Archive for July, 2019
According to the Dominican Association of University Rectors (ADRU), the student drop out rate is at 50%, with 30% of drop-outs occurring in the first year. The rectors recently participated in the Weekly Breakfast of the Corripio Communications Group.
According to these university leaders, most students can’t afford to stay. Student loans are costly and scholarships are few.
Angel Hernandez, the rector of UAPA and president of ADRU, said the nation has to decide the kind of society it wants and the training that is needed. He said more technical careers would enable graduates to find decent jobs both here and abroad. Local higher education schools need to ensure their studies have international accreditation so the titles are valid for their students abroad, he said.
The rectors also called for more preparation of college professors and urged the creation of doctoral programs at local universities. They noted that the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT) has many scholarships available. However, Hernandez said that barely 0.05% of the GDP is dedicated to financial aid for higher education. Hernández spoke of the need for increases in government subsidies to private universities. One rector said that his school receives just RD$15 per student per month.
Hernandez also noted that 40% of the nation’s university students are enrolled at the state Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (220,000). The UASD does not charge tuition to low-income students.
At the Corripio meeting, Hernández was accompanied by fellow rectors Marcos Villamán, Epifanio González Minaya and Esteban Tiburcio.
Source: DR1, Eldia
July 25, 2019
The Catholic weekly, “Camino” says the traffic accident rate is “a national epidemic.” The more than 3,000 traffic fatalities each year (and growing) constitute one of the worst records in the world per 100,000 population. In Sunday’s editorial, the Archbishop of Santiago Freddy Breton makes the point that “people leave without saying good-bye.”
In 2017 more than 97,000 persons were injured in traffic accidents. The number places the Dominican Republic in the unenviable position of #2 among all of the 192 nations in the world.
The number one spot belongs to Niue, a tiny 260 km2 coral island in the Marshall Islands with a population of 1,624. Even one traffic fatality would skyrocket their standing in the world list. It is 186 times smaller than the Dominican Republic and has 6,500 times fewer people.
By any reasonable measure, the DR ranks first in the “Worst Traffic Deaths” around the world. The real number is 93.7 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, while countries like Switzerland, Germany, France, Spain and Canada have less than seven fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants.
The Archbishop cites the lack of respect for traffic laws, especially those regarding red lights. (Note: This reporter witnessed the results of a four car accident at the intersection of Bartolome Colon and Estrella Sadhala in Santiago last night!!).
The fact that this is maybe the only country in the world where there are drive-thru windows for cold beers is most certainly a major contributing factor. Technology is also a culprit, with texting and chatting while driving a vehicle is known to be on a par with driving while intoxicated. The final note by the magazine’s editors calls for a massive driver education campaign through every available media outlet.
In 2017, the country passed a new driving law creating the National Transit and Ground Transport Institute (Intrant). The Intrant, nevertheless has been slow in passing rulings and implementing the law.
Source: DR1, Elcaribe
July 25, 2019
The success of the Punta Cana beach resort and residential area has spurred many developers to want to join in the bonanza. The Ministry of Tourism has followed the trend, authorizing new developments, including many high rises in the area. Population in the area has doubled in recent years. More people are relocating to Punta Cana attracted by the employment and opportunities generated by the tourism boom in the eastern coastline strip.
Now, a report in Diario Libre by investigative journalist Mariela Mejía takes a look into a reality few people are addressing. The Punta Cana area does not have abundant water sources. The report highlights that saltwater is mixing with drinking water as underground wells are overexploited.
“The increase in population in the eastern part of the country and the high demand for water by resort complexes have led to an increase in saline intrusion in the underground currents of that region,” writes Mejia. She says the presence of brackish water has increased to more than six kilometers away from the coastline, signifying an advance of three kilometers compared to what was measured in 2002, according to studies.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
July 18, 2019
The government commercial bank, the Banco de Reservas announced it is now allowing longer parental leave for fathers. The bank is following a trend for local companies to recognize that fathers, too, want to spend time with their newborns.
The BanReservas announced that pre and post-natal leave has increased to 112 days for the mothers and 12 calendar days for the fathers. The Dominican Labor Code establishes 98 days for mothers and seven days for fathers when their babies are born.
The measures seek to facilitate that mother and father be present for these important moments for the family, and to contribute to the physical, psychological and emotional balance of newborns, says the note.
The measure is implemented after the entry into force of International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 183 on “Protection of Motherhood” in the Dominican Republic. The Convention had been ratified by the Dominican Republic on 9 February 2016, according to a press release from BanReservas.
The board of directors of Banreservas also approved to extend the breastfeeding period to one year. In this regard, the Labor Code only provides for six months.
Source: DR1, Listindiario
July 18, 2019
Sonia Vásquez Ferreras, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative, said that life expectancy in the Dominican Republic has increased by 16 years over the past 50 years. She says this means more attention needs to start to be given to the senior segment of the population. At present, most of the Dominican population is in the 15 to 65 year age bracket, the most productive.
“The big issue behind all this is that one has to live with quality those years, it’s not enough to live longer.” she said.
Vasquez explains that today a 65-year-old is a person of productive age, who is more active and has very different service demands that must be met.
She said, nevertheless, that for the aging population to have a decent old age and a pension, these persons need to contribute to the social security system.
She shared the statistics that show there is a population of around 11 million people living in the Dominican Republic, of which 7% are older than 65 years, 64% are 15 to 64 year and 29% are 0 to 14 years. The population growth is at 1.2% per year.
Furthermore, the country is significantly affected in its productivity by the percentage of teenage girls giving birth that is alarmingly high.
Source: DR1, Hoy
July 18, 2019
Montecristi has joined Dominican communities that are using the large signage that is perfect for visitors taking selfies showing where they are. The global tourism trend began in 2004 when Amsterdam unveiled its first 3-D sculpture of the city’s “I Am Amsterdam” brand.
No problem with following the trend. But the people of Montecristi are wondering how their sign could have cost RD$500,000. A clash has erupted between the municipal authorities of the province’s capital city and councilors that say it should have cost no more than RD$35,000.
The metal signage at the entrance of the city welcomes visitors. The price tag, according to the city government, was RD$551,510.10. Even with the high cost, city dwellers say it is of poor quality, compared to similar signs located in other communities nationwide.
Source: DR1, Acento
July 18, 2019
The Ministry of Public Health has not been available for comment for Diario Libre journalists on the use of glyphosate in the Dominican Republic. Recently farmers in Barahona have complained that their crops are affected by the use of the product by the Consorcio Azucarero Central, a large sugar producing company in southwestern Barahona.
The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has declared glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans,” and Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom have restricted or outlawed the use of the agrochemical nationwide.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
July 18, 2019
The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) announced that there will be changes in the RD$2,000.00 and RD$200.00 notes of the 2017 series, as well as in the RD$25 currency, also of the 2017 series, which will be implemented successively from Monday, 15 July 2019. The Central Bank says that the older bills will still be valid.
As of 15 July, the RD$2,000 bill will contain the isotype with the visual identity of the BCRD, which will be printed with optically variable magnetic ink, presenting an effect of drops and giving the sensation of undulating sand; at the same time that, when changing the position of the bill, there is a change of color from green to blue. The BCRD indicates that the isotype will be accompanied by the denomination value in numerical characters.
As for the RD$200.00 bill, the Central Bank states that as of 15 September 2019, it will contain the isotype with the visual identity of the BCRD printed with optically variable ink. When the banknote changes position, the isotype changes color from pink to green. It shall be accompanied by the value of the denomination in numerical characters.
Another modification is the variation in the size of the image of the Mirabal sisters and the relocation of their names with respect to series prior to 2017.
The new RD$25.00 coins that will be released on 30 September 2019 will now carry the inscription Dominican Pesos under the national coat of arms, in compliance with Article 229 of the Constitution of the Republic and Article 25, literal c), of the Monetary and Financial Law 183-02.
The BCRD informs that both bills and the currency of series 2017 will coexist with those of the same denomination of previous years and are valid for the payment of public and private obligations. The notes will keep equal security measures as those currently in circulation.
Source: DR1, Bancentral
July 18, 2019
The Ministry of Public Health shut down a cosmetics clinic in Villa Mella where three women have died, including two from the United States. The clinic was not authorized for plastic surgery operations, but nevertheless, these were carried out there.
The US media has reported that a mother from Westchester, United States has died while getting a tummy tuck at a medical clinic in the Dominican Republic, just weeks after an Alabama teacher passed away while undergoing surgery at the same facility.
Alexandra Medina, 33, of New Rochelle traveled to the country to have the procedure done at the Dr. Ureña Arias Clinic in Santo Domingo last Wednesday, 3 July 2019, for the medical procedure, which also included liposuction, despite her family’s pleas to stay home.
The Ministry of Public Health says that an investigation has been opened. The deceased reportedly was operated with Dr. Felix Almanzar. As reported in the New York Post, the Ministry of Public Health did say that Dr. Almanzar was not licensed to practice surgery.
The family learned that Medina had suffered fatal complications during the tummy tuck, with her preliminary cause of death ruled an embolism. She leaves behind a husband and 14-year old son.
Her death comes after an Alabama teacher died last month at the same clinic, which was briefly closed by the Ministry of Public Health. Alicia Renette Williams, aged 45, suffered blood clots and died from undergoing an elective procedure on 2 June 2019 with the same doctor.
Persons interested in plastic surgery in the Dominican Republic should check that the clinic and surgeon are authorized to practice. Before booking any procedure, see the website of the Dominican Society of Plastic Surgeons to find a qualified surgeon.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
July 18, 2019
In the first six months of this year, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has repatriated 610 Dominicans who had completed sentences for drug dealing. Another 541 Dominicans were deported, having served sentences for other crimes.
According to data from Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo, those who had been sentenced for drug dealing served their sentences in jails in New York, Boston, Miami and Los Angeles.
Of those repatriated for drug dealing in the first six months of this year, 34 were women and 576 men.
Source: DR1, Hoy
July 18, 2019
