Archive for May, 2019
The doctors of the Dominican Medical Guild (CMD), the National Council of Specialized Medical Societies (Conasomep) and the National Association of Clinics and Hospitals (Andeclip) have all signed an agreement with ARS Humano, thus bringing to an end the boycott of services and procedures to members of this and several other health insurers (HMOs). ARS Palis, ARS Universal and the Dominican Association of Health Risk Insurers (ADARS) also signed the agreement.
Wilson Roa, the fiery leader of the CMD, told Diario Libre that it was calling on the doctors to provide services and procedures to those insured by these entities because the agreement is guaranteed by the Minister of Labor and the Superintendent of Labor Health and Risks (Sisairil).
Roa said there are two ongoing fights: one to reach an agreement and the other to see that the agreement is fulfilled. He was referring to the fact that the agreement reached late last week were but the ratification of commitments that had already been made in 2017 of which some will begin to be applied immediately and others will have to go to the National Social Security Council for their passing.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
May 9, 2019
Residents of Pedernales, in the Deep South of the Dominican Republic, called on the ministries of Public Works and the Environment to provide an explanation for the closure of a section of the roadway from Pedernales to the world-famous Bahia de las Aguilas. Apparently, an Italian businessman has managed to have a detour installed in order for his company to build a small tourist area for his customers.
According to the report in the El Nacional, Aldo Meroni and his company Eco del Mar have closed off the road providing direct access to the Bahia de las Aguilas. The residents of Pedernales say that this damages the original aspect of the area and violates fundamental principles of environmental protection and public safety. They also feel that the detour of the roadway could put those who are not his customers into situations where these would be vulnerable to crime in the area. Residents complain that the company has cut down hundreds of mangrove and lignum vitae (guayacan) trees together with other species.
Source: DR1, Elnacional
May 9, 2019
The National Police have yet to produce any results in relation to the fatal shooting of two Canadian citizens in the town of Sosua, in the province of Puerto Plata on the north coast. Neither the Police nor the judiciary has offered any possible causes for the crimes that took the lives of Mike DiBattista, 43, and Jason McGuire, also 43. DiBattista was shot 12 times as he was driving his vehicle. According to the Diario Libre, he was wanted on federal warrants for international drug trafficking and lived in the residential area of Lomas del Sol in Sosua. McGuire was shot once in the head inside his apartment in La Mulata II. Although several people have been interrogated, there have been no arrests.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
May 9, 2019
There are contradictory results in the Mark Penn-Noticias SIN poll recently released. The poll was carried out 14 to 17 April 2019 poll. Some 1,007 eligible voters were polled. The survey has a 3.1% margin of error.
To the question: “How satisfied is the country with the government of Danilo Medina?” The poll revealed that 60% gave Medina a satisfactory grade, while 38% answered unsatisfactory. 2% were undecided. This compares to responses of 59%-41% in August 2018, 69%-28% in October 2017, and 82%-16% in April 2016.
Yet, to the question: “Do you believe that the Dominican Republic is on the right or wrong path?” 60% said the country is headed in the right direction, and 35% in the wrong direction.
To the question: “Do you think the main problems of the country will improve?” 47% expect they will improve a lot, but 47% said they believe they will not improve much or anything at all. 6% were undecided. Of those who identified themselves as voting for the ruling PLD party, 63% were optimistic there would be improvements; 53% among those for the opposition party PRM; 51% for independent political parties. 48% of the ruling PLD voters say that there now is more corruption, whereas 88% of the PRM voters gave this answer.
To the question: “For many years the Dominican economy has been growing. Who do you think is benefiting from this growth?” 52% of those polled believe it is the government.
To the question: “Do you believe there is more corruption in the Medina government, or more or less the same corruption as in past years?” 62% said there is more corruption, while 18% said there is less corruption, 16% say the same, and 4% were undecided.
According to the poll, 34% say the growing economy only benefits the government, 18% say it benefits politicians. Men are more optimistic than women. 59% of men feel there is more corruption now than in previous governments, versus to 65% of the women polled.
Source: DR1, Noticiassin
May 5, 2019
The Dominican Medical Guild (CMD), National Council of Specialized Medical Societies (Conasomep) and the National Association of Clinics and Hospitals (Andeclip) are not accepting ARS Humano medical plans as of Wednesday, 1 May 2019. This affects around 1.5 million participants. ARS Humano is the largest medical plan insurance company in the Dominican Republic.
The boycott of the service went into effect despite the announcement by Labor Minister Winston Santos and Superintendence of Health and Labor Risks (Sisaslril) head Pedro Luis Castellanos that ARS Humano had agreed to comply with the 31 May 2017 agreements signed with the medical representatives. The medical organizations are demanding the agreements of 2017 be met, including increases in fees and tariffs, start of primary care plan with the subsidized regime, and the free election of service by the patients, among other points.
The president of the CMD, Wilson Roa, told the press that after a meeting with Labor Minister Winston Santos and representatives of the ADARS, an agreement was not reached, each only presented proposals. Roa complained that the ARS continues to set aside only RD$262 per consultation for many physicians.
Former CMD president Waldo Suero said the government will not amend the Social Security Law so as to not confront big business. He said this is despite the fact that the Executive Branch sent to Congress an amendment to Law 87-01 on Social Security. He said if Medina really wanted to change the law he would meet with the Political Committee to agree on the changes and order these changes be drafted by majority PLD legislators, just as he did when he wanted to be reelected. “He is not going to do it because it is not politically convenient,” he said. He said the Social Security Law 87-01 was drafted to benefit big business and bankers and that the social security system in the Dominican Republic has collapsed.
Meanwhile, the general manager of the National Social Security Council (CNSS), Rafael Perez Modesto, disputed a recent public statement by the Dominican Association of Health Risk Administrators (ADARS), the association that groups medical plan administrators. ADARS had said that the claims made by the medics and clinics are decided by CNSS. CNSS says that they have no contractual or financial relationship with the providers. “The role of the CNSS is to draft the policies and norms of the Dominican Social Security System,” he stated. He explained that the way the system works is that the physicians and other health service providers sign contracts with the Health Risk Administrators (ARS), who in turn are regulated and supervised by Sisalril. Perez Modesto said that the Sisalril is the competent government organization to resolve the impasse between the ARS the medical groups.
ARS Humano said plan members that are affected can call their call center 24/7 at 809 476-3535 in Santo Domingo and 1 809 200-4903 outside Greater Santo Domingo.
Source: DR1, Elcaribe
May 5, 2019
The Dominican Armada stopped an illegal journey to Puerto Rico run by a man condemned to 15 years in jail for the death of 57 people on board a boat that sank off Samaná in December 2012. Víctor Hernández Rosario, better known as Berto, was freed from jail having served half of his sentence. However last Sunday, 28 April 2019, the Navy stopped another illegal journey to Puerto Rico organized by Berto that left from Las Coles in Samaná.
In January 2019 another illegal journey run by Berto was also registered. Berto is now being sought across the country, but specifically in the northeast. The Navy Commander General has asked Víctor Hernández Rosario (Berto) to give himself up.
Source: DR1, Hoy
May 5, 2019
A Ukrainian tourist was fatally injured by a boat propeller while diving off the beach in Bayahibe in front of the Dominican Army barracks.
Oleksil Kushnir, age 28, was underwater when the boat drove on top of him, causing multiple cuts in his skull, neck and upper limbs. According to a medical examiner, Pamela Santana, he died of blood loss.
Kushnir had arrived at Punta Cana airport on 22 April 2019 with his wife. They were due to leave on 2 May and were staying at a Punta Cana resort. The authorities have arrested the captain of the boat.
Source: DR1, Listindiario
May 5, 2019
The Ministry of Hacienda announced the signing of the US$90 million loan with the InterAmerican Development Bank for the second phase of Santo Domingo’s Colonial City urban renewal project. The loan still requires congressional approval prior to its implementation.
The Ministry of Hacienda said that the works will be implemented by the Ministry of Tourism with the technical support of the National District City Government (ADN) and the Ministry of Culture. The first phase was the exclusive responsibility of the Ministry of Tourism.
The US$90 million project contemplates US$49 million will be invested in improvements to public spaces and historic monuments, such as the San Francisco Monastery, the Columbus Alcazar, the Royal Houses Museum (Museo de Casas Reales), the Fortaleza de Santo Domingo and the Santo Domingo Cathedral museum, among others. The loan will also be used to improve parking and lighting in the Colonial City.
A first US$30 million loan has been implemented with works completed in the core area known as the Ciudad Ovandina. The works were completed in 2017. Miguel Coronado, local representative of the IDB said that the first phase resulted in an increase in visitors of around 67% from 410,000 in 2010 to 682,000 in 2017. Hotel occupancy increased from 55% in 2014 to 74% in 2016. Tourist spending is up from US$88 in 2017 to US$138 in 2019. The improvements in the area resulted in around US$100 million in business investments and an increase in cruise ship arrivals.
Source: DR1, Hacienda
May 5, 2019
