Archive for November, 2018
Dominicans have traded the inconveniences of mass transport for the inconveniences of private cars that are adding to the problem of traffic congestion. Diario Libre reports that vehicle sales in the country have topped RD$534.5 billion since 2015. The DGII reports vehicle sales of RD$152.9 billion in 2017 alone. Over the years, the government-owned Banco de Reservas has spearheaded a festival of low interest car loans that have motivated many Dominicans to buy a car, or two and three in the hope of getting around. Other banks have followed. Today it is easy to get a car loan, not so a loan for manufacturing or other productive activities.
Diario Libre reports that the number of vehicles in circulation has increased from 3,612,964 units in 2015 to 4,097,338 to August 2018, according to data from the Tax Agency (DGII). Vehicle sales in 2015 were RD$130.4 billion. These increased to RD$147.5 billion in 2016 and RD$152.9 billion in 2017. As of August 2018, vehicle sales had reached RD$103.7 billion, foreboding another record year in vehicle sales.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
Nov 10, 2018
When: Friday, November 16th at 7PM
Where: Lax Ojo, Cabarete
The Second Collegiate Tribunal of San Francisco de Macorís sentenced 21-year old Marlon Martínez to 30 years in jail and his mother Marlin to five years in jail for the death of 16-year old Emely Peguero in August 2017. Judges Maria de los Ángeles Concepción, Víctor Inoa and Carminia Caminero ruled that Marlon was guilty of voluntary homicide, act of barbarism and child abduction. He was ordered to serve his sentence at the Fortaleza Juana Núñez in Salcedo. Peguero was pregnant of the child of Marlon Martínez.
The judges ruled that his mother, Marlin Martínez was guilty of child abduction and of hiding the corpse. The judges said the prosecution did not present evidence of the complicity of Marlin in the murder only of her actions after the event.
The Marlon and Marlin Martinez were ordered to pay the family compensation for RD$10 million each.
The judges argued the prosecutors did not demonstrate that Marlin had acted in complicity prior to the murder, only that she had acted after her son informed her of the murder. Marlin Martinez’s defense highlighted that she was in Santo Domingo on the day of the murder. At the time of the murder, Marlin Martinez was deputy head of the Dominican Passport Agency.
After the ruling was known, there were protests in San Francisco de Macorís. Many rejected the light sentence Marlin Martínez had received.
The case now moves to the Court of Appeals of San Francisco. Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez says the Marlin Martinez sentence will be appealed. “We will not appeal on a whim, we will not appeal for sport, we will appeal because we have the right to appeal and because we feel outraged as well as the population that the judges granted the category of concealment of the corpse and not complicity,” he said commenting on the ruling.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
Nov 10, 2018
The Consejo Dominicano de Pesca y Acuicultura (Codopesca) and other local and international bodies reported on the seasonal calendar for the consumption of fish and seafood. Thirteen of the species are planned from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2019. Consumption and capture of the black urchin is banned through 30 June 2022. Shark and stingray are in permanent capture ban.
Other aquatic varieties subject to seasonal bans are conch, several species of lobster, crabs and eels.
The executive director of Codopesca, Milton Ginebra, said that the bans are established in order to allow for the reproduction of the species. He urged that fishermen, vendors and consumers respect the ban. Ginebra reminded the public that the law establishes fines from 10 to 200 minimum wages and sending to justice of those who incur in violations.
He spoke during an activity organized as part of the Caribbean marine biodiversity conservation program developed by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Nature Conservancy among other entities.
Source: DR1, Listindiario
Nov 10, 2018
Tilo Frister has been appointed as a chef in the restaurant of Casa Valeria located in Dr. Rosen str. # 28. Tilo is a well-known personality in Sosúa, formerly, he was a manager of the restaurants ‘Orchidee’ and ‘Don Andres’.
Together with Marco and Jacqueline from ‘Parada Tipica el Choco’ restaurant, every Friday night they organize a party with live muisic in the City Restaurant. Yeuri Omar performed last Friday night with a diverse program from rock and roll to bachata and merengues.
Of course, Tilo prepares his famous dishes that used to be on the menu of the restaurant ‘Orchidee’. So his loyal customers can once again go to Tilo as before. The well-known daily menu has been also restored. So we can say that we are glad to see Tilo back in town and that some traditions in Sosúa are preserved.
Source: Sosua News
Nov 10, 2018
David Ortiz is gearing up to host his 11th annual Celebrity Golf Classic, from 29 November through 2 December 2018 at the Casa de Campo Resort and Villas in La Romana. Among the many stars who’ve already promised to make an appearance: sporty VIPs Jackie Bradley Jr., Jim Rice, Ray Allen and Tim Wakefield; reality TV stars, such as former “Bachelor” alum Ben Higgins and “Dancing with the Stars” professional Sharna Burgess; and celebs from the entertainment world like rapper Ja Rule, as well as Tina and Richard Lawson, aka Beyonce’s mother and her actor hubby.
Proceeds from the four-day social event will support a serious cause: David Ortiz Children’s Fund. The nonprofit, founded in 2007, works with hospitals like CEDIMAT and Massachusetts General to provide lifesaving heart surgeries for children in the Dominican Republic and New England. To date, the golf outing has raised US$5 million for the foundation, treating more than 750 children.
More information about reserving packages during the long weekend of luxury can be found at the David Ortiz Children’s Fund site where there are a range of options starting at US$6,500.
Source: DR1, davidortizchildrensfund
Nov 8, 2018
On Thursday, 1 November, the body of a 29-year old mother of four from Sosua was found murdered in Cabarete, Puerto Plata Province. She had been reported missing the previous Monday and was last seen having a drink with a foreigner in Sosua. The victim, Zaida Yonaly Rosario Paniagua, lived in Charamicos and was last seen with United States citizen, 36-year old Oluseye Adesegun, in a nightclub in El Batey Sosua.
Video evidence shows the Adesegun carried the woman out of the Alicia Beach Hotel in Sosua, accompanied by a member of the hotel staff. Both were arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (DICRIM) of the National Police. The body was later discovered in the bushes in the Jardin Deportivo sector of Cabarete and was then sent to the Institute of Forensic Science for autopsy.
Initial comments from the state medical examiner indicate the victim was beaten and strangled.
The Public Prosecution service is asking for one year in preventive custody, as well as access to the vehicle in which it is thought the victim was taken to Cabarete.
The suspect supposedly is a former soldier of the US Army and has served in Iraq.
Source: DR1, Eldia
Nov 8, 2018
On Friday, 2 November 2018, many public school teachers went on strike complaining they had not been paid so far this school year. The Dominican Association of Contracted Teachers (Adomaco) complained that some of their members had been working on a contract basis for several years with no social security benefits or Christmas bonuses.
There are around 8,000 teachers who work on a contract basis being paid RD$20,000 per month for the extended school day and RD$10,000 for just half a day. According to some of these teachers, they have been threatened with dismissal by the district authorities if they do not go to work, even though they have not been paid.
The president elect of the Dominican Association of Teachers (ADP), Xiomara Guante criticized the delays in payments and the practice of the Ministry of Education (Minerd) hiring teachers on a contract basis to save money as their salaries are less than half of those who have a fixed position. She also criticized the fact they do not have medical insurance so if and when they are sick they are fired. In addition many are never paid or paid late. All of these irregularities are affecting students, and she called for the Ministry to solve this, what she called abusive situation.
Education MinisterAndrés Navarro, refused to respond saying “we will discuss this at another time”.
Source: DR1, Hoy
Nov 8, 2018
Investigative TV reporter Alicia Ortega says that Dominican Chamber of Deputies legislators have spent almost RD$300 million in airline tickets and travel expenses in less than six years. Dominican taxpayers have foot the bill for these expenses that included more than 1,500 trips abroad.
The authorized trips included attending courses on how to win an election, to neonatology and artificial intelligence conferences. Other authorized trips have been to attend gala dinners, technology fair in Las Vegas, festivals, medical checkups and meetings with Dominicans abroad.
Source: DR1
Nov 8, 2018
