at establishing political control over these small villages and back streets that lack the requisites for such status. Of course Diaz is at loggerheads with his own party.

Researcher Pavel Isa Contreras says that most of the places that are tipped for conversion to either municipal districts or even new cities do not have the conditions needed to function as municipal entities. A small and dispersed population makes effective municipal government very difficult and planning nearly impossible, according to Isa Contreras.

There are currently 31 provinces, the National District, 155 cities and 229 municipal districts.

According to a leading PRD member, Tirso Mejia Ricart, there were 138 cities and about 100 municipal districts before the division of the National District in 2001.

9. Consumer Protection warning for Oral B
The National Consumer Protection Institute (ProConsumidor) has issued a warning against the use of Oral B mouthwash manufactured in Colombia, due to possible contamination by microorganisms that could cause the death of patients with diabetes, HIV or a weak immune system. ProConsumidor issued the warning after receiving notification from the Network of Consumer Health and Safety for the Americas, part of the OAS and a partner of the Pan American Health Organization. Procter and Gamble has voluntarily withdrawn the product from the markets in El Salvador, Venezuela, Chile, China, Mexico and other countries. The warning affects a batch of ORAL B that was produced in Colombia. The product has an expiration date of 30 June 2014, and includes all ORAL B variants: Mint, Fluorine, Refreshing Mint, etc.

10. Danilo Medina in Brazil
PLD presidential candidate Danilo Medina met with former Brazilian President Lula Da Silva in Brasilia yesterday, as reported in El Caribe. A press note from Medina's political office said that Medina strives to achieve a considerable reduction in poverty in the DR as Lula did in Brazil during his administration.

Medina's Brazilian tour schedule includes a meeting with President Dilma Roussef. The Fernandez administration has funded several mega projects with Brazil export financing. Medina is set to be formally named the PLD candidate on 28 August 2011.

11. Sobeida's trial enters final phase
The trial of Sobeida Felix Morel and seven other defendants accused of links with Puerto Rican capo Jose David Figueroa Agosto's money laundering network is now entering its final phase. The deputy prosecutors and the lawyers for the defense will present their final arguments and make their appeals to the judges

Diario Libre says that the judges of the First Collegiate Tribunal of the Penal Chamber of the Court of the First Instance for the National District, Gisselle Mendez, presiding, July Tamariz and Tania Yunes allowed the complete procedure of preparation and presentation of evidence in the trial. Unless some incident should occur that changes the agenda, this morning deputy prosecutors Wendy Lora, Agustin de la Cruz, Milciades Guzman and Ybo Rene Sanchez will present their final arguments and their conclusions.

Later on, it will be the turn of the defense lawyers for Sobeida Felix Morel, Eddy Brito, Mary Pelaez Frappier, Adolfina Pelaez Frappier, Sammy Dauhajre, Madelin Bernard, Juan Jose Fernandez Ibarra and Ivanovich Smester. The defense lawyers are Felix Humberto Portes, Luis Aybar, Jose Rafael Ariza, Marino Elsevif, Freddy Mateo Calderon, Ingrid Hidalgo, Manuel Garcia, Manuela Ramirez, Porfirio Lopez, Miguel de la Rosa, Richard Rosario, Oscar Terrero and Kenia Perez.

12. DA halts illegal embargo
The District Attorney for the National District, Alejandro Moscoso Segarra, has stopped an attempt to impose an irregular embargo on the residence of the president of the National Commission for Important National Days, Juan Daniel Balcacer, in Bella Vista. According to a report in El Caribe, along with all other newspapers, Moscoso Segarra will prosecute the bailiff of the Eighth Penal Court of the National District as well as the Police patrol members who accompanied him in the thwarted embargo attempt. Moscoso has been adamant in stating that he would not tolerate bailiffs, police agents and lawyers, in what he called "criminal association", from carrying out embargoes without the authorization of the office of the District Attorney.

13. Hoteliers measures against cholera
The Dominican Republic hotel sector has announced a series of measures to prevent the spread of cholera, after six tourists - two Europeans and four Chileans - contracted the disease after a stay in Punta Cana. Speaking on Tuesday, the president of the National Hotel and Restaurant Association (Asonahores), Juan Llibre, said that "unfortunately we have to learn to live with cholera" which along with dengue, malaria and leptospirosis are endemic in the tropics. According to figures from the Ministry of Public Health, 87 deaths have been associated with cholera and some 2000 confirmed cases out of 13,200 suspected patients. Llibre said that the hotels and restaurants were taking tough measures to ensure the disease does not spread.

14. Violence claims almost 600 lives
The violence in the country intensified in the first six months of this year, with 570 homicides, an average of 95 each month. These statistics were compiled by Diario Libre using information from the National Institute of Forensic Pathology, reflecting an increase in crime that is shaking the country. During the same period there were 65 suicides. The main cause of death in the Dominican Republic is homicide, with murders involving firearms in first place and stabbings in second place.

Other causes of homicide are blunt force trauma to the head and other parts of the body. In third place for causes of deaths are accidents and in fourth place are the so-called "natural deaths." The Institute of Forensic Pathology is carrying out six autopsies a day. Among the suicides the number of deaths by firearms is most prevalent, and "they are the ones who shoot themselves in the head to take their lives." This group also includes poisonings and people who leap to their deaths.

May was the most violent month with 103 homicides, most caused by gunshots, the rest involving knives and diverse traumas. This group included several that occurred by strangling, suffocation and hanging. Five suicides were registered during this month. In May, Pathology performed 197 autopsies. In June there were 98 homicides and 12 accidental deaths, seven of them in automobile accidents, one accidental poisoning, a cocaine overdose, two cases of drowning, and one accidental suffocation. In June, the highest number of suicides occurred with eight, two of them by gunshot, three by hanging, one jumped to his death, another took a huge overdose of medicines and threw himself into the water. In June the Institute of Forensic Pathology conducted 187 autopsies, 98 of which were considered homicides.

15. Frank Green & Ivan Carbuccia in the Colonial City
Jazz Tabueno, a free concert with Frank Green and Ivan Carbuccia takes place at La Cantina del Agave, Arzobispo Merino 115, Colonial City on Wednesday, 27 July starting at 8:30pm.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

RD duplica exportación de productos orgánicos UN 52.41% DE LAS EXPORTACIONES DE BANANOS VAN A REINO UNIDO

Santo Domingo
Durante los primeros cuatro meses de este año el país duplicó las exportaciones de productos orgánicos al mercado mundial, logrando colocar exportaciones por un valor de US$57.69 millones.

Según las estadísticas del Centro de Exportación e Inversión de República Dominicana (CEI-RD) en eneroabril el país exportó un 58- 14% más que en igual fecha de 2010, al pasar de US$36.48 millones a US$57.69 millones en el valor exportado.

Los principales productos orgánicos (libres de pesticidas) comercializados por el país en el mercado mundial están conformados por bananos frescos (guineos); cacao en grano tipo Hispaniola, cacao en grano tipo Sánchez, cacao en grano, aguacate, berenjena, ajíes, piñas frescas,tabaco en rama, café verde en grano, tomates para ensalada, café tostado, tomates cherry, limón, y aceite de coco.

Reino Unido lidera las exportaciones dominicanas de banano orgánicos, y a cuya nación llegó más de la mitad de los guineos frescos criollos.

A esta nación le sigue Bélgica, Holanda, Suecia, Alemania y otros. En tanto que los mayores compradores de cacao orgánico tipo Sánchez y cacao en grano orgánico son de Estados Unidos.

México, España, Francia, Holanda, Italia y Japón son otros compradores importantes de cacao orgánico dominicano.

Las exportaciones de cacao en grano tipo Sánchez crecieron 28.35%, las de cacao tipo Hispaniola aumentaron 25.36% y las de cacao en grano orgánico crcecieron 86%, en el período de referencia. El tabaco en rama despalillado de olor se vendió más en Puerto Rico, Estados Unidos y Nicaragua, mientras el tomate de ensalada orgánico también se vendió más en Puerto Rico, EEUU, St. Thomas y Martinica.

El tomate tipo Cherry se vendió más en EEUU, Puerto Rico, Martinica, St.Marteen y otros mercados, registrando un crecimiento de 750% con respecto a enero-abril del año pasado.

(+)
MERCADOS MUNDIALES ADQUIEREN PRODUCTOS
AJÍES (CHILE):
Los ajíes dulces (Chile) orgánicos se vendieron en EEUU, Puerto Rico St. Thomas, e Islas Vírgenes.

mientras que otro tipo de ajíes orgánicos llegaron a mercados tan exigentes como el Francia, Canadá, EEUU y Reino Unido. Holanda y alemania compraron aceite crudo de coco orgánico.

BERENJENAS:
RD también vendió a Estados Unidos, Canadá, Reino Unido, Francia y Saint Marteen US$1.23 millones de berenjenas orgáncias en esos mercados. Productos como la piña fresca orgánica registran exportaciones de de un valor de 0.44 millones hacia Italia, España, Israel, Martinica y Haití.

EEUU, Puerto Rico, Holanda, Guadalupe y sus dependencias, y Francia compraron aguacates.

Café dominicano gana premio en Taiwán

Taipéi.- La compañía Global Silk Road, de Taiwán, tiene suficientes motivos para celebrar el tercer lugar obtenido por el café dominicano, en su categoría Pea Berry, en la Copa mundial de Café Siphon celebrada recientemente en la isla.

En visita realizada a la Embajada dominicana en Taiwán el Sr. Ray Tseng, gerente de la empresa explicó que “rápidamente el café dominicano está logrando ocupar una importante posición dentro del mercado local y que les ha sorprendido gratamente como el aroma y el sabor del mismo ha gustado a un público que anteriormente solo conocía el café Colombiano o Brasileño”.

Dijo que “de un primer pedido de una tonelada de introducción en el 2010, este año han pedido doce toneladas y que ya todas están colocadas en el mercado” lo que habla muy bien del producto cosechado en las lomas de Constanza por la empresa de Belarminio Ramírez e hijos, quienes desde 1943 están exportando café hacia diferentes partes del mundo.

Por su parte, la recientemente designada embajadora ante Taiwán Lic. Rafaela Albulquerque agradeció el gesto de la presentación del premio ante la legación y dijo que “su gestión está comprometida con el reforzamiento de las relaciones bilaterales entre ambos pueblos y tratar de incrementar las inversiones taiwanesas en la isla logrando que más productos dominicanos puedan penetrar a este vasto mercado”. Así mismo destacó la gran calidad de productos dominicanos, tales como el cacao y el tabaco.

En ese mismo tenor, el consejero de la embajada Sr. Claudio A. Castro dijo que “se le está dando un gran seguimiento a varias solicitudes de inversión en República Dominicana y que hay varias propuestas para incrementar el flujo de turistas taiwaneses hacia nuestro país”.

El próximo mes de Noviembre tendrá efecto, en el centro de convenciones de Taipéi, una exhibición de Café de diferentes partes del mundo y contará con la presencia del aroma dominicano.

El Sr. Tseng agradeció el apoyo recibido por parte de las nuevas autoridades de la embajada y reiteró “que no descansaran hasta llevar el producto a otros lugares de Asia”.

Apoya que el país haya firmado acuerdo DR-CAFTA "Hay que mejorar para ser competitivos"

SD. El ministro de Industria y Comercio, Manuel García Arévalo, aseguró que República Dominicana ha ido superando los problemas de calidad de los productos exportados a los mercados estadounidense y europeo, para cumplir con las exigencias de los acuerdos comerciales con esos bloques.

Al participar como invitado de Diálogo Libre, dijo que se capacita a los productores para evitar devoluciones de alimentos, como los vegetales orientales, cuyo alto contenido de pesticidas ha provocado el retorno de furgones desde Europa. "Se está tratando de certificar a los exportadores para volver de nuevo a exportar carne a Estados Unidos, o sea, que yo pienso que al país se le están abriendo posibilidades. Estamos exportando aguacate a los Estados Unidos en excelentes condiciones, guineo orgánico a Europa, que ha tenido muy buena receptividad, además de los productos tradicionales, el café, el cacao y los industriales como ron y los puros, los cigarros, y ha habido muy buena acogida", aseguró.

Informó que hace dos semanas, se pusieron a circular unas guías de exportación a Europa para que los productores sepan en qué condiciones se comercializa hacia ese mercado, requisitos de empaque y tamaño del fruto. "En fin, siempre habrá productos que de una u otra forma tengan problemas, pero el interés es que haya la voluntad de superarlo", agregó.

Pese a ello, el ministro entiende que aún faltan aspectos que mejorar para ser más competitivos. Destaca, por ejemplo, un estudio hecho por la cartera en el mercado étnico de Estados Unidos que arrojó una preferencia por los llamados productos nostálgicos -que recuerdan al país de origen-, en una población de hasta 700 mil dominicanos residentes en Nueva York, New Jersey y Rhode Island.

"Precisamente determinamos que hay que mejorar mucho para ser competitivo en el mercado. Por ejemplo, la leche, pasteurizarla, los productos tienen que tener un tamaño específico y tienen que tener las etiquetas donde haya un registro de los componentes del tipo de grasa, en fin, hay toda una estrategia... y yo pienso que nosotros tenemos que establecer una cultura exportadora, específicamente con los productos agrícolas", dijo.

Apoya DR-Cafta

El titular de Industria y Comercio aseguró que el país tomó la decisión correcta al firmar el Acuerdo de Libre Comercio con Centroamérica (DR-Cafta), ya que ese bloque comercial lo iba a hacer con Estados Unidos.

Con su afirmación, contradice a sectores y al candidato presidencial del Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD), Hipólito Mejía, que señalan la necesidad de revisar el tratado comercial ante las desventajas competitivas que representa con otras naciones participantes.

"Si República Dominicana no aprovechaba esa oportunidad y no se unía a la firma del acuerdo entre Centroamérica y Estados Unidos, hubiésemos quedado en desventaja, sobre todo en el campo de las inversiones con los americanos, y la iniciativa de la cuenca del Caribe, que favorecía la entrada de los productos a los Estados Unidos, también estaba al punto de perecer, o sea, con lo cual, hubiéramos perdido ventajas competitivas", aseguró.

Recordó que los acuerdos contienen cláusulas de revisión. "Yo creo que si en algún aspecto de la producción nacional, el acuerdo no es conveniente, pues siempre habrá posibilidades de poder superar ese impasse. Ponderó el trabajo que hace el Ministerio con los acuerdos comerciales a través de la Dirección de Comercio Exterior y Administración de Tratados Comerciales Internacionales (DICOEX).



Explotación metales preciosos

Se vigila mineras remedien los daños

El Gobierno está dando seguimiento y tomando medidas para que las empresas mineras remedien el pasivo ambientar fruto de sus operaciones en el país, aseguró el titular de Industria y Comercio. "En cuanto a minería, el país ha sido muy previsor, incluso para remediar los daños que ya se habían causado en áreas muy notorias como el caso de La Rosario. Se han tomado medidas para que la corporación que actualmente está explotando la mina, remedie el pasivo ambiental y se creen condiciones para que, una vez se extraiga el material, los ingredientes tóxicos puedan ser destruidos y, además, se reforesten las áreas que hayan sido de utilidad minera", aseguró.

Empresario siendo un funcionario

Manuel García Arévalo estaba en retiro cuando el presidente Fernández le propuso ser ministro de Industria y Comercio. A sus 63 años, señala que ser empresario y ministro le ha permitido "poder llevar las mejores prácticas de la experiencia empresarial a una dependencia pública". Fue presidente de Embotelladora Dominicana, miembro de la Junta Monetaria del Banco Central, y desempeñó posiciones directivas en las asociaciones de Industrias y de Industrias de Bebidas Gaseosas. También es historiador.

Intercambio en la isla

Aspira se formalice comercio bilateral entre RD y Haití

SD. El ministro de Industria y Comercio aspira que con el nuevo Gobierno haitiano que preside Michel Martelly se llegue a una institucionalidad que permita formalizar el comercio bilateral entre esa nación y RD, el segundo más importante después del intercambio con Estados Unidos.

"Esa informalidad no favorece el comercio bilateral. El EPA, el Acuerdo de Libre Comercio con Europa, de una manera previsora establece un marco de negociación para que República Dominica y Haití puedan arribar a unas cláusulas confiables, que es lo que aspira el comercio, a tener reglas de juegos estables", dijo.

Recordó que la inestabilidad de Haití, acrecentada por el terremoto de 2010, ha imposibilitado avances en el renglón comercial. Aspira a que, cuando esto se pueda, los productos haitianos también puedan ser aprovechados por los dominicanos.

RD exporta por vía aérea el 75% de sus vegetales y frutas

PUNTA CANA, La Altagracia. - El 75% de los vegetales y frutas del país llegan por transporte aéreo a los mercados de la Unión Europea, Estados Unidos y Canadá, principales receptores de legumbres, hortalizas y frutas producidas en República Dominicana, las cuales generan divisas por encima de los US$100 millones al año.

La revelación la hizo el secretario de Estado y Director Ejecutivo del Consejo Nacional de Competitividad (CNC), Andrés van der Horst Álvarez, al intervenir en el seminario Aeropuerto Internacional de Punta Cana: conectando el mundo para la importación y exportación de carga, desarrollado este fin de semana en dicha zona turística.

Van der Horst Álvarez dijo, al exponer sobre La Importancia del Efectivo Manejo de Carga para la Cadena Productiva, que Europa, EEUU y Canadá reciben el 40%, 35% y 25% respectivamente de los vegetales y frutas dominicanas, y que generan divisas por más de US$100 millones al año.

“En realidad tenemos todo el potencial y las ventajas comparativas para aumentar la producción y la exportación de vegetales y frutas a esos países, pero tenemos que incrementar la aplicación de nuevas tecnologías e innovaciones, y mejorar la logística en término general”, preciso.

El grupo de frutales y vegetales lo encabezan banano, mango, aguacate, lechosa, piña, cítricos y frutas silvestres, así como hortalizas de invernaderos: ajíes, tomate, pepino. Del total de las divisas generadas, solo los vegetales orientales representan US$66 millones.

El Director Ejecutivo del CNC destacó que las detenciones de productos agrícolas dominicanos en puertos y aeropuertos extranjeros han disminuido de manera considerable en los últimos años. Precisó que del total de las detenciones de las exportaciones dominicanas, los productos agrícolas representaron el 87% en el año 2007, mientras que para 2010 bajaron a 44%.

“Es una avance considerable en apenas uno años, aunque está la necesidad de continuar fortaleciendo los procesos para que las detenciones se reduzcan a su mínima expresión en puertos y aeropuertos extranjeros”, señaló.

En procura de abaratar costos en el transporte de los productos, la mayor cantidad se traslada en las barrigas de los vuelos comerciales y chárter que salen del país. El seminario tuvo por objetivo proyectar al Aeropuerto Internacional de Punta Cana como una nueva opción en el área de carga del Caribe, explicó Frank Rainieri, presidente del Grupo Punta Cana.

En el seminario participaron empresas importadoras, exportadoras y de carga, líneas aéreas, delegados comerciales de embajadas y asociaciones de productores.

También se expuso sobre el Manejo de Carga Aérea Efectiva Como Elemento Clave en la Cadena Productiva; los Operadores Logísticos como Socios Estratégicos Integrales en el Transporte de Carga Aérea y las Facilidades Aduanales para la Importación y Exportación en RD.

Danilo va a Brasil a ver su modelo de desarrollo

Santo Domingo
El candidato presidencial del Partido de la Liberación Dominicana (PLD), Danilo Medina, viajó ayer a Brasil para sostener encuentros con funcionarios del gobierno de ese país sudamericano, de quienes asumirá ideas para su programa de gobierno, informó ayer su oficina de prensa.

Medina se reunirá con funcionarios del Banco Nacional de Desarrollo de Brasil (BNDS), el Ministerio responsable del Programa Brasil sin Miseria, así como los directivos de la iniciativa Seguridad Pública de Río de Janeiro, que ha logrado importantes resultados avances en la disminución de la violencia en las fabelas, conocidas en el resto de Latinoamérica como barrios pobres.

El candidato presidencial del PLD viajó a Brasil en horas de la madrugada de ayer, tras afirmar que dado su convencimiento de que ganará las elecciones presidenciales del año 2012, procurará replicar las experiencias novedosas logradas en la nación más exitosa de América Latina en últimos años respecto a la atención de los segmentos poblacionales vulnerables y de reducción de la pobreza.

Durante su visita de una semana, Medina tendrá reuniones de trabajo para conocer las experiencias exitosas en áreas como la educación, energía, transporte, seguridad ciudadana, financiamiento a pequeñas y medianas empresas y programas puntuales para elevar las condiciones de vida de los dominicanos.

Tiene previsto retornar a territorio dominicano el próximo sábado, y dijo que al día siguiente continuará las labores proselitistas en busca de ganar, en primera vuelta, las elecciones de mayo de 2012. A su llegada a territorio brasileño, resaltó los logros de las últimas gestiones de gobierno en Brasil.

“Hay que destacar que este crecimiento consistente de la economía”, agregó, “se ha traducido en grandes saltos respecto a la reducción de los niveles de pobreza”.

Refirió que durante su viaje a Brasil en septiembre de 2010, el entonces presidente Lula Da Silva le manifestó que la disminución del número de pobres y la incorporación de más de 24 millones de personas al mercado han sido el elemento fundamental para el logro de un crecimiento equitativo y sostenido.

Lula afirma Danilo logrará reducir pobreza en RD como él lo hizo en Brasil

BRASIL.- El ex presidente Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva afirmó que el candidato presidencial del Partido de la Liberación Dominicana (PLD), Danilo Medina, logrará en la República Dominicana reducir considerablemente la pobreza, tal y como él (Lula) lo hizo en Brasil. Afirmó que el dirigente político dominicano cuenta con una oferta programática que va en la dirección correcta para mejorar las condiciones de vida de la mayoría de la población, especialmente los sectores más vulnerables. “Creo que Danilo tiene todas las condiciones de hacer por la República Dominicana lo mismo que hicimos por Brasil, donde logramos reducir de forma significativa la pobreza e incluimos más de 39 millones de personas en la clase media”, expresó. Esto permitió la creación de un mercado interno sólido, agregó, que hizo que nuestro país no sintiera de manera tan drástica los efectos de la grave crisis económica mundial.

Lula Da Silva se refirióó al tema durante una reunión privada que sostuvo con el candidato presidencial del PLD, la cual se prologó durante más de dos horas. Entre los temas abordados figuraron lo relativo a las relaciones entre República Dominicana y Brasil, el escenario económico internacional y algunos proyectos brasileros exitosos, como el combate a la pobreza, el aumento del empleo formal y la ampliación del poder adquisitivo de la clase trabajadora.

En un clima de gran cordialidad, ambos intercambiaron ideas respecto a políticas sociales, desarrollo económico, generación de empleos, seguridad alimenticia y otros temas comunes a las realidades de los dos países.

Mientras que Medina, al responder preguntas periodísticas acerca de la reunión, destacó que resulta interesante observar puntos de vista comunes y el hecho de que existan las condiciones para adaptar la realidad brasileña a la dominicana, en lo concerniente a la ejecución de iniciativas de combate efectivo de la pobreza.

Reveló que, incluso, invitó a Lula Da Silva para que visite la República Dominicana este mismo año, en la doble condición de amigo y de estadista.

“Lula se transformó en una fuente de inspiración y un paradigma en América Latina para todos los que creemos que es posible trabajar de forma concreta para disminuir las desigualdades sociales y crear una sociedad de oportunidades para todos. Eso es lo que queremos también para nuestro país”, agregó Medina.

El candidato presidencial peledeísta, quien desarrolla una apretada agenda en Brasil, tiene prevista, en Brasilia, una audiencia oficial con la presidenta Dilma Roussef. Posteriormente se reunirá con los ministros de Desarrollo, Educación, Minas y Energía, el presidente del Banco Nacional de Desarrollo Social (BNDES) de esa nación, además de visitar la ciudad de Curitiba para constatar una de las mejores experiencias en transporte público urbano en América.

Dijo que estará conociendo de cerca experiencias exitosas para discutirlas con su equipo técnico, a fin de llevar algunas de ellas a la realidad dominicana.

En sentido general se trata de un intercambio de ideas y experiencias al más alto nivel, precisó, que sólo pueden darse gracias a los logros obtenidos los ámbitos económico y social en la República Dominicana por los gobiernos del PLD.

FUENTE: http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/...aspx?id=250955

Fernández sugiere estudiar vínculos de EU con el Caribe

Santo Domingo
El presidente Leonel Fernández planteó anoche la importancia de la región del Caribe y de República Dominicana en el contexto geopolítico con relación a Estados Unidos; país con el que existe un intercambio comercial de 9 billones de dólares.

El Presidente significó que el 60% de los turistas que vienen a República Dominicana proceden de Estados Unidos.

Fernández, quien tuvo una ponencia en el marco de la Conferencia Internacional “El Caribe hispano, hacia un campo de estudio propio”, que se realiza en la Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo y que culmina mañana, dijo del mismo modo que históricamente ha existido una interrelación entre República Dominicana, Cuba y Puerto Rico.

Para el jefe de Estado es una tarea de los investigadores estudiar esa realidad de interacción entre estos países caribeños con Estados Unidos, así como existe la necesidad de un estudio sobre la extinción de los indígenas luego de la llegada de los europeos al nuevo continente.

“Me parece interesante esta relación entre Caribe hispano y que sea estudio de los Estados Unidos, porque de alguna manera nos enlazamos de distintas formas y eso es algo que ha llegado a entender hasta el propio presidente Obama”, reflexionó.

En su conferencia, el Presidente lucía relajado y citó anécdotas que despejaron cualquier asomo de aburrimiento en un auditorio repleto de intelectuales dominicanos y extranjeros.

“Cuando lo conocí, estando en la Cumbre de las Américas en Trinidad y Tobago, me le acerqué y empezamos a conversar, le dije que aquí en la República Dominicana, cuando él se presentaba como candidato, se ganaba el aprecio de la gente porque él parecía dominicano. Luego me dijo, pero mire qué cosa más curiosa, cuando yo estudiaba en la Universidad de Columbia en Nueva York, caminaba hacia la parte alta de la ciudad y entraba a alguna bodega –como dicen ustedees en Nueva York– y compraba cualquier cosa y la gente me abordaba en español, porque creían que yo era dominicano”.

Fernández hizo una extensa relación de la historia fundamental de Puerto Rico, Cuba y República Dominicana y cómo por ser tres poblaciones de origen común, los arawacos, esos tres pueblos tenían una relación que al mismo tiempo se hizo evidente en épocas fundamentales como las de Independencia.

Entre comentarios con gran apoyo histórico, Fernández alternaba la anécdota, como lo que refirió de que Obama parecía dominicano “dominicano de Villa Juana”, con lo que del auditorio surgieron carcajadas en coro.

“Pienso que la historia del Caribe hispano hay que vincularla en dos etapas fundamentales: la relación del Caribe con España y la relación del Caribe con Estados Unidos. Es una relación que nace a finales del siglo XIX y que se consolida exactamente entre Cuba, República Dominicana y Puerto Rico, y que sigue todavía muy viva en el día de hoy”, dijo.

(+)
PROXIMIDAD DE RD A ESTADOS UNIDOS
Dijo que en el caso de República Dominicana, se trata de la nación con mayor proximidad geográfica con Estados Unidos.

“Y creo que cuando se pensó en el siglo XIX la Doctrina Monroe de América para los Americanos, se está hablando de la región del Caribe”, mencionó.

Destacó que República Dominicana siempre ha estado en la esfera geográfica de Estados Unidos, en su órbita, por lo que República Dominicana siempre ha sido del interés de la seguridad nacional de Estados Unidos.

Fernández manifestó que en Nueva York hay más de 1 millón 500 mil dominicanos, lo que a su entender y de manera jocosa, convierte a esa urbe en la segunda ciudad de República Dominicana, “con el perdón de la gente de Santiago”.

El jefe de Estado, como la semana pasada recitó versos de Nicolás Guillén, el poeta más representativo de la Poesía Negroide.

FUENTE: http://www.listindiario.com/la-repub...-con-el-Caribe

RD Defiende medida ante OMC

La delegación dominicana en el proceso iniciado por Centroamérica ante la Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC), por la salvaguardia a los tejidos tubulares y saco de polipropileno, este lunes presentó objeción y defensa a las reclamaciones centroamericanas que no habían sido sometidas a consultas previas y tuvo argumentos adicionales sobre por qué la medida de salvaguardia no puede consistir en la suspensión del artículo 1.1 del Acuerdo General sobre Aranceles Aduaneros y Comercio (GATT, por sus siglas en inglés)

Una nota conjunta de la Comisión de Defensa Comercial (CDC) y la Dirección de Comercio Exterior (DICOEX), del Ministerio de Industria y Comercio, explica que en la primera audiencia celebrada el lunes, la delegación nacional expuso de manera detallada el por qué las medidas en litigio son derechos de aduanas, conforme al artículo II:1 (b) del GATT,además de enfatizar las razones para rechazar los alegatos de los reclamantes en cuanto a la definición de rama de laproducción nacionaly las razones que validan la determinación de aumento de importaciones del producto, durante el período investigado.

La nota dice quela audiencia continúa hoy con una segundasesión en la sede de la OMC, en Ginebra, Suiza.

a delegación la integranJean Alain Rodríguez, comisionado de la Comisión de Defensa Comercial (CDC) y Luisa Astacio, encargada del Departamento de Investigación delmismo organismo que se encarga de coordinar la defensa de los intereses del país en este foro. También son parte: Helen Pérez, de la Consultoría del Poder Ejecutivo, con la asistencia y colaboración de técnicos del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y otras instituciones del Estado. La firma internacionalde abogadosVan Bael&Bellis, asesora durante el proceso.

La salvaguardia definitiva objeto de la controversia, fue establecida por la CDC luego de un proceso de investigación que se extendió durante más de un año, en atención a las disposiciones de la Ley No.1-02 sobre Prácticas Desleales en el Comercio y sobre Medidas de Salvaguardias, su reglamento de aplicación y el Acuerdo de Salvaguardias de la OMC.

La medida de 38% de arancel está en aplicación desde el 18 de octubre del 2010 y se extenderá por 18 meses, sujeta a un proceso de desmonte escalonado que concluye en abril de 2012. En base al desmonte, la primera reducción arancelaria se efectuó en el primer cuatrimestre de este año, por lo cual el arancel actual es de 28%.

FUENTE: http://www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2011/7...edida-ante-OMC

Adompretur afirma reducir el presupuesto de turismo es un pésimo negocio para RD

SANTO DOMINGO.- La Asociación Dominicana de Prensa Turística (Adompretur) afirmó que la reducción del presupuesto del Ministerio de Turismo en un 12 por ciento, como ha sido anunciado, sería un pésimo negocio para el país, ya que esa industria representa la principal fuente de ingreso de divisas y el más importante aliado de los sectores productivos de la República Dominicana. Y sostuvo que el dilema sobre invertir o no en el turismo es muy sencillo: “Si el flujo de visitantes aumenta, el gobierno recibe más ingresos, la economía se dinamiza y crece la oferta de empleos; si el turismo decrece, los ingresos fiscales se reducen, se deprime la actividad económica y aumenta el desempleo”.

La entidad que agrupa a los periodistas especializados en turismo respaldó la posición de la Asociación Nacional de Hoteles y Turismo de la República Dominicana (ASONAHORES) que se pronunció en contra de la medida y recomendó un aumento real de la inversión en el sector “para atenuar la crisis, aliviar el desempleo, aumentar la producción de divisas y corregir el déficit en el comercio exterior”.

En una declaración suscrita por su presidente, Osvaldo Soriano, y su director de relaciones públicas, Luis José Chávez, Adompretur sugirió al presidente de la República y al Congreso Nacional sopesar seriamente el impacto que tendría para el país debilitar a un sector que devuelve con creces cada peso que recibe y que impacta positivamente toda la economía.

“Las autoridades deben tomar en cuenta que los principales destinos del Caribe están desarrollando estrategias cada vez más agresivas para captar una mayor cuota del flujo turístico que se desplaza hacia la Región; si nosotros no hacemos lo mismo, estamos condenados a perder el liderazgo que hemos construido en los últimos 20 años”, expresa la declaración de la entidad periodística.

Y apunta Adompretur que ya se están viendo los efectos de la política fiscal y la baja asignación de recursos para el turismo; “por ejemplo en mayo pasado las llegadas de turistas al país creció un 2% mientras que a Cuba fue un 7% y junio nosotros decrecimos 0.1% mientras para Cuba fue positivo en un 6%, a pesar de que la oferta cubana es menos atractiva. En el primer semestre del año Cuba creció un 11% y nosotros un 4%”.

“Si el Ministerio de Turismo no cuenta con recursos para mejorar la promoción del país en los mercados emisores, corremos el riesgo de reducir la competividad y acentuar el proceso de decrecimiento que se ha registrado en los diversos polos turísticos de la República Dominicana, con excepción de Punta Cana”, expresa Adompretur.

Gobernador Espaillat destaca logros misión comercial en EEUU y Canadá

NUEVA YORK._ El gobernador de la provincia Espaillat, José Guillermo López (Chemo), quien junto al alcalde de Moca Remberto Cruz, otros funcionarios, congresistas, regidores y empresarios, encabeza una misión comercial de esa demarcación en Estados Unidos y Canadá, destacó los logros de la misma y dijo que específicamente en cuanto al cacao orgánico, se han hecho importantes contactos con empresas y comerciantes de Nueva York. En la misión participan representantes de la Cámara de Comercio de Espaillat y funcionarios y empresarios de Gaspar Hernández, la común cabecera de la provincia. “En Gaspar Hernández, cuyo municipio nunca se había incluido en este tipo de misión, donde hay sembradas 125 mil tareas de cacao de las que alrededor de 100.000 están clasificadas como orgánicas”.

López señaló que el cacao orgánico producido en la provincia es el tipo Hispaniola y es de excelente calidad, además de ser requerido en los principales mercados internacionales, especialmente en Estados Unidos y Europa.

“El próximo paso es conseguir empresas que quieran comprarnos el cacao orgánico, ya no como grano, sino una pasta que tenga mayor valor agregado y con algún proceso de torrefacción”, añadió el representante del Poder Ejecutivo en Espaillat.

Informó que en New Jersey, la misión ya contactó una fábrica de chocolate muy fino y se dan los pasos primarios para llegar a un posible acuerdo. Dijo que de Nueva York, la misión se trasladó a Canadá, donde también tratarán de colocar el cacao orgánico de Moca.

Previo al viaje a Canadá, la misión se reunió con la Asociación de Dueños de Supermercados (NSA), con cuya entidad, comenzaron a evaluar la posibilidad de traer no sólo el cacao, sino vegetales que entren etiquetados y empacados, lo que generará mano de obra y posibilidades de producción adicional y a los supermercados les ahorrará costos.

“Estamos hablando de un plan para producir en los invernaderos o en el sistema de plasticultura, como también se le llama”, añadió. Además, se contempla traer productos fabricados por el Grupo Rojas que fabrica refrescos Imperio y una amplia línea de bebidas similares como las energizantes, esquimalitos, helados y otros.

El gobernador informó que los mocanos promueven también el primer hotel 3 estrellas con que cuenta la provincia, que es el Rin Montain, situado en la Cumbre (Jamao al Norte) desde se pueden observar varias provincias y tiene vista al Océano Atlántico, con temperatura súper agradable y en la extensa área que lo circunda, se puede hacer turismo de montaña.

“En esas actividades, los turistas pueden practicar montañismo, cayaqui, aprovechar saltos en un ambiente con aguas frescas y vírgenes, enclavadas en el corazón de la cordillera septentrional”, detalló el ejecutivo provincial.

“Estos proyectos los estamos dando a conocer y buscando empresas dirigidas por dominicanos en Estados Unidos, pero que quieran invertir en el país. Nos reunimos con la Asociación de Bodegueros en el consulado general que cuenta con alrededor de 17 mil de esos comerciantes”, añadió.

Destacó como exitosa la gestión de la misión comercial y de esta ciudad, harán contactos con empresarios, asociaciones y entidades públicas en Toronto, Montreal y Quebec (Canadá). López sostuvo que en su gestión hay una nueva visión de lo que debe ser un gobernador.

“Creo que el papel del gobernador no debe ser ya la de pagar recetas, soltar un compañerito que cayó preso, regalar una caja de muerto o dar permisos para portar cuchillos, sino el de convertirnos en gestores, agentes de desarrollo, trabajamos en eso y hay sectores de la sociedad que lo están entendiendo correctamente”, explicó López.

Anunció la apertura próximamente de la página web que promoverá la provincia en el sitio www.espaillat.gov.com.do, con el slogan “provincia Espaillat, tierra de oportunidades”, porque el que llega a la provincia no se quiere ir, porque hay muchas oportunidades para la inversión, debido a que es una zona de amor, donde hay personas que trabajan en Santiago y viven en Moca.

“Tenemos mucho potencial y estamos a 15 minutos de distancia de Santiago de los Caballeros. Con nuestra visión seguimos trabajando con las instituciones que luchan por el desarrollo que existen en nuestra provincia”, precisó López.

Adelantó que el próximo año, la misión viajará a Europa, principalmente a las ciudades en las que hay una gran presencia dominicana.

FUENTE: http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/...aspx?id=250911

Rey de Marruecos acoge propuesta LF sobre especulación financiera en precios petróleo y alimentos

El rey de Marruecos, Mohammed VI, acogió la iniciativa del presidente Leonel Fernández sobre el establecimiento, en el marco de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU), de un mecanismo de lucha contra las especulación financiera en los precios de los alimentos y del petróleo, además, Su Majestad, aseguró que el reino marroquí se muestra dispuesto a respaldar la propuesta del primer mandatario. Tales son los retos, que conviene, a partir de ahora, ir madurando así como las acciones por emprender a fin de favorecer la adhesión del mayor número de naciones a esta iniciativa. A este respecto, el Reino de Marruecos está dispuesto a apoyar vuestro país y su ambición de restaurar la primacía de la ética sobre el interés, aseguró.

Al saludar la iniciativa del primer mandatario, dijo que la misma, surge en un momento muy propicio, porque plante una de las problemáticas más cruciales para el conjunto de la comunidad internacional y particularmente, en lo que tiene que ver con los países en desarrollo.

“Con enorme interés he recibido la carta en la que vuestra excelencia expresa su deseo de ver al Reino de Marruecos suscribir y aportar su apoyo a vuestra propuesta acerca del establecimiento, en el marco de las Naciones Unidas, de un mecanismo de lucha contra las especulaciones financieras sobre los productos alimenticios”, precisó el Rey de esa nación.

Explica, que en un momento en que el mercado de los productos agrícolas esenciales, se hayan sujetos a las excesivas y repetidas alzas, todo parece indicar que dicha volatilidad es en buena parte, imputable a las especulaciones financieras que sufren esos productos.

Mohammed VI, resaltó que esta práctica, convertida en moneda corriente en los países industrializados, penaliza fuertemente a las naciones en desarrollo.

“En estos momentos de liberalización a ultranza, y en ausencia de mecanismos reguladores de la finanza mundial, vuestra propuesta surge oportunamente para abogar a favor de la regulación de los mercados mundiales de las materias agrícolas esenciales. Por vuestra parte, la apoyamos plenamente, dada la meritoria ambición de instaurar un comercio agrícola razonado y guardad los productos agrícolas de las lógicas estrictamente financieras”, manifestó.

El Rey indicó que de acuerdo a la propuesta del presidente Fernández, esta temática merecía ser estudiada, en un primer tiempo, en el seno de un grupo de expertos y analistas financieros y del sector agrícola, el cual podría formular recomendaciones sobre esta materia.

De igual manera, dijo que una vez afinada la iniciativa del jefe de Estado dominicano y fijado su modus operandi, podría crear un proceso de concertaciones informales entre los países interesados, a escala de las misiones permanentes de los países miembros de la ONU en Nueva York, con el fin de difundir al máximo las informaciones sobre la propuesta y optimizar sus posibilidades de lograr el éxito.

El Rey marroquí añadió que es un deber moral, pero también una apuesta económica de talla, a la que hay que darle importancia, dado que su nación está ligada íntimamente a esta problemática.

“Una movilización enérgica se hace necesaria para obtener resultados concluyentes y permitir también a vuestros países ejercer sus derechos en materia económica y comercial y exigir una mayor equidad en los intercambios internaciones”, significó.

Mohammed VI reiteró sus más sinceras felicitaciones al presidente Fernández por tan juiciosa iniciativa.

FUENTE: http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/...aspx?id=250999

26916283

h4xBjD2y5JM&feature

Segunda línea del Metro usará biogás y recibirá recursos del Protocolo de Kyoto RD SERÍA EL PRIMER PAÍS EN USAR ESE COMBUSTIBLE EN UN METRO

Santo Domingo
Con la entrada de la segunda línea del Metro de Santo Domingo, la República Dominicana será el primer país en registrar un proyecto de transporte masivo de esta modalidad bajo el Mecanismo de Desarrollo Limpio (MDL), ya que está previsto usar biogás para su movilización.

Así lo informó Omar Ramírez, vicepresidente ejecutivo del Consejo Nacional para el Cambio Climático y Mecanismo de Desarrollo Limpio, quien dijo que el combustible será obtenido de Duquesa, donde se ejecuta un proyecto de desgasificación.

Explicó que a través de esa práctica se obtendrán diez mega vatios, los cuales son suficientes para mover ese transporte, que se trasladará desde la avenida Luperon hasta el puente de la avenida Padre Castellanos ( La 17).

El país podrá recibir recursos por dejar de emitir emisiones de dióxido de carbono a partir de combustibles fósiles como lo estipula el Protocolo de Kyoto.

Ramírez explicó que hasta ahora sólo Colombia tiene registrado un proyecto de MDL en transporte masivo con los servicios de los autobuses de Transmilenio en Bogotá , por lo que en República Dominicana “seríamos segundo con transporte masivo y primero con un metro a nivel mundial”.

Recordó que ya el país recibe a través del Protocolo de Kyoto cuatro millones de euros con el proyecto de aprovechamiento de gases e Duquesa, de donde también se están exportando plásticos para reciclaje.

Ramírez apuntó que es necesario que el país reduzca sus niveles de emisiones de gases a la atmósfera que ocasionan calentamiento global y a su vez los cambios climáticos.

Explicó que en el caso dominicano las emisiones se han duplicado en los últimos siete años al pasar de 18 a 36 megatoneladas.

Dijo además que la matriz energética del país es de la “más sucias” del Caribe con un 84% de dependencia de combustibles fósiles, lo cual es urgente variar.

Destacó que gracias al esfuerzo del gobierno y el sector privado el próximo mes se agregará la producción de energía eólica con el proyecto Los Cocos en Pedernales con el cual se ahorrarán 80 millones de dólares cada año en combustibles.

Ramírez destacó que en la actualidad dentro del MDL, el país tiene 14 proyectos en validación, dos registrados y un portafolio de 45 iniciativas, la mayoría del sector privado.

El funcionario destacó que la República Dominicana ha recibido asistencia técnica del Programa Carbono 2012 del Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD) a los fines de elevar capacidades tanto en el sector público como privado en la agenda climática.

El funcionario ofreció la información durante el desarrollo de la conferencia: “Mecanismo de Desarrollo Limpio y la oportunidad de negocios en República Dominicana” dirigida a empresarios y profesionales de diversos sectores y organizada por Imagen Pública Consulting.

1. Priority for natural gas
President Leonel Fernandez has instructed government departments to expedite the issue of permits to natural gas-vending stations to encourage more vehicle owners to invest in converting their vehicles to the clean, efficient and lower-costing fuel. At a meeting at the Ministry of Environment yesterday, President Fernandez instructed Environment Minister Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal and Industry & Commerce Minister Manuel Garcia Arevalo to expedite the process. While 133 companies have applied for permission to install natural gas filling stations, only 16 have been approved.

President Fernandez called yesterday's meeting at the Ministry of Environment to encourage government officials to make efforts to expedite the mass use of natural gas in order to reduce the nation's fuel bill. He called a meeting at the Presidential Palace with representatives of natural gas companies and the ministers of Industry & Commerce and Environment for next Tuesday to follow up on the initiative.

2. Ambassadors decorated
The Ministry of Foreign Relations has recognized the work carried out to strengthen trade and friendship relations by the ambassadors of Germany (Christian Germann), Spain (Diego Bermejo Romero de Terreros) and France (Roland Dubertrand) during their posts in the Dominican Republic. The ambassadors received the decoration of the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella in the rank of Great Silver Cross on the occasion of their imminent departures.

3. Record Customs collections
Customs (DGA) director Rafael Camilo announced record collections for the government department in the first half of the year, as reported in Hoy. He said collections were up more than RD$3 billion in the first half of the year. While the estimate for collections was RD$32 billion, revenues have reached RD$35 billion. Camilo attributed the increase to improved efficiency, less contraband and the new tax on free zone domestic sales. He said raw material, appliances, used vehicles and general consumer goods imports were up. Imports in general are up 12% and tax collections are up 24% compared to the first half of last year.

Camilo admitted that the benefits of the tax exemptions on goods imported under the DR-CAFTA free trade agreement have not trickled down to consumers. He said importers have pocketed the gains.

4. DGII tax revenues up
The Department of Taxes (DGII) announced that revenues for the first five months of the year are up 10.8% compared to the same period last year. Revenues were RD$113.3 billion for the period, compared to RD$102.30 billion for last year.

5. Breast Milk Bank
First Lady Margarita Cedeno inaugurated the country's first breast milk bank at the Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia Maternity Hospital yesterday. The hospital is the largest of its kind in the country. The new center will collect and store breast milk from human donors. The milk will be pasteurized and refrigerated for future use. First Lady Margarita Cedeno has worked to promote a breast-feeding culture in the country. A Brazilian breast milk bank was used as model for the Dominican center that is located in an area measuring 103 square meters, with the support of the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC).

6. Low investment in education
A First Educational Monitoring Study released by the Socio-Educational Forum indicates that the Dominican government has cut short the education sector through 2011 by RD$312 billion. In 1999, Congress passed a bill ruling that 4% of GDP had to be allocated to the education sector. The study established that in the past 20 years, the highest investment the government made in a year in education was 1.8% of GDP. From 2008-2011 the budgetary debt for education, in regards to the lawful 4% of GDP, reached RD$165 billion, as reported in Diario Libre.

7. Proposal for cargo at night
A study on cargo transport in Santo Domingo proposes that trucking operations should be limited to the evenings. The study for the National District City Government (ADN) by architect Pedro Mena and engineer Jhael Isa says that the critical situation of traffic in the city affects workers, students and those seeking leisure alike. As reported in Diario Libre, the study says that during peak hours traffic moves at an average of 3 to 5 kms per hour, which is half the speed compared to traffic flow in densely populated areas like New York City. He said that one of the main reasons is that cargo transport and passenger transport are allowed to use the roads during the same hours.

8. Rising avtur, declining promotion
The president of the National Hotel & Tourism Association (Asonahores) is attributing the decline in the pace of tourist arrivals to the Dominican Republic to a reduced promotional budget by the Ministry of Tourism and to rising aviation fuel prices at local airports.

Llibre said that tourism is growing 3.5% a year in the DR while in other countries it is growing by 5%.

Llibre said that the annual Ministry of Tourism budget is RD$900 million (approximately US$24 million) compared to the US$60 million annual advertising budgets of some neighboring competitors, as reported in Hoy.

Llibre spoke to the press upon announcing the 3-5 August Annual Tourism Forum to take place at the Salon Ambar at the Dominican Fiesta. The forum will review the outlook for Dominican tourism, what the country is doing right and wrong, and make recommendations.

9. Danilo Medina meets Dilma Rousseff
As part of his visit to Brazil, PLD presidential candidate Danilo Medina met with President Dilma Rousseff at the Palacio de Planalto in Brasilia yesterday. The Brazilian government is a major financier of the Fernandez administration.

The Medina campaign said that President Rousseff agrees that Medina shares many of her ideas, especially his firm conviction that the country's wealth can only be measured by a reduction in poverty. Medina expressed his intention to reduce poverty once favored by the vote of the Dominican electorate in 2012.

10. Fraud at Senasa
Senasa, the governmental health provider, has announced an investigation is under way into 124 affiliates who used services for RD$254 million in a single year, as reported in Hoy. Senasa suspects complicity with medical centers. The government health provider, that has been regarded as one of the better-managed government operations for its efficiency, announced that the suspected fraud has affected the service it can provide to its affiliates. Senasa said it would need to adjust its services to the 3.6% coverage established by the Superintendence of Health and Labor Risks (Sisalril). Senasa affiliates, especially those with catastrophic sicknesses, had benefited from higher coverage than that offered by private health providers.

11. Rear Admiral to defend his honor and his visa
Rear Admiral Jose Roberto Munoz Mencion, whose proposed promotion to Navy chief of staff was questioned by the US Embassy in one of the recently released WikiLeaks cables, said he has a legal case under way against the US Department of State to defend his honor and reinstate his US visa that was revoked in January 2011, as reported in El Caribe.

The cable recently published by WikiLeaks said that the US Embassy objected to Munoz Moncion's appointment as Navy chief because of alleged corrupt practices. Other appointments that were the subject of objections, as revealed in the WikiLeaks document, the promotion of the chief of the Presidential Military Aide Corps General Hector Medina Medina to Minister of the Armed Forces and that of General Rafael Bencosme Candelier to chief of the Police.

The Presidency has been tight-lipped on the information criticizing military officers in the Fernandez administration. In the WikiLeaks document, the US Embassy file by former ambassador Hans Hertell carries a statement from President Leonel Fernandez on corruption. In the 2 Feb 2005 document Hertell wrote on crime and corruption:

"Commenting on the military, Fernandez said that it is understood that high-ranking military staff members routinely take 10% of resources that pass through their hands as a "commission", adding: "The military is a corrupt institution." He said that if he moved too fast in firing corrupt officers, his own position would be in jeopardy. He noted that Mejia was fond of the military and kept his guards dressed in uniform while Fernandez prefers civilian clothing for his guards. Fernandez considered it a significant achievement to have forced the retirement of 100 generals since taking office. He commented that this still leaves 100 more who should be relieved. On the other hand, he said, "if one thing works in the Dominican Republic, it's the military," - indicating that the military is disciplined, and hierarchical, and proud of position."

www.noticiassin.com/2011/07/cables-de-wikileaks-revela-militares-dominicanos-vetados-por-ee-uu-presidente-fernandez-planeaba-enviar-tropas-a-irak/

12. The BMW victim
News reports have identified a woman who was murdered on Tuesday evening as 29-year old Yesenia Altagracia Rivera Figuereo. She was parked outside the Politecnico Virgen de la Altagracia on Avenida Venezuela in eastern Santo Domingo when she was shot in the neck and then the BMW she was driving was set ablaze. Police say that the belongings found in the car included an ID 001-15437071.

Witnesses say that around 6:40pm a shot was heard from inside the BMW that immediately burst into flames, alerting the attention of local residents.

The Police say a container with gasoline residues was found inside the vehicle, as well as a notebook with information on personal loans.

El Caribe reports that an aunt revealed that Rivera had feared for her life since her return from Switzerland two years ago to live with her two daughters, who are 11 and 7. Her husband, businessman Juan Carlos Lopez Alcantara is the chief suspect in the murder.

The woman had filed seven harassment complaints at the police station in Los Mina, where she lived. She had obtained a restraining order from the Police. The last time she went to the Police was on the same day of her tragic death. She was a student of Systems Engineering at UTESA University.

13. Leonel Gomez deported on drug charges
The Dominican authorities have deported Leonel Gomez Guzman (Leo/Tony) to the United States. Gomez is accused of drug trafficking and money laundering by the US Drug Enforcement Administration. He is said to be a member of an illegal network and will stand trial in Boston, together with Mexican Luis Fernando Bertulucci Castillo (El Rey), Marwan Chebli (Samir/El Turco from Lebanon), Dominicans Antonio Contrereras Reyes (Pepe), Miguel Antonio Urena (El Piloto/El Gato), and Colombians Luis Fernando Restrepo (El Cabezon) and Luis Martinez Vidrio.

14. Cesfront holds smuggled Haitian children
The international media is reporting that the Special Ground Border Security Unit (Cesfront) has thwarted an attempt to smuggle 10 Haitian children into the Dominican Republic. Cesfront officials say a Haitian citizen who was transporting the children aged between 4 and 9 escaped after noticing the presence of soldiers in the province of Dajabon on the border with Haiti.

The children said their parents in Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien had entrusted them to the man who planned to smuggle them into Santiago where they would earn a living for their traffickers as child beggars on the streets with other Haitian children.

As reported, the children were handed over to a humanitarian organization, the Ouanaminthe Protection Brigade, until a solution is found. Marie Yolene Rene, of the Brigade, said that the number of Haitian children being brought in the Dominican Republic in irregular ways has been rising in recent months.

15. Kentucky prepares DR basketball for Olympics
A University of Kentucky game is the next important warm-up for the Dominican basketball team. John Calipari, coach of the University of Kentucky Wildcats and the Dominican national basketball team, said the Dominican team would go against NBA players who are alumni of the University of Kentucky in a match at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky on 15 August.

Kentucky team members will be John Wall (first draft in 2010), DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento forward) and Eric Bledsoe (defense Los Angeles Clippers), along with Rajon Rondo, Tayshaun Prince, Jodie Meeks, Nazr Mohammed and Keith Bogans. Sam Bowie and Joe B. Hall will lead the Kentucky alum.

NBA players on the Dominican team include Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks), Charlie Villanueva (Detroit Pistons) and Francisco Garcia (Sacramento Kings), Luis Flores, Jack Michael Martinez and Edgar Sosa under coach John Calipari, working with NBA Chicago Bulls assistant coach William Harris, Orlando Antigua, Luis Felipe Lopez and Rod Strickland.

Calipari said the Dominican team would travel for training at the University of Kentucky on Monday. The team will return to Santo Domingo on 17 August and then will fly to Brazil to participate in the Copa Tuto Marchand in Foz do Iguacu. In its third year, the Jenaro Tuto Marchand tournament will be held 24, 25 and 26 August with the participation of Brazil, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. It serves as training ground for the FIBA Americas 2011 and the crucial Pre-Olympics Americas Tournament set for Mar del Plata, Argentina 30 August to 11 September. The DR hopes to be one of the two winners in order to qualify the team for the 2012 Olympics in London.

16. Racquetball Worlds in Santo Domingo
Dominican David Lopez was undefeated yesterday in the 16-year category as the XXVI World Youth Racquetball Championship takes place in Santo Domingo. 17 delegations and 225 players are playing in the tournament from 24 to 30 July at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center Pavilion Racquetball Center. Action at the eight racquetball courts pavilion is simulcast on the Internet through internationalracquetball.com, sponsored by the company Wind Telecom.

The World Junior Racquetball Championships is organized by the International Federation and the Dominican Racquetball Federation under Rafael Fernandez.

During the opening event the president of the International Racquetball Federation, Keith Caulkins, said, "During this tournament we will see the future world champions."

17. DR loses to US, wins Peru in Volleyball Cup
In the ongoing 16th edition of the FIVB Volleyball Women's Junior World Championship 2011, the Dominican team has lost to the US (3-0) but defeated host Peru (3-0). Paola Pena led Dominican Republic with 19 points in the match, next to Elizabeth Martinez with 13 points. The top Peruvian scorer was Brenda Uribe with 12 points, next to Clarivett Yllescas with 9 points. Dominican Republic held an 11-3 margin in blocks and a 9-6 advantage in service aces.

www.fivb.org/EN/Volleyball/Competitions/Junior/Women/2011/viewPressRelease.asp?No=30746&Language=en

18. Ervin Santana's no-hitter
Ervin Santana was on, and delivered a no-hitter and a 3-1 win for the Los Angeles Angels against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday afternoon, 27 July. This was the first no-hitter in the seven-year career of the 28-year-old right-hander.

Cleveland got a run in the opening inning, only thanks to an error. That and an eighth-inning walk to Lonnie Chisenhall were the only blemishes for Santana, who retired 22 straight after Carrera reached and struck out five of the last eight he faced. He struck out 10 on the day for an almost perfect day on the field.

The Los Angeles Times highlights that Santana got better as the game went on, getting five of the last seven outs on strikeouts and throwing 105 pitches, 76 for strikes.

It was the first complete-game no-hitter by an Angel since Mike Witt's perfect game in 1984 and the third in the major leagues this season.

This is the first no-hitter in the 18-year history of Progressive Field. It was there that Santana had his first start in the Major Leagues, in 2005 by giving up a triple, double, single and homerun to the first four batters he faced.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0728-angels-ervin-santana-20110728,0,7783814.story

19. Vicente Garcia at Palacio de Bellas Artes
Capitol Latin's 2010 signing, composer-singer Vicente Garcia will be on stage at Palacio de Bellas Artes for a concert this Thursday. His debut album, Melodrama has been well received. It was recorded with acclaimed producer Rafael Lazzaro in Brooklyn over the course of a year in a stripped down, acoustic environment to complement the raw, soulful blend of jazz, bossa nova, bachata, and salsa draped with folksy pop lyrics.

The concert, which is produced by Amarilis German, will take place at the Palacio de Bellas Artes on Thursday 28 July at 8:30pm

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

1. Wikimediadominicana created
President Leonel Fernandez, speaking with his Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (Funglode) hat on, has announced that steps have been taken for the creation of Wikimediadominicana, a non-governmental organization that will seek to provide more detailed information on Dominican Republic historical, social, cultural, economic, arts and educational programs. The announcement was made in the presence of Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia the US online encyclopedia.

Upon making the announcement, Fernandez said that the new Internet section would include topics that are not found in conventional encyclopedias. The objective is to spread knowledge that is developed collectively and collaboratively.

"If I look for Cotui in the Encyclopedia Britannica, it will not appear. The only place it appears is in Wikipedia," he said, to emphasize the importance of the site. "This is the great transformation of humanity in the 21st century", said Fernandez, referring to the digital encyclopedia.

Paul Goris, director of Education and Educational Technology for Funglode, said the new institution would promote free knowledge to be published in Wikipedia.

He said: "Wikimediadominicana is an NGO that has its own legal standing and has the basic objective of promoting the ideology, mission, purpose of an institution called Wikimedia that exists in the US and that coordinates all activities of Wikipedia, which is very well known worldwide."

2. Millions for the Central Bank
The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic said yesterday it has received US$500 million of the sovereign bonds placed in the capital markets on 21 July.

The sovereign bonds were placed at 10 years with an annual yield of 6.95% by a Ministry of Hacienda mission. The Central Bank highlighted that the rate was lower compared to the previous sovereign bond issue, indicating a greater confidence among international investors about the Dominican economy.

When the US$348.1 disbursed by the International Monetary Fund on 19 July is added, the Central Bank has received a total of US$848.1 million in July.

Central Bank Governor Hector Valdez Albizu said that the government expects to receive another US$600 million from the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before the end of the year for a total US$1.45 billion. Valdez said the resources would strengthen the Central Bank's international reserves and cover the government's budget deficit.

"That money will guarantee the relative stability of the exchange rate, thus helping to maintain the smooth functioning of the Dominican economy," he said in a statement.

3. Foreign debt
The Dominican Republic owes 48.4% of the bilateral debt to Venezuela. Accumulated debt under the PetroCaribe oil agreement now adds up to US$2.03 billion, or 48.4% of the country's total bilateral debt, a grand total of US$4.34 billion.

As reported in Listin Diario, this year's oil bill is estimated at US$3.5 billion, which could increase by another one billion if the current fuel prices are maintained.

The bilateral debt with other countries is US$636.9 million with Brazil, US$288.5 million with the United States, US$426.8 million with Spain and US$142.5 million with Japan. Overall debt with other countries is US$739.4 million.

As reported in Listin Diario, the DR public debt is US$14.7 billion, or 28.4% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

4. An absurd country
Ramon Colombo writes today in El Caribe about the absurdity of political patronage that insists on creating worthless jobs by carving up the country into more districts and municipalities.

"A state of 48,000km2 with 32 provinces (1,500 square kilometers and 312,000 inhabitants on average), with 158 municipalities (with an average of 303km2 and 63,000 inhabitants each), and 228 municipal districts (of 193km2 and 44,000 inhabitants each) is a madness of underdevelopment, a laughing-stock country, where planning is impossible. Logically. Add another 43 initiatives to create new municipalities and municipal districts, and it is clear that this atomization policy continues, the current political system has only one way to go: it will sink. (Hopefully)."

Onofre Rojas, former director of the National Council for State Reform, told El Caribe that the creation of the new municipalities and districts just multiplies bureaucracy and cuts into the budgets of the municipalities. He called for legislators to freeze the creation of new districts and instead push forward the study of the bill that proposes to create Unique Planning Regions, which was drafted by the Department for Ground Planning. He said the fragmentation of the country is dangerous for the country because it reduces the capacity for investment and splits up possible development projects.

Deputies Victor Bisono and Pelegrin Castillo said that the fragmentation just increases political patronage.

5. Former prosecutor general out of ICU
Virgilio Bello Rosa has come out from the intensive care unit at the Abel Gonzalez Clinic, his doctors announced yesterday. The former Attorney General suffered a traumatic fall in his Jarabacoa home on 16 July and was hospitalized in the ICU. He is now breathing and eating by himself. The PRD politician underwent brain surgery after the accident. His physicians said he did not suffer permanent brain or physical damage and is undergoing physical therapy, as reported in Hoy. He is still in the hospital, as his doctors want to ensure he will not have future problems as a result of the accident.

6. Catholic priest demands accountability
Catholic priest Santiago Bautista has criticized President Leonel Fernandez for making no comments on the WikiLeaks revelations of corruption among senior military and police and suspected complicity with drug trafficking that led to the revocation of visas of several Fernandez administration government officials, as reported in acento.com.do

An earlier WikiLeaks document also revealed cases of visa revocation affecting senior officials in the previous Hipolito Mejia administration.

The priest said that the government is obliged to clarify to the Dominican people with "deeds, not words" everything related to the information released in those documents.

In addition, the priest said that after seven years in power, President Fernandez could no longer blame the country's problems on the previous administration. He concluded that Fernandez is being poorly advised on how to deal on these issues. The priest at the Colonial City's Las Mercedes Church also criticized the wasteful-spending and luxury vehicle exemptions granted to legislators.

He made these statements while answering questions from journalists who attended a press conference where the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo announced the celebration of its 500th anniversary in 14 parishes of the Colonial City today.

www.noticiassin.com/2011/07/cables-de-wikileaks-revela-militares-dominicanos-vetados-por-ee-uu-presidente-fernandez-planeaba-enviar-tropas-a-irak/

7. Guillermo Moreno on WikiLeaks allegations
Former National District prosecutor Guillermo Moreno says the Fernandez administration is maintaining a silent complicity about serious allegations in the WikiLeaks documents released recently by Grupo SIN. As reported in acento.com.do, Moreno, who aspires to the Presidency on the Alianza Pais ticket, said the WikiLeaks reports and the cases known as Atiemar Tower, Paya Massacre, Figueroa Agosto and Quirino Ernesto Paulino Castillo all share a common link with senior military or government officials.

Moreno said the government, including the Supreme Court of Justice, has two options.

"If you think that the content of cables WikiLeaks is false, proceed immediately to the appropriate diplomatic channels, to require the US government's official denial."

"If, however, the government assumes that its contents are true, then the government, through the competent authorities, must have an investigation into the case so they proceed as provided by law."

He said to fail to act is to admit that drug trafficking can walk the halls of the Presidential Palace and penetrate the upper echelons of military power without anything happening. He said silent complicity was unacceptable.

www.dr1.com/news/2011/dnews072611.shtml

8. Suspect in BMW killing released
Santo Domingo prosecutors have released businessman Juan Carlos Lopez Alcantara, the main suspect in the murder of his former wife, 29-year old Yesenia Rivera Figuereo "due to lack of evidence to incriminate him." Rivera's relatives said they would continue to pursue the case against Lopez. The victim's father said they would accuse assistant prosecutor Maximo Diaz for being biased in favor of Lopez Alcantara, who they suspect was the mastermind behind the killing. Diaz said that the release does not mean that Lopez is guilty or innocent. Diaz told El Caribe reporters that Lopez Alcantara was left in the custody of an unnamed military official, who would serve as guarantor that the accused would appear in court as necessary.

Yesenia Rivera was murdered by a gunshot and her BMW vehicle was set ablaze on Avenida Venezuela on Tuesday evening. Rivera lived in Alma Rosa in eastern Santo Domingo. She returned to the DR two years ago to live with her two daughters and had complained to the authorities of harassment by Lopez Alcantara on eight occasions.

9. It's official: only 5 years for Sobeida
The National District prosecution had announced earlier it had reached deals in the Figueroa Agosto case. Now it is official. The prosecution spared Sobeida Felix Morel, the lover of Puerto Rican drug capo Jose David Figueroa and requested five years for her, the main defendant in the case. The prosecution also asked for 10 years for Madeline Bernard, widow and god-daughter of murdered army colonel Jose Amado Gonzalez Gonzalez and Ruben Soto, respectively, and Dolphy Pelaez, while asking for 20 years for Eddy Brito, Ivanovich Smester, Mary Pelaez, Juan Fernandez, Sammy Dauhajre and Jose Ibarra, who were tried for their ties to Puerto Rican Figueroa Agosto's drug trafficking network and for laundering more than US$26 million in confiscated assets.

Prosecutors say the defendants Sobeida Felix Morel, Eddy Brito, Ricardo Ivanovich Smester, Sammy Dahaujre, Mary Pelaez, Juan Jose Fernandez Ibarra, Dolphy Pelaez and Madeline Bernard committed the crimes of money laundering and conspiracy.

During the hearing Eddy Brito suffered a rise in his blood pressure and was taken to the Luis Eduardo Aybar hospital.

www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2011/7/29/386210/Fiscalia-le-carga-el-dadoa-Mary-y-premia-a-Sobeida

10. 75+ age recourse for Constitutional Court
A group of lawyers filed a motion for a declaration of unconstitutionality before the Supreme Court against the law 145-11, which sets the retirement age of judges of the Constitutional Court at 75 years.

The request was submitted earlier this month by attorneys Frank Reynaldo Fermin, Carlos Balcacer and Cesar Alejandro Guzman Lizardo.

It is the third appeal of unconstitutionality filed against the paragraph 5 of Article 13 of the Fundamental Law of the Constitutional Court and the constitutional process.

Article 39 states: All persons are born free and equal before the law and shall receive the same protection and treatment from institutions, authorities and other persons, and shall enjoy the same rights, freedoms and opportunities, without discrimination due to gender, skin color, age, disability, national origin, family ties, language, religion, political or philosophical opinions, or social or personal conditions.

The lawyers argue that the issue of age limitation established by law violates the Constitution, which says the State shall take steps to prevent and combat discrimination.

The National Judicial Council (Consejo Nacional de la Magistratura) has yet to be convened to select the 13 justices of the new Constitutional Court that was created in the 2010 Constitution.

11. Spanish mule caught
Barcelona airport police arrested a 37-year-old Spanish national last week after he was found to be carrying 92 balls of cocaine weighing 956 grams in his stomach. He had arrived from the Dominican Republic and was arrested when leaving the terminal on 23 July. The man, whose identity has not been revealed, was arrested after airport staff found two balls of cocaine inside his luggage.

12. Another military official caught trafficking drugs
A Dominican Republic Air Force corporal has been detained after authorities say he tried to transport two bicycles filled with cocaine aboard a commercial flight, as reported in El Caribe.

National Drug Control Agency spokesman Roberto Lebron says Juan Emilio Feliz Salvador was detained at the X-rays area of an unnamed Dominican airport late Wednesday as he waited to fly to New York. He said officials became suspicious after Feliz told them he was a member of a military cycling group and would be competing in a race.

Lebron said Feliz is accused of transporting more than 2 kilograms (4 pounds) of cocaine. He said two Cuban nationals also are being questioned in connection with the case.

Feliz is in custody at the DNCD jail.

13. Pilot caught for trafficking in cocaine
The New York Post reported this week that a pilot for a Dominican airline tried to smuggle a stash of cocaine and heroin past customs agents at JFK by strolling through the checkpoint in uniform alongside a group of innocent JetBlue employees, a law-enforcement source told The Post yesterday.

Saury Antonio Ortega, 41, who flies for Aerolineas Mas, had his ID badge displayed when he attempted to bypass a customs search after hitching a free ride on a JetBlue flight 19 July.

The New York Post reports that agents at the airport made him undergo a search and a customs dog sniffed out the $75,000 worth of drugs he had hidden inside bags of coffee.

14. DR team eliminated in Volleyball World
Italy has eliminated the DR Youth Volleyball's chances of making the semi-finals again. In 2009, the DR team reached the final against Germany. The DR team lost to Italy 25-19, 25-22, 20-25 and 25-20 last night in Peru.

www.fivb.org/EN/Volleyball/Competitions/Junior/Women/2011/viewPressRelease.asp?No=30769&Language=en

15. Merengue Festival in Santo Domingo
The capital city's Merengue Festival is scheduled this year for Friday 29 July to Sunday 31 July at the Plaza Juan Baron Fajardo on the Malecon in Santo Domingo. This year the festival will be a tribute to the renowned merengue bandleaders of the 1980s, with the participation of leading merengue legends. The event is dedicated to Francis Santana, for his 60 years in music. The event honors Dioni Fernandez and Anibal Bravo who will perform their biggest hits.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

La República 29 Julio 2011, 11:59 PM

http://images3.listindiario.com/image/article/295/460x390/0/159BB34E-BD19-45AD-B3EB-C5F6948404A8.jpeg

PROCURAN AGILIZAR EL TRÁNSITO DE VEHÍCULOS
Proyectan gigantes obras viales en Santo Domingo
SOLUCIONES EN EXTREMOS DEL OZAMA Y 3 TÚNELES POR DEBAJO DEL DE LA 27



Santo Domingo
El gobierno estudia la posibilidad de construir algunas nuevas obras para mejorar la fluidez del tránsito en Santo Domingo, entre ellas soluciones a ambos extremos del río Ozama, que pudieran ser una ampliación o un nuevo elevado de la avenida 27 de Febrero.

También estaría dentro de sus planes otra obra que permita facilitar la circulación de vehículos en los puentes paralelos Juan Pablo Duarte y Juan Bosch, barajándose la posibilidad de que sea un trébol, avanzaron al LISTÍN DIARIO fuentes vinculadas a los proyectos.

Entre los proyectos más inmediatos, para complementar los trabajos del Corredor Duarte, figuran tres nuevos túneles que pasarán por debajo del túnel ya existente en la 27 de Febrero y que acelerarán la circulación vehicular en las esquinas de las avenidas Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln y Tiradentes.

Con estas obras, los vehículos que atraviesen la 27 de Febrero, hacia arriba o hacia abajo, podrán hacerlo sin detenerse por estos tres nuevos túneles, dijeron los planificadores.

Es posible que antes o muy cerca del momento de hacer estas obras, el ayuntamiento del Distrito Nacional disponga cambios de dirección en la circulación de esas avenidas.

Por ejemplo, la Lincoln sería en una sola dirección, subiendo de sur a norte, la Lope de Vega sería bajando hasta la bifurcación con Lincoln en la calle Paseo de los Locutores.

Y la avenida Máximo Gómez sería subiendo, de sur a norte, porque los vehículos podrían bajar hasta la calle José Contreras por el nuevo túnel que se construye en la Ortega y Gasset, próximo a inaugurarse. La avenida Leopoldo Navarro también sería bajando, de norte a sur.

Corredor Duarte
En la actualidad el gobierno trabaja en la construcción del denominado Corredor Duarte, que consiste en una solución vial con fines a mejorar las condiciones y capacidad del sistema de tránsito de Santo Domingo, facilitando el desplazamiento de más de 800 mil unidades vehiculares por cruces como los de la Autopista Duarte con carretera de Manoguayabo y avenida Monumental; avenida John Kennedy con avenida Núñez de Cáceres y calle Doctor Fernando Defilló; avenida 27 de Febrero con avenida José Ortega y Gasset, y avenida Charles De Gaulle con autopista de San Isidro.

Ya fueron inaugurados los elevados de la Kennedy con Núñez de Cáceres, al igual que el de la Charles De Gaulle.

El gobierno construye las obras a través del Ministerio de Obras Públicas. Esa institución oficial resalta que los elevados y túneles construidos ayudan, además, a disminuir la contaminación ambiental, la emisión de gases, ruidos, y las demoras a los usuarios con menor tiempos de viaje y reducción de la frecuencia de accidentes de tránsito.

(+)
TÚNEL CIELO ABIERTO EN LA 27 DE FEBRERO
SERÁ INAUGURADO POR EL PRESIDENTE
Para el martes próximo está programado que el presidente Leonel Fernández inaugure el “túnel a cielo abierto” en las intersecciones de la avenida 27 de Febrero con calles Doctor Fernando Defilló y Carmen Mendoza de Cornielle, como parte del circuito Corredor Duarte.

El acto está pautado para las 5:00 de la tarde en la salida del túnel en la dirección Este-Oeste. El túnel está compuesto de dos carriles en doble sentido, en dirección este-oeste, con una longitud en el tramo central de 160m y rampas de entrada y salida inclinadas con pendiente de 4% c/u y longitudes de 160m, y puentes de 30m; uno en la Defilló y otro en la Mendoza.

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/4793694674_e5cfe6aabe_b.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/4793696228_c4a439872a_b.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/palmerax.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/182075mainbig.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

1. Youth bill hopes to create many jobs
A bill passed in the Chamber of Deputies on 29 July is aimed at encouraging employers to hire young people just out of college. The bill stipulates that employers can use 25% of the wages paid to young people as credit towards the payment of income taxes during the fiscal year, and that employers will not have to pay the 1% to the government training institute Infotep for technical training or be liable for wage severance payments.

The benefits will be valid for the first year of the young people's employment and are intended to encourage job creation.

The bill, which had been in Congress for around five years, is now being fast-tracked by the PLD-majority Congress to encourage youth employment. Polls show the popularity of the PLD administration is at an all-time low among young voters.

Outgoing Minister of Labor Max Puig had criticized the bill, saying its dispositions were in violation of the Labor Code. Puig resigned the post as of 1 August to dedicate himself to run for President on the Alianza por la Democracia (APD) ticket.

2. Fernandez speech contradictions
Writing in Hoy, political analyst Juan Bolivar Diaz describes how the political arena is looking tough for government party candidate Danilo Medina, and that the stance taken by President Leonel Fernandez is not helping. In his analysis, Diaz makes several points on the President's Sunday, 24 July speech, in his role as president of the PLD, accompanied by PLD candidate Danilo Medina.

Diaz writes: "The speech sought to establish the electoral campaign strategy, basing it on the defense of the government of two consecutive terms, and three of the past four, to the length of launching the slogan 'memory against forgetting' referring to a government of only four years and that ended seven years ago, when the citizens cannot forget their present problems, regarding the causes."

Diaz says that for many, Fernandez has positioned himself above society, and mentions his disdain for many issues that affect the common Dominican, such as the cost of fuel. "He went to the extreme of establishing that with the price of gasoline at US$6.20 a gallon, the government had spared consumers and has not passed on all the increases in the price to consumer," comments Diaz. He said this is at a time when in the US the average consumer price for the gallon of gasoline is US$3.80, or 62% less than that paid in the DR. This is with Dominicans benefiting from the PetroCaribe fuel agreement that enables the government to receive high taxes now and postpone payment of the fuel bill for future governments.

Diaz makes the point that the government blamed the electricity inefficiencies on the Madrid Accord signed by the PRD government (2004), hiding the fact it has been in government for 11 years and power that is not billed continues at a 40% level. "And to make matter worse, it increases to US$1 billion the subsidy on electricity for this year, when the Letter of Intent approved by the International Monetary Fund increases this from US$350 to US$690 million... or Fernandez was lying or there is an intention to again violate the new agreement," he comments.

Diaz also mentions that Fernandez referred to inheriting the Central Bank deficit, without registering that in 2004 when he returned to power the deficit was RD$87.4 billion (about US$2.3 billion), while today it is almost triple, seven years into his government, at RD$237.7 billion, or (US$6.3 billion), with US$20 billion in foreign debt, on which the government has based its macroeconomic equilibrium and economic growth.

Diaz observes that after singing the praises of his economic policy, Fernandez went on to conclude by proclaiming that the renewal of the IMF agreement means the country will receive RD$50 billion in new credits and bonds, for new dynamics of the national economic, admitting that growth and stability has depended on borrowing.

Diaz points out that Gallup-Hoy, Penn-Schoen and CID Gallup polls show that Fernandez has an approval rate of 28, 39 and 30%.

www.hoy.com.do/tema-de-hoy/2011/7/30/386487/Analisis-politico-es-tiempo-de-Danilo

3. Exports to Europe up 21%
According to French ambassador Roland Dubertrand, Dominican exports to Europe increased 21% in 2010, as a result of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed in 2008. Dubertrand was speaking at the Sustainable Workshop organized by the Dominican-French Chamber of Commerce (CCDF) last month. Trade between the DR and France was around EUR140 million, of which around EUR80 million accounted for exports from France and EUR60 million from the DR to France, as reported in El Dia.

4. The high cost of converting to natural gas
A report in Listin Diario reveals that the cost of converting a vehicle to natural gas in the DR starts at RD$63,000 for a four-cylinder vehicle and can reach RD$120,000 for an eight- cylinder vehicle.

As gasoline and diesel prices continue to rise, many people are considering converting their cars or light trucks to run on compressed natural gas (CNG). The pros include the relatively inexpensive cost of CNG, which sells for around half the price of gasoline, and is said to be better for the vehicle and the environment. The main disadvantage is that there are still very few natural gas filling stations, but the government is taking measures to step up their installation. Moreover, in the DR there are no government rebates for private cars, only programs that would help unionized public transport vehicles.

5. Credit card fraud down
Measures taken by local banks to reduce credit card fraud, primarily related to credit card sales at gas filling stations, appear to have been effective. As reported in El Dia, fraud at gas stations is down from a peak of around 13% in June 2010 to 1.7% in June of this year, as reported by the Association of Commercial Banks. Preventive actions, including monitoring of employees and other measures resulted in the decline in fraud instances, down to 12.7% in July 2010 to 10.5% in August, 3.6% in September and 2.7% in October 2010, as reported in El Dia.

The president of the National Association of Gasoline Retailers, Rafael Polanco says that 40% of gasoline sales are with credit cards, a total of RD$800 million last year. Polanco said that credit card companies had earnings of RD$18 million on credit card sales at gas stations.

6. Minister sponsors local Louis Vuitton shop
In a report on her TV show on Color Vision on Saturday, investigative journalist Nuria Piera revealed that Women's Minister Alejandrina German is a leading customer of the Louis Vuitton shop at Blue Mall. Piera reported on a recent purchase by the minister at the store totaling RD$195,300 on 30 June, Teacher's Day. Piera reported that the Minister's net wage is RD$63,385 a month.

Piera says that upon becoming a minister in the first PLD government in 1996, German declared assets of RD$2 million together with her husband. In 2008, Piera reported on a luxury home German has in Jarabacoa, mentioning the campaign slogan suggested by President Leonel Fernandez in a recent speech, 'memory against forgetfulness'. Piera will air the show segment tonight on CDN, Channel 37 at 8pm.

7. Sexual stimulants cause strokes in youths
Public Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez joined physicians at the NeuroSciences Conference at Cedimat this past week, to express concern about the rising number of young patients suffering from strokes. Neurosurgeon Luis Eduardo Suazo of Cedimat attributed the rise to the use and abuse of sexual stimulants by young men between the ages of 20 and 28. Rojas Gomez said there is a need for more education and guidance for young people.

Dr. Suazo, who is the director of the NeuroScience Unit at Cedimat, said that around 1,540 strokes are recorded each month. He said that young people between the ages of 20 and 28 who display none of the usual risk factors like obesity, hypertension, diabetes, smoking or drug consumption are suffering from strokes, as reported in Listin Diario.

8. BMW woman murder resolved
A minor who had been promised RD$15,000 has confessed to having fired the shot that killed 29-year old Yesenia Altagracia Rivera last week. She was murdered by a gunshot, and then sprayed with gasoline and set alight in her BMW parked off Avenida Venezuela in Santo Domingo East.

Initially, the prime suspect was her former husband, accused by the victim's family of harassment and violence against her in the past. But police investigations traced the murder to Carlos Lopez Capellan, who confessed to having fired the shot. He said he was hired by 23-year old Emilio Rafael Trinidad Mendoza, Rivera's partner in a money-lending business. Trinidad Mendoza was a cousin of the victim.

El Caribe reports that Trinidad Mendoza owed Rivera RD$400,000.

As reported, Trinidad lent the money to fellow employees at a shopping center where he worked.

Also accused in the case is 18-year old Willy Feliz, the motorcyclist who drove Capellan when he fired the shot. He said he was contracted for RD$1,000 to follow the victim's car.

District prosecutor Perfecto Acosta said that Trinidad had a lending deal going using money provided by Yesenia and agreed to meet at the La Sirena parking lot on Autopista San Isidro where he was employed and where he would deliver some money to her. He then boarded Capellan, saying he was a friend from work, and they drove to Av. Sabana Larga where Capellan said he killed Rivera with the shot fired from behind.

Acosta said that the minor's statements would have to be confirmed.

Reportedly, after Rivera had been killed, he sat on her and then drove to a gas station where he bought a gallon of gasoline and spread it on the woman and car after parking it on Avenida Venezuela.

The Police said that they initially suspected Trinidad while discussing the possible murderers with the family, and Trinidad insisted on pointing to the former husband as the killer. The Police noticed he had a burn on his lip. Moreover, a notebook found in the car listing the debts included the name of Trinidad Mendoza as owing RD$400,000, making him a leading suspect.

Trinidad confessed and said he decided to kill her because she was pressing him for a cell phone and money that he had to pay back. He said his plan was to keep the lending business.

The two adults were sent to preventive custody for three months and the minor to the Department of Minors.

9. Minors in crime
Statistics from the National Drug Control Department (DNCD) reveal that in the National District and the Province of Santo Domingo alone from 2009 to July 2011 some 431 minors have been arrested for trafficking in drugs. Last year, 178 were arrested, and so far this year 90 minors have been arrested.

As of July of this year, 569 minors aged between 13 and 18 were under arrest for various crimes in Dominican jails. In 2010, the total was 517, and in 2009, 472. Of these 257 had been convicted and the others were in preventive custody. Of the total, 29 were girls.

Diario Libre reports the children receive tennis shoes, clothes and bicycles for their work as drug selling messengers. They also are trained not to tell on their employers if they are caught.

Drug trafficking is the main reason for arrest, followed by theft.

The law establishes penalties of one to three years for minors aged between 13 and 15, up to five years for minors between the ages of 16 and 18, but minors under 13 are not processed.

Villa Francisca is reportedly the city barrio where most minors have been arrested, followed by Capotillo, Villa Maria, Villa Consuelo, Villas Agricolas, Cristo Rey, Gualey, Guachupita, Villa Juana, San Carlos Los Mina and Alma Rosa, as reported in Diario Libre.

10. Emily is likely threat to DR
What would be Tropical Storm Emily has not yet fully developed but weather forecasts say she could be a threat to the Dominican Republic as early as Wednesday. The storm is moving northwest from the Lesser Antilles.

The storm at noon of Mon, 1 August was around 1,450 kms to the ESE of Santo Domingo.

In the past 100 years there has not been a hurricane to affect the Dominican Republic in August, with the exception of David, a Category 5 storm, that hit on 31 August 1979. Storms affecting the Dominican Republic have traditionally hit in September.

Weather forecasters have expressed concern that Emily could strengthen fairly quickly given the warm waters and low shear values in the vicinity and could reach hurricane status by tomorrow, with major rainstorms for mid-week, with risk to lives and property from flash flooding, mudslides and washouts. So far, forecasters are pointing to the likelihood that the storm could cross over the island.

A US Air Force reserve reconnaissance aircraft sent out to investigate the system determined that the disturbance had winds of tropical storm force and that conditions are conduce for a tropical depression or tropical storm to form later today or tomorrow. The storm is expected to become a hurricane during the next 48 hours as it moves west-northwestwards at around 15mph. Regardless of what happens, the system will bring heavy rainfall and gusty winds to the area.

Annual hurricane preparations should be completed.

For weather updates as related to the Dominican Republic, check Mike Fisher's updates at www.dr1.com/forums/weather-beyond/115613-hurricane-season-2011-a-20.html#post994010

11. Mexicans win Racquetball World Cup
Mexico won the 23rd World Junior Racquetball Championship held in Santo Domingo last week. Bolivia came second, then the US and then the DR. Brothers Rodeliza and Josue Perdomo won gold in the 10 and 12-year category. The DR won silver in doubles 12 and 16 years boys.

Some 225 racquetball players came from 17 countries.

http://www.internationalracquetball.com/resultss.aspx

12. DR 5th in World Junior Volleyball
The Dominican Republic placed fifth in the 2011 FIVB Volleyball Women's Junior World Championship in Peru, behind Italy, Brazil, China and the USA. The DR team defeated host Peru 23-25, 25-23, 25-18, and 25-18 in a final game in Lima on Sunday. On the previous day, the DR defeated Slovakia 25-18, 17,25, 25-19 and 25-18.

www.fivb.org/EN/Volleyball/Competitions/Junior/Women/2011/results_finalround.asp

13. Sting booked for Altos de Chavon
International music superstar Sting is booked for a performance at Altos de Chavon 5,000-seat amphitheater in La Romana on Sunday, 4 September. The famous British singer, promises his concert will include fan-favorites such as The Police hits known for his hits "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic", "Roxanne" and "Every Breath You Take" to songs from his solo career including "Englishman in New York, "Fields of Gold" and "Desert Rose." He will play with a band of four musicians, including guitarist Dominic Miller, keyboardist David Sancious, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and vocalist Jo Lawry. The soloist and former member of The Police has received 16 Grammy Awards and sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.

This will be Sting's second concert in the DR. His first was in 2006.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

Inversión superior a los 40 millones de dólares

Gobierno inaugurará este martes túnel a cielo abierto en la capital

1 de Agosto del 2011
El Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Comunicaciones entregará este martes, el túnel a cielo abierto construido entre las calles Carmen Mendoza de Cornielle y Fernando Defilló, obras que forman parte del proyecto Corredor Duarte.

El túnel es un paso inferior en la avenida 27 de Febrero con cuatro carriles en ambos sentidos de circulación Este-Oeste y Oeste-Este, con una longitud de 540 metros, y que completa su función con el túnel recién inaugurado en la 27 de Febrero con José Núñez de Cáceres.

La estructura tiene un techo cubierto con vigas pre-moldadas complementadas con losa vaciada en hormigón armado con refuerzo de acero.

Tiene una longitud en el tramo central de 160 metros y rampas de entrada y salida inclinadas con pendiente de 4 grados cada una. La velocidad de diseño en los túneles en la avenida 27 de Febrero es de 60 kilómetros por hora.

Cada uno de los puentes tiene 30 metros y están ubicados uno en la avenida Fernando Defilló y otro en la Carmen Mendoza de Cornielle, completando así una longitud total de 540 metros, según Obras Públicas.

Detalles Técnicos

La excavación de esta obra fue hecha en roca, permitiendo así una profundidad máxima de 8.50 metros, mientras que en la barrera central se colocó una malla especial, con el objetivo de evitar que las luces de los vehículos deslumbren, a quienes transiten en el otro carril.

Los trabajos fueron ejecutados de acuerdo al cronograma de trabajo implementado por la empresa constructora.

El martes 5 de abril fue inaugurado el túnel de la 27 de Febrero con José Núñez de Cáceres. Este viaducto funcionó a capacidad media, porque no se habían concluido los trabajos del componente Carmen de Mendoza-Doctor Defilló.

Esto significa que a partir de la apertura de este componente los vehículos que circulen por la vía en ambos sentidos lo harán sin semáforos, por consiguiente el tránsito será más fluido.

Ventajas de la Obra

Los elevados y túneles construidos ayudan a disminuir la contaminación ambiental, la emisión de gases, ruidos, y las demoras a los usuarios con menor tiempos de viaje y reducción de la frecuencia de accidentes.

El ahorro calculado luego de la puesta en operación de las nuevas intersecciones, asegura que el retorno de la inversión se logrará en alrededor de 5 años.

La supervisión del proyecto en su conjunto está a cargo de la empresa TECNOAMERICA, S. A., la cual tiene a su cargo los controles de calidad, costo y tiempo del proyecto.

http://www.presidencia.gob.do/app/do_2011/article.aspx?id=14018

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/29011465.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/97493398j.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/fotoprincial.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

El Parque Eólico Juancho-Los Cocos, de la Empresa Generadora de Electricidad Haina, S.A., ubicado en la provincia de Pedernales

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/5707433595_d768f78ab7_b.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

LF dice que tres parques eólicos entraran en operación

"Todo eso significa que para este año e inicios del próximo, ingresarán 1 mil 113 MW adicionales al sistema"

SANTO DOMINGO.- El presidente Leonel Fernández dijo que el 2011 será un año que marcará un hito en el sector energético nacional, ya que entraran en operación de tres proyectos de parques eólicos, con una potencia total a ser instalada de 113 MW.

Esos proyectos son, El Parque Eólico Juancho-Los Cocos, de la Empresa Generadora de Electricidad Haina, S.A., ubicado en la provincia de Pedernales;

El Parque Eólico El Guanillo, de la empresa Parques Eólicos del Caribe, S.A. (Pecasa), en la provincia de Montecristi; y El Parque Eólico Matafongo, del Grupo Eólico Dominicano, C por A., en la provincia Peravia.

"Todo eso significa que para este año e inicios del próximo, ingresarán 1 mil 113 MW adicionales al sistema, tanto mediante el uso de energía renovable como el de un tipo de combustible que contribuirá, sin duda alguna, a abaratar los costos de generación y a preservar el medio ambiente", dijo el presidente Leonel Fernández.

En el área de transmisión, sostuvo que la instalación de la llamada Autopista Eléctrica, que unirá al Norte y el Sur del país, con lo cual se contribuirá considerablemente a la reducción de las pérdidas técnicas que durante años ha sido uno de los puntos débiles del sistema.

En la actualidad, se está operando con una línea de 138 KV, y para el mes de abril de este año se estará operando a plenitud con otra de 345 KV.

En materia de distribución, se está ejecutando en la actualidad el programa de TeleMedición, el cual redundará en una disminución importante del fraude; y ya se realizó el concurso público para la ejecución del proyecto de rehabilitación de redes de distribución por un monto de 152 millones de dólares, financiados por el Banco Mundial, el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo y el Fondo de la OPEP.

Con este proyecto de rehabilitación de redes, se espera reducir las pérdidas en algunos casos de más del 40% a menos del 20%, en los barrios seleccionados.

Inversión privada

Luego de cierto tiempo de falta de inversión, "hemos logrado que algunas empresas del sector privado se hayan comprometido en la instalación de varias plantas de generación eléctrica, las cuales ya están operando o entrarán en pleno funcionamiento en el transcurso de este año".

El mandatario señaló que en la actualidad el Grupo LAESA ha instalado unos 60 megavatios de motores diesel operados con fuel oil o gas natural.

El Grupo AES procede a la instalación de una turbina de 34 megavatios a base de gas natural y al cierre del ciclo combinado de las dos unidades de Los Mina, lo cual adicionará 100 megavatios más al sistema.

"Se adicionaron al sistema 220 MW de la generadora Los Mina y 60 de la generadora Falcondo, las cuales se encontraban fuera de servicio.

La empresa Seaboard, por igual, ha iniciado la incorporación de 108 MW de motores diesel operados, también, con gas natural", refirió.

Pero además, en este próximo mes de marzo se instalarán 50 MW por parte de la empresa Agrekko y 50 adicionales en el mes de junio.

En estos momentos se realizan avances importantes en la conversión de la antigua planta de Cogentrix, hoy Compañía de Electricidad de San Pedro de Macorís, al uso de gas natural, lo cual supondrá la incorporación de 300 MW adicionales que entrarían en operación a inicios del 2012.

El año pasado se inició la reparación de las centrales Jigüey, Aguacate y el contraembalse Las Barías, así como la reparación de la Hidroeléctrica López Angostura, lo que a su vez representará 118 MW.

The night of the art galleries in Santo Domingo

The Santo Domingo Association of Art Galleries (AGA) presents the annual Circuit of Galleries from August to December. Member art galleries, including most of the country's most prestigious, join forces to organize evening events and encourage Dominicans and visitors alike to drop by. Mildred Canahuate of Galeria de Arte Arawak says that starting Thursday, 18 August, a selection of leading art galleries will stay open until 10:30pm every third Thursday in the month. This year around 100 exhibitions are planned, with artists like Ramon Oviedo and Cuban Leticia Sanchez Toledo. There will be performances, video-art, music and live shows.
Juan Jose Mesa, owner of the Mesa Fine Art Gallery, says that the event is open to everyone, even people with no intention of buying art. "If later they are bitten by the art collecting bug, that would be wonderful," he comments, as reported in Listin Diario. He stresses that art has no social class.

ASONAHORES' 25th Trade Show

This year, the National Hotel & Tourism Association celebrates the 25th year of its annual trade show. The event will once more take place at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel & Casino's Convention Center facilities. The dates are 31 August to 3 September. This year there will be a special focus on Brugal & Company. The company was family owned until Edrington of Scotland recently purchased the company to take it to new markets.

American Eagle to connect Casa de Campo

American Eagle announces the resumption of flights from San Juan's Luis Munoz Marin International Airport into the La Romana International Airport Casa de Campo. Flights commence as of 18 November, with a twice-weekly frequency. American Eagle will be using ATR-72 64-seater aircraft for the flight. The schedule of Flight 4828 will be departures from San Juan on Fridays and Sundays at 12:25pm and arriving in La Romana at 1:25pm. Flight 4829 will depart from La Romana on Fridays and Sundays at 2pm, arriving in San Juan at 3pm.
The flight is especially convenient for resort-bound tourists: thanks to La Romana airport's central location they can be on the beach around an hour after arrival.
Peter Dolara, first vice president of American Airlines for Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America made the announcement together with Claudio Silvestri, chief executive officer of Premier Resorts, operator of Casa de Campo.

Hurricane Season monitoring

The likelihood of being caught in a hurricane in the Dominican Republic is statistically very low. The last hurricane to hit the island was in 1998, and before that in 1979. Historically, the only hurricane to affect the Dominican Republic in August was Hurricane David, a category 5 storm, precisely on the last day of the month, 31 August in 1979. September is usually the month to watch for hurricanes in the DR.
As the peak days approach, Dominicans have been surprised by a possible hurricane early in the month, to be named Emily.
This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast fewer named storms for the Caribbean. NOAA predicted a maximum of 18 storms, down from last year's maximum of 23.
DR1 has compiled a weather page and a hurricane page to equip Dominicans and visitors alike with background information, what to expect in a hurricane, and links to pages with weather information as it relates to the Dominican Republic for following online.
http://dr1.com/weather/hurricanes.shtml
http://dr1.com/travel/expect/weather.shtml

1. Water conservation agreement
An agreement signed by the Ministry of the Environment and the National Institute of Potable Water and Sewers (INAPA) yesterday commits them to working together to preserve the nation's watersheds and forests. Environment Minister Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal and INAPA head Mariano German signed the agreement and told Listin Diario that they would work together to preserve the high elevation watersheds that supply the INAPA water systems around the country. As a result, the INAPA and the Ministry of the Environment will pay local Water Committees to take care of local water sources. Some money will go to reforestation programs with the Environment Ministry supplying the saplings and technical support and INAPA providing personnel and funding. The programs will start in Nagua, Fantino, San Juan de la Maguana, Barahona, Vicente Noble, Neiba, Jimani and Las Terrenas.

2. No electricity hikes this month
Your electricity rates will not go up this month, according to the Superintendence of Electricity (SIE). The Superintendence said that the government would postpone the increase until September. The 2.04% increase that is due to be applied would raise an estimated RD$1.36 billion, says the Superintendence. The SIE says that all of the variables went up: Natural gas, coal and the exchange rate. The authorities' commitment to introduce a new "technical tariff" for electricity in an attempt to recover costs is "a very positive step," according to Nemat Shafik of the IMF.

3. JAD supports banana farmers' use of port
The Agro-Business Board (JAD) and its board of directors said yesterday that they support the stance taken by the national banana sector on the use of the port of Manzanillo. The JAD said that they have been working since 1989 with the rebuilding and refurbishing of the port together with the reactivation of the nation's banana industry. Osmar Benitez, representing the JAD, said that they have initiated some strategies together with the executives of Adobanano and with the Atlantic Port Corporation in order to reach a harmonious agreement. The exporters have protested the privatization of the port that translates into increased port charges.

4. Poultry farmers suggest a price
At a meeting held yesterday with the Minister of Agriculture, poultry farmers suggested that the price of a pound of chicken should not be higher than RD$49 a pound. This does not tally with prices at retail sales points in the poorer barrios. In markets and supermarkets a pound of chicken sells for RD$50 and RD$50 a pound.

Nevertheless, the price of fresh-killed poultry being sold at the popular kiosks in barrios ranges between RD$43 and RD$45 a pound, so the price suggested by the farmers, in the presence of administration officials and officials from consumer protection body Pro-Consumidor could lead to a price increase in the barrios. The poultry farmers admitted that they have been losing money for several months but they made a small adjustment recently and obtained a profit margin of RD$2.50 a pound. Nonetheless, the farmers had said a month ago that the profit margin was RD$10. Diario Libre reports that the cost of producing a chicken on the farm is RD$25.58 a pound, but they sell for RD$28.50 in the Cibao, RD$31 in Santo Domingo and RD$29.50 in the South, according to the farmers.

Bolivar Cartagena, the president of the Poultry Commission, reported that in April they were losing RD$50 for each bird they produced and the loss was RD$10 of cost since they were selling at RD$15 on the farm. The poultry producers met with the authorities in order to respond to Pro-Consumidor's complaint that the farmers had eliminated a large number of birds in order to influence market prices. Wilfredo Santos and Rita Gonzalez of Pro-Consumidor maintained the agency's stance on the complaint during the meeting and they stressed their adherence to the law.

Nevertheless the farmers told officials that the prices on the farm have been stable, and price variations are due to speculation. "There is a lot of speculation with the price of chicken that does not match the real price," said Cabrera.

5. School could cost parents RD$20,000
An average, middle-class school, for an average, middle-class family could set parents back between RD$15,000 and RD$23,000 pesos per student, a heavy burden and headache for most parents this time of the year. The list of expenditures is headed each year by new textbooks, usually eliminating the possibility of hand-me-down books. Then there are the uniforms and school supplies. A feature in today's El Caribe says that just the four basic texts, Spanish, Mathematics, Social Sciences and Natural Science, cost an average of RD$3,140 for primary school and RD$3,520 at the secondary level. This means that for books, the average expenditure will be somewhere between RD$5 and RD$6,000.

The books needed to be carried to school in a backpack, and the student dressed in a uniform, with shoes, sneakers, gym clothes, T-shirts, notebooks, pencils and pens. At the primary level there is modeling clay, drawing supplies, crayons and such for use in the classroom and at home. Then there are the school fees: Registration, tuition and extra-curricular activities. Some will say that RD$20,000 is still not enough.

6. UASD had a billion-peso classroom?
The rector of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), Mateo Aquino Febrillet, confirmed yesterday that they are exploring the possibility of using the recently inaugurated parking garage for teaching, provisionally, in the upcoming semester that begins 15 August. The measure would relocate students who attend lectures in the Engineering and Judicial Sciences faculties, whose old buildings are in the process of reconstruction by the Supervising Office of State Projects (OISOE) that also built the parking lot. In a phone call to Diario Libre, Aquino Febrillet said that before deciding about the possible use of the parking lot, they will see if they can lease some classrooms, but in case they cannot find any, they will opt to use the garage for classrooms.

The UASD parking garage was inaugurated in May at a cost of RD$1 billion. The high cost to taxpayers has been the subject of harsh criticism. Whether or not it is used as classrooms, the University Council has already established parking fees. The first three hours will cost RD$20, and each additional hour will cost RD$20.

7. Professor complains of death threats
A professor of History at the UASD in Santo Domingo has filed a complaint with the District Attorney for the National District after receiving death threats from two female students who failed her course. The History professor said that she was threatened by students who received grades of 56 and 57, but she did not give any names. She did tell El Nuevo Diario reporters that of the group of students, only these two failed the course. She said that one of the students was a 50-year old woman who has lost the necessary study habits because of her age and the other is a young woman who did not show much interest in the class. Professor Ana Echeverria has been teaching for 35 years and she said that this is the first time that she has ever been threatened.

8. Figueroa Agosto's accomplices plead out
Six of Jose David Figueroa Agosto's running buddies have pleaded guilty before a federal judge for bringing at least 150 kilos of cocaine from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico, according to a report in the Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia. The story says that Elier Martinez Delgado, Hector Ramos Rosado, brothers Jonathan and Joel Vega Berrios and brothers Sixto and Kareem Boschetti Davila admitted having conspired to import at least 150 kilos of cocaine from the Dominican Republic to United States territory on several occasions since 2005 and until January of 2010. Martinez Delgado, the brothers Vega Berrios and Ramos Rosado are free on bail right now, and will remain free until sentencing. On the other hand the guilty plea by the brothers Boschetti Davila was sealed and the press was not allowed access.

www.elnuevodia.com/aceptanquetrajeroncocainadesdedominicana-1029492.html

9. Their relatives induced them to sell drugs
A very thorough article in today's Diario Libre traces the lives of several very young boys named Raul, Luis and Carlos, who were either forced by relatives to sell drugs or carry drugs or induced by relatives to try drugs and who then became "consumers." Uncles, fathers and brothers who are now all in prison are part of the story.

The other part is the story-telling by the young children, kids who started in the business at 10, 11 or 12 years of age and are now in Hogar Crea rehabilitation center for Minors in Santiago de los Caballeros. Some carried marijuana for older cousins, others consumed and often "spent all night doing drugs and selling." Most come from dysfunctional families, with absent parents, such as a mother in Spain, or an absent father or in other cases, no parents at all and were raised by grandparents who were incapable of controlling the children.

Sometimes it was enticement with clothes, new sneakers or a motorcycle, or it was just family pressure to "try this" which got the youngsters on the way to crime and jail. Several of them know that they cannot go home, since the gangs will kill them. Others will try to finish school and learn a trade.

10. TS Emily reorganizes
The Tropical Storm Emily is stationary, and is set to pass Puerto Rico on its way to the Dominican Republic. To monitor the storm, it is best to keep track of how it behaves while passing by Puerto Rico. Israel Matos, chief of the Weather Department in Puerto Rico, said the storm is expected to re-organize and could turn into a Hurricane Category 1 prior to leaving Puerto Rico. He said as the storm re-organizes, it is more likely to take a more northern path that would bring it closer to land. He warned that the storm is keeping a path that looks like that of Hurricane Hortense, Category 1, in September 1996 that affected the east coast of the Dominican Republic.

www.elnuevodia.com/especiales-huracanes2011

www.elnuevodia.com/envivoconferenciadeprensadelgobernadorluisfortuno-1029867.html

11. Keep an eye on Emily
Emily is serving as the needed drill to prepare for September, the peak month of the Caribbean hurricane season. For residents of the Caribbean, hurricane preparedness is part of living.

Regardless of how it develops, forecasters agree Emily will dump heavy rains on Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti as it moves through the area.

To follow the storm, see reports at www.dr1.com/forums/weather-beyond/115613-hurricane-season-2011-a.html

For background on hurricanes and weather in the Dominican Republic, see

http://dr1.com/weather/hurricanes.shtml

http://dr1.com/travel/expect/weather.shtml

http://dr1.com/forums/weather-beyond/

12. The nation prepares for Emily
Dominicans have begun serious preparations for the storm. The Emergency Operations Center (COE) and the Water Observatory warned of the risk of flash floods and mudslides that could affect residents of vulnerable areas.

The Water Observatory decided to operate the Sabana Yegua, Sabaneta, Tavera and Moncion dams at their maximum water levels. According to a report by the director of Indrhi, Frank Rodriguez, evacuation orders will be applied in the areas that could be affected such as Jaquimeyse, Bombita, Palo de Leche, Palo Alto, Penon, Pescaderia Habanero, La Hoya, and Fundacion in Sabana Yegua. In the case of Sabaneta, the areas to be evacuated are La Mesopotamia and the lower part of the San Juan River, while in Taveras, which will operate with a discharge of 100 cubic meters per second, people who live next to the course of the North Yaque River and the low points of Guayubin, Palo Verde and Castanuelas will be evacuated. There will also be evacuations along the Lower Yuna River Basin.

National Meteorological Office (Onamet) director Gloria Ceballos reported that model paths indicated that the storm would pass over the country tomorrow afternoon near the Bay of Ocoa, bringing 115 millimeters (4.5 inches) of rainfall.

Yellow alerts were put into place for the southwest of the country, and evacuations will begin today in Barahona, according to General Juan Mendez Garcia of the COE. Green alerts are in place for La Altagracia, La Romana, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo, the National District, San Cristobal, Azua, Pedernales and Peravia.

www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1866

13. Biennial of the Visual Arts
The 26th Biennial of the Visual Arts jury has chosen this year's participants. The selection panel was made up of the art critics and museum curators, Dominicans Danilo de los Santos and Carlos Acero Ruiz and from Spain, Ricardo Ramon Jarne. The winners will be announced on 17 August with the opening of the exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. This year an outstanding number of graduates from the Arts School at Altos de Chavon have been selected, including many recent graduates.

The contestants are:

Video and/or Multimedia:
Tomas Pichardo - Astro lunar (Chavon)
Tomas Pichardo - Linca confin (Chavon)
Luis Arambilet - Diaspora caleidoscopica
Caryana Castillo - La solucion, de la serie perdedores
Ingrid Madera - El sueno

Graphics
Niurka Guzman Otanez - Sin temor alguno (Chavon)
Niurka Guzman Otanez - Divina tentacion (Chavon)
Rafael Chiang Wu - Todo por credito del amor
Susan Mezquita - Wash & Dry (7)
Leonardo Duran - Si me matan...
Ani Mederos - Cabeza de familia
Julio Guillen - Damas rosas caidas

Installation
Genaro Reyes (Cayuco) - Depredacion nacional
Miguel Ramirez - Tierra en tronco
Miguel Ramirez - Botija, memorias del agua
Anabelle Perez - Trucamelo
Diogenes Abreu - Naturaleza muerta con paisaje de fondo (Chavon)
Marcos Lora Read - Tributo a los desaparecidos
Francisco Rodriguez - Mi = Muro
Julianny Ariza - Solo mientras sueno, me encuentras (Chavon)
Elvin Diaz - El Tunel
Charo Oquet - En un abrir y cerrar los ojos
Paola de la Cruz - Absorcion de memoria del espacio (Chavon)
Raquel Paiewonsky - Manos (Chavon)
Michelle Ricardo - Retorica de Isla (por tu gran culpa)
Eleomar Puente - Suenos tejidos
Johnny Bonnelly - Las gallinas de los huevos de nieve
Raul Morilla - Convinando el sosiego
Engel Leonardo - Sin Titulo

Photography
Hector Carbuccia - Drogacolectiva
Herminio Alberti - Dialogo Mudo
Herminio Alberti - Quien imita a Quien?
Mayra Johnson & Guadalupe Casasnovas - Disolucion al 4%
Orlando Barria - Munecas sin rostro (Milly y Ana Rubi, Victimas del acido del diablo)
Erika Santelices - Mutacion - transgresion - identificacion (diptico)
Evelyn Espaillat - Percepcion
Pascal Meccariello - De la serie sin copyright 1, etiquetados con sol de verano y su derecho a una fresca merienda
Alejandro Taveras - Mi vida en salinas
Ruddy Florentino - Despues de la tempestad viene la calma
Polibio Diaz - 207 St. (poliptico 6 piezas)
Iliana Centeno - Reconditos deseos

Actions
Jochi Munoz - Reeducando a Jochi: Su primera lectura de carta...
Eliu Almonte - La casa
David Perez (Karmadavis) - Reten en reposo
Sayuri Guzman - Borrando mi sombra
Elvin Diaz - Ser o No ser

Paintings
Wali Vidal n From the series, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, El viernes (Chavon)
Wali Vidal - From the series, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, El domingo (Chavon)
Modesto Santiago - Lamentablemente (poliptico) (Chavon)
David Arzeno (Gavingo) - Basico 1
David Arzeno (Gavingo) - Basico 2
Rosario Rivera Bond - The Blue Rencage
Jose Ramia Guzman - Voceros
Genaro Phillips - Funcionarios de la Red - Publica
Soraya Abu Naba'a - Hasta cuando
Persio Checo - Mis parientes mas cercanos
Magno Laracuent - Las paredes tienen historia
Aquiles Azar Billini - Colada
Angel Urrely - Espiral # 28 A o Quetzalcoatl, pasando a pocas millas
Paula Saneaux - Como en el mundo de Cristina (Chavon)
Dinorah Alvarez - 1 Variedades... 2009
Ivan Ramon - Creciendo (Chavon)
Julio Cruz - Sueno de dama (Chavon)
Okey Segura - Mi destino
Jose German n From the Banana Republic Series, las marchanta
Kilia Llano - Nocturnidades (diptico) (Chavon)
Monica Ferreras - Dos ventanas, dos ilusiones (diptico) (Chavon)
Victor Tavarez - De la serie morena y dijes I
Victor Tavarez - De la serie morena y dijes III
Jose Levy - Sin titulo
Luisa Duenas (diptico) - FenomenoOposicion (Chavon)
Miguel Villanueva - Interzona
Miguel Villanueva - Disculpa de Trujillo
Juan Reyes - Adversidad II (diptico) (Chavon)
Samuel Priego - Comercial desde 1492 (diptico) (Chavon)
Limber Vilorio - Topologia tropical (poliptico)
Eridelvis Lopez - De pi fesete I
Moises Pellerano - Rape? (Chavon)
Marie Jimenez - Sin titulo (Chavon)
Marie Jimenez - Sin titulo (Chavon)
Rafael Paulino - Chi Kung de la Lujuria
Charlie Quezada - La Nina, La Pinta (Chavon)
Leticia Ceballos - Serie Vote por mi
Mckorni Salcedo - Ansiastornadas (diptico)
Orlando Meniccucci - Una tierra codice antillana
Jose Almonte - El patrocinador de la menol (serie la casa de Annie Paola)
Josefina Garrido - Toda ella

Ceramics
Natalia Ortega Games - Estructura Modular (Chavon)

Drawings
Rafael Chiang Wu - Transmutacion
Ines Tolentino - Matamos al puerco
Ines Tolentino - Pasion
Jose Azar Billini - Las multiples caras del psicoanalisis (Retratos de Rafael)
Soraya Abu Naba'a - Estrago
Citlally Miranda - Aida, las Virgencitas y los 7 frank
Maritza Alvarez - Lo que importa de los cuerpos, 1
Maritza Alvarez - Lo que importa de los cuerpos, 1
Rafael Delemos - Pagan por pecadores
Francisco Tiburcio - Sin Forma del Alma
Jose Pelletier - Serie Makandal 2
Alexis Valerio - Besame Mucho
Marina Taveras - Puerta de jardines I
Marina Taveras - Puerta de jardines II
Amado Melo - Evolucion Interior
Vladimir Velazquez - Conversaciones en la estancia (triptico)
Amalia Angulo - Memoriosa (Chavon)
Erick Santos (kokuro) - Florece Pureza (Chavon)
Iris Perez - Hijos del Sol, de la Serie en la Isla estoy
Kenya Rodriguez - De la serie mujeres apasionadas
Jose Almonte - Serie la casa de Anmie Paola

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

1. TS Emily expected today
According to the National Metereological Office (Onamet) forecaster Bolivar Ledesma, the eastern part of the country will be the first to feel the effects of the tropical storm. He added that this morning the tropical cyclone was expected to be some 185 kilometers to the south-southeast of Saona Island.

According to the forecaster, whether or not the storm strengthens or weakens, the rains will be between 100 and 150 millimeters (about 4" and 6"), with as much as 250mm falling in the mountains (almost 10"). This means that there will be heavy rains. Residents of low-lying areas and along river and creek banks should be on alert and take precautionary measures.

The Emergency Operations Center (COE) is issuing alerts for the whole country and began to carry out the obligatory evacuation of residents who live downstream from the Sabana Yegua, Sabaneta and Valdesia dams (in the southwest), as a precaution against Tropical Storm Emily, whose effects are being felt as early as this morning, according to a report from the weather department.

Given the storm track models, the COE increased the Red Alert for the National District (Santo Domingo) and 13 provinces: San Juan de la Maguana, Barahona, San Cristobal, Azua, Pedernales, Peravia (Bani), San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo, San Jose de Ocoa, Independencia, Bahoruco, La Altagracia (Higuey) and La Romana. At the same time, the yellow alert was increased from green for 19 provinces: Monte Plata, Sanchez Ramirez (Cotui), Monsignor Nouel (Bonao), La Vega, Santiago, Dajabon, El Seibo, Duarte (San Francisco de Macoris), Maria Trinidad Sanchez (Nagua) and Elias Pina. In the meantime, the rest of the country is under a green alert.

According to Onamet, the storm increased its velocity to 85 kilometers per hour last night and it was forecast that it could strengthen further before reaching land.

Government agencies ranging from the Ministry of Public Health to the Armed Forces to the Economic Kitchens have activated their emergency plans while awaiting the arrival of the storm.

To follow the storm, see reports at www.dr1.com/forums/weather-beyond/115613-hurricane-season-2011-a.html

For background on hurricanes and weather in the Dominican Republic, see http://dr1.com/weather/hurricanes.shtml http://dr1.com/travel/expect/weather.shtml http://dr1.com/forums/weather-beyond/

2. Scholastic Tests suspended today for Emily
The approach of Tropical Storm Emily has forced the Ministry of Education to cancel today's second round of Standardized National Scholastic Assessment Tests throughout the country. The Ministry told reporters from El Nuevo Diario that this was just a precautionary measure, and the tests would take place on Saturday 6 August at the normal times and places. Today's examinations were to cover mathematics. Tomorrow's tests, which will cover Social Sciences, will take place "conditions permitting." The second round of the National Tests will be taken by some 30,000 eighth grade students and the third cycle of adult education students at primary level.

3. Leonel and Martelly meet
President Leonel Fernandez and Haiti's newly installed President Michel Martelly met at the Presidential Palace yesterday. The President welcomed Martelly on the staircase at the Palace along with Foreign Affairs Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso, Presidency Minister Cesar Pina Toribio and Economy, Planning and Development Minister Temistocles Montas. At first, Presidential spokesman Rafael Nunez promised the reporters covering the event that both presidents would issue a joint statement with some details of the meeting since there was not going to be a press conference. However, no statement was forthcoming after the meeting.

Tropical Storm Emily is expected to bring heavy rains to Haiti where more than half a million people are stilling living in tents.

4. President upset with businessmen
President Leonel Fernandez became quite upset for a moment during a meeting with businessmen interested in investing in the natural gas business. According to Hoy reporter Adalberto de la Rosa, during an explanation given by the advisor to the National Association of Gasoline Retailers (Anadegas), Juan Ignacio Espaillat, who said that the business was not very profitable, Fernandez apparently reacted angrily and asked them why they had come to the Presidential Palace if it was not profitable. He said that at no point had any of the businessmen said anything about the business not being profitable and he was stunned to discover this during such a meeting that was called to discuss the obstacles to the fast-tracking of installing of natural gas filling units at gas stations.

Listin Diario reports that the President went as far as to ask them to turn in their licenses to import natural gas, saying that he was amazed at their statements.

The President made it clear that at some stage the government would have to apply a tax on natural gas but up until now the administration's priority is to provide incentives for investing in the sector.

In response to the President's obvious dismay and anger, some of the businessmen tried to save the situation.

The manager of AES Dominicana, Marco de la Rosa, said that the business was profitable, but on a longer timescale compared to other fuels.

Before the President's angry outburst, a struggle was in evidence between the ministers of Industry and Commerce and Environment over the granting of licenses and permits for the installation of natural gas distribution centers.

5. The Council of Magistrates to meet
President Leonel Fernandez has convened the National Council of Magistrates (CNM) for Thursday, 11 August, in order to begin the process of appointing the judges of the Higher Electoral (TSE) and Constitutional (TC) courts. The meeting is set for noon at the Presidential Palace and the agenda also includes the replacement of 13 Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) judges who are over the age of 75 and filling the vacancies left by the magistrates of the highest court who have died.

Presidential Minister, Cesar Pina Toribio announced the President's decision at a press conference in his office in the Presidential Palace. Pina said that the CNM would take on "the adoption of two regulations that are pending by virtue of the Law that created the National Council of Magistrates." He cited the acknowledgement of the application of the Fundamental Law of the CNM and the regulation on the evaluation of the judges of the Supreme Court of Justice. Pina Toribio said that all of the work sessions of the Council of Magistrates would take place in the Presidential Palace as established in the law that covers the agency.

The Presidential Minister did not give any opinion on the privileges that the judges who are due for replacement are requesting for their retirement, saying he believes that the CNM members should be the ones to issue the official position.

Because they are over the age of 75, the CNM has to replace magistrates Rafael Luciano Pichardo, the Deputy Chief Justice of the SCJ, Hugo Alvarez Valencia, the chief magistrate of the Penal Chamber, Juan Luperon Vasquez, the chief magistrate of the Third Chamber; Jose E. Hernandez Machado, Pedro Romero Confesor and Dario Fernandez Espinal. They also have to fill the vacancies left by the deaths of Judges Julio Ibarra Rios and Margarita Tavarez. In the meantime, they will submit ten judges who aspire to the SCJ for evaluation, including the current chief justice, Jorge Subero Isa.

6. Ukrainian buses for Santo Domingo?
Ukrainian bus manufacturer Chekasski Avtobus will supply the Dominican Republic with 150 minibuses that can seat 24 passengers, according to the Ukrainian Minister of Industrial Policy. The agreement for the sale of these vehicles to the DR was reached during a visit last week to Ukraine by Ignacio Ditren, the head of OMSA and a Minister of State. According to El Nuevo Diario, the amount of money involved was not revealed. Ukraine will also supply fifty vehicles such as excavators for municipality projects. The Ukrainian government also plans to export a series of nine gas-powered electricity generators.

7. Garbage pickup in GSD affected by Emily
The Greater Santo Domingo municipal authorities and the National District city council have announced that garbage collections may be reduced for the next few days because of the problems caused by Emily and the condition of the road that leads to the Duquesa landfill site. In view of this situation, the municipalities are asking the public not to leave their refuse out on the streets during these days. According to El Caribe, the director of Urban Cleanup for the National District, Jose Miguel Martinez, called on citizens to refrain from putting their garbage out on the streets, but if they must do so, to make sure it is properly secured in plastic bags.

8. Bankers clear up interest rate on bonds
With harsh comments about the "real" interest rates on the sovereign bonds recently placed on the world market, two bankers explain how the figures were reached.

Diario Libre said that two executives of Barclays and J.P. Morgan who negotiated the US$500 million in sovereign bonds that were recently issued by the Dominican Republic on the international market, stressed the receptivity that they received among the foreign investors. Gustavo Ferrero, an executive at Barclays and Roberto D'Avora from J.P. Morgan, said that the reason for the receptivity is that the Dominican Republic offers very interesting credit conditions for investors. They said that the bonds were placed on the market at 6.75% a year, the lowest interest rate for the country on the international market since the first bonds were issued in September 2001.

They said that the bond existed and had a 7.5% coupon, but the placement that the Dominican Republic carried out among investors was successful, with a premium value of more than 100% of face value. "The bonds were sold at US$103.545, and when the yield of these is calculated, with the 7.5% coupon, it implies an implicit rate of 6.95%," they said. They added that the premium was US$17.7 million above the nominal US$500 million, which means a percentage of 3.545%. Moreover they obtained US$8.5 million in accrued interest.

Meanwhile, a Central Bank statement cleared up the fact that the excess demand for the bonds "caused the placement cost to increase over par value, or price of emission, reducing the net financial costs for the country to 6.95%, below the coupon rate of 7.5%." According to the Central Bank, this means that the investors voluntarily paid a premium or additional sum of US$17,500,000, which the country received at the moment of placement, which made it possible that the net effective interest rate would be 6.95% and not 7.5%.

http://www.bancentral.gov.do/noticias/avisos/aviso2011-08-02.pdf

9. Surviving Mirabal sister is Cedimat
Dede Mirabal, the mother Environment Minister Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal, and the surviving sister of the three Mirabal sisters who were murdered during the Trujillo dictatorship, is currently being treated at the Diagnostic Center for Advanced Medicine and Tele-medicine (Cedimat). She is suffering from a knee infection. The minister told El Caribe newspaper that Belgica Adela n Dede Mirabal has been in the hospital for 10 days. The star patient has been visited by friends and family members since being taken to the clinic.

10. Reporter's murder stirs up La Romana
The murder of journalist Jose Silvestre, a.k.a. "Gajo", whose body was found yesterday with signs of torture, barefoot and with three bullet wounds after being kidnapped, could be related to the constant revelations that the reporter filed on cases linked to drug trafficking. His relatives fear that his death might be connected to revelations about drug trafficking and its links to powerful sectors in his TV program, "La voz de la verdad" (The Hour of Truth), and in a magazine of the same name.

Silvestre was kidnapped yesterday morning when he was on his way to San Pedro de Macoris to attend a hearing about a suit by La Romana prosecutor Jose Polanco Ramirez, who had sued him for defamation and libel after the journalist had talked about alleged relationships between the prosecutor and drug trafficking cases. According to several versions picked up by the authorities, the reporter was kidnapped near his home, at about 7:45 in the morning, as he was getting into his SUV at the J&A Hotel, located at the intersection of Fray Juan de Utrera and Gaston F. Deligne streets, by four men who beat him and then shot him in the stomach. His body was found several hours later near a water tank in El Penon on the La Romana to San Pedro de Macoris highway. Some 10 "eyewitnesses" have been detained in connection with the death.

11. Special citizenship for Haitian ballplayers
The president of the Dominican Central Electoral Board (JCE) Roberto Rosario says that President Leonel Fernandez can grant special Dominican nationality to outstanding MLB prospects of Haitian origin. Yesterday, El Caribe reported on the plight of many Haitians who have caught the attention of MLB scouts, but who have problems with their identification documents. The main problems are caused by the situation where most Haitians who migrate to the Dominican Republic do not have any civil documentation, and any who are able to obtain this are often affected by irregularities along the way. MLB scrutinizes the documentation to prevent identity fraud, making their recruitment by MLB more difficult.

He mentioned the case of Jose Miguel Sano, who was signed by the Minnesota Twins for US$3 million after a JCE investigation to establish his identity. Rosario said that it is important for foreigners to register themselves in the Libro de Extranjeria, Book of Foreigners - the registry of foreigners born in the Dominican Republic. He said that anyone registered in their book could later receive a certificate that will allow them to sign a MLB contract. He said that these birth certificates do not grant Dominican nationality. He said their purpose was to register the legal acts of foreigners without affecting migratory status.

In the report in El Caribe, several Haitian ball player prospects said the scouts avoid them, fearing involvement in fraudulent signing.

www.elcaribe.com.do/site/deportes/beisbol/beisbol-invernal/283574-los-peloteros-haitianos-pueden-solicitar-nacionalidad-especial.html

12. Dave Valentin concert suspended
Because of the imminent passing of Tropical Storm Emily, the Dave Valentin jazz concert at the National Theater has been suspended. Those who have purchased tickets need to seek a refund. He was due to perform with Sandy Gabriel & the Puerto Plata Jazz Ensemble and percussionist Guarionex Aquino at 8:30pm tonight.

The inaugural event for the Dominican Annual Tourism Forum 2011 n Fodatur, scheduled for Wednesday evening, but the conference organizers upon making that announcement said that work sessions will continue as scheduled at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel tomorrow. The telephone of the hotel is 809 562 8222 for confirmation tomorrow.

The 4 August launch of the Santo Domingo city brand by the Tourism Cluster of Santo Domingo was postponed to 10 August.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

Filmación de Afro Samurai será en RD

El filme protagonizado por Samuel L. Jackson comenzará a ser rodado en el 2012, en los Pinewood Indomina Studios


Afro Samurai y Underworld se cambian de género

Navegando por el ancho mundo del internet nos topamos con dos noticias interesantes, ambas de cambios de géneros, y no nos referimos a su sexualidad, sino más bien a un brinco de talanquera bilateral, pues la cosa es que Afro Samurai se irá a la acción real y Underworld se cambiará al mundo del animé.
Primero con lo primero, el Afro Samurai cobrará vida de la mano de Samuel L. Jackson, quien ya aportó su voz para la versión americana de este animé, también producirá la versión de acción real. El filme comenzará a ser rodado en el 2012, en los Pinewood Indomina Studios de la República Dominicana.
Ahora, si bien el Afro Samurai decidió hacerse real, Selene ya no quiere que Kate Beckinsale la interprete más, así que realizará unos cortos en animé donde podrá ser ella misma, y pues estos cortos los podremos encontrar en una versión blue-ray que traerá todas las películas más estos cortos como material extra, para quienes lo puedan comprar, para los que no, pues esperaremos que puedan ser descargables.

Petróleo de Higüey es tan bueno como el de Cuba

SANTO DOMINGO, República Dominicana.- Muestras de las emanaciones de petróleo detectadas recientemente en una comunidad de Higüey han sido certificadas como de “buena calidad” por un laboratorio especializado, incluso clasificado dentro de las tres familias del mineral de mejor calidad que se explota en Cuba, reveló este jueves el Director General de Minería, Octavio López.

Esos análisis establecieron que ese petróleo tiene un contenido de azufre por debajo del uno por ciento (0.09 por ciento), algo que es sumamente conveniente porque el azufre es un elemento contaminante que obliga a separarlo del crudo, explicó el funcionario.

López informó que el científico cubano Rafael Pertreiro le envío una clasificación de las tres familias de petróleo que agrupan el tipo de crudo que puede aparecer en cualquier región del mundo y comparando las curvas que determinan su calidad, se ha podido establecer que las muestras analizadas se corresponden con el tipo del mineral de mejor calidad que está siendo explotado por las autoridades de la isla de Cuba.

“Pero nosotros queremos ser bien especifico, bien claro, queremos decir que es una emanación de petróleo lo que hemos detectados en Higüey, que esas muestras que nosotros tomamos y que han sido analizadas en verdad han establecido que se trata de un petróleo de buena calidad”, dijo López al ser entrevistado en el programa de televisión Propuesta Matinal.

El funcionario aclaró que no se ha establecido si en la República Dominicana existe petróleo en cantidad suficiente para su explotación comercial y que se está en negociaciones con una compañía inglesa para iniciar un proceso de exploración de posibles yacimientos en todo el país.

López dijo, no obstante, que las informaciones suministradas por ese científico cubano “me llenan de esperanzas” y citó datos obtenidos a través de unas expediciones realizadas por el barco “Expedicte” en el Mar Caribe que detectaron emanaciones de gas.

“Es posible que exista en el país un sistema petrolero distinto en que se ha detectado en Azua, por lo que podemos garantizar la posibilidad de que en República Dominicana tengamos dos sistemas petroleros distintos”, recalcó el Director de Minería.

López explicó que en el caso de las emanaciones de petróleo en Higüey lo que se ha detectado es “apenas una lámina” y sería muy costoso invertir en toda una infraestructura para determinar la cantidad real del mineral que podría detectarse.

“Lo que sí podría determinarse y que está dentro del mismo sistema de petróleo de Azua es la estructura que existe en la Bahía de Ocoa que hasta ahora es la estructura más promisoria que tenemos, caracterizada hasta el extremo que se hizo una geofísica en esa zona y se tiene identificada una estructura con un domo salino que le sirve como carpa impermeable para atrapar el posible petróleo que pueda existir”, comentó López.

Explicó que la geología y la zeociencia permiten hacer cálculos y estimaciones de la existencia de petróleo en esa estructura y existen geólogos que se inclinan en pronosticar que allí podría encontrarse hasta 200 millones de barriles del crudo.

Remodelan administración del Puerto de Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo
A un costo aproximado de RD$65 millones, la Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA) remodeló sus instalaciones en el puerto de Santo Domingo, labor que se enmarca en un plan que ejecuta la entidad recaudadora desde finales del año pasado en nueve dependencias distribuidas en la geografía nacional.

Un informe sobre la ejecución de la obra indica que la mayor parte de la inversión de los recursos se realizó en la remodelación del edificio de la administración que conllevó una inversión de RD$65,284,000, seguido por el suministro e instalación de un sistema de cámaras de seguridad, a un costo de RD$7 millones, 970 mil y finalmente, una serie de trabajos de infraestructura eléctrica a un precio aproximado de RD$575,978.

Las obras de infraestructura en el puerto fueron realizadas aproximadamente en 10 meses, iniciando en septiembre del año pasado y concluyendo en julio de este año. De acuerdo con reportes de prensa, la modificación fue realizada buscando mejorar el desempeño de los procedimientos y su adecuación con el personal que labora en la oficina. Y, conforme a una nota informativa, se estima que la recuperación del dinero invertido se realizará en pocos años.

“La idea es que todo esté conforme al nuevo sistema del SIGA, que responde al famoso concepto de las aduanas sin papeles”
Wilson Acosta, administrador del puerto de Santo Domingo.
En una entrevista para LISTÍN DIARIO, Wilson Acosta, administrador del puerto, explicó que las modificaciones fueron hechas también tomando en cuenta el nuevo Sistema de Gestión Aduanal (SIGA) igual como se hizo en la modificación de las instalaciones del puerto de Haina Oriental.

“La idea es que todo esté conforme al nuevo sistema, que es la famosa aduanas sin papeles. Ahora mismo se hacen declaraciones vía electrónica, correcciones y también se puede pagar mediante los sistemas electrónicos de los bancos”, declaró.

Proyecciones
El funcionario destacó el valor histórico de la terminal, una de las más antiguas del país, que recibía cargamentos antes de que las mercancías fueran transportadas en furgones a través de los barcos, no obstante indicó que el futuro del muelle es convertirse en un puerto turístico.

Según indicó, a largo plazo el puerto tendrá una afluencia mucho mayor de cruceros y se reproducirá el modelo instituido en países como España, específicamente en la localidad de Barcelona.

Sin embargo, pese a que con el cambio se desarrollará mucho más la oferta turística de la zona, las recaudaciones descenderán más.

“Es un plan a largo plazo, se verá disminuir la carga que viene en contenedores y de comercio, para entonces subir el turismo, pero para eso hace falta mejorar la estructura de la zona, que ya está en un proceso de adecuación”, declaró.

Logística
Sobre el manejo de volumen de carga, el funcionario explicó que en el puerto inciden entre 5 o 6 navieras.

Una de ellas mensual trae un barco proveniente de Nueva Jersey, Estados Unidos, de donde llegan alrededor de 900 vehículos usados para la venta en el mercado local. Llegan también autos en tránsito internacional provenientes de México y Japón, que luego son remitidos a las islas.

Indicó además que parte de las mercancías son recibidas además mediante el ferry, que además trae más de 70 contenedores, en su mayoría destinados a las zonas francas.

Recalcó el valor que tiene el SIGA para la eficientizacion del sistema aduanal, mas agregó, que fruto de los tratados internacionales, las aduanas paso a paso se convertirán más en una entidad facilitadora del comercio internacional más que de control.

“La tendencia es que los gravámenes arancelarios vayan bajando a la medida que pase el tiempo y al fin al cabo las aduanas serán una entidad de control, aunque siempre su función interna será de suma importancia”, dijo.

Respecto a su función, el administrador del puerto o colector explicó que ellos son la representación del director de Aduanas en cada uno de los puertos y deben velar porque las leyes aduaneras se cumplan.

(+)
DETALLES DEL PLAN DE REHABILITACIÓN
ALCANCE
Conforme al proyecto de remodelación y construcción de oficinas de la Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA), unas de las próximas oficinas por construir es la ubicada en Pedernales, hasta la fecha con la inauguración pautada para este fin de semana.

Según una relación del Departamento de Compras y Aprovisionamiento de la DGA, la estructura será edificada a un costo aproximado de RD$6.7 millones. Se contemplan además modificaciones en las oficinas del aeropuerto Las Américas, el salón del ferry en el salón Don Diego, el puerto Multimodal Caucedo, la adecuación de terrenos en Jimaní y la construcción de una oficina satélite en Elías Piña.

En total, el plan que aplica la DGA desde septiembre del año pasado tiene un costo de alrededor de RD$277 millones.

De todas las modificaciones ejecutadas, la realizada en el edificio de la administración del puerto de Santo Domingo es la más cara, al superar los RD$65 millones, seguida por las modificaciones contempladas para el edificio administrativo cuyo costo es ligeramente menor y se contempla en RD$64 millones, 925 mil.

1. Emily spares the DR
Tropical Storm Emily kept to a western track and the closest it came to the Dominican Republic was 40kms SSW of Isla Beata off Barahona on the southwestern coast.

The good news is that Emily did not touch land in the Dominican Republic, and the heavy rainstorms that were forecast did not materialize. High surf and large waves were seen at the shoreline. For the most part, for Dominicans it was the storm that was not. Most areas are getting a gentle drizzle of rain. Wind gusts were scant from Punta Cana to Barahona, as reported on the DR1 Forums by people residing in those areas.

Nevertheless, in the early morning a tropical storm warning was still in effect for the southern coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano in the east, due to the continuing rains that were forecast.

The Emergency Operations Center reported that it had evacuated 1,647 people from their homes, 1,005 of who left to stay with relatives and friends and 642 were sent to government shelters, in the provinces of Monte Plata, San Juan de la Maguana, San Cristobal and Barahona.

COE director General Juan Manuel Mendez said that if Emily continues on her present path, she would not affect the country. He did say, however, that people living in vulnerable areas should maintain their preventive measures.

Mendez said that red alerts remain in place for the provinces of San Juan, Barahona, San Cristobal, Azua, Pedernales, Peravia, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo, National District, San Jose de Ocoa, Independencia, Bahoruco, Hermanas Mirabal (Salcedo), La Altagracia (Higuey), La Romana, Monte Plata, Sanchez Ramirez (Cotui), Monsenor Nouel (Bonao), La Vega, Santiago, Dajabon, El Seibo, Duarte (San Francisco de Macoris), Maria Trinidad Sanchez (Nagua), Espaillat (Moca) and Elias Pina. Yellow alerts are maintained for Valverde (Mao), Puerto Plata, Samana, Santiago Rodriguez, Hato Mayor and Monte Cristi provinces.

Regardless, Dominicans prepared for the storm, which has served as a drill to prepare for other storms that are expected. The only hurricane to hit the DR in August in the last 100 years was David on 31 August 1979, so the early storm took Dominicans by surprise.

Yesterday, many businesses sent employees home at noon with instructions to take Thursday off so that they would not be caught in the rain. The Santo Domingo metro line operated until 2pm. Universities also called off classes for Thursday. American Airlines suspended flights from Puerto Rico and Port-au-Prince, Miami, and some JetBlue flights were affected today. The Dave Valentin concert at the National Theater was postponed, as well as the inaugural activities for the Fodatur tourism conference that continues in Santo Domingo today at the Dominican Fiesta.

National Hurricane Center forecasters have had difficulties making accurate predictions for TS Emily. In the 11am report, the forecast is still that the storm will take a northwest turn to take its storm center between Haiti and Cuba within the next 12-24 hours.

2. Focus on the foreign debt
In an interview with the Corripio Communications Group, Hacienda Minister Daniel Toribio assured that the Dominican Republic's debt level is reasonable, at 37% of the GDP, as reported in El Dia. He said that IMF experts have advised that debt should not go beyond 40%. He added that in 2008 the fiscal deficit was 3.5% of GDP. Today it is 2.5%, in 2011 it is expected to end at 1.6% and in 2012 at 0.6%. He said that debt servicing only takes up 10% of government revenues, or about RD$30 billion. He defended the borrowing taken on by the Fernandez administration.

Of the total debt, the Dominican Republic owes Venezuela US$2.137 billion as of June 2011, El Dia reports today. The debt has piled up as the Fernandez administration has taken advantage of the PetroCaribe program credit on fuel purchases extended to Caribbean countries by the Chavez government. Of the total, the Dominican government needs to pay US$59 million this year.

Hacienda Minister Daniel Toribio wants more of the credits to be used for investments, and not to compensate the government for revenues not collected on electricity services provided. He said that of the US$1 billion that will be transferred to the electricity sector in 2011, US$700 million is applied to the subsidy. The subsidy primarily covers the poor consumers who do not pay for the service and the government entities consumption. He said of the total, US$1300 million would be allocated to investment projects, while US$200 million will go to pay debt.

Edgar Victoria, director of the Ministry of Hacienda public credit department, said that the electricity issues were of much interest to investors in Dominican sovereign bonds. He said that during the tour to place the bonds, they traveled with an energy expert who explained what the government was doing in the sector. He highlighted increased efficiency and improved transmission networks.

While the total subsidy is up considerably, Victoria argued that in relation to the GDP it declined from 3% in 2007 to 2.7% in 2010 and 1.3% in 2011.

During the interview, Toribio lobbied for a reduction in fiscal incentives granted to businesses.

3. Government extends subsidy to transporters
President Leonel Fernandez met yesterday with representatives of the Conatra passenger transport and Fenatrado trucking transport owner unions, Antonio Marte and Blas Peralta and announced a two-month extension on the tax exemptions on diesel. The government had granted a three-month tax exemption to the union members as part of a deal whereby they would not increase the cost of public transportation.

4. Annual Dominican Tourism Forum
The Dominican Tourism Competitiveness Consortium-organized Annual Dominican Tourism Forum began today at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel. Fodatur 2011 is asking, "Where is the Dominican tourism sector headed?"

Rafael Collado, president of the CDCT said the event is an opportunity for sector leaders to share ideas, concerns and make suggestions, get to know the latest trends in global tourism and explore the opportunities that could increase local levels of competitiveness in tourism.

The forum continues with local and international speakers on Thursday and Friday.

Guest speakers are Marco Serrato, of the ICTEM of Mexico; Humberto Nicolas Rivas Ortega, of the WTO, Ramon Martinez Gasca of Mexico, Omar Esteves of Mexico, Victor Ramirez Montero of Costa Rica, Reyes Avila Bercial, Spain, James Rieger, United States, Manuel Izaguirre, Peru, Juan Manuel Esteban, Spain, and Manuel Figuerola Palomo, Spain.

http://fodatur.wordpress.com/

5. Professional jealousy behind teacher murder
While Barahona was bracing itself to receive Tropical Storm Emily, a murder in the educational community has shocked the nation. The director of the El Mundito school, Fernando Carrasco Roque was sent to preventive custody for the murder of his colleague, Lenny Feliz Feliz, director of the Escuela San Rafael in Paraiso, Barahona. The motive was professional jealousy. Also accused in the case are Luis Felix Gomez and Sandro Feliz Santana, who were released on RD$30,000 bail. The gruesome murder was carried out with a hammer and the teacher's body was buried to simulate her disappearance.

Listin Diario reports that Carrasco was a protegee of Feliz, and a fellow member of the Dominican Teachers Association (ADP) made up of public school teachers. The newspaper says that Feliz treated him like a brother and backed his promotions.

As reported, 37-year old Lenny Feliz was the mother of three children and was deputy mayor of the Municipal Council, representing the PLD. On the day she was murdered, 13 July, Carrasco offered to take her to Escuela Cristo Rey in Barahona, where she was taking a computer course. She never arrived. Carrasco told relatives that his motorcycle broke down and while waiting for him to repair it she was picked up by persons unknown traveling in a pick-up. He insisted on trying to convince relatives that Lenny's ex-husband Luis Arboleda might be involved. Arboleda went to the Police to report the teacher's disappearance.

Carrasco was convincing and for 22 days, the family believed she had been kidnapped by her former husband. Carrasco used Lenny's cell phone and sent messages to her sister, Dayana, a resident in Puerto Plata, on her situation. The Police were able to intercept the calls and establish the location of the phone, which led to Carrasco. They then found out that he had given the teacher's laptop to his girlfriend, Angelina Feliz, who ironically is a cousin of the victim.

As reported in the newspaper, once evidence against him was revealed, Carrasco changed his story and accused teachers Luis Amauris Feliz Gomez, 43, of the Escuela El Guayabal, and Sandro Feliz Santana, 38, of Aguita Blanca. He said they committed the crime because they felt left out as they did not receive the economic incentives Lenny Felix was getting from the Ministry of Education.

The Police seized pawnshop receipts for the victim's jewelry, and a debit card that was used to secure a loan in a shop in the community.

Carrasco said that the victim owed him RD$20,000 that he had received from a popular money savings scheme known as a "san" and had given to the teacher to fund her political campaigning.

6. Cocaine detected in Haina Port
The National Drug Control Department has intercepted 411 kilos of cocaine that were about to be shipped to Spain from Haina Port. The cocaine was hidden in a shipment to be made by Tabacalera de Palmarejo, from Villa Gonzalez, Santiago. The drug haul was found hidden in a container that was transporting tobacco leaves, reported DNCD spokesman Roberto Lebron. He said the drugs were uncovered in a joint intelligence operation with international security agencies. Drug-sniffing dogs detected the narcotics that had been hidden in sophisticated double-bottom sections of the freight container.

National Drugs Council president Mabel Feliz Baez says that 90% of crimes in the Dominican Republic are committed by people under the influence of drugs, according to research carried out by that government department. She said that cocaine is the most commonly used drug, followed by marijuana. She was speaking during an event sponsored by the Prosecutor General Office, the United Nations and the Brazilian Government on the new jail model in the Dominican Republic.

7. John Calipari happy with DR team
University of Kentucky basketball coach, now wearing the hat of coach of the Dominican national team that seeks to make it to the 2012 London Olympics, says he is impressed with the team spirit and the efforts of the team that is training at the University of Kentucky. Calipari is being assisted by Del Harris, Rock Strickland and Orlando Antigua. The Dominican team centers round NBA players Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks), Francisco Garcia (Sacramento Kings) and Charlie Villanueva (Detroit Pistons). University of Kentucky senior Eloy Vargas is also on the team, as well as former Louisville guard Edgar Sosa.

The Dominican team is scheduled to match a team of University of Kentucky present and past players on 15 August at the Rupp Arena. The game was a quick sellout so another will be played at the KFC Yum Center in Kentucky. The games are fund-raisers for the team. The pros for Kentucky playing in Louisville include Eric Bledsoe, DeMarcus Cousins, Josh Harrellson, Brandon Knight, Nazr Mohammed, Rajon Rondo and John Wall. Denny Crum will be an honorary coach in the event along with retired UK coach Joe B. Hall.

The Dominican push to make the 2012 Olympics has been getting quite a following in the media. The team is preparing for the 2011 FIBA Americas Tournament set for 30 August to 11 September in Mar del Plata, Argentina. The winner earns an automatic bid to play in the 2012 Olympics. The DR has never played in the Olympics.

8. Latin dancing in the Colonial City
Frank Green and Mananaladie will have you dancing every Thursday at La Cantina de El Agave, across the street from Casa de Teatro. Merengue, son, fuson, salsa, danzon, guaracha, rumba, bolero, balads and more. Starting this Thursday, 4 August. Arzobispo Merino 115, Colonial City (in front of Casa de Teatro).

9. Dreamgirls at Bellas Artes
Musical producer Amaury Sanchez has announced that Dreamgirls, the musical that tells the story of the Supremes and Diana Ross and how they shaped American pop music after becoming the most successful American female group of the 1960s, will go on stage as of this coming, Friday, 12 August at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Stars of the show include Waddys Jaquez, Cristal Marie, Stephanie Fatule, Hector Anibal, Orestes Amador, Mariele Ferreira, Vicente Santos, Carlos Quezada and Karla Fatule. The play is directed by Maria Castillo and choreography is by Elizabeth Crooke. Shows are booked for Friday and Saturday at 8:30pm and Sunday at 7pm. Tickets should be purchased in advance.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

1. Omsa denies bus procurement deals
Ignacio Ditren, director of the Metropolitan Bus Services Office (OMSA) denies press reports that the entity purchased 150 buses without a tendering process. Following instructions from President Leonel Fernandez, he said he traveled to South Korea to look into an offer made to Omsa for the sale of 300 buses and to report back to the President on the possible purchase. He said that when he was in Asia, he decided to visit Ukraine where he visited another company that manufactures two-door minibuses that run on natural gas and said that offer was attractive. He said those buses would work well for the bus unions. As reported in El Caribe, he said that he is coordinating with the governmental BanReservas to secure funding for public transport vehicles now benefiting from the diesel bonus to convert their vehicles to natural gas.

2. AMET solution to red light violations
Red light violations in the Dominican Republic are everyday becoming more common, and now the Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET) has announced how it plans to deal with the situation. AMET director Major General Jose Anibal Sanz Jiminian told Listin Diario that the Senate is studying the possibility of presenting a bill that would make the payment of traffic fines obligatory, and would establish fines of RD$10,000 for running a red light. Sanz says that at present only 15-20% of drivers who are fined pay the fines. He said that people who do not pay the fines would not be able to cash checks or renew essential documents like passports, driving licenses or ID cards (cedulas). The bill seeks to modify Law 241 on Transit.

Sanz said that in the past 15 months AMET officers have levied over 650,000 fines for traffic violations.

AMET is also proposing to modify the law to oblige public transport vehicle drivers to use seat belts. "The law has to be equal for all," said Sanz.

He announced the start of a joint nationwide campaign with Listin Diario to encourage safe driving.

3. Mayor on Duquesa road disrepair
National District (Santo Domingo) City Mayor Roberto Salcedo has appealed to the Presidency and the Ministry of Public Works to repave the road leading to the Duquesa dump. Several sections of the 1.8km road are in major disrepair and garbage truck drivers are protesting at having to use it.

Salcedo, in an extraordinary meeting with Onofre Rojas, who is the coordinator for Greater Santo Domingo - the National District and Santo Domingo Province municipalities - Santo Domingo East, Santo Domingo West and Santo Domingo North, appealed to President Leonel Fernandez and Public Works Minister about the urgent need to repair the road. Salcedo said the conditions of the road would lead to a collapse of the garbage collection services shared by the Greater Santo Domingo municipalities.

Some 400 garbage trucks collect an average of 1,900 tons in the National District and 2,000 tons in the municipalities of the Province of Santo Domingo each day, as reported in El Dia.

Max D'Silva, general manager of Lajun Corporation, the company that manages the Duquesa garbage dump, said that the municipalities of Greater Santo Domingo were responsible for repairing the road.

Mayor Roberto Salcedo said that while his administration does not have legal jurisdiction over the dump, if the Dominican Municipal League would cease its deductions of RD$5 million a month for a year, the National District Council (ADN) would repair the road, with prior approval of the city council. He said his administration would seek to establish another garbage transfer center, like the one at Villas Agricolas, to get around transport interruptions. He said the situation was worse on days with light rainfall than on days with heavy rainfall. The trucks make four to five daily trips to the garbage dump on normal days. On rainy days, these trips are reduced to half.

4. Transparency in choosing judges
The president of the National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (ANJE) has called for transparency and open participation of society in the process of choosing 13 judges for the Supreme Court of Justice, Constitutional Court and Higher Electoral Court judges. President Leonel Fernandez has convened the National Council of the Magistracy to elect the judges as of 11 August.

Lara Guerrero highlighted the importance of an independent judicial branch in a progressive and democratic society. The judges who are selected will be in their posts for the next 15 years at least, she said, as reported in Hoy.

She said that incompetence, bias and corruption in the administration of justice have a high economic cost that affects all sectors of society and the business climate.

She called for choosing judges who are known for their independence, commitment, integrity and credibility, and who have shown they have been able to distance themselves from other branches of government when taking decisions so as to be able to impartially implement the laws.

5. New tourism legislation needed
Elizabeth Tovar, president of the Dominican Republic Tour Operators Association has called for serious efforts to improve rulings affecting businesses and tourism operations in the Dominican Republic during her participation in the First Dominican Tourism Forum (Fodatur) ongoing at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel, as reported in Hoy. Tovar, who is the owner of the Turenlaces tour operating company, said that Dominican tourism legislation is outdated. She said the lack of clarity and penalties result in a situation where having a licensed tourism operation does not grant any privileges or protection, and only brings higher costs.

"The country is not in a position to continue postponing the reorganization and regulation of tourism," she said. She added that since tourism is the country's main industry, we could not lose more competitiveness than that what has already been lost.

She said the implementation of 21st Century legislation would allow the country to develop tourism with an institutional framework that would encourage investment.

"Today there is a state of impunity that makes the operation more advantageous for those who do not meet the legal requirements, thereby diminishing the quality of services, tax contribution and sustainability of operations and investments," she stressed.

From her position as the president of the Tour Operators Association she said she has already started consultations that could lead to the needed modern legislation.

6. Integrate tourism
The ECLAC Review N° 104, available on the website of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), includes expert analysis by Bineswaree Bolaki on tourism competitiveness in the Caribbean. She explains why the region's competitiveness in tourism (the Caribbean's main economic activity) is falling. She comments that more local integration is necessary, to move away from models of sun and sand that have attracted the most foreign investment, as reported in Listin Diario.

She concludes that the situation could be improved through policy measures conducive to increased investment, private-sector development, enhanced infrastructure, reduced government taxation, more flexible labor markets, decreased vulnerability to natural disasters, greater human development and gradual rises in oil prices. She also sees investing in technology, developing of aviation policies to reduce fares and increased air access as priority issues. The creation and promotion of the "Caribbean brand" as a tourist destination would be highly useful to improve regional competitiveness, she concludes.

The Spanish version of the article is at www.eclac.cl/publicaciones/xml/4/44074/RVE104Bolaky.pdf

7. Emily's rains
Tropical Storm Emily was a no show on Wednesday, but on Thursday the DR was drenched by non-stop rain in most areas, the exceptions being low-lying areas like Punta Cana. For an overview of the storm, see the coverage on the DR1 Forums Weather & Beyond Hurricanes 2011 link, including excellent forecasting by Mike Fisher, and advice on where to turn if there is a storm in our area.

http://www.dr1.com/forums/weather-beyond/115613-hurricane-season-2011-a.html

Last night the National Meteorological Office (Onamet) lifted the storm warnings for the Dominican Republic. The Emergency Operations Center (COE) said that 7,534 people living in high-risk areas sought refuge with friends and relatives (5,985) and in government shelters (1,549). Onamet warns that the rains will continue on Friday, with high surf and waves nationwide.

COE head General Juan Manuel Mendez Garcia said that the red alert is being maintained for 25 provinces and the National District (Santo Domingo) as the rain could cause flooding.

El Caribe reports that as many people took the day off work yesterday, and some even on Friday, traffic in the usually congested Santo Domingo streets flowed freely. According to reports, flooding as a result of heavy rainfall caused extensive damage to major farming areas in the southwest, namely Barahona plantain, cassava, pumpkin and sweet potato plantations.

One death was reported, a young man named as Edward Diaz Urbaez, son of Dr. Victor Diaz Alba, a former president of the Dominican Medical Association.

As reported in Hoy, Diaz Urbaez, 23, died just after 3pm after returning from work at the San Lorenzo Mina hospital. He went to a sports club on Calle Presidente Vasquez in the Alma Rosa II sector to register a relative. He fell into a puddle of water that regularly forms when it rains and was sucked in by an uncovered drain.

He is survived by his parents, Victor Diaz and Bertha Urbaez Alba, and three siblings.

8. Flight cancellations at Las Americas
As it made its way past the Dominican Republic, Tropical Storm Emily caused the cancellation of 22 flights, affecting 3,000 travelers, as reported in Listin Diario.

Aerodom said that flights from Miami, New York, Port-au-Prince, Havana and San Juan were cancelled. Three of eight JetBlue flights, including two to New York and one to Boston were cancelled. American Airlines cancelled flights to Miami, and American Eagle cancelled flights to San Juan and Port-au-Prince. Cubana de Aviacion cancelled a flight to Havana.

9. Robbery at Las Caobas hotel
The police say that four armed men stole three safes containing RD$1,643,000 and US$10,150 from the casino at Las Caobas hotel in San Francisco de Macoris yesterday. The police said that the assailants seized the watchman's shotgun, and left him bound and gagged in a hotel washroom.

10. Dominicans at World Volleyball Grand Prix
The Dominican national women's team is in Bydgoszcz, Poland to compete in the World Grand Prix with its first game against Italy on 5 August.

Next the DR will participate in Pool H in Komaki Japan against Japan, the US and Serbia, and then in week 3 of the event, in Hong Kong against China, Poland and Kazakhstan. The final round will be decided in Macau, China from 24-28 August. China and the top seven ranked teams after the preliminary rounds will qualify for the final round.

Other teams are Argentina, Brazil, China, Cuba, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Peru, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Thailand and the US.

The DR will play in Pool A against Poland, Italy and Argentina from 5-7 August.

www.fivb.org/EN/volleyball/competitions/WorldGrandPrix/2011/?Tourn=WGP2011

11. Tickets for the Caribbean Series
The Dominican Baseball League has announced the ticket prices for the Caribbean Series that will take place in Santo Domingo 2-7 February 2012. Prices for subscribers and daily sales for the six days in which two games per day will be played are:

Corporate Boxes: US$420/per day US$70

Boxes: US$360/per day US$60

AA Grandstand Boxes: US$240/per day US$40

Preferences Grandstand: US$180/per day US$30

AA Extension: US$60/per day US$10

Bleachers: RD$600/per day RD$100

To purchase tickets in advance, call 809 616-1224 or email estadioquisqueya@gmail.com

12. Bird-watching at the Botanical Gardens
This Sunday, 7 August is bird-watching day at the Botanical Gardens.

The Hispaniola Ornithological Society (SOH) organizes a walk on the first Sunday of each month setting off at 7am. Birdwatchers meet at the main gate. Located in the northern part of Santo Domingo, the 200-hectare botanical garden's riverbank habitat, wooded areas, open palm savannas and other areas offer many opportunities to spot interesting endemic and migratory birds. Entrance fee: Dominicans: RD$50, non-Dominican citizens: US$5. Opening hours 9am to 5pm, but any day birdwatchers may enter anytime after 6am with identifying binoculars in hand. Species to observe: West-Indian Whistling Duck, Least Grebe, Common Moorhen, Limpkin, White-winged Dove, Hispaniolan Parakeet, Mangrove Cuckoo, Hispaniolan Lizard-Cuckoo, Antillean Palm-Swift, Gray Kingbird, Black-whiskered Vireo, Northern Mockingbird, Palmchat, Black-crowned Palm-Tanager and the Hispaniolan Woodpecker.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

Jumbo recibe su local en ÀGORA Mall

by Ágora Mall on Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at 5:56pm

Con aproximadamente 8,550 metros cuadrados, Jumbo ocupará dos niveles del centro comercial

Más de 50 mil artículos para elegir y nuevos servicios en la sucursal número 7 del referido establecimiento

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/6393/28901024241275578953111.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/834/28901024241275578953111.jpg/)

A mediados del mes de julio los ejecutivos del centro comercial ÀGORA Mall hicieron entrega del primer local para iniciar su adecuación a los representantes de Jumbo, establecimiento del grupo Centro Cuesta Nacional, caracterizado por ofrecer una alta variedad de productos a precios competitivos y con calidad.

Se trata de la séptima sucursal del referido establecimiento, la cual ocupará un área de 8 mil 550 metros cuadrados distribuidos en el primer y segundo nivel del centro comercial. Esta nueva tienda generará alrededor de (350) ) empleos directos y 150 empleos indirectos.

En la actualidad Jumbo recibe un promedio de 800 mil clientes mensuales en sus 6 tiendas, las cuales están localizadas en zonas de alto tráfico en Santo Domingo (Megacentro, Carretera Mella y Avenida Luperon), La Romana, San Pedro de Macorís y Santiago., logrando una alta aceptación y empatía con el mercado dominicano en cada una de sus sucursales.

En el primer nivel de JUMBO estarán localizados los departamentos de alimentos, cuidado personal y las necesidades básicas, mientras que el segundo nivel se alojarán las sesiones de ropa, calzado, deporte, juguetes, hogar, entre otros.

En la nueva sucursal que funcionará en ÀGORA Mall Jumbo implementará algunas innovaciones con el fin de brindar un mejor servicio a sus clientes como: nuevas y modernas cajas registradoras para el ahorro de tiempo, más de 50,000 artículos para elegir, amplia área de electrodomésticos y entrega a domicilio y seguirá fortaleciendo su área de bebidas con la mayor variedad de vinos, licores, rones, cervezas, whiskies, entre otros.

Jumbo responde al concepto de hipermercados por las dimensiones de cada una de sus tiendas y la diversidad de productos y mercancía que ofrece. Es una marca dirigida a un amplio segmento del mercado dominicano ya que se adapta a diferentes tipos de consumidores acorde con el estilo de vida de sus clientes, siendo su público objetivo muy diverso por la variación en cuanto a edades y preferencias de los consumidores.

Al recibir el nuevo local los ejecutivos de Jumbo valoraron a ÁGORA Mall como un proyecto muy ambicioso que garantiza una propuesta de valor diferenciada dentro del mercado.

Agregaron que el nuevo centro comercial responde a la necesidad que tiene la familia dominicana, de encontrar todo lo que necesita en un solo lugar, asi como también complementarlo con una nueva oferta de entretenimiento pero sobretodo garantizando una agradable experiencia de compra asegurando la calidad en las instalaciones y en el servicio.

JUMBO abrirá sus puertas en la apertura oficial de ÀGORA Mall en el primer trimestre 2012.

Informaciones Generales de ÁGORA Mall

ÁGORA Mall es un centro comercial a gran escala, que brindará conveniencia y comodidad mediante el concepto “Todo en uno”. Es el “primer edificio comercial en certificarse como “Green Building”, que conllevará a la optimización de recursos energéticos e hídricos”, lo cual eficientiza la operación del centro comercial. Así como también brinda oportunidades a todos los integrantes del mall a sumarse a esta tendencia que hoy en día aporta a la comunidad, la sociedad y el país.

Está localizado en una de la zona de mayor tráfico de la ciudad, la intersección de las avenidas Johnn F. Kennedy y Abraham Lincoln.

Ocupa un área de 120 mil metros cuadrados de construcción que alojarán 180 locales comerciales, distribuidos en una moderna infraestructura de cuatro niveles con una torre de parqueos con capacidad para más de mil 800 vehículos.

ÁGORA tendrá incidencia en un área de alrededor de tres millas, en el que residen más de medio millón de habitantes. Su infraestructura tendrá capacidad para recibir más de un millón de clientes mensuales. Sondeos realizados por la empresa gestora del proyecto arrojan que en la intersección donde se levanta la obra circulan alrededor de 200 mil vehículos diarios y un poco más de 15 mil en horas pico.

Vice discute en Galicia proyecto de energía renovable
Dice empresarios están interesados en flota mercante

Galicia, ESPAÑA.- El vicepresidente Rafael Alburquerque revisó junto al presidente de la Junta de Galicia, Alberto Núñez Feijoo, y empresarios locales, proyectos de inversión para el desarrollo de energía renovable y la instalación en el país de una flota marítima para el transporte de productos agrícolas hacia El Caribe.

Una nota asegura que empresarios gallegos expresaron su interés en invertir en la República Dominicana en las áreas de energía limpia y flota mercante.

"Galicia es la provincia de España que en estos momentos se encuentra a la vanguardia en la generación de energía limpia, estamos convencido que sus experiencias y conocimientos serán de mucho beneficio para nuestros país, sobre todo, ahora que el mundo se encuentra inmerso en una profunda crisis energética”, expresó Alburquerque.

Dijo que se abren las puertas a las inversiones en energía eólica y solar, cuyos proyectos permitirán la sustitución de la matriz energética dependiente del petróleo, por una energía mas limpia y mas barata.

De su lado, los empresarios gallegos expresaron su interés en explorar la ejecución de un proyecto que permita la instalación en la República Dominicana de una Marina Mercante, con el objetivo de transportar materia prima manufacturada en el país, el transporte de productos agrícolas hacia todas las islas del Caribe, lo que, dijeron, permitirá dinamizar las actividades productivas y comerciales en toda la cuenca del Caribe.

Acompañaron a Alburquerque el ministro de Industria y Comercio, Manuel García Arévalo; el viceministro de Energía, José del Castillo, el cónsul dominicano en Galicia, Vicente Pérez, y el asesor del Presidente para los Pueblos Autónomos, Félix Martínez.
__________________________________________________________________________




Isofotón proyecta convertir República Dominicana en su base en Latinoamérica (http://www.energias-renovables.com/energias/renovables/index/pag/fotovoltaica/colleft//colright/fotovoltaica/tip/articulo/pagid/16508/botid/21/)

http://www.otromundoesposible.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/planta-fotovoltaica.jpg
http://www.energias-renovables.com/ficheroenergias/fotos/fotovoltaica/ampliada/i/isofoton_trabajadores.jpg


Tuesday, 26 July 2011
La multinacional malagueña mantiene negociaciones con el gobierno de la República Dominicana para la construcción de una central solar FV de 50 MW y una planta de ensambaje de módulos FV. Sus planes son convertir la isla caribeña en su base de operaciones en Latinoamérica.


Las conversaciones con el gobierno de República Dominicana, que ha proyectado este huerto solar (sería el mayor de Latinoamérica) están ya muy avanzadas, según publican hoy diversos diarios malagueños, dando cuenta de la visita que realizaron ayer los ministros de Industria y Energía de dicho país, acompañados de una corte de altos cargos, a la fábrica de paneles solares de Isofotón en Málaga.

El desarrollo de esta instalación solar será la primera actuación de envergadura del gobierno dominicano en el ámbito fotovoltaico y requerirá una inversion de unos 200 millones de dólares (140 millones de euros). A esta instalación podría sumarse la construcción de una planta de ensamblaje de módulos fotovoltaicos en el país, similar a la que Isofotón va a construir en Estados Unidos. La inversión necesaria para construirla y equiparla será de entre 30 y 36 millones de euros.

Esta fábrica se encargaría de ensamblar las células que se producen en Málaga con el fin de facilitar la logística exportadora, ya que los módulos ya montados son más difíciles y costosos de transportar. Los planes de Isofotón son convertir República Dominicana, donde ya tiene delegación commercial, en su base de operaciones para expandirse por toda Sudamérica. La empresa ya está acometiendo proyectos en México, Perú y Colombia, países donde observa grandes oportunidades de crecimiento, al igual que en Brasil

Reglamento sísmico ya está en vigor (http://www.listindiario.com/economia-and-negocios/2011/8/4/198489/Entra-en-vigor-normativa-sismica)
ESTABLECE LOS REQUERIMIENTOS MÍNIMOS QUE SE DEBEN CUMPLIR EN EL ANÁLISIS SÍSMICO DE TODAS LAS ESTRUCTURAS EN EL PAÍS


Jairon Severino
jairon.severino@listindiario.com
Santo Domingo

http://images3.listindiario.com/image/article/297/460x390/0/7FF5F571-EC00-4366-9675-48C1C5FEE4B2.jpeg
http://images3.listindiario.com/image/article/297/460x390/0/6C918004-3454-4F5E-8BE7-ECF81AC78459.jpeg


El Reglamento para el Análisis y Diseño Sísmico de Estructuras, puesto en ejecución mediante el decreto 201, del 24 de marzo de 2011, llegó para poner las cuentas claras en la ingeniería y diseño de edificaciones en República Dominicana. Su publicación y aplicación ha puesto de manifiesto debilidades en muchas estructuras que albergan un gran número de personas, tales como torres de apartamentos, hoteles, plazas, viviendas, obras de comunicaciones y otras.

Literalmente se ha armado un “corre-corre” entre los arquitectos e ingenieros que ejecutan proyectos que por sus características requieren de un diseño acorde con la nueva disposición o normativa. La reglamentación manda a realizar readecuaciones en los proyectos en ejecución y mejoras en los edificios en utilización.

La falta de supervisión, que ha sido una de las quejas más socorridas por líderes del sector construcción que hacen opinión pública, está entre las principales debilidades que acarrean las obras de infraestructura.

En su artículo 1, el reglamento señala que su objetivo es establecer los requerimientos mínimos que se deberán cumplir en el análisis sísmico de todas las estructuras que se erijan en el territorio nacional, para resistir los efectos de movimientos telúricos, de tal forma que su estructura se mantenga estable, garantizando la seguridad humana.

Editorial
“En el aspecto de las normas sísmicas hay interrogantes pertinentes: ¿Qué pasará con las edificaciones que ya existen y que no cumplen con las nuevas reglas? O ¿qué medidas se adoptarán para que aquellas construcciones en curso, pero no terminadas, se ajusten en lo posible a los diseños aprobados como antisísmicos?”, cuestionó LISTÍN DIARIO en su editorial del 13 de julio pasado.

La pregunta tiene algunas respuestas. Vienen del Colegio Dominicano de Arquitectos, Ingenieros y Agrimensores (Codia), de la Cámara Dominicana de Aseguradores y Reaseguradores (Cadoar), de la Asociación de Constructores y Promotores de Viviendas (Acoprovi) y de la Cámara Dominicana de la Construcción (Cadocon). Todas coinciden en que será necesario aplicar readecuaciones o ajustes para cumplir con la nueva reglamentación.

El exministro de Obras Públicas, Rafael Corominas Pepín, en declaraciones recientes dadas a los medios de comunicación, también lo afirma y teme por las torres cuyos parqueos están en el primer nivel.

El presidente del Codia, Domingo Mateo, y el vicepresidente de Cadocon, Cristian Maluf, aseguran que República Dominicana cuenta con un reglamento antisísmico moderno, actualizado y que responde a los requerimientos de seguridad que demanda el mercado, colocando al país un lugar de primer orden en la región.

Isofotón abrirá una fábrica de paneles solares en República Dominicana (http://http://www.amodominicana.com/?p=8160)

http://www.technologyreview.es/files/58517/nanosolar_x600.jpg
http://www.sustentator.com/blog/images/planta-solar-arnedo.jpg

La compañía fotovoltaica se propone fijar en el país caribeño su base de operaciones para expandirse por toda Latinoamérica


200 millones de dólares (140 millones de euros) requerirá la instalación de la planta de energía fotovoltaica que proyecta el Gobierno dominicano.

Isofotón está en negociaciones para convertirse en la empresa que levante la mayor instalación de energía fotovoltaica de Latinoamérica. Las conversaciones con el gobierno de República Dominicana, que ha proyectado este huerto solar de 50 megawatios (MW), están ya muy avanzadas; prueba de ello es la visita que realizaron ayer los ministros de Industria y Energía de dicho país, acompañados de una corte de altos cargos, a la fábrica de paneles solares del PTA. La actuación podría ir acompañada de la construcción de una planta de ensamblaje de módulos fotovoltaicos en la isla caribeña, según los planes que baraja la compañía malagueña.
«Hemos quedado muy impresionados con la tecnología punta que hemos visto aquí y pensamos que podemos aprovecharla para dar un empujón a las energías renovables en nuestro país», apuntó el ministro de Industria y Comercio dominicano, Manuel García Arévalo, tras la visita a las instalaciones de Isofotón. El huerto solar que proyecta su gobierno será la primera actuación de envergadura que acometa el país caribeño en el ámbito fotovoltaico y requerirá la inversión de aproximadamente 200 millones de dólares (unos 140 millones de euros). La fecha prevista para su puesta en funcionamiento es a finales de este año.
Pero los planes de Isofotón en República Dominicana -donde cuenta ya con una delegación comercial- no se quedan en este gigantesco huerto solar que aspira a equipar con sus paneles. El presidente de la compañía malagueña, Ángel Luis Serrano, avanzó ayer que contempla la instalación en dicho país de una planta de ensamblaje de módulos fotovoltaicos similar a la que va a construir en Estados Unidos. La inversión necesaria para construirla y equiparla con maquinaria será de entre 30 y 36 millones de euros.

Punta de lanza

Esta fábrica dará trabajo a más de 200 personas y se encargará de ensamblar las células que se producen en Málaga con el fin de facilitar la logística exportadora, ya que los módulos ya montados son más difíciles y costosos de transportar, sobre todo con un océano de por medio. Y es que lo que planea Isofotón es convertir República Dominicana en su base de operaciones para expandirse por toda Sudamérica. «Ya estamos acometiendo proyectos en México, Perú y Colombia, países donde observamos grandes oportunidades de crecimiento, al igual que en Brasil», apuntó ayer Serrano.
El ministro de Industria dominicano se mostró «satisfecho» ante la posibilidad de que su país «se convierta en la plataforma de lanzamiento de Isofotón en Sudamérica». La situación estratégica del país caribeño, además de las privilegiadas relaciones comerciales que le otorga el Tratado de Libre Comercio, están detrás de la elección de Isofotón, a la que ayudan también los planes de inversión en energías renovables que mantiene su gobierno.

1. Queen of Netherlands backs statement by Fernandez
The Fernandez Presidency reports that Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands has echoed the concerns that President Leonel Fernandez has expressed in international forums on the increases in commodities and food products on international markets.

The Presidency reports that the secretary general of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands E. Kronenburg sent a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic establishing that the position taken by President Fernandez is coherent with similar recommendations made on different international forums. The letter mentions the publications by the World Bank and other international G20 organizations on the volatility of international food products and those expressed by world leaders like the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI.

www.presidencia.gob.do/app/do_2011/article.aspx?id=14043

2. RD$136 billion in pension funds
Pension funds increased by 13% in the first semester of this year, as reported by the Superintendence of Pensions (Sipen). As of 30 June, the funds in the pension plans reached RD$136.05 billion, an increase of RD$15.7 billion over the 31 December level. Some 2,464,711 people contribute to the fund. This includes 46% under the age of 35, 48% aged 35-59 and 6% over the age of 60. Of the total, 57% are men and 43% are women.

As reported, of the total, 64.3% earn up to two minimum wages (approx RD$15,000), 31.4% earn up to RD$45,000 and 8.6% make more than RD$45,000.

3. All talk, no action on small business
Ignacio Mendez, president of the Federation of Industrial Associations, complains that everyone talks about small business, but little has been actually done to maximize their potential as job-creating entities. He says all has just been talk and the country lacks a concrete plan for developing small business. "Small business has a law, but the ruling for its application has not been passed. The much-touted guarantee funds are not a reality and the farm insurance has not been developed as it should," said Mendez, as reported in El Caribe. He said there are big limitations imposed by the red tape involved in formalizing business and the harsh taxation schemes that affect small business. "To move from informality to formality is a big challenge for the country," said Mendez.

He said that there is a duplication of roles in government when it comes to small business, and he said the government entity Promipyme is an institution permeated by political patronage. "We need to develop policies for government procurement, access to credit, monetary decisions to stimulate and make available loans to small business," said Mendez in a written statement.

4. Guillermo Moreno is candidate for 2012
On Sunday, 7 August former district attorney Guillermo Moreno was proclaimed presidential candidate for the Alianza Pais (Country Alliance) minority political party in the 20 May 2012 presidential election. During the ceremony, he called for a national unity government to rid the DR of those responsible for the crisis currently affecting the nation.

Moreno said that the Dominican state had failed, and that all the problems were now greater and deeper rooted. As reported in Listin Diario, Moreno said Dominican institutions did not work and there is a corruption pandemic.

"Most government officials and representatives peddle influences, and participate in state investment and procurement operations".

As reported in Hoy, he commented that according to government statistics there were 1,063 homicides in the first five months of the year, indicative that citizen safety is on the decline.

Moreno also described the pace of borrowing by the government as irresponsible. He said the public debt is now at US$22.5 billion. This is up from US$6.3 billion at the start of the Fernandez administration in 2004. He criticized the way that the government has taken on debt to compensate for the contradictions in its economic model.

Moreno promised a government based on honesty, democracy, justice, sovereignty, productivity and sustainability.

He said that in order to move ahead the convergence of all sectors n political and social n that identify with a change of course and are willing to achieve this would be necessary. He said his political movement is at the service of this needed change.

He said the government needed to decide whether to continue under the traditional political parties that promote themselves as a solution to the same problems they have created.

He stressed the government complicity manifest in the Quirino, Paya, Torre Atiemar and Figueroa Agosto drug trafficking cases, as reported in Hoy.

As reported in Listin Diario, he said that drug trafficking is now a leading employer of young people, a result of the unequal distribution of wealth and social inequality. He said that the governments have handed over our sovereignty to the International Monetary Fund and other international organizations that decide and direct our economy. He criticized the high percentage of foreign labor in farming that has displaced Dominicans, and the fact that we have lost our food sovereignty and are ever-increasingly dependent on imports, many of which could be produced locally.

As reported in acento.com.do, Moreno criticized senators for receiving a minimum of RD$900,000 a month, and deputies RD$600,000 of the so-called "barrilito" fund of taxpayer money that they use to promote political patronage. The political candidate said that widespread corruption corrodes the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches under a blanket of impunity. "Political patronage is responsible for a situation where for a single government role there are up to nine different government institutions that are inefficient. Political patronage is the reason that there are more than 400 vice ministers, most without specific roles, sucking in our taxes as payment for political favors," he said, as reported in acento.com.do

Moreno blamed political patronage for splitting up a 48,000km2 country into 32 provinces, 155 municipalities and 299 municipal districts. He said for every 1,000 kilometers there are on average three municipalities and six district municipalities, and there are another 43 bills in Congress that seek to add new municipalities and district municipalities.

5. More on Euclides Gutierrez
On her Saturday evening TV show, investigative journalist Nuria Piera revealed that the Superintendent of Insurance, 73-year old Euclides Gutierrez Felix has two luxurious mansions he has not declared. She mentioned the farm in Los Mogotes, an area where several other government officials have vacation homes.

As reported in acento.com.do, on her 6 August TV program, Piera said that Gutierrez Feliz uses employees paid by the Superintendence at his personal properties.

One of the properties is located in Jarabacoa at an estimated value of RD$15 million.

In an earlier show, Piera reported that Gutierrez was in arrears paying his electricity bill, with the compliance of the power distribution company. Following the program, a payment agreement was reportedly reached for Gutierrez to pay his bill. Piera complained that citizens in the DR have their power cut off for one day of arrears, compared to the complacent extension granted to the high-ranking PLD party politician and government official.

Piera pointed out that in his 2008 assets statement, he declared assets of RD$154 million.

6. Export strategy lacking
The president of Dominican Republic Industries Association (AIRD) Ligia Bonetti says that the political will to back Dominican companies in their export efforts does not appear to exist. She said the government's intention seems to be to keep the obligation to pay ITBIS on the import of raw materials and machinery, in violation of the original purpose of Law 392-07 that created Proindustria, an entity for stimulating production for export.

She says the suspension of the law's implementation has cost industries RD$1 billion in ITBIS paid in advance in Customs, which is decapitalizing industries.

"When we opposed the suspension of Law 392-07 we warned that the measure would have no fiscal effect in revenue collections because what Customs retains is practically the same as what the DGII charges. But it has caused the decapitalizing of exporter industries and goods producers," she said, as reported in acento.com.do

Bonetti called for the government to meet its obligation to end the tax provision as of 1 January 2012 and not extend it.

7. Experts discuss drug trafficking "go fast" boats
The Expert Group on Maritime Narco-Trafficking of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission is in Santo Domingo to discuss recommendations on "go fast" boats, the high-powered speed craft that drug traffickers often use in the Caribbean and Pacific to outrun police and coast guards.

The group is also focusing on policy guidelines on the control of trafficking over lake and river systems, and standardization of data collection on seizures and other outcomes stemming from counterdrug operations.

The event is chaired by the government of the Dominican Republic in collaboration with the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), a specialized department of the Organization of American States.

As reported in Diario Libre, speaking yesterday during the opening of the meeting, chief of the Dominican Navy, Vice Admiral Nicolas Cabrera Arias said that traffickers are tending to prefer maritime transport. He said the country needs to purchase speedboats, radars and new technology to combat trafficking. Anibal Henriquez, ambassador to Cicad, said that maritime traffic now demands more responsibility from Customs and maritime interdiction entities. He said that traffickers constantly modify their tactics to make prosecution increasingly difficult.

National Drugs Council president Mabel Feliz says that the Caribbean region is porous and easily vulnerable to trafficking.

The experts met in Santo Domingo from 1-4 August to study the feasibility of adapting drug treatment courts as an alternative to incarceration for drug-dependent offenders. A workshop examined the institutional and legal implications of applying this model, as well as for public health policy and services. Specialists from Chile, Canada, Costa Rica, Colombia, Spain and the United States shared their experiences.

8. Unesco protests journalist murder
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is expressing concern over the slaying of a print and television journalist in the Domincian Republic who had spoken out against drug trafficking. 59-year old Jose Agustin Silvestre was murdered in La Romana last Tuesday, a few hours after his reported abduction by four men. He produced La Voz de la Verdad (The Voice of Truth) on the La Romana TV station Cana TV and published a print publication with the same name. The Inter-American Press Association has also protested the murder. Silvestre had made controversial claims about drug trafficking in La Romana in his magazine and on his television program. He had also been critical of the La Romana prosecution, and the La Romana prosecutor sued him for defamation. The most recent publication presented proof of nepotism on the part of the La Romana prosecutor, Jose Polanco.

UNESCO director general Irina Bokova called for a full investigation into the case.

Silvestre was the father of 11 children, including a 4-month old baby.

The Police say they have identified the three men who kidnapped Silvestre and another 10 are under investigation.

9. The story of Maria Callas
Singer Cecilia Garcia will be Maria Callas in Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances of Master Class by Terence McNally at the Sala Ravelo of the National Theater. She will share starring roles with Giovanny Cruz (The Setmaker) and Dante Cucurullo (the pianist). Others in the cast are Dolly Garcia as Sharon Graham, Antonia Chabebe as Sophia de Palma and Nelson Veras and Pedro Pablo Reyes as Anthony Candoloro.

The performance will be staged with the backing of the US Embassy in September.

Directed by Carlos Espinal, the scenery is by Fidel Lopez, lighting by Lilyanna Diaz and make-up by Monika Mendoza. 9, 10, 11, 17, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 September. Tickets: RD$500.

http://ceciliagarciaesmariacallas.webs.com

10. Mod/a/rte is more than fashion
Carlos Frank has convened a collective of 13 young artists to present Mod/a/rte at the National Gallery at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Santo Domingo, an avant-garde fusion of installation art and fashion. The group seeks to present fashion as pure creative art, not just clothing. 12 dresses tell their stories to an oracle. Photography complements each exhibit. Showing 5-28 August at the Salon de la Rotonda, Galeria Nacional de Bellas Artes. Av. Independencia at the intersection with Av. Maximo Gomez. The exhibition is open 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and 12 noon to 6pm on weekends. Free admission.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

1. New Museum of the Cathedral
President Leonel Fernandez yesterday attended the formal inaugural of the Santo Domingo Cathedral Museum, located at Isabel la Catolica street, across from the Cathedral. The museum is next door to the Archbishop's offices. Also attending were First Lady Margarita Cedeno and Vice President Rafael Alburquerque.

Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez gave the inaugural address. The occasion marked the celebrating of the 500 years of the Santo Domingo Archdiocese.

Works for the museum, the newest tourist attraction in the city, had begun in 1993.

The collection includes the baptism certificate of nation's forefather Juan Pablo Duarte (1813), and the chalice used when Father Billini said mass in 1861, and Monsignor Nouel's chair. There are crosses dating back to colonial times, portraits of bishops, statues and valuable Catholic religion relics, period furniture, statues of angels, antique candles, many dating back to 1511.

There is also work of contemporary religious art by master Antonio Prats Ventos, Ramiro Matos, Ernst Mariana Haupt Stummer and stained glass windows by Jose Rincon Mora. There is a picture of the Virgin de la Altagracia without mantle or crown from the 17th century. Silver treasures on exhibit include over 200 pieces of high quality and ecclesiastical importance.

Works were coordinated by architect Eugenio Perez Montas. Curator Myrna Guerrero led the team (Maria Ugarte, Montserrat Prats, Nora Perez, Jose Miura, Antonio Gonzalez, Angela Martinez) that catalogued the pieces that had been stored in tanks or offices for years, hidden from the general public.

The work was funded by the Office of Supervising Public Works of the Presidency (OISOE).

2. President Fernandez in the barrio
President Leonel Fernandez took time out to visit a Dominican slum yesterday. He visited the Gualey slum area yesterday where he spoke for 8 minutes, received a barrage of requests from barrio members, and listened to community leaders speeches of the pros on the governmental Barrio Seguro programs and problems of the community. Major issues in the community are crime, lack of adequate classrooms, reliable electricity and garbage collection, in addition to the rising cost of food.

Listin Diario highlights that garbage authorities made sure garbage was collected by Santo Domingo Municipality along the route the President would travel in his visit to the barrio where he received written petitions by residents in Gualey, La Zurza, Capotillo, Las Canitas, Los Guandules, Villas Agricolas, Espaillat, 24 April, Luperon, Guachupita, Simon Bolivar, Maria Auxiliadora, Villa Consuelo, Villa Juana, Villa Maria, San Carlos and Villa Francisca neighborhoods.

Fernandez promised to personally review the petitions and work with his officers to solve the problems.

"You will start to see me in person more often in these neighborhoods", he promised. He promised programs of micro-credit to help generate jobs, and that the Presidential Supervisory Office of Public Works would carry out patching and paving of barrio streets, and that there would be support for senior citizen programs.

"I know there are many needs and problems, as the Dominican Republic faces the global economic crisis," he said. "We have resisted, the economy has continued to grow, we continue stable, but I know that greater government involvement is required together with the neighborhoods to overcome the global economic crisis", he said.

The President said that the Office of Supervising Engineers of State Projects and the Ministry of Public Works would be active in the barrios to patch up the streets.

During the hour encounter at Barney Morgan street opposite the Politecnico Santa Ana, three community leaders extolled the work of the Barrio Seguro program of the Fernandez government, but exposed the difficulties of living in areas affected by deteriorated streets, lack of schools and environmental problems generated by streams, creeks and the overflowing waters from Ozama and Isabela rivers.

President Fernandez was accompanied by the Interior & Police Minister Ramon Fadul, Presidential Minister Cesar Pina Toribio, Public Works Minister Victor Diaz Rua, Sports Minister Felipe Payano, Attorney General Radhames Jimenez, director of Metropolitan Transport Authority Major General Jose Anibal Jiminian Sanz.

Following the speeches, the President walked on foot for about six corners and visited the Oscar Santana Cultural and Sports Center where he handed over sports gear. There he promised a government-built apartment for Panamerican karate gold medalist Gustavo Dionisio and to boxing trainer Manuel Sosa of the Club Billy Thompson.

3. CAASD rolls back tariff increase
The Water and Sewer Corporation of Santo Domingo (CAASD) announced that it was revoking the announced increase in the cost of water that would have been about 50% more than it is now. The Listin Diario says that Freddy Perez, the director of the CAASD, made the announcement after receiving a phone call from President Fernandez who explained that this was not the time to increase the water bills in Santo Domingo. The increases had been planned to compensate for just 13% of the water consumers in Santo Domingo paying for their water usage. Perez said that at the present time the CAASD loses RD$13.79 for every cubic meter of water it provided to the city. He also reiterated the fact that some 60% of the water that goes into the local aqueducts is lost or wasted.

4. Rains increase hydroelectric production
Tropical Storm Emily's consistent rains that drenched the country last week have positively impacted energy production at the country's hydro-electric generating plants, now reaching 320 megawatts. This, in turn, contributed to lowering the operational costs of the system and maintaining stability within the national electricity system according to the administrator of the Dominican Hydro-Electric Company (EGEHID), Victor Ventura.

Hoy newspaper reports that the Hydro-Electric Company worked with the Committee of Dams and Reservoirs to operate the main hydro-electric generators during peak hours, and, at the same time, they applied the Contingency Plan that had been prepared for severe atmospheric conditions. The plan called for placing expert personnel at the key stations at each hydro-electric generation facility to maintain constant watch on water gates, tunnels and other sections of the system.

5. Many aspire to high courts
The National Council of the Magistracy, convened by President Leonel Fernandez to begin sessions on 11 August to choose judges for the leading courts of the nation, says that it has received 112 files of aspirants to the Supreme Court of Justice (58), the Higher Electoral Court (22) and the Constitutional Court (18).

Supreme Court of Justice president, Jorge Subero Isa said the preference is to choose among the justices of the nation's courts of appeals. Women will be given preference, as reported in Listin Diario. He expressed his preference that the judges chosen for the Supreme Court of Justice be career judges.

The Foundation for Justice and Institutionality (Finjus) says that while the selection has a political bias it should be public and transparent.

The Finjus and the UASD are organizing debates regarding the judicial system and other issues of national interest. The first conversation will be "Following the Integration of the High Courts," which is set for 25 August. Moreover, the two entities have programmed a monthly "The Round Table of Judicial Reflection." The first will focus on the "Challenges of the Constitutional Tribunal," and will take place during the first week of October.

6. Work to fix Duquesa garbage dump road
Brigades from the Ministry of Public Works, the municipalities of Greater Santo Domingo, the Water and Sewer Corporation of Santo Domingo (CAASD) and companies that work in the Duquesa land fill increased the pace of work yesterday to restore the damaged stretch of the muddy road that leads to the refuse dump and that has been impacted by recent rains.

The repair work caused many of the dump trucks and other transporters of refuse to remain outside the area during the day, even when they were filled up, since it was practically impossible to get through.

Jose Miguel Martinez, the director of Sanitation for the National District city government, said a truck would spend around seven hours in queue to reach the land fill, that normally receives 3,700 tons of garbage a day n primarily 1,000 tons from East Santo Domingo, and 2,000 tons from the National District, all carried in around 400 vehicles.

Martinez said that the participation of the Ministry of Public Works with its trucks and heavy equipment will expedite improving the poor state of the road.

This assistance came as a response to the Commonwealth of Greater Santo Domingo that called for help from the government to restore the road. The petition was also made some time ago by the drivers that work for the companies that transfer the refuse to Duquesa, and who said they had been having health problems due to the abrupt movement of the vehicles as they fall into the holes in the road. Moreover, the mud that appears each time it rains makes a two kilometer stretch of the road impassable.

Nonetheless, Martinez explained to Diario Libre reporters that it will not be possible to pave the road until the "dry season" January to March 2012, when the rains stop. The so-called "collapse" of the road that gives access to the landfill has occurred over the last 10 days. Martinez said that the day before yesterday there were more than a dozen trucks with flat tires.

The reconstruction work, called "Operation Guaranteed Passage" were halted by the appearance of a water pipe that caused a big leak which required the presence of technicians from the CAASD. Access to the landfill at Duquesa is possible by two roads, but the residents of the neighborhood called "Casabito" complained of the trucks and now just the one road is used.

7. Venezuelan mega investments
Venezuelan investment in the Dominican Republic is on average around US$200 to US$300 million a year, said Marco de la Rosa, president of the Association of Foreign Investment Companies (ASIEX), as reported in the Listin Diario. This is 10 to 15% of total foreign invesment in the country, estimated at US$2 billion a year, says De la Rosa.

He says Venezuelans are investing in finances, real estate, shopping centers (Blue Mall, Novo Centro, Sambil), and tourism investments such as those carried out by Grupo Cisneros in Miches (Tropicalia), and Grupo Cohen.

He said that the Venezuelans are choosing the country seeking judicial and political stability and economic growth. He mentioned the Venezuelans feel at home in the DR because of the similarities between both countries.

The Dominican-Venezuelan Chamber of Commerce (Cavedom) has organized an encounter of Venezuelan and Dominican businessmen for 31 October to 4 November with events organized in Santo Domingo and Santiago. A Venezuelan business mission will come to look into opportunities in free zones, construction, farming, cattle ranching and agribusiness, explained Rafael Zapata, president of Cavedom.

8. Oil prices plunge again
Dominicans are curious whether the Fernandez administration will drop fuel prices now that international prices of oil are dropping. Traditionally, fuel prices have gone when international prices have increased, despite local purchases being made from Venezuela, which has another price structure.

Newspapers report the price of oil has plunged further and is now at US$81.31, falling another US$5.57 since last Friday for September deliveries. The price decrease, taking oil to the lowest level since November 2010, came as a result of the reduction in the credit rating of United States debt that was done for the first time in history by a credit agency, Standard & Poor's. The 6.41% drop in prices is for future contracts due in September. The new prices reflect a perception that demand for oil will decline.

9. Latest Wikileaks re Danilo and Leonel
The latest Wikileaks released by the news group SIN, focuses on what is described as the distance that Danilo Medina kept with President Leonel Fernandez. The diplomatic cable dated 25 August 2008 and filed by Ambassador Robert Fannin, released yesterday by Grupo SIN media, mentions that Medina is the second leading figure in the PLD after President Fernandez, as well as the strategist behind the organization's growth from a third place party in 1980 to a party that holds the presidency and controls both houses of Congress in 2006.

On constitutional reform, there are comments on the meeting of the PLD Political Committee called on 11 August in order to push for a quick approval of the amendments that Fernandez had suggested. One of these amendments was to limit a President to two consecutive terms but would allow the Chief of State to seek the nomination once again in four years. Medina said he voted against the proposal even though this would allow him to seek re-election in 2012, because he is against re-election by principle.

The cable contains comments by Medina who criticized the 16 August 2008 inauguration speech by Fernandez, since it promised more public works projects than the government had money to pay for and the government would simply go into more debt to finance these. Medina was also critical of what he considers the excessive defense of the peso, which has caused interests rates to rise, as well as of Finance Minister Bengoa, who he described as a "yes man."

Medina praised the justice system for the convictions obtained in the BanInter scandal.

He also touched on drug traffickers and politicians, the massacre at Paya in Bani and the fact that the fight against corruption has to begin inside the parties. Fannin reports that in the conversation Medina said that corruption was a serious problem in political parties. He said that many politicians accept campaign contributions from narcotics traffickers. These types of contributions range, according to Medina, from officials who do not know (or fail to investigate whether) they are receiving narco money, to those who proactively approach narcos in their districts to essentially shake them down. Regarding the recent drug-related multiple murder case in Bani, Medina praised Senator Wilton Guerrero (PLD-Peravia), who has made allegations of official complicity in the drug trade in that area.

The commentary by the diplomatic officer says that while Medina has always kept criticism of Fernandez out of the media, during this closed-door meeting it was evident that he Medina has always kept his criticism of

Fernandez out of the press; however, this meeting showed that behind closed doors he has the dagger out for the President.

With Fernandez likely to be barred from running again in 2012, Fannin forecast in 2008 that all indications were that Medina would be the front-runner for the PLD nomination.

See the files in English at the end of the Spanish translation at http://www.noticiassin.com/2011/08/wikileaks-revela-criticas-de-danilo-medina-a-actuaciones-del-presidente-leonel-fernandez/

10. Jose Silvestre murder update
The Attorney General of the Republic and the National Police say they are on the trail of businessman Avelino Matias Castro (alias Daniel or Joaquin Espinal Almeyda) suspect of being the intellectual author of the death of communicator Jose Silvestre on 2 August. In the last edition of his publication "La Voz de la Verdad," Matias Castro was mentioned as responsible for the murder of businessman Ramon Antonio Herrera in La Romana.

National Police spokesman Maximo Baez Aybar said the Chief of the Police had spent the weekend in the East supervising the investigation.

The authorities said that in the case Angel Amed Manon Gutierrez has been arrested, and confessed his participation in the kidnapping and murder. Prosecutor Frank Soto said that they learned that the communicator had received money from drug traffickers in La Romana, as reported in El Dia. He said the Asset Laundering Unit of the Prosecutor General is investigating assets Matias held jointly with former baseball player Jose Rijo, who is said not to be responsible for the murder.

The Police confirmed Rijo's half brother Uldarico Diaz Cruz is under arrest. Uldarico Cruz, turned himself in to the Police where he underwent questioning for several hours.

Yesterday, talk show host Luis Eduardo (Huchi) Lora said that controversial Jose Silvestre served as a spokesman for Ramon Antonio del Rosario Puente (Tono Lena), who is sought in extradition for drug trafficking by the US government related to Puerto Rican Jose David Figueroa Agosto case. Lora stressed he would not consider this a freedom of the press case.

11. Low pressure wave but high temps
The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) announced the approach of a tropical wave that will interact with a low pressure trough over Jamaica and produce thunderstorms and wind gusts, mostly in the Northeast, the Southeast, Southwest, along the frontier, and in the Central Mountains. At the same time, temperatures will continue to be hot. The local forecasts call for rain showers with thunder and lightning in places such as La Altagracia, El Seibo, Hato Mayor, La Romana, San Pedro de Macoris, Monte Plata, Santiago, Monsignor Nouel, La Vega, Duarte, San Juan de la Maguana, Azua, Barahona, Elias Pina, Dajabon and Santiago Rodriguez.

12. Antonio Guadalupe at Casas Reales
One of the best Dominican painters of contemporary times, Antonio Guadalupe is exhibiting at the Museo de las Casas Reales halls. The exhibition continues through 15 August.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

1. New Museum of the Cathedral
President Leonel Fernandez yesterday attended the formal inaugural of the Santo Domingo Cathedral Museum, located at Isabel la Catolica street, across from the Cathedral. The museum is next door to the Archbishop's offices. Also attending were First Lady Margarita Cedeno and Vice President Rafael Alburquerque.

Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez gave the inaugural address. The occasion marked the celebrating of the 500 years of the Santo Domingo Archdiocese.

Works for the museum, the newest tourist attraction in the city, had begun in 1993.

The collection includes the baptism certificate of nation's forefather Juan Pablo Duarte (1813), and the chalice used when Father Billini said mass in 1861, and Monsignor Nouel's chair. There are crosses dating back to colonial times, portraits of bishops, statues and valuable Catholic religion relics, period furniture, statues of angels, antique candles, many dating back to 1511.

There is also work of contemporary religious art by master Antonio Prats Ventos, Ramiro Matos, Ernst Mariana Haupt Stummer and stained glass windows by Jose Rincon Mora. There is a picture of the Virgin de la Altagracia without mantle or crown from the 17th century. Silver treasures on exhibit include over 200 pieces of high quality and ecclesiastical importance.

Works were coordinated by architect Eugenio Perez Montas. Curator Myrna Guerrero led the team (Maria Ugarte, Montserrat Prats, Nora Perez, Jose Miura, Antonio Gonzalez, Angela Martinez) that catalogued the pieces that had been stored in tanks or offices for years, hidden from the general public.

The work was funded by the Office of Supervising Public Works of the Presidency (OISOE).

2. President Fernandez in the barrio
President Leonel Fernandez took time out to visit a Dominican slum yesterday. He visited the Gualey slum area yesterday where he spoke for 8 minutes, received a barrage of requests from barrio members, and listened to community leaders speeches of the pros on the governmental Barrio Seguro programs and problems of the community. Major issues in the community are crime, lack of adequate classrooms, reliable electricity and garbage collection, in addition to the rising cost of food.

Listin Diario highlights that garbage authorities made sure garbage was collected by Santo Domingo Municipality along the route the President would travel in his visit to the barrio where he received written petitions by residents in Gualey, La Zurza, Capotillo, Las Canitas, Los Guandules, Villas Agricolas, Espaillat, 24 April, Luperon, Guachupita, Simon Bolivar, Maria Auxiliadora, Villa Consuelo, Villa Juana, Villa Maria, San Carlos and Villa Francisca neighborhoods.

Fernandez promised to personally review the petitions and work with his officers to solve the problems.

"You will start to see me in person more often in these neighborhoods", he promised. He promised programs of micro-credit to help generate jobs, and that the Presidential Supervisory Office of Public Works would carry out patching and paving of barrio streets, and that there would be support for senior citizen programs.

"I know there are many needs and problems, as the Dominican Republic faces the global economic crisis," he said. "We have resisted, the economy has continued to grow, we continue stable, but I know that greater government involvement is required together with the neighborhoods to overcome the global economic crisis", he said.

The President said that the Office of Supervising Engineers of State Projects and the Ministry of Public Works would be active in the barrios to patch up the streets.

During the hour encounter at Barney Morgan street opposite the Politecnico Santa Ana, three community leaders extolled the work of the Barrio Seguro program of the Fernandez government, but exposed the difficulties of living in areas affected by deteriorated streets, lack of schools and environmental problems generated by streams, creeks and the overflowing waters from Ozama and Isabela rivers.

President Fernandez was accompanied by the Interior & Police Minister Ramon Fadul, Presidential Minister Cesar Pina Toribio, Public Works Minister Victor Diaz Rua, Sports Minister Felipe Payano, Attorney General Radhames Jimenez, director of Metropolitan Transport Authority Major General Jose Anibal Jiminian Sanz.

Following the speeches, the President walked on foot for about six corners and visited the Oscar Santana Cultural and Sports Center where he handed over sports gear. There he promised a government-built apartment for Panamerican karate gold medalist Gustavo Dionisio and to boxing trainer Manuel Sosa of the Club Billy Thompson.

3. CAASD rolls back tariff increase
The Water and Sewer Corporation of Santo Domingo (CAASD) announced that it was revoking the announced increase in the cost of water that would have been about 50% more than it is now. The Listin Diario says that Freddy Perez, the director of the CAASD, made the announcement after receiving a phone call from President Fernandez who explained that this was not the time to increase the water bills in Santo Domingo. The increases had been planned to compensate for just 13% of the water consumers in Santo Domingo paying for their water usage. Perez said that at the present time the CAASD loses RD$13.79 for every cubic meter of water it provided to the city. He also reiterated the fact that some 60% of the water that goes into the local aqueducts is lost or wasted.

4. Rains increase hydroelectric production
Tropical Storm Emily's consistent rains that drenched the country last week have positively impacted energy production at the country's hydro-electric generating plants, now reaching 320 megawatts. This, in turn, contributed to lowering the operational costs of the system and maintaining stability within the national electricity system according to the administrator of the Dominican Hydro-Electric Company (EGEHID), Victor Ventura.

Hoy newspaper reports that the Hydro-Electric Company worked with the Committee of Dams and Reservoirs to operate the main hydro-electric generators during peak hours, and, at the same time, they applied the Contingency Plan that had been prepared for severe atmospheric conditions. The plan called for placing expert personnel at the key stations at each hydro-electric generation facility to maintain constant watch on water gates, tunnels and other sections of the system.

5. Many aspire to high courts
The National Council of the Magistracy, convened by President Leonel Fernandez to begin sessions on 11 August to choose judges for the leading courts of the nation, says that it has received 112 files of aspirants to the Supreme Court of Justice (58), the Higher Electoral Court (22) and the Constitutional Court (18).

Supreme Court of Justice president, Jorge Subero Isa said the preference is to choose among the justices of the nation's courts of appeals. Women will be given preference, as reported in Listin Diario. He expressed his preference that the judges chosen for the Supreme Court of Justice be career judges.

The Foundation for Justice and Institutionality (Finjus) says that while the selection has a political bias it should be public and transparent.

The Finjus and the UASD are organizing debates regarding the judicial system and other issues of national interest. The first conversation will be "Following the Integration of the High Courts," which is set for 25 August. Moreover, the two entities have programmed a monthly "The Round Table of Judicial Reflection." The first will focus on the "Challenges of the Constitutional Tribunal," and will take place during the first week of October.

6. Work to fix Duquesa garbage dump road
Brigades from the Ministry of Public Works, the municipalities of Greater Santo Domingo, the Water and Sewer Corporation of Santo Domingo (CAASD) and companies that work in the Duquesa land fill increased the pace of work yesterday to restore the damaged stretch of the muddy road that leads to the refuse dump and that has been impacted by recent rains.

The repair work caused many of the dump trucks and other transporters of refuse to remain outside the area during the day, even when they were filled up, since it was practically impossible to get through.

Jose Miguel Martinez, the director of Sanitation for the National District city government, said a truck would spend around seven hours in queue to reach the land fill, that normally receives 3,700 tons of garbage a day n primarily 1,000 tons from East Santo Domingo, and 2,000 tons from the National District, all carried in around 400 vehicles.

Martinez said that the participation of the Ministry of Public Works with its trucks and heavy equipment will expedite improving the poor state of the road.

This assistance came as a response to the Commonwealth of Greater Santo Domingo that called for help from the government to restore the road. The petition was also made some time ago by the drivers that work for the companies that transfer the refuse to Duquesa, and who said they had been having health problems due to the abrupt movement of the vehicles as they fall into the holes in the road. Moreover, the mud that appears each time it rains makes a two kilometer stretch of the road impassable.

Nonetheless, Martinez explained to Diario Libre reporters that it will not be possible to pave the road until the "dry season" January to March 2012, when the rains stop. The so-called "collapse" of the road that gives access to the landfill has occurred over the last 10 days. Martinez said that the day before yesterday there were more than a dozen trucks with flat tires.

The reconstruction work, called "Operation Guaranteed Passage" were halted by the appearance of a water pipe that caused a big leak which required the presence of technicians from the CAASD. Access to the landfill at Duquesa is possible by two roads, but the residents of the neighborhood called "Casabito" complained of the trucks and now just the one road is used.

7. Venezuelan mega investments
Venezuelan investment in the Dominican Republic is on average around US$200 to US$300 million a year, said Marco de la Rosa, president of the Association of Foreign Investment Companies (ASIEX), as reported in the Listin Diario. This is 10 to 15% of total foreign invesment in the country, estimated at US$2 billion a year, says De la Rosa.

He says Venezuelans are investing in finances, real estate, shopping centers (Blue Mall, Novo Centro, Sambil), and tourism investments such as those carried out by Grupo Cisneros in Miches (Tropicalia), and Grupo Cohen.

He said that the Venezuelans are choosing the country seeking judicial and political stability and economic growth. He mentioned the Venezuelans feel at home in the DR because of the similarities between both countries.

The Dominican-Venezuelan Chamber of Commerce (Cavedom) has organized an encounter of Venezuelan and Dominican businessmen for 31 October to 4 November with events organized in Santo Domingo and Santiago. A Venezuelan business mission will come to look into opportunities in free zones, construction, farming, cattle ranching and agribusiness, explained Rafael Zapata, president of Cavedom.

8. Oil prices plunge again
Dominicans are curious whether the Fernandez administration will drop fuel prices now that international prices of oil are dropping. Traditionally, fuel prices have gone when international prices have increased, despite local purchases being made from Venezuela, which has another price structure.

Newspapers report the price of oil has plunged further and is now at US$81.31, falling another US$5.57 since last Friday for September deliveries. The price decrease, taking oil to the lowest level since November 2010, came as a result of the reduction in the credit rating of United States debt that was done for the first time in history by a credit agency, Standard & Poor's. The 6.41% drop in prices is for future contracts due in September. The new prices reflect a perception that demand for oil will decline.

9. Latest Wikileaks re Danilo and Leonel
The latest Wikileaks released by the news group SIN, focuses on what is described as the distance that Danilo Medina kept with President Leonel Fernandez. The diplomatic cable dated 25 August 2008 and filed by Ambassador Robert Fannin, released yesterday by Grupo SIN media, mentions that Medina is the second leading figure in the PLD after President Fernandez, as well as the strategist behind the organization's growth from a third place party in 1980 to a party that holds the presidency and controls both houses of Congress in 2006.

On constitutional reform, there are comments on the meeting of the PLD Political Committee called on 11 August in order to push for a quick approval of the amendments that Fernandez had suggested. One of these amendments was to limit a President to two consecutive terms but would allow the Chief of State to seek the nomination once again in four years. Medina said he voted against the proposal even though this would allow him to seek re-election in 2012, because he is against re-election by principle.

The cable contains comments by Medina who criticized the 16 August 2008 inauguration speech by Fernandez, since it promised more public works projects than the government had money to pay for and the government would simply go into more debt to finance these. Medina was also critical of what he considers the excessive defense of the peso, which has caused interests rates to rise, as well as of Finance Minister Bengoa, who he described as a "yes man."

Medina praised the justice system for the convictions obtained in the BanInter scandal.

He also touched on drug traffickers and politicians, the massacre at Paya in Bani and the fact that the fight against corruption has to begin inside the parties. Fannin reports that in the conversation Medina said that corruption was a serious problem in political parties. He said that many politicians accept campaign contributions from narcotics traffickers. These types of contributions range, according to Medina, from officials who do not know (or fail to investigate whether) they are receiving narco money, to those who proactively approach narcos in their districts to essentially shake them down. Regarding the recent drug-related multiple murder case in Bani, Medina praised Senator Wilton Guerrero (PLD-Peravia), who has made allegations of official complicity in the drug trade in that area.

The commentary by the diplomatic officer says that while Medina has always kept criticism of Fernandez out of the media, during this closed-door meeting it was evident that he Medina has always kept his criticism of

Fernandez out of the press; however, this meeting showed that behind closed doors he has the dagger out for the President.

With Fernandez likely to be barred from running again in 2012, Fannin forecast in 2008 that all indications were that Medina would be the front-runner for the PLD nomination.

See the files in English at the end of the Spanish translation at http://www.noticiassin.com/2011/08/wikileaks-revela-criticas-de-danilo-medina-a-actuaciones-del-presidente-leonel-fernandez/

10. Jose Silvestre murder update
The Attorney General of the Republic and the National Police say they are on the trail of businessman Avelino Matias Castro (alias Daniel or Joaquin Espinal Almeyda) suspect of being the intellectual author of the death of communicator Jose Silvestre on 2 August. In the last edition of his publication "La Voz de la Verdad," Matias Castro was mentioned as responsible for the murder of businessman Ramon Antonio Herrera in La Romana.

National Police spokesman Maximo Baez Aybar said the Chief of the Police had spent the weekend in the East supervising the investigation.

The authorities said that in the case Angel Amed Manon Gutierrez has been arrested, and confessed his participation in the kidnapping and murder. Prosecutor Frank Soto said that they learned that the communicator had received money from drug traffickers in La Romana, as reported in El Dia. He said the Asset Laundering Unit of the Prosecutor General is investigating assets Matias held jointly with former baseball player Jose Rijo, who is said not to be responsible for the murder.

The Police confirmed Rijo's half brother Uldarico Diaz Cruz is under arrest. Uldarico Cruz, turned himself in to the Police where he underwent questioning for several hours.

Yesterday, talk show host Luis Eduardo (Huchi) Lora said that controversial Jose Silvestre served as a spokesman for Ramon Antonio del Rosario Puente (Tono Lena), who is sought in extradition for drug trafficking by the US government related to Puerto Rican Jose David Figueroa Agosto case. Lora stressed he would not consider this a freedom of the press case.

11. Low pressure wave but high temps
The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) announced the approach of a tropical wave that will interact with a low pressure trough over Jamaica and produce thunderstorms and wind gusts, mostly in the Northeast, the Southeast, Southwest, along the frontier, and in the Central Mountains. At the same time, temperatures will continue to be hot. The local forecasts call for rain showers with thunder and lightning in places such as La Altagracia, El Seibo, Hato Mayor, La Romana, San Pedro de Macoris, Monte Plata, Santiago, Monsignor Nouel, La Vega, Duarte, San Juan de la Maguana, Azua, Barahona, Elias Pina, Dajabon and Santiago Rodriguez.

12. Antonio Guadalupe at Casas Reales
One of the best Dominican painters of contemporary times, Antonio Guadalupe is exhibiting at the Museo de las Casas Reales halls. The exhibition continues through 15 August.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

MdpKeI48c6s&feature

1. Education to try 8-hour days
Beginning with the new school year that starts 17 August, the Ministry of Education will implement an 8am to 4pm school day pilot project in 20 of the nation's public schools. 8,000 students will be monitored at the schools Luis Reyes in Cotui, Don Juan in Monte Plata, El Carmen in Bella Vista, Santiago, El Cafe con Leche in Herrera and Futuro Vivo in Guerra, among others.

During a press conference yesterday, Ministry of Education officials talked about the 2011-12 school year. Education Minister Josefina Pimentel said 2.7 million students are enrolled, including 157,000 new students at more than 5,000 schools.

She added that 44 new schools will open this year. She explained that in just 35 of the new centers, the Ministry has invested more than RD$724 million; in the others, the investment was RD$339 million. Pimentel said the government spent RD325.7 million in the maintenance and refurbishing of 10,176 schoolrooms during the vacation period.

The Ministry of Education plans to make curriculum changes, install libraries in grade school, make adult education more flexible, train the teaching and technical staff and train 1,300 school directors over the next 10 months.

2. Vehicle sticker time
Starting today, vehicle owners can obtain their new registration stickers called "marbetes." The Department of Taxes (DGII) announced the deadline is 11 November.

To renew, taxpayers need to present a photocopy of the vehicle registration at any of the more than 700 offices available at 288 renewal points. These are located in the savings & loan associations, and in banks such as BDI, ADEMI, Vimenca, Las Americas, Multipago Express, Adopem, and at any of the DGII offices in Pedernales, Jimani, Villa Vasquez, Samana and Sanchez.

The information was offered at a press conference convened by Germania Montas Yapur, the deputy director general of the DGII, Major General Jose Anibal Sanz Jiminian, the director of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (AMET) and Virginia Gomez, the head of the Motor Vehicle Department of the DGII.

Montas emphasized that this year the cost of renewing the stickers of vehicles from 2006 on back is RD$1,200. For vehicle models from 2007 forward, the cost is RD$2,200. Montas said that renewals can also be made online in minutes by clicking on the "Marbete 2011" option of the dgii.gov.do website, and indicating type of the vehicle, the license plate number and the details of the credit card. The owner will be sent the sticker.

3. Ng Tze-chuen joins search for Cleopatra
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is backing efforts of Dominican historical researcher Kathleen Martinez in her quest to find the tomb of Cleopatra in Egypt. Her research revived interest in the mystery of the tomb.

In a new development, Hong Kong dentist is expected in Santo Domingo for two days to meet with Martinez, and assist in the search for the tomb. Martinez has been working with chief researcher Zahi Hawass since 2005. After meeting with Martinez, the plan is for him to design a high-tech robot that will allow for more precise access to chosen Egyptian ruins.

As reported in Hoy, Martinez told the press, "Ng Tze-Chuen and myself have many things in common. He is a dentist dedicated to invent robots and research tools; I am a lawyer by profession with a passion for archaeology. We both pursue our dreams."

During his visit, Ng Tze-Chuen is scheduled to meet with Foreign Affairs Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso and the rector of the Catholic University of Santo Domingo, Father Ramon Alonso Beato.

Following his success designing dental tools for his own use in computer dentistry, he was invited by European Space Agency to participate in designing virtually all the sampling tools on board UK 2003 Beagle 2 Mars Lander. It is believed that those sampling tools became the first Chinese made tools to have landed on a planet outside Earth.?

Recently, Ng has been appointed by Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, to organize a team for the third attempt of robotic exploration of the so-called "2nd Door" extending from the shafts of the Queen's Chamber of the Great Pyramid to search for the secret chambers behind. The 2nd attempt, which was by iRobot of MIT, was live televised globally on the National Geographic Channel in Sept 2002.

http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/cleopatra/zahi-hawass/

http://www.drhawass.com/blog/djedi-team-robot

4. Garbage collection resumes
Citizens can see there is a backup in garbage collection across Santo Domingo. The rains of Emily led to the accumulation. But the main reason is the failure of city governments to give budgetary priority to the fixing of the road leading to the Duquesa dump. Works are advancing, but the problem never should have happened, says an editorial in El Caribe.

When matters got to a point of no return, now Onofre Rojas, director of the Commonwealth of the Greater Santo Domingo says the Ministry of Public Works is contributing RD$10 million to fix the road, the city government of Santo Domingo another RD$10 million, Santo Domingo East, North and West municipalities are coming up with RD$5 million, Los Alcarrizos will put up RD$2 million, and the Dominican Municipal League will fund another RD$8 million. The rest will come from the company that manages the Duquesa dump.

El Caribe reports that the estimated cost of the repair of the 1.9-km road is RD$45 million.

The road had gotten to such a state of deterioration that the truck owners, for the safety of the drivers and ware on the trucks, refused to transport the garbage to the city dump.

El Caribe editorial explains the municipalities were waiting for the central government to come to their rescue all along, hoping it would pick up the cost of the repair.

After going forward with the repairs to a stretch of the highway to Duquesa, the road was opened to the garbage trucks and dump trucks that carry the refuse to the land fill yesterday.

Jose Miguel Martinez, the director of Sanitation of the National District city government, reported that just between 7am and 8:30 am yesterday more than 50 trucks went through loaded with garbage collected the previous day.

Martinez estimates that the repairal work would end by the end of the week, as long as the rains hold off.

Hoy reports that Presidency Minister Cesar Pina Toribio said that President Leonel Fernandez will meet with National District Mayor Roberto Salcedo to discuss the permanent repairal of the road.

5. Marranzini to check Michigan gas technology
Kettering University in Michigan reports that the executive vice president of the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE), Celso Marranzini will visit to meet with campus and city officials about using the technology of a Flint, Michigan-based business in the country. The Dominican mission has been invited to the Innovation Center to meet with Kettering president Robert McMahan, Flint Mayor Dayne Walling and Joel Berry, founder of Global Energy Innovations (GEI) and head of Kettering's mechanical engineering department. Discussions will include talk about utilizing GEI's award-winning fuel cell technology on a large scale in the Dominican Republic, campus officials said. GEI's product can power commercial buses, military bases and homes on clean and efficient natural gas.

6. First Lady seeks Vice Presidency?
Speaking in San Francisco de Macoris during the inaugural of the renovations at the emergency department of the Municipal Hospital, First Lady Margarita Cedeno said: "With Danilo and Mom, that licking is on!" The phrase has been linked to a play-on-words with "mom" being used because the man to beat, Hipolito Mejia, has promoted himself as "dad".

Cedeno had sought to be a presidential candidate on the PLD ticket, but never got as far as to accept the pre-candidacy. She was included by the election committee of the PLD, but news reports indicate that her husband asked her to step down, and she did not participate in the PLD primary.

As of 9 August, Medina has not announced his choice for the PLD vice presidential candidacy.

7. Fares increased by RD$5 and RD$10 pesos
During an assembly of bus and 'publico' drivers, the executive committee of the New Option National Transportation Federation (Fenatrano) decided that the public cars would increase fares by RD$5 on the short routes and by RD$10 on the longer routes and the bus fares would stay the same. Fenatrano president, legislator Juan Hubieres made the announcement. He noted that the 10,000 public car drivers that are affiliated to the syndicate work in the National District, the province of Santo Domingo and in other provinces approved the increase, and a series of marches, work stoppages and picket lines at government institutions starting at 9:30am. He signed on 3 July 2008 when the barrel of oil was at US$148 and gasoline was sold at RD$154 and RD$155, diesel was RD$140 and LPG was RD$55.

8. Danilo denies Wikileaks revelations
The PLD presidential candidate Danilo Medina rejected statements attributed to him in a WikiLeaks file released yesterday. According to El Caribe, he said that as a norm of life learned from professor Juan Bosch [founder of the PLD], he never talks with foreigners about Dominican leaders. Medina said that if the idea is to divide the Dominican Liberation Party, "they are wasting their time."

As reported in yesterday's DR1 News yesterday, Medina was said to have "the dagger out for the President". The cable specifically said that Medina had held the conversation with the Political Affairs Officer of the Embassy of the United States. In his rebuttal, Medina denied having spoken with Ambassador Robert Fannin who signed off on the report.

9. Many groups question dialogue
The Committee for the Defense of Barrio Rights (Copadeba) and Ciudad Alternativa barrio group complained there was no real open participation of the community in the "Popular Dialogue," barrio meeting organized by President Fernandez in Gualey on Monday. Copadeba barrio coordinators were present, but say they had not been formally invited to the activity. Nonetheless, they told the Diario Libre that the dialogue seemed like a meeting of a rank and file committee of the ruling PLD party, because in real terms there was no open participation in which the people could express themselves.

Zonal coordinator for Copadeba, Margarita Pinales, complained that the opportunities to speak were all taken by spokesmen close to the government. "I do not think that the President wants to hear just what his comrades are saying," she said.

In the meantime, the president of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Miguel Vargas Maldonado, said that he felt that the "Popular Dialogues" are being held a little bit late as a mechanism to try and resolve the problems of the population. In his judgment, President Fernandez is going through a difficult situation because of the economic issues and he is trying to find a way to release pressure through these meetings in the barrios.

On the other hand, the vice-president of the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Guillermo Caram said that the government lacks the economic resources to resolve the problems. "The only solution is a fiscal discipline aimed at producing surpluses and investing in favor of production and investing to satisfy the social needs of the people with local resources, not to be depending on going more into debt," he noted.

10. Dubious handling of pipe purchase
Local PVC pipe manufacturers are upset over the way the purchase of the pipes for the Peravia aqueduct has been handled. According to the Hoy newspaper, the whole process is mysterious and creates a lot of doubt as to the handling of the matter.

Representatives of the Dominican Association of PVC Pipe Manufacturers reported they presented a proposal a long time ago to the Acciona Agua-Abi-Karram Company to supply the necessary pipes for the aqueduc, but did not receive an answer to their inquiries for updates.

The association stressed that the PVC pipes produced in the country comply or exceed the world standards and can be acquired by the Dominican government at a lower cost, since they do not have to pay freight charges, insurance, or import taxes. In addition the local purchase will benefit local industry and generate jobs.

11. AG and Police chief reveal details
In a brief account of the events that led to the kidnapping and murder of the journalist from La Romana, Jose Silvestre, the Attorney General and the Chief of Police told reporters that five persons, among them a businessman described as the mastermind, are being accused of the murder. Silvestre was kidnapped on 2 August in La Romana town and subsequently murdered. His body was found on a rural road five kilometers from San Pedro de Macoris.

The Attorney General of the Republic and the Chief of the National Police accused Angel Amed Manon Gutierrez, the first person arrested in the case, as the person who together with three others kidnapped Silvestre. The police say Silvestre was shot when he resisted being taken to Santo Domingo in an SUV.

Yesterday three men were arrested for the murder and identified as Johnny El Gallero and/or Junior la Presion, another whose nickname is "El Canario," and one known as Franklin "la Maquina."

The vehicle was rented at Javi Rent Car, located on Avenue Route 66 in La Caleta, Boca Chica, by Ana Milagros Hasbun Mercado, said to be the girlfriend of businessman Joaquin Espinal Almeyda (Daniel) and/or Matias Avelino Castro, the alleged mastermind of the murder.

The investigation showed that the SUV was later returned to the rental company by Raysa Danelys Avelino, the daughter of Espinal Almeyda (Daniel), who was declared fugitive of justice. The investigators established that Espinal kept a low profile as the businessman Joaquin Espinal Almeyda. He had two identities, one as Espinal with identification and voter registration card (cedula) 093-0065431-7 that says he was born on 2 April 1973. The Police says his real identity is Matias Avelino Castro, cedula 065-0003729-3 and he was born on 1 March 1971.

The prosecutor in the case, Frank Soto and the National Police say that the motive of the crime was because in the July issue No. 143 of his publication, "The Hour of the Truth", Silvestre linked the death of Ramon Antonio Herrera (Momon), the owner of a beer joint known as Momon Super Frias, and of Hector Bienvenido Castillo (Freddy or El Socio), to several suspects, including "Daniel", describing him as the owner of a hotel in Samana.

The investigators established that Manon Gutierrez, following the orders of his boss "Daniel", during the early dawn hours of Tuesday, 2 August, headed for La Romana in company of three other persons to carry out the kidnapping.

The authorities stressed that the accused said the plan was to kidnap the journalist and take him to the capital. But when he resisted, Manon Gutierrez hit him with the revolver he carried with an out-of-date license. He said that the journalist continued to resist and this led to the shooting and subsequent abandoning of the body.

Investigators said that the alleged mastermind, who is a partner in some businesses with former Major League ballplayer Jose Rijo, is known as the owner of the Gran Aparta Hotel Las Galeras, located in Samana. He is also the owner of the company GM Publicitaria, located on Tercera Street at the corner of La Nina, number 2, in the Villa Casa sector, at Kilometer 9 of the Sanchez Highway, in the National District. Moreover, they said that a search by the Scientific Police Laboratory carried out on the vehicle used to kidnap the reporter, turned up blood on the seats and under them that matched the reporter.

Soto said Jose Rijo is cleared from the case, not so his half brother Uldarico Diaz Cruz, who is fugitive of justice after an arraignment of his apartment where two cell phones belonging to Espinal were found.

Listin Diario publishes photos of shots in the video where Silvestre is last seen alive, and the SUV that was used to kidnap him.

Soto said that after the killing, Espinal called the administrator of the Javi car rental to ask him to destroy the rental contract and send to collect.

As reported in Hoy, prosecutor Frank Soto said that the investigations did not include La Romana prosecutor Jose Polanco because of the early leads indicating otherwise. Polanco had a legal suit going against Silvestre, who accused him of ties to drug trafficking.

Frank Soto said he has witnesses that say that Silvestre received bribes -- a sum of RD$500,000 per deal is mentioned -- from drug traffickers to not publish details in his publication.

Huchi Lora, the talk host, has commented that Silvestre served as a spokesman for Ramon Antonio Del Rosario Puente (Tono Lena), sought in extradition by the US for his ties to drug trafficking.

12. Lawyers struggle to save clients in Agosto case
The First Collegiate Court of the National District heard defense counsel call for a not guilty verdict for their clients Sammy Dauhajre and Adolfina Pelaez. Judges Gissel Mendez, July Tamariz, and Tania Yunes heard the conclusions from several other defense lawyers as well. Jose Ariza, lawyer for Sammy Dauhajre said that the National District prosecutor Alejandro Moscoso Segarra and his assistant Jose Dante prepared the case after viewing porno videos of Figueroa Agosto in the office of Miguel Medina, former spokesman for General Rafael Bencosme Candelier. Medina denied the statement.

Defense lawyer said that his client was included because, as seen in the video, when Figueroa Agosto was having sex he called out to Sammy questioning the quality of a watch the latter had sold to him. As reported in Hoy, Ariza said that "it was in the office of my friend Miguelito Medina," referring to the communicator and former spokesman for General Rafael Bencosme Candelier, former director of Criminal Investigations of the Police and of the Metropolitan Transport Authority. [In a recent WikiLeaks file, a US Embassy comments rejected that Bencosme be promoted to chief of the Police during the Fernandez administration].

The prosecutors rejected the comments, saying it was a desperate ploy by Dauhajre's lawyer.

Freddy Mateo Calderon, defense lawyer for Adolfina Pelaez, mentioned yesterday that Figueroa Agosto had two credit cards with which he could manage millions of dollars, as well as two accounts at the Banco Popular and an account at the Asociacion Popular de Ahorros y Prestamos savings & loans bank. He said that Figueroa Agosto was so powerful he resided at Av. Tiradentes, only 150 meters from the National Department of Investigations.

In his closing words, he criticized that the Court left out of the case the military accomplices that he said 39 days after Figueroa Agosto had arrived to the Dominican Republic, despite being a fugitive of justice in Puerto Rico, was issued a Dominican cedula (ID) and had a pass authorized by the Department of National Investigations (DNI). He criticized that the prosecutors were not capable of accusing the president of the Central Electoral Board under whose administration the first ID (cedula) was issued to Figueroa when he had just left jail in Puerto Rico, with a 209-year sentence upon him, as reported in Hoy.

13. Rustic Chivalry at the National Theater
To celebrate its 38th year, the National Theater is staging Rustic Chivalry (Cavalleria Rusticana), the classic Italian opera by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci, adapted from a play by Giovanni Verga. Soprano Cynthia Lawrence, baritone Jason Stearns and tenor Eduardo Vila of the Metropolitan Opera House of New York are the international guest stars. From the Dominican Republic, the singers will be mezzo-soprano Pura Tyson and contralto Greymer Perez. The National Choir and the Choir of the Judicial Branch, accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Jose Antonio Molina will also be on stage. Tickets are on sale for RD$1,500, RD$800 and RD$500 to ensure that as many people as possible can attend the opera. The opera will be staged on 11 August.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

Chef Todd Gray in Punta Cana

Chef Todd Gray announced the deal to take over the Fishing Lodge Cap Cana in the Punta Cana area was signed last week. Todd Gray is famous for the Equinox/Watershed and his culinary interpretations of US East Coast cuisine.
At the Cap Cana hotel he is expected to take Dominican and Caribbean food to new levels. As announced, the restaurant will open on 13 October at the hotel, and will be a version of Gray's Market Salamander that will differ from the original Middleburg incarnation by being more of a cafe with a Caribbean spin. There is also going to be an open-air restaurant named Bistrot that Gray says will be "American in foundation with a little nod to some Spanish influences and obviously some Dominican Republic influences."
Chef Todd Gray has served as culinary director of hospitality group Salamander Hospitality for years now, with nationally acclaimed establishments in Virginia, South Carolina and Tampa. The Cap Cana operation will be his first abroad.
Fishing Lodge Cap Cana is scheduled to open to guests as the Salamander Marina & Beach Resort on 12 October 2011.
http://www.grandresortsatcapcana.com/

Fodatur in Santo Domingo

With the sponsorship of the Dominican Tourism Competitiveness Consortium (CDCT), the First Dominican Annual Tourism Forum took place in Santo Domingo last week. International and local experts highlighted new trends in the industry with a focus on competitiveness and sustainability.
Following are highlights of some of the 17 presentations.
Marco Serrato of the Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey, shared the Mexican experience with key travel and tourism indicators used to determine the strengths and opportunities for tourism in Mexico. He presented 112 variables.
Humberto Rivas, consultant for the World Tourism Organization, emphasized sustainability indicators used as feedback including those that focus on spending and length of stay, complaint handling systems, energy efficiency, attractions load capacity, role of the municipality, tourism observatories and linkages between key players in the tourism value chain.
Ramon Martinez, of Mexico said that the traditional tourism models are not exhausted. He said the new paradigm is to integrate resort tourism to the communities to improve the quality of living of the locals. He calls for diversifying to new markets and introduction of new attractions. He said what is most important is that each destination may differentiate itself.
Omar Estevez, also of Mexico, stressed the importance of synergies between members of the tourism value chain so there may be a variety of products and services offered. He said in Mexico they have highlighted beaches and ecotourism, but at the same time focus on the hotel complexes.
Victor Ramirez Montero, from Costa Rica explained the Costa Rican tourism model that focuses on nature without artificial ingredients, while also highlighting it is a sun, sand and wellness destination. He highlighted all beaches are public. He said Costa Rica has focused on its brand as a tourism strategy, while enhancing the sense of community and country, and the coexistence with communities as partners in tourism.
Eduardo Garcia Michel shared the Dominican tourism experience, with its mix of government, private and foreign sectors. He highlighted the strength in the hospitality of Dominican people, the revenue-generation by the sector and the job opportunities created. He criticized the strength of the Dominican peso and its effect on travel, and recommended implementing a differentiated taxation system for the tourism industry.
http://fodatur.wordpress.com/

Cruises into La Romana

More tourists are expected for next season at the La Romana Cruise Ship Terminal, as reported in Costasur/Casa de Campo News. New are Carnival's Valor, Freedom and Miracle ships that will arrive starting January 2012 through 16 October.
Costa Cruises will be sending two ships regularly to La Romana, including the new 3,570-passenger Luminosa with 21 calls to La Romana and Catalina Island. Costa is also sending 2,680-passenger Costa Mediterranea.
Both Costa and Carnival are owned by Carnival Corporation, the largest cruise ship company in the world.
Moreover, as reported, La Romana will serve as homeport next winter season to the 1,914-passenger TUI Men Schiff 2, and the 2,100-passenger Aida Luna and 1,300-passenger Aida Aura. The arrival of these three ships from the two largest German tour operators will make La Romana the premier Caribbean port for the German travel market.

Puerto Plata Arts Festival

Marcando el Rumbo, (leading the way), Festival de la Restauracion, is a cultural event organized in Puerto Plata on occasion of Restoration Day that celebrates the day the Dominican Republic regained its independence from Spain in 1865. A program of cultural events, ranging from popular to classic expressions of contemporary art is organized for Wed 10 August to Tue 16 August at Plaza Central, La Puntilla in Puerto Plata city. See the schedule of events at http://festivaldelarestauracion.blogspot.com/2011/07/marcando-el-rumbo-festival-de-la.html
For more on upcoming events, see http://www.dr1.com/calendar

1. City brand for Santo Domingo
In an unprecedented event, the Tourism Cluster of Santo Domingo brought together Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Castillo, the Mayors of Greater Santo Domingo Roberto Salcedo (National District), Juan de los Santos (SD East), Daniel Ozuna (Boca Chica), Francisco Pena (SD West) and Francisco Fernandez (SD North) and the president of the Commonwealth of Greater Santo Domingo Onofre Rojas to jointly announce the new marketing brand for the city of Santo Domingo at the Santo Domingo Hilton yesterday. The city is now branded as: Santo Domingo es Alegria! Santo Domingo is Joy!

Speaking at the event, Mayor Roberto Salcedo stressed the brand captures what makes Santo Domingo different from other cities. He said the effort "puts a last name on the name of Santo Domingo." Salcedo says the message comes at the right time when there are so many ongoing difficulties affecting day-by-day living.

Freddy Ginebra, spokesman for the Cluster of Santo Domingo explained the branding was the result of three years of intense work and research. It was designed by Dominican Rafael Holguin, a 1990 graduate of Altos de Chavon School of Design who is director of design at Palio Communications in the United States, and who years ago had designed the institutional logo of the city of Santo Domingo.

Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Castillo highlighted the branding recognizes what surveys of European, US and Canadian tourists have always said about the way they feel about Dominicans, and their spontaneity. Javier Castillo forecasts an increase in tourism to the city following the completion of the Coral Highway linking the city with Punta Cana next year. He said the curve-free expressway will cut driving time to under two hours from 4 hours at present. He forecast an avalanche of tourists could come to see the city attracted by the Colonial City, gastronomy and shopping. He said that at present time only 7% of the tourists that visit Punta Cana come to the city. He said this branding helps prepare the city for the increased visitations.

2. Central Government to repair Duquesa road
Following a meeting with the mayors of the Greater Santo Domingo (population 3 million), President Leonel Fernandez said the central government would cover the cost of the reconstruction of the 1.9 km road to the Duquesa garbage dump that serves these municipalities. As reported in Diario Libre, President Fernandez instructed Public Works Minister Victor Diaz Rua to immediately start the reconstruction of the road.

Meeting with the President were mayors Francis Pena (Santo Domingo West), Juan de los Santos (Santo Domingo East), Francisco Fernandez (Santo Domingo North) and Roberto Salcedo (National District). Also attending were Reinaldo Pared Perez, senator for the National District and Cristina Lizardo, senator for the province of Santo Domingo and Onofre Rojas, executive director of the Commonwealth of the Greater Santo Domingo.

Speaking for the group of mayors, Salcedo said the decision brings tranquility to the mayors of the city that produces about 4,000 tons of waste per day. He said the repair of the road would cost around RD$50 million, with an additional RD$5 million being included to cover the cost of lighting on the stretch to facilitate trucks operating late in the evening.

3. Patrols expected to improve
President Leonel Fernandez highlighted yesterday the efficiency of the Police in resolving criminal cases and its professional level in criminal investigations. He made the point that more efforts are needed to strengthen prevention of crime. President Fernandez spoke during the ceremony marking the delivery of 109 double-cabin pickups, two mobile police stations and 500 mobile radios to be used for the patrolling of neighborhoods. Chief of the Police Jose Amado Polanco Gomez received the keys to the pickups. Also attending the event was Interior & Police Minister Jose Fadul.

4. Transparency in selection of judges sought
Representatives of the Coalition for Transparency in the Election of Judges of the High Courts yesterday insisted that the process be public and televised and the selection not be held behind closed doors as they suspect is the intention. Coalition member Samir Chami Isa expressed his concern that the draft of the ruling that will be used to choose the judges has not been made public, as reported in El Dia.

The civic society representatives gathered in the Coalition asked the government to do a repeat of the open selection procedures used in 1997. The National Council of the Magistracy (CNM) has been convened as of today to confirm and select new members of the Supreme Court of Justice, and the new judges for the Higher Electoral Court and the Constitutional Court, two new courts created in the 2010 Constitution.

5. Gasoline prices drop
Regular gasoline prices have been reduced RD$10.39 and premium gasoline is down RD$9.76 for sales as of Saturday, it was announced yesterday. President Leonel Fernandez visited the Ministry of Industry and Commerce yesterday.

As of Saturday, a gallon of premium gasoline will sell for RD$227.34, and regular gasoline will sell for RD$210.31.

Premium diesel is down RD$9.38 to sell at RD$192.73, regular diesel is down RD$10.87 to sell for RD$187.72. Propane gas will now cost RD$104.17.

There is a law that pegs the cost of fuel in the Dominican Republic to international prices, but the Fernandez administration has its own way of applying it, with a marked slant towards increasing fuel prices when international oil prices go up, but a reticence to reducing prices when fuel prices decline.

Fernandez defended the way his government has applied the Hydrocarbons Law. Speaking to the press after his meeting at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce he said the government is actually subsidizing the price of fuel. The President said that all costs not being passed on to consumers, despite critics making the point that fuel in the Dominican Republic is at a regional high.

The President argued that local rebates are not made as soon as there is a decline in oil prices because there is inventory that has been purchased at higher prices.

Minister Manuel Garcia Arevalo said the government intends to continue to give priority to natural gas conversion.

Ramon Perez Figuereo of the CNTU union of transporters, said gasoline prices should have dropped RD$40-49 pesos and not RD$10 to reflect the 20% decline in recent weeks. Fellow union director, Juan Hubieres has observed that in 2008, when the barrel of oil was at US$148, gasoline was sold for RD$154 and RD$155 (premium), diesel was RD$140 and LPG was RD$55. International fuel prices have averaged around US$80 the past two weeks.

6. US Southern Command general decorated
Armed Forces Minister Lieutenant General Joaquin Virgilio Perez decorated the commander of the US Southern Command General Douglas M. Fraser with the order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella in the degree of Grand Officer yesterday in Santo Domingo. General Fraser was honored for his commitment in the struggle against drug trafficking and organized crime working with the Ministry of Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic. Upon receiving the award, Fraser said he would continue to work with the Dominican Armed Forces to ensure the safety of the citizens of both nations.

"It is my great privilege to receive this award from the Dominican authorities," said Fraser at the decoration ceremony held at the headquarters of the Armed Forces.

7. Political plays in 2004 in the judiciary
WikiLeaks on Hipolito and the Supreme Court

The most recent cable published by Grupo SIN reveals comments of the US Embassy indicating that former President Hipolito Mejia, prior to leaving government, sought to position himself to be able to influence Supreme Court decisions. The Embassy file comments that there seemed to be a plan to use government majority in Congress to position PRD men in the Supreme Court so that "if Mejia loses the May 16 elections, friends and PRD supporters on the Court could prevent successful prosecutions of Mejia administration officials for real or alleged abuses while in office."

In a background brief, the US Embassy file dated 26 February 2004 indicates that the Judicial Council (Consejo Nacional de la Magistratura) has the authority to select judges for vacancies on the Supreme Court and to designate the Chief Justice.

The brief speculated on whether the PRD would have Supreme Court of Justice president Jorge Subero Isa replaced by a judge estimated to be more partial to the PRD. This did not occur at the time.

Interestingly, the brief is released on the same date the same Judicial Committee is convened to get back to work on the selection of judges for the higher courts. This time, the tables are switched, and the PLD has the majority to appoint lawyers that may be partial to the ruling party and its outgoing government officers.

http://www.acento.com.do/index.php/news/5962/56/Wikileaks-Cable-sobre-Hipolito-y-la-Suprema-completo-en-ingles-y-espanol.html?nstrack=sid:19418|met:102|cat:106|order:1

8. Murder on a bus
A man and a woman killed a second lieutenant in the Police after boarding an intercity minibus on the Santiago-Santo Domingo route at km 54 of the Duarte highway, close to Villa Altagracia yesterday. As reported, the assailants boarded the bus at that point and when they noted the presence of officer Felipe Marte Pena, they fired against him. While dressed as a civilian, Marte Pena had his gun visible. After committing the murder, the man and woman took control of the minibus, in which four other passengers were on board, and ordered it to stop at Km. 13 where they got off. The bus driver, Jose Ramon Moya took the body to the Central Hospital of the Armed Forces. Moya said that the assailants said they only killed policemen.

9. Figueroa Agosto was protegee of government
Marino Elseviyf Pineda, lawyer of Juan Jose Fernandez Ibarra, accused of complicity with drug traffickers and asset laundering in the drug trafficking Jose David Figueroa Agosto case, said in his closing statements yesterday in court that Figueroa Agosto was a protegee of Dominican authorities and of the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States and the US Embassy, as reported in Hoy. The lawyer said that Figueroa Agosto, who had been convicted to serve 209 years in jail in Puerto Rico but escaped jail there, was assisted in the Dominican Republic by an active colonel of the Police, the late Jose Amado Gonzalez Gonzalez. The colonel was murdered in 24 December 2009, before he could declare in the court case ongoing against 8 that prosecutors accuse of criminal complicity and asset laundering and ties to the Puerto Rico drug trafficking network. He called for a not guilty acquittal for his client in the case, arguing he was duped because Figueroa Agosto was a protegee of the authorities.

Fernandez argued that Ibarra has not denied that he sold three SUVs to Figueroa, whom he knew as Christian Almonte, but had no way of determining that the individual was linked to illicit business. He stressed that Figueroa met regularly with national authorities and diplomats in public places and made use of government and diplomatic plates on vehicles for his personal use, said Elseviyf Pineda in court.

He asked the judges Gisselle Mendez, Tania Tamariz Yuly Yunes how they could condemn his client for selling to Cristian Almonte (Figueroa), a man who had overt access to intelligence agencies.

Meanwhile, National District prosecutor Alejandro Moscoso Segarra has refused to comment on allegations of defendant lawyers yesterday that the case was slanted after Moscoso Segarra viewed a porno video of Figueroa Agosto and others that have not been mentioned. Defense lawyer Jose Ariza said, as reported in Hoy that the meeting took place "in the office of my friend Miguelito Medina," referring to the communicator and former spokesman for General Rafael Bencosme Candelier, former director of Criminal Investigations of the Police and of the Metropolitan Transport Authority.

10. It's hot and humid
While temperatures do cool off in the early morning, expect sweltering heat in the Dominican Republic this week and into the weekend. The Weather Department (ONAMET) reports a tropical wave located over Puerto Rico will bring scattered rains to the south, but for the most part temperatures are expect to be hot nationwide. This is a good time to head to the beaches. The Weather Department recommends drinking plenty of fluids, wearing light clothing, light colors and avoiding direct sunlight, especially between 11am and 4pm. ONAMET reports it is monitoring two systems moving over from Cape Verde in Africa that could become storms in the next 48 hours.

To follow weather in the Dominican Republic during the 2011 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season, see reports at http://www.dr1.com/forums/weather-beyond/115613-hurricane-season-2011-a-41.html

11. Hector Anibal at Casa de Teatro
Hector Anibal y la Cuadra at Casa de Teatro

Bachata music star Hector Anibal is booked for 9pm performance at Casa de Teatro on Thursdays in August. Enjoy bachata pop, bachata rock and more as you enjoy the music of this leading bachata group.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

1. UASD campus in Mao
President Leonel Fernandez visited the northwestern province of Mao yesterday to inaugurate a new campus for the state university, the Centro Universitario Regional Noroeste (Curno-UASD). The facilities cover an area of 50,982m2. Three 3-floor buildings with 54 classrooms with capacity for 1,890 students were built. The site contains science and computer labs, halls for videoconferences, a cafeteria, supplies store and bookstore, and a copy center. The premises also include administrative offices, sports areas, a medical dispensary, a library and an auditorium for 247 people. The branch was built by the Presidency Public Works Supervisory Office (OISOE).

2. Fernandez to UN Assembly in NY
President Leonel Fernandez will travel to New York on 20 September to participate in the United Nations General Assembly. Diario Libre reports that he will make the most of the trip to visit other US cities. As reported, he will be traveling with several government officials, including Foreign Minsiter Carlos Morales Troncoso and Economy, Planning and Development Minister Temistocles Montas.

The President's most recent trip, in June, took him to Spain, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian Authority and France.

3. Closed-door sessions to choose the key justices
The ruling presented by President Leonel Fernandez for the higher courts selection process and for the review of the performance of Supreme Court of Justice seeking another term was unanimously approved yesterday, but it was not released to the general public despite requests by civil society. As passed in the 2010 Constitution, President Leonel Fernandez has the deciding power in the National Judicial Council (CNM) in charge of the selection. The National Judicial Council announced a 10-day period for the formal presentation and debate of possible candidates to the posts, as established in the ruling.

The approved ruling establishes that the process of choosing the judges for the Supreme Court of Justice, and the new Supreme Electoral Court and Constitutional Court will be carried out adhering to principles of transparency. The members of the CNM, nevertheless, in contrast to what occurred in 1997, decided that the final deliberations to choose the judges would be held behind closed doors.

Presidential Minister Cesar Pina Toribio acted as spokesman for the CNM. Only the interviews of the candidates would be televised, but not the deliberations.

The CNM was convened to choose 34 judges of the higher courts and to assess the performance of the current Supreme Court judges under the age of 75.

The CNM members are the President, Leonel Fernandez, Senate president Reynaldo Pared Perez (PLD), senator Felix Vasquez (PRSC), deputy Hugo Nunez (PRD), the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Justice Jorge Subero Isa, associate justice of the Supreme Court of Justice Victor Jose Castellanos Estrella, and Attorney General Radhames Jimenez Pena.

Pina Toribio told reporters covering the meeting that Supreme Court of Justice chief Jorge Subero Isa was chosen following a political agreement between the late Jose Francisco Pena Gomez and late former President Joaquin Balaguer, opening the possibility for Subero Isa to be replaced.

Because they are over the age of 75, the CNM needs to replace judges Rafael Luciano Pichardo, Hugo Alvarez Valencia, president of the Penal Chamber, Juan Luperon Vasquez, Jose E. Hernandez Machado, Pedro Romero Confesor and Dario Fernandez Espinal. It also needs to fill the seats left by the late judges Julio Ibarra Rios and Margarita Tavarez. The CNM needs to assess 10 judges who are seeking to continue, including Chief Justice Jorge Subero Isa.

Civil society organizations have called for the government to celebrate the deliberations openly as was done in 1997, during the first Presidency of Fernandez.

4. Fernandez to decide who are the new judges
President Fernandez and the ruling party have an absolute majority in deciding who the justices of the higher courts in the Dominican Republic will be, as reported in El Caribe.

The 2010 Constitution establishes that the President of the Dominican Republic acts as chair of the National Judicial Council (CNM), the body that selects the judges of the higher courts in the Dominican Republic - the Supreme Court of Justice, the Higher Electoral Court and the Constitutional Court.

The deliberating council members are the President of the Republic, the president of the Senate, a senator chosen by the Senate belonging to a political party different from that of the president of the Senate, the president of the Chamber of Deputies, a deputy chosen by the Chamber of Deputies belonging to a political party different from the one of the president of the Chamber of Deputies, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Justice, an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Justice chosen by the Supreme Court, the Attorney General. The presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies are PLD party members. The President appoints the Attorney General. Furthermore, the PLD holds the majority in Congress when choosing the two opposition party members who sit on the Council.

The CNM is in charge of assessing the performance of the judges of the Supreme Court of Justice to decide if they continue in their posts when they are under 75 years of age.

The Constitution establishes that the 75% of the justices need to come from the judiciary and the remaining 25% from among law professionals, law professors but also members of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Attorney General Office).

The term for the Supreme Court of Justice judges is seven years. They may continue for another term subject to an assessment of their performance by the CNM.

www.elcaribe.com.do/site/nacionales/284556-leonel-domina-el-cnm-con-mayoria-absoluta.html

5. Gamma Knife radio-surgery at Cedimat
The Center for Advanced Diagnostics and Tele-Medicine, CEDIMAT inaugurated a new Gamma Knife radio-surgery unit yesterday for the non-invasive treatment of brain tumors and other illnesses.

The surgery is performed as outpatient treatment with minimal pain. The new technology, which delivers a dose of gamma radiation to the target with surgical precision, is said to be the most accepted and widely used radio-surgery treatment in the world.

First Lady Margarita Cedeno represented the government. Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez made the inaugural blessing. The center is located on the sixth floor of Cedimat.

Cedimat, a center located within the Plaza de la Salud public hospital complex, was created to provide prime medical services locally. In the past, Dominicans would have had to travel abroad for these treatments.

6. US donates powerboats for drug interception
The US Government has donated three Boston Whaler powerboats to the Dominican Navy, for a total of seven donated since 2007. The Commander of the US Southern Command, General Douglas Fraser, made the announcement during a visit to the DR this week. He expressed hope that the speedboats would increase the capacity of the country's security forces and the National Drug Control Department (DNCD) for intercepting illegal drug trafficking at sea, as reported in El Caribe.

Navy Chief, Vice Admiral Nicolas Cabrera Arias received the donation during a ceremony yesterday, as reported in Listin Diario.

7. Max Puig proclaimed as APD candidate
The Alianza por la Democracia (APD) political party proclaimed lawyer Max Puig as presidential candidate in the 2012 presidential election at the Melia Santo Domingo Hotel yesterday. Puig served as minister of Environment and Labor in the Fernandez administration. Puig promised to govern with a cabinet of the nation's most capable people, as reported in Listin Diario.

Speaking at the event, Puig said that the time has come to change the political, social, economic model that has prevailed in the country for the past 50 years.

8. Danilo Medina to rely on polls
PLD presidential candidate Danilo Medina says he will rely on results from polls to decide on his running mate in the 20 May 2012 presidential election. He has to register the candidacy by March. He said for the moment he plans to run alone in order to reach his own level of acceptance, as reported in El Caribe. There has been speculation he could run with First Lady Margarita Cedeno. Yesterday, when journalists asked the First Lady about the slogan she recently released, "With Danilo and Mom, that beating is on," (Con Danilo y Mama, esa pela va), she commented: "I owe it to him."

9. Figueroa Agosto verdict set for 26 September
The First Collegiate Court of the Penal Chamber of the First Instance of the National District announced yesterday it would issue its verdict on 26 September 2011 in the case against eight people accused of complicity with organized crime in the drug capo Jose David Figueroa Agosto case.

The eight are Figueroa Agosto's lover Sobeida Felix Morel and her former husband Eddy Brito, sisters Mary and Adolfina Pelaez, Sammy Dauhajre, Ivanovich Smester Ginebra, Juan Jose Fernandez Ibarra and Leavy Nin Batista.

The Prosecutors called for five-year sentences for Sobeida Felix Morel and Leavy Nin Batista, after a deal was reached with the prosecution, and 20 years for Eddy Brito, the Pelaez sisters, Dauhajre, Smester and Fernandez.

In the closing statements, several of the defendants pleaded not guilty, stressing that the prosecutors failed to bring to court key persons in government and the military that evidence showed they were involved. The defendants insisted that Jose David Figueroa Agosto was able to move freely round the country as a protegee of the authorities.

10. Dreamgirls at Bellas Artes
Amaury Sanchez has cast Cristal Marie, Stephanie Fatule, Waddys Jaquez, Hector Anibal, Orestes Amador, Mariele Ferreira, Vicente Santos, Carlos Quezada and Karla Fatule in the lead roles in Dreamgirls, the Dominican version of the Broadway musical. The musical that will be shown at the Palacio de Bellas Artes this weekend is based on the show business aspirations and successes of The Supremes and other Motown stars, based on the book by Tom Eyen with music by Henry Krieger. It tells the story of a young female singing trio from Chicago, Illinois named The Dreams who went on to become music superstars. Tickets are RD$1,200-RD$800.

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see www.dr1.com/calendar

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/993125.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/993129-1.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/987118.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/987119.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/182687_main_big.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/987001.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/987002.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/987004.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/182760_main_big.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/982289.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/184562_main_big.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/182531_main_big.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/987174.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/phoca_thumb_l_Puerto_Don_Diego_-_Entrada_de_Crucero_-smaller_.jpg

sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/2150497008_2719d83f71_b.jpg

sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/2109888.jpg

sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/phoca_thumb_l_Puerto_Don_Diego_-_Entrada_de_Crucero_-smaller_.jpg

Beautiful

Anuncio oficial en pagina de Pinewood Group + RENDERS!

Announcement of Pinewood Indomina Studios covering the growing Caribbean, South and Central American Markets

The Company has entered into a long term agreement with the Indomina Group, an investment managed by VICINI, a leading asset management company with investments in food and beverages, retail, energy, finance, tourism and real estate in the Caribbean and Central America. The agreement is for the operation of new film and television studios to be built in the Dominican Republic. Pinewood will receive annual fees for its sales and management services and an equity participation which accrues over time from 2013. The construction will be funded by the Indomina Group. This new venture, ‘Pinewood Indomina Studios’ is expected to commence initial operations in 2012.

The state of the art film and television production facilities will initially comprise 5,000 sq m of sound stage space along with 15,000 sq m of associated production support facilities. The 35 acre site will include an 8 acre water effects facility including a 75m x 75m exterior water tank with natural ocean horizons, blue screen capabilities and a fully equipped diving and marine department. When completed it will be the only tank of its type and size in the region.

Construction of the Studios starts today (23 February 2011) with the ground breaking ceremony by the President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Antonio Fernández Reyna.

Ivan Dunleavy, Chief Executive, Pinewood Shepperton plc said:

“This represents further progress in Pinewood’s strategy to leverage the strength of our brand internationally and specifically to the growing Latino film and television market. The Pinewood brand stands for excellence in the global film industry and we have strategically targeted regions of the world where significant incremental growth has been forecast.”

http://www.pinewoodgroup.com/2011/02/pinewood-indomina-studios-dominican-republic/

http://www.pinewoodgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ISI-Studios-Aerial-View-Day-e1298453046831.jpg

http://www.pinewoodgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ISI-Studios-Aerial-View-Night-e1298453061300.jpg

http://www.pinewoodgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ISI-Studios-Water-Tank-Aerial-View-NE-e1298453072343.jpg
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAQUETA:

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/3499/maquetae.jpg

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/4615/18085010150108372485053.jpg
Tommy Rodríguez (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tommy-Rodriguez/96635965052)


EVENTO PARA EL INICIO DE LA CONSTRUCCION:

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/2135/indomia1.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/5606/indomia3.jpg

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/3410/indomia2.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5241/indomia4.jpg

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/1161/indomia5.jpg

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/9634/indomia6.jpg

www.presidencia.gob.do y www.cig.gob.do

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Deja iniciado los primeros estudios de cine en el país

Mandatario dice alianza de industria cinematográfica y turismo cambiarán imagen internacional de RD
23 de Febrero del 2011

JUAN DOLIO, San Pedro de Macorís.-El presidente Leonel Fernández afirmó este miércoles que si se logra asociar el turismo con la industria cinematográfica y la producción televisiva, se transformaría la imagen internacional de la República Dominicana.

Al dar el primer picazo para el inicio de la construcción de los primeros estudios de cine en el país, que estarán ubicados en Juan Dolio, San Pedro de Macorís, el mandatario dijo que hoy se hacen realidad los anhelos y utopías de muchos dominicanos talentosos que por años habían tratados sin éxito desarrollar la cinematografía en el país.

Recordó que por más de tres décadas el turismo ha sido una de las principales fuentes del sustento del desarrollo económico en la República Dominicana y que ahora el cine dará un mayor empuje a este sector.

Dijo que la alianza del Grupo Vicini a través de Indomina Studios con la británica Pinewood, atraerá al país a grandes celebridades, que posteriormente serán difusores de las bondades de la República Dominicana.

“Si se logra asociar turismo con el desarrollo de la cinematografía y la producción televisiva lograremos atraer celebridades a la República Dominicana, celebridades que invertirán la adquisición de un segundo hogar en nuestro país y se convertirán en difusores internacionales de las bondades de la República Dominicana y por tanto nuestro país se transforma en un centro de atracción mundial de lo mejor que el género humano puede producir que es creatividad, imaginación, que es una industria que mueve emociones a nivel internacional”, afirmó.

Añade que “de manera que esta combinación del Grupo Vinici , Indomina y Pinewood significa calidad, significa desarrollar una industria del entretenimiento, una industria de la cultura, una industria que vinculada al turismo está destinada a transformar la imagen internacional de la República Dominicana”.

Fernández admitió estar ansioso para el día en que se vaya a inaugurar los primeros tres estudios de este complejo cinematográfico “y desde ya espero con gran interés cuando se diga corte-acción”.

El gobernante estuvo acompañado en la actividad de la Primera Dama, Margarita Cedeño de Fernández.

También formaban parte de la mesa principal el presidente del Grupo Vicini, Felipe A. Vicini ; el canciller Carlos Morales Troncoso; el señor Jasbinder Sing Mann, presidente ejecutivo del Grupo Indomina; Ivan Dunleavy, de Pinewood Shepperton, así como el ministro de Cultura, José Rafael Lantigua ; el senador de San Pedro de Macorís, José María Sosa. También, asistió al acto el ex gobernador de Puerto Rico, Aníbal Acevedo Vila.

En su discurso, Felipe A. Vicini destacó que el impulso y determinación del presidente Fernández para lograr la aprobación de la Ley de cine es una muestra de la importancia que reviste para el país un instrumento legal de esta categoría.

Dijo que la construcción del complejo “Pinewood Indomina Studios” es uno de los proyectos más importantes dentro de la industria del entretenimiento en Centroamérica y el Caribe, creando así, un gran legado para las generaciones venideras.

Citó que los estudios cinematográficos se convertirán en fuente de empleos para los residentes en San Pedro de Macorís, Guayacanes, Juan Dolio y otras comunidades de la región.

“Sin su visión señor Presidente, este proyecto que se ha plasmado habría sido imposible su realización”, consideró Vicini.

También formaban parte de la mesa principal el presidente del Grupo Vicini, Felipe A. Vicini ; el canciller Carlos Morales Troncoso; el señor Jasbinder Sing Mann, presidente ejecutivo del Grupo Indomina; Ivan Dunleavy, de Pinewood Shepperton, así como el ministro de Cultura, José Rafael Lantigua ; el senador de San Pedro de Macorís, José María Sosa. También, asistió al acto el ex gobernador de Puerto Rico, Aníbal Acevedo Vila.

En su discurso, Felipe A. Vicini destacó que el impulso y determinación del presidente Fernández para lograr la aprobación de la Ley de cine es una muestra de la importancia que reviste para el país un instrumento legal de esta categoría.

Dijo que la construcción del complejo “Pinewood Indomina Studios” es uno de los proyectos más importantes dentro de la industria del entretenimiento en Centroamérica y el Caribe, creando así, un gran legado para las generaciones venideras.

Citó que los estudios cinematográficos se convertirán en fuente de empleos para los residentes en San Pedro de Macorís, Guayacanes, Juan Dolio y otras comunidades de la región.

En la ceremonia igualmente habló el embajador de Inglaterra en el país, Steven Fisher,quien destacó que su país es el sexto inversor comercial en la República Dominicana.

Al respecto, resaltó que la economía dominicana es la más estable e importante del área del Caribe.

La invocación en el acto estuvo a cargo de monseñor Francisco Ozoria, obispo de la Diócesis de San Pedro de Macorís.

Al finalizar la actividad el presidente Fernández, la primera dama y los demás integrantes de la mesa de honor, estamparon sus firmas, que estarán en la parte frontal de los estudios de cine que serán construidos.

Asistieron también al acto de inicio de la nueva obra, representantes diplomáticos, consulares, cineastas, empresarios, periodistas y otras personalidades.

Dirección de Información, Prensa y Publicidad de la Presidencia
http://www.presidencia.gob.do/app/article.aspx?id=13414

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/5416215180_6ced0fac85_b.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/sd3s.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/5415744565_d839abcd39_b.jpg

sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

DP WORLD: PUERTO CAUCEDO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/1zb3x9h.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/31552250-1.jpg

sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/19rrwy-2.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/190291_108237772590732_100002135284961_90490_375659_n-2.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/188987_108243019256874_100002135284961_90591_2369224_n-2.jpg

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/188987_108243022590207_100002135284961_90592_6402888_n-3.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn467/juancito2008/4246446529_325fd6c9ec_z-1.jpg

Sources: photobucket/supercasas/bufeo

Carnival hará terminal de cruceros de US$65 millones
LA OBRA SERÁ EN MAIMÓN, PUERTO PLTA, Y SE ESPERA QUE GENERE US$30 MM EL PRIMER AÑO

El ministro de Turismo, Francisco Javier García, posa con inversionistas y otras personalidades que asistieron al acto donde anunció la obra turística.


Puerto Plata
La empresa Carnival Corporation anunció la construcción de una moderna terminal de cruceros en la comunidad de Maimón, Puerto Plata, a un costo de US$65 millones de dólares y que generará alrededor de US$30 millones en el primer año de operación.

El anuncio lo hizo Giora Israel, vicepresidente senior de la empresa líder en cruceros en el mundo, en un acto que estuvo encabezado por el ministro de Turismo, Francisco Javier García.

El ejecutivo turístico calificó la obra como un proyecto turístico de alto impacto para la provincia, la cual estará preparada para recibir dos barcos simultáneamente de por lo menos cuatro mil pasajeros y mil tripulantes, e iniciarán su construcción el 1 de octubre del próximo año.

“Este proyecto tiene su futuro y éxito asegurados porque Carnival Corporation además de hacer una inversión de US$65 millones garantiza la presencia masiva de cruceros y de los pasajeros, a diferencia de que esta terminal la construyera el Estado dominicano”, expresó el ministro de Turismo.

Javier García agregó que Carnival Corporation unifica a todos los sectores de la región trabajando en una sola dirección, y que de acuerdo a los estudios preliminares en el primer año llegarían 250 mil cruceristas, y los siguientes alcanzarían los 600 mil vacacionistas por cruceros, una cantidad superior a la que se recibe en todo el país en la actualidad.

“En su mejor época Puerto Plata recibió 174 mil pasajero de los cruceros que tocaron su puerto, el primer año Carnival asegura 250 mil, y en los próximos años esa cantidad puede aumentar hasta 600 mil, lo que significa que Puerto Plata recibirá más de lo que recibe todo el país en la actualidad”, puntualizó.

La terminal turística será construida en un espacio de 50,000 metros cuadrados en la Bahía de Maimón, durante un período de dos años; contará con tiendas, mercado, área de parque, entorno acuático, amenidades y área pública, generando alrededor de 800 empleos directos.

Los ejecutivos de la obra destacaron las cualidades de la zona y la belleza del entorno, las facilidades para que los pasajeros se trasladen hasta la ciudad de Puerto Plata y otros puntos de la región, pero sobre todo el impacto ambiental y el respeto al Código Internacional para la Protección de los Buques y las Instalaciones Portuarias (PBIP). La rapidez de la obra se debe sobre todo a que la inversión no requiere de ningún financiamiento y por las facilidades que ofrece el Estado dominicano a los inversionistas, que reunió a todos los sectores involucrados en la planificación y construcción del proyecto y desde los permisos iniciales hasta los finales tendrán el respaldo del presidente Leonel Fernández.

CONSTRUCCIÓN Y MOTIVACIÓN
El estudio presentado por los inversionistas contempla aumentar el gasto de los pasajeros de los cruceros de US$43 a US$95 por día, partiendo de que el promedio de gastos es de US$97 por pasajero y la terminal tendrá todas las facilidades para los pasajeros.

La terminal será construida y operada por la corporación Carnival, pero otras líneas de cruceros podrán tocar Puerto Plata como destino turístico. Las puertas también fueron abiertas para los inversionistas que desean formar parte de la terminal en la oferta complementaria para los visitantes.

Giora Israel reveló que aunque Puerto Plata tiene condiciones como destino fue determinante la motivación de el ministro de Turismo, Francisco Javier García, durante la celebración de la XVII Conferencia de Cruceros celebrada el pasado mes de octubre en Santo Domingo.

Carnival invertirá US$65 MM en terminal de cruceros en Puerto Plata


http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/carnival/49452/images/logo.gif


nji4nskNBN4

http://www.ultimodiario.com/fotos/IMG_0216.JPG

http://www.ultimodiario.com/fotos/IMG_0196.JPG


Por Aridio Perdomo (http://suelocaribe.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1255:carnival-invertira-us65-mm-en-terminal-de-cruceros-en-puerto-plata&catid=82:puerto-plata&Itemid=89)

Puerto Plata. El Gobierno autorizó a la empresa crucerista de Miami, Estados Unidos, la construcción de la terminal turística de Puerto Plata, obra que tendrá un costo de US$65.0 millones, la cual será llevada a cabo en la Bahía de Maimón, próximo a los proyectos de Costambar, Cofresí y Maimón en la zona Oeste de la entrada a esta ciudad.

El ministro de Turismo, Francisco Javier García Fernández, quien hizo el anunció de la obra, destacó la importancia que reviste para Puerto Plata, porque según dijo “esta ciudad se convertirá nuevamente en el destino más completo e importante de Republica Dominicana”, y se incrementará la llegada de turistas.

El Hotel Coral Marién, del proyecto turístico de Marapica, sirvió de escenario para el acto de presentación de este proyecto a cargo de los principales ejecutivos de la empresa Carnival Corporation, el cual fue encabezado por Jarvier Garcia; el director del Centro de Inversiones y Exportaciones de República Dominicana (CIERD), Eddy Martínez Manzueta, y la gobernadora de Puerto Plata, Eridania Llibre Jiménez.

También el director de Autoridad Portuaria Dominicana (APORDOM), Ramón Rivas; el encargado de Negocios de la Embajada de los Estados Unidos en el país, Robert Jones; el viceministro de Turismo para la costa Norte, Cesar José de los Santos; el director de la junta de distrito de Maimón, Ramón Saldaña, entre otros.

La compañía Carnival Corporation estuvo representada por su vicepresidente Giore Isrrael; David A. Candid; Jeff Ranix, Fabio Valenzuela, estos dos últimos del Grupo R y R, el cual está asociado con la empresa extranjera que construirá la terminal turística de Puerto Plata.

Previo a la apertura de la actividad el obispo de la Diócesis Puerto Plata-Gaspar Hernández, monseñor Julio Cesar Cornielle Amaro, tuvo a su cargo invocar a Dios por la bendición de la obra que ha sido demandada a los diferentes gobiernos por las “fuerzas vivas” de esta comunidad turística enclavada en la costa Norte.

Las palabras de bienvenida estuvieron a cargo de la gobernadora Llibre Jiménez. Posteriormente hablaron Martínez Manzueta, Rivas, Ramix y Garcia Fernández.




Ministro de Turismo: éxito asegurado



El funcionario afirmó que este proyecto no solamente cuenta con el apoyo del Gobierno, sino que esta obra tendrá el respaldo de los sectores políticos, sociales, económicos y culturales de la provincia de Puerto Plata.

García Fernández observó que la compañía Carnival Corporation ha logrado “unificarnos para que trabajemos en una sola dirección para que este proyecto tenga su triunfo y un gran éxito asegurado”.

Garcia Fernández manifestó que esta obra es de los pocos proyectos que “hemos visto que nace como decimos los dominicanos con el pan debajo del brazo”.

Resalto que le informó al presidente Leonel Fernández que esta inversión de US$65.0 millones (aproximadamente dos mil 500 millones de pesos) que hará la compañía Carnival para construir la terminal de cruceros de Puerto Plata desde ya tiene su éxito asegurado, porque la empresa maneja en el mundo 101 barcos de cruceros y esto hará que haya una presencia masiva de cruceritas en esta ciudad de la costa Norte.

Recordó que en la época de mayor esplendor del turismo de cruceros luego que el 15 de marzo de 1971 arribó a este puerto el barco Boheme, hace exactamente cuarenta años, Puerto Plata recibió para entonces 174 mil cruceristas por año, los cuales visitaban asiduamente los restaurantes, tiendas de gif shop.


Primer año traerá 250 mil turistas


García Fernández observó que la compañía Carnival garantiza que en el primer año de operación de la terminal que construirá en Maimón llegarán a Puerto Plata unos 250 mil cruceristas, aunque la meta es traer a esta zona 600 mil turistas de cruceros, lo que quiere decir que este destino contará prácticamente mucho más de los visitantes extranjeros que llegan a República Dominicana.

Reveló que un estudio presentado por la Carnival señala que el promedio de gastos de un crucerista cuando llega al país apenas es de US$43.00, pero cuando se construya la terminal turística de Puerto Plata, la empresa norteamericana proyecta que subirá a US$90.00, ya que esta zona tiene las mejores condiciones para recibir a grupos de cruceristas e incluso constituye la mejor opción para la visita de extranjeros.

El funcionario resaltó que los puertoplateños cuentan con un teleférico, mercados turísticos diferenciados en el mismo polo, entre ellos Sosúa, Cabarete, Cofresí, Maimón, “su única aspiración era que les dieran su oportunidad, pero ha llegado precisamente con la construcción de esta terminal de cruceros más modernas que tendrá el área del Caribe”.

El proyecto: empleos para 800 personas


El vicepresidente de la Compañía Carnival Corporation, Giore Isrrael, reveló que esta terminal de cruceros ofrecerá empleos directos a unas 800 personas, incluso por concepto de gastos en compras de los diversos productos que harán los cruceristas tendrán una entrada en ganancia de US$30.0 millones en el primer año de operación de dicha terminal turística.

El empresario manifestó que esta obra se construirá con recursos internos e incluso no va a necesitar de ningún tipo de financiación externa, pero tampoco de garantía soberana por parte del sector gubernamental.

Empresa de cruceros más importante


Reveló que Carnival Corporation constituye la empresa de cruceros más importante del mundo, incluso es una de las tres compañías más importantes internacionalmente en lo que respecta al sector esparcimiento.

Observó que en “nuestros barcos trabajan unos 75 mil personas, mientras que en las distintas sede y en los catorce puertos que operan en el mundo tienen trabajo hasta 14 mil empleados y obreros”.

Giore Isrrael dijo que la empresa maneja 101 barcos de cruceros, los cuales posee unas 200 mil camas e incluso el año pasado transportaron más de nueve millones de pasajeros, por lo que esperan que para este 2011 esta cifra aumente en 10 millones.

Sostuvo que Canival Corporation como casa matriz que opera en Miami, Estados Unidos, aglutina once líneas de cruceros, cada una de las cuales es líder en su sector, incluyendo las que operan en Norteamérica cuyos pasajeros provienen de esta zona y del resto del mundo.

Isrrael mencionó además las empresas que manejan en el Reino Unido, entre las que están los cruceros Quenn Elizabeth, Merry y Queen Victoria, los cuales representan el 50 por ciento de la industria crucerista en Inglaterra.

Igualmente, los que están en operación en América Continental, incluyendo Costa, el cual opera en Italia y es el más importante de Europa; la línea Aida que es la de mayor crecimiento que transporta pasajeros alemanes; Ibero Crucero que opera con base en Sudamérica y en Europa bajo la responsabilidad de la compañía Carnival Corporation.

Aseguró que esta terminal de cruceros que se proponen construir en Maimón no solamente será exclusiva de “nuestra empresa de cruceros, sino que podrá ser operada por otras compañías que estén interesadas en visitar este importante destino”.

Razones para la inversión


Otros datos importantes aportados en este encuentro por el ejecutivo de Carnival Corporation, David A. Candid, quien explicó el por qué esta compañía hará la inversión de US$65.0 millones para construir la terminal de cruceros en La Bahía de Maimón, Puerto Plata.

Según Candid, hace tiempo que Carnival ha querido renovar la visita de sus cruceros a Puerto Plata, pero el puerto que existe no funciona para que “lleguen nuestros barcos a esta bella ciudad de la costa Norte”, y añadió que esta región resulta bastante atractiva como destino para los turistas, porque posee una buena oferta de excursiones para complementar un buen itinerario para los visitantes extranjeros.

Resaltó que Puerto Plata posee un gran dinamismo en el aspecto de buenos restaurantes, carreteras en buenas condiciones, taxistas que ofrecen un servicio adecuado, un malecón embellecido, playas que son un encanto, una historia que contar con el establecimiento en su región del parque temático Ocean World, uno de los mejores de la región del Caribe y el mundo.

Sostuvo que la Bahía de Maimón brinda a la empresa Carnival seguridad para la aproximación, atraco de sus cruceros, incluso tienen asegurado en compra alrededor de 50 mil metros cuadrados, los cuales serán ampliados con otra similar cantidad para tener una exitosa terminal de cruceros en Puerto Plata.

Dos cruceros por semana


Aseguró que la Carnival atracará por semana dos cruceros con unos cuatro mil pasajeros, mil tripulantes cada uno, pero para eso se proponen dragar debidamente esta bahía, respetando en todo momento el impacto ambiental que conlleva una obra de esta naturaleza.

Observó que optimizaran el flujo de pasajeros en los horario pico de desembarco y embarque, porque “debemos tener cuidado para manejar diez mil personas que se movilizaran en una sola embarcación cuando lleguen a estas costas”.

El ejecutivo manifestó que la empresa Carnival Corporation requerirá, para ofrecer un buen servicio a sus pasajeros, que en Puerto Plata haya buen servicio de taxis, zonas diferenciadas en el aspecto del transporte, tiendas artesanales, mercados, amenidades, diseños acuáticos, áreas públicas al aire y zonas verdes.

Manifestó que en la etapa de construcción de la obra que tendrá una duración de dos años trabajarán alrededor de 200 personas de manera directa, en las áreas de mantenimiento, seguridad serán empleadas unas 75 de estas, incluso se tiene previsto que más de 100 taxis serán utilizados varias días a la semana cuando lleguen los cruceros a Puerto Plata.


Fuentes:


http://suelocaribe.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1255:carnival-invertira-us65-mm-en-terminal-de-cruceros-en-puerto-plata&catid=82:puerto-plata&Itemid=89