DR News
For the April 2019 Gallup-Hoy survey, the polling company asked 1,200 eligible voters to name the most important problems facing this country today. As ranked on the list, these are:
Theft, assaults, gangs and delinquency in general 68.3%
Scarcity of jobs, unemployment 34.7%
Inflation, high cost of living 32.3%
Administrative corruption 18.9%
Health in general 10.6%
Blackouts or lack of electricity 8.8%
Economy 6.8%
Femicides, intrafamily and gender violence 5.8%
Lack of potable water 5.4%
Trafficking and consumption of narcotic drugs 4.6%
Loss of values 3.4%
Impunity, lack of justice 3.3%
High price of fuel 3.3%
Extreme poverty 2.7%
Bad government 2.3%
Politics, mishandling by politicians 2%
Mishandling by military/police 1.8%
Low wages 1.8%
Deteriorating public services 1.8%
Violence in general 1.3%
Streets in bad condition 1.2%
Haitian migration 1.2%
Garbage collection 1.2%
Public transport 1.1%
Environmental contamination 1%
Lack of leadership 1%
Foreign debt 0.9%
Lack of opportunities 0.8%
Social inequality 0.7%
Lack of money in circulation 0.6%
Source: DR1
May 10, 2019
A Frenchman has complained that he was robbed near the municipal district of Caleta beach in La Romana after his boat ran aground, and he is asking the French Embassy for assistance.
The victim is Michel Brezki, who said that he left Boca Chica on his boat to go to San Pedro de Macoris and then Saona Island, but the boat ran into technical problems.
He said that early on Friday morning, 3 May 2019, his boat ran aground close to Caleta beach near Boca Chica. He claims that people approached him, he thought to help, but instead, they robbed him and damaged his boat. He is now hoping that the French Embassy will help him and that the Dominican Navy will move the boat so that it is no longer aground.
Source: DR1, Hoy
May 10, 2019
The Federation of Chamber of Commerce in the Dominican Republic (Fedocámaras) met in Santiago last week and issued a rejection of the landfill that Puerto Plata city mayor Walter Musa and Dominicana Limpia have proposed for Puerto Plata. The landfill would be located in Magiolo near Cofresí, just 700 meters from the present landfill that was just recently technically closed.
Claudio Fernandez Marti, president of Fedocamaras said another site needs to be found keeping in mind the collective interest of Puerto Plata. He said a public-private alliance is needed to build the new garbage deposit for the province.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
May 10, 2019
During 2018,857 children were born in the Dominican Republic to women with the HIV virus, according to the local AIDS/HIV council, Conavihsida. Of the children, 97 had contracted the disease from their mothers, a rate of 11.3%. Victor Terrero, director of Conavihsida, said that not long ago, the HIV infection rate from mothers was only 4%.
Terrero revealed that almost half of the HIV cases detected last year in those over 15 years old were Haitians. He said that of the 2,394 new cases identified, 1,300 were Haitian.
It is estimated that around 30% of all births in the country are to Haitian mothers. Terrero went on to say that 5.2% of the children born in the country are tested at 12 months old. Of these, 11.3% tested positive for the virus.
Source: DR1, Listindiario
May 10, 2019
According to a new poll by Gallup-Hoy, 68.3% disapprove while 29.4% approve modifying the Constitution so that President Danilo Medina could be the candidate for the Dominican Liberation Party for the 2020 elections. The constitution had already been amended to allow for President Danilo Medina to seek re-election in 2016.
Looking at the figures by party sympathizers, of those who support the Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM), 89.4% disapprove. 82.8% of the sympathizers for the Social Christian Reform Party (PRSC) are also against the amendment. Even those who support the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), whose legislators were key to the vote in 2015 that enabled the change of the constitution so that Medina could run for re-election, said that 79.6% of them disapprove a new amendment.
According to the poll, the ruling PLD party sympathizers are divided with 55% approving constitutional reform and 42% against. The vote reflects the differences between incumbent President Medina and former President Leonel Fernández who aspires to be on the PLD ticket for the 2020 presidential election.
When asked about their feelings on the 15 years the PLD has been in power, 58.4% said that the best thing for the country is a change of government to another party. 34.8% believes the PLD should continue in power.
The Gallup poll was undertaken from 25-29 April 2019 with 1,200 participants, and a margin of error of +/- 2.8%.
Source: DR1, Hoy
May 10, 2019
Fenatrado has called off its work stoppage. The truckers association accepted an explanation by the National Institute of Ground Transit and Transport (Intrant) regulating tire tread depths.
To clear up any confusion regarding Resolution No 002-2019 that prohibits the use and installation on vehicles of tires that are not suitable for travel of public roads, the Intrant clarified that the four years prior to the expiration date of the tires does not apply to tires that have been stored. Intrant confirmed in a press conference that all vehicles can use tires of any age as long as they are in a suitable condition.
The organization also confirmed that the tire pressure could vary depending on whether the vehicle was laden or not, and depending on the manufacturer’s specifications.
The truckers called off the work stoppage that had been ordered for today.
Source: DR1, Hoy
May 10, 2019
The Migration Agency (DGM) has announced that from 8 May 2019, temporary and permanent residencies will only be renewed with Visa or Mastercard credit or debit cards payments online at migracion.gob.do
The DGM says that the new system will mean that users will not have to go to its offices to deposit documents asking for the renewals of their residencies as the documents can be scanned and uploaded via the website.
The user should then go to the DGM offices to deposit the receipt and receive their residence card at the time and date they are given.
Source: DR1, Hoy
May 9, 2019
President Danilo Medina was in the mountain province of Constanza at an activity where he expressed support for avocado producers. Medina spoke of his support for a 4,500-tarea farm (1 tarea = 629 square meters) in the high-level mountainous area of the Constanza valley. The government says the farming of Haas variety avocados will benefit the people of Los Corralitos, La Descubierta, Los Cayetanos, Tireo, El Gramaso, Rio Grande, Los Bermúdez, Limoncito, El Sillón, El Chorro, Jaquecillo, El Arenaso, La Cienega and Los Peinados.
The Dominican government is opening a new market for avocados in China, according to recent statements by the Chinese ambassador Xhang Run.
Environment Minister Angel Estevez is the strong ally for avocado farms. He has gone public questioning how could a tree be harmful to the environment.
Environmentalists say that a large amount of water needed to produce a single avocado make the farm produce damaging in areas where rivers get their start, such as in the mountains. An estimated 70-320 liters of water are required to grow one avocado, compared to 50-100 liters a day to meet basic human needs.
Avocado farms have also damaged the natural water cycle and endemic species in their areas. In Mexico and Chile, the avocado farms have raised red flags. A 2012 Mexican study -commissioned by the government- states that increased avocado production has contributed to a loss in diversity as well as environmental pollution and soil erosion. In Chile, the media has reported how avocado farms have left many villages without clean water access.
A brother of President Medina is a major producer with a large farm in the Sierra de Bahoruco protected area, where the law prohibits farming.
Source: DR1, Elcaribe
May 9, 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
