Archive for December, 2018
Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas signed cooperation agreements in economics, academics with the government of Serbia. A framework for facilitating travel with Serbia was also agreed upon. It would allow for visa-free travel for 60 days in either country. The agreement was signed by Vargas and the Serbia minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dačić in Santo Domingo.
Vargas signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Establishing a Joint Work Group for Promotion of Trade, Investment and Productive linkages. The plan is to promote cooperation in trade and investment for bilateral benefit.
Another Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Ministry of Foreign Relations diplomats training center (Instituto de Educación Superior en Formación Diplomática y Consular del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de República Dominicana) and the diplomacy academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia for collaboration between both training centers.
Source: DR1, Mirex
Dec 11, 2018
The Attorney General has revealed the names of five of seven persons who are known to have perished in the Polyplas plastics factory blast in Villas Agrícolas in northern National District on Wednesday, 5 December. The victims are: 46-year old Claudio Hernandez Jimenez; 49-year old Julio Salazar Mejia; 31 year old Ronny Vargas; 44 year old Jose Alberto Encarnación and 49-year old Manuel Esteban Rosario Ramírez, a contractor for the company. Of these, four worked in the company, and one was a contractor, as reported in Diario Libre. The National Institute of Forensic Sciences is working to identify the corpses of two women that could be Rosa Melia Núñez and Maria Altagracia Garabito, both Polyplas employees who are missing.
Kelvin Garabito, brother of 28-year old Polyplas employee María Altagracia Garabito, has not been able to locate his sister. The woman appears in a YouTube video she filmed shortly before the explosion. He fears the worst.
98% of the employees were evacuated before the blast, said corporate affairs director Alvaro Sousa. One of the dead, Encarnación, reportedly died after he re-entered the factory to rescue a woman and was caught in the blast.
In an update on the tragedy, the director of the National Health Service (SNS) Chanel Rosa Chupany said that of 66 persons who received medical attention of hospitals, 43 have been discharged. Two of those remaining in the hospital suffered critical burns.
The rescue authorities announced on Saturday, 8 December 2018, that they would continue efforts to search the blast site until everyone had been located. The recovery teams are now using heavy machinery to lift the rubble as dozens of person watch and carry out vigils under the watchful eye of military and police personnel stationed in a cordon around the area. According to plant officials, there were some 288 person employed at the facility.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Works announced it is assisting with the repair of at least 63 homes in nearby neighborhoods that were affected by the explosion. The Ministry of Education said they are working so that the two public schools in the area can resume classes on Wednesday, 12 December. The Ministry of Public Health contracted the Instituto de la Familia (Idefa) and Centro para el Desarrollo y la Interaccion Constructiva (Cedic) to offer psychological counseling to the community.
In a paid advertisement published in national media on Monday, 10 December 2018, Polyplas explains that the natural gas escape that caused the explosion occurred when a tanker-truck from their supplier Propagas suffered a leakage at around 11:23am. Safety protocols were enacted at 11:27 am. The company is awaiting the report by experts on the accident.
The explosion comes 15 years after a propane gas explosion at a propane facility at Calle Pedro Livio Cedeño corner Moca in Villas Agricolas resulted in burns affecting 20 persons. The Villas Agricolas is an old time industrial area that today is mixed use.
UPDATE: Five days after the Wednesday, 5 December 2018, tragic explosion at the Polyplas plastics factory in Villas Agrícolas, Distrito Nacional, the director of the Center for Emergency Operations, Juan Manuel Mendez announced rescue operations had concluded after no more missing persons had been reported related to the explosion. The toll of the accident is eight dead, 103 injured and 25 families affected. Efforts are now concentrated at the site on the removal of debris and cleanup.
Three more of the injured are hospitalized at the Ney Arias Lora burn unit, with serious burns at 50% of their bodies. The Ministry of Public Works is assisting 63 houses in the neighborhood that were affected by the explosion.
The deceased have been identified as: 55 years old Rafael Contreras Báez; 46-year old Claudio Hernandez Jimenez; 49-year old Julio Salazar Mejia; 31 year old Ronny Vargas; 44 year old Jose Alberto Encarnación; 49-year old Manuel Esteban Rosario Ramírez, a contractor for the company. The National Institute of Forensic Sciences is working to identify the corpses of two women that could be Rosa Melia Núñez and Maria Altagracia Garabito, both Polyplas employees who are missing.
The Fire Department issued their preliminary report on the accident establishing the explosion originated in the natural gas escape at the time when the fuel was fed from a Propagas tanker truck to the main tank of the factory. The report states: “It is presumed by the statements of the operator that when he realized the leak he tried to stop it but it was too late”. The truck operator, Jimmy Gutiérrez, told firefighters that the gas leak disoriented him and the burns he received “restricted his movements delaying his shutting off the emergency valve of the truck’s tank.
It is reported that Gutiérrez asked the Polyplas staff to “turn everything off”, but he says he was told by the security of the company that they could not do so “because the whole system would be shut down.” The report of the Fire Department states that it could not verify if the company had leak detection devices. Nor was it possible to verify if the emergency alarms worked.
Source: DR1, Elcaribe, Hoy
Dec 11, 2018
The 2010 Constitution was amended in 2015 to allow for then President Danilo Medina to run for a first re-election. Now his followers want Congress to amend the constitution again so he can stay in power. President Danilo Medina has said he will announce his decision regarding seeking a reelection in March 2019. The ruling PLD has majority in both houses of Congress.
During a major political event held in Santiago, the country’s second largest city, former President Leonel Fernandez urged that the government contribute to the strengthening of democracy by respecting the Constitution. Polls show Fernandez as the most popular ruling PLD party candidate into the 2020 general election.
Campaigning for the PLD nomination, Fernandez said a new government of his would start the construction of the freight and passenger train to connect Caucedo Port near the Las Americas International Airport with Bonao, La Vega, Santiago and Puerto Plata. He also announced he would expand the state university in Santiago. He promised to rescue Yaque del Norte river, build Merca-Santo Domingo wholesale market, expand and modernize Manzanillo Port, works at the Jose Maria Cabral y Baez public hospital and complete the expansion of the Navarrete-Puerto Plata highway.
In Santiago, Fernandez has received backing of Mayor Abel Martínez, who served as president of the Chamber of Deputies for many years under Fernandez administrations. Merengue legend Johnny Ventura participated in the political event opening.
Fernandez says he has the backing of 1,586,000 followers and says that by March 2019, over two million persons will have signed as supporters.
Source: DR1, Elcaribe
Dec 11, 2018
PUERTO PLATA.- Through a cocktail made last night, the Spanish chain Senator Hotels & Resorts, unveiled the recently opened facilities of the Senator Puerto Plata Spa Resort 5 Stars, located in the Bay of Maimon.
Eduardo Centeno was in charge of the welcome part for the guests and representatives of the media. He is responsible for entertainment and sports of Senator Hotels & Resorts, accompanied by a corporate team explained the details of the new hotel.
“We are very excited about the opening of this new luxury product in Puerto Plata that will offer some 567 renovated rooms, specialty restaurants, a gourmet restaurant and a Premium Al Inclusive service, which will not only delight the palate, but also the sensory experience and musical of our visitors, “said Centeno.
While the vice president of operations, Gema Nieto, detailed that the Senator Puerto Plata Spa Resort 5 stars, has an attractive program of activities for adults and children that will complete the stay of its guests and mark a differentiation in what has been seen so far in the sector of entertainment.
The refurbished hotel located in front of the beautiful and historic Maimon bay, has a fitness center overlooking the sea and a spa of one thousand square meters that will soon be open to national and international public with innovative services for relaxation and comfort of its guests.
Source: Puerto Plata Digital
Dec 7, 2018
The Dominican Orthopedics and Traumatology Society is demanding that the sale of alcoholic beverages be banned at shows. The physicians say audience members who consume too much alcohol during events represent an unacceptably high risk to public safety when they take the wheel after the show while under the influence of alcohol.
Dr. Julio Landrón said every year between 3,000 and 3,500 Dominicans die in traffic accidents. He said that 12 out of 14 persons involved in traffic accidents are left with permanent injuries. He said bad driving practices and alcohol consumption are major causes of the traffic accidents.
“This is the only country in the world where you can call on the telephone to order alcoholic beverages and that are then delivered by a motorcyclist whose does not have a license, insurance or a no protective helmet,” he complained. He said this is the only country in the world where there is an alcoholic beverages drive in where you can purchase alcohol right from the comfort of your vehicle,” said the orthopedist during a press conference.
Source: DR1, diariodesalud.com
Dec 7, 2018
The 911 Emergency System is now available to service the communities of Punta Cana, Veron, Las Lagunas de Nisibón, San Rafael del Yuma, Boca de Yuma and La Otra Banda in the eastern province of La Altagracia. Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo was present for the start of the service. He is the general coordinator of the 911 Emergency System. He explained the emergency services logistics includes coastal services in speed boats. He said the Dominican Armada already has a speedboat docked in Palmilla, but two more units are being added. He also announced an Air Force helicopter will be stationed in Higuey for air emergency services.
Montalvo said that likewise, service for the La Romana area has been improved with two speedboats assigned to the area. One of these will patrol Catalina Island and another larger vessel will be located in Saona Island this December 2018.
Source: DR1, Noticiassin
Dec 7, 2018
Actress Nashla Bogaert, and producers Gilberto Morillo, Tuto Guerrero and David Maler, are together to present Dominicana’s Got Talent, the local version of the reality show that is aired in 69 countries around the world.
The talent scouting show will be aired from September to December 2019 on Color Vision, Channel 9. There will be 16 chapters of 120 minutes each. Nashla Bogaert will be the host of the show.
To participate, go to www.dominicanatiene talento.com or www.dgt.com.do and register online sending videos of a recent performance. The grand casting for the event will be held in March 2019.
Dominican-American Amanda Mena and the local hip hop group AGT Da Republik recently made waves having succeeded in lasting several rounds of stiff competition in America’s Got Talent on NBC.
Source: DR1, Elnacional
Dec 7, 2018
The United States Embassy has revealed to Listin Diario that it was the United States National Security Department that contacted the Dominican Government and asked them to allow the convicted Cuban drug dealer Augusto “Willie” Falcon to come to the country. Falcon had completed a 20-year jail sentence for drug dealing in the United States and arrived in the Dominican Republic on 6 November 2018.
According to Tammy Spicer, public affairs official from the Immigration and Customs Service (ICE) of the United States, Falcon was in the custody of ICE since June 2017 having had a deportation order issued in March of that year, which he appealed, but it was denied.
Falcon did not want to return to Cuba, fearing for his life following his supposed involvement in an alleged plot against Fidel Castro in the 1990s.
The Dominican government had said that Falcon arrived in the country following a request from the United States, which has now been confirmed by the United States embassy in the Dominican Republic.
According to the Minister of Interior and Police, José Ramón Fadul, Falcon is only in the country temporarily and is in the custody of the Department of National Investigations (DNI) awaiting a decision on his final destination. The Dominican government has not given details of the reasons for accepting the convicted felon known best for his building a South Florida empire as cocaine smugglers for the Medellin and Cali Colombian cartels in a deadly drug trade that played out on Miami’s streets.
UPDATE: Willie Falcon said to have left the Dominican Republic
The Attorney General Office, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Interior and Police and the National Police in a joint statement announced that “cocaine cowboy” Augusto (Willie) Falcon has left the Dominican Republic. Dominicans learned in mid-November that he was here after the revelation that he had entered with a deported Dominicans on 6 November 2018 following an agreement reached by US authorities with the National Investigations Agency (DNI).
When following the publication of a Miami Herald story it became known to the general public that Falcon was residing in the country, the Dominican authorities said he had been admitted only temporarily. The Dominican authorities say that for security reasons they are not revealing where he was sent.
Source: DR1, Listindiario
Dec 11, 2018
The Dominican government announced it is pulling out from the signing of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, responding to major rejection for the agreement nationwide. The Global Compact is being promoted by the United Nations as the link between migration and development policies.
The announcement was made by legal advisor to the President, Flavio Darío Espinal, speaking at the Presidency. He said the country would not participate in the upcoming Intergovernmental Conference to Adopt the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration to be held 10-11 December 2018 in Marrakesh, Morocco.
A committee of experts had reviewed the government’s initial decision to sign after pressure to not sign reached a high level. Espinal announced that the government determined that the signing would generate commitments to the Dominican state that could undermine its ability to enforce its migration rules and effectively implement the migration policies that compliance with those standards requires. Espinal said that the implementation of a pact of that nature, for what it involves and for the implications it has, requires a basic consensus in the Dominican society that he said does not seem to exist in the current circumstances.
Migration experts had said that the pact that would create a new paradigm for mass migration, raising migration to the level of a human right. This analysis alarmed many politicians, business representatives and even many Dominican citizens causing a generalized backlash in rejection of the signing in Marrakesh.
Most Dominicans learned about the pact only recently, after the El Pais newspaper reported that several countries would not sign over concerns of national security. The United States was one of the countries that had announced it would be part of the Pact. Other countries that have said have said they will not sign are: Australia, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland, Israel, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy and Croatia. Like the Dominican Republic, Switzerland and Italy just recently announced they would not be party to the Pact.
Source: DR1, Listindiario
Dec 7, 2018
The Chamber of Deputies authorized the governmental Banco de Reservas to issue loans for up to RD$1.2 billion to decentralized government entities and non-financial autonomous government entities to pay the 13th Christmas wage to their employees. The authorization covers social security system institutions and city governments. The money had been budgeted by these organizations, but apparently was spent for other purposes.
Source: DR1, Metrord
Dec 7, 2018
