Two persons on a motor bike forbidden ?

After Andrea and Barry, here is Chantal

The tropical storms Andrea (May 6th -14th) and Barry (June 1st -5th) make place now to Chantal, quickly become extra tropical storm while approaching New Scotland.

On the other hand, the National Hurricane Center located since yesterday two new formations (see the map).

(1) is a system of low pressure associated with a tropical wave which continues to move towards the west and its center is at approximately 425 miles in the east of the Antilles. The rainy activity remains disorganized but the environmental conditions seem to be favorable for the formation of a tropical depression during the next days. With a speed from 10 to 15 miles per hour, even if this system does not develop, the Antilles must expect some wind gusts.

On the spot, an Air Force plane is programmed to evaluate the situation today in the afternoon if necessary.

(2) is a broad stormy system situated at several hundred miles in the east of Cabo Hatteras associated with a low extra tropical development.

No other tropical storm formation is expected within the next 48 hours.

Sylvain MAUFRAIS, 01.08.07

The discotheque Loft, of the Capital, involved in a new scandal

The discotheque Loft, Santo Domingo, is involved in a new scandal, caused this time by the ban on entrance of two « colored » people, who were neither more nor less than two high level employees of the Embassy of the United States.

Given the situation, the Embassy, currently directed by the Businesses representative, Ronald Bullen, asked all the Americans who work in this mission of not visiting this place because of racial discrimination practices.

A report on the incident in the discotheque has been published on the Web site of the Embassy of the United States in Dominican Republic (http://www.usemb.gov.do/nprensa/Discoteca_Loft.htm).

Al Momento, 01.08.07

Miss Las Terrenas (continuation)

For the photo session of Saturday July 28th, 12 beauties were on board of La Tortuga, the giant Catamaran of Las Terrenas, in preparation for the super show of the summer around the Dominican beauty.
A difficult afternoon with a lot of wind in Punta Popi.
Ideal weather for Kite Surfing but enemy of the photograph.
All the princesses of the competition Miss Las Terrenas 2007 were ready at 15h to work with 3 photographers and a cameraman, Camilo of the Mojito Bar, in order to record a video clip with a group of Reggaeton.
Welcome to Marielle, 19-year old, new participant to the competition of Miss Las Terrenas 2007 (in photo).
Thank you to the crew of La Tortuga, Fred, Mané and his assistants, and thank you also to the responsible persons Barbara and Pascal for their time and their assistance under these delicate weather conditions.
The place of the finale will be the Residence Alisei/Baraonda on Sunday August 26th starting from 17h.
New date for technical and security reasons.
Thank you for your understanding.

Photo Bruno Dongu, Extreme Pixel now in Casa Linda.

Hervé BROUSSET, 01.08.07

An investment of 53 billion Pesos in 25 hydro-electric works

The Government will invest 53,540 million Pesos in the construction of 25 hydro-electric dam works with the aim of using and of controlling water in various areas, informed this Wednesday the director of the Hydraulic Resources National Institute (INDRHI), Frank Rodríguez.

He explained that the construction would be realized from a National Hydrological Plan, using the consensus of experts of universities, hydraulic engineers, and union of professionals, ex civil servants of the INDRHI, civil servants and representatives of other organizations related to the sector.

The last meeting in which this plan was examined took place on Tuesday with the assistance of more than one hundred people, whose opinions are incorporated in the plan, he added.

Everybody agrees on the fact of applying a long-term program to handle water and to control it so that it is used until its arrival in the sea , Rodriguez said, interviewed this Wednesday in the « Matinal 5 » program of Telemicro.

He indicated that the dams will be of various sizes and will be useful not only for the storage of the liquid but also for the irrigation, the supply of drinking water and the generation of electrical power.

The places where they would be constructed are Alto Yuna, in Monseñor Nouel; Monte Grande, in Barahona; Guaiguí, in La Vega; Amina, in Valverde; Chavón, in La Romana; Río Soco, in El Cabao; Joca, in Elías Piña; Guayubín, in Santiago Rodríguez; Mijo, in San Juan de la Maguana; Los Baos, in San Juan de la Maguana; Capotillo, in Dajabón; Los Libores, in Salcedo; La Gina, in Peravia; Caonao, in Puerto Plata; Boba, in María Trinidad Sanchez; Anamuya, in la provincia Altagracia; Rio San Juan, in Samana; Loma de Cabrera, in Dajabón; Río Haina, in Santo Domingo; Los Cocos, in Dajabon; Montemayor, in San Juan de la Maguana; Río Sanate, in La Altagracia; Río Yaáica, in Puerto Plata; Don Miguel, in Dajabón y río Sonado, in San Juan de la Maguana.

Al Momento, 02.08.07

Improvement of 16% in the sales of beers last month

The president of the National Dominican Brewery (CND) informed this Wednesday that after the entry in force of the law of « fiscal rectification » this company had an « improvement » in the sales of beers.
Rafaël Menicucci revealed that during the first half-year 2007 there was a reduction of 23% of the sales of the products elaborated by the Brewery but that there was an improvement while implementing the reduction of the taxes that the companies manufacturing beer, rums and cigarettes had to pay.
He indicated that the Brewery could recover 16% of the sales last month and hopes the things continue improving. He reiterated that the philosophy of the company is to provide first quality products to the consumers.

Al Momento, by Ramon GONZALEZ, 02.08.07

The tropical wave passed over the Antilles

1) The strong rains and the gusts joined the tropical wave in a system of low pressure to cross the Antilles and to reach the Eastern Caribbean Sea.

There is currently no sign of tropical cyclone formation but the conditions are favorable for a tropical depression formation today and tomorrow, moving towards the west.

(2) The cloud cover and the rains over the Golf of Mexico are associated with a broad low pressure area. There is no sign of organization but a slow development is possible today and tomorrow.

Elsewhere…Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Sylvain MAUFRAIS,Las Terrenas Live, 02.08.07

The media place their means at the disposal for the debates of the candidates

The company of the National Informative Services (SIN) and the channels of Antena Latina were placed at the disposal by their executives for the realization of a debate between the presidential candidates of the majority parties which will dispute the power at the time of the elections of next May 16th.

The president of the National Informative Services, Fernando Hasbún and the manager Miguel Bonetti Dubreil, President of Antena Latina, explained that the discussions on the various proposals of government from those who direct the electoral bulletins could contribute to the reinforcement of the democratic institutions of the country.

Recently, the presidential candidate of the opposition of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Engineer Miguel Vargas Maldonado, defied Doctor Leonel Fernández, President of the Republic and candidate of the government Party of the Dominican Liberation (PLD) to a public discussion on the economic and social problems affecting the country.

In front of the proposal, Amable Aristy Castro, candidate to the Presidency for the Christian Social Reformist Party (PRSC), challenged Fernández and Vargas Maldonado to a debate.

We offer our means without any cost, with all the equipment, the professional competence of the journalists Alicia Ortega and Miguel Guerrero, with a long experiment in the preparation of the debates and the informative coverage, so we can offer to the population a clear concept on what is the thinking of the chiefs who aspire to manage their destiny , explains a document of Noticias SIN and Antena Latina.

The transparency is a fundamental element of the democracy, this is why we understand that our means fill the essential element of their raison d’être with the diffusion of these debates, Fernando Hasbún expressed.

(Photo: Leonel FERNÁNDEZ, Amable Aristy CASTRO and Miguel Vargas MALDONADO)

El Viajero Digital, 02.08.07

The World Bank grants a loan of 19 million US $ to Dominican Republic

The World Bank Group (WBG) announced yesterday the agreement of a loan to Dominican Republic of 19.4 million dollars to support a project of protection of the investments.

An announcement of the multilateral financial organization indicated that the project will also improve the application and the effectiveness of the public programs of social protection. It will also try to reduce poverty in the short term and to encourage that the sectors of lower receipts accumulate human capital to leave indigence.

It stressed that the loan was granted with a deadline of 17 years and a tolerance deadline of five years.

Al Momento, 03.08.07

38 thousand 529 citizens did not renew yet their firearm license

Some 38 thousand 529 citizens did not renew yet their firearm license, informed the Secretariat of Interior and Police, and exhorted those who have firearms with one, two or more years of settlement date, to renew their document as from next Monday.

The announcement was made through a press report in which it is recommended to pay the corresponding taxes in any branch of Banco de Reservas.
It explains that the licenses with one year of settlement date, 15.261 in totality, will only pay the taxes corresponding to one year. On the other hand, those with two or more years of settlement date (23.268 users) will have to pay up to two years, and will have to request in the branch of Banco de Reservas the corresponding number of payment forms and will have to fill them, explains the note.

The Secretariat of Interior insists on the fact that for the users who for reasons already indicated must pay two years and pay only one, their license will not be valid.

Listin Diario, 03.08.07

What happens with the road works in Las Terrenas ?

Here briefly some information on the continuation of the road works in Las Terrenas.

The SEITOUR work, concerning the drainage of waste waters, was stopped for lack of financial means five weeks ago. Since then, money is coming in but the Town council required that work do not restart immediately in order to not disturb the tourists in high season. Starting foreseen on next September 15th, 2007.

Beginning of work of the portion Las Terrenas – El Catey foreseen before the end of the year, following the plotting of the engineers and geometricians during July.

The construction of the bridge and the realization of the deviation LasTerrenas – El Limón were entrusted to the Modesto Group and asphalting will be made of in coordination with the end of realization of the streets Carmen, Mella (hospital) and Sánchez, before the end of the year.

Sylvain MAUFRAIS,Las Terrenas Live, 03.08.07

It went away !

The tropical wave disaggregated in the night to reform itself at the beginning of the morning over the central Caribbean Sea.

It is moving rapidly westward and is expected to bring cloudiness and showers to Jamaica … The Cayman Islands and Central America today and Saturday.
Elsewhere tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours and good weather is expected over Las Terrenas with an east wind to drive out the few residual clouds.

Have a nice day.

Sylvain MAUFRAIS,Las Terrenas Live, 03.08.07

Reduction of the crimes of more than 50%

The Chief of the Police force, Lieutenant General Bernardo Santana Páez, affirmed yesterday that the statistics managed by this institution and the Office of the General Attorney of the Republic reveal that the criminal facts were reduced of more than 50 percent.

Moreover, he reported the closing of 21 businesses accused to violate the decree 308-06, which sanctions the bars violating the closing times and that would have to be closed within the implemented time schedules. He did not give the names of the concerned places.

By quoting figures on the reduction of the deaths due to violent facts, Santana Páez quoted like example the case of the Distrito Nacional and the Santo Domingo province, where he affirmed that the reduction of the criminal acts exceeded 50 percent during the last month.

For the Chief of the Police, the key to achieve the goal of the institution to reduce the number of deaths by violent facts was a closer integration of police agents in patrol in the streets, work in harmony, the devotion and the support of President Leonel Fernández .

He supported that we can now solve cases which in the past were difficult to solve, thanks to the acquisition of modern equipment for the Scientific Police force.

Santana Páez declared that we now obtain favorable sentences in more than 70 percent of the cases presented in front of the courts.

This effectiveness shows the technicality of our agents and the professionalism with which the evidence on the scene of the crime are picked up, he underlined.

Santana Páez explained that on the National Sector ten people lost the life in violent facts during last July, of whom four were victims of intra familial violence.

He stressed that the fruit of the preventive tasks in Santo-Domingo represents a reduction of 23 violent deaths during last July compared to the same period during last year.

In July 2006, 40 people lost the life in violent facts, and 17 the last month.

The chief of the Police said that in the last weeks the criminal demonstrations were practically neutralized by the implementation of a new system of surprised operations to which take part quantity of agents who identified the supposed delinquents, this maintaining the quietness in some sectors of the city.

We have a flow chart of the offences and we identified the principal delinquents, this is why we have the capacity to stop them and send them to the justice, he specified.

The Chief of the Police force admitted that to obtain these results, they needed the support of all the sectors, mainly of the church, the sporting clubs, the totality of the neighbors and of the media of communication.

In the same way, the headquarters of the Police force informed of the detention of 580 people for investigation for robberies in inhabited houses, death and wounds by bullets towards citizens; traffics of illicit substances and illegal possession of firearms.

Hoy Digital, by RADHAMÉS GONZÁLEZ, 06.08.07

Aristy Castro invites the Dominicans to hold in check the delinquency and the poverty

The candidate to the presidential elections of the Christian Social Reformist Party (PRSC), Amable Aristy Castro, invited the Dominicans to hold in check the delinquency, the poverty, the drugs traffic, the implementation of abusive taxes and the power cuts, voting for his candidature on next May 16th.

The time is coming for the poor and the forgotten of this country, he said in the speech of proclamation of his candidature for the Presidency of the Republic, in which he affirmed that the delinquency, the power cuts the rising prices of the first need products held the Government in check.

Our country does not support anymore the climate of insecurity, our country does not support anymore the climate of anxiety and fear feeling in our streets. There is no single sector which is not affected by the crime, there is no Dominican who feels in total security and this cannot continue, he expressed.

Aristy Castro said that the country claims an administration which thinks of the poor and does not forget them when it arrives at the National Palace.

He promised that by winning the elections he will face the problems and will restitute the quietness in the families, will reduce the taxes and will fight the drugs traffic in a strong manner.

The political leader, who presents himself as the presidential candidate of the poor, declared that if the Government wrings the Dominican Municipal League out of him, this will not be an obstacle to become the next President of the Republic.

By specifying the profile which his election campaign will have, he said that he will not answer the attacks against his person, nor will not be diluted in sterile confrontations, but that he will concert wills and will offer a change in favor of the people, especially with regard to the poor.

Leader of the old guard of the PRSC, Aristy Castro is also a veteran in the public administration, he was president of the Deputies Parliament and Senator of the Republic during several periods and he is currently the General Secretary of the Dominican Municipal League.

El Caribe CDN, 06.08.07

The Cardinal is opposed to the change of closing times for alcoholic drink sales

The Cardinal Nicolás Jesus López Rodriguez rejected yesterday the modification of the closing times implemented by the authorities for the bars selling alcoholic drinks, for the colmados, discotheques and other entertainment centers.

My opinion is against the change of the closing times of sales of alcoholic drinks. They have to leave them like this, although I do not know which the reasons to change them are, he said.

He emphasized that his position is firm and that he does not agree with change in the measures.

I maintain my opinion, but if the authorities want to change it and extend it, amen .

The Secretary of Interior and Police, Doctor Franklin Almeyda Rancier, announced that he will give more flexibility to the sale of alcoholic drinks in the zone of Cabarete and Puerto Plata. He said that this population will start a pilot plan to make the closing times more flexible, provided that the owners will have the responsibility to maintain the security and the order in their businesses.

Owners of discotheques, restaurants, bars, colmados, directors of groups and orchestras, ask the Government to extend the schedule of sale of alcoholic drinks and the opening of the places.

The measure which was implemented to slow down the wave of violence and criminality, limits the sales of alcoholic drinks from Sunday to Thursday up to midnight, and on Fridays and Saturdays up to 2:00 am.

El Nacional, byTeofilo BONILLA, 06.08.07

Asonahores greets the flexibility of the schedule of drink sales

The National Association of Hotels and Restaurants – Asonahores -, greeted the decision of the Secretariat of Interior and Police to lighten the schedule of sale of alcoholic drinks in the zone of Cabarete, Puerto Plata.

Arturo Villanueva, President of the organization, stressed that Cabarete is an example where measure can be lightened.
I believe that it is a correct attitude, we will see the results, and I believe that the restaurants keepers have the right asking to make this measure more flexible , he said.

The secretary of Interior and Police, Franklin Almeida Rancier, informed that thanks to an agreement with the owners of bars, restaurants and of the Community, some measures will be taken to adapt the closing times. He informed that in Cabarete a pilot plan was started to make the closing times more flexible, provided that the owners of businesses maintain security and order in their businesses.

El Caribe CDN, by Rosa LUGO, 07.08.07

An investment of 25 billion pesos in health tourism in Barahona

As an innovation in tourist offer in Dominican Republic and to promote the development of Barahona, a thermal complex will be carried out in Canoa with an investment of 25 billion pesos, (757 million US Dollars) in order to promote the health tourism, method which during the last year had a rapid expansion in various countries of the world.

This type of tourism combines leisure and rest. With this project, Barahona is transformed into the fourth province in tourist investments, informed the Secretary of Tourism, Felix Jiménez, who explained that the luxurious project will have an initial investment of 800 thousand dollars.

The south-western area claimed since decades the expansion of its tourism. The project indicates that the time of final takeoff arrived, through a protocol that the Secretariat of Tourism signed yesterday to rent for 99 years and 500 thousand dollars, two thousand 300 tareas (1.446.700 square meters, nearby the sea) to the Commercial Company Terma de la Salamandra and which will consequently seek to increase the capacity of reception of new international tourists in Creole ground.

The project will start to be developed one year after being approved by the Congress and it is considered that the works will be carried out during seven to eight years.

The agreement signed between the Secretary of Tourism Felix Jiménez and Robert Chetoni, president of the rental company, establishes the construction of around thousand five stars rooms, 20 tennis courts, a 27 holes golf course, thermal swimming pools, jets with pressure, a center of conventions and a school among other tourist options.

It is a matter of a leasing agreement with purchase options. The tenants will have the right to propose to the Dominican State the final purchase of the grounds, through margins of the deposited values, explained Jiménez.

The Tourism civil servant informed that added to these 500 thousand dollars which will be invested in infrastructures works in the zone, the rental company will grant 350 thousands of additional dollars, 52 plots of the commune of Caona de Barahona, where the complex will be developed.

He explained that the richness of mineral and thermal water of this zone exist since million years, and the Dominican State however had never had an offer in none of its governments of a serious company which proposes investments of this type in Italy. Chetoni, expert in thermal springs, explained that since 1999, he started to study Thermal Springs of this village.

This water is 38 degree Celsius warm and has the same chemical composition than the largest Terma of Europe.

The project of Caona de Barahona is catalogued as the largest of the world. For the Barahoneros, the execution of the project will be a source of employment. This includes the medical and technical personnel and the engineers.

The business company Terma de Salamandra, is represented in the country by Robert Chetoni, who intervened in more than 20 of the most important thermal complexes of Italy and in other parts of the world.

Governor Manual Florián and Senator Noe Sterling Vázquez, Julio Brache, President of the cluster of tourist companies of Barahona, Father Jesús Angel and Arturo Villanueva, executive Vice-president of the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (ASONAHORES) attended the signature that took place in the Hotel Santo Domingo.

Listin Diariopar Desirée MARTINEZ, le 07.08.07

They start search against toys containing lead

The Public Health authorities started this Monday a search against toys made in China and which are hypothetically covered with lead, highly harmful substance for the human.

Inspectors of the Environmental Health Management checked various stores and they started to withdraw the toys of Mattel and Fisher Price brands, which contain lead in the paint covering them, and to confiscate those which are in stock.

The Under-Secretary of Health, Nelson Rodríguez, said that he met with importers and owners of toy’s stores who declared having started to withdraw the toys.

Moreover, he announced that the Public Health started contacts with various institutions and chemical laboratories in order that the experts start to visit the toy’s stores and take various types of toys in order to check in which other brands there would be evidence of toxic material.

Recently, the United States started to withdraw from the market toys of Mattel and Fisher Price brands, which are also sold in the country, because they contained lead, a dangerous poison which accumulates in the body and damages the nervous system, and the development of the intelligence in the children.

Al Momento, 07.08.07

The Humanitarian Dominico Europea Association certified by the Dominican State

Ladies and Gentlemen,

After a long period of steps to the Dominican Administration, we finally received our official recognition by the Dominican State as non profit-making association, recorded under the number 149-000000024.

This official inscription encourages us to develop our actions on the Province of Samaná, geographical sector we have chosen.

Our association hopes that everybody, made aware of the actions which we carry out, will be able to make know our existence to everybody who wants to work for the humanitarian.

Our team remains at your disposal for more information.

Email of the Association:[email protected].

For the President,
The vice-president,

Bernard Piriou

Enclosed: the document of Certification.

The Humanitarian Dominico Europea Association, 08.08.2007

Election of Miss Las Terrenas 2007

Who will be the winner ? Answer on Sunday August 26th from 05:00 pm near the swimming pool of the Alisei-Baraonda Residence.

Come for this beautiful event in Las Terrenas.

Hervé BROUSSET and the organizer Committee, 08.08.07

The Taxis carry out a walk to require an extension of the hours of alcohol sale

Santiago – Tens of taxi drivers went from the Monument of the Heroes of the Restoration to the building of the provincial government, while claiming that the Executive power modifies the decree which regulates the sales of alcoholic drinks in the entertainment places.

They put forward as proof that hundreds of taxi drivers meet difficulties due to the lack of customers in the streets.

The leaders of the drivers, Gervasio de la Rosa, Francisco Tejada and Francisco Arias explained to the provincial governor, Professor José Izquierdo that they want that the Government extends the schedules of alcohol sales in the entertainment places. In the same way, they requested the modification of the hydrocarbon law, because these products are very expensive to buy. They indicated that tourism also decreased and that many taxis working in night schedules changed to work during the day, but their business is still in deficit.

During their protest, the taxis were escorted by police and AMET agents, but no incident was recorded.

El Libelo, by Narcisse Pérez, 08.08.07

Leonel Fernández will travel to Venezuela and Mexico

The president of the Republic, Doctor Leonel Fernández, will travel on next Friday to Venezuela, where he will participate to the 3rd Summit Conference of the Heads of Government of Petrocaribe.

In agreement with the pre established program, the participating technical delegations will meet on Friday afternoon to examine and approve the joint act which will be presented.

The 3rd Petrocaribe Summit will begin officially on Saturday with the speech of the President of the Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez.

Then the agents present will speak and later the reading and the signature of the Joint Declaration will take place.

The meeting will be concluded with a press conference in the PDVSA Auditorium, where the Summit will be developed, to offer the details.

Among the members of the Petrocaribe Agreement, there are Antigua and Barbuda but also the Heads of Government of other countries, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Grenade, Guyana, Jamaica, San Vicente and Grenadines, Sainte Lucie and Surinam.

Travel to Mexico

From Venezuela the Dominican representative will move to Mexico where he will stay until the 13th. He will meet there with the president of the nation, Felipe Calderón, and will attend meetings with various educational sectors.

President Fernández will visit the Technological Center of Monterrey, where the executive will present various projects of regional development and then will visit several technological parks of Mexico.

The Head of State will return to the country on Monday 13th in the night.

El Viajero Digital, 09.08.07

Human rights threatened with the new chief of the NP

Defenders groups of the human rights considered the designation of new chief of the Police force, Major General Rafaël Guillermo Guzmán Fermín, as a « decline for the country », because according to them, the way in which he carried out the Regional Management in the North-East in 2003, disqualifies him for this function.

Although the president of the Dominican Committee of the Human Rights (CDH), Virgilio Almánzar, understands that Guzmán Fermín begins his mandate with the responsibility of applying the hardness of the law against the delinquency, for the CNDH, it is to laugh at the population, because the new chief of the police force has pending files in San Francisco de Macorís, said Manuel María Mercedes.

We have to remember that Guzmán Fermín was baptized « Chief of the Surgeons »; and that with this nomination, the Executive power rejects two preceding managements, he said.

Because precisely, managements of Major General Manuel Jesús Pérez Sánchez and of Major General Bernardo Santana Páez, were characterized by the respect of the human rights and a visible rapprochement with the civil population. These two managements are qualified as excellent by the CNDH and this organization delivered to Santana Páez the most granted honor to those who protect the human rights, « the Medal of the Merit ».

Major Général Guzmán Fermín became famous during his management in the North-East because – according to the CNDH and the Collective of Popular Organizations -, young people were wounded by bullet in the knees or in the spinal column, leaving them invalid. I will have a management responsible and energetic, with tolerance zero for the delinquency, were the first words of Guzmán Fermín at the time of his nomination. Mercedes says that this nomination is to make fun of the parents of more than 100 handicapped young people in the Communities of the North-East.

For this reason we convene the Commission on this Sunday in order to define our procedure to face the appointment of the new chief of the Police force, of whom the characteristics and the activities are completely unworthy of a State with legal rights.

There is no problem to be hard with the delinquency but it is necessary to respect the human rights of all the citizens, Almánzar said.

The new actions of the new chief of the Police force started yesterday with the death of a chief and a delinquent during gun shootings in the sector María Auxiliadora.

Diario Libre, by Adonis Santiago Díaz, 20.08.07

Start of the new school year today in the country

Two million four hundred thousand sixty-three million hundred thirty students (2.463.130) have started today the school year, official beginning vital to achieve the Goals of the Millennium in education: to not record all the 5-year old children in the schools will make very difficult obtaining that in 2015 all the 15 year-old children have a nine years minimal schooling.

The official opening of this new school year will take place at 8:00 am, in the Center of Excellence of Education « Cristina Billini Morales » of Los Guaricanos.

The ceremony will be directed by the president of the Republic, Leonel Fernández Reyna, who will be accompanied by the secretary of Education, Alejandrina Germán.

The start of the school year was delayed in any community in spite of the passage of the hurricane Dean. Germán explained that the only school which had to be used as refuge is located in Barahona and it was evacuated yesterday morning.

We exhort all national educational Communities to continue to support the Secretariat of Education because an education of quality is not the exclusive responsibility of the State, but of all the sectors of the national life, particularly of the families .

By offering more details over the school year, Germán indicated that the public sector will have more than 32 thousand classrooms at disposal corresponding to 11.890 educational centers. Thousand and nine hundred seventy nine of the establishments were repaired and refreshed during the summer thanks to the Improvement and Embellishment School Day, for which Education invested 219, 779,457 RD $.

Germán announced as of the first week of the school calendar, 14 million text books , 80 thousand grants for teachers, 300 thousand bags with school material and 200 thousand uniforms and shoes will be distributed.

Hoy Digital, by Marien Aristy C., 21.08.07

Dean did not make damage on the beaches of the East zone

The secretary of Tourism, Felix Jiménez, said yesterday that the hurricane Dean does not have affected the tourist poles of the Dominican Republic and that the greatest part of the East zone remained in perfect state, except for Juan Dolio, where the sea waters of the Caribbean soiled the sand of waste.
He said that in the East the beaches did not suffer from damage and that even a film shooting was carried out yesterday in Punta Cana.
He declared that the hotels of Santiago and Puerto Plata operated in a normal way and that they maintained a good occupation rate.
Jiménez inspected yesterday the tourist pole of the East and Juan Dolio.
He expressed that there were neither regrettable situations, nor human losses.

Hoy Digital, by Llennis Jiménez G., 21.08.07

American Eagle starts flights to lush Dominican province, Samaná

Santo Domingo – American Eagle, the American Airlines regional affiliate carrier, said it will begin a new service from Samaná (northeast) to San Juan, Puerto Rico on December 13. The airline will fly from Samaná with a 64 passenger Super ATR plane.

Our customers in the Dominican Republic were asking for this service, said Rafael Sanchez, of American Airlines in the Dominican Republic. Samaná is a destination with an extraordinary potential and this new service will complement the development of the zone, which will result in a solid drive to the local economy.

Samaná is an attraction for nature lovers and those with a thirst for adventure. Its natural beauty makes it very attractive for newlyweds, who seek unexplored areas for diving and to watch the humpback whales that visit the area.

Dominican Today, 21.08.07

The biggest dealer of Las Terrenas, Samaná and Sanchez arrested by the DNCD

During the days from Friday to Sunday of the last week, the president of the anti-drug agency, Major General Rafaël Radhamés Ramirez Ferreira, informed that more than 50 sale and distribution of narcotics points had been dismantled.

The Police force added that an important participation of coordinators took place, as well as the participation of the members of the Armed Forces.

Among the prisoners appears the most remarkable and more violent drugs distributor of Samaná, known as Alex Green Disney and/or Robinson Alenzader Alcala, alias Manota, who was looked for by the Police.

This person had the control of the distributions points of Samaná, Sánchez and Las Terrenas, but he is now in the hands of justice. It remains to determine the fate of this delinquent , the Major said.

Green Disney was caught with 250 grams of cocaine and a package of marijuana in the street Epifanio Spowder, of the district Villa Faima, according to the report of the chief of the DNCD (National Direction of Drugs Control), who made the announcement through his spokesman, the journalist Robert Lebrón.

We were looking for this person since months, but fortunately he was arrested in flagrant offence, so we hope he will be sent to the court, he added.

El Nuevo Diario,21.08.07

At the end of the year, the country will add 3.025 hotel rooms

Yesterday, the Secretariat of Tourism informed that this year 3.025 new hotel rooms on the East and North coasts of the country will be operational. Statistics of 2006 indicate that Dominican Republic has 63.206 tourist rooms.
The number of new rooms was increased mainly in Puerto Plata, Las Terrenas, Samaná, Bavaro, Bayahíbe and Punta Cana, including San Pedro de Macorís. And 452 rooms were renovated.
Among the hotels which carried out this extension there are Viva Windham of Playa Dorada with 14 rooms, Bahía Estela Caribe, Las Terrenas with a total of 82, and Cayacoa, Samaná with 183 rooms.
Among the hotels which renovated their rooms we find Cayo Levantado with 214 rooms and Bahía Príncipe Gran Bahía with 108, both located in Samaná.

Listin Diario, by Désirée Martinez, 21.08.07

Leonel continues painting Government with various colors

President Leonel Fernández performed yesterday new designations within the public administration, the majority apparently benefiting leaders from minority parties which become allied in his aspirations to continue at the power.
Among these movements, disagreeable for Angel Lockward, who gave his dismissal because they did not give him any « power » , the Executive incorporated in the Government, by means of decrees, leaders of the PRD, in particular of the partisans of Fello Suberví, and of the parties of the Veterans and Civils (PNVC), of Democratic Quisqueyano (PQD), National Unity (PUN), Christian Popular (PPC), and National Rebirth (PRN).
By means of the last two decrees of yesterday evening, Elías Wessin Chávez was nominated to the National Goods, as Secretary of State, and Nelson Didiez, was nominated ambassador assigned to the Chancellery.

Diario Libre, 21.08.07

They seek to withdraw Reggaetón music

The National Service of Drugs Control and the office of the Attorney General announced yesterday that they will implement measures to try to withdraw Reggaetón from the radio transmissions because it would encourage the narcotics consumption.
This statement was made by the president of the National Office of Drugs Control, Rafaël Ramirez Ferreiras, during a conversation with journalists during the act of accounts surrender of the Attorney General of the Republic, Radhamés Jiménez.

Reggaetón justifies the consumption of the prohibited substances and we are implementing a plan with several lawyers, but initially we will ask for the co-operation of the music programmers, indicated Ramirez.

Questioned on this subject, the Prosecutor Jiménez indicated that Reggaetón is a type of music which makes an attempt on the morality, this is why, in his opinion, its diffusion must be controlled, he added: I do not believe that this music must be diffused by the radios, but we must put ourselves in contact with the Public Spectacles Commission and the Institute of Telecommunications to establish a final brake.

For his part, the President of the Drugs National Council, Mabel Féliz, said that it is necessary to have the control of the music which supports violence. She said, in addition, being making research on the sales in the country of a transfer which causes absorption of drug by the pores in the children. While representative of Children and Teenagers of the Attorney General office, Marisol Tobal, supported the elimination of the « satanic » music.

El Caribe, by Tomás Vidal, 22.08.07

All flights, schedules, companies from and to El Catey

Here is the list of the flights planned until April 28th, 2008, for some Airline companies, from and to the International airport El Catey Samaná.

As announced in an article of May and then of last June, the flights Barcelona – El Catey are confirmed until the end of August, as well as the flights from Milan (Malpensa) until December 16th of this year.

Company XL AIRWAYS

Arriving from Paris CDG (A330), arrival at 12h05 every Thursday, confirmed until October 25th, 2007
Departure for Puerto Plata the same day at 13h35

Company AIR PLUS COMET

Arriving from Madrid (A313), arrival at 19h35 every Tuesday, confirmed until October 30th, 2007
Departure for Montego Bay the same day at 20h50

Arriving from Barcelona (A343), arrival at 20h05 every Friday, confirmed until August 31st, 2007
Departure for Barcelona the same day at 21h30

Arriving from Barcelona (A310), arrival at 16h30 every Friday, confirmed until September 28th, 2007
Departure for Punta Cana the same day at 18h00

Company CONDOR

Arriving from Frankfort (B767), arrival at 18h30 every Tuesday, confirmed until October 30th, 2007
Departure for Puerto Plata the same day at 19h30

Company LTU

Arriving from Dusseldorf (A330), arrival at 14h50 every Tuesday, confirmed until October 30th, 2007
Departure for Puerto Plata the same day at 15h50

Company BLUE PANORAMA

Arriving from Malpensa (B767), arrival at 13h00 every Sunday, confirmed until December 16th, 2007
Departure for La Romana the same day at 14h00

Company FIRST CHOICE

Arriving from London (B767), arrival at 15h30 every Thursday, confirmed until October 25th, 2007
Departure for London the same day at 17h45

Company SATA

Arriving from Lisbon (A310), arrival at 15h50 every Saturday confirmed until October 27th, 2007
Departure for Lisbon the same day at 17h50

Company CANJET AIRLINES

Arriving from Montreal (B737), arrival at 14h45 every Monday, confirmed until March 3rd, 2008
Departure for Montreal the same day at 15h35
Arriving from Montreal (B737), arrival at 13h45 every Monday, confirmed until April 28th, 2008
Departure for Montreal the same day at 14h35

Company CORSAIR

Arriving from Punta Cana (B744), arrival at 20h25 every Sunday, confirmed until December 16th, 2007
Departure for Paris Orly the same day at 21h55
Arriving from Paris Orly (B744), arrival at 18h00 every Sunday, confirmed March 23rd, 2008
Departure for Paris Orly the same day at 20h40

Sylvain MAUFRAIS (source Aérodom),Las Terrenas Live, 23.08.07

Support and rejection of the abortion de-penalization

With the assistance of the members of the Catholic and Evangelist churches, politicians and organizations of civil companies, the Special subcommittee of Deputy Chamber listened to proposals of support and of rejection of the de-penalization of abortion.

The public meeting, which is the second to take place with this purpose, took place in the Living room of the National Assembly, in the National Congress.

From the first hours of the morning, the representatives of churches, women organizations, academic institutions, professionals and independent people arrived and each one disposed of 5 minutes to expose their position compared to the modification of article 98 of the Penal code concerning the de-penalization of the practice of the abortion.

For this occasion some 125 people were registered among whom the presidential candidate of the Christian Social Reformist Party, Amable Aristy Castro, who expressed the rejection of de-penalization of the abortion from his party.

The Living room of the National Assembly was blocked by people who arrived at the National Congress by various ways carrying placards and shouting slogans as well in favor as against the permission of the termination of pregnancy.

Criticisms of the de-penalization of the abortion consider that if the termination of pregnancy is allowed, the Dominican Republic would be seen at the international level as the slaughter-house of the Caribbean.

While those who support the de-penalization, among whom the Dominican Medical College and the owners of private clinics as well as many women organizations and civil companies, argue that it is necessary to let the women to have the possibility of deciding on their pregnancy or when this one endangers the life of the woman.

After a difficult fight of the Dominican Medical College and other institutions requiring that the abortion in certain circumstances will not be penalized, the Executive power decided to return the Penal code in order to re-study it.

According to article 98 of the Penal code, the person who by means of food, of beverages, drugs, of probes, treatments or by another mean causes or cooperates directly to the abortion of a woman, even if it is agreeing, will be punished of a prison sentence from 4 to 10 years, same sentence will be applied to the woman who will cause an abortion.

El Caribe, by Máximo Zabala, 23.08.07

Yes for Reggaetón

Reggaetón is again in the eye of the cyclone when this kind of music enjoys an enviable popularity.

Directors and hosts of the principal radio stations which promote this music rejected yesterday the intentions which seek to withdraw this rhythm of the radios and televisions, according to the announcement of the representatives of the Attorney General of the Republic office and of the National Office of Drugs Control.

Ingrid Durán and Junior Sosa, directors of the radio stations Mortal FM (104.9) and KQ 94 as well as other radio hosts interviewed yesterday by El Caribe, completely rejected the censure of the popular music coming from Puerto Rico asked by the authorities.

Reggaetón has interpreters who have topics containing Christian messages” , ensured Durán.  Do they want to withdraw these songs from the radio stations ? These decisions of censure are doubtful he indicated.

In the same way, Junior Sosa emphasized: I believe that the problem is not there, every time we want to occult something, people point a finger at urban music. No, the evil is not there. The evil is in the twenty thousand drug points operating there as Ramirez Ferreiras said.

DNCD

The president of the National Office of Drugs Control (DNCD) clarified yesterday that he is not opposed to this kind of music but on the lyrics which encourage the consumption of narcotics and violence, because their diffusion violates article 36 of Law 50-88.

INTOLERANCE ?

The radio directors interviewed by El Caribe say that Ramirez and Jiménez are behind the time as the Reggaetón is currently an industry which produces million dollars on a world level.
According to program planners of the urban music emissions, they do not diffuse songs which implicitly profess contents evoking the consumption of drugs.

Various musical styles always existed, an example of the attacks that Reggaetón undergoes today is what occurred at the beginnings of the Rock’n’roll, which was also a phenomenon during the Seventies and produced debates compared to the contents of its words, remembered Rafy El Negro, host of Kiss 94.9.

They recognize that in the beginning, Reggaetón promoted an aggressive language, as well verbal as in its sounds which referred to the use of firearms, but they consider that the music evolved positively.

The times changed and currently we have romantic lyrics, an example is the success of « Quizás » interpreted by Rakin & Ken-Y, argued Rafy.

El Caribe, by 23.08.07

Bakers announce increasing in bread price

The breads « sobao » and « of agua » sold at RD $3.00 will raise to RD $5.00 while keeping their current sizes, but another cheaper bread will be proposed to the consumers for RD $3.00 as from this Friday, informed the president of the Union of Flour Manufacturers, Antonio Delgado.

He said that the increase in prices and other measures were adopted by the bakers because of the increase of the accessories used for the manufacture of this product.

Interviewed during the program Despierta con CDN, he said that with the time, the bread at RD $3.00 will also disappear because the consumers will put it aside .

We made this decision because of the rise in the gas prices, the gallon is sold 77 RD $, of the flour prices, of the sugars and of other ingredients , he explained.

He declared that the bakers increased only the price of the bread on two occasions during the eight last years, while the products used for its manufacture were increased more than eight times. He thinks that the sales of this product will undergo a reduction in the first days of their practical application, but will come back then to normality.

Al Momento, by Ramón González, 23.08.07

Malecón repair will cost 30 million pesos

The preliminary evaluations carried out by the Town council of the Distrito Nacional on the part of Malecón which was destroyed by the hurricane « Dean » , indicate that it will be necessary to invest around RD $30 million to restore it.
The Mayor Roberto Salcedo said that the budget will have to be subjected to the consideration of the Chapter house, since these resources are not part of the budget of this year.
He estimated that the Malecón could be completely restored for December, and he announced that the most difficult part will be to clean the reefs because of the danger of the introduction of heavy machines into this part of the coastal band.
The metropolitan syndic explained that in the points affected by the strong waves which damaged the coral barrier, it will be necessary to carry out a filling similar to that built by the ADN between the Avenue Alma Mater and the Street San Gerónimo.
In the same way, he said that they will have to make an investment for the restoration of the tree zones of the coasts.
Salcedo envisaged to make a course tomorrow on the coasts of the Capital to see from another angle the damage caused by the phenomenon. He will be accompanied by technicians of the Seismological Institute.

Diario Libre, 23.08.07

Hurricane Dean caused 6 deaths in Dominican Republic

Dominican Civil Defense authorities today found the bodies of two more fishermen who disappeared after a boat with eight aboard capsized in Tavera dam, which brings the official death toll from Hurricane Dean to six.

It said rescuers today recovered the bodies of the two fishermen who were still missing, after the corpses of the other three missing were found between Monday and Tuesday.

The victims Manuel Sanchez, 30; Antonio Javier Peña, 18; Jose Miguel Taveras, 20; Angel Francisco Fabian, 26, and Javier Taveras Rodriguez, whose age was not provided, were natives of the township Arenoso, Santiago province.

The victims were fishing in the company of three others who managed to swim ashore, as Sunday night’s winds torrential rains capsized their boat in Tavera dam, near the community Baitoa. The authorities had issued warnings to small craft on the danger posed by Hurricane Dean.

The sixth victim, Daniel Setil, a Haitian boy, was killed when a tall wave dragged him to the rocky surf in the country’s Caribbean shore. He was part of the crowds gathered along the Malecon to observe waves churned by Hurricane Dean as they crashed over the cliffs.

Dominican Today, 23.08.07

Increase of plates, bread and insurance prices postponed

Last night, President Leonel Fernández said that the Government is aware that they cannot impose other taxes affecting incomes of the population this is why he ordered the immediate suspension of the increase on the prices of the plates renewal for motor vehicles.
The increase of the insurance for motor vehicles required by the companies also remained without effect.
In the same way, after a meeting with the secretary of the Industry and Commerce, the union of the Industrial of Flour postponed the increase of the bread prices, to analyze the causes of the increase of the costs and to look for alternate solutions.

Diario Libre, 24.08.07

NP Agents fired DNCD agent

Yesterday, agents of the Criminal Research Department of the Police force involuntarily wounded with a firearm a member of the Drugs Control Office, during an operation in a district of LasTerrenas.
Manuel Sánchez Mateo, 29-year old, assigned to the North-eastern Division of the DNCD having its headquarter in Sánchez, was wounded by a gun fire in the buttocks when members of the Police force carrying out an operation at the riverside which separates the districts Come Pan and Caño Seco fired anti-drug agents who carried out a surveillance mission around a point of drug distribution.
According to the report of the department of the public relations of the North-eastern Regional Commando, by seeing agents dressed like civil people, they thought that they were narco traffickers, and ordered the fires which wounded Sánchez Mateo. According to reports, several points of drug distribution operate at the place where the fire takes place.
The agent of the DNCD was admitted to the public hospital of Las Terranas and then transferred in a health center in Nagua, where he underwent a surgical operation to extract the projectile.

El Nacional, by Pedro Fernández, 24.08.07

President of the DNCD orders a surprise anti doping test

The president of the Drugs Control Office (DNCD) ordered yesterday a control anti-doping by surprise to all the personnel of the institution, after having specified that f somebody is positive, he will be immediately dismissed, civil or soldier, whether he forms part of the Armed Forces or the Police force.

The team of doctors of the anti drug agency began the tests prior that nobody was able to leave the place where the president of the DNCD had beforehand spoken with the thousand men and women convened for the examination.

In addition, the chief of the DNCD again clarified that the anti drug agency does not have anything against the reggaetón, but against the words which induce the young people to consume drugs, to practice violence and Satanism, among other unhealthy and alienating actions . He explained that his declarations and those of Public prosecutor, Doctor Radhamés Jiménez Peña, were badly interpreted in the sense that the authorities would try to prohibit this music. The civil servant clarified that it is completely false, because the reggaetón is music like all the others, like the merengue, appreciated by many people.

He added that they rejected the fact that the means of communication are employed to encourage the young people to consume drug and to have sexual intercourse out of control and before the time, so that we hope that directors and programmers of radio stations will collaborate, to respect the law and not violate the morality.

El Viajero Digital, 24.08.07

Beginning of the consultations for the regeneration of the beaches

The Secretariat of Tourism (SECTUR) began this Friday the second stage of consultation of the Projects of Regeneration of the public beaches.
According to SECTUR’S the purpose of these meetings is to socialize with the Communities and everybody interested by the process which we carry out within the framework of the National System of Environmental Evaluations .
The SECTUR says that these projects of Regeneration of he Beaches will be carried out in Carenero and Los Cacaos, in Samaná; Celeta, in La Romana; Najayo and Palenque, San Cristóbal; Juan Bolaños and Costa Verde; in Montecristi; and San Rafaël and El Quemaíto, in Barahona.

Al Momento, by Ramón González, 4.08.07

Adventures of Sectur in Las Terrenas

Only one passage in the Carmen Street or in the Hospital Street is enough to realize that work of installation of the waste waters pipes is more than badly managed.
This bad management pertains to Sectur, manager of the initial work, which is obliged to return the streets in the same state as they found them.

The Town council of Las Terrenas does not have any right, nor the responsibility for the disadvantages; they only can put the pressure to carry out the works under the best conditions and to terminate them as soon as possible.

But several major problems appeared. First, no study of the subsoil was carried out by the Sectur engineers, which involved some surprises. The second relates to the unfavorable weather conditions since the beginning of the year and which oblige the stoppage of the works in rainy days.

We could also add the good intelligence of some drivers who destroy cements freshly laid.

Of course, the streets could be prohibited during one day or two to facilitate the works, but it is easier to do it for the Hospital street, with less traffic, than for the Carmen street which is a principal way.

Las Terrenas has more work than usual because it is enough to visit the hospitals or to read the newspapers to know that 71% of the infantile diseases are due to bacteria found in the water of the subsoil.

Then we have to expect long duration work because the Principal Street will have to undergo the same passages of pipes.

Ten years ago Las Terrenas did not have as many inhabitants as today, nor a rate of enlarging which resembles more to an explosion than to a weak development.

We will be able to use all the known expressions: like Paris was not buit in one day, like one does not make omelet without breaking eggs, etc.

The fact is to be able to guarantee the healthiness and the cleanliness of the subsoil and of the beaches of Las Terrenas to the future generations goes through moments as we currently know, at the rhythm of the country, with its means as its personnel and materials.

Sylvain MAUFRAIS,Las Terrenas Live, 24.08.07

Significant reduction of the fuels prices

The reductions as from this Saturday represent RD $3.50 for the Premium gasoline; RD $3.20 for the Regular gasoline, 90 centimes for the Premium Gas oil and 80 centimes for the Regular Gas oil, 0.18 centimes for the Liquid Gas Oil.

According to the Industry and Commerce, these reductions are due to the fact that the meteorologists forecast that the hurricane Dean would not hit refineries nor platforms of production of the American coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

According to a source, the gallon of Premium gasoline will be sold at RD $ 222,60 as from this Saturday and the gallon of Regular at RD $ 137.20. The gallon of Premium gas oil will be sold at RD $ 115.50 and the gallon of Regular at RD $ 111.80.

The subsidized GLP will cost RD $ 51.74, with a reduction of 18 centimes per gallon since Saturday.

Dominicanos Hoy, 25.08.07

Government ensures that new nominations will not affect expenses

This Friday, the government contradicted that the last nominations carried out by the Executive power will increase the public expenses, as affirmed by the political sectors of the opposition.

The Office of Information, Press and Publicity of the Presidency informed that when Doctor Leonel Fernández arrived at the Presidency, the primary expenses of the government accounted for 18.2%, while the profits of the preceding government were limited to 16.4%, meaning more expenses than receipts.

During the three years of the current administration, the expenses lower than the receipts because an austere and rational policy on the wages was applied, which made possible to maintain at 4.0% the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The social damage caused by the disastrous economic policy of the preceding government made that the purchasing power of the Dominican workers decreased considerably.

The Office of Information, Press and Publicity of the Presidency ensures that the current administration increased to 30% the monthly minimal wages thanks to the macro-economic policies applied.

Contrary to what occurred during the preceding government which during four years generated more than 1 million 500 thousand new unemployed persons, the Fernández administration reduced to 232 thousand the number of unemployed persons.

El Viajero Digital, 25.08.07