DR News
According to the second National Survey of Immigrants 2017 (Segunda Encuesta Nacional de Inmigrantes ENI-2017) there are 847,979 foreigners living in the Dominican Republic, or 8.3% of the total population. Of these, 570,933 of the immigrants or 87.2 % are Haitian and the rest are from Venezuela, the United States, Spain and Italy.
Looking at this year’s figures compared with 2012, there has been primarily an increase in the number of Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants. The government reports the survey showed an increase of 46,300 foreign persons, or 2% more than results shown six years ago by ENI-2012.
The report, which was presented on Tuesday, 5 June 2018 at the Presidential Palace, shows that 66.4% of the Haitians in the country live in urban areas and 62.9% are male.
39.5% of the foreigners are from 20 to 34 years old; 69% reside in urban areas.
The ENI-2017 poll revealed that 33.8% of the Haitian population works on farms, 26.3% in construction, 16.3% in commerce.
The research also showed that the largest numbers of Haitians live in Pedernales (27.3%), Montecristi (26.7%), Elías Piña (24%), Valverde (21.9%), El Seibo (19.6%), Dajabón (14.9%), La Altagracia (16.7%), La Romana (13.6%), Puerto Plata (12.4%), Independencia (11.2%), Barahona (10.8%), Santiago Rodríguez (10.3%), San José de Ocoa (10.3%), the National District (8.6%) and Bahoruco (8.4%).
The survey, which was conducted from 15 August to 18 October 2018, was financed by the United Nations Population Fund, through a sponsorship of the European Union. Also participating were the National Statistics Office (ONE), under the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPyD)
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
June 7, 2018
According to the Mayor of Santo Domingo West, Francisco Peña, President Danilo Medina is in favor of the construction of a skylift will be built in the municipality of Los Alcarrizos to connect to the Duarte Highway metro station. Five stations are being considered. Originally, an underground metro line had been contemplated.
Mayor Peña said that the main station would be located in Los Alcarrizos, in Puerto Blanco. Others would be located in Hato Nuevo, at the Manoguayabo crossroads, Las Palmas de Herrera and the Km. 9 of Duarte Highway.
Mayor Junior Santos of Los Alcarrizos has also spoken out in favor of the skylift solution. He said around 500,000 would benefit from the construction of the skylift. The project also includes the construction of a bus terminal.
The Santo Domingo Skylift crosses from Gualey on the western side of Ozama River to Los Tres Brazos on the eastern side.
Source: DR1, Listindiario
June 7, 2018
Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo says the government is working on the construction of a major multimodal transport central station for the northern entrance to Greater Santo Domingo. The center would serve as a distributor for ground transport headed to 14 provinces in the central Cibao region, Greater Santo Domingo with connections to the Santo Domingo Metro line 2, OMSA buses and an eventual skylift to connect Los Alcarrizos.
As reported in El Dia, President Danilo Medina would make the announcement of the Estación de Transporte Interurbano del Cibao on Thursday, 7 June 2018. The bus operations located on the rotunda of Duarte Highway Km 9 and those at Enriquillo Park off Av. Duarte in the National District would be relocated there.
Castillo told El Dia reporters that this would reduce traffic congestion in the National District. The investment is estimated at RD$450 million and is contemplated in the 2018 National Budget. The URBE governmental unit would build the skylift. URBE recently delivered the construction of the first Santo Domingo skylift over the Ozama River.
Source: DR1, Eldia
June 7, 2018
Following the introduction of Ground Transit Law 63-17 that prohibits children under 8 from riding on motorcycles, the National Federation of Motorcycle Taxi Drivers (Fenamoto) has begun a pilot scheme to introduce the “Mototaxis”, “Margaritas” or “tuk tuks” to Greater Santo Domingo.
This is a motorcycle with three wheels and a roof and capacity for four people that is already being used in several towns and cities in the country including Manzanillo, Navarrete, Dajabón, Mao and Monción as well as in tourist areas such Puerto Plata.
In Greater Santo Domingo they are in operation in San Pío X Street in the Renacimiento area where they travel to Los Cacizcagos, in Isabel Aguiar (Pintura) and the Universidad del Caribe.
According to Oscar Almánzar, president of Fenamoto, they are safer, more comfortable, and they will have wi-fi in the future.
Almánzar said that the idea is to have feeder routes to the Metro and other express routes and they are in discussions with Franchesca de los Santos, director of the National Institute of Transit and Ground Transport (Intrant) on the plan.
On the downside, the tuk tuks cost more than double the price of a motorcycle at RD$195,000. This puts them out of reach for most motorcycle taxis drivers.
Source: DR1, Eldia
June 6, 2018
According to a study called “More Women, More Democracy; Challenges for Gender Equality in Politics”, the Dominican Republic is among the countries with the lowest representation of women at the ministerial level and in 2017, was the fifth lowest country in the region with women only holding 17.3% of the ministerial positions with the regional average being 24.55%.
Nicaragua is the country with the highest representation of female ministers at 51.7 %, followed by Chile with 39.1%; Costa Rica with 38.1%, Colombia with 29.4%; Bolivia 29.2%; Ecuador 27.8%; Peru 27.4%; Paraguay 25%; Cuba 25%; Panama 23.5%; El Salvador 23.1%; Uruguay 20%; Argentina 19% and Brazil 18.2%.
They are followed by the Dominican Republic at 17.3%, Venezuela 16.3%; Mexico 13.6%; Guatemala 11.8% and Honduras con 11.1%.
In the country there are 23 ministries with only four female ministers in 2017 and this year it has dropped to three, which are Higher Education, Science and Technology, Youth and Women. In 2017 looking at deputy ministers, there were 25.78% women and 74.21% men.
In the decentralized state institutions, 13.68% were run by women and 86.31% men.
There is a similar situation with overseas Dominican ambassadors with only 18.18% being women.
The study concludes that women are underrepresented in all senior political positions despite the equality established in the Dominican Constitution, and the objectives of the 2030 National Development Strategy and international agreements.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
June 6, 2018
The Dominican Republic ranks 86th of 156 countries participating in the Sustainable Development Solutions Network of the United Nations’ “2018 Happiness Report.” The report was released in March 2018 but only now is being reported on in the local media.
The UN conducts the landmark survey annually and ranks 156 countries throughout the world on the happiness levels of their people. The DR ranked below Trinidad & Tobago (38th), Belize (49th), and Jamaica (56th) in the Caribbean.
The overall rankings of country happiness are based on the pooled results from Gallup World Poll surveys from 2015-2017.
According to the report, Finland people are the happiest. The US ranked 18th on the happiness scale.
The survey is based on six key factors that the organization understands support the well being of people everywhere. These factors include the income of a country’s citizens and how much freedom do citizens have in making life decisions. Also considered in the index is the trustworthiness in the country’s government, or in other words, how officials measure up in the area of corruption. Likewise, how much social support is available to citizens. The citizens’ health and life expectancy are also considered.
http://worldhappiness.report/download/
Source: DR1, Worldhappiness
June 6, 2018
After the announcement of the Dominican Republic severing relations with Taiwan to sign on with the People’s Republic of China, the President of Haiti visited Taiwan. Taiwan media report he is returning with promises for US$150 million for infrastructure projects. The funds are expected to be used to develop rural power grids in the impoverished Caribbean nation, Taipei says.
Haiti is now one of just 18 countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/polic…cture-projects
Source: DR1, Scmp
June 6, 2018
SANTO DOMINGO, June 3 (Xinhua) — The president of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina, declared Sunday a day of national mourning for the death of musician Joseito Mateo, who was known as “The King of Merengue.”
A statement from the president’s office said national flags would fly at half mast at government buildings and military establishments across the island nation.
Mateo passed away on June 1 at the age of 98 at a hospital in the capital Santo Domingo, where he had been receiving treatment for several days.
In 2010, Mateo was given the Musical Excellence Award by the Latin Grammy’s.
Four years later, in 2014, the singer was officially granted the title “The King of Merengue” by his nation’s congress, while the Chamber of Deputies named him a “living legend of merengue and popular Dominican music.”
The title of his 1950 debut album was “King of Merengue!”
Merengue is a type of music and dance originating in the Caribbean country, and has become popular throughout Latin America.
Source: xinhuanet.com
June 6, 2018
PUERTO PLATA.- The largest cruise ship of the Carnival Cruises Line company will arrive in the early hours of Saturday morning, June 2, at the modern Amber Cove terminal in the Bay of Maimon in the western part of the San Felipe municipality of Puerto Plata.
It was explained that the cruise “Carnival Horizonts” is a class ‘Vista’ boat, model 2018 which offers new features on board such as the SkyRide area attraction, an IMAX theater, and the water park ‘Water Works’.
The cruise ship has a capacity to transport 6,538 people of which 5, 115 are passengers and 1,423 are crew.
‘Carnival Horizonts‘ will reach the coast of Puerto Plata and then sail to the port of La Romana, thus inaugurating its calendar of visits to different tourist destinations in the Caribbean area where it includes other ports of Dominican Republic.
Source: Puerto Plata Digital
June 2, 2018
Legendary disco ‘Moby Dick’ located at the crossroads of Pedro Clisante and Dr. Rosen, after being closed for years, has now turned into a warehouse. About 20 years ago, disco Moby Dick was very popular among tourists. Always good music with performances by nationally renowned merengue bands like Alex Bueno and Los Hermanos Rosario. But little was done to maintenance.
Six months ago, a Chinese owner got hold of the building. He reconstructed the building and transformed it into a department store, curiosity shop. There is a lot for sale. Especially small household items. Sunglasses, umbrellas, cleaners, scouring pads, small tools and cosmetics just to mention a few. Moby Dick is now a thing of the past.
Source: Sosua News
June 2, 2018
