Archive for March, 2020
The Chamber of Deputies approved on Thursday afternoon in an extraordinary session the resolution sent by the Executive Power declaring the Dominican Republic in a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
The state of emergency, which will be for 25 days, will allow President Danilo Medina to provisionally suppress freedom of transit and execute extraordinary measures to confront COVID-19, which has already claimed the lives of two people and 34 affected, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Public Health.
The resolution was approved by the 190 deputies present and now passes to the Executive Branch for enactment.
Source: DiarioLibre
Mar 19, 2020
On Sunday evening, March 15, around half past ten, it was already known: Willy Olivences, better known as El Chamo, won the municipal election. Willy Olivences will be the mayor of Sosúa for the next four years. His five alderman candidates (rigidores) were also elected. Melania Guzmán (La Rubia) is expected to become the vice mayor. This is a positive development because Melania is known for working together with the catering entrepreneurs of Sosúa. When it became known on Sunday evening that Willy had won convincingly, his supporters in Charamicos, Sosúa Abajo, Maranatha and Bella Vista took to the streets en masse honking their horns for the victory. A large crowd of supporters also went partying through El Batey of Sosúa. Willy is the candidate from the common people. Always willing to fix a leaky roof or hand out a food package. He also paid the medicines and other medical costs for many poor residents.
The closure of the bars and discos on the main street Pedro Clisante has not made Ilana Neumann very popular. The closure left many employees without work and entrepreneurs without income. Many people do believe that Willy will definitively undo all of these closings. Sosúa is celebrating the victory.
Source: Sosua News
Mar 19, 2020
Central Bank Governor Hector Valdez Albizu and Hacienda Minister Donald Guerrero announced on Wednesday, 18 March 2020, measures that have been agreed upon with the Monetary Board to promote keeping jobs and preserving the health of the Dominican people in days of the Covid-19 virus. They announced special regulatory treatment for the financial sector in this early phase of the crisis. “The plan is to avoid a possible deterioration of the credit portfolio of banks due to the impact of Covid-19,” said Valdez.
Among the new conditions, he said that the credit rating of borrowers that cannot meet payments will be frozen to the score they had previously and the borrowers will be given 60 days to eliminate their arrears.
He said that in many cases, borrowers will be able to make use of new contingency funds that are becoming available and likewise will be able to renegotiate their loans at a lesser rate. He said interest rates of 8% will become available for exporters.
Valdez Albizu explained the Dominican economy is prepared for the situation. “We enter this situation with a strong macroeconomic standing. The country has low and stable inflation, high international reserve levels, and dynamic credit. This means the country has the capacity to act and face the effects of Covid-19,” he said. He said the measures being taken by the Central Bank, Monetary Board and the Dominican government will contribute to maintain the economic stability.
The Monetary Board decided on measures to reduce the financial impact on people and companies, and the Central Bank is making available increased resources through the banks in coming weeks. The leading economic authorities announced the government is working in collaboration with the private sector. Nevertheless, Valdez nor Guerrero had answers to how the government would assist the informal sector that makes up an estimated 58% of jobs in the country.
Central Bank Governor Hector Valdez Albizu announced US$500 million is being injected to increase money in circulation given the collapse of the tourism and farm exporter sectors. Valdez Albizu estimated that from March to June 2020, the country stands to lose around US$400 million in tourism receipts. “Tourism is the country’s main generator of hard currency, and it is practically shut down due to the coronavirus crisis,” he said speaking in the presence of members of the Monetary Board and the press. He explained that to stimulate the economy, funds are also released from legal reserve restrictions, that is 2.7% of the 20% legal reserve.
Valdez also announced half of the staff of the Central Bank will be working from home during the crisis.
Valdez forecast the measures will enable the country to keep the pace of growth of recent years, with stability of growth and development and assistance to vulnerable sectors. He said so far this year the Dominican peso has only suffered a 1.4% depreciation.
He said that the government has a US$158 million emergency contingency fund approved by Congress as part of the 2020 National Budget. He said the World Bank has also made available 50% of the quota, or an additional US$330 million, at 1.5% interest rates for balance of payment and exchange difficulties. He said these funds would only be used if they can be allocated to the Ministry of Hacienda because he said the Central Bank does not have balance of payment or exchange problems.
Valdez said what is happening in the Dominican Republic is small compared to what other large countries are going through.
Speaking during the same event, Hacienda Minister Donald Guerrero spoke of the measures to benefit formal businesses. He did not have a plan for the informal sector.
Guerrero said that export free zones, farms should apply flexible work conditions and promote work from home to avoid concentrations of their workforce and promote social distancing. He announced banks would be open from 8 to 5:30 pm.
He said that grocery stores, supermarkets, gasoline stations and pharmacies are authorized to remain open, but funeral services are being limited to only relatives of the deceased. The government-operated Santo Domingo metro and skylift will continue to operate with regular schedules, as well as OMSA government buses. Media and telecommunications services are authorized to continue operating.
Guerrero said the government has yet no plan for the informal sector. Around 58% of jobs in the Dominican Republic are in the informal sector. Guerrero said: “We are taking measures on a day-by-day basis. We are aware it is a sector that needs our attention. The formal small business sector will be the first to benefit with the low cost loans from banks. We will take steps to alleviate other sectors.”
On Wednesday, 18 March in the evening, Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) presidential candidate, Luis Abinader was prompt to recommend the government set up a RD$5 billion contingency fund to assist those losing their jobs or work income with a minimum RD$10,000 each. Abinader estimates half a million Dominicans will be affected by the impact of Covid-19 on the Dominican economy.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
Mar 19, 2020
Emmanuel Esquea, a former deputy for the PRD, tweeted that Congress should not approve the State of Emergency because it would grant exceptional powers to the government during its final five months in government. Esquea does not see how the declaration will contribute to the present public health crisis.
President Danilo Medina announced on Tuesday, 17 March 2020 in his address to the nation that he would send to Congress the request for the declaring a State of Emergency.
Esquea alerts this practically eliminates the role of Congress that he says is fit to approve all necessary measures to deal with the Covid-19 virus. “The opposition should not fall for this,” he warned.
He explained a State of Emergency enables the President to order the violation of domicile and eliminate the freedom of transit, expression and gathering. It can also violate correspondence. “I want someone to tell me if the violation of these fundamental rights can remedy the virus?,” he asked. He added that in a state of emergency, the President can put any person in prison without a time limit to bring them to justice, he can transfer prisoners from one prison to another, he can prohibit a habeas corpus. “Is that good for curing the coronavirus?”
Esquea recalled that in 1930 Rafael Leonidas Trujillo consolidated his power by declaring a State of Emergency. He would govern for the next 30 years.
“It’s not that we want to politicize the coronavirus problem. On the contrary, what we don’t want is for the government to politicize it,” he warned.
The English-language translated version of the Constitution by Fabio Guzmán-Ariza states in Title XIII on the States of Exception:
Art. 262: “States of Exception are extraordinary situations that seriously affect the security of the nation, its institutions and individuals, and under which ordinary powers of government are insufficient. The President, with the authorization of Congress, may declare States of Exception in three different forms: State of National Defense, State of Civil Unrest and State of Emergency.
President Danilo Medina has announced he will ask Congress to declare a State of Emergency.
Art. 265 of the Constitution explains that a State of Emergency may be declared when events occur, that seriously and imminently endanger, or threaten to endanger, the economic, social or environmental stability of the country, or constitute a public calamity.” Art. 266 establishes a series of long list of citizen rights that may be suspended.
Yesterday, the legal advisor to the Presidency on Wednesday corrected the bill sent to the Senate for the declaration of the State of Emergency. Legal advisor Flavio Dario Espinal said it was an error to include freedom of expression. The bill restricts the rights of freedom of transit and gatherings of persons limited for 25 days, or the time necessary to avoid the spread of Covid-19.
On 26 February 2020, President Medina had already issued Decree 87-20 authorizing the extraordinary purchase of medical supplies and equipment needed to deal with the health crisis.
Source: DR1, Listindiario
March 19, 2020
WASHINGTON/PORT-AU-PRINCE – Haiti will close its border with the Dominican Republic as of midnight on Monday, Prime Minister Jouthe Joseph announced Sunday.
Joseph said an exception is being made for merchandise, which will still be allowed across the border after screening. He said Dominican officials will test those aboard the vehicles prior to entering Haiti, and Haitian health officials will also test them upon entry.
The move aims to keep the coronavirus, which has sickened 11 people in the neighboring Dominican Republic, out. So far Haiti has no confirmed cases of the deadly disease. The country’s first suspected case, an unidentified foreign woman who had traveled to one of the countries where the coronavirus has spread, tested negative for the disease.
“We are asking people to take this pandemic very seriously,” Joseph said. “We are asking for the cooperation of all Haitian citizens as well as foreigners living in Haiti.”
The prime minister announced that Haiti is also suspending all flights from Europe and Latin America. Flights from the United States are under evaluation, he said.
“We are evaluating fights between Port-au-Prince and New York, Port-au-Prince and Miami, Cape Haitian and Miami, Cape Haitian and Fort Lauderdale,” he said. “We have an agreement with American air transportation officials that all passengers boarding planes for Haiti must be screened for coronavirus.”
He said Public Health officials at the nation’s two international airports – in Port-au-Prince and Cape Haitian – are already screening passengers for the virus upon arrival. Quarantine facilities have also been set up for passengers who exhibit flu-like symptoms. They will be required to fill out a special form, regarding the disease.
“If you are asked to undergo testing or if you are ordered to be quarantined, we urge you to cooperate. Don’t be angry, this is being done to protect our country,” he said.
Joseph appealed to avoid traveling outside of the country, unless it’s an emergency.
“We urge all Haitians to avoid all non-essential travel. Do not travel to any foreign country unless it’s urgent that you do so,” Joseph said.
According to the prime minister, the extra measures to reinforce the country’s land and maritime borders and its airports have been successful in keeping the pandemic out so far.
In addition to new restrictions affecting civilian travel, the prime minister said the government has cancelled all official travel. Joseph said any official who wants to travel abroad must first get approval from either President Jovenel Moise, the prime minister or the foreign minister.
Source: Voanews
Mar 17, 2020
Sosúa. – A fierce fire destroyed 15 homes to ashes in the Palm Village Sector of Sosua early Monday, March 16th, leaving dozens of people on the street, including children.
The cause of the fire, according to witnesses, was a burning candle that a resident left burning on a gas tank, which exploded.
Although no one was injured in the event, however, a 14-year-old teenager was hit with considerable damage in his spine when a wall that had been affected by the fire fell on him.
Source: Detras Del Rumor
Mar 17, 2020
PUERTO PLATA.- The Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) and its allies, overwhelmingly won the extraordinary municipal elections held in this Atlantic jurisdiction.
The Central Electoral Board (JCE) reported that the PRM and allies compiled a total of 26,696 votes in the municipality of San Felipe de Puerto Plata for 54.63%, surpassing the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and allies that they obtained 19,771 votes for 40.05%.
From party to party, the PRM obtained 24 thousand 517 votes to compile 49.66%, while the PLD 16 thousand 984 votes for 34.40%.
Exactly at 11:00 in the morning on Monday, the 230 electoral colleges (100%) that functioned in this municipality, San Felipe de Puerto Plata, where 49,367 votes were cast, culminated.
In the recently past electoral process, there were a total of 113 thousand 973 registered, where the votes cast were 52 thousand 76 (45.69%), the valid votes are 49 thousand 167 (94.80%), null votes 2 thousand 683 (5.15%) , in addition to 26 suffrages observed (0.05%).
According to the electoral body, the municipality of San Felipe de Puerto Plata concentrates almost 48% of the voters in this Atlantic jurisdiction, that is, about 125,722 voters out of the 260,330 voters in the entire province.
Source: Puerto Plata Digital
Mar 17, 2020
PUERTO PLATA.- The Carnival Cruise Line company announced that, due to the threat of the coronavirus, it has suspended operations for several weeks at the Amber Cove terminal in Maimon, Puerto Plata.
This provision was made by the cruise company long before the Dominican Port Authority (Apordom) decided to suspend the landings of cruise ships in the ports of the Dominican Republic due to the coronavirus.
The suspension of all docking and disembarkation operations for cruise ships in local ports was issued last Saturday “until further notice” due to the threat of the spread of the coronavirus since eleven cases have been confirmed in the country.
This is a part of the measures that governments worldwide are adapting “to safeguard collective health” in the face of the threat of spread and contagion of coronavirus, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Source: Puerto Plata Digital
Mar 17, 2020
After the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Covid-19 virus a pandemic, the United States Embassy announced that it is canceling scheduled visa appointments beginning Monday, 16 March 2020. The visa services will be re-opened as soon as is possible, according to a press release from the US Embassy. The note said that fee paid will be applied to a visa request made in the next 12 months.
The US Embassy is telling travelers that visa appointments for emergency travel are being kept. The US Consulate says that it will continue to process those non-immigrant visa requests that do not require an interview. The US Consulate says that certain group visa travel and visa renewals without an interview may be handled online.
The US Consulate says that those with existing appointments will be advised of the new dates for their interviews.
The US Consulate says that the American Citizen Services will continue to assist those US citizens living or visiting the Dominican Republic.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
Mar 17, 2020
Dominicans have smartphones, have a relative or friend in Italy, Spain or the US, and have been known to take collective actions. Add those three together and you can understand why many who can are not waiting for the authorities to play by the book and order the population to carry out only essential activities. It is already happening, faster than one would think.
A slowdown in normal sports, nightlife and shopping activities has taken over the Dominican Republic. People can feel this in the reduction in traffic jams. Yet, first a sort of panic spread over cities and thousands of Dominicans went grocery shopping, as happens in preparation for a hurricane. Social media spread news that the government would order a lockdown of the population after the Sunday, 15 March municipal elections and people wanted to be prepared.
Almost everyone in the Dominican Republic has a friend or relative who lives in the United States or Europe who is telling them how things are there. After thousands filled supermarkets at the end of last week, supermarket chains were prompt to tell their clients there was no reason to panic, that they would not run out of supplies. The supermarkets said the farms were supplying them as usual and would continue to do so. Supermarket chains report sales were up around 50%.
News sources carried stories on major entertainment and business events being canceled. These include the Gwen Stefani presentation at Isle of Light, the Cheyenne presentation in April at Altos de Chavon in La Romana, and the Dominican Travel Exchange in Punta Cana. And fewer Dominicans are showing up at restaurants, bars and clubs. Videos are circulating on social media of how the Italians didn’t take the virus seriously at the start and have had to pay a high price.
Meanwhile, the Dominican government announced that flights from Europe would be cancelled as of Monday, 16 March. The Ministry of Public Health update up to Saturday, 14 March was that there are now six more official cases added to the first five, for a total of 11 officially confirmed cases. All cases still are related to people who have been abroad, namely Italy and Spain, and have inadvertently spread the disease.
Cruise ship arrivals are canceled. One of the recent cases in the Dominican Republic is of a Dominican doctor who had been on the Costa Favolosa cruise ship. Following the recent global developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Italian cruise line Costa Cruises announced it would voluntarily suspend voyages on all of its cruise ships until 3 April 2020. The decree also affects the ferry service from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Santo Domingo.
The Ministry of Public Health continues to centralize all testing at the Dr. Defillo National Laboratory. Public Health Minister Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas said that this is done for security reasons. But in an interview carried out on Tuesday, 10 March, with investigative journalist Nuria Piera, he said the government does not rule out allowing private labs from carrying out the test. Reports are that some private labs already have the test, but it costs RD$7,000 compared to free at the government lab.
The Minister says that so far the Ramon de Lara Hospital at the San Isidro Air Base is where all those in isolation or tested for the virus are cared for now. He said the decision came naturally when the patients that usually visit the center stopped going after it was known the center was caring for the coronavirus patients and suspected cases. Sánchez Cárdenas says that nationwide there are 375 intensive care beds and the plan is to increase these in the near future to 600 beds. The centers are located in Puerto Plata, Higuey, Santiago and Santo Domingo. The Ramón de Lara Hospital has capacity for 70 Covid-19 patients. Another 15 beds with ventilator machines reportedly will be added this week to the Ramón de Lara Hospital.
Officially, the Dominican Republic is still in the containment phase of the disease. But the limited testing means the 11 confirmed cases as of 15 March could be more. Thus, the voluntary isolation undertaken by Dominicans is what is most prudent.
The Ministry of Public Health has a hotline for people to call in case the two key symptoms of fever and dry cough. This is 809 686-9140, or 809 200-4091 for toll free calls from provinces from 8am to 8pm. There is also a Whatsapp telephone at 829 542-7009.
Source: DR1, Eldia
Mar 17, 2020
