Archive for February, 2019
Smoke from Puerto Plata’s landfill questioned the cruise ship arrival, and made guests from hotel in Maimon leave
PUERTO PLATA. – The dense smoke coming from the fire that almost has been going for a week in the municipal landfill, today was the cause that almost canceled the visit to this tourist destination of a cruise ship with thousands of passengers on board.
A credible source revealed that the Azura cruiser with 3, 573 passengers on board, when arriving in the territorial waters of Puerto Plata, was about to turn around, since the smoke covered the Amber Cove terminal.
Due to an intense negotiation that lasted several hours, the executives of the Carnival chose to make landfall in Amber Cove, but not before directly calling the attention of the authorities of the Ministry of Tourism and the Municipal Government of Puerto Plata to this issue.
This vessel valued at 680 million dollars, owned by P & O Cruises which is a subsidiary company and two brands owned by Carnival Corporation, departed last Friday 22nd from Bridgetown in Barbados.
The tourist ship had “La Novia del Atlántico” on its itinerary of a 14-day round trip through the Caribbean, visiting in addition to Puerto Plata, the Caribbean islands of Antigua, Saint Kitts, Tortola, Saint Maarten, Saint Lucia, Grenadines and San Vicente.
It is recalled that, in August last year, the cruise Carnival Horizon from Saint Thomas, with 3,960 passengers and crew members, after seeing the cloud of toxic smoke coming from the landfill of Puerto Plata, canceled its visit.
At that time, the captain of the vessel changed course to New York, alleging mechanical damage to the operation of the ship, but in fact, frpm a previous experience at the Amber Cove terminal, the smoke from the landfill caused irritation to the passengers.
Guests leave hotel because of smoke
Meanwhile, due to this situation, hundreds of guests abandoned the facilities of the Senator hotels (formerly RIU) as the smoke from the landfill flooded the entire environment of this accommodation complex, located opposite the Bay of Maimon.
It was specified that in the morning of today more than 95 rooms occupied by tourists in the Senator hotels in Puerto Plata, were abandoned by their guests without paying a single penny for lodging services.
Likewise, it was learned that from smoke that the wind drags from the landfill of Puerto Plata to the Bay of Maimon, it caused breathing problems to the people lodged in the area and they repeatedly expressed their complaints to the administration.
Authorities are silent
Given the situation of the local landfill, ironically the competent authorities, tourist entrepreneurs and committed communicators, stay silent, since apparently “they try to cover the sun with a finger”.
The population of Puerto Plata continues to demand the definitive solution to this very serious problem, since it threatens the tourism which is the main source of employment in Puerto Plata after the sugar mills and other industries had disappeared.
Source: Puerto Plata Digital
Feb 28, 2019
Pension plan profits to be redistributed
President Danilo Medina announced during his 27 February 2019 rendition of accounts speech that he has sent to Congress the Social Security Bill that contemplates a redistribution of the profits generated by the national social security system. Banks own the majority of the Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones (AFP) companies and report a 30% yield. The President explained the bill submitted to Congress proposes a gradual reduction of their profits to reach 0.85% in 12 years. He said this would mean a redistribution of RD$40 billion in the next 12 years instead to pension plan holders.
Furthermore, he pointed out contemplated in the reforms are provisions so that thousands of companies and public entities that are in arrears with the IDSS can put their social security payment plans in order. This will benefit around 150,000 workers.
Moreso, the President announced the Executive Branch would be sending to Congress a bill to definitely close the Dominican Institute of Social Security (IDSS), as contemplated in the Dominican Social Security System Law 87-01. Employees of the IDSS will be transferred to other government entities.
Source: DR1, Listindiario
Feb 28, 2019
Medina raises minimum wage in the government
At a time when labor, employer and government sectors have begun discussions for minimum wage and pension pay increases in the private sector, President Danilo Medina announced wage increases for government workers in his Independence Day rendition of accounts annual address.
As of 1 April 2019 the minimum wage in the public sector increases from RD$5,117 to RD$10,000. Those making RD$10,000 to RD$20,000 in government will receive wage increases of 10%, and those making RD$20,000 to RD$30,000 will receive wage increase of 5%.
The minimum state pension will increase from RD$5,117 to RD$8,000 as of 1 April 2019. Those making RD$8,000 to RD$20,000 in retirement monthly payments will see increases of 10%, and those receiving retirement payments of RD$20,000 to RD$30,000 will get an increase of 5%.
Also announced was an increase in the father leave for employees in the public sector from two days to seven days.
Source: DR1, Presidencia
Feb 28, 2019
DR forest cover 43% of the country
The Ministry of Environment shared findings of the National Forestry Inventory 2018 (INF-RD) at the National Library on Friday, 22 February 2019. The findings were presented by Environment Minister Ángel Estévez, deputy minister for forestry resources Manuel Serrano and Daniel Valerio for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Costa Rican consultant Germán Obando.
The study reveals that seven types of forest ecosystems with an area of 2,103,645.32 hectares cover 43.6% of the country. The study cost US$3 million.
The main objective of the inventory was to quantify and characterize the existing forest in the country, in order to promote the importance of these for human life, highlight the importance of the conservation efforts, and consider their impact on food security, the production of water, as well as the protection of the soil and generation of electrical energy.
According to the study, the forests with the largest area are the broad-leaved humid forest (37.75%) and the dry forest (24.05%), which represent 61.80% of the total forest area. The third area in importance corresponds to the semi-humid broad-leaved forest, with 15.39%. The wetland forest represents only 1.41%. In many areas nationwide, natural old-growth forests have been replaced with a monoculture, such as avocado trees.
The inventory determined that the forests of the Dominican Republic currently store a total of 1,978,618,539 tons of carbon (CO2).
According to all the biodiversity indexes, the semi-humid broadleaf forest and moist broadleaf forest strata have the greatest diversity of species, with 235 and 230 different plant species present. It is followed by the dry forest that averages 177 species.
Regarding the regeneration of forests, the report shows that the average density is 28,014 plants/ha (plants per hectare). In the strata of mangroves, humid broadleaved forest and dry forest, the greatest amount of regeneration was found, with 52,233 plants/ha, 35,098 plants/ha and 32,623 plants/ha.
The inventory began in 2015 with the planning and execution phase. The previous forest cover study dated to 1972, by an initiative of the United Nations Food Organization (FAO).
The 2018 study was funded by the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) and its Regional Program for Reduction of Deforestation Emissions and Forests Degradation in Central America and the Dominican Republic, the Central American Commission for Environment and development and the Cooperative Fund for Forests Carbon of the World Bank.
Source: DR1, Ambiento
Feb 28, 2019
Program “I am a Person” that would issue birth certificates and IDs arouses suspicion close to election
The recently announced program “I am a Person” that would issue birth certificates and IDs to some 600,000 persons who do not have the identification documents has generated a lot of suspicion in different political circles due to the upcoming elections. The program is sponsored by the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), in coordination with the Central Electoral Board (JCE) with funding from the Presidency Special Programs Agency (Digepep).
Media reports point out that in previous pre-electoral years, such as those of 1994 and 1996, there were similar programs to issue IDs/voting cards to Haitians looking to vote. The secretary general of the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Ramon Rogelio Genao told reporters that it was risky to put such a plan into place during an election year, even if it is a “noble and necessary plan.” Other political leaders said the ID programs should be left exclusively up to the Central Electoral Board.
In an interview with Diario Libre, Digepep program director, Domingo Contreras said the program is not new. He said it calls for issuing birth certificates to minors, not eligible voters. He explained the object of the program is that all in the Dominican Republic have legal identity. He said the 600,000 number presented at the presentation of the program in a press conference was exaggerated, but did not give another number of possible beneficiaries.
Deputy director of Digepep Ajacx Mercedes added that the program cannot be put on hold because it would be a step back for the National Development Strategy. Mercedes says that the actions of the program have already reduced the number of children under five that do not have birth certificates from 25% in 2000 to 9% in 2017.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
Feb 28, 2019
Former Bar el Flow opened a food bar
The disco bar Pranitium (better known as El Flow) has opened its own restaurant with a food bar. The fashion store Damary’s is now also transformed into a restaurant with a terrace. After all, a big Chinese department store has established on the other side of the street, and various goods including clothing, are being offered at a bargain. A small fashion store can no longer compete with that.
The new terrace / restaurant with food bar is nicely furnished with modern furniture and with planters along the sidewalk. The menu is simple and very affordable from chicken wings to beef with rice and salad. Especially, the American tourists begin making extensive use of this new eatery.
Source: Sosua News
Feb 28, 2019
Independence Day parade in Sosúa
Wednesday morning, February 27, the memorable event celebrated 175 years since the independent ‘República Dominicana’ was proclaimed. Until at least half past nine it rained constantly and heavily. The Sosúa parade therefore started somewhat later than planned in Charamicos. The parade first went through a number of streets of Charamicos. The procession left Charamicos from the Caribe Tours bus station and walked on towards El Batey, where it first walked through the Calle Pedro Clisante, then stopped for a few minutes at the park with the flags.
There a speech was given and some flowers laid at the memorial. Mayor Ilana Neumann spoke to the public there. At the parade all the schools of Sosúa take part. But among them also representatives of the police, firefighters, civil guard and councillors. The procession then went to the helicopter field. Two stands had been set up on the field. The first one was used as a platform for the mayor and other representatives from where they had a good view on the other platform in front. This second platform was used by all participating groups to make their appearance and entertain the audience with a demonstration.
Source: Sosua News
Feb 28, 2019
Carnival coming to Santo Domingo
The Santo Domingo Carnival Parade is scheduled for Sunday, 3 March 2019 on the sea-bordering Malecón at around 4pm. The Ministry of Culture is the organizer of the carnival parade that will start from the Av. Abraham Lincoln end of the Malecón and continue past Av. Maximo Gómez to its eastern extension near the Colonial City.
Carnival groups from the 32 provinces and the National District will be parading. Large crowds watch the parade from both sides of the sea-bordering boulevard.
For this year’s carnival, the Ministry of Culture hired Brazil carnival experts to add to the colorfulness and organization of the Santo Domingo carnival.
This year’s Desfile Nacional del Carnaval Santo Domingo 2019 is dedicated to Puerto Plata that will be sending their dancing troupes and carnival characters, too.
Carnival photography exhibitions are held at the Galeria 360 mall on Av. John F. Kennedy and at the outside gallery of the Parque Independencia in the Colonial City will remain open until 4 March 2019.
The Ministry of Culture this year is presenting the National Carnival Fair from 22 to 24 February at the Parque Colón in the Colonial City.
Carnival parades are also taking in Bonao, La Vega and Santiago this Sunday, 24 February 2019. The very popular events are also scheduled for the afternoon. Thousands travel from all over the country to watch the colorful carnival characters parade through city streets.
Source: DR1
Feb 23, 2019
Last updated January 23, 2026 at 4:16 pm